Very fun historical romance. Eddie is flawed, for sure, but in a way that makes you still root for her to see how the people around her really feel. And Rose is just a beacon of loveliness without falling into doormat territory. The extended cast are all full fleshed out characters, which feels special. I could happily read spin offs featuring most of them, which is a good place to finish a story, wanting to stay in the world.

such a cute and funny book! it’s rare you find something historical, romantic, and funny, and this book fits the bill and does it so well. i will definitely read anything by lex croucher in the future, this was so enjoyable and i just adored it.

the women in this book are powerful, eddie and rose are loveable and smart, and the story of their friendship and how it blossoms is so great.

thank you to netgalley for this eARC in exchange for a review.

For when you're vibing with... childhood friends to lovers (sans separation), "kissing for practice", good old-fashioned lesbianism, and maybe a bit of what we all probably want to happen with Eloise Bridgerton, but like.... it actually happens here.

Edith "Eddie" Miller has always had her best friend Rose Li to fall back on, and vice versa. They even rely on each other for kissing practice. How convenient! But when Rose announces her intentions to marry, Eddie is left bereft and alone--until the famous poet Nash Nicholson invites her to visit his estate. Like Nash, Eddie is a writer, and she figures that getting Rose out of her head is just what she needs to perfect her novel. But Rose isn't so easy to shake, and Nash's invitation might be a lot more complicated than it initially appeared.

What an interesting book! I think that for some people, it's going to be exactly what they need in a sapphic historical romance. For me, I'm not so sure--but I appreciate what it is, and I liked it as my first Lex Croucher read.

Quick Takes:
--When I tell you Eddie gives big "if Eloise Bridgerton was allowed to be the sapphic girl her TV version clearly wants to be" vibes--I mean it. She's not quite "not like other girls", but there are some borderline moments. I will admit that one thing that took away from the novel as a romance for me is that it is really a singular POV book. I prefer--with some notable exceptions!--my romances, especially non-contemporaries, to have a dual POV. It doesn't have to be equal, but I want to hear from both love interests. Here, Eddie was squarely the protagonist, and while we saw a lot of Rose, we never got into her head. This sucked, both because I honestly liked Rose more (Eddie is definitely meant to be Complex, but aside from that I just found Rose's complexity to be more compelling and unexpected) and because it just felt more like a story in which Rose was the side character versus an equal protagonist.

--But again, I really like Rose. I don't want to give away her aim in this novel, but it was a refreshingly forthright take on a sapphic historical romance. I went into this book really expecting Rose to be one thing, and she totally zigged where I was thinking she'd zag. I just wanted more for her.

--The villain is very transparently obvious, and though I'm not against a clear villain theory... This was so! Clear! That it did feel a bit more YA than adult. I actually had to double check the ages--but yes, the women are twenty-two, so this is squarely not YA.

--The entire setting of the gothic estate was great, and it led to a lot of moments where people stumbled in on secret meetings, clandestine kisses were had, and so on. It felt very Northanger Abbey, and in a lot of ways the entire novel very much seemed like a tribute to Austen, which I loved.

--The ending had some elements I loved (especially in regards to the romance) but one thing that did bug me a lot, and while I get why the choice was made... I don't know if I can get over it.

The Sex Stuff:
There is passionate kissing and light touching, but the book is very tame. Sex happens, but we don't "see" it. I found this rather disappointing, to be honest. I feel that a lot of sapphic historical romance is much lighter on the sex that het historical romance, and it's not my favorite thing.

