I absolutely loved this book. The writing is absolutely sublime, I wanted to roll around in its glory.

Emily, the protagonist, is prickly and difficult in a way that is rarely seen for female main characters in romance. I have read heaps and heaps of male protagonists like her, and it was an absolute joy and delight to revel in to story of a curmudgeonly woman who risks allowing herself some joy, while staying true to herself.

This book is a romance, though it is a very slow burn, and the love story is not as central as in most romances. That being said, I absolutely loved romance between her and Captain Andrews, and found their story really satisfying.

One of the highlights of the book was the relationship between Emily and Grace. I legit cried a couple of times at key moments between them in the book.

This book has a magnificent cast of supporting characters, all of whom I adored. Each was well developed and compelling, and I look forward to future rereads so that I can revisit them like old friends.

Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book. There was such a natural flow to the way the story developed and the way you got to know the characters. I liked the way that Emily grew friendships with not only the staff of Fairmont House but also the children she was charged with. As much as she fought getting attached to any of them, she couldn't help but find herself forming relationships. She thought she wasn't likable and definitely not lovable - - they all proved her wrong.

I love regency romances and find them even more enjoyable when they have a touch of uniqueness. Trouble definitely has its own original feel and it truly made this an even richer and more engaging story.

Audiobook: In addition to the ebook, I was also gifted an early copy of the audiobook. I loved the audio. It was so easy to listen to and I found myself falling into the story and truly losing track of everything going on around me. That's the sign of a solid audiobook. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

I love Lex’s books which are regency romances featuring queer characters! Trouble is giving PBS Masterpiece Sanditon Season 2: the penniless young lady decides to be a governess for the mysterious reclusive gentlemen widow residing on a country estate with his two children; these two idiots are obviously in love while also barely managing to converse with one another; we stan! I greatly enjoyed reading it, as I have with Lex’s other books. They are regency like you haven’t seen it before and we. need. more!!!

My favorite Lex Croucher so far, and my new favorite genre of period stories that is a little bit queer. It was a emotionally affecting story about fully fleshed out characters. A joy to read.

ARC via publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions are my own.

emily finds herself in a governess position she is nowhere near qualified for to help her sister, amy, who was supposed to take the position but is unwell. emily doesn’t mean to start caring for the girls, and especially not the girls’ father, the handsome captain edwards, but the more time she spends there, the harder it is to hold onto the lies she entered with.

this was such a fun book, which further cements lex croucher as my favorite historical author. i really don’t read many historical fiction novels but i’ll read a bajillion more if they’re all written by them. emily was such a fun character that i couldn’t help but love. i loved emily’s relationship with the girls and with captain edwards.

i highly recommend this book and i can’t wait to read more from this author!

"It's just a hand sir."
"It's your hand."

"Captain Edwards took her hand. He wasn't wearing a glove. Emily wasn't wearing a glove...The feeling of his fingers on hers was more complicated than she expected...he was being gentle...careful... intimate."

Without a doubt the sassy swoony Trouble by regency romcom author Lex Croucher is my favorite of her uproarious romantic comedies that always leave me with a smile.

Emily is a really bad governess but a loyal sister. When her sister can't travel to her new governess job due to severe illness Emily secretly pretends to be the kind hearted Amy despite her own taciturn bitter personality. Her plan is to earn money, maybe steal some trinkets to sell from the rich Captain Edwards to help pay for Amy's medical care.

What Emily isn't prepared for is the startling handsomeness of the brooding captain, the found family of the estate's staff, the sweet youngest daughter Grace and oldest daughter, the witty, often rude, sarcastic Aster. Stealing, spying and refusing to be a part of this family Emily finds herself at a crossroads when her secrets, her emotions and frustrating stubbornness collide to force choices from her heart.

The magnificent voice actress Ell Potter
is perfectly subtly in the slow changes Emily goes through, the self acceptance from Aster and the revelations from the Captain.

As usual, the #lgbtqia representation is on point and this writer brings all the fun when getting into Trouble.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

In this novel, Emily is a young woman who needs to find a way to care for her ailing sister, Amy, and mother. Amy has been offered a governess position away from home in a residence with two teenage children living with their father. He is a widowed Captain Edwards.
From the start, Emily decides she will only be there to pilfer what she can possibly sell, to raise mo ey necessary for her sister's care. She plans to remain uninvolved with the residents of the estate and to leave as soon as possible. Obviously, her plans go awry.
It was an interesting plot, written from Emily's pov, but the first half was a little slow. The characters were well-defined and definitely colorful, but there were parts of the story that could have used more background for the reader.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, my first from the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was funny and pithy, endearing and quirky. Emily is such a lovable and sometimes hilarious mix of loyal and fiercely loving and then grumpy and stoic. And also not the most self-aware in a relatable way! The cast of characters and their wit and sarcasm, full of lovable ribbing, was just fantastic! I loved the representation of different peoples, as well as LGBTQ+ throughout and how well it was done. It was full of acceptance and understanding and it was very refreshing in this genre.

