Lydia Hope-Wallace is a shy wallflower who pens political pamphlets championing the rights of women. She’s also an heiress who has been secretly corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannock. When she learns that the Earl needs money, she decides to travel to Scotland and offer herself and her dowry for a marriage of convenience so she can continue writing. But when she meets Arthur, the earl, he has no idea who she is. And Arthur doesn’t want to know, because A) His charming brother must be Lydia’s correspondent, and B) Arthur has to find this brother who might be mixed up in espionage. And the wild ride begins!
The romance was slow-burn, as Lydia and Arthur get to know each other better. There are a bunch of fun secondary characters, Lydia’s BFF Georgiana and her pet dog, Lydia’s older brothers, Arthur’s servants, and of course Arthur’s brother. (and let’s not forget the menagerie!)
And also an interesting mystery/espionage subplot that helped Lydia and Arthur realize their true feelings. An entertaining and enjoyable read.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Lydia is an heiress and a wallflower with severe social anxiety., and she's also secretly writing radical, seditious pamphlets. She's had a lively political correspondence with the reclusive Scottish Earl of Strathrannoch. Knowing that the earl has financial troubles, she travels to his estate to suggest a marriage of convenience, thinking that her fortune will help him save his estate; The only problem is that when she arrives, he has no idea who she is, because it turns out that she's actually been corresponding with his brother.

This book is an absolute delight, and Alexandra Vasti is definitely one of my favorite historical romance authors. It's fast-paced, charming, and really funny. Lydia and Arthur are an unlikely couple at first glance, but their growing romance is very sweet. You've got a mistaken identity, a strange assortment of animals, a road trip, and possibly a treasonous plot. I love humor in historical romance, and this one definitely delivers.

I loved this book so much - Alexandra Vasti is fast becoming one of my absolute favorite historical romance writers. Lydia is an heiress as well as an introvert to the extreme, except when she is with her family or friends or anonymously writing seditious pamphlets. She has been pen pals with someone she thinks is the Earl of Strathrannoch for a couple of years, and after learning he is financial distress, Lydia musters all her courage and heads to Scotland to propose to him. Arthur, Earl of Strathrannoch, however, has not actually been corresponding with Lydia. It was apparently his brother, who appears to have used Lydia, and Arthur, to advance a treasonous plot. So they are off to track him down, using Lydia's letters as guide points for the journey. And along the way, hijinks - and love - ensue.

I just loved Arthur and Lydia so much. Arthur is stoic and protective and large and Scottish and bearded. Lydia is seeking to become the woman she knows she can be and Arthur is perfect in helping her get there. Vasti's writing is excellent - the pacing is good and the mystery and comedy elements are well-blended. The cast of secondary characters is an excellent addition to the story. I know we are getting Georgiana's story but I would not be mad to also get books for each of Lydia's brothers.

"Earl Crush" is definitely worth reading. 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

In regards to the characters, I loved how shy and emotional Lydia found her voice and bravery through this novel. I felt such a kinship with her. I loved how soft Arthur was and how fiercely he loved Lydia. However, I found myself a little bored at times with the plot and the chasing of Davis. I was more invested once things got more thrilling at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I LIKED THIS ONE. FAKE ROMANCE in the regency era? I ate this up, It was romantic and charming and so swoon worthy!! Loved the main characters and how the story was written, even when I am not a fan of third person writing! BEAUTIFUL! Can't wait to read more from this author.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

CW: Gun violence; vomit; references to homophobia and death of a parent

Mistaken Identity! Road Trips! Fake Marriage! Spies! Zebras?

You get all this and more in Alexandra Vasti’s second full-length novel Earl Crush, a delightfully funny and romantic romp featuring a wallflower and secret political writer, Lydia Hope-Wallace, and a big, burly Scotsman that’s actually a giant teddy bear inside, Arthur Baird, the Earl of Strathrannoch.

