I really enjoyed the story. it was unique, with a southern gentleman in England. They were just so cute and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story!

4.5⭐️

Loved this!!! Ne’er Duke Well has to be one of my favourite historical romances. So charming and sweet!

I loved all the characters, loved the romance, and loved the found family vibes. This book had me laughing and crying!

Peter and Selina brought out the best parts of each other, and I adored the realizations of them falling for each other. They care for their families, societal issues and each other so deeply, that it was impossible not to love them.

The scenery and descriptions were also great, and there were a few 🌶️ scenes that were definitely the icing on the cake.

I wish I had gotten to this earlier! Pick it up if it is on your TBR:) Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!💫

The simple fact that this is a debut novel is mind-boggling. This will be the historical romance of 2024. This had me smiling ear to ear and laughing out loud. Delightful. What an incredible comfort, steamy Regency romp. I highly suggest this to all historical romance lovers.

I'm generally not a historical romance girlie, but I will gladly make an exception for Alexandra Vasti. Her characters are empowered and intelligent, and that's an integral part of their story. I knew from the minute I read the summary of Ne'er Duke Well that I'd enjoy it -- Selina runs and maintains a secret erotic library! -- and I wasn't wrong. And it wasn't just Selina who did exactly what she wanted even though it wasn't "proper" (or what would typically be in a regency romance). Peter loudly advocates for abolition, Peter's siblings are chaos demons and 12-year-old Lu desperately wants to learn to fence (so she can wield a rapier), and many of Selina's friends are engaged in political or academic endeavors that are not quite proper for a lady.

Ne'er Duke Well has plenty of twists and turns and excitement (and smut), but one thing it doesn't have? A third act break-up! There's plenty of other drama, and the lack of third act break-up actually highlights the other drama and keeps the focus on the other drama in the story, including Peter's siblings and Belvoir's library. This book is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.

The main reason this worked for me was because I totally understood why the characters had a mutual interest in each other's success. responsible Peter and selfless Selina.

It's true, I’ll admit, those characteristics could be a recipe for disaster, a one sided- insta love type of situation, but that was avoided since these characters compliment each other so damn well. They both wanted the best for the other person, and it came across in a way that was realistic, despite the tropeish situation. Both the main characters fundamentally underestimate themselves, and pride themselves on what they can do for other people– but in totally different ways! This makes them both desperately want to save the other person but in turn– this is cheesy get ready– they help each other save themselves.

There was also a hint of a miscommunication trope, but I appreciate that the book didn’t drag it out and instead relied on more intricate plot points and nuances to explain why the couple couldn’t be together. It was a little drawn out but not so much that it made the reading unpleasant.

The side characters were fun, Lu and Freddie were cute, but I would have loved to see more of them. Totally loved the found family trope in this, it felt cute and fuzzy, which is exactly what I want to feel when I read my escapist regency romance books.

The main thing that made this book enjoyable was just the damn pining. There was a totally fun, mutual respect and admiration thing going that made the relationship not insta- lovey, and instead a slow burn that made this a one- sitting read for me. Of course I think it could have been a little bit of a slower burn, but that's just me and my crazy!

I wanted to try a different vein of historical fiction and this was really fun! I love clever dialogue and witty banter and would definitely recommend this if you do too. There were some aspects of the plot that were predictable, but I think that just comes with reading a lot of romance. I think it was a great pick for a historical lighthearted romance! Plus the Duke had some really endearing flaws.

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti was an absolute treat!! This one is definitely for fans of what I affectionately call a “less than proper” Regency romance, the regency romances that blend humor, steam, and a refreshing feminist twist!

The story follows Peter Kent, the newly minted Duke of Stanhope, whose scandalous reputation threatens his goal of becoming the guardian of his half-siblings. To clean up his image, Peter seeks help from Lady Selina Ravenscroft, society’s most proper debutante—except for her secret life as the proprietor of an erotic circulating library for women. (We love to see it! 🎉)

The dynamic between Peter and Selina is electric. Their chemistry is palpable from the start, and it’s a joy to watch their relationship evolve from a strategic partnership to something much deeper. Selina shines as a heroine; she’s independent, sexy, and confident, breaking the mold of the typical Regency debutante. Peter, with his radical politics and past scandals, is equally compelling, especially as he navigates the chaos that ensues when his siblings and Selina’s plans collide!!

