The Invention of Sophie Carter

I'm now finished with my quarantine but this was the last read that got me through sitting idle at home. I'm glad it was such a fun inventive read. The Invention of Sophie Carter by Samantha Hastings is a creative romance filled with all sorts of Twin shenanigans. 

Sophia and Mariah Carter are twins and orphans who are taken in by a few couples but are never truly treated as members of the family. They only have each other to rely on as they grow up. When they turn 18, they decided it's time to strike out on their own...but with no money and no prospects? Sophie writes to their only known living relative, an aunt in London, hoping that she will take them in. She agrees to the idea but insists that she can only accept one of the twins into her home for a season--with the express idea that she find a husband. Sophie convinces Mariah that they can take turns being Sophie, one sister entertaining their aunt while the other roams around London looking for adventure and work. But how long can the sisters keep up the charade? Especially once they both meet men that make their hearts flutter. But Sophie and Mariah know they can't rely on their aunt nor husbands for the rest of their lives. They have to rely on each other.

I really enjoyed the fact that this was a very sweet and wholesome YA romance. Obviously, the Victorian era means that courting was most often supervised. But I love the way that the couples interact and their affection grows. This character-based romance is very well written.

This really is a delightful take on the Victorian era. The author introduces us to things like the Great Exhibit where Sophie gets to learn all about inventing and mechanics. Along with Mariah, we get to meet painters of that era and all about fabulous art. I felt immersed in the time period as I read the novel.

And despite the Victorian setting, Mariah and Sophie are quite the feminist characters. They set out for London looking for opportunities...to work, to adventure. They don't go out searching for romance or relying on the male characters. They rely on each other and know that they are capable women who can achieve their dreams. Sophie dreams of being an inventor--not usually an occupation for women of the time. And Mariah stumbles across novels by female authors and admires them for their writing abilities.

Mariah is such a book lover and there are several literary references to books of the time period. Mariah even cries at the deaths of characters and is called sensitive for it but us book lovers recognize that experience. We all know what it's like to grow attached to a character and then mourn their loss. I loved that there was a nod to that for readers.

One last thing I loved about this book is that the author is from Utah, the state where I live! I love sharing books with my students that were written by authors they can have a connection to. It's always a fun way for students to learn about the author and think about themselves possibly becoming writers someday. 

If you love twin hijinks (a la Parent Trap), romance, and the Victorian Era, you will love The Invention of Sophie Carter. You can purchase a copy here!