Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for allowing me to have an advanced reader e-copy of this book.

Violet and James have a marriage at a stalemate. One that both of them can not see an end in sight. After a fight four years ago, the two have barely spoken to one another. This is about to change when James has been bucked from a horse and his friend pens a letter to James's wife telling her of his condition. Violet rushes to his side only to find out that he had recovered. Angered that he did not see the need to tell her of his recovery or the incident at all, she starts on a plan to make him realize that he still cares for her after all.

I am not a regency romance reader. The social norms of longing gazes and sneaking hand holding is just a bore for me. But there was something about the description of this one that caught my attention. There was bantering, which I do love some bantering, and a romantic comedy feel to this piece. That is what caught my eye and I do say made me really enjoy this book. It has all the missed cues, misconstrued comments, and silly antics to remind you of any good chic flick, in an Austen-esque setting. The character Violet is delightful with her intelligence and wit, and James's brooding and reserved demeanor make a great counterpoint. I loved watching these two work around each other as they remembered why they had fallen in love in the first place, and maybe never stopped.

I hope this is just the first book of a series, as Violet's and James's friends are great characters with their own stories to tell. Hopefully Jeremy and Diana as the next pair to star in their own novel?

A very clever premise! A young couple, once happily married, but now estranged, try to fool each other with false accidents/illness. Great romance with appealing characters.

In my opinion, the best FRIENDS episode can be summarized with the following quote: “THEY DON’T KNOW THAT WE KNOW THEY KNOW WE KNOW!” And now, much to my delight, I have finally found a book that takes that energy and brings it to Regency England. If you’re a major FRIENDS fan like me, or you’re looking for a book that’s just plain fun, you need to check out To Have and To Hoax by Martha Waters.

James and Violet’s first year of marriage was wonderful until they had a fight that led them to hate each other for the next 4 years. Finally, at the end of her rope, Violet hatches a scheme to get her husband’s attention: she will fake an illness. James almost immediately catches on but decides to play along in an attempt to best his wife. Shenanigans, hijinks, and banter ensue. There’s also plenty of romance, as James is obviously her lobster! I'm still thinking about how much I enjoyed reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by this author!

Song/s the book brought to mind: Dreams by The Cranberries

If you are looking for a lighthearted historical romance that reads like a romcom, then To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters is the debut novel for you!

This is my first foray into historical romance and I quite enjoyed it! The bickering between our couple, James and Violet, was very entertaining and this book is laugh out loud funny. I loved Violet's sarcasm and quick wit, and I was laughing before page 8. I was having a hard time concentrating on reading but To Have and to Hoax was exactly what I needed to reset and refocus. I had completely forgotten it is set in the 1800s, so it was a fun surprise when I realized that again. I haven't read much at all set in the time period, and I liked learning a little bit more about it.

It has to be said that I also love the cover of the book. It is very simple which I love, and I like the nod to a lot of the contemporary romance covers out right now. Looking at the cover you may not know it is a historical romance and I love that about it. I think the purple cover would make it a great addition to anyone's bookshelf.

To Have and to Hoax had plenty of sexual tension and a couple steamy scenes but they were definitely on the tame side which I like. There are so many great characters in here and I would love to see another book focusing on any or all of them.

The only reason I set my rating at a 4 instead of a 5 is because I thought the game playing went on a little too long and the book could have been shorter. Overall though To Have and to Hoax was a great debut novel and it had 2 elements I really love - it felt like a quick read (and probably will be for most readers), and it made me laugh more times than I can count. I will definitely read any other books Waters writes!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

I just didn't like it. Reminiscent of things like Gone With the Wind, people being horrible to each other but speaking in polite, societal tones most of the time they do it. The setting hurt rather than helped. It just wasn't for me.

Martha Waters’ debut novel To Have and to Hoax is the hilarious, feel good read we all need in our lives right now. I breezed through it in a couple of sittings and just sat there chuckling to myself the entire time I was reading. The book is set in Regency, England, and reads very much like a Jane Austen novel, which I loved since I’m a huge Austen fan.

To Have and to Hoax follows a young couple, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley, who meet, fall in love, and marry within just a few months of becoming acquainted. A fierce quarrel between the two of them early on in their marriage has left them completely alienated from one another. Both Violet and James are apparently not only stubborn as mules, but they are also quite juvenile and so 4 years have passed with them at a stalemate. Deciding enough is enough, the two of them start to play mind games with one another – feigning sick to make the other one worry, pretending to have a paramour to make the other jealous. They even actually start to bring outsiders into their games as actors to up the stakes to try to get under each other’s skin. These two idiots and their antics are just so silly and ridiculous that I couldn’t stop laughing at them and especially at their hilarious sniping banter.