With a distinct voice in the historical romance genre, Vasti’s earned a spot on my “must read” author’s shelf. When reading a Vasti story, I know I will laugh, but I also feel all the swoon-worthy emotions! And laugh, I did – out loud, multiple times. Vasti delivered a true rom-com as I kept giggling and was so giddy watching Arthur and Lydia fall in love that I wanted to kick my legs up and squeal. This was exactly the book I needed to kick off the new year, as it was pure joy. I also was not expecting the spy plotline, but I loved it as it added a bit of mystery, unexpected intrigue, and excitement to the story.

The romance in this book made me MELT. The chemistry between Arthur and Lydia is so good it causes sparks – literally! The way these two fall for each other – it is slow, yet all encompassing at the same time. It works perfectly. The way Vasti draws out the sexual tension between them – my god, I was dying at the accidental touches and hand brushes. And a fake makeout to escape notice, which backfires and ends up with them pretending to be married? Genius.

Vasti can write some of the sexiest yet emotional banging scenes, and this book is no exception. Arthur and Lydia clearly both want each other, but are so hesitant to voice their feelings over fear of what the other one is thinking. But those feelings all come through when they are physically intimate together. It’s perfection. I was obsessed with how obsessed Arthur and Lydia were with each other. It’s so sweet, and their romance really carries a lot of the momentum of the story forward. Their love made me feel all giddy and I loved watching it blossom and grow, all the way through the end of the epilogue, which was so stinking cute!

The way Arthur was OBSESSED with Lydia. If you want a man who looks like a big, tough guy but is an absolute puppy dog inside, look no further than Arthur. My heart was melting, MELTING, for this man. The way he puts all his attention on her and knows exactly what she needs before she does. He cares not a fig for anyone but her. He’s also not your stereotypical earl, as he is much more at home in his workshop, inventing new gadgets to help the people on his estate. Like many historical romance heroes, he’s got some issues stemming from his dead father, which strains his relationship with his brother and causes some doubt in his relationship with Lydia. But I love the found family he has with his servants, including Huw and Bertie, who are A+++ meddlers, and I adored them.

Lydia was instantly relatable. She has severe social anxiety, so much so that she’s thrown up in a potted plant and on her favorite pair of shoes. She’s shy, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a voice. Through her political writings, she is fierce, defending and supporting the ideas she believes in. And through her writings, she can be herself, and gain a sense of independence. I appreciated the journey Lydia goes on over the course of the book as we see her gain confidence in herself thanks to Arthur’s steady encouragement and trust. He sees her for who she is and doesn’t try to change her but empowers her.

Vasti rounds out the story with a wonderful cast of secondary characters. I was obsessed with Lydia’s brother Jasper (I would LOVE for him to get a book), and I loved seeing her other interactions with her many brothers. There is also definitely more than meets the eye of Arthur’s brother, Davis, which had me very intrigued! Rounding out the cast, it was lovely to see some familiar faces around Belvoir’s Library, including Georgiana with Sir Frances Bacon, her adorable dog, and Selina.

Whether you’re a seasoned historical romancer reader or someone newer to the genre, you cannot go wrong with an Alexandra Vasti book! Perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Julia Quinn, readers will delight in this refreshing historical rom-com with a swoon-worthy romance, characters that jump off the page, and an engaging story filled with a bit of intrigue.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin/Netgalley for the ARC! All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A road tripping Cyrano....Sort of...

Yeah, its a lot to unpack but i enjoyed it all and was really on board with Alexandra Vasti's characters. Lydia is a pamphlet writing, radical lady. Yay. She proposes marriage to Arthur, after making her way to his mouldering castle. Turns out, she has not be corresponding to him, but to his younger brother. So, off they go on a road trip. I perhaps would have preferred that Lydia would get together with one guy she'd actually been writing to, but we get Arthur.
Recommend.

I will read anything Alexandra Vasti writes. ANYTHING. And they just keep getting better. Heiress Lydia and crumbling-castle-dwelling Arthur might seem like opposites, but they can't keep away from each other, aided by such classic tropes as "kiss so we don't blow our cover", fake engagement, only one bed, and the list goes on. This is a classic road-trip romance with decidedly modern sensibilities, and enough heat to keep you warm in a blizzard. Highly, highly recommend. This is one not to be missed.