This may have been Emily’s story, the cast of characters from Amy, Ben, Grace, and Aster to Meera, Joe, Akia, Oliver, and even Mr. Khan, rounded out this group you just fell in love with right along with her. I love a good ribbing with an underlying and obvious to most show of caring, it was just such a lovely mix of people and situations that was a pleasure to read!

While there was definitely a lot of “trouble” afoot, the entire story of Emily’s adventure and her true loving nature coming through, both platonically and romantically was a read I couldn’t put down! I just loved it!

I enjoyed this story so very much! I’ve read three of Croucher’s books now (all but her YA), and while I liked the others greatly, I loved this one so much more - 4.5-stars for this one because it was so much more interesting and engaging than the previous!

Emily’s interaction with the Edwards family at Fairmont house as the new Governess was brilliant from the beginning - when she steps into the role as her unwell sister (pretending to be Amy) is perfectly imperfect… not being a fan of children but having to be governess to one who is suspicious and another who hates her, a widower who is disconnected but wife searching… the whole thing is just a comedy with a whole lot of heart and actually tackles some major topics as well (there’s an LGBTQ side-plot that I totally loved). The interactions between Captain Edwards (call me Ben), his children and the household staff, and Emily, throughout the book, and the character growth of everyone - chef’s kiss!

I absolutely recommend this to all - especially if you enjoyed Reputation and Infamous, but these are standalones so if you’re new to Croucher, you can start here and love this book and characters without needing to read anything else. Please, please read this beautiful book! And please get the audio - Ell Potter did a wonderful job!

I received an advance read and listen copy from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and Macmillan Audio, and this is my honest feedback.

Trouble is the first book I've read by Lex Croucher but it won't be the last!

Our fmc is Emily Laurence and I have to admit, I loved how standoffish / grumpy she was throughout the entire book. She has taken a position as a governess...well, to be honest, it wasn't actually offered to her. She is standing in for her sister who is definitely more suited for the role but unfortunately is too sick to take it but because they need the money, Emily decides she will make it work. Her goal is to make it work long enough to get some money to pay for a doctor for her sister and potentially even slip some trinkets into her pockets to create some padding.

The minute she steps into the carriage to get her to the Edwards family, things start to spin out of her control and once she is introduced to the family, she knows this won't be as easy as she was hoping. The family has a lot of drama and Emily is determined to keep her distance but as you can guess, she isn't very successful. From her interactions with Grace and Aster, her (begrudging) relationships with the other servants, and the brooding Captain Edwards always in her thoughts, she is doomed from the start.

I loved the build of all of these relationships and thought Croucher did a fantastic job with it. It wasn't easy (except for maybe with Grace) and as Emily starts to feel connections with everyone, she has to figure out how her actions and lies can be overcome.

If you're looking for a new historical romance to pick up, consider picking this one up. The characters are interesting, the story kept me engaged, and it has more to it than just a romantic relationship at the core.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 🌶️
netgalley arc

*regency romance
*lots of lgbt rep. Realistic for the time? I have no idea, but I liked it regardless.
*single dad who is a grumpy naval captain
*governess who doesn't actually know how to be a governess
*single POV

I had an enjoyable time reading this book because the whole cast of characters was great. That being said, I was never totally sold on the relationship between the two main characters. I DID like the tension between them leading up to their inevitable love affair. Holding hands with no gloves on! *gasp*

Emily Laurence is a liar. She is not polite, she's not polished, and she has never taught a child in her life. This position was meant to be her sister's––brilliant, kind Amy, who isn't perpetually angry, dangerously reckless, and who does (inexplicably) like children. She didn't think she liked children but it was a surprise to her when she finds that she likes them indeed. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

Excellent! I love everything Lex Croucher writes. Trouble is set against the backdrop of the stormy English sea side, with characters that are just as tempestuous. Emily Laurence is the perfect anti-hero, that you can't help but fall in love with by the end of the story. Captain Edwards is just as prickly on the outside but with a softer side. He is hot and sexy and broody but also kind, magnanimous, and honorable. His children, Aster and Grace are a delightful edition to this story. Aster is rough and witty, but you soon understand him better and come to realize that underneath the rough exterior is a deeply caring person. Grace is the sweetest, sun-shiniest cinnamon roll ever. I love her enthusiasm for life, her urgent care for everyone around her and the way she can talk herself into and out of trouble in equal measure. The rest of the cast is rendered equally well with rich detail and personality. Oliver in particular captured my heart. The romance between Emily and Ben is slow and subtle, but also hot and swoony once they finally come together. I like that Ben is the one who falls first. I also really like that Emily is a bit hardened and practical and not really looking for romance. I appreciate that Croucher created a romance for two people who are not in their early twenties. Emily is 29 and Ben is around 40. The inclusion of various LGBTQIA characters in Croucher's books are always refreshing, they are a master at creating nuanced characters where the first thing you notice about them isn't their gender or sexuality. You will find no token gays here. I really love Croucher's work and am ready for their next!

Trouble is the latest fantastic book from Lex Croucher. Emily is a mill worker and her sister Amy is a governess. When Amy falls ill, Emily must try and take Amy’s place to pay for her care. Emily does her best attempt at impersonating Amy, but finds herself challenged by the two girls in her care and their mysterious father. Aster and Grace could not be more unalike and Emily struggles to connect with them. Can she remain in her position long enough to support Amy?

