A Shore Thing - by Joanna Lowell (Paperback)

About the Book

"Former painter and unreformed rake Kit Griffith is forging a new life in Cornwall, choosing freedom over an identity that didn't fit. He knew that leaving his Sisterhood of women artists might mean forfeiting artistic community forever. He didn't realize he would lose his ability to paint altogether. Luckily, he has other talents. Why not devote himself to selling bicycles and trysting with the holidaymakers? Enter Muriel Pendrake, the feisty New-York-bound botanist who has come to St. Ives to commission Kit for illustrations of British seaweeds. Kit shouldn't accept Muriel's offer, but he must enlist her help to prove to an all-male cycling club that women can ride as well as men. And she won't agree unless he gives her what she wants. Maybe that's exactly the challenge he needs. As Kit and Muriel spend their days cycling together, their desire begins to burn with the heat of the summer sun. But are they pedaling toward something impossible? The past is bound to catch up to them, and at the season's end, their paths will diverge. With only their hearts as guides, Kit and Muriel must decide if they're willing to race into the unknown for the adventure of a lifetime"--

Book Synopsis

"Glorious.... Every scene in this book is a treasure."--The New York Times

"A Victorian queer love story that will have you giggling and blushing... This book is full of charm and low-stakes adventure, just the warm and soft romance many of us are looking for."--NPR

An NPR Best Book of 2024 - Named a Best Romance of the Year by The New York Times and Parade

A delightfully queer Victorian love story, featuring a boldly brash trans hero, the beguiling botanist who captures his heart, and a buoyant bicycle race by the British seaside -- from the author of The Duke Undone.

Former painter and unreformed rake Kit Griffith is forging a new life in Cornwall, choosing freedom over an identity that didn't fit. He knew that leaving his Sisterhood of women artists might mean forfeiting artistic community forever. He didn't realize he would lose his ability to paint altogether. Luckily, he has other talents. Why not devote himself to selling bicycles and trysting with the holidaymakers?

Enter Muriel Pendrake, the feisty New-York-bound botanist who has come to St. Ives to commission Kit for illustrations of British seaweeds. Kit shouldn't accept Muriel's offer, but he must enlist her help to prove to an all-male cycling club that women can ride as well as men. And she won't agree unless he gives her what she wants. Maybe that's exactly the challenge he needs.

As Kit and Muriel spend their days cycling together, their desire begins to burn with the heat of the summer sun. But are they pedaling toward something impossible? The past is bound to catch up to them, and at the season's end, their paths will diverge. With only their hearts as guides, Kit and Muriel must decide if they're willing to race into the unknown for the adventure of a lifetime.

Review Quotes

"Every scene in this book is a treasure: a stolen kiss on a lonely road, a rescue during a sudden flood, jokes about seaweed and terrible men. It's marvelously specific in time and place -- and about queerness as a range of experiences: who can hide, who can mostly pass but have queer encounters on the side and who has to rebel against the world just to have space to breathe."
--The New York Times

"[A] Victorian queer love story that will have you giggling and blushing... This book is full of charm and low-stakes adventure, just the warm and soft romance many of us are looking for."
--NPR

"A refreshing reminder that the Victorians weren't quite as Victorian as we pretend."
--The Washington Post

"A 'romp with substance' about a Victorian coastal bicycle race that addresses complex questions about gender, society, attraction and trying to humiliate a condescending jerk. What's not to love?"
--The Seattle Times

"The novel explores what it is like to be a trans man in Victorian England and invites readers to visit the spaces where queer Victorians could be themselves. Lowell transported me to the British seaside and made me want to take a long bike ride with a sweetheart, which is the highest praise I can give (I am pathologically afraid of bicycles). If you want to feel the wind on your cheeks, get stuck in a herd of sheep, and fall in love, this book is for you."
--Oprah Daily

"A summer breeze of a book that reads like the best afternoon with friends. Joanna Lowell brilliantly offers a story of courage, self-discovery and community that will stay with me for a long time. Historical romance is better for this kind of story that boldly affirms love has always found a way. I adored Kit, Muriel, and their cycling adventures."
--Adriana Herrera, USA Today bestselling author of An Island Princess Starts a Scandal

"Richly imbued with a bracing wit and enriched with an abundance of bold sensuality, Lowell's exquisitely composed Victorian-set historical featuring a trans character is a work of beauty and a joy forever."
--Booklist (starred review)