My god, Vasti just keeps getting better and better! I’ve loved all of her books so far but this is up there with one of my favourites now (I think Matilda Halifax still holds strong in 1st place).
I was in love with Arthur and Lydia almost immediately, his yearning and striving to be better, to protect and allow himself to love – just beautiful to read. Also the snippets of his letters at the beginning of some of the chapters made me SWOON every time. I loved seeing Lydia grow in confidence and watching her strength and courage even when she’s afraid. Their happy ever after is so beautiful and so absolutely perfect for them.
I cant wait for Georgiana’s story now too.

Vasti has written yet another stellar historical romance. The characters are written with depth, emotion and longing for love. The relationships aren't given but rather formed over the course of the story.

Lydia and Arthur are both reclusive individuals who find each other in themselves. Arthur cares deeply but words fail him at the right moments. Together, they find what they have both thought would never come to life, their hearts!

Early Crush is a mystery, a love story and a historical adventure.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin

I have enjoyed many of Vasti’s books. Sadly, this has been my least favorite. I really didn’t jive with Arthur as a hero. He felt inconsistent in his characterization to me. Lydia also wasn’t my favorite heroine. She had her moments where I loved her but others where she really irritated me; mostly in the way she acted towards Georgiana and her family at certain times rubbed me the wrong way. I really enjoyed the plot surrounding the story, but not the romance. I liked the espionage, the mystery, the twists. I loved Lydia’s brothers and really hope we get a spin off with them as heroes. Honestly, would even love a short story about Davis getting a romance. I actually felt like some of the relationship stuff felt rushed towards the end, especially the ones that weren’t the main romance. I would have liked to see how certain things were navigated but we don’t get to and I feel like that would have elevated the book a bit for me. I am being intentionally vague here. I will add some of my spoilery concerns/thoughts in a spoiler section on my Goodreads review, so I don’t give anything away. But I would also just like to point out that I am really exhausted of every single hero being the largest hero to ever exist. It’s tiring and boring to me. Vasti is a really good writer, and I am very excited for the next book in this series. This one, unfortunately, didn't work for me as well as I had hoped.

Earl Crush is the story of hopeless bluestocking Lydia Hope-Wallace. I was so excited for her story after meeting her in Ne’er Duke Well! Lydia has been exchanging letters with the Earl of Strathrannoch using a pseudonym. Arthur is supportive of her radical opinions and has been a faithful penpal. When Lydia realizes that he needs money, she decides to pay him a visit in person to propose a marriage of convenience. To her shock, she learns that the actual earl has not been corresponding with her at all. As they unravel the truth between them, will Lydia and Arthur fall in love for real?

Earl Crush is a hilarious and delightful romance. Lydia is one of my favorite characters and I was so happy to see her get the romance she deserves. I absolutely loved how Lydia fights her shy nature to make positive social change for all. Alexandra Vasti’s writing is truly hilarious and makes it impossible to put this book down. The connection between Lydia and Arthur is filled with longing and heat. I loved the twist of who really wrote the letters and how they worked together to solve the espionage mystery. The ensemble cast is filled with witty and entertaining characters. I also enjoyed the cameos of characters from Ne’er Duke Well.

Earl Crush is perfect for readers who love a marriage of convenience, witty dialogue, and scorching romance.

Thank you to Alexandra Vasti, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

5⭐
2🌶️
Tropes/Themes: Fake marriage, one bed, forced proximity, spinster/earl, he falls harder
Dual POV 3rd person

Well I definitely didn’t expect this to be my first 5 star read of 2025 but ermahgerd I LOVED this book. I highlighted so many things.

It’s angsty and swoony and hilarious and deliciously steamy 🥵 I thought this was a really good balance of romance + suspense. TBH I read books mainly for the romance part of the story (boy meets girl and they fall in love) with not much regard for the overarching framework/story. Like it doesn’t totally matter to me HOW it happens, although I always appreciate a good plot. But I also got super invested in the plot too. Normally my brain won’t let me focus on one book for too long, which is why I usually am jumping between 3-4 books at one time, but this one pulled me in and I stayed focused on it.

