My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

This was a fun and easy listen/read that had me laughing and swooning. The few things I didn’t love were far overshadowed by the things I did. I have to say the cast of characters in this book is incredible and I absolutely loved the writing style. Reading the description immediately reminded me of Jane Eyre, so I knew I had to check this one out!

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: Slow burn romance, LGBTQ+ characters, regency era

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 👍:
▫️Amazing cast of characters.
▫️Broody, mysterious male main character.
▫️Representation for LGBTQ+ characters, chronic illness and characters of color.
▫️ Funny and witty characters and writing style.
▫️ Great narrator (for the audiobook).

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 👎:
▫️The two main characters’ romance seemed not fully fleshed out at times. Almost like not enough really happened between them for them to even fall for each other. The focus didn’t fully seem to be on their relationship, and more time was spent on other aspects of the story rather than their budding connection. However the scenes they did have together were very entertaining to read/listen to.
▫️It was hard for me to really like or connect with the main character. She grew on me by the end, but it took quite a while.
▫️ There were times where it didn’t feel quite regency enough for me and leaned a bit more 21st century.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: Downton Abbey, The Sound of Music, Jane Eyre vibes, regency era historical romances with comedy.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

This review is really a 2.5 because I enjoyed it but it wasn't my favorite. I felt like there was not enough chemistry between the two for me to get too invested. I really enjoyed the plot line about her getting close to the kids. I feel like a lot of the book revolved around then and then the romance came in at the end. I loved the ending and I was so happy with how all the characters ended up. I will say, these books are different than other books based in this era nowadays.

So fun!! So cute!!!

Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook, which was so good!!

The representation of bi, gay, black, indian, trans people and people with chronic illnesses was so refreshing in a period piece!

All the characters are also super charming, as are all of Lex's characters, you care for everyone and want to keep hearing their stories :)

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book!!
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

There is a part in this story that had me screaming "SHUT UP. NO WAY." so many times that its' a little embarrassing.
Needless to say, I loved this book to death. I've never read anything by Lex Croucher and hadn't realized they're the same author behind "Art and Gwen Are Not In Love" which I've heard a lot about. I'm going to read everything they've published so far though if they're all as funny, witty, and enjoyable as this novel was.

I liked Emily a lot because she was crass and sometimes rude but always very honest. I liked that she spoke her mind and always knew she'd come clean eventually about all the lies she'd told.

For the first quarter of the book though, I was worried. At that point, her and Captain Edwards hadn't spoken much and I thought I was wrong in my assumption that this was a romance novel. As soon as I crossed over that first quarter of the book and into the second though, I realized I was right.

I didn't know what to think of Captain Edwards at first. Emily didn't like him but I knew she was only seeing a part of him, the part that he was showing outwardly that wouldn't really amount to his whole character. I grew to love him quickly though. Emily remained a bit indecisive on what she thought of him but I knew immediately after the shipwreck that he was a good man with good intentions.

All the other characters were so much fun too! I loved Grace and Aster and the rest of the household staff. They were all funny and sweet (Aster was only sweet some of the time really but I loved him so much). Everyone seemed determined to love Emily despite her faults and there's something really beautiful about that. They were all able to forgive her because they understood her heart. They understood where she was coming from that everything she had done was for her sister, because she felt she had no choice. I couldn't fault Emily for the things she'd done out of desperation, even if I felt she was being difficult for difficults sake at times.

The ending was perfect. I was glad that I got to see how they were after the wedding (though we didn't see the wedding at all which I was surprised by). I think too often romance books, where someone gets married, often ends at the church itself but I liked that I was able to hear what they were doing. Emily calling Ben her husband was so fun and cute.

As soon as I'm able I'm going to preorder this book because I can't wait to have it on my shelf!

The pacing was a bit off for this one, and there was so much miscommunication (but such is life I guess!) but it was still excellently narrated. I would listen to the narrator Ell Potter over and over again! Not my favorite from Lex Croucher, but still an enjoyable enough read overall.

If you enjoy Pride and Prejudice vibes but with a more modern feel, more believably flawed characters, even wittier banter, and tons of representation then this book is perfect for you. I LOVED every single one of the characters from the outset and felt that the story was well crafted for all of them.

The start of the book was a hard one for me and it took a bit for me to buy into it, I felt like I started in the middle as opposed to the start of the book. After you get past the first part, that’s when I started to not be able to put this book down. This book was a good read, it wasn’t a light read where you saw the ending coming, it was a book that made you think about how things were from the characters perspective and why they were they were. It was brass and sassy, in all the right ways. The relationships between family, staff, different tiers of class that made it such a good book overall.
I loved the diversity within this book, the identities of the characters were such a powerful part of this book.

I received this audiobook arc from Netgalley is exchange for my honest opinion.
Trouble by Lex Croucher is lighthearted romantic comedy set in the regency era. The characters are charming and add a lot of color to the story. I found myself laughing loudly several times.
Emily's sarcasm and quick temper make her funny to read. I was moved by her relationships particularly with Grace and Amy.
I love the narrator and the style she gave the different character. Also every time the Captain came on the scene her reading slowed down and I could feel the character checking him out. It made me smile every time.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

I love regency romances and I really loved this book. I love the characters and felt like they worked well together. Such a cute quick easy read.

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 was a delightful regency romance novel with a twist. Although it's the third installment in the series, it can be read independently. The book is witty, and lighthearted, and features a charming cast of troublemakers, many of whom represent a range of queer identities. I loved the diverse charming cast and the character development shown by many different characters. The narrator did a great job, I loved all the voices/representations – Trouble is one to pick up if you’re looking for a quick fun listen.

