Rating: 2 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC sent through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

****SPOILERS AHEAD****





Unfortunately this story did not work for me. To be honest I was bored so I skimmed parts of it. From what I read the MCs got together a little too early for my taste. There was drama involved with him wanting guardianship of his siblings and her being outed as the owner of some very smexy books being published, but it seemed that it all got a little too easily resolved, which is good but I would have liked to seen some conflict/drama/angst between them as a couple so I could root for them to be together.
Their love story fell a little flat for me because somehow before this story began they had previously met each other but as a reader we only get snippets of what they felt for each other in those moments when they would see each other.

Thank you to SMP Romance for the advanced reader copy and to Dreamscape Media and LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Wow, this was so charming and fun. Alexandra Vasti is a new-to-me author, and I will definitely be reading more from her.

Ne'er Duke Well is a historical regency, but it departs greatly from the standard. Peter Kent, the Duke of Stanhope, was born in Louisiana. And his primary goal in the House of Lords is to speak out for abolition. His primary personal goal is to be able to formally adopt his half-siblings if he can be approved. He grew on me, as his steadiness of character slowly revealed itself.

Selina offers to help. And she's another fascinating character. I loved her right from the start. She started a women's only library to educate on all the topics considered taboo for women. This book highlights the importance of knowledge and books, and I am here for it.

And their chemistry is off the charts, even when she is trying to set him up with someone else. The book is quite steamy and so well done.

I loved that the other female characters were as well rounded, and not mere foils to Selina. This looks like it will be the first in a series, and I am so excited for further books about the other women in the book.

I love how the story depicts family and the depiction and demonstration of love. And the book has such an amazing conclusion. I know I am rambling, but I have so many positive thoughts. The book just kept getting better. And the audiobook was an excellent format with incredible narration.

4.5 stars rounded up

I picked this up when I was in the mood for historical romance and it didn’t disappoint! This is my first book by Alexandra Vasti but I’m already planning on going back to read her novellas. This book was really funny! The chemistry between Selina and Peter was hot and swoony, and I loved seeing the friends to lovers trope in a historical setting. Selina’s family was so loving and supportive and I hope we get to see more of them in future books. Even if you’re not typically a historical romance person, I highly recommend giving this one a chance!

This is not the review I wanted to be writing. I really love Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions series, so I went into this book with definite expectations for her first trad published novel. I'm conflicted about how to review this because I think she is such a gifted writer, but the plot of this particular book just didn't work for me personally. I DNF'd at 65% because the only storyline that I was really interested in -- the romance between Selina and Peter -- had been told and resolved.

After Peter and Selina were married, the narrative cycled into a loop of Selina having moments of insecurity and catastrophizing about damage to Peter's reputation because she owns a scandalous circulating library for women, and Peter reassuring her that everything would be fine and that even if their secrets were exposed, he wouldn't care whatsoever. The subplot involving Peter's efforts to gain custody over his half-siblings didn't resonate with me, and seemed too unrealistic. (A Duke would need to fight in court over bastard kids no one wants? Really?)

Peter's character was more complex, better developed, and interesting than Selina's, who became fairly one-note to me as she was constantly in a state of melodrama of her own making, and over things that just weren't that serious. And because there wasn't a strong secondary cast of characters that I was invested in, that left all of my interest falling on Peter. Once he achieved his HEA and married his girl, and repeatedly demonstrated his unshakeable devotion to her, I was perfectly satisfied for the book to end there. Peter didn't have anything else going on that had high enough emotional stakes for me.

I'm going to rate this novel a solid 3 stars because it falls right there in the category of "I enjoyed what I read, but I won't revisit it,"

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I found this to be a very fun regency romance. I always enjoy when there is a strong female that doesn't necessarily need to be "saved" by a man, but she is enhanced by having a man in her life. Selina is strong and engaging and Peter is a different kind of regency male. He's got actual thoughts that differ from the ton and from England in general. Selina trying to match him up with other women was enjoyable to read as well as when the sparks fly between them. Overall this book was a great escape.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

(4.5 rounded up to 5)

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is an charming historical romance featuring a debutant who runs an erotic circulating library and a duke who newly inherited and was raised in New Orleans.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Mhairi Morrison. I really enjoyed listening to her, and appreciated her different character voices.

I'm always so happy to see feminist ideals explored in historical romance. I think the balance was handled really well here! I would have totally signed up for a library card for Belvior's.

