Sophie Irwin
Sophie Irwin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sophie Helen Burks December 1994 (age 31) |
| Alma mater | Mansfield College, Oxford |
| Years active | 2019–present |
Sophie Helen Burks (born December 1994), known professionally as Sophie Irwin, is an English historical romance novelist. Her debut novel A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting (2022) was a Sunday Times bestseller and won an Alex Award. This was followed by A Lady's Guide to Scandal (2023).
Early life
Irwin is the daughter of parents Mike and Louise Burks and grew up in Sherborne, Dorset.[1] Irwin attended the Gryphon School, completing her A Levels in 2013.[2][3] As a teenager, she worked in the local Winstone's bookshop.[4] She went on to graduate with a degree in English from Mansfield College, Oxford.[5] Having read Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen from a young age, Irwin wrote her dissertation on the popularity of the former during World War II.[2]
Career
Irwin began her career working as an editor in publishing.[6] She started writing what would become her debut novel in 2019.[2][7] In a two-book deal in 2021, HarperFiction (part of HarperCollins) acquired the rights to publish Irwin's debut Regency romance novel A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting in 2022.[8] The U.S. publishing rights went to Pamela Dorman Books.[9] The novel follows a young women Kitty Talbot who seeks a wealthy husband to pay off her late parents' debt. Irwin wanted to explore the economic side of marriage in Regency society.[6][10] A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting debuted at #3 on the Sunday Times bestseller list,[11] won an Alex Award, and was a RUSA Listen List selection.[12] A second novel set in the same universe titled A Lady's Guide to Scandal was published in 2023, presenting the opposite dynamic of a widow with money.[13][14]
HarperFiction acquired two further romance novels from Irwin in October 2023.[15] Her third novel How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days was published the following year.[16] Also in 2025, Irwin signed a deal with Century (a Penguin Random House UK imprint) to write a Georgette Heyer continuation.[17]
Bibliography
A Lady's Guide
- A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting (2022)
- A Lady's Guide to Scandal (2023)
Standalone novels
- How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days (2025)
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Alex Awards | A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting | Won | [18] | |
| Best Book Forward Awards | Best Romance | Won | [19] | ||
References
- ^ "A Night of Romance and Scandal with Author Sophie Irwin". The BV Magazine. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "60 Seconds with… Sophie Irwin". The New Blackmore Vale Magazine. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "The Gryphon School's Record 2013 A-level Results". The Gryphon School. 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Winstone's Books". Yale Representation. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Alumni Publication: A lady's guide to scandal". Mansfield College, Oxford. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ a b Onwuemezi, Natasha (11 February 2022). "Sophie Irwin on her debut historical romance". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Robert Lee Brewer (13 May 2022). "Sophie Irwin: On Connecting With Readers". Writers' Digest. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Bayley, Sian (6 June 2021). "HarperFiction pre-empts Irwin's debut Regency novel in 48-hour swoop". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Deals of the Week: Dorman Hunts Irwin's 'Fortune'". Publishers Weekly. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Svenne, Jasmina (15 May 2022). "A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting". Historical Novel Societ. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ HarperFiction (17 May 2022). "We are delighted to announce that #LadysGuide has debuted at No. 3 in the Sunday Times Bestseller charts! 🥂". Retrieved 17 October 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Moore, Ninah (29 January 2023). "2023 Listen List Revealed". RUSA Update. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Nathalie (2023). "Review: A Lady's Guide to Scandal". So Many Books. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Helliker, Lucy (6 October 2023). "A Lady's Guide To Scandal [...]: BOOKS with CHARLOTTE HEATHCOTE". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Wood, Heloise (19 October 2023). "HarperFiction snaps up two more Regency rom-coms from Irwin". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Helen (11 August 2025). "How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin". She Reads Novels. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ Brown, Lauren (20 February 2025). "Sophie Irwin signed by Century to write Georgette Heyer continuation novel". The Bookseller. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ "YALSA announces 2023 Alex Awards". News and Press Center. ALA American Library Association. 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "The Best Book Forward Book Awards: Celebrating Reader Favourites". Best Book Forward. Retrieved 1 September 2025.