So good! The narrator was so delicate and nuanced, easily sliding from one character to another. And so funny. The writing was already hilarious, but hearing Emily freaking out about this or that was perfection.

I went into this book expecting a very lighthearted romcom, and I did not expect the depth of both the story and the characters. The romance is definitely a slow burn and well worth the wait. Our FMC, Emily, is a little abrasive and a little difficult to like, and I love that about her. I can't wait to explore Lex Croucher's backlist!

3.5 Stars
A cute and fun story with a touch of spice.

Fairmont House has just welcomed Amy Laurence as their new governess, or should I say, Emily Laurence. Emily has impersonated her sister and taken on the role of teaching the Edwards children, Grace and Aster. However, Emily has a secret motive - she will be acting as governess for a brief period as she robs the house of small but expensive trinkets. She intends to sell them to earn money to help her sick sister. But Emily's plan may be derailed as she begins to develop a strong attachment to everyone in the house. Will she be able to overcome her emotional connection to follow through with her plan?

The characters were all so lovable, and I loved how the friendship between Emily and the children developed throughout the story. Emily's unpolished and unapologetic personality was refreshing. It was also nice to see queer representation included as well. However, I found her stubbornness and blindness to the Captain's feelings a little frustrating. Despite this, I still had a good time reading this and would definitely recommend it to fans of Regency Romance.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Lex Croucher, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Trouble by Lex Croucher is a delightful historical fiction novel that weaves together humor, deception, and unexpected connections within the confines of Fairmont House.

The story introduces us to Emily Laurence, a reluctant governess thrust into a world of lies as she masquerades as her more suitable sister, Amy. The narrative unfolds with a perfect blend of wit and charm, as Emily navigates the challenges of her new role with a healthy dose of sarcasm and quick thinking.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-crafted characters, each contributing their unique quirks to the tapestry of Fairmont House. From the talkative and affectionate Grace to the enigmatic and witty Aster, the dynamics between Emily and her charges add layers of complexity to the plot. The supporting characters, especially the servants, create a sense of family that contrasts with Emily's initial reluctance to connect.

Lex Croucher excels in creating a vivid historical setting, immersing readers in the world of Fairmont House with meticulous details and atmospheric descriptions. The pacing is well-maintained, and the story unfolds seamlessly, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

The romantic subplot involving Captain Edwards adds a touch of intrigue to the narrative. The slow-burning tension between Emily and the brooding Captain is expertly crafted, providing a satisfying payoff as the story progresses.

While the plot relies on the classic trope of mistaken identity, Croucher injects a fresh and humorous perspective that sets Trouble apart from similar novels in the genre. The narrative explores themes of deception, redemption, and the unexpected bonds that form in the most unlikely of circumstances.

In conclusion, Trouble is a charming and entertaining read, offering a delightful escape into the world of Fairmont House. Lex Croucher's witty writing style and well-developed characters make this historical fiction novel a must-read for fans of the genre.

This was an interesting twist on a classic tale. If you like classic books but want some LGBTQIA+ characters added then this will be just your style.

While this is technically a historical romance, this seems to follow the typical pattern. It was an easy listen, and the audiobook was well done, and I was entertained most of the time. However, I think the romance was on the back burner, and it didn't have enough tension to be a "forbidden" type of romance. I enjoyed the children and the house staff, and thought it was an interesting approach. I wish there had been more of a plot, to help move along the middle of the book, especially since the romance didn't do the heavy lifting. However, overall an easy, fun listen. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I really could not get into this audiobook. I couldn't even finish it and I usually finish books whether on paper or audio. The reason is that I couldn't find any of the characters to be likeable. Maybe, I would have eventually liked someone enough to finish but I was over a quarter of the way into the book and, nothing... The narrator's voice is good.

