I love Vasti, and this book was even better than her debut! Full of fun, longing, and adventure, I admire how Vasti weaves in history throughout her novels. She's a must read author for me!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted eARC. My opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Lydia has been corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch for 3 years or so she thinks, but when she meets him, he has no idea who she is or why she’s proposing marriage to him.

Read this for:
- fake marriage
- herd of zebras
- British espionage
- protective brothers
- queer side characters
- crashing house parties

My thoughts: Lydia is above all else a practical person, even if she’s maybe slightly in love with the writing of the person she thinks is Arthur. So meeting him and finding out he’s not who she’s been writing to, she has a panic attack. I totally get her, I love her practical side and then her slow fall in love with the actual person. Arthur is a reclusive person who loves his chosen family, while he works to prove he’s capable of taking care of the castle. Putting the two of them together and giving them a mystery to solve was perfect. I so enjoyed reading their story.

Highly recommend for historical romance readers who love regency era stories that don’t include ballrooms.

4.5 stars

I quite enjoyed this book! For whatever reason, this one worked a lot better for me than Ne'er Duke Well did.

This is a fun, mistaken identity, secret identity mix-up, where Lydia Hope-Wallace thinks she's been corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch, but when she shows up to offer her hand in a marriage of convenience, it turns out that she has in fact been corresponding with the Duke's brother. Together they set out to figure out what the heck is going on, while maybe, just maybe, catching feelings for each other along the way.

I really liked that Lydia writes seditious pamphlets that are distributed by Belvoir's Library, which is featured in Ne'er Duke well. She's also had numerous unsuccessful seasons and is totally okay with that.

Arthur Baird, the Earl of Strathrannoch, also isn't your typical Earl, preferring to stay on his estate in Scotland and invent things to make his life as a farmer and landowner easier.

Overall, a fun road trip story with two characters that I really enjoyed and was really rooting for!

"This is what I ought to have said: You stagger me. Your wit, your courage, your wide and tender heart.
- From the papers of Arthur Baird, rejected draft"

Your honor, I love them!!

I finished this one ages ago but still think about it regularly. How could I possibly convey just how sweet and lovely this romance is combined with a wild road trip plot?

Lydia has been corresponding with an Earl about her political pamphlets, which are quite progressive for the time. When she decides to go visit him and propose, she discovers that she wasn't actually writing with the Earl but someone else! Hijinks ensue, including an escaped pack of zebras!

Both of our main characters, Lydia and Arthur, are pretty reserved but when they have to hide who they are while looking for clues, we start to see more *feelings* emerge beyond attraction. At each stop on their journey to solve the mystery, things continue to go sideways (in more than one way 😉)

The epistolary elements of this book add sweetness to it. At the top of each chapter we get unsent notes by the character whose POV we are in, as well as little thoughts from side characters. The absolute yearning in these little snippets was perfection!

So if you're looking for a rom-com road trip with two introverts trying to solve a high-stakes mystery, check this one out!

Thanks to the publisher for the e-arc!

Earl Crush is a cute and fun historical romance. It had plenty of steamy scenes and enough mystery and intrigue to keep me focused on the story. I really enjoyed the espionage half of the book involving the Duke and his brother. It kept me reading and really picked up the pace in the second half. As for the main couple themselves, they were just okay. Their interactions felt too insta-lust to me, especially for historical fiction, but they were fun and easy to root for. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

👑💕 Book Review: Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti 💕👑

If you love royals with a modern twist and a dash of steamy romance, Earl Crush is your next must-read! Alexandra Vasti delivers a fun, flirty, and heartfelt story about unexpected connections and finding love when you least expect it.

When independent artist Lola meets a charming, down-to-earth earl, sparks fly—despite their wildly different worlds. As they navigate secrets, family expectations, and undeniable attraction, they discover that love doesn’t always play by the rules.

Tropes You’ll Love:
👑 Royalty/commoner romance
🔥 Opposites attract
💞 Slow burn with heat
🎨 Artistic heroine
🌟 Secret identity/mystery

Perfect for fans of contemporary romance with a regal twist and plenty of heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#EarlCrush #AlexandraVasti #RoyalRomance #SlowBurnRomance #Bookstagram #ContemporaryRomance #OppositesAttract #BookReview #FlirtyReads

I read this book based on my appreciation of the author's other works and also the premise. I really liked the idea behind this novel: a romance between a seditious pamphleteer and a reclusive Scottish nobleman/inventor and a forced road trip that brings them together. In practice, however, the chemistry between the two characters was hard to develop because plot events kept being thrown at them. While this was entertaining minute-by-minute, ultimately it fell flat for me as a romance.

I’m sure that it will surprise no one that I loved this book. The characters were charming and emotionally compelling, intelligent and witty. The writing was sweet yet charged with compassion and intrigue. We would love to study this with the romantic classics.

I will never not love and adore Alexandra's books. They are sexy, they are historically informative, and most importantly they're funny. I never in 1 million years would have pictured a Scottish earl with a pet zebra let alone that clearly inspired the runaway zebra last week in the Midwest lol I will hype Alexa Alexandra up to anyone who listens anyone who loves a spicy good time

This book was such a treat - this series just keeps getting better and better. This was a joyful romp from start to finish, and definitely satisfied my rom-com mood. I am amazed at how Alexandra is such a masterful writer - it feels like there is a lot going on in this book, but never in an overwhelming way, and the romance remains the focus (but there is intrigue if that's your thing!). Watching Lydia come into her own over the course of the book made me so happy. Arthur is officially one of my top book boyfriends, and I swooned watching him fall in love with Lydia. I would do unholy things to guarantee we get books for all of Lydia's brothers.

