Infamous is a refreshing and utterly irreverent parody of Jane Austen's works. This satirical take on Austen's classic novels is a breath of fresh air, offering a unique perspective on the traditional themes of love, marriage, and societal expectations. The witty and clever writing style of the author makes this book a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good laugh and a fresh take on classic literature. With its bold and unapologetic approach, Infamous is a true gem that will leave readers both entertained and enlightened.

In perfect time for the #transrightsreadathon this week, Lex Croucher’s sophomore novel “Infamous” published yesterday. Their first book Reputation came out last year and was Bridgertons meets Mean Girls, and admittedly remains on my TBR still waiting to be read. 😅

This book has wonderful diverse representation
❤️A non-binary bisexual MC
🧡A British Chinese Lesbian Best Friend
💛Valentine, a non-binary side character
💚A Black side character working in the abolition movement in England
💙Written by a non-binary author

This PG regency romance’s plot could be labeled New Adult as it really showcases the 22 yo MC Eddie’s journey of growth into adulthood. This book caused high tension for me as the reader, as at time’s Eddie’s naïveté and blind trust in others, left me waiting as the reader for the other shoe to drop.

This story features in my opinion a true villain of a character who doesn’t get the comeuppance they deserve, so the ending was dissatisfying to me. Not enough however, to have me read more by the author or to be thankful for something fresh and different in the historical romance genre.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.


CW: Cheating on a spouse; Violence (vague and off screen); 2 dubious consent scenes

Infamous follows Edith “Eddie” Miller, a young, aspiring writer, and her best friend Rose. The two have always done everything together, but when Rose suddenly starts talking about getting married after their debutante ball, Eddie is left horrified.

When Eddie then meets the charming, famous poet Nash Nicholson and he invites her to his Gothic estate in the countryside, Eddie reluctantly accepts, believing this could be her chance to forget about Rose and finally finish her novel in the depths of eccentric artists.

But Eddie soon realises that the world of the famous literary icons she wants to be part of isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

I think we, as a society, do not appreciate clueless characters enough. There, I said it. Eddie is such a fun character to follow because, even when you can see her getting lost in her writing and her own dreams, you also see what she’s missing out on and what’s happening around her, which makes for hilarious moments. She is so focused on her novel and trying to forget about Rose (while their lives very much intertwine the more she tries to think of something else) that it takes quite a while for Eddie to realise that there’s more to Nash and his behaviour.

The best part of this book is of course Eddie and Rose’s friendship. Rose’s and Eddie’s dynamic is so enjoyable to watch. Whenever Eddie puts her foot in her mouth, you can just count down the seconds until Rose will appease everyone. Though Eddie takes a while to question why she’s so horrified by the idea of Rose getting married, the lingering loyalty and kindness between these two ladies is always present and wholesome.

There’s of course quite a bit of drama in Infamous. From drama surrounding their friendship to…other feelings as well as unusual parties and loads of alcohol, eccentric artists who do things they shouldn’t.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fun, chaotic and ultimately heartwarming story, then Infamous will make for a wonderful time!

As a 22 year old writer, relatable. This was a fun RomCom with an adorable friendship turned romance. I have minor qualms, but overall a fantastic story.

I thoroughly enjoyed Reputation, so I was thrilled about the opportunity to read this book, which takes place in the same Regency universe but features new characters.

Eddie has adored her best friend Rose since they were girls, and doesn’t understand why Rose wants to ruin everything they have by marrying boring old Albert. She’s thrilled to meet her literary icon Nash Nicholson, and even more thrilled when Nash invites her and Rose and Albert and various other eccentric personalities for an extended house party.

Without giving too much away, things are not as Eddie expected and over the course of this extended stay, friendships are tested and boundaries are crossed and Eddie realizes that there is a vast difference between idealistic and realistic.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. Basically, you have two complete fools who are too dense to realize that the other friend is in love with them. Yes, despite the “kissing practice”, neither thinks the other is serious about her adoration. It’s just practice, after all, not anything serious. But watching them stumble toward their Happily Ever After is simply delightful.

I would absolutely recommend Infamous. You don’t have to start with Reputation, but you really ought to read it as well, because it’s just as wonderful. As much as I loved Reputation—and I did, 12/10 would def recommend—I think I love Infamous a smidge more. I already have a paperback copy, and I’m going to be adding the Audible edition as soon as my credits roll over. I am already looking forward to Croucher’s next book!




I received a digital copy of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley

A Regency-era queer romance (romcom? romcom-adjacent?) that stars Edith (Eddie) and Rose, lifelong BFFs who practice kissing in Eddie's treehouse and do everything together. But... life comes between them when Rose decides to get married and Eddie gets caught up with a hedonistic poet dude while trying to write her book. Misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and chaos ensue.

