Did not realize this book was the third(?) in a series with the first two being M/M. I'm not sure if having read the previous books would have helped, but I got most of the book! It did feel very similar to PERKS OF LOVING A WALLFLOWER, but if M/F cis/het books can make books that are very similar, I think lesbian books should be afforded the same allowance.

This was a nice, gentle and grounded, sapphic romance for the genre. It provided a lot of the feminist lens aspects that I personally prefer to have within this genre of romance, and did a good job of balancing the need to remain relatively realistic and believable well also giving us a soft romance, a story that usually in historical context hasn’t been told or made as available for this time .period. I enjoyed it and will be looking forward to other books from this author.

I love this world Jess Everlee has created and I was happy to return to it. Jo and Emily’s love story took me awhile to get into, but it really is a lovely queer love story. Looking forward to more from this author.

Jess Everlee’s A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence is a gorgeously written queer historical romance is a great balance between intellect, sensuality, and emotional vulnerability.

The bluestocking heroine is a standout: fiercely intelligent, refreshingly independent, and deeply human in her conflicts. Her chemistry with the love interest crackles from their first encounter, and their slow-burn relationship is filled with both wit and desire.

While some pacing issues occasionally slow the momentum—especially in the book's midsection—the payoff is worth it. The emotional arcs feel earned, and the sensual scenes are as thoughtful as they are steamy, never gratuitous but always evocative.

I really love the universe Jess Everlee has created and it’s always fun to dive back in and explore her world with new characters in the spotlight. The plots of each book are standalone but the characters overlap, so it’s definitely worth picking up the first two books in the series before reading this one.

It took a little longer for me to get into this book than it did for the other two. It’s not my favourite in the series as I didn’t find the main characters as compelling as the previous two books and their chemistry took a lot longer to jump off the page. But the premise was really interesting and overall it was a lovely historical sapphic romance with found family dynamics.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've enjoyed the previous books in this series so was quite looking forward to this one! It did not disappoint!

This was an engaging, sapphic historical romance--one that would appeal to anyone who enjoyed Lex Croucher's Infamous. The protagonists were interesting, bold, intelligent and determined, as well as quite aware of their own agency and strengths. The romance grew easily and felt realistic. The side characters were enjoyable and the story progressed organically. Both characters had definable arcs and they developed as the story progressed.

Very enjoyable. A worthy read. I enjoy this author's writing and look forward to more from them. 4.5 stars

I read a previous book in this series and was so/so on it, but I enjoyed Bluestockings a lot! The writing was strong and the characters have stuck with me. There were a few points where the story didn’t quite give me as much as I was looking for, but even so I would absolutely recommend to folks looking for a historical sapphic romance!

I am loving all of the historical sapphic romances that have come out of 2024, this one included. I am not sure if I will return to this one as a reread, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Don't Want You Like a Best Friend or Infamous.

This is a fun, adventurous historical romance with bold, fearless female characters who aren't afraid to break the rules and follow their dreams. The protagonists are smart, daring, and full of agency, making it refreshing to see women in charge of their own destinies, especially in a historical setting.

The chemistry between the leads is electric, with their relationship built on witty banter and genuine growth. The romance feels natural, with plenty of tension and sweet moments, and the lavish, decadent setting adds a lot of charm. The plot is engaging, though it does hit a few predictable notes.

Overall, it’s a delightful read with strong, empowering characters and a refreshing take on historical romance. Perfect for fans of bold women and slow-burn love stories!

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 2/5
Format: 🎧

I didn't realize that sapphic innuendo-filled letters that are like, PG-13 at best would have me blushing and giggling and kicking my feet, so I got to learn something about myself. This was just such an enjoyable read. And here's the thing--it actually had a journey for characters to go on outside of the romance.

The romance, I loved. I loved the grumpy sunshine, I loved the lil baby enemies to lovers, I loved the development for them together. But outside the romance, we got DEVELOPMENT, and it was amazing. I just grew to love the characters because there was a real path each of them took. And there were some moments that hit hard. And there was strong commentary on how society views the queer community, and how that community comes together.

Just so enjoyable. Pick it up.

