The Manor House Governess (pub. November 7, 2023) by C.A. Castle is a unicorn–a novel that feels like a classic with the writing, the setting and the plot, but is supremely modern with its genderfluid protagonist named Brontë–shortened to Bron.
Orphaned young, Bron lives at boarding school, where they don’t fit in with the other boys because of the femininity at their core. They want to attend Cambridge, but their grades aren’t enough for a scholarship and, as an orphan, there is no money to attend. So instead, they answer an ad for a live-in tutor for a young girl, Ada.
For times had not changed: boundaries continued to exist, and a child born in possession of an external appendage, or lack thereof, must be either one thing or another.
The Manor House Governess by C.A. Castle
Ada’s father, Mr. Edwards, is welcoming to Bron and their genderfluid presentation, lacy scarves and all, and Bron comes to truly love Ada. Bron has the freedom they never had at boarding school to truly express themselves. The problem is Ada’s older brother, Darcy, who Bron is attracted to, and who seems to perhaps be attracted to Bron as well?
With a gothic mystery at its heart, and veering from quiet nights under the covers with their laptop to brisk country walks and manor house parties, I thoroughly enjoyed The Manor House Governess. I love modern retellings of classic stories, and this book was like a mashup of several Austen and Brontë favorites, with a queer storyline. I loved the writing and saved many quotes.
Also, I’d argue that it’s fat positive, as Mr. Edwards, one of the most beloved characters, is described with a large stomach, “straining against his waistcoat” but it is a completely neutral description. And Mr. Edwards is the first person to really give Bron a place to be themselves, and he entrusted his daughter to Bron’s care and attention. While there aren’t really any other characters described as fat, the fact that Mr. Edwards had such good qualities and was so important to the rest of the characters, while he is fat, qualifies it to be fat positive.
Reading While Fat 