LOVES:
- It’s nice that so many of the main characters don’t fit the “typical” mold
- The necromancy joke ⁉️😂😳🥴
- That dang button 😂
- I like how Jo likes to rile Emily up
- Their letters are adorable 🥰

CRITIQUES:
- I wanted the beginning to move just a little bit faster
- Personal preference: cigarettes 🤢 - though I like Jo’s choice about how to handle them

This is short and sweet. Very cute.

Thanks to @netgalley for the eARC.

Another trip to the historical setting of Jess Everlee’s universe and a chance to learn more about Miss Jo. She’s been an interesting character when meeting her in previous books and there was always a feeling that there was more to her story. When we meet with her in the beginning of book 3 of the Lucky Lovers of London, she’s found herself smack in the middle of quite the predicament. She is involved in a lavender marriage and her husband, Paul, has a pregnant mistress, actress Miss Vanessa Garcia.

That is where the tight bun wearing Dr. Emily Clarke comes into the story. She is the sister of Noah from book 2 and is currently practicing medicine alongside her father at the hospital. The time being what it is, she doesn’t get the pay she deserves nor the respect she deserves from her patients and their families so she is at a difficult place in her career. This opposites attract romance partners her up with bookshop seller/illegal printmaker Miss Jo who is more comfortable wearing trousers than corsets and they butt heads at the very beginning. Their banter and back and forth letters spark an interest on both sides.

These opposites grow to compliment one another and both come to truths about themselves and the situations that they are currently dealing with or actively not dealing with and I enjoy seeing that in a book. Given the Victorian time frame, there are limitations that these characters come up against and with one another’s support, Emily and Jo find themselves at a much different place than where they started.

I can’t speak for how close the details for historical accuracy were but I felt the ending was fitting for the all the characters involved under what my understanding of the time period was and I enjoyed reading Emily and Jo’s story.

If it’s a historical romance by Jess Everlee, I’m reading it. A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence is the third book in this series and the third I’ve read, and I enjoy her unique voice and ability to bring a modern lens to long ago eras.

This third story is a departure from the MM romances of previous books, exploring the sapphic love story of Dr. Emily Clarke & Jo Smith. If you haven’t read those books, don’t worry. You can still enjoy this story for its sweet, feisty romance, but reading them in order is ideal to set the stage for these female protagonists.

Emily’s a doctor and the aforementioned bluestocking dedicated to her career and working to prove her value to the field of medicine. Her plight is consistent with workplace inequality and a harsh reminder of how far we’ve come in respecting the roles of women in our world.

Jo is, well…Miss Jo. She’s a bit devilish and daring, although she knows her place and how to make waves without upsetting the ship. She’s smart and has worked hard to build a life of content and stability, one where she’s able to balance the marriage society expects with her true self and innermost desires.

Both women are at a crossroads when their paths collide. Delightfully opposite in every way, it’s fun to see their annoyance at war with their attraction when they so obviously wish it could be any other way. Uncertainty and vulnerability are tough emotions for such strong characters, and Everlee uses both to build the foundation for their relationship. Her use of epistolary elements to share Jo & Emily’s growing connection is brilliant, adding excitement and just a dash of naughtiness to the tale.

If you’re a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend taking a chance on this mixed romance series. Its entertaining stories and unique characters bring Victorian London to life, and I can’t say enough how much I’ve enjoyed it.

this was a sweet sapphic historical. it took me a while to get into, though. for like the entire first half, I just didn't . . . care. part of this was probably because I didn't feel like the reader got to know jo very well at all through the entire book. the premise was not my favorite either. when I requested the arc, I didn't fully understand how stressful the circumstances of the story would be, much more stressful than I prefer the plots of my romances to be. the vibes weren't tense, but the situations were, and I didn't like that. one thing I did really like was the lack of a third act breakup.

This book was great, just not what I expected! I'm not sure what I was anticipating going in based on the cover - a sillier, less real, less intimate (but maybe spicier) version of this book? Its serious but not entirely, sweet without being too cliche, and filled with humor that feels like a whispered innuendo rather than laugh out loud funny.

Enemies to lovers is of course peak queer romance. But debauched x prim and proper (is there an official term for this?) takes the trope cake here. I truly loved watching Emily slowly unfold and Jo begin to soften and mature to face her problems. Their relationship was too cute and its development was especially helped along by adorable letters and surrounded by a strong cast of secondary characters. Definitely recommended!

Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy and quaint historical romance mainly preoccupied with settling down. I found there to be too little tension and too little plot to really keep me engaged, so it was a little on the dull side for my taste.

This is my third book in this series and the third book that was just okay for me. Literally this series should be my catnip, but I struggle each time. I always find myself enjoying the side characters more than the main couple. Like the previous books I struggled to find the chemistry between Jo and Emily. I really wish I could have gotten into it more.

This book missed the mark for me, which is a bummer because I really did love the first two in the series.