Chemistry between Selina and Peter is on-point, and their banter (and the steam) is great. I also appreciated how openly communicative they are with one another. There isn't really a third-act breakup here, which is refreshing to see.

Found family is like catnip to me and this book does not disappoint. Peter's two younger half-siblings are a RIOT and they must be protected at all costs. And the friend group is great! I truly hope this is the start of a series, because I'd love to have a book each for Georgiana and Lidia, two of Serina's friends (one of whom I hope end up with her twin brother, Will).

This is my first book by the author but will certainly not be my last!

Alexandra Vasti is one of those writers that makes you happy that you're a romance reader. I absolutely love her voice and the way she mixes historical details and characters to make such a unique story!

Here are some of the things to expect in this book:
--funny kids
--matchmaking trope
--he's a newly-inherited duke from Louisiana
--she runs an erotic circulating library for women!
--steam that HITS HARD and it's beautiful
--fun hijinks
--Regency era

I loved all of it, especially that Peter is from Louisiana! I think it added something extra to the plot in the best way possible. Alexandra has a way of allowing her plots to flow as naturally as possible, and that is amazing. I've read so many HR authors whose plots and syntax are so stilted and unnatural. To me, Vasti is a breath of fresh air for the historical romance genre.

GAH I loved this book. I love both Peter AND Selina. That's rare for me. I either like one or the other, but rarely both. However, this author did the impossible for me. I thought both characters were so authentic and unique. (Also, please read Vasti's novellas. They're incredible.) I can't WAIT for her next book!

I found this author by listening to her novellas that are also regency romances. I couldn’t help but be excited about this one since the cover was amazing! Plus, I needed more regency after Bridgerton haha.

Peter and Selina have grown up differently but are still a part of the same circle and after he requests help in becoming the guardian of his half-siblings Selina gets the idea to help him find a bride. I have read a few books before with a plot like this and I knew where it was going to go but I was okay with it! They have great chemistry and the banter was top notch!

Selina is also in the business of selling some interesting books and I liked that she had power even if it was in secret. It gave her anxiety though because she didn’t want a scandal to come from it, especially if she got close to Peter. Peter was just a cinnamon roll and I loved that!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I liked the humor and the couple was perfect!

“Ne’er Duke Well” was the first book in months that I could not put down. Selina, the sister of a Duke, and Peter, the American duke, have been orbiting around each other for years. Selina doesn’t want to marry because she has a secret that could ruin her and her husband’s reputation. Peter needs a wife to convince a conservative judge he is seriously about the guardianship of his half siblings.

I could look past Selina throwing other women at Peter especially with how their own engagement comes from their stellar chemistry. They are unable to stay away from each other. Then begins a race to get custody of Lucas and Freddie while keeping her secret all while also falling in love. Such a great plot to this book, wonderfully written and the secondary characters were fun and funny. I loved the love story that unfolded between the two and though it was hinted at there was no third act break up! I loved this book from start to finish. I would recommend to anyone who likes a friends to lovers, Marraige of convenience adjacent story with lots of steam.

The most fun I’ve had in a LONG time! I was kicking my feet at this romance! Peter is everything and more! I loved the chemistry between these two… it was sizzling, charming, and just such a fun time! High recommend!

Don't mind me, just floating about the town pretending I'm promenading to eavesdrop on these characters. This novel was better than season 3 of Bridgerton!!

This was my first time reading a historical romance! It sort of had a hard time understanding what was going on in the beginning, but I got a better understanding of the premise the longer I read this. The characters were okay—I liked how calm Peter Kent was. Lady Selina wanted to be selfless and risk her own happiness to find Peter the perfect wife. I wish I got to read more of Peter and Selina. They got together fast, but their chemistry wasn’t really convincing. I felt like there were a lot of things happening in this story, where I sometimes thought Selina and Peter were side characters.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Tropes: MFC tries matchmaking for MMC, forced marriage, Big Secret
Steam level: 3-4
First in a series

This is a debut novel by an author whose novellas, based on the Halifax sisters' exploits, I've really liked. The humor here is what really stood out to me the most, along with fun secondary characters (I'm glad Georgiana will be getting her own book). The plot starts off with a bang, and at first I thought Selina and Peter would maintain "enemies to lovers" sparks, but their bond mellows long before their forced marriage. Peter is definitely a cinnamon roll hero, and Selina is smart and direct without being strident (although I wasn't sure about her reaction to the dog in the Serpentine). If anything, I felt they were almost too perfect; the pacing is slightly slow due to lack of any big conflict or angst (the most effecting scene, I thought, came later in the book involving one of Peter's younger siblings). Selina's and Peter's fears and anxieties smooth over fairly quickly. Nothing too heavy or to really be taken seriously in the proceedings.