To Have and to Hoax is exactly the bit of fluffy goodness I was hoping for when I started reading and I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted read about a couple of stubborn fools. 3.5 STARS

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

With comparisons drawn to Julia Quinn, I really hoped to love To Have and to Hoax and find a new historical romance author to follow at long last. However, an intriguing premise is horribly done, with this book containing the worst things in romance: childish and unlikable characters, a Big Misunderstanding that could have been solved with a single conversation, and “humor” that failed to land with me.

James was worse, because it turns out the root of his issues are his problems with his father, which is an immediate attraction killer for me when it comes to heroes. I like heroes who care for their families, but daddy issues are such a cliche, and turn an otherwise strong character into a weakling. And while he does eventually stand up to his dad, it was just too little, too late for me.

And Violet is no better. Her parental issues are present, but more understandable (her mother is a bit of a busybody, a trope I don’t mind as much in histrom). But her reaction to the overblown nature of James’ injury being to fake an illness? I can’t speak for everyone, but that element just bothered me due to the relevance with real world events. And while he eventually catches on, he doesn’t confront her about it and end her charade (not to mention not having it out about their issues), but just plays along?

I ultimately finished this book with no faith in this “romance,” but unsure whether I wanted them to split up, or whether it was a case where they were both bad enough to deserve each other, thus sparing the truly good people from them.

Ultimately, I could not stand this book. I do seem to be in the minority on this one, so it’s possible it could be another (albeit very extreme) case of my frustration with historical romance coming out. If you like historical romance, and you don’t mind Big Misunderstandings, perhaps it’s worth giving a try.

I thought this was very charming and easy to read. The book started off at a great pace and was intriguing. I loved the characters of Violet and James, I thought they were both strong and well fleshed out characters. The biggest issue I had was that two characters spent 4 whole years in the same house... married... and wouldn’t speak to each other over a discrepancy that could have been sorted out if they had talked to each other. I could handle a year or so as a plausible time for an extreme argument but four years just seemed outrageous especially when the characters are obviously extremely attracted to each other. It took them four years to resist that? It was a shame because I really loved the writing but that coupled with the fact that the couple kept starting trivial arguments with each other made it a bit less enjoyable. Altogether I did enjoy the story, though!

To Have and to Hoax is a hilarious historical rom-com that I adored. It was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits. It's a witty and lighthearted romance that I finished reading in two days. I loved Violet and James, I enjoyed their banter and their chemistry was hot, hot, hot. The main conflict is built on miscommunication trope, which I don't usually enjoy, but it worked well in this book. If you are looking for a delightful and swoony historical romance, don't miss To Have and to Hoax.

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. I did not want this book to end! Sometimes I forget how much I like a good regency romance, especially if I'm in a loop of reading a ton of contemporary romance. This book puts such a delightful spin on regency-love how the tables are turned in this book and how the British stiff upper lip gets flipped on its head.

4.25 stars

I know my GR feed will soon be flooded with 4/5 star happy, satisfied reviews of this much anticipated debut in the next few days. I'm happy to add my own to the mix. Funny, tender, sexy and fast paced, To Have and to Hoax is a Friends-esque historical rom-com, complete with a borrowed plot from one of my favorite episodes of that show: She doesn't know I know she knows I know.

Friends: The One Where Everybody Finds Out

Lady Violet Grey spent most of her life listening to her mother's constant warnings about Ruin, and Violet's tightrope-walk on the edge of it. When she finds herself alone on a balcony with a notorious rake, Jeremy Overington, Marquess of Willingham, she's fairly certain it's precisely the kind of scenario her mother worried about. But it's her first season, she's (sort of) enjoying the Ruining, and before she can actually be Ruined, a surprise savior arrives.

When Lord James Audley, the second son of the Duke of Dovington, interrupts the potential Ruination by suggesting Jeremy is losing his touch (they aren't quite in the darkest corner of the balcony), Violet is both terrified of their discovery, and relieved. James, one of Jeremy's closest friends, is discreet and probably won't tell anyone. The friends exchange sharp words before Jeremy, much to James' shock, departs for a drink and leaves him alone with her. Violet doesn't shrink away (ha! see what I did there) from his censure, or after he apologizes for the swift curse that escaped him after Jeremy's escape. Instead, she chastises him for treating her as a mere spectator to her own life. The conversation quickly turns into a flirtation, and then a dance...until the pair is startled by the sudden arrival of Violet's mother.

Fast forward five years. James and Violet are married, but they live as virtual strangers in their shared home on Curzon Street. After an idyllic first year of marriage, a bitter fight over a misunderstanding left them both unwilling and unable to forgive and forget. They secretly still love each other, but the distance between them has never been greater. When Violet receives word that James has been thrown from a horse at their country home, and is unconscious, she's devastated. She races to get to him, regretting the past four years of their acrimonious separation, knowing she's still deeply in love with him.