For me though, I need more than steam- I need FEELINGS!! Thankfully, this book delivers on both and has the most wonderful balance of lightheartedness and emotional depth! The story isn’t just about steamy encounters—though those are definitely a highlight—but also about healing from trauma and building a strong, genuine connection, it’s so swoony! This depth adds a layer of substance to the romance, making it more than just a fun read.

The audiobook narration deserves special mention. Huge shout out to Libro.fm for the gifted audiobook, you’re my favorite!
Mhairi Morrison’s performance was done really well, bringing the characters to life in a way that enhances the overall experience. If you’re a fan of audiobooks, this one is a must-listen.

For anyone who found themselves wanting more from Season 3 of Bridgerton, Ne’er Duke Well is the perfect remedy, trust me! 🔥

I dnf'd this ARC at about 25%. I really enjoyed the author's Halifax Hellions novellas but Ne'er Duke Well wasn't grabbing me. I kept reading until I figured out what the issue was - Peter and Selina have no character flaws and therefore are completely uninteresting to me. I've seen some reviews that said the pacing of the book was a bit slow and the book dragged in places. I was inclined to agree until I was able to put my finger on the character issue. The story (at least the part I read) actually moves quite quickly. The problem is that it's all plot and no internal struggle, which kept me from feeling anything for either of the main characters. It's obvious the author knows the regency romance subgenre well and she's a skilled writer on the line level. But it's characters that make a book and characters need flaws to feel real and compelling.

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti made me feel butterflies.

There is always something about a good historical romance that makes me giddy and has my face flushing at the first gentle hand graze and Ne’er Duke Well did just that. I absolutely adored every part of this book and the relationship between Selina and Peter. And of course we thrived off the potential scandal waiting in the wings.

What I absolutely adored about Vasti’s writing in this book, is that at times it felt like I was a member of the ton reading the most recent scandal sheet. I still can’t pinpoint where exactly this feeling came from but was loving it. I was so engrossed in the story and felt like I was a peer getting their daily dose of societal news and it made it so much more fun. I loved learning little details of Selina and Peter’s story and the gossip/insight we got on the other members of the ton.

More importantly though I adored that Vasti gave us a strong heroine who was also supporting the next generation. Seeing Selina thrive in her business pursuits while also assisting women in understanding the world of desire that was shut off from them was empowering. I loved that Selina’s mission was to help make information about sex and desire available to women in a society who kept it from them to keep them sheltered. Especially when it started as a way to keep other women being blindsided like another women whose naivety lead to heartbreak. And in creating Belvoir’s to help fellow women she also created a thriving business and showed she was capable of supporting her self and being a successful business woman.

To top it off Selina was important in encouraging Lu to be herself, even when it may not be the most acceptable behavior. Selina wanted Lu to follow her own dreams and made sure to help secure her a fencing tutor, as she saw her younger self in the girl and wanted to support her. This was especially touching when looking at how she had support of her family in following her own pursuits and she got to give that to Lu and make it all come full circle.

The relationship between Selina and Peter was endearing. I loved seeing the push and pull of them slowly realizing their feelings for each other. And watching Peter fall first was splendid (who doesn’t love a man who falls first?). It was also the beauty of seeing both of them put the other first. Selina pushed Peter away for fear of scandal if her identity of the owner of Belvoir’s was revealed. But while she feared this could ruin Peter’s chances at getting custody of his siblings, Peter loved her and supported her career. He wanted her to know he supported her and didn’t care about any scandals and as hard as she planned for the scandal he made sure to let her know he wanted her to stay because without her the family wouldn’t be complete. It was just such a beautiful dynamic to see them both looking out for each other (even if I did get at Selina for planning to run away at one point).

Overall Vasti gave me the perfect historical romance that I needed in my life. She championed strong females while still giving them a lovely romance. Reminding us all you can have both a successful career and a healthy relationship even if society keeps trying to tell you otherwise.

I hate to do this because I’m a fan of Alexandra Vasti’s novellas and the woman herself, but it’s a DNF at 21% (on my second attempt).

I just wasn’t getting much tension and lost interest. It was clear from the get-go that Selina and Peter were perfect for each other, the other “candidates” for his wife were completely unsuitable, and the erotic library Selina runs wasn’t enough of a presence to feel like a true obstacle to their being together. I don’t know how Vasti would have spun out the remaining 80% and there are too many books on my TBR for me to want to stick it out.