I was so into this book when I started it - Eddie and Rose are funny and smart, and I love a bit of Regency-era ladies behaving outside the social norms - and I loved how it ended, but the middle felt too meandering and long for me, and I sort of lost track of what was even happening.

That said, I am super excited to read Croucher's future books, especially their upcoming YA debut, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love!

(3.5 rounded down)

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book I read by Croucher, Reputation which was a fun twist on the historical romance genre and had a biting but irreverent tone I found refreshing, but also very fun. I was really excited for Infamous and it delivered in a lot of ways while also leaving me a bit flat in others.

Infamous focuses on the friendship between two girls, Rose and Eddie who grow up together but as they grow up, find that they are at somewhat of an impasse. Rose seemingly wants to fit in to society, get married and get invited to parties. Eddie has grander aspirations in her mind including writing her own novels. I really liked the relationship between the two girls although Eddie at times is very selfish and self-centered in a way that is purposefully grating but becomes somewhat difficult when you are in her POV the entire book.

My favorite part about the book are the other characters and relationships. Eddie's family is unorthodox and delightful and the friends Eddie makes along the way are queer and fun and frustrating in the best ways.

Eddie and Rose find themselves in the poorly kept manor house of Nash, a married poet who has designs on Eddie while also promising her to pass on her words to his editor. Nash is the perfect type of charming jerk and I enjoyed the literal cult of personality he cultivates.

This book was at times frustrating but mostly fun and while I'm not sure it has a ton of plot to it, the diversions it takes both slow down the book but also make it special. The main point of the book is the relationship between Rose and Eddie which develops beautifully and has a delightfully clever HEA that is worth pursuing.

Thank you so much to St. Martins publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*Review copied from my Instagram review*

✨𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖✨

Happy Pub Day @lexcanroar 🎉

I'm back with another historical romance recommendation! But this one is queer! 🌈 Also, if you get a chance, check out Alexis Hall's beautiful review of Infamous on Goodreads! His reviews are just as enjoyable as his books. ☺️

Thank you #partners @stmartinspress @smpromance and @macmillan.audio for gifted copies.

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀
𝗕𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝘅 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 (𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆/𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺)
𝟯𝟯𝟲 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
𝗨𝗦 𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝟯/𝟮𝟭/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 - 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!
*Out in 2022 in the UK

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸:
𝟭𝟬 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝟱𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀
𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸

📖 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: Edith "Eddie" Miller and her best friend Rose have been inseparable their whole lives, and they've promised one another that they'd never marry. That is, until Rose meets an older man and decides she wants a more traditional (and socially acceptable) life. Feeling put out, Eddie accepts an invitation to join renowned writer Nash Nicholson on his estate to work on her own writing. While there, Eddie learns more than a thing or two about life and love.

•Regency era
•Historical romantic comedy
•Sapphic MCs
•Queer side characters
•BIPOC characters
•Fabulous audio narration
•Forbidden love
•Friends-to-lovers

💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: This was an absolute delight! It's the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud funny, with the exploration of some deeper themes as well. I love the character growth and the romance (even if it took ages to actualize). Infamous is the perfect example of a book that is elevated by the audio narration. Ellie Kendrick nails it. Outstanding performance from start to finish!

I will note that there has been some minor criticisms about the creative liberties Lex has taken in their last two books, with regard to historical accuracy. And while everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, I am not a purist, and am fairly neutral. I think there are times when accuracy is important, but other times when it's more than OK to have fun with it and create a work of fiction that doesn't necessarily align with the reality of the era -- especially when it allows for more diversity and representation. 💕
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[Actual Rating 3.25] Infamous is my second novel by Lex Croucher after enjoyed Reputation. Edith “Eddie” Miller is a 22-year-old aspiring writer who has been best friends with Rose ever since childhood and promised each other they would never marry. This changes when Eddie and Rose meet Nash Nicholson, a poet and Eddie’s idol, at a dinner party. Nash invites Eddie to his Gothic estate to assist her finishing her novel. Through her time at the estate, the reader gets to know Nash better along with Eddie trying to figure out her friendship with Rose after their stances on marriage seem to change. While I loved to hate Nash as he was horrible yet captivating, I felt a lot of time was spent getting to know him better which overshadowed the real love interest, Rose.

With the story told mainly from Eddie, the reader relies on her perspective of the other characters and situations. The novel begins with Rose and Eddie together as platonic friends with some unconscious romantic undertones, so it was interesting to see how Eddie and Rose both attempt to acknowledge that the feelings may mean something more to them. Their chemistry was apparent from the beginning and the repression was felt. When Rose gets engaged to Albert, this affects her relationship with Eddie and the reader gets to see how the connection between Eddie and Rose changes. I wish the reader was given more exploration into Rose and Albert’s relationship and how it all relates to her relationship with Eddie.