My main problem is that I found one of the main characters, Emily, completely unlikeable. She is uptight and condescending and thinks of herself as martyr, so I really couldn't root for her. It was hard to see her as a romantic lead, given how she comes across almost frigid. And her love interest, Jo, has been present through the first two books, so I found myself thinking that she deserved better. It wasn't until about 70% of the way through that I started seeing why they might enjoy each other's company.

The other problem I had was with some of the historical details. I couldn't really figure out what "nonconformist" and "bluestocking" meant within the confines of the story. At times, it implied that she was a conservative religious woman, like with the "rational" dress. But then at other times it seemed to imply that they were more liberal than most of society, like with their support for queer friends and family. I found myself confused here, even after doing quite a bit of googling for the historical context.

I found this kind of hard to get through for the first like 60%, but the story did begin to catch my attention later on. I found myself mostly invested in Jo's side of the story, particularly the parts that didn't include Emily.

I really wanted to like this book, given how much I liked the earlier books and Jo's character going in. Here's hoping there will be more books in the series that I will love like the first two!

The Decadent and the Dissenter... Is how the world sees Jo Smith and Dr. Emily Clarke, but they discover they can be so much more. Miss Jo has been an enigmatic figure in the series and it was so interesting to dig deeper into who she truly is, and who she wants to be. This book was a great character study of both MCs and how they want to adapt to circumstances changing. It was quite introspective vs the other books. The beauty of the found and actual family coming together, and how one finds or changes their place within those dynamics was a loud theme throughout. This was not a book with a lot of action and steam, and it is more of self-discovery and how to create lives and relationships outside of society's norm. I was surprised to see how vulnerable you get to see Jo, and one of the biggest surprise characters has been her husband, whom we all affectionately know as the Beast. Emily also has her share of "ghosts" to deal with, which weren't evident in the last book with Noah, but definitely come to a head here. The Clarke's relationship has been quite an interesting one to read for books set in this time period because they also sit outside the norm of the characters that go to the Curious Fox, and it gives the author a chance to show family and relationship dynamics outside of the typical secrecy. It was all in all a good way to end the series, and keeps you guessing on how the HEA will truly look.

Steam: 🔥
Heart Flutters: ❤️

DNF at 31%. I like the premise, and the characters are alright, but I’m just not feeling much of a “spark” between the characters.

This is a charming, sexy, touching sapphic historical romance, and I loved it.

Emily is the bluestocking: she's a doctor who feels like she's spent her whole life doing the hard jobs that need doing, whether you like it or not. She's a doctor because her brother wouldn't take up the family business; she's still living with her father because no one else will take care of him; and she's working at the hospital for pennies on the dollar to what a male doctor would make because someone needs to take care of the ill. Jo is the decadent: she's a typesetter and bookseller who wears men's clothes and belongs to a sapphic club. When her husband's mistress falls pregnant, Jo decides to make herself useful and find a doctor who will assist a mother in such an irregular situation ... and ends up finding Emily.

The interpersonal relationships might be messy, but this is a low angst romance between two adult women who know how to give each other second chances. There's some steam for those who want it, too! The book does not present a fantasy past where two women or two men can live together as spouses, or even a fantasy past where a woman can sell smutty books, but within those constraints the HEA is appropriate, earned, and really sweet. Check this one out.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence is the third book in the Lucky Lovers of London series. This was a new to me author and wanted to give this a try as it was a sapphic romance and looked intriguing. It was definitely intriguing and had me thinking about it long after finishing it. I didn’t realize it was part of a series until afterwards. It isn’t necessary for the plot and only a time or two was I left wondering who this person was and why were they showing up now.

It took a minute to get used to the writing style but was easy to enjoy once I did. The author left some parts vague which was a little frustrating at times but it did allow a few details in the ending (HEA) to be left open for interpretation which I enjoyed.

Both MC was lovable and I was able to connect with each. They’re both older and somewhat experienced, secure in who they are.

Emily is strait laced and a bit obsessive with cleaning-which is understandable growing up in a doctor’s household and becoming one yourself. She holds so much on her shoulders that she has a hard time finding joy for herself. Jo has been able to find a way to be true to herself and find stability and contentment after always having to start over.

A lot of Emily’s vulnerabilities appeared to be resolved a bit easier because she didn’t have trouble communicating them. Jo wasn’t as open and liked to be mysterious. I got emotional a few times about the situation Jo was placed in. For someone who is finally in a stable environment to suddenly not having a lot of control about her circumstance, it re-opened vulnerabilities for her that was understandable and could have empathy for. I also liked that while Jo is a lot more cynical about life than Emily, she’s not when it comes to love.

Overall, there was so much to love about this book and while there was parts that was frustrating or not as clear, it has made for more self-reflection and thinking, which is always great response.

There are three encounters that are more sensual than detailed.

An advance ebook was provided by Harlequin Romance via NetGalley.

