The Winthrop Hopkins Female Academy has everything needed to make a young girl into a perfect bride: lessons, exercise, and superb instructions on manners. However, they are missing one crucial element: men for them to consider marrying. Located in the middle of nowhere, there are few opportunities for the ladies to secure a husband but in their case, they have plenty to keep them happy.

A SCHOOL FOR BRIDES is surprising read for me. The description sounded nice, but I didn't expect to enjoy this wonderful story as much as I do. Patrice Kindl shows a knack for wit and shenanigans that I haven't read in a long time. Though there is a large cast of characters, she balances them out nicely, giving each distinctive personalities and story arcs. Each girl is charming in her own way, and it is truly a pleasure to see where their journeys take them.

With such a big character list, the endings to the girls' stories has plenty of variety. This isn't a story where everyone marries in the end, nor where everyone shoves romance aside. There is again a wonderful balance where each character truly gets the most appropriate and necessary ending for herself. Readers will love seeing each character develop and grow stronger throughout the novel, some finding a voice to shout with, others finding strength to open up. By the conclusion, each felt like a friend.

Patrice Kindl crafts a delightful and funny story in A SCHOOL FOR BRIDES. With never a dull moment, readers will laugh, cry, and consider their own posture as the plot unfolds. I highly recommend for readers wanting something with spunk.