Trouble is a hilarious, slow-burn historical romance. I really liked Emily as a character and how she will do anything to help her sister. Emily is straightforward and convinced that she is not enough, despite being an incredibly hard worker. Emily’s interactions with her charges are both funny and heartfelt. The romance is achingly slow-burn. I loved the ensemble cast of servants who connect with Emily and help care for the girls. Readers who enjoyed the sisterly bond from Little Women between Meg and Jo will appreciate the similar dynamic between Amy and Emily. I loved the LGBTQ+ rep and how Croucher shows queer people have always existed throughout history. I can’t wait to read what Lex Croucher writes next!

Thank you to Lex Croucher, St. Martin's Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, Storygraph, Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.

Another stunner from Lex Croucher. I think I may have found a new favorite author.

Trouble is a Regency-era rom-com featuring a broody ex-Captain of the Navy and a stubborn and taciturn (until she's not) governess, with many moments of quick wit, hilarious one-liners, and banter galore throughout . As with all of Lex Croucher's novels, the side characters have just as much oomph as the main characters, which makes for a seriously enjoyable read and a beautiful love story.

I loved everything about Trouble. Lex Croucher has a real talent for writing the voice of a character to be so realistic. Emily's inner monologue was hilarious, emotional, serious, and very true to life. As we learned more about her character, I really fell in love with her and loved the way the author wrote the other characters slowly falling in love with her too, and Emily falling in love with them. She was determined NOT to be embroiled in the Edwards' family drama, but she fell in love with every single one of them. I am completely here not just for the love story between Emily and Ben, but for the love story between Emily and the servants and Ben's children. I felt for every single one of these characters and felt like I knew each one of them on a deep level by the end of this book. I cannot say enough about how Lex Croucher writes character portrayals and development.

The plotline was very stereotypical Regency romance, governess falls in love with master of the house. But the sideplot in this story of Emily stealing trinkets and selling secrets in order to provide for her sister was very fun and had some stakes that made the novel more exciting. I also loved the banter and the funny situations all the characters got in.

The diversity rep in this was amazing and so well done. I loved the way it was handled within the story. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that.

The romance was beautiful. The slow-burn was so good. I loved how absolutely clueless Emily was almost the whole time, that made for some good angst near the end.

The conclusion was everything I could have asked for. The happiest of happy endings, in my opinion.

If you are looking for a hilarious and fluffy historical romance, this is the one for you. If you love found family and slow-burn romance with hilariously clueless characters and a little more plot than just the romance, please give this one a try.

*I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I loved the characters, and the friendship between Emily and the children is done really well. But the pacing was slow and off at parts.

I generally enjoy Lex Croucher's fun and vibrant historical romances. Her latest, Trouble, is not my favorite, in large part because its categorization as a romantic comedy is a misnomer. The romantic plotline doesn't emerge until over halfway through the book, and is a tertiary or secondary plot at best. Instead, I would classify this book as historical fiction with a romantic plotline. Since the romance is confined to the back half of the story, it feels underdeveloped. Other plot elements are somewhat scattershot, but as always, Croucher's characters are well written and leap off the page. The plotting and pacing is uneven at times, but I still had a good time.

Instead, more of this book is an ensemble comedy centering a found family, which gets me every time. The elements of this book that most closely mirror The Sound of Music (a headstrong, unexpected governess unexpectedly growing to love her charges and becoming a part of the household's larger family) really do shine. I love the richness of the other household staff characters. A cute and cozy read.

In “Trouble” by Lex Croucher the new governess is a liar, a thief and hates children. She mistakes her new boss for a member of the staff so she automatically starts off on the wrong foot. LOL. Enemies to lovers trope possible. Her new co-workers, the other servants of Fairmont House, would like to welcome Amy into their fold but she is slow to warm to them and her name isn’t Amy. Something shocking happens halfway through the book and also, one of the children comes out as transgender. There are gay, straight, BIPOC and chronically ill characters as well and they are all given the love and respect they deserve. Found family trope spotted. There’s some swearing in the text thanks to Oliver mainly. The romance is highlighted more in the second half. This is my second book I’ve read by Lex Croucher and I’m loving her queer characters and humor. I can’t wait to read more. ARC was provided by St. Martin’s Griffin via NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Emily's sister Amy is sick, and Emily is desperate to make enough money to provide the care she needs. So desperate, that she pretends to be Amy and take the governess position her sister was hired for, despite the fact that Emily doesn't know the first thing about educating children. Despite her attempts to stay aloof, Emily gets pulled in further and further to the lives of the staff, the children, and Captain Edwards.

I love a regency romance that isn't about nobility. The romance was a very slow burn, and I loved the way the relationships between the characters developed.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story! I loved the diversity of the cast of characters and their personalities. The dialogue between characters, as well as internal, was fun! It was refreshing to see a harden heroine who was rough around the edges. Emily was such an entertaining character to watch grow as the story progressed. Her romance with Ben progressed at a good pace and I loved how Emily was reluctant to accept love.

A fun, quick read.