Eddie is a fairly dense woman as it takes her awhile to see the reality of everything around her. While I am sure Rose has her internal reasons, even as a fictional character, about why she would want to ultimately be with Eddie, I felt the reader needed a little more from Eddie’s development. Eddie does get some good growth in the novel, but I feel it never quite reached its full potential. Aside from the romance’s progression, there is also Eddie’s writing career. This was an interesting aspect of the novel as the author herself is writing about an aspiring author. This was a well-done element of the writing as it interesting to see how the author herself would write about her creation’s writing journey. Overall, there were pieces of the story that were more well-written than others, but it was still an interesting tale. I enjoyed Reputation a little more, but I would still read more from the author in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I really, really enjoyed Reputation by this author and was hoping for the same experience with this book, but it wasn’t to be. One other reviewer mentioned that it might have been better told from a dual point of view and they might be on to something; perhaps Rose’s input would have made it a more engaging read for me.

I thought the character development in Reputation was a bit better, but I did appreciate watching Eddie grow (at least a little).

I’m a sucker for a good epilogue, so really enjoyed that. After reading two of the author's books, I will be on the lookout for more.

Infamous by Lex Croucher is a young adult, regency-era, queer love story that made me laugh and I enjoyed.

Story Recap:
Rose and Edith (Eddie) are best friends since childhood, they do everything together including practice kissing. Aspiring writer, Edith has never felt marriage was a priority and lives life in a very unconventional way. Rose has lived a more conventional life and when Rose and Eddie go to their debutant ball, Eddie is horrified to learn that Rose is considering marriage.

Eddie meets the charming renowned poet Nash Nicholson, who invites her to his crumbling old estate in the country, which houses a colony of artists and unconventional people.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed the humor and banter of this book. The author has a writing style that took me a while to get used to, she writes historical fiction in a modern tone, and in her previous book, Reputation, this style threw me off a bit. But, now that I’m used to her style, I was able to enjoy the humor and banter in this book much more.

I liked the story, and the characters and I enjoyed seeing a less conventional side of Regency life. However, I did find the book slow at times, and the plot wasn’t as developed as I would have liked. I enjoyed Eddie very much, she’s an intelligent woman, so I thought she would figure things out a bit quicker than she did.

Overall this was a fun story that made me smile.

Recommendation:

I highly recommend Infamous to anyone who enjoys Historical romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

DNF @ 30%

I hesitate to DNF, especially ARCs because I truly believe that every book is for someone, even if it’s not for me. In this case, I stand firm in that belief. The author has created a wonderfully quirk cast of characters, and her writing is very strong. But for me, I found myself disliking our main character, Eddie, and the other prominent character, Nash. It made it very hard to read even as much as I did, because I simply didn’t care about either one of them.

If you’re a fan of historical romance, and you are looking for something quirky and different from the genre, then I think this book would be for you!

DNF

Loudly queer historical romance, yes please.

Except this one collapsed for me before I could get past twenty-five percent. What killed it for me? The characters themselves. The main characters are two women in their twenties, almost on the shelf, and oblivious to the fact they are in love with each other. I wanted to try and follow their journey but found myself annoyed with how they behaved and treated each other.

The first part of the story I did manage to get through only spoke from Eddie’s POV. She’s the tomboy with a love for storytelling, a hatred for anything that involves society, and a radical bent. I wanted to love Eddie Miller so much, but her easy dismissal and selfish mentality turned me off so fast. Her treatment of the people she alludes to care about is awful, and ultimately, she’s as bad as the poet she idolizes.

Her love interest, Rose Li, who I never got to experience from a POV perspective, at first seemed a good foil for Eddie. However, it was quickly realized that whenever Rose or Eddie was put in an element that they disliked, they turned into worse versions of themselves and weren’t afraid to embarrass the other openly.

Ultimately, this could be a case where this book is more a YA/NA audience, and I’m just getting too old for those types of stories. I totally get rebellious characters and won’t dismiss that those of the merchant class may have had more freedom than those in higher social circles. Though I couldn’t get over my personal dislikes of the characters, others may enjoy this unconventional story with plenty of diversity and LGBTQ representation.

~ Landra

If Eloise Bridgerton were canonically queer and ASD. This book was a romp from beginning to end. The story is kind of slow for the first half of the book, but you really need the context to set up the latter half of the book. I enjoyed the romance in the book as well how unpredictable the plot was, there is a lot packed into this book. For a adult book, the MC feels a little young and the entire book could skew YA or new adult. However, I found the literary nuances appealing for a little bit older reader. There was enough substance to hold my attention but still be a light read. Overall, a very enjoyable follow-up to Reputation.