This was actual non-stop fun. I loved the whole plot of mistaken-earl-identity, and watching Lydia come into her own, and how down bad Arthur was for her. Vasti is a delight.

This was my first Alexandra Vasti and my first true historical romance like this, and I was floored. It had so much more plot than I expected! The romance was delightful, but I was so pleased it was more than just their relationship! I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

3.5⭐️-rounded up. Ne’er Duke Well was my first historical romance and it was a home run for me. Because of that- perhaps I had too high of expectations for Earl Crush. After meeting Lydia in Ne’er Duke Well, I expected to love her in this one. Don’t get me wrong, I liked her.. but I was never fully drawn in by her or the romance in this one. The second half did get better for me than the first. This is a good one- but it was not great for me.

In "Earl Crush" by Alexandra Vasti, we are introduced to Lydia, a vibrant, kind and endearing person who experiences social anxiety that felt so real and relatable. There were so many times that I could empathize with her, and I felt an emotional bond right away. The story beautifully unfolds Lydia’s transformation as she learns to confront her anxieties. This depth of character development aligns seamlessly with the narrative, making every small victory feel like a triumph that readers can celebrate alongside her.

Arthur, on the other hand, serves as a breath of fresh air in Lydia's life. He is portrayed as adorable and supportive, providing the perfect contrast to Lydia's insecurities. His unwavering love for Lydia, despite her flaws, is truly heartwarming. Arthur does not want her to change; instead, he accepts and embraces her for who she is. This kind of unconditional love not only adds a sweet element to the story but also highlights the beauty of self-acceptance. Their relationship showcases how love can flourish in the face of challenges, and it adds layers to both characters, ensuring readers are invested in their romance.

While the mystery in the book didn’t hold my attention as much, the overall experience was still enjoyable. The chemistry between Lydia and Arthur is well-crafted, making their interactions filled with delightful banter and genuine affection. The details were wonderfully described, painting a vivid picture in my mind. I loved how the characters grew, and the happily ever after felt believable and satisfying. I recommend this book for its charm and delightful moments, especially if you enjoy sweet and adventurous stories with great character development and a sprinkle of romance.

I received an early copy from NetGalley (Thank you!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was similar to Tessa Dare in the best way. I loved the banter and the setting. I was giggling and swoony the whole way through. Loved!

This is the second book in the Belvoir’s Lending Library series. I love the women that are part of Belvoirs. They are smart, loyal, capable, interesting, and a breath of fresh air. Lydia’s story was satisfying. She and Arthur were a solid match, balancing each other out. There’s a little bit of everything here- mystery, mistaken/hidden identity, anxiety representation, forced proximity, only one bed, great female friends, some family drama, scenes that made me laugh- I never knew what was going to happen next. The book started with the romance storyline, and then it shifted into more mystery which created the forced proximity to allow the romance to continue. I liked the dialogue and romance best, but understand how the mystery/history plot was important to the storyline and maybe setting us up for future books. I did appreciate the side characters and look forward to seeing who gets the next story.

3.75 stars.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy. All opinions are my own.

I love a feminist historical romance! This book had strong Evie Dunmore energy and I really enjoyed all the twists and turns that took place

I loved Alexandra Vasti’s Ne’er Duke Well, and somehow Earl Crush is even better!

Earl Crush follows the romantic adventure of Lydia Hope-Wallace, first introduced in Ne’er Duke Well as Lady Selina’s brilliant, but socially anxious friend. After exchanging letters with a man who shares her radical political beliefs, Lydia decides he is the perfect candidate for a marriage of convenience. She would be able to maintain her independence and political writing, while he would receive the funds from her wealthy family to renovate his crumbling estate.

Only there’s one problem. The letters are signed by the Earl of Strathrannoch. But when she shows up on his doorstep with her marriage proposition, he has no clue who she is and insists he hasn’t written any letters!

And so, Lydia’s adventure begins. She joins the Earl in a hunt for his missing brother who wrote the letters. As they follow the clues, the mystery becomes more complex and more dangerous.

I love when a book combines different genres, which I think is why Earl Crush managed to surpass Ne’er Duke Well. The addition of a significant mystery to this historical romance really drew me into the story. And it was such a joy to see Lydia, the shy wallflower, on a grand adventure. Investigating the mystery puts her out of her comfort zone in so many ways, but she excels marvelously, showing both her intelligence and ability to adapt quickly.

I strongly recommend the first two books in the Belvoir’s Library series on audiobook. They both have the same narrator, Mhairii Morrison. Morrison voiced Lydia’s quietness and hesitation, as well as her determination, beautifully. She truly brought her personality to life. I’m hoping Morrison continues to narrate the series. Although I love these books so much, I’ll probably read my eARC of Ladies in Hating before the audiobook becomes available.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti is a fun, flirty Regency romance with a modern edge. It follows Lydia, a shy heiress secretly writing radical political pamphlets, who ends up in a fake marriage with a grumpy Scottish earl after a case of mistaken identity. She thinks she’s been writing to him—turns out, it was his brother.

The romance is a slow burn with great chemistry, witty banter, and just the right amount of steam. Lydia is smart, anxious, and brave in her own way, and Arthur is gruff but surprisingly sweet. The Scottish castle setting (with zebras!) adds a whimsical touch, and there’s a light espionage subplot that keeps things moving.

It’s heartfelt, funny, and perfect for fans of character-driven love stories. Think: fake marriage, grumpy/sunshine, secret pen pals, and lots of charm.

Heads up for: gun violence, vomiting, mentions of homophobia, and the death of a parent.

I missed the window on giving feedback but I loved this book and bought a copy. The plot was so fun and the characters so well written. I was giggling the entire time. Alexandra Vasti is an insta-buy author for me now.