Overall, I think that Infamous ran a bit young for me, and while it was quirkily pleasing, it didn't quite go as far as it could have gone. It's good, but it could've been great. I would, however, recommend it to YA readers who'd like to dip their toes into adult romance. It works really well as a bridge in that sense.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful Regency sapphic romp infused with gothic elements and perfect for fans of Bridgerton (especially those who love Eloise)!

this book was so lovely! sapphic historical romances are still something that is sorely lacking, and this story fills a spot in the market for sure! the main character was great, although Rose was my favorite. a great story of navigating sexuality. also the friends to lovers plot line was amazing! Lex Croucher is one of my new favorite authors for sure.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I absolutely loved this story. At it's core it is a historical romance but the characters are unconventional and wonderful. I love that these types of stories are being written and published that feature queer relationships, diverse characters, and a variety of lifestyles. I loved the exploration of the importance of art, art creation and art appreciation in this book. I just loved reading this and I look forward to the next installment.

If your favorite Bridgerton character is Eloise, then this book is for you. It is advertised as Bridgerton meets Booksmart and it delivers. It is a sapphic friends to lovers romance with Rose and Eddie. It was chaotic, funny, and a interesting take on regency romance. I enjoyed the tension of how to live your life you want within the confines of society. Eddie was frustrating at times and how they did was argue, so I wish their romance was more developed. I think this would have helped if this book had a double POV. It needed Rose's. Overall, this was a entertaining read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so much fun! Infamous is billed as Bridgerton meets Booksmart, and it certainly delivers on both sides. The characters are nuanced and complex, developing in a believable way. It's just such a great sapphic romance with two amazing characters in Rose and Eddie. Overall entertaining, well structured and romantic.

Thank you to St Martin Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital arc

This book was delightful and I need all the sapphic regency books ever written now. Eddie and Rose have been best friends since they were kids and dabbled in kissing, purely for practice. Loved the setting and the overall vibe of this book but had a few issues that made me only like it, overall.

What I Enjoyed:
-great if you are in the mood for something cute and very young feeling
-funny banter
-not really realistic for a regency period, so Eddie got away with more socially than she ever would have. I can see this being an issue for some but I didn't mind and thought it made it more interesting
-loved that Eddie was a writer of bizarre short stories
-appreciated the diverse cast and bi-rep

What I Didn't Enjoy:
-I didn't like the dynamic between Eddie and Rose at all. the chemistry was lacking most of the book until very close to the end and neither of them were too likeable
-a few too many anachronisms
-hated the guy Eddie was messing around with (forgot his name) and felt like that whole plot line was annoying
-felt like they made Rose Asian just to say "hey look it's diverse" but mentioned nothing culturally

All in all, I liked the book, but liked the idea of it more than the actual execution. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC,

This was my first Lex Croucher book and I am sad to say I did not connect with it. Although I went in expecting this to be a Regency era sapphic romance, the romance was certainly a secondary plot line to the main character's experiences. Because of this, the romance seemed underdeveloped and even though these women were supposed to be the best of friends we really only saw them arguing, so I wasn't invested in their chemistry, romantic or otherwise. I thought the twist at the end was great and the ending was sweet, but the road to getting there felt too long at times, with no clear plot or direction during chunks of the book. Croucher seemed to pick and choose which aspects of the Regency era would be included, and the many obvious inaccuracies took me out of the setting. Also, the secondary characters--I'm mainly thinking of the house staff, half of which seemingly popped up halfway through the book (seriously, I have no recollection of Henry in the first 20 chapters) but even Dayo, Kitty, and Valentine, all of whom were constantly present-- were too underdeveloped to have the storylines that they did, and the whole Henry drama seemed so out of place at the end, just conflict for conflicts sake.

I throughly enjoyed Lex Croucher’s latest regency romcom, Infamous. I loved the premise and found Eddie to be a fun version of the aspiring writer; she’s funny, sharp, sometimes annoying and clueless, and trying to find her unconventional way in a structured society. You sometimes want to shake her — because of Rose, because of Nash clearly being increasingly sketchy, because of her stubbornness — but she’s a relatable 22 year old with ambitions that cloud her judgment at times, especially when dazzled by these artists she aspires to join. Rose was a lovely voice of reason and love interest, and her parallel story of finding her place — and trying to make room for Eddie in it — was a great inclusion (I honestly would have liked to see more of this, even in an epilogue). I also loved having Asian representation here. The array of characters were entertaining and fun to follow. I enjoyed that this book is a little less silly and a bit more serious than Reputation; the story delves into more issues and has a more thoughtful side.