Things I liked:
✒️The characters quick witted remarks
✒️I laughed often
✒️The characters were easy to root for
✒️Eddie’s perseverance
✒️Rose’s love
✒️Acceptance

Things I didn’t like:
✒️Eddie’s naïveté - I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her until the light bulb finally clicked
✒️Characters through the book supported this naïveté
✒️So much happening with the plot - it’s like there were two
✒️Most of the engaging scenes took place in the second half of the book


I am not fond of third person writing and am aware that this is likely to have hindered my experience with this book. If you like third person, it’s likely you could have a better reading experience.

Lex Croucher is a very talented writer and they create terrifically nuanced characters and I am genuinely impressed by an author who can create complicated and sympathetic messy MCs - and Edith “Eddie” Miller is messy. Eddie has been sure of two things for most of her life - she wants to be a successful writer and her best friend has always been Rose Li. She spends the majority of the book clueless to many things, oblivious to her true feelings about Rose, enamored by the sudden attentions of the Byronic-esque poet Nash Nicholson, and his circle of artistic friends, and single-mindedly focused on becoming a published writer.

There are some pacing elements that didn't work for me - the doomed house party feels endless - perhaps by design? But this coming-of-age story shone best for me when Eddie spends time with Rose - scenes full of warmth, emotion, miscommunication, and eventually declarations of love. Eddie makes a LOT of mistakes throughout the book and frustrated me intensely at times, but I appreciate how much she matures over the course of the book.

Favorite parts:
- Rose Li. Rose Li. Sensible but not boring, pining, faithful
- Albert Rednock - I really like Albert okay
- Kitty’s portrait of Eddie and Rose PERFECT
- Maybe not favorite but Eddie’s large, chaotic family makes me nervous - but not as nervous as Beatrice the youngest sister who is CHAOS GREMLIN
- The final chapter

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Infamous is the story of two best friends in Regency era London as they come of age, come out into society, and come out to each other. Eddie is an aspiring writer who has grown up writing hundreds of short stories for her family and best friend Rose. Eddie is a bit of a misanthrope who doesn't see the point in fitting in with society's expectations for a young lady. Rose enjoys the dances and socializing and agrees to a marriage the Eddie just cannot understand.

This book was so delightful. I loved Eddie and Rose. I loved a story set in a Regency England that is less stiff and more diverse. As someone who didn't realize she was part of queer community until well into her thirties, it was really nice to read a story about a character coming to that realization later in life as well.

If you ever found yourself wishing Bridgerton was a bit (lot) more queer, don't pass on Infamous.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶 🌶

Tropes: (queer-)best-friends-to-lovers

CW: heavy alcohol and drug usage; anger issues; using celebrity and drugs to lower someone else's inhibitions

Eddie and Rose have been best friends since they were younger. As they get older, they are both expected to find a husband. While Rose has found one she will marry, Eddie is not at all interested. Instead, she would prefer to write. When she meets Nash, one of her favorite poets, she is mesmerized by him and gladly accepts his invitation to his country estate for the month. However, things are not quite as above board as Eddie thought.
Opinion
This is a great coming of age story. The two best friends finding a way to keep their friendship as they get older certainly takes the reader through the paces. I love how alluring Nash is at first. As the story progresses, his idiosyncrasies become more alarming. This makes for a great read as you are yelling at Eddie to "wake up girl!"
Many thanks to Net Galley and to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

As much as I liked Reputation, I had a bit of trouble connecting with this novel. From the cover and the synopsis, you can kind of guess how this story goes. Edith (Eddie) Miller is a writer with a who does not like to adhere to rules and social niceties.. Her best friend, Rose Lee, is the complete opposite and seems perfectly at home amongst parties and the upper crust of society. At one such party, Eddie is taken w/ famous poet, Nash Nicholson, but Rose isn't fooled. Nash is married and pretty much washed up, but Eddie doesn't see that. She just sees the chance at getting published. When Eddie and Rose (& her fiance, Albert) get invited to Nash's house party on a remote island, things really go sideways. Rose worries for Eddie, who seems too taken with Nash to realize he's a debauched fool, And Eddie is too worried about Rose marrying and being without her forever.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

After reading Lex Croucher's hilarious Reputation, I was so excited to get my hands on Infamous. As with the previous title, the characters are diverse, which makes for an interesting read. However, the main character is just so unlikeable it was hard to slog through her journey to discover herself.

Edith "Eddie" Miller is twenty-two years old and aspires to be a novelist, never to get married, and have her best friend Rose all to herself. However, Rose is quite intrigued with the season and finding a husband. Enter a famous poet who involves Eddie in some unsavory situations with many unsavory characters.

The story is very slow to unfold, and I found myself bored reading it. I really had to push myself to finish. While there are some funny moments, but for the most part, the characters were infuriatingly unrealistic. I was very disappointed that I could not enjoy this as much as Reputation. However, I do like Lex Croucher's writing and will give her another shot.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.