Bottom line: sweet and sexy, if rather lightweight.

This was super cute! A highly anticipated book release for 2024 that I think is going to do very well when it comes out in July!

I liked the characters, especially Peter. There is such fun chemistry between Peter and Selina. Good steam level and kept my interest!

Lady Selina is determined to help the Duke of Stanhope find the perfect wife - but she realizes it just might be her!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Alexandra Vasti and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing representation of everything I love about a historical romance!! It’s a charming regency love story that captures the spirit of the era. With extraordinary writing, impeccable descriptions, and sizzling romance, I found myself unable to put the book down! I was smiling, giggling, and even swinging my feet in delight. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and it deserves all the stars!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

First off, let me just say that if Alexandra Vastri doesn’t give us Lydia, Georgiana, and Iris’s stories, I will be very sad.

Peter Kent never expected to become a duke. But after he inherits the title (and earns a bit of a scandalous reputation) the new ninth Duke of Stanhope ends up in a legal fight for his two half-siblings. He turns to clever, beautiful Selina Ravenscroft for help. She has a suggestion: win the favor of the conservative lord high chancellor – who happens to have a romantic soft spot – by making a whirlwind love marriage before the custody hearing. Selina attempts to set Peter up with several respectable ladies of her acquaintance, despite growing feelings for her old friend. After all, Selina has a secret that, if revealed, could destroy her reputation and that of anyone connected to her: She runs a lending library that provides erotic literature for women of the ton.

It’s stories like these that make me so glad not to be a noble from a certain era – the “scandals” that could destroy reputations and lives seem so inconsequential. But both Peter and Selina find ways to brush off the restrictive society they live in. They are separately delightful and have fantastic chemistry together. The way they work together, rather than failing to communicate in the name of protecting one another, is a breath of fresh air (see, romance authors, you don’t HAVE to make your leads act out of character and force them into a third-act breakup to generate tension and excitement in your plot!!)

Come for the feminist FMC and her extremely supportive MMC, stay for the fun side cast: cute kids (a 12-year-old Regency girl who wants – and gets a fencing sword!, blue stockings super into antiquities, wonderful surrogate parents).

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 4.5 stars rounded down

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Death of a sibling; childhood illness; death of a parent; grief; references to death in childbirth; slavery; and domestic violence

I have put off reading Alexandra Vasti’s debut novel for as long as possible because I wanted to savor it and knew I would only get to read it for the first time once. But I also know her stories are ones I will return to, and that’s undoubtedly true for Ne’er Duke Well. A refreshingly modern historical romance, Vasti’s debut shines thanks to her unique voice, which seamlessly blends fun and a bit of whimsy with soaring romantic feelings and richly nuanced characters. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. This book had everything I wanted from a historical romance and left me feeling so giddy at the end.

The characters were the heart and soul of this book for me. I adored every single one – from our main characters, Selina and Peter, to those who don’t physically make an appearance, like Selina’s twin brother Will. But my favorite character is Lu, Peter’s 12-year-old half-sister, who knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to get it. She has so much spunk and personality that it’s bursting off the page. I absolutely love her. Hands down, she’s my favorite, and she stole every scene she was in. All of Vasti’s characters are so bursting with life and energy that you cannot help but be captivated by them. I loved all the layers and complexities Vasti instills within her characters, and I cannot wait to see how she explores some of these characters in future books in the series.

Selina felt like a more modern historical romance female main character, and I mean that in the best way. I love how sure she is of herself – she gives off confidence and seems to always be fixing others’ problems. She also runs a highly successful Belvoir library, which has a specially curated collection of saucy (and scandalous) books for women in the Venus collection. However, there is also a sense of sadness and loneliness to her as she’s always putting other people’s needs above her own and has been keeping Belvoir a secret from everyone in life except her twin brother Will. She’s so worried about everyone else and wants to help them, she’s not great at prioritizing herself. I can totally relate to that, even if it also ended up being the same thing that frustrated me a bit with her. She’s so selfless when it comes to her plans around Belvoir and Peter, as she cares so much for those she loves, and she doesn’t want them to feel hurt. She would rather prioritize their feelings over her own.