I hope Lex keeps writing these because they’re so delightful and a fresh alternative to typical regency books. They’re often laugh-out-loud, filled with references and the stories and characters you’d like to see more of. Their funny, winking, but still loving, voice is so welcome.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

I don’t think this author is for me. I read Reputation and didn’t like it. I read this book and liked it even less than Reputation. I really didn’t feel like anything happened in this book. I was bored 90% of the time.

"Infamous" by Lex Croucher is the lesbian, historical rom-com you've been waiting for! Found family trope, additional queer characters including non-binary representation. Found family trope, idiots to lovers, friends to lovers, a Lake Geneva-esque artist retreat, ghost stories, and a rakish villain.

Perfect for fans of queer romance, Bridgerton, Little Women, Jane Austen & 18th century poets.

I requested access to this ARC from NetGalley and was granted access in exchange for an honest review.

I really really tried to get into Infamous, but I am unfortunately DNF'ing this at 30%.

At 30% I have a good feel for our protagonist Eddie, where this plot is going, and the writing and I'm just not enjoying myself. I'm finding the parts with Eddie's family -- especially the seven year old sister Trix -- a chore to read. Eddie is very selfish and "unconventional" and I'm finding her grating instead of charming.

I really enjoyed Reputation, but unfortunately Infamous just isn't for me. If Eloise is your favorite character in Bridgerton, this may be more your jam than mine.

PS: Normally I wouldn't give this a star rating because I didn't actually finish the book. NetGalley requires a star rating to submit a review. I am giving the 30% that I have read a 2.5/5 stars, a 50%, a "not for me".

Oh my God, I've just become Lex Croucher's biggest fan. I truly cannot believe it took me this long to read her for the first time. This was absolutely amazing, and I rarely read romances. Wow wow wow, I can't recommend enough.

Lex Croucher’s works cannot be tidily categorized into a specific box and I mean that in the best of ways. Part awakening, part coming-of-age, part romance, part I-don’t-know-what, Infamous sunk its hooks into me and took me along for the ride.

Edith “Eddie” Miller comes from an unconventional household with an unconventional family and wants nothing more in life than to be a writer and to spend time with her best friend Rose. Well, at one point, she did have that childhood fantasy of marrying her favorite poet, Nash Nicholson, but it turns out that he is already married.

Rose, understanding that things are not as simple for Regency Era ladies as Eddie would like to believe, knows that her best option for the future lies in the confines of a marital bond. Unsurprisingly, Eddie disagrees.

When the ladies do end up meeting Nash Nicholson and get invited to his family’s—unbeknownst to Eddie and Rose—decomposing estate in the countryside, Eddie jumps at the chance to write alongside her literary hero, and Rose goes along to support Eddie. But—dare I say it—perhaps the state of the estate is an apt metaphor for our dear Nash Nicholson. There is quite a lot of show from the outside, but inside—eh—things are a bit murky. And Nash and his friends’ version of entertainment and decorum is even more unconventional than the treehouse, family games, and adventure-seeking aspects found in Eddie’s family.

What happens when society’s rules no longer seem to apply? Is anything really as isolated as an island? And what are these feelings that Eddie seems to be experiencing?

If Eloise is your favorite Bridgerton, and you have ever wondered what would happen if she perhaps liked girls in addition to boys, this may just be the book for you. With echoes of Austen’s tone and cadences—yes, I did go there—and a whole host of other things going on, Lex Croucher’s Infamous is decidedly more than a straightforward—er, queerforward?—Regency romance.