A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence is the third novel in the Lucky Lovers of London series. Each book can be read as a standalone, although they do have elements that tie them together. I still need to read the first novel, The Gentleman’s Book of Vices, but I did enjoy the second, A Rulebook for Restless Rogues. This story, like the others in the series, is set in Victorian London (1885). It follows Dr. Emily Clarke who works at a quaint village hospital outside the city and bookshop owner Jo Smith, who is in a lavender marriage where her husband, Paul, supports her sapphic side. Unfortunately, Jo’s secret life with Paul may be exposed after his companion, an actress named Vanessa becomes pregnant. She seeks the help of Emily, which ties their stories together.

There is a lot of warmth in this story as the two characters come together to form a bond. They share a lot of chemistry and I love the moments they shared. The inclusion of a lavender marriage was well done as the relationship between Paul and Jo was great. They had a nice understanding between them while having their own romantic relationships. Jo and Emily begin on rocky terms without this going fully into enemies. Their journey as a couple is slower and I enjoyed that the writing not only focused on their romance, but their individual journeys. I think a little more exploration could be done as I didn’t quite connect with them as I expected. Overall, I think this was a great addition to the series and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Carina Adores, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Carina Adores for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

From the start of A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence, Emily and Jo are complete opposites. A strait-laced doctor and an ever indulgent, suit-wearing book store owner walk into a bar... and the joke is the tension is off the freaking charts! I liked how their relationship went from hate to love because it felt true to the characters. Yes, I now have a deeper appreciation for buttons 🥵

So much of this worked for me: sapphic, hate to love, epistolary romance (kind of), queer found family, and characters coming into themselves and their interests. I'm liked both Emily and Jo together and separately. I loved the friend group!

Can't wait to go back and read the first two books in the series! If this one was anything to go on, it will be a diverting time. If you, like me, are looking for sapphic historical romances look no further, Jess Everlee delivers.

Jo Smith has been married to her husband for almost twenty years. They are friends and work their business together. But when his mistress, an actress, discovers she is pregnant they turn to Jo to find medical help for her. Dr. Emily Clarke is an ER doctor at a hospital where she is seen as half a physician because of her sex, even after years of training. She wants to be a surgeon like her father. She doesn’t want to take on an obstetric patient ash she thinks it will limit her medical practice.

This is a historical fiction sapphic novel and reminds me of the writings of Cat Sebastian. Jo is not trying to pass as male but is a non conforming dresser. The beginnings of a friendship starts with letters written between Jo and Emily which are fun. The heat factor is very low, not quite closed door but barely descriptive. Of course there is mention of some of the laws of the 1885 time period.

I enjoyed Jo and Emily’s characters, and especially Jo’s friend group. It includes Emily’s brother Noah and his partner who are MC’s of A Rulebook for Restless Rogues (July 2023). The premise is unique with a MC already in a lavender marriage. And of course the challenge is always figuring a way for the couple to be together. I liked the book but wasn’t blown away by the romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review. (3.5 Stars)

This sapphic historical romance has strong, interesting, well-developed characters and an engaging plot. The tone is tense and gritty, similar to the previous book in the series.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I have read all of the previous books in this series by Jess Everlee and I think that this one was at about the same standard. Everlee is quite good at these LGBT+ historical romances--they feel believable or, at least, conceivable. After all, there have always been secret clubs, same-sex couples, etc. She does well at laying out the scenarios in which these kinds of romances could take place, while still giving them the historical trappings that most historical romance readers so enjoy. I look forward to seeing what she does next.

This was a slightly sassy, definitely slow-burn lady romance with all the expected historical colouring of a Jess Everlee romance novel and of course some good wit, fun and unexpected turns.

I like that what I expected, after say the first few chapters, is not exactly what happened. In a good way of course! I like that I was still guided along gently through the story but not necessarily making all the turns and twists that I thought I’d make - I being an avid romance reader am used to many of these.

I loved Emily Clarke and Jo (aka Joey) Smith equally and would have loved to read more about each of them. I hope to encounter them in a future novel of Everlee’s (fingers crossed) to see how they’ve grown together.

Dnf at 45%

I like the concept that is being explored regarding women’s rights.
I’m struggling to connect with the story and the characters. The characters aren’t dislikable…I just am not feeling it.

4.75 stars

This charming and delightful Sapphic historical romance is perfect for fans of Alexis Hall or Emma Alban.

Jo is married but her husband supports her Sapphic lifestyle and her unconventional means of dressing. When her husband's girlfriend ends up pregnant, Jo makes a connection with bluestocking Dr. Emily Clarke.

This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone. The supporting characters are from previous books but their personalities shine through without having read the others. Jo and Emily were great to see come together, though I wish there had been a bit more on their actual developed relationship. There is no 3rd act breakup, which is nice to see. This was a first by this author for me, but I look forward to more.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.