How to Fake It in Society

After loving KJ Charles’s All of Us Murderers last year, I’ve been excited to read more from her. Today she releases her new Regency romance, How to Fake It in Society, and it is a treat.

Titus Pilcrow is a poor shopkeeper selling paints, but his luck unexpectedly turns when a bitter old woman on her deathbed demands that he marry her so he’ll inherit her money, not her good-for-nothing, murderous nephew. He was just there to collect payment for his paints, but how can he deny her dying wish? So suddenly Titus is very wealthy and unsure how to navigate this aristocratic world. That’s where Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte makes his entrance. He had been planning his marriage of convenience to the late lady, and he’s not happy that Titus swooped in and got the inheritance instead. Nico has some impatient (and dangerous) debtors after him, and he needs money fast. So he makes himself indispensable to Titus, helping him fit in with society, all while aiming to get some of that money… But Nico is not expecting to get Titus’s heart in the process.

What I Liked:

• Pure fun and hilarity. How to Fake It in Society is a riot from the very first page. The bitter old lady at the beginning? Priceless and ruthless. Nico, the French Comte? Funny almost every time he opens his mouth. The general plot is bonkers (and a bit enviable, at least on Titus’s part!), but the characters keep things fun without seeming to try.
• Different forms of “faking” being a gentleman. Titus is a poor man suddenly of significant means, but he doesn’t fit in with the aristocrats he’s now meant to mingle with. He doesn’t know the first thing about what to wear, how to run a house full of servants, or how to play cards with the other rich men. And then there’s Nico: a con man with a flair for acting, very charming and self-assured, but actively lying about his place in society. How can one help the other when neither is supposed to belong?
• Deeper feelings. I loved the different nuances of family here, from the distance Titus has experienced with his angry father and demanding eldest brother, to Nico’s supportive relationship with his cousin. There’s also a strong theme of self-worth and learning to stand up to bullies, both things Titus has to gain over time.
• Gradual buildup of romance! Even with their differences, and with Nico’s occasionally morally gray tendencies, I really liked these two together. They balance each other out perfectly. Nico does so much for Titus’s confidence, and I enjoyed seeing them fall in love, despite the odds.

Audiobook:

Will Watt does a marvelous job of narrating How to Fake It in Society. The book is in dual third person POV, and he does the voices for both characters so well. Each is distinct, especially with Nico’s French accent. The narration is also infused with humor; you can frequently hear the smile in his voice. This audio version elevated an already splendid novel.

Final Thoughts

How to Fake It in Society was a joy to read, and is perfect for anyone who enjoys queer historical romances infused with humor and heart in equal measure. This has been one of my favorite reads this year. So far I am loving KJ Charles’s books, and I can’t wait to read more!

Special thanks to Bramble, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy How to Fake It in Society here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles
Audiobook Narrator	Will Watt
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Romance
Setting	England
Number of Pages	320
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARCs)
Original Publication Date	April 28, 2026
Publisher	Bramble

Official Summary

Bridgerton meets The Goldfinch in How to Fake It in Society, a stunning queer romance by rising genre star KJ Charles.

It is 1821 and Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte is making a splash in London Society. The son of Jeanne de Valois de La Motte, infamous for stealing a priceless diamond necklace meant for Marie Antoinette, Nico hopes to restore his wronged mother’s reputation, if only he can raise the funds. But he must operate with great secrecy, because the Bourbon dynasty murdered his mother, and he fears for his life.

At least, that’s what he tells Titus Pilcrow. Titus was a simple shopkeeper, making and selling artists’ paints, when he found himself suddenly married to an immensely wealthy woman who wanted to disinherit her nephew on her deathbed. As word spreads of his fortune, Titus finds himself a target of every scammer and beggar in London…including one Nicolas-Marc, Comte de Valois de La Motte.

Nico is on his last legs, out of money, and on the run from some terrifying gangsters. When Titus offers Nico a space in his household, it’s the perfect chance for him to exploit London’s newest golden purse–until he falls in love with the man he needs to cheat. Still, Nico is sure they can have a happy ending together. If he can just find his way out of his own web of lies…