The Manor House Governess
C.A. Castle
All Bronte Ellis has ever known is life at St. Mary’s all-boys boarding school, where he lingered first as a student and then as a teaching assistant. So when a chance to forge a new life in Cambridge presents itself, he seizes it with both hands.
Arriving at Greenwood Manor as the new live-in tutor, Bron finds himself welcomed by all – the gregarious Mr Edwards, his precocious pupil Ada . . . except for Darcy, the elusive and tempestuous eldest son. Despite the rumours about him, Bron cannot help feeling drawn to the one person who seems determined to avoid him.
When tragedy strikes the house, Bron begins to sense dark secrets smouldering beneath Greenwood Manor’s surface. Soon he’s not sure what to believe, or whether he even has a future at Greenwood. Only Darcy holds the key, if he can be persuaded to reveal his heart to Bron.
Media Reviews
Tender, beautiful and bold. A deeply nostalgic modern classic with a bibliophile, genderqueer Jane Eyre protagonist. Brilliant queer anachronism and deep longing blended with Castle’s prose and storytelling prowess make for a very special novel. – Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas
Fun, fresh and clever. A fantastic coming of age story, and a huge treat for all fans of Jane Eyre. – Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall
A love letter to the period drama, and one I could not put down. – William Hussey, author of Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts
The Manor House Governess is a sublime and tenderly written novel that is at once an interrogation of and love letter to the literary classics. I am so happy this book exists. – Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen
A brilliantly queer take on the Victorian governess archetype. Conceptually clever & beautifully written, I loved this homage to Jane Eyre & Jane Austen. – Emma Carroll, author of The Week at World’s End
In turns spooky, funny, and romantic, C. A. Castle’s debut novel is sure to be a hit with readers across genres and generations. – Mackenzi Lee, Stonewall Honor and New York Times-bestselling author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
C.A. Castle’s The Manor House Governess weaves past and present together to create a queer story of love and intrigue that feels thrillingly new and boldly relevant. – Abdi Nazemian, author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment
Atmospheric and emotional, this is a mystery that feels at once timeless and totally modern. This slow-burner will keep you guessing until the final pages. An assured debut. – Justin Myers, author of The Last Romeo, The Fake-Up and The Magnificent Sons
Brimming with lush prose and multi-dimensional characters, The Manor House Governess is a reimagining unlike any other. A modern classic about identity, love, and boldly walking one’s own path. – Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care