"Thought-provoking, heartwarming and possessing an entertaining cast of secondary characters, this romance is a winner all-around."
--BookPage (starred review)

"Lowell confronts Victorian attitudes around sex, gender, and love head on, resulting in some daker moments, but the tender, supportive, and joyful dynamic that emerges between Kit and Muriel keeps things heartfelt and hopeful. It's not just that their love story offsets the sadder moments; the sadder moments make their love story all the more beautiful. This is a triumph."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"No summer reading list is complete without this gorgeous slow-burn."
--BookBub

"Joanna Lowell's enchanting novel seamlessly integrates history into Kit and Muriel's love story while remaining light-hearted and hopeful. If you don't nearly die of the sweetness while witnessing Muriel and Kit fall in love, I'll eat my hat."
--Autostraddle

"Sweet and funny and compelling and quirky, and the protagonists [are] so ridiculously enjoyable... Even if you are not a big Victorian romance reader, as I am not, snatch this one up anyway."
--Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

"With sparkling wit and a captivating love story, A Shore Thing is a delightful escape to the Cornish seaside with characters I rooted for and desperately wanted to befriend. Lowell is at the top of her game with this gorgeous queer historical romance."
--Mae Marvel, author of Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous

"What a charming book! A Shore Thing gifts us with a pair of endearing characters who've fought hard to become who they are but realize they're better together. Lowell has written a buoyant, joyously queer love story."
--Opal Wei, author of Wild Life

Praise for the novels of Joanna Lowell

"I loved The Duke Undone and so will my readers!"
--Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author of My Last Duchess

"Lushly dark, riddled with secrets, and seductive....Lowell's writing oozes a sense of place. [The] sense of authenticity never falters, making this the most Victorian of romance novels."
--Entertainment Weekly

"A beautiful blend of seductive suspense and heart-tugging romance that I could not put down. Romance fans should make room for this author on their keeper shelves!"
--Lyssa Kay Adams, USA Today bestselling author of Crazy, Stupid Bromance

"Compelling and exquisitely crafted, The Runaway Duchess is a beautiful romance that enchants from the very first page. Lowell's wit, sumptuous imagery, and vivid, endearing characters combine to make this a swooningly gorgeous read. Highly recommended."
--India Holton, Author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

"Joanna Lowell's skillful storytelling and dazzling characters create one of the most exciting new voices in historical romance today."
--Julia London, New York Times bestselling author of A Princess by Christmas

"A charming romance with an atypical heroine and a to-die-for (and hot!) hero in this unique tale of a duke and a struggling artist in Victorian London."
--Jennifer Ashley, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Mackenzie Bride

"I really loved this book--in fact, I couldn't put it down. It's a fabulous feast of a story that plunges you into the Victorian era with all its levels and complications -- into the art world and among aristocrats and slum-dwellers. There's tension, adventure, derring-do, a fight against corruption on several levels, a rich cast of characters and a hero and heroine to admire and cheer for. All in all, a rich and heartwarming historical romance. Highly recommended."
--Anne Gracie, National bestselling author of The Rake's Daughter

"Lowell's finely wrought characters don't have it easy when it comes to navigating restrictive Victorian society, but even their most outrageous actions ring true. Readers will be swept away by this entrancing, intelligent romance."
--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"It's a lush, sensual and outstanding romance that makes the heart ache in the very best way."
--BookPage (Starred Review)

"Impeccably researched, Lowell's latest emphasizes justice. This love story tackles weighty issues but remains suspenseful and spellbinding."
--Library Journal (Starred Review)

"A delight...readers are rewarded with multidimensional characters and an unusual and engrossing love story."
--Booklist

"Lowell's prose is vivid and evocative, and issues such as class inequity, women's rights, and alcohol addiction complement the intense on-page evolution of the love story...those looking for a happy-ever-after for complex and passionate characters will be very satisfied here. A new voice in historical romance that will keep readers riveted."
--Kirkus

About the Author

Joanna Lowell lives among the fig trees in North Carolina, where she teaches in the English department at Wake Forest University. When she's not writing historical romance, she writes collections and novels as Joanna Ruocco. Those books include Dan, Another Governess / The Least Blacksmith, The Week, and Field Glass, co-authored with Joanna Howard.