Sadly, "Trouble" didn't work for me. It lacked the snappiness, humor, and playfulness of "Reputation." I was already cooling on these books are "Infamous" because it was also similarly lackluster compared to the first. I wasn't able to finish "Trouble" because I found it boring and didn't care about any of the characters at 30%. Emily's entire personality is negativity, and multiple characters have chronic illnesses. The captain has only shown up two or three times, and there's absolutely nothing to recommend him as a romantic hero. The things that were so funny in "Reputation" don't work here or aren't present at all. If Croucher wrote something else, I'd likely try it, but I wouldn't continue with the books in this style.

I tried... I really did...
but this story is not for me.
The heroine... is not likeable... She is not shy or reserved. She is closed off and mean. The whole I don't like children but I have to pretend to be a governess bc my sister who should be here is ill.... so I am going to do a half ass job...not endearing.
But really... none of the characters are. No one is likable... everyone seems to be a robot. There are no deep emotions or layers.
Moving on.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher

Absolutely loved it! I love ALL the queer representation in Lex Croucher's novels. I loved the premise of this book and in reading it, I came to love all the characters except the slimy backstabber. This book is great for people who love regency era books with all the queer representation. I highly recommend everything Lex Croucher has written. The narrator was phenomenal. All around a great listen!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC! ♥

Thank you Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's / Griffin for my free ARC of Trouble by Lex Croucher — available Mar 5 in the US!

Read this if you:
💜 love historical romance with a grumpy/sunshine trope
🔆 are especially fond of charming side characters and witty banter
🐣 have ever had to babysit or teach particularly challenging children

Emily — call her Amy, if you must— has taken a position as governess in her sick sister's stead, but she is not at all qualified so she fails to mention the swap to her new employer. Her two junior charges are tricky, one chatters constantly and the other is just downright surly. But that's okay, as Emily only plans to stay long enough to snatch a few valuable objects to keep her family afloat. That is, until she finds that maybe the house and its inhabitants are actually pulling a little too tightly at her heartstrings, especially the dark and stormy Captain Edwards...

Alright, so I loved this one. I actually fell HARD for the minor characters in this story; their repartee is laugh-out-loud funny at several points throughout the book! Emily is a great character, and while I felt her relationship with Captain Edwards was perhaps a touch forced, the love radiating from the rest of the characters and the "found family" aspects of the book kept me enthralled by the story. If you enjoy historical romance and/or rom-coms, I predict that you, too, will fall for this one.

I recently discovered Lex Croucher when I picked up Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, which is also a riotous good time, and I'm so glad to see that this is a common theme across their books! I will definitely be picking up the rest of their backlist.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this ARC as an audiobook. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale. It was hilarious, heartwarming, and very entertaining. This is a love story for all those who feel like they are trouble and unworthy of others kindness. The narrator was so entertaining and I felt that she really captured the main character and all the supporting characters really well.

"Trouble," by Lex Croucher, follows Emily Laurence, a grumpy and ill-equipped mill worker who takes on the role of governess to two teenage charges at a coastal estate. She is filling in for her sister Amy, who is sick and unable to fulfill the job duties. Emily is determined to hate the job, the family, and the other staff and only wants to earn enough money to pay for a year's worth of doctor visits for her sister. However, Emily soon falls in love with the children and their widowed father, Naval Officer Captain Ben Edwards.

Reading "Trouble" was my first time reading Lex Croucher's work, and I am impressed. After enjoying this book, I will add Lex's other works to my to-be-read list. Trouble is a Regency rom-com that is feminist and queer-friendly. The characters in the book represent many different types of lived experiences. Lex's writing style is engaging, and I was drawn into the story. While the plot was predictable, as most romcoms tend to be, the absolute joy in this story was watching the characters interact.