Peter is not your typical Duke. First, he was raised in New Orleans and is a bit of a walking scandal. He’s also a fierce abolitionist, which pisses off some members of the Ton. But I absolutely loved Peter because he had so much heart. He’s SO devoted to his half-siblings Lu and Freddie and will do whatever it takes to secure their guardianship – including becoming part of a matchmaking marriage scheme arranged by Selina. His relationship with them was my favorite, and I truly loved seeing all their interactions, as there is so much love there. He’ll fight tooth and nail to become the guardian of his younger half-siblings, and I was so invested in the custody battle, even if I knew it would end well since this is a romance, after all. I also loved how supportive and enraptured Peter was by Selina – he always acts the complete opposite way Selina expects. They’re a perfect match, and you can see that they bring out the best in each other.

The romance in this was PERFECTION. The chemistry between Peter and Selina was killing me! I love a good matchmaker setup, as that always leads to all the feelings as they come to realize the person they want to be with is the one they’re trying to marry off to someone else. Sprinkle in a little history of antagonism, and it’s absolutely perfect. All I wanted was for Peter and Selina to get together, which does happen quickly, but Vasti does such a great job with the development of their romantic relationship. She hit all the right beats at the right times, dragging out the sexual tension perfectly that left me swooning and feeling all the things! It’s so obvious how much Peter and Selina love each other, and I loved watching them demonstrate their love in different ways before they actually say the words. Watching their relationship progress throughout the book was funny, romantic, emotional, and heartful – and also very sexy. I swear, Alexandra Vasti can write some of the sexiest sex scenes out there, and this book is no exception!

Vasti’s writing continues to shine. After loving her novellas, I’m not at all shocked by that. She can make familiar tropes feel new and is one of the few people who can make me go from crying to laughing within the span of the page. But she is also so good at conveying emotions, and I find myself getting so wrapped up in the story and the feelings.

Ne’er Duke Well is an exceptional, charming debut historical romance novel from Alexandra Vasti. Perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Julia Quinn, or even those new to the genre, readers will delight in this story that offers a refreshingly modern take on Regency England filled with a swoon-worthy romance, characters that jump off the page, and an engaging story centered around family and love. I’m already anxiously counting down the days until her second novel, Earl Crush, hits shelves in January 2025!

Thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for the ARC! All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve been a big fan of Alexandra Vasti's after devouring her Halifax Hellions novellas and was so excited to get my hands on this one. My heart was needing a lower angst romance and Ne’er Duke Well delivered.

Read this one if you like:
- a smart and sexy historical romance
- "let me find you a wife, but it definitely can't ever be me" matchmaking
- an amazing and hilarious found family
- an intelligent, strong, and fiercely loyal heroine
- an all in hero who stands by his lady love & siblings no matter what
- scorching hot chemistry and sizzling sexy times
- “touch yourself/watch me” 👀
- friends to lovers
- no third act break up

I know some readers may want a bit more angst and drama in their romances, but I really appreciated that after some hiccups at the start, the final conflict was external to our main couple. The epilogue was very sweet and funny and I'm hoping we'll see a book about Selina's brother Will in the future.

I mainly listened to this one on audio and Mhairi Morrison was wonderful as always. She captured the different characters so well (especially Selina) and switched accents with ease. I had no trouble distinguishing between characters and enjoyed this audio so much!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4-4.5 stars

CW: death of parents (past), grief, custody battle, mentions of death of spouse and child (secondary character, past), dog rescue, parental abandonment (past), death of sibling (past), mentions/discussion of slavery, child with life threatening illness (on page)

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

Loved this! Vasti has a gift to render characters to life, and she really makes every moment count. Tender, sexy, funny as hell, one of my favorite historical romances I’ve read in a long time.

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a funny, heartwarming, and spicy regency romance. With a strong FMC, a good MMC, and great amazing supporting characters, this story is almost a perfect historical romance. Set in an era where women didn't have a lot of freedom, the author has written several women characters who are just amazing.

I loved this book. Selina's character gave me Emma's vibe, and I loved her. But Lu would be my favorite character. She was endearing, and her relationship with Freddie was heartwarming.

I did have some issues here and there, especially with Selina's and Peter's backstory. It was never explained how they knew each other, so it was confusing a bit. However, this was a good book, and I enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press for this book.