The Invention of Sophie Carter

by Samantha Hastings

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1851. Bounced from one home to another their whole lives, orphaned identical twins Sophie and Mariah Carter have always relied on each other for love and support, even though the sisters couldn't be more different.

Brash Sophie wants to be an inventor, and demure Mariah wants to be an artist. Both long to visit London for the summer―Sophie to see the Queen’s Great Exhibition and Mariah to study the world’s finest collection of paintings. But when their cantankerous aunt answers their letter pleading for a place to stay, she insists she only has time and room to spare for one of them.

So, Mariah and Sophie hatch a clever scheme: They will travel to London together and take turns playing the part of "Sophie".

At first the plan runs like clockwork. But as the girls avoid getting caught by increasingly narrow margins and two handsome gentlemen―both of whom think they’re falling in love with the real Sophie Carter―enter the equation, the sisters find they don’t have the situation quite as under control as they thought.

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Book Details

Genre

Historical Romance

Subgenre

Billionaire, General Historical, Small Town, Victorian (1830–1900)

Audience

Young Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑

Profanity

2 Mild

Violence

1 None

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

2 Mild

Publication Date

July 14, 2020

Language Versions

English

Fiction Form

Novel

Sensitive Themes

Grief or loss of a loved one, Poverty or homelessness

Representation

Adoption or foster-care representation

Editorial Reviews

A Junior Library Guild Selection

“This novel is a delightful combination of coming-of-age and Cinderella, a tale told with humor and warmth. The characters of the twins are delineated with care, showing similarities but also the growing differences as each finds a way to understand her individual gifts and how they can be developed even if they should marry the man they love. The author has done considerable research, not only into the period but also into the details of engineering and the working of clocks. She presents a thoroughly believable pair of protagonists, true to their time but also relatable to the present-day reader.”

—Historical Novel Society

“I loved reading about the bond between these sisters. The romances were super cute.”

―Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King and The Shadows Between Us

“In a time like now when many of us want some kind of escape, this book kept me up way past my bedtime and let me disappear into Victorian England with two delightful heroines! Do you like your books with romance, protagonists with art and STEM interests, identical twin sister hijinks, and swoonworthy love interests? The Invention of Sophie Carter has all that and more!! Just as she did in The Last Word, Samantha Hastings gives a cheery portrayal of Victorian life without shying away from the hardships women faced. Hastings’ enjoyment of 19th century literature is obvious, and if you’re also a fan, you’ll see it in everything from the Dickensian childhood of her main characters Sophie and Mariah, to the wit and romance of Austen peppered throughout. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year!"

—Jennieke Cohen, author of A Dangerous Alliance.

I love this Book!!!!

Fun! Fun!! Fun!!! I love this Book! I’ve probably read over 40 of this type of book. This is one of my favorites. It was hard to put down and I felt sad to end it. But Sophie and Mariah will always be friends and I can re-read this book anytime!!! The story is heart warming It made me laugh. And is completly satisfying Well Done. Bravo!!!! I love this author. Please Write More!!!!! (Waiting for your next book)

A Victorian-type Parent Trap

This Samantha Hastings book is darling. Set in the Victorian time period, this YA tale of two orphaned identical twins and their amusing, yet simultaneously touching, adventure in a summer in London is fascinating.Sophie is brazen, while Mariah is more docile, and after being coldly turned out and Sophie being invited by a grumpy aunt to go to London, they dream up a plan for both of them to play the part of Sophie. Think THE PARENT TRAP in Victorian London and allll the mishaps and shenanigans that ensue.Double the personality, double the mischief, and double the love result in this light-hearted and sweet story. A book with multiple love stories developing? Yes! I’m all in. I adored each girl’s personality and the events that resulted from this diverting summer. These are fun characters with an entertaining plot, and bonus: there’s even a twist.Content: mild romance

Super entertaining, enjoyable read.

This book was such an adorable and fun read. I loved the twist on the Parent Trap and mistaken identity. Twin swaps I have decided can be very entertaining and that is what I was as I read this book, entertained. It was easy to read, had cute romances, and good characters. It's a clean romance and something I can recommend to teenagers and adults alike.

Happy Endings do happen

I loved the full color and quick movement of this story, it is the kind of book you don't want to put down because it makes you think, maybe dreams can come true.

Six star book

I enjoyed this book very much. I almost didn't read it because it only had 3.8 stars on Goodreads. I'm glad I read it. The sisters were adorable. I liked that there were some people who were kind to them, when many had not been. Just a good book. Six stars.