It’s well written but the stakes were too low for me.

Heart heart heart, this book has so much heart that I was misting up in my eyes for basically the entire second half. Selina is a self-thought scandal of a woman, except her scandal is secret and also pretty hardcore. Peter Kent has recently learned that he has two much younger siblings that his father sired after he abandoned Peter, and now that the father is dead, Peter wants to become their official guardian. But Peter is a mess of a sweetheart who has muddled up enough scandal that the higher-ups in the legal system might deny him that chance. Selina embarks on a task to get him married to a respectable lady to make him look like a sympathetic and good father figure. But lol, Selina realizes she's kinda got the hots for him. Oops!

The characters in this book are so much fun and so well fleshed out. At first I was like, these are a lot of names to remember, but by like, halfway through, I wanted a full book dedicated to each character. To put that much goodness into just 300 pages is impressive. I can't wait for more from Vasti!

Thanks to Netgalley and Forver Publishing for the e-ARC!

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a regency romance about a young woman determined to help a newly inherited duke gain custody of his half-siblings by finding him a wife. Lady Selina Ravenscroft is a cunning, well-respected woman of the ton. Raised by her elder brother when their parents passed, Selina knows all to well what it feels like to be a parentless child. When Peter Kent requests advice on how to secure his siblings under his guardianship, Selina is determined to make it happen. With only a few weeks until he goes before the courts, he needs help cleaning up his reputation and what better way to show he’s matured than through marriage.

I really enjoyed this story. Selina is smart and hiding secrets of her own, namely owning a library that circulates books for women to educate them about sexual matters. This played a larger role in the book that I first believed it would. When Selina hatches the marriage plan to help Peter, she makes a list of women she believes he’d get along with well and would elevate his reputation. She, of course, leaves herself off because if news of the library being hers comes to light it could create an even bigger scandal.

While I liked Selina, I loved Peter. He is down-to-earth, what you see is what you get kind of guy. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and his abolitionist ideas are new, pushing the boundaries. I like that even though he didn’t know he had siblings until he inherited the dukedom that he loves them already. Not only loves them, but he wants them. He wants to raise them and give them everything they need and want. How can you not love that?

The plot was really two-fold following Selina’s harebrained marriage plan, her library, and the budding romance between the two Selina and Peter. Peter liked Selina before her idea, and I believe would have asked her to marry him when he was ready. Selina respected Peter because of his love for his siblings, but put herself out of the running to be his because of her scandalous library. I like how the author built their friendship as a foundation for the romance.

Overall, I really enjoyed Ne’er Duke Well. It was easy to root for Selina and Peter. I also loved Peter’s siblings and other side characters who were all fleshed out fully. While I didn’t mention that in my review, it really helped to build the world and added depth to Selina and Peter. If you are a fan of regency romance, I highly recommend it.

Review withheld due to the St. Martin's Press Boycott.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this story. Peter is a very unconventional duke which I really liked. His passion for abolition and his determination to win guardianship of and take care of his half-siblings made me like him instantly. His bumbling charm and tendency to act without thinking helped cement him as a favorite.

Selena is cooler and a little harder to get to know. She is whipsmart and basically spends the novel ordering Peter about and then getting annoyed when he haplessly ruins her plans. It took a little longer for me to really get behind her, but she did eventually win me over.

I loved Georgianna. Talk about pulling the wool over the eyes of the ton! Lydia and Iris were also excellent characters and I hope we get spinoff novels for each of them because they would definitely be entertaining.

The children were adorable and definitely added to the story. I'm glad they were there, and would actually have preferred them to be more present in the middle section of the book instead of just the beginning and end.

The plot strains credulity at times but in a fun way. If you can suspend disbelief and let it take you for a ride then you'll enjoy it.

I enjoyed the audiobook narration for the most part, except Peter's dialogue, especially in the beginning, was delivered in an agonizingly slow exaggerated drawl. I know he's supposed to be from Louisiana, but still. Luckily the narrator did speed up and lighten up on the drawl in the second half of the book.

I definitely recommend this if you like your historical romance with a good dose of humor and a significant amount of social commentary and critique.

*Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and Dreamscape Media for providing an early copy for review.

