X-Book

The Manor House Governess

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'Tender, beautiful and bold. A very special novel.' LIZZIE HUXLEY-JONES, author of Make You Mine This Christmas

'Fun, fresh and clever . . . a huge treat for all fans of Jane Eyre.' KATIE LUMSDEN, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

'A sublime and tenderly written novel.' BEA FITZGERALD, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

All Brontë Ellis has ever known is life at St. Mary's all-boys boarding school, where he lingered first as a student and then as a teaching assistant. So when a chance to forge a new life in Cambridge presents itself, he seizes it with both hands.

Arriving at Greenwood Manor as the new live-in tutor, Bron finds himself welcomed by all - the gregarious Mr Edwards, his precocious pupil Ada . . . except for Darcy, the elusive and tempestuous eldest son. Despite the rumours about him, Bron cannot help feeling drawn to the one person who seems determined to avoid him.

When tragedy strikes the house, Bron begins to sense dark secrets smouldering beneath Greenwood Manor's surface. Soon he's not sure what to believe, or whether he even has a future at Greenwood. Only Darcy holds the key, if he can be persuaded to reveal his heart to Bron . . .

'A love letter to the period drama, and one I could not put down.' WILLIAM HUSSEY, author of Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts

'Clever and beautifully written, I loved this.' EMMA CARROLL, author of The Week at World's End

Critics Review

Tender, beautiful and bold. A deeply nostalgic modern classic with a bibliophile, genderqueer Jane Eyre protagonist. Brilliant queer anachronism and deep longing blended with Castle's prose and storytelling prowess make for a very special novel.
Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas
Fun, fresh and clever. A fantastic coming of age story, and a huge treat for all fans of Jane Eyre.
Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall
A love letter to the period drama, and one I could not put down.
William Hussey, author of Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts
The Manor House Governess is a sublime and tenderly written novel that is at once an interrogation of and love letter to the literary classics. I am so happy this book exists.
Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen
A brilliantly queer take on the Victorian governess archetype. Conceptually clever & beautifully written, I loved this homage to Jane Eyre & Jane Austen.
Emma Carroll, author of The Week at World's End
In turns spooky, funny, and romantic, C. A. Castle's debut novel is sure to be a hit with readers across genres and generations.
Mackenzi Lee, Stonewall Honor and New York Times-bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
C.A. Castle's The Manor House Governess weaves past and present together to create a queer story of love and intrigue that feels thrillingly new and boldly relevant.
Abdi Nazemian, author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment
Atmospheric and emotional, this is a mystery that feels at once timeless and totally modern. This slow-burner will keep you guessing until the final pages. An assured debut.
Justin Myers, author of The Last Romeo, The Fake-Up and The Magnificent Sons

User Reviews

Book 3.0
Narration 4.0
Author C.A. Castle
Narrator Cloud Quinn
Duration 10 hours and 29 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781785304996
Format x-book®
Publisher Black & White Publishing
Genre Contemporary romance, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Romance, Romance: the rich / famous / powerful
Availability AU, GB, IE
Rating
3.0 (1 review)
Narration
4.0 (1 review)

About xigxag and the x-book®

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by “x-book” to find them.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.