Is it perhaps a twist on Gothic romance with Eddie falling into the role of the distressed heroine, Nash taking on the somewhat distorted mantle of the Byronic hero, and steady Rose as Eloise’s secondary (but truly primary) love interest?

Well, it is certainly something as Eddie trips down the path to Nash’s bacchanal and works to find her way back to solid land.

And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received an advance copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This was a fun read. The characters were eclectic and fun, and I loved the tension of trying to figure out how to live the life you want within the confines of society. There were times when I really liked Eddie, and times when I was frustrated by her (but I often find myself frustrated with 22-year-old romance protagonists, so this is nothing too surprising!) I understand getting only Eddie’s POV, but I kind of wanted Rose’s at times, too, especially because the “reveal” of Rose’s feelings isn’t shocking to anyone but Eddie.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Infamous.

I really enjoyed Infamous. I’ve not read anything else by Lex Croucher (yet) and went into this book with no expectations. I was immediately enamored with the wittiness of the writing. The dialogue, in particular, was outstanding. Lex Croucher serves some top-notch banter in Infamous.

The protagonist is Edith (“Eddie”) Miller, a 22-year-old who is aspiring to publish her first novel and also just generally figuring out who she is and what she wants out of life. She’s a Jo March type of character – all big dreams and eschewing societal norms. So obviously I loved her. The book opens with Eddie and her best friend of 14 years, Rose Li, literally kissing in a tree “for practice,” so it’s quite obvious where this story is going from the outset. To the reader, at least. To Eddie, not so much. And that’s something I really loved about Eddie – she’s a bit oblivious. There are several occasions throughout the book where she has these realizations and feels dumb for not having figured whatever it is out sooner, and it’s just so endearing and relatable. I just wanted to give her a hug and say you’re not supposed to have everything figured out at 22 (or 32 or 42…).

Both Eddie and Rose are at that stage in life where things are changing for them and they are struggling with the fear of losing each other, and they are extremely jealous of anyone who they see as a threat to their relationship. Rose gets engaged to a man named Albert who seems nice enough and Eddie meeting her idol the poet Nash Nicholson who takes a liking to her and says he’s interested in helping her with her writing career. Eddie doesn’t understand why Rose wants to marry Albert, and Rose can’t stand Nash. So what better idea than all of them traveling together to Nash’s family estate in the middle of nowhere (along with others…including Nash’s wife)? Mayhem ensues.

This is Eddie story, and Eddie is by far the most developed character in the novel. But I want to note that I really appreciated how Lex Croucher wrote the Nash Nicholson character. He’s complicated. You see what Eddie sees in him. You also see what Rose sees in him. Over the course of the story you see more of his behavior and learn more about him to help you form a better judgment of him, simultaneously with Eddie. I appreciated being along for the ride with Eddie on this rather than already knowing whether Nash is a Bad Guy or Good Guy, or a little bit of both.

The main characters in this book are 22 year old Edith “Eddie” Miller and her best friend Rose. Eddie has no interest in following a conventional path and getting married. She has aspirations to become a writer. Her friend Rose wants to find a suitable husband and get married.

You could classify this book as a queer regency rom-com, however there are some more serious themes as well. These include: a slow burn romance between Eddie and Rose, a predator named Nash Nicholson, and Eddies self awakening and path of personal growth.

Overall, I felt that his book was well written and there were some entertaining characters. However, it just not for me as I personally prefer a more “light” escapist type regency romp. Those wanting a story with deeper underlying themes will likely enjoy sinking their teeth into this novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

This was an insanely fun read and I loved every second of it. I love the Bridgerton/Pride and Prejudice vibes of this one. Lex Croucher can write all the regency romance books they want and I will happily read them all. The more I think about it, the more I can pinpoint that it’s the humor of the author that comes across in the book that sets these apart from the competition. I loved that the characters actually felt their age and didn't read too young or too old. Definitely give these a read, regardless of whether or not you like regency romances.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!