It has everything I love! One bed, forced proximity, banter, menageries, and MMCs who are so overwhelmed by their love for the FMC.

As a specific note- I love how Arthur wants a relationship with Davis, even after everything. And I totally understood how Davis feels about wanting to be chosen.

And finally, I did not expect the ending, which was a bit of a rollercoaster (and only added to the wonderfulness of the book), but the epilogue was the most perfect thing I have ever read everrrrrrrrrrr.

Honestly I would give this 10/5 stars if I could.

I love Vasti’s writing so much and it just keeps getting better.

Lydia Hope-Wallace is very much on the shelf after 7 seasons despite being an extremely wealthy heiress because she really has the worst social anxiety. But she does find her voice writing radical pamphlets calling for the abolition of the aristocracy and the like (I’m sure we would be the best of friends). She travels up to Scotland to see the Earl of Strathrannoch who she’s been corresponding with for years to be like hey maybe we could get married. Except, oops, the Earl has no idea who she is and def has never written her a letter. Hijinks ensue. This book had me laughing out loud many times in the front half and then the very earnest feelings happened and had me crying by the end. I loved EVERY SECOND. I love a meddling steward who’s like maybe my reclusive boss could marry this lady who just showed up. I loved loved the tender but strong blacksmith earl who was so very lonely. I loved the way these two wonderful people with no confidence who could never ask anyone for anything but give of themselves found their confidence for the other. I loved the zebras. Yes, zebras. I also got to feel like a smarty pants as the book mentions the Scottish clearances many times and I now am an expert because I have read Clear (very good, different mood). I absolutely have an earl crush on the Earl of Strathrannoch and you will too after reading this. May I humbly request books for every Hope-Wallace brother? I’m obsessed with them.

Earl Crush is out January 21, 2025 and you will not want to miss it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced review copy for an honest review.

Lydia, the FMC of this novel was a character that I really related to in a lot of ways. Her anxieties, but also her strength in advocating for what she believes in was truly inspiring. I genuinely loved everything about her character.

Unfortunately, what I struggled the most for when reading this was the pacing and the direction the author took for the characters actions. For most of the book I just wanted to grab the characters by their shoulders and shake them. I struggled to understand their motivations and reasoning into why they acted the way they did. Regardless, I plan to revisit this book after it’s published and I have a physical copy to read. I’ve come to realize that I genuinely don’t enjoy reading on the net galley app, nor the kindle app on my phone. I hope having a fresh set of eyes will encourage a better response from me.

Thank you to the Author and net galley for the ARC copy, it is so appreciated each time I’m given an opportunity like this.

I’m obsessed with all of Alexandra Vasti’s work, but Earl Crush took it to another level! So excited for everyone to meet Lydia and Arthur!

When wallflower heiress Lydia Hope-Wallace shows up in Scotland, she has a plan. Propose a marriage of convenience to the reclusive Arthur, Earl of Strathrannoch. After all, they know they get along after years of correspondence. But Arthur has no idea who she is and swears he hasn’t written to anyone. When the two figure out the real person she’s been writing to is Arthur’s traitorous brother, Arthur enlists her help in hunting him down.

What follows is a brilliant, hilarious romp of a romance, filled with spies, fake marriages, and ZEBRAS of all things! It’s wacky and wonderful, and the emotional depth of Arthur and Lydia’s relationship was beautiful to read!

I adored this book, and it made me even more excited for Georgiana’s story next!

5 stars for this beautiful and unique historical romance by Alexandra Vasti

Lydia, the FMC, secretly writes political pamphlets and starts corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch as a result. She decides out of the blue to go to Scotland to propose marriage to him since she is a wealthy spinster and his estate is in need of money. But when she arrives at his front door, he doesn't know anything about the letters she has been receiving. Arthur, the earl, puts together that his brother is the one who has been corresponding with Lydia and asks for her help in locating him as he took a dangerous invention from him. At first, Lydia refuses and leaves but through a series of unusual events, including a herd of zebras, she changes her mind.