I went in only knowing that it was a governess, historical romance. And if you like that, then you will probably enjoy this book.
We meet Emily who is covering for her sister, Amy who is unwell and is in need of a doctor. Her plan, earn a few months of wages, nip some trinkets, and then slip away.
Right away we can see that Emily is not your typical governess. Her goal is not to get involved with the family or its drama. We meet Captain Edwards right away and he's standoffish. We also meet Grace and Aster, who are siblings and Captain Edward's children. There is the main plot of Emily working as a governess, but also much more. There were a blackmailing plotline, a queer character plotline, and a bit of a mystery plotline.
A lot was going on in this story. I thought it was well plotted until towards the end for about 40 pages it felt rushed and then went back to a normal, more steady pace.
I enjoyed this book in audiobook format. The narrator, Ell Potter, does a good job of telling this story from light-hearted to heavy heart-filled moments. The tone fits Emily and does a swell job at tones for other characters.
An adult historical queer romance story filled with twists and turns, a dash of mystery, and new begins.

This book was so lovely! I had a great time reading - I love a book where the FMC is the grump, and boy oh boy is Emily a grump! But she's also endearing and clearly protective of the people she loves. This gave allllllll the Sound of Music vibes I could have possibly asked for. Although there's a power imbalance given that Emily is the family's governess, Captain Edwards never makes that power imbalance feel important or insurmountable.

As always with Lex Croucher's books, the casual queerness of the world is one of my favorite things. At face value this book looks like a cis/het romance, but it's anything but! I love the way Lex brings queerness into their books so so much!

I loved Ell Potter's narration - in particularly there's this moment where one of the characters comes out as trans and the way that Ell changes their voice/tone to represent that is truly so lovely! I can't remember experiencing anything similar in an audiobook and I thought it was such a clever and wonderful decision.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

OBSESSED. I loved this book! It was everything i wanted wrapped up with a bow. The characters, the time period, the drama, the romance. Everything delivered perfectly and i ate it all up. The narrator was perfect and i loved listening to her.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for providing me an advanced listener copy (ALC) of Trouble by Lex Croucher in exchange for an honest review.
This book gave me Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett vibes which makes sense because Pride and Prejudice was also set during the regency era which Trouble is set within.
If you love Pride and Prejudice but want to see it adapted with more representation, wittier banter and characters that feel more relatable in their flaws and miscommunications, Trouble is the book for you to add to your TBR immediately!

This is the third book in the series BUT you can read it as a stand alone.
The beginning of the book was a little hard for me to dive right into, but world building and character development and all. At the 1/4 mark I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
This is a book where you are asking yourself ‘has enough happened for them to fall for each other?’ But then I remember the era and the likelihood that the standards for love then were very different than what we hold now.

What did I love most? Emily. She is such an Elizabeth Bennet. Crass and short fused, speaking her mind while still growing close with the children.

I really enjoyed the narrator (Ell Potter) and the style in which she presents each character. Each time the Captain enters the scene she slows down her diction so you can feel that Emily is eyeing him and processing his every move. Bravo Ell!

I'm a sucker for the governess to lover trope (Jane Eyre is my favourite book, after all).
I have read Lex Croucher before and have enjoyed her work.
I really think that listening to this story as an audiobook elevated it for me.
The narrator is very good, and I hope they have a long career reading regency (or otherwise) romances.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

Another fun Lex Croucher title! This listen was propulsive, funny, and engaging throughout. The narration was spot-on and lent itself to listening on 1.25 but that’s a personal preference of course. This romantic tale features queer characters and the struggles of the poor in the rigid class system of British yesteryear. Great listen!

Romantic comedies are not my normal genre. I will occasionally read them if I think the story sounds cute enough. But I don't enjoy extremely cheesy romance novels.

Trouble is a romantic book and it does take place in the Regency era but I don't think it came off as corny. The main character, Emily, is stubborn and pessimistic. I like that she wasn't the typical romance stereotype. Some of the tropes have been used a million times but I didn't find it redundant or boring.

I love that it included characters that went beyond the norm but this wasn't used as some drastic twist to the plot. It was just simply characters slowly revealing their true selves in an organic way.

The narrator, Ell Potter, did a great job. I enjoyed listening to her voice. I have listened to a book before that she narrated and would listen to more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lex Croucher, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read Trouble. I have written this review voluntarily.