After stopping at an inn for a short break, she spots James walking towards her. At first, she's shocked speechless to see him looking perfectly fine. But when she finally confesses her purpose, James thoughtlessly dismisses her concerns. Violet is furious. And livid. And ready for revenge. Convinced it was a trick to prove her affection, Violet decides to fake a serious illness of her own and give him a taste of his own medicine. She enlists their tight-knit group of Friends to help her...and well, the whole thing is bonkers and ridiculous. But also sort of funny.

I say sort of funny because the story is too long. Once James figures out that Violet is faking her illness and gets his reward by forcing her to remain sick when she's ready to move on, the novel drags before it reaches it's inevitable conclusion. There aren't any more tricks - well, there is one, but it's almost blink and you'll miss it; instead, we're faced with these two realizing over and over again what their friends already know (despite not knowing precisely why they fought in the first place) - they belong together, they love each other, and the past four years could have been avoided had they only TALKED to each other after their horrible fight. Pride, although Ms. Water's never explicitly says it, is almost as much a hurdle to their happiness as all of the rest of it.

And the rest of it is about trust, or their mutual lack of it. Violet doesn't believe James trusts her above all others, and it keeps her from trying to heal the rift between them. James, for much of the story, believes Violet violated his trust...but even when he learns the truth about the origins of their fight, he doesn't realize the damage his lack of trust has done. It takes this parting exchange from Violet (at the tail end of the novel) to set the long delayed final denouement in motion.

I already know your worth. You don't need to prove anything to me. I need for my opinion to be the one that matters the most to you, because I am your wife. So please, James, I am begging you. I am leaving now, and please don't come after me until you can make that true.

The plot moves quickly, with just the right amount of angst to add depth to this otherwise charming story. The dialogue and inner PoV's are particularly well realized, and it was easy to see how these two fell hard for each other - and then stumbled. James never learned to trust in love, and therefore has no basis for understanding it once he falls in love with Violet. Violet has never felt more fully herself than she was in that first year of marriage with James, but the moment she errs - she keeps a secret for too long - James turns on her.

These are two fully realized characters, and I was impressed with Waters ability to show us - through the lens of their mutual PoV's - how their upbringings shaped the marriage in that first year, and then, more significantly, later when it wasn't as easy to be together. Although Waters positions Violet as a woman who struggles within the confines of her sex, I thought her lack of agency was an underdeveloped, almost distracting subplot. She chafes against her life, but only when it's convenient to the plot.

James and Violet have great chemistry, and while I enjoyed the steamy scenes sprinkled throughout the second half, unfortunately, there are too few of them. Everything about this novel screams 'modern' historical (the good kind), and I think the sex should match the material. Instead, we get too many memories of sexy times...and while this might appeal to many readers, I wish there was more on page. I also can't help but feel the AWESOME INCREDIBLE EVERYWHERE sex of the first year is a bit oversold, and sometimes Waters purple prose veers a bit off the rails.

He was so close now that she could smell him - he smelled faintly of horse and sweat and himself, and it made her want to tug him closer, lick his skin.

Um, yuck? Horse and sweat and licking? No thanks.

To Have and to Hoax features a likeable group of secondary characters whom I expect we will see in future stories. These friends, and a few outliers who help Violet in her shenanigans, all get their turn as scene stealers, and they enhance this story in every way. I'm curious about each and everyone of them, and eager to know who Waters will feature next. I don't see a series name attached to this title, but I would be very much surprised if there are 3 or 4 (please?) books to come. Jeremy perhaps plays the more prominent role in this outing, so maybe he's next?

Regardless, this is a promising, charming and funny, debut. I'll be looking forward to whatever she writes next!

Recommended reading for anyone looking for:
1. A fresh and funny twist on the enemies to lovers trope
2. A new, potentially great voice in historical romance
3. A way to be transported from your everyday life
4. Great rom-com - historical or otherwise!

3.5 stars

I loved this premise and I was excited to get to it, but I can’t decide if the rating is closer to 3 or 4 stars.

I loved Violet and James. They’re both so stubborn and so smitten with each other, it was delightful to read them try to figure out how to mess with the other. There’s loads of other characters and the set up with all of them seems impossible for this to be a stand alone.

Plot wise, it was okay. It seemed like it took way too long for the reveal of what prompted the argument that lasted 4 years. However, it does make for the best part of the book: the one-upping, the snark, and the waltz flirting until they both realIzed how much they still loved each other. I could have done with a million more chapters of their arguing and open communication.

Overall, it was a fun and quick read with characters who were easy to root for.

**Huge thanks to Atria Books for providing the arc free of charge**

3.5 stars

It was love at first sight for Lord James and Lady Violet. But their marriage of two very strong personalities was only idyllic for a year. Then, a seemingly minor misunderstanding exacerbated by extreme stubbornness on both their parts led to four years of separate bedrooms, indifference, silent breakfasts, and icy cold shoulders.