I really enjoyed the plot of not only the romance but also the mystery in this book. I love a good epistolary romance and the snippets at the beginning of every chapter were great. The mystery of the missing brother was different from other historical romances I have read and had such an interesting ending.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I highly recommend reading it!

Five Star Book Review!

Quick Synopsis: We are in 1800s England following heiress Lydia Hope-Wallace who writes anonymous political pamphlets supporting what is considered radical and progressive ideas for the time. At the same time, she has also been corresponding and connecting with the Earl of Strathrannoch - BUT the two have never met. She decides she is going to change her life and sets out for Scotland (where our Earl lives) to offer him a marriage of convenience! Through some mix ups that I won't spoil for you the two decide to join together on a mission to find the Earl's brother!

This lovely story was such a romp! Not only is it dual POV between our FMC/MMC but each chapter starts with an epigraph (little quote) that usually adds to the humor or emotion of the book! You'll have to read it to know what I am talking about - it was like having little easter eggs in every chapter. Add to that our Earl who is so smitten with Lydia and his every other thought is how he admires her intellect, and her bravery, and her humor. I was swoooooooning! We have a lovely and diverse cast of side characters, relatable and emotional back stories, a twisty mystery, laugh-out-loud hijinks, open-door spice, and the most adoooorable epilogue. This story just does a rom com right! Please read for when you want a super quick and funny read that still manages to pull at your heart strings!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was very excited to read the next book. However, readers can start with this book without being too lost; the protagonists from the first book are not central to the plot of this one.

I don’t think the “wrong brother” trope is particularly common, but I’m here for it. Lydia and Arthur’s first impressions of each other are not particularly amorous, but they are united in the goal to track down Arthur’s missing brother. As the stakes get higher, so does their passion. I’m so sorry; that’s so cheesy, but there’s no other way to describe it.

Both protagonists have always felt like awkward outsiders, but they found happiness through their passions: Lydia writes radical political pamphlets and Arthur devotes himself to the estate and his inventions. Neither of them had been particularly concerned with finding love, although Lydia thought she’d found a kindred spirit in her Scottish penpal. Of course, she’d really been writing to Arthur’s brother– hence the “wrong brother” trope, but it’s clear almost immediately that Arthur is the only brother for Lydia.

Anyway, there’s also a fake marriage trope, which is another of my favorites… and of course, it doesn’t take very long for them to catch legitimate feelings for each other, although if we’re being realistic, I don’t think there was ever a point when they didn’t have feelings for each other.

As much as I like a road trip, I wish they could have spent more time at Strathrannoch because it was such a cool house. There were zebras! Zebras!

I would absolutely recommend Earl Crush. Lydia and Arthur had such great chemistry and their banter was top-notch. Vasti has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.



I received a digital ARC of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley

Scottish lairds and zebras!

I laughed, was sentimental all over the place, and pleasantly shocked by Lydia Hope-Wallace and her Earl.
Lydia finds it hard to talk to people even though she’s a most erudite writer. She’s had seven unbearable seasons hiding in plain sight, uncommunicative and unhappy. With the written word Lydia is in her element. She secretly writes tracts on everything from land clearances in Scotland to women and divorce.
She’s been exchanging letters and views with the Earl of Strathrannoch, Arthur Baird, for three years. As it happens the Earl needs money. Lydia, a heiress, makes a plan. She decides to journey to Scotland to propose marriage to the Earl.
Unfortunately things don’t go according to plan. Lydia finds she hasn’t been writing to the Earl but his brother, Davis, who’s stolen off with the Earl’s plans for a rifle telescope. Something awry and if the wrong parties obtained the plans (like the French) there’d be all sorts of ramifications.
A zany, madcap, runaway romance with a herd of zebras!
I loved the cover btw.

A St. Martin’s Group ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)