This was okay. The writing was fine, the story was routine, it just wasn’t a book that hooked me. The main characters were enjoyable and likable but not memorable.

Title:  Ne'er Duke Well
Author:  Alexandra Vasti       
Genre: Romance       
Rating: 4 out of 5

Peter Kent―newly inherited Duke of Stanhope and recently of New Orleans, Louisiana―must become respectable. Between his radical politics and the time he interrupted a minor royal wedding with a flock of sheep―not his fault!―he’s developed a scandalous reputation at odds with his goal of becoming guardian to his half siblings. For help, he turns to the cleverest and most managing woman of his acquaintance, Lady Selina Ravenscroft.

Selina is society’s most proper debutante, save one tiny secret: she runs an erotic circulating library for women. When Peter asks for her help, she suggests courtship and marriage to a lady of unimpeachable reputation. (Which is to say, definitely not herself.)

But matchmaking doesn’t go according to plan. Peter’s siblings run rampant on Bond Street. Selina ends up in the Serpentine. And worst of all, the scorching chemistry between Peter and Selina proves impossible to resist. For the disreputable duke and his unpredictable matchmaker, falling in love just might be the ultimate scandal.

I do like this author’s style and characters, and I enjoyed this read quite a bit. The voices of both Peter and Selina were funny and well-developed, and their antics made me laugh—unlike the society they live in. Boring. This is a spicy read with a lot of sweetness, perfect for a summer weekend.

Alexandra Vasti lives in New Orleans. Ne’er Duke Well is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Heat Factor: It’s pretty steamy

Character Chemistry: Ugh, ultimate power couple vibe here

Plot: Peter is an American Duke who’s desperately trying to gain custody of his two young half-siblings, and Selina is an extremely capable secret business owner and purveyor of illicit reading materials for women who desperately wants to help him succeed

Overall: This book gave me the biggest, swooniest heart eyes. I looked like an absolute idiot reading it in public.

I’ll be honest, I’m pretty sure I picked this one because the title was a big happy pun and I felt like it deserved some extra attention for creativity. I’m pretty sure Holly would say “absolutely not”, but she’s never appreciated my puns. And anyway, I was absolutely right—the book was fantastic.

In this book, Selina is living a double life. After watching a close friend end up ruined and alone because she didn’t understand basic sex ed, Selina was determined to prevent other women from falling prey to ignorance and convinced her twin brother to buy a lending library. Then, Selina created a special sexual education collection for women only, and bound all the books in a similar cover so that women could read the books with anonymity.

When she runs into Peter Kent and his two half-siblings, Peter decides that Selina is exactly the person he needs to help him gain custody of his half siblings. The entire book is basically Peter being utterly smitten with everything Selina is, and supporting her with his entire being, and worshiping her very existence, and Selina loving everyone selflessly and caring about the well-being of others and generally being incredibly brave and big-hearted.

I bet you’re wondering what the black moment is, and this was a refreshing change of pace—no one does anything stupid or rash in this book, because it would be utterly out of character. Peter’s too loyal and too steady to do anything stupid, and Selina is too capable and caring. So the tension and the plot is external to the relationship, and thus the relationship and the romance becomes a release valve to the situational suspense. Every time things start to get too perilous Peter and Selina get caught up in a hallway or Selina brings up something racy she read about in one of her books and Peter’s all like, “marrying you was the smartest thing I’ve ever done” and then you’re left muttering under your breath about how their love is just too pure. It’s a whole thing.

And if their “us against the world” relationship wasn’t enough to melt your heart, their commitment to Peter’s siblings will wreck you. Lu and Freddie provide a series of hilarious quips and one-liners and their relationships with Peter and Selina provide a lot of context and deeper meaning for the rest of the plot.

So, does this mean we should all be looking for romance novels with puns in the title? I think that yes, it does. Right, Holly?

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

My review is being withheld in support of the St Martins Press boycott. I will review the book once the boycott has been lifted. Please encourage the leadership at St Martins Press to acknowledge the harm they have done and make reparations so that we can resume reviews of books they are publishing.

I really loved the premise of this book and wanted so badly to love it but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t feel the spark between the main characters and the story line was dragging for me. I wanted more build up to the romance. Once it was around 50% I found myself skimming.

DNF @ 17%.

I loved the writing but honestly just got bored of the characters. The tension felt lacking and didn’t care enough to continue.