Many readers have auto-buy authors. I have an auto-buy narrator, and it's Ell Potter. She is as good as ever in this feminist, queer-friendly Regency romcom, which happens to be my favorite Lex Croucher book so far. The bones of the story feel familiar - grumpy, unequipped mill worker Emily Laurence goes to a coastal estate to be the governess to two teenaged charges in place of her own sister Amy, who has taken ill and needs the money but cannot fulfill the job duties. Emily is determined to hate the job, despise the family, ignore the other staff, and just bank enough in her weekly pay + some five finger discounts to pay for a year's worth of doctor visits for her sister.

Instead, she falls in love - not only with widowed Naval Officer Captain Ben Edwards, but with his children (Aster and Grace) and the other members of staff. There are - of course - miscommunications. There's a side plot that's meant to offer an obstacle to the couple's happiness that really annoyed me, but in Ell Potter's hands, it's still a treat to listen! There's quite a bit of set up in the first half of the novel, but for me it was just an extended slow burn. By the time Emily and Ben first kiss, I felt the chemistry leaping off the page (metaphorically; I was listening), and it just gets better from there.

This is a five star listen for me. I cannot compare it to the physical book, but I also ALWAYS recommend one listens to a book that's been narrated by Ell Potter. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ALC.

This is such a sweet book!

Emily Laurence takes the place of her sister Amy Laurence when Amy falls ill. She starts working as a Governess to two siblings, one a well-behaved, though a bit seek child and the other a rebel teenager. Her plan is to steal as much as she can from the house, so she can pay for her sisters' doctors and run away in the night. But, as things progress she starts to make friends and learns that people can forgive even your worst mistakes.

This is my first Lex Croucher novel and now I am a bit sad for what I missed before! This is fun, witty, and charming. It has queer and trans representation in a way that is not really on the nose. I loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy is exchange for my honest review.

This wasn't my favorite historical romance I've read but it was still enjoyable! It was really funny, I like how the character was so snarky, I love me a sarcastic historical character. I just wish we would have gotten like a little bit more of the romance.

Trouble-a standalone
By Lex Croucher-I've read Reputation and Infamous and gave 3 and 4⭐.
Narrator: Ell Potter
Run Time: 11:37
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publication 3/4/24, Read 1/22/24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC 💜 ! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

✔️ regency romance
✔️ secret identity
✔️ rom-com
✔️ LGBTQIA+
✔️ family drama
✔️employer/employee relationship
✔️opposites attract
✔️single parent

⚠️H's death of spouse, h's sick sibling, H has sick child, H's child "comes out" as trans

Summary

Emily Laurence (29) is the new governess at Fairmont House. She has taken her sister Amy's position because she's too sick to come and they need money for a doctor. Their father is deceased and their mother is still grieving years later, so Emily does what she has to do. She vows not to get involved with the Edwards' family drama. Emily tries not to care about the children Grace and Aster, or the staff that act like family. Her employer is the brooding and standoffish Captain Ben Edwards, and Emily is willing to lie and steal from him for her sister.

The narrator is Ell Potter who does all the characters. I believe the voice fit the characters with standouts from the precocious Grace, and Captain Edwards the authoritarian. Their voices were the most distinct, but I could easily tell the difference between all characters. The reading style brought the story to life and the pacing flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync, and they fit together perfectly.

The audiobook's flow was pretty good. I loved Grace's character and Meera, Akia, and Oliver's gossiping. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.

Overall, the romance was great. Grumpy Captain Edwards really softens up to Emily with her strong will and quirkiness. It was definitely a slow burn romance where both the hero and heroine had to grow on each other.

My recommendation is to read the audiobook because you can adjust the speed and picture the characters more vividly.

I LOVE a good regency romance but I fear this book may have ruined all the others for me! I never knew I needed the modern flair that this book holds! READ IT!! Thank you Lex for this masterpiece!!

This was a very good historical story. I enjoyed the funny and serious moments. Also very LQBTQIA+ positive. The narration was fantastic!

I just reviewed Trouble by Lex Croucher. #NetGalley

Trouble by Lex Croucher is a book that will draw you in on the first page and keep you engaged with various emotions. One of the stand-out things about this book is the main character, Emily. While wanting to help her family, including her sick sister, Emily pretends to be a governess, even though she has no experience with children. I loved the contrast between Emily and the rest of the cast and how dedicated she was to her family while slowly being broken down by Captain Edwards and his children.
The characters in this book all contributed greatly to this book and added a lot of dimension. I loved the two children Emily was watching and how they were very different from one another while still fitting into the setting.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a regency read to prepare them to step back into the world of Bridgerton this next season.

As always, Lex Croucher delivers a tale that reads like a classic, but with a modern LGBTQIA+ twist! Absolutely adored this one. It was slow at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciate the chance to have experienced this eARC! Thank you to Net Galley and Lex Croucher for the opportunity!

Right away I was sucked into the first chapter by the snarky tone and grumpy main character. I will always fall for a grumpy sarcastic heroine who thinks herself above romance but that warms to others as they show her affection. The non-romantic sub-plot was compelling enough to sustain me until we got to the satisfying romance portion near the latter half of the book, but readers should know this is a slow burn. The tone is light-hearted. The side characters are quirky and funny, and you'll fall in love with every single one of them. There are sensitive and joyful depictions of bisexual and transgender characters. An absolute delight to read.

What sets "Trouble" apart is Croucher's keen observational humor. From awkward social situations to the absurdity of everyday life, the novel is a treasure trove of witty commentary on the human experience. I adored Emily’s crankiness and aversion to humans but then her slow integration into a found family and discovering love was so fun.