The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Holton, India. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. Berkley, 2021.

The novel is divided into 26 chapters, each beginning with a handful of fragmented phrases as a preview to the chapter’s contents. Cecelia Bassingthwaite is the novel’s central character, meaning the third-person narrator is often, though not exclusively, attached to her thoughts and actions.

The novel begins with Cecelia Bassingthwaite and her aunt, Miss Darlington, sitting in their home. This is interrupted by a visit from Ned Lightbourne, who goes by many aliases throughout the novel. After he tosses a grenade through the window, Darlington House goes down to Bath to get away from the assassin. He was sent by Isabelle Armitage, a fellow society member, who wanted to hurt Miss Darlington and boost Cecelia’s reputation with a contract on her life. After meeting with Miss Armitage, Ned convenes with Captain Morvath, who has employed him to capture Cecelia. Cecelia is the daughter of Captain Patrick Morvath and Cecelia “Cilla” Bassingthwaite. Morvath believes himself the illegitimate son of Branwell Bronte, and makes colors his life with a dramatically Gothic aesthetic.

Darlington house is in Bath several days before being called to Ottery St. Mary in Devon for an emergency meeting of the Wisteria Society. Muriel Fairweather’s home has been stolen, but the society suspects a greater plot. Cecelia has another run-in full of romantic tension with Ned as he oversees the theft of another society house. A battle ensues between the other society homes and Morvath’s Northangerland Abbey. Patrick Morvath intends to destroy the Wisteria Society and overthrow Queen Victoria and return women to subservience. He claims women ruined his life, even though he is the one that killed Cilla.

The following day the society meet for tea but urge Cecelia to leave, since they will be discussing her parents. She fights some other pirates and sees the teahouse being stolen with the society still inside. She returns to the field where the homes are stationed to find them being stolen as well. She fights Ned Lightbourne who is overseeing the theft, before he reveals he is also a member of the royal secret service and is here to neutralize Cecelia, though he is instead protecting her. They call a truce and agree to rescue the society, and send away a pair of young pirates and lovers, Tom and Constantinopla.

Cecelia and Ned steal a carriage and head to a fancy hotel, the Knowle, for the evening. Cecelia gets drunk and Ned has to help her get undressed and into bed. He is in love with her, and spends the night asleep on the floor. The following morning he wakes in a panic, thinking Cecelia has escaped, only to see she has returned, hungover, but with provisions. While trying to leave the hotel they enter a game of cat-and-mouse with Jacobsen, another of Morvath’s men. The two kiss, then set off on horseback. Jacobsen discovers them fleeing, shoots at them, but misses.

Jacobsen goes to the home of Isabelle Armitage where he assumes he will find Cecelia and Ned. The two then enter and help neutralize Jacobsen before teaming with up Miss Darlington. Ned is confused by the friendly dynamic between Isabelle and Cecelia, but they see it as normal. That evening the crew sets out to find Northangerland Abbey. First they fly, then in the evening they walk on foot. Jacobsen escapes Armitage house, and Isabelle abandons Cecelia and Ned. They try to steal a country home before being captured by Morvath. Ned doses Cecelia with chloroform to prove his loyalty to Morvath.

Constantinopla tricks Tom into going with her to Windsor castle, where they sneak in and enlist the help of Queen Victoria.

Cecelia dreams of her mother’s death. Her mother told her to run, but Cecelia turned back in time to see Morvath stab Cilla. She wakes in her childhood room with her cousin Frederick, a hopeless romantic. She tries to escape through a secret passage in her room but is caught by Ned who apologizes and promises to free the society women, before she returns to her room. Ned goes to the dungeon where the women are and tells Pleasence to prepare the women, and that Cecelia is onboard. Pleasence and Miss Darlington begin preparing the other society members.

Cecelia goes to breakfast at her father’s request. When Morvath enters, Cecelia throws food and utensils at him and runs off. Ned catches up with her. They fight off a guard together and she runs away again. Ned catches up to her. They fight, and Ned tells her that Morvath killed his mother, and Cilla was the one to find him after that. Alex, a friend of Ned’s, enters. The three hide from Morvath in a secret passageway. While hiding they discover the Wisteria Society mid escape, as well as Frederick Bassingthwaite. They encounter Jane, who reveals that her grandmother Muriel betrayed them to Morvath. The women fashion weapons and battle Morvath and his men. During the battle Cecelia learns that Morvath is the son of Miss Darlington and either Branwell Bronte or Charles Darwin.

Cecelia, Ned, Jane, and Frederick go to the garden at the abbey’s center and liberate a few battlehouses. The two pair off and join the fight.

Constantinopla helps Queen Victoria fly Windsor Castle to the battle. Her soldiers fight while the two of them and Tom watch. Pleasence fears Miss Darlington may be dying, and attacks Jacobsen when he finds the two of them. Cecelia is afraid for Miss Darlington’s safety during battle. Ned and Cecelia follow a garden shed piloted by Morvath. Cecelia decides to follow him instead of shooting him down right before the shed crashes into a mountain.

Ned and Cecelia return to the battlefield. Once Cecelia sees Miss Darlington is alive, she advises Ned to land the house in another field. The two have sex for the first time but do not talk about their futures. They return to the battlefield and meet Queen Victoria, who is helping care for the wounded society members. Cecelia finds Miss Darlington and Pleasence, and they retire to Darlington house. There are several interruptions, including Cecelia and Ned saying goodbye, and Queen Victoria inviting Cecelia and Miss Darlington to her jubilee.

The women go to the jubilee but Cecelia is bored and restless. Ned arrives. The two dance. Ned proclaims his love and proposes to her while they dance. Morvath arrives and takes Cecelia hostage. He claims women have ruined his life and promises to take over England and demote all women, starting with the queen and the Wisteria Society. It’s revealed that Jacobsen is his father. Queen Victoria knocks out Morvath with a crown and guards take him away. Cecelia is given a choice: join the Wisteria Society or run away with Ned. Miss Darlington tells her to go with Ned. She leaves with him joyfully.

Outside, Pleasence arrives with a library. It is Ned’s gift to Cecelia. Ned and Cecelia kiss and discuss renovations. Ned tries to carry Cecelia inside but drops her. The two stand, kiss, proclaim their love for one another, and walk into the library together.