I was really looking forward to this book, but it kind of let me down. I think the narrator did an excellent job though!

Infamous by Lex Croucher

Thank you to #lexcroucher, @netgalley, @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read this #eARC in exchange for my fully #honestreview!

Edith “Eddie” Miller and her best friend Rose have always been inseparable. When attending Rose’s debutante ball and the talk of marriage, men, adult parties and business forces Eddie to acknowledge how different she and Rose are in their ambitions. Rose wants to marry and do adult things, Eddie wants to write and be famous for her words. Enter Nash Nicholson, an author who’s fascinated Eddie. When Nash invites Eddie to his gothic estate for a holiday, it seems that is exactly what Eddie needs to get Rose and this civilized society notion out of her system.

I really enjoy these regency stories. I enjoyed “Reputation,” so I knew when I saw this available I had to read it. It fell slightly short for me in terms of level of intrigue and magic compared to Reputation. I only say that due to the length of time it took to develop; I lack patience for plot to pick up. This was a coming of age tale for an interesting and spirited young woman who experiences a crash course in emotions.


⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 - 3.5/5

This book reads like a tv version PenEloise fanfiction. Since those are two of my least favourite Bridgerton characters that did not endear this book to me. The best part of the book is Eddie's family dynamic and since most of the book takes place in Nash's home, that's also a strike against this story. The third strike is that it is just straight up boring. The writing is stiff and dry. I keep reading reviews of how funny the prose is but I am just not seeing it.

A sweet listen for those that love historical romances. Well written and an interesting plot. The narrator did make the story come alive.

As a major fan of the historical romance genre, I appreciate the spin on a tired and problematic Regency romance, but Infamous was not devoid of its own potential issues (re: ignorant White MC, easily forgiven by Asian love interest).

I was floored by the end of this book in the worst way. Eddie refuses to commit to Rose, choosing her career instead. While I can normally be on board with this, I cannot reconcile her comment that upon Rose's return at the end, "nothing mattered except Rose." What?! We spent the entire book invested in Eddie's brilliance, and she hands over her final chapters? Absolutely not. I just don't buy it. And, I can be on board with an dissatisfying, Edith Wharton-style end wherein the lesson is all about the terrible plight of women, but this wasn't that. The tone wasn't right and the end was a happily ever after. BUT IT WASN'T. Because...her book! Plus, Rose annoyed me.

I enjoyed this novel for its absolutely hilarious writing. The banter between Eddie and, well, anyone, but mainly Rose was authentic and laugh-out-loud funny. Suffice it to say, I will read everything Lex Croucher writes, but I need a better end next time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh, this was *CUTE*

My Bridgerton-loving heart did indeed love this too. I saw flitting around in other reviews that this is basically queer Eloise Bridgerton, and show me the lie. That's right, you can't, because there isn't one.

Eddie is an outspoken spitfire of a young woman who wants nothing to do with marriage and wishes to spend her time only writing. Her biggest dream is to be a published author and you know what? Respect. I do so love Eddie and she is so damn relatable for me. She's loud and headstrong, but who would know better what is best for her than herself? She did get to be a little much with her complaining and bashing the choices of her "friend," Rose, though, so that's really my only true complaint.

The romance is so sweet! I confess, I was worried the book was queerbaiting for a bit since it literally opens with two girls kissing for "practice," then spends much of the first half with Eddie mooning over a man. But rest assured, it is sapphic all the way to the end, and I loved it! The tension, the angst, the self-discovery--so well done and wonderful to read.

The cast of characters in this made it so much fun and *funny*. Especially with the narrator and how she brought them to life. While the characters that join the writing salons and the house party are all such a hoot with how frivolous and flippant they are, my favourite has to be Nash. There's just something about him that is so magnetic and feeds into Eddie's journey in the best way, even if he is an absolute mess of a man who can only hurt her.

Please let the record show that, while I suppose it had to happen, I am FURIOUS over the ending. On Eddie's behalf, I was absolutely spitting and a week later I'm still mad over what was done to her.

I was a big fan of Reputation, and with how much I enjoyed this I think it's safe to say I'll be continuing as a Lex Croucher fan.

This story was cute. I did love the narration so I felt like that really affected how the book came across. The premise, plot, and characters were promising and I could see how it could be really enjoyable, it just never took off for me. A great book for young adult audiences.

Listen if you like:
❤️ Historical Romances
❤️ LGBTQ Stories
❤️ FMC Authors
❤️ Drama

I absolutely adored this book! I really loved this author’s debut and this was a great follow up!

I love the LGBTQ rep in this story and how there were so many layers. This is a pretty clean romance as well so for those that don’t want the spice this is a great choice!

