I’ve been biting at the bit to get my hands on Angela Bell’s newest release since its announcement. After falling in love with her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventures, I couldn’t wait to read more narratives from this fabulous Edwardian world of automatons and women’s wit. And I was not disappointed. A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile was so much fun to read. From amazing characters to a mysterious investigation led by a group of secret-society spinsters, this book was exactly the kind of charming, clever adventure I was hoping to find when I opened its pages.
A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile held the same spark and joy as its predecessor. It was so nice to return to London and follow the next generation of inventors on their own journey of identity, adventure, love, and faith. In a world where women are often sidelined, it was great to see them at the forefront of this storyline, proving just how valuable and intuitive we are to society and each other. There was something particularly satisfying about watching these women use the very qualities society might dismiss — curiosity, intuition, compassion, and ingenuity — to solve problems and change the course of the story.
The representation of chronic illness throughout this novel was a powerful surprise. As someone who also struggles with debilitating chronic pain, I really enjoyed getting to know Margaret and seeing her outlook on life despite her circumstances. Angela Bell did a fabulous job of showcasing the good and bad days and separating her characters’ identity from their limitations. Margaret’s illness is part of her story, but it never becomes the entirety of who she is. Though those with chronic illnesses must measure every “teaspoon” of energy and spend it accordingly, we do not allow these restrictions to stop us from living. And if we do get down in the dumps about our circumstances, the support of our friends and family nudges us forward in hope and light. Margaret is far from alone, and while she is like so many people with chronic pain who don’t want to be a burden or pull their inner circle down because of their restrictions, her circle’s love overrides all those doubts and worries. This message is the heartbeat of A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile and resonated deeply with me.
“He understood. Somehow he understood that to live with chronic pain was to feel as though one was perpetually standing trial and being found guilty. Guilty of being a burden, guilty of being a pretender, guilty of not doing enough to seek wellness. As though physical healing could simply be purchased from a doctor or earned by a prayer to the Almighty.” ~ Angela Bell
I also really liked the novel’s faith elements and how the protagonists were genuine role models. It was refreshing to read a clean, entertaining, fun, and suspenseful story that also glorified the Creator. Charles was the perfect male protagonist: he exuded masculinity without being afraid to show his caring, vulnerable side. His love and respect for Margaret, from their meet-cute, were adorable and heartwarming. Their relationship was one of those romances that made me smile rather than sigh, because Charles’s tenderness never came at the expense of his strength, nor was Margaret’s strength dulled by a superiority factor. I really hope we’ll get to see this lovely couple in the rest of the series and have mini-Charleses to show female readers why they shouldn’t settle before meeting a true gentleman.
A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile was another solid release from Angela Bell. I might not know her personally, but I felt as though I saw glimpses of her within the pages of this book. Perhaps that is what made this novel feel so heartfelt to me: beneath all the automatons, investigations, romance, and Edwardian charm, there was a genuine care for the people at the center of it all. Angela’s passion for storytelling and her care for her characters were the catalyst that made this book a great addition to my 2026 reading list!
My Rating: 4⭐️
Positive content: 5⭐️
Godly content: 4⭐️
Language:
Sexual content: 1⭐️
Violence: 1⭐️
Age: 14+
“He understood. Somehow he understood that to live with chronic pain was to feel as though one was perpetually standing trial and being found guilty. Guilty of being a burden, guilty of being a pretender, guilty of not doing enough to seek wellness. As though physical healing could simply be purchased from a doctor or earned by a prayer to the Almighty.” ~ Angela Bell
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