Having not read the first 2 books in the "series" I found it very easy to jump right in. I could tell that there was some context missing for the background characters but it didn't detract from the book at all. It felt like there was something missing, though I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Overall, definitely a great read that I highly recommend!

After reading the first two installments of the series I couldn't not read this one, and it didn't disappoint. I'm so glad we got to see a story about Jo and Emily. The contradiction in Emily, in particular, was well done in this book. The sapphic element is one I'm just now exploring as a reader in historical romances, and Jess incorporates that very well in this book. It isn't just a repetition of the same sorts of things you'll see in books with achillean elements. This book is sweet, humorous, and just a lovely read all around.

i LOVE this freakin series man. jess everlee never misses for me. these victorian queer romances are so !!!!!! just !!!!! hard to articulate in words how wonderful they make me feel and how much fun i have reading them. i loved jo in the first two books, and boy am i so glad we finally got her love story, especially since it was intertwined with the story of her lavender marriage and his paramour and more found family vibes. i loved any mention of our previous couples (david and noah, and charlie and miles) bc of course i did. i love the happy endings that everyone carves out for themselves. i love the reminder that queer people have always been here, no matter what. a heartening reminder these days.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.

Wonderfully unique.

Such sapphic angst and simmering attraction! I ended up taking this one in small doses because it felt slightly combustible, but loved the characters and humor along the way.

First, thank you to the publisher for the chance to read this early. I didn't get to finish this before the archive date but what I was able to read in the time I had was just as delightful as the other books in this series. So good!

This one was a tough one. It took some work to get into it, but once I got over that hump, it was a fun read. Joe and Emily are grumpy and just as stubborn as each other. The romance was mostly off-screen, but there was some. I truly enjoyed the supporting characters. They had strong personalities and could pinpoint people in my life similar to them, which I love when I can draw those parallels.

I really enjoyed the first 2 books of this series so I was excited to learn a third (sapphic) book was coming. I really enjoyed the writing and I loved getting to see past characters show up. I think the only reason this one gets 4 stars is because it felt a little slow at times and there were some scenes that we're told happened rather than getting to see them happen, which always disappoints me a bit. However, if you're looking for a solid sapphic, historical romance, I definitely recommend giving this book a try!

This book is a decent choice to read if you're looking for something fun, but nothing terribly gripping or memorable. It definitely has its place when you just need something fun and easy at the moment. I found some of the characters unlikable at certain points, but nothing that completely ruined the story for me.

Finished 07/21/2024 || Book 3 of Lucky Lovers of London: A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence by Jess Everlee || #ABluestockingsGuidetoDecadence #LuckyLoversofLondon #NetGalley #Sapphic #HEA #HistoricalRomance

Thank you NetGalley, Jess Everlee, and Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores for making this e-ARC available!
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author and myself.
All of my thoughts are my own~

5 Stars

CW: neglect from parents (mentioned), emotional abandonment from parents implied/mentioned, police brutality mentioned, mental health, grief, death mentioned, pregnancy, difficult pregnancy, loss of baby in childbirth mentioned

We come back to the world that author Everlee has built for us of the queer, historic-romance Lucky Lovers of London series, set in the late 1800's. This time we are following the story of Jo Smith and Dr. Emily Clarke, Noah's twin sister. Noah Clarke was our focus in Book 2: A Rulebook for Restless Rogues with his lover David, where Emily showed up as she lived with Noah, and lesbian Jo Smith has been showing up since Book 1: The Gentleman's Book of Vices. I am so excited that we got a book about these lovely ladies, as I have been so into Jo and her personality since book 1, and watching her and Emily fall in love was so satisfying.

Everlee has really found her footing and voice as an author and her writing truly shines bright in this installment. There are multiple characters we have either seen previously or new faces never before seen who really won my heart! Namely Paul's paramour Vanessa and her sweet and trusting personality. I loved when Vanessa was given time to speak her mind and I really agreed with her sentiment of what a good and real family is made of.

**SMALL SPOILERS HERE**
Honestly, I had so much fun reading Jo and Emily finding themselves and each other amidst all that was going on and getting to see each of them heal their own wounds and mend their own issues up, essentially banishing the ghosts of their pasts- all so that their futures could better align. I truly adored this installment and all that came with it!