I loved the following of Eddie’s introduction into trying to publish her first book and the ups and downs associated with her infatuation with Nash a famous poet who promises to help her get published but seems he really is just stringing her along for the chance of a physical relationship.

I loved to see the blooming romance between Eddie and Rose and how their relationship went through the ups and downs as Eddie came to terms with her feelings for Rose.

Overall, I love Lex’s writing style and the way her books are written in a way that are so fun! I highly recommend Lex’s books to those that want an LGBTQ historical romance.

Thank you to the publisher for my ALC in exchange for my honest review!

(3.5 stars) Lex Croucher writes entertaining books, but I did find Infamous lacking compared to its predecessor, Reputation, which I was very entertained as I read it. Infamous is delightful, and I laughed a lot, but it had too much going on plot-wise and character-wise. I mean, every character has a nickname or two! I also wish a few more plotlines were flushed out better, and others did not need to be explained as much or as often.

Would I have enjoyed this better as a physical book? I think so because I could have looked back on what I read and looked up character names. Does this diminish the narration? No, not at all. Ellie Kendrick is a wonderful narrator with lots of energy and adorable Regency flair.

I plan on reading more by Croucher because I loved the first book I read and enjoyed this one. Hopefully, it will be just as good first!

1.5 stars.

I don’t normally have issues with narrators with accents, but this narrator’s accent was very difficult for me to get past. I normally listen at 1.75x speed, and I had to slow this down to 1.25x. Once I got used to it, I was able to speed it up again, but it took quite a long time. To make matters worse, the narrator essentially didn’t differentiate between the different characters of the same sex, male or female. They all sounded the same. This made it difficult sometimes to follow the dialogue.

It took a really long time for me to become engaged in this book. I think it was a combination of the narrator and the story being a bit dull. It picked up some, but I found this book entirely too long. There’s not a whole lot going on, and when there is, it drags on and on - very much a slow, slow, slow burn. I think it could have been easily condensed, but it felt like the author was trying to fluff up a “meh” story.

I never quite loved any of the characters. In some ways, I could relate to Eddie, but I found both Eddie and Rose very annoying. I think the intention was to find their flaws to be cheeky, but I wasn’t amused. Their wishy-washy ways were very juvenile. Maybe I just wasn’t the right audience for it.

I also grew tired of the “will they, won’t they” theme throughout the book. To be quite frank, I wish I DNFed this early on. I’m not sure what this book is trying to be. A sexual awakening? A coming-of-age? A journey of self-discovery? A romance? All the above? There wasn’t really a plot and reads more like musings of a young adult.

I feel like I wasted a lot of time reading this book and feel a bit regretful that I didn’t DNF it.

22-year-old aspiring writer Edith 'Eddie' Miller and her best friend Rose have always done everything together-climbing trees, throwing grapes at boys, sneaking bottles of wine and practicing kissing. As they grow up, they seem to be drifting apart, but could a famous writer and Rose's potential suitor be the key to bringing them closer than ever?
I LOVED this book and everything about it. I loved that I never knew quite how to feel about Nash. I loved the side characters. I loved Eddie and Rose's banter. I love Lex Croucher and everything she touches.

I really enjoyed this! Fantastic in audiobook form, but I've gotta say, I actually clicked more with this one than Reputation! Loved the poetry/literary angle, and the sapphic friends to lovers!

I really enjoyed this book. Croucher wrote a wonderful tale. I was obsessed with all the characters!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan audio, publisher and author for the #gifted ALC in exchange for honest review. I love a regency romance f/f book but found the narrators distracting, and the story as a result harder to follow. The ending felt rushed as pur FMC only officially connexted in last 97% or so...

I like seeing more diverse stories and inclusive to all kinds of love.

3.5/5☆

This one was just okay for me. It wasn’t particularly exciting up until the almost end and even then I didn’t love it. Eddie and Rose clearly love each other far before they admit it to each other. Then even when they figure it out Rose is still going to get married? Plus the whole part about the murder seemed over the top. I don’t know, just seemed exaggerated and not realistic.

🌀Synopsis
Eddie and Rose are best friends. They’ve done everything together for as long as they can remember. When Rose starts talking about getting married Eddie is both hurt and terrified. She’s going to lose her best friend.
Then Eddie meets Nash and her opinion changes. He fills her with ideas and encourages her writing. He seems so perfect and charming, Eddie is infatuated but he’s married.
They decide to take a trip for the summer- Rose & her fiancé, Nash & his wife, and Eddie. When Nash starts coming on to Eddie she resists his charm but when his wife suddenly leaves the island, he turns it up a notch. Eddie starts to see his true colors and Rose is adamant they leave.
The house is falling apart and cold so Rose and Eddie often share a bed. As the time goes on, their secrets start to come out during those nights. They find out they love each other as more than friends, but then Rose leaves and Eddie is left with Nash.
When she is finally ready to leave she finds out he stole her book idea. Although angry, when Rose shows up to take her away she willingly leaves him with the book and never sees Nash again.