Then a possibly serious riding accident interrupted their cold war. Lady Violet decides it's time to teach his lordship a lesson and feigns consumption to gain sympathy. He figures out the drama almost immediately and the battle is on.

This wildly implausible plot is redeemed by the great chemistry and repartee between the two as they fight their way back to each other. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first historical rom-com book; to be honest I did not realize this was a genre before reading this book, but I enjoyed the story. Parts of it seemed a bit too unrealistic while others had me cracking up! Waters did a great job developing the characters and the complicated relationship between Lady Grey and Lord Audley. this is a cheeky quarantine read!

"In this fresh and hilarious historical rom-com, an estranged husband and wife in Regency England feign accidents and illness in an attempt to gain attention - and maybe just win each other back in the process.

Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met, fell in love, and got married. Four years ago, they had a fight to end all fights, and have barely spoken since.

Their once-passionate love match has been reduced to one of cold, detached politeness. But when Violet receives a letter that James has been thrown from his horse and rendered unconscious at their country estate, she races to be by his side - only to discover him alive and well at a tavern, and completely unaware of her concern. She’s outraged. He’s confused. And the distance between them has never been more apparent.

Wanting to teach her estranged husband a lesson, Violet decides to feign an illness of her own. James quickly sees through it, but he decides to play along in an ever-escalating game of manipulation, featuring actors masquerading as doctors, threats of Swiss sanitariums, faux mistresses - and a lot of flirtation between a husband and wife who might not hate each other as much as they thought. Will the two be able to overcome four years of hurt or will they continue to deny the spark between them?

With charm, wit, and heart in spades, To Have and to Hoax is a fresh and eminently entertaining romantic comedy - perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Julia Quinn."

Not enough people take advantage of the rom-com possibilities of the Regency Era!

Rating 3.5

I was immediately drawn in from the first chapter with James and Violet’s romance! This is the first regency romance rom-com and I found it absolutely witty and hilarious!. We got to see them the first time they met, and then BAM. Fast forward five years and everything is in shambles and we never get to see that initial honeymoon phase. I love a good slow burn, but at times this dragged on a bit too long for me. I’m not sure if that is because I just finished “You Deserve Each Other” which is also a Lovers-to-Enemies- to - Lovers trope as well. (I hate to compare books but the feud is a little bit similar).

I did think James Audley was absolutely swoon worthy and I loved that he was at the young age of “Eight and Twenty” as opposed to a lot of HR that has the leading males in their late 30’s and early 40’s. It was easier for me to connect with younger characters! I absolutely adored Violet and her passion for knowledge and being disobedient in that time era. I love a good head strong leading lady! Especially a scheming one! This was a positively delightful read over all! (Said in an english accent)

I wanted this book to be really funny and interesting .... sadly it was none of these things, it started out mildly interesting and slowly evolved into a mind dulling story about 2 petty people who can't show their feelings because of their own childishness. I struggled through 50% of the book hooping for a recovery but at that point I just felt like this book was keeping me from reading something much better (which was setting the bar pretty low). So sadly I give it 2 Stars which might be 1 too many but it did have a good premise but needed an author that could have brought the story to life. DNF @ 50%

Historical rom-com?? Loved this one so much! The whole miscommunication plots often annoy me but not for this book. It was so fun to see Violet and James retaliate against each other. Yeah, they're adults but there were times when it felt like a YA book because of their actions. That's not a bad thing but it was refreshing (**just to be clear, this is NOT a YA book). On another note, 4 years seems like such an awfully long time to be at odds with your significant other. They could have resolved this much earlier but then again this is a historical book so I don't know how life/society was back then.

Towards the end, however, I started getting really annoyed at Violet. I felt like between the two she should grovel a bit more because James did most of that when they were both equally at fault for this miscommunication. The whole banter and schemes thing was fun to read but I kinda wish we saw more of them together towards the end.

I was given a free advance reader copy by @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book by @marthabwaters ! It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the banter and wit between Lady Violet and Lord James. The premise is one of those crazy scenarios where lies keep multiplying and people keep saying things like "they don't know I know they know" and such! ☺️ Nothing too unpredictable, but still very enjoyable and a good light-hearted read! This comes out on Tuesday (7 April), so if you're looking for a fun read during this crazy time, definitely consider this one!
#NetGalley #ToHaveAndToHoax

I thought I would like this book, but unfortunately I didn't. The premise was cute, but the lack of communication (5 years) where the two main characters would not communicate (for a petty reason, in my opinion) made this a frustrating read. It turned into a one-upmanship to see who was right leaving me not caring if the resolved their differences or not,.