Infamous was pitched as Booksmart meets Bridgerton and I can definitely say it delivered in those aspects. It had the quirk and drive that the heroines in Booksmart display, as well as the fun atmosphere, while set in a Regency era England.
Following Eddie as she simultaneously attempts to write a novel and figure out her feelings for her best friend Rose, while also meeting Nash Nicholson- infamous poet and handsome rogue. These forces combined make Eddie’s journey of self discovery an adventure- whether she wants that or not.
Overall, I had as much fun with this novel as I had with Lex Croucher’s previous novel Reputation. I actually preferred the Regency era society that occurred in the latter novel, so my review is slightly skewed by personal preference. This book is set at the isolated Nicholson estate, where all sorts of debauchery ensues. It was definitely a fun setting, but overall I felt that perhaps either the pace was too slow or the book was slightly too long.
I would definitely recommend for a fun and lighthearted time. It also had great LGBTQ+ (specifically lesbian and bisexual) representation.

It's regency England and you're a young lady in polite society. It has its own set of rules but you're... your own self. This is where 22 year old Edith Miller and her best friend Rose find themselves. Rose is happy to follow the traditional life path of marriage-babies-family but Edith, who goes by Eddie, has something else in mind. What it is, she's not sure, but she's always wanted to be a writer. The two young women have been best friends since childhood, and this is the first time they've not been in lockstep.

When Eddie meets her literary hero, poet Nash Nicholson, she begins to think that maybe she could be the published author she's always fantasized about. Nash's arrival upends things for the two women, who are invited to spend some time at his family's country house. It all seems above board until they get there.

The characters, main and supporting, are believable and amusing. Even the younger sister is appropriately annoying. Nash could be a caricature but for the deft exposure of his 3-D self.

Eddie is our narrator and she is worth rooting for. She's a bit hard-headed and clueless but she figures it out in the end. Being in her head while she figures it out was frustrating in an amusing way because she is clever and observant in many ways, except when they pertain to her.

The challenges that the characters navigate are the same ones people face today, just with Regency dressing. Having goals but not being sure how to go after them, questioning one's sexuality, will society/my family accept me, what are my choices in life, etc.

This book is clever and funny - I definitely laughed aloud alone in my apartment several times during reading. I think the story also did a great job of highlighting queer love, romantic love, and love amongst friends. I think this made it a more complete romance because as we get to the unconventional HEA, we explore all the other kinds of love that exist in the world.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Infamous by Lex Croucher

The story follows Eddie, an aspiring writer, and her friend Rose who have been friends for a long time doing everything together. Eddie is horrified by the betrayal of their friendship because she allowed herself to be courted by a man. At the same time, Eddie makes the acquaintance of Nash Nicholson, a poet, who invites her along with Rose and Rose's fiance to his house party.

This book is hilarious funny and is centered around regency times. Eddie is disappoint that Nash has criticized her writing and offers to edit her book. Eddie realizes what is actually going on with Nash.

I felt the book was fast to listen and it kind of have the Bridgeston vibe to the story. Which I liked so this one was just as good. If you are a fan of the Bridgeston series you will most likely enjoy this story.

Narrated by Ellie Kendrick and did a good job bringing the regency vibe to the story and her reading it helped the humor in the book play out like it should. This was a solid four star read and I highly recommend this book to lovers of regency romance with an LGBTQ twist.

This is the first time I read something from Lex Croucher and i plan on reading from her again in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a free audio copy of Infamous for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

This book is set in the regency era and follows our MC Edith (Eddie Miller). I appreciated the book for what it was and what it offered, but I felt that it should have been a bit shorter. I also wanted a stronger conclusion for the events regarding Eddie's book.

In addition, I was perplexed about the accident with Henry at the end and wished there was a better explanation for it.

Overall, it was a good book that I was able to listen to in advance thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

I loved the narrator. She was very entertaining. The book centers around the friendship and growing love of Eddie and Rose. Eddie is focused on becoming a published author that sometimes she puts it above everything. I wished Eddie caught on quicker to people’s motives. She’s smart. I wanted to yell, open your eyes! I also wished the ending would have been more. It felt a tad rushed. But I’m happy that love won out in the end and karma got those who needed it.