Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
A absolutely wonderful read - I loved every second of this book. Both protagonists were really flushed out characters and expertly written characters just take a book to the next level. I can’t wait for the next one.

I have mixed feelings about the Earl crush . The beginning was really great, funny, relatable and smart heroin. But after maybe one quarter of the book it completely changes it becomes only scene about the two protagonists pining on one another and a plot with too many characters that seems to go in all the directions at the same time. I stopped at three quarter of the book.

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

Ahhh!! This was so cute! I have to be honest and say I wasn’t too hopeful for this one after reading Ne’er Duke Well. The beginning kept me skeptical with the wacky herd of zebras but once they get out the way this book is amazing. I loved Arthur and Lydia. I could relate to Lydia and her social anxiety and loved how attuned Arthur was to her needs. I usually don’t care for mystery and whatever in my romance but this had enough to keep me intrigued and not bored. Their letters to each other in the epilogue are what dreams are made of. Swoon central. ❤️

Adventure. Romance. Spice. An unlikely heroine that charms her way into your heart and a Scottish love interest that respects her. Swoon. I could not put this book down. It was cute and fun and steamy. This author had a way with creating relationship’s and move stories that make you feel like you’re a part of it. I loved it!
Romance: 💜💜
Spice: 🔥🔥

i loved this story! the tension between the main characters was delicious. the story moved along quickly and the adventure added to the overall story, without being too distracting from the love story. enjoyable steamy scenes, not too graphic.

Aww, this was adorable. An introverted heiress with social anxiety proposes to her pen pal. The only problem is that her pen pal, Davis, has been posing as his brother, Arthur. Hijinks ensue when Lydia and Arthur decide to work together to figure out where Davis is and why he would lie about being the Earl of Strathrannoch.

The plot was fun and Lydia and Arthur were charming as individuals and wonderful as a pair. Overall, this was a delightful read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I was a HUGE fan of Vasti’s short stories, and sadly Book 1 was a disappointment for me. So imagine my RELIEF that I gave this second book a try, because this was GRAND. Arthur was GONE for Lydia and absolutely adored him. A Tessa-Bailey coded hero. I adored their relationship so much!

I don't usually go for historical novels, but this one was a pleasant surprise! It was fun, intriguing, and SO SWEET.

I loved the protagonist, Lydia. She's aptly described as shy but not timid, and that's about right. I also loved how she found her courage throughout the story. It would have been cool to have a little more included about her pamphlets, because that part of her storyline seemed interesting to me, but not touched on all that much. Still, she is a strong protagonist and I loved reading about her development.

As for Arthur, I feel similarly. His lines were swoon-worthy (especially the little intros at the beginning of the chapters), and I didn't think that the conflict near the end of the book was out of nowhere nor out of character for him, so that was pleasant. I would have maybe liked to know more about his relationship with his brother, though I did enjoy the details we got. The supporting characters were also lovely in the ways they added to the plot and character relationships.

Regarding their relationship, I think the pacing was a little fast in the beginning, but I loved it regardless! Alexandra Vasti has a beautiful way with words, and I really think her writing style added to the emotions here. The epilogue made me so happy, and I thought it was a unique and clever way to wrap up the story.

So sweet and so fun! I might just try more historical romance going forward.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC for this book.

I adore this series and Alexandra Vasti has become a new favorite Regency romance author! The stories are both sweet and spicy and filled with feminist characters! I love that Lydia is hopelessly shy around strangers but that doesn't make her timid. She has been writing political pamphlets and dives right into the mystery, uncovering spies along the way. The mystery in this story was surprisingly excellent and the reluctant romance was spicy and lovely to read. I had such a great time reading this story and can't wait to read what she writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and St, Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was not a fan of her first novel but a huge fan of her novellas. I went into this so hesitant but this was amazing. I loved it so much. Truly love a man completely gone for his partner. The epilogue brought tears to my eyes

Could this be my favorite historical romance EVER????? I think it is. Arthur was on some Anthony Bridgerton levels of down-badness and I was obsessed with it. I think my ONLY complaint was that I wish we had the resolution scenes between Lydia and Davis and Arthur and Davis, but this was so fun and romantic. I love Alexandra Vasti and will read everything she writes forever.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC! I screamed when I got the approval email.

Alexandra Vasti is in a hisrom class all of her own. I hope she never stops writing them! Although if she picks up another genre I’ll happily read that too.

I loved the premise the characters, the slower burn and the hijinks - zebras. The connection between two misunderstood “outcasts” was so perfectly written. I really loved their chemistry. Side characters were great.

The only part I didn’t like was the suddenly spy storylines. This might just be a personal preference, but it felt jarring from this sweet romance to home office spies storyline. Otherwise I loved it.

Alexandra Vasti is a must-watch writer and EARL CRUSH is a must-read tale for fans of swoony histroms with wit, intrigue, and characters you will simply adore. I devoured this in hours and can.not.wait for Vasti's next charming story. Huzzah!

I was so excited to read this and realize it was connected to a previous book that I read. I enjoyed the general story line and the mystery and love the basis in fact. Romance was cute and enjoyed it, maybe not enough details leading into love, especially since he was not the letter writer. Overall i was sad when it was over.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti is a delightful Regency rom-com where Lydia Hope-Wallace, a reclusive heiress and secret pamphleteer, sets out to propose a marriage of convenience to the Earl of Strathrannoch. When she arrives in Scotland, she discovers that she’s been writing to the earl’s deceitful brother instead of the actual earl, Arthur. This twist leads to a whirlwind adventure filled with mistaken identities, espionage, and a journey across the Scottish countryside.

As Lydia and Arthur join forces to track down the rogue brother and recover stolen property, their initial friction turns into a deep, passionate connection. Vasti’s novel combines humor, romance, and intrigue with memorable characters and witty dialogue, making it a captivating read for fans of historical romance with a modern twist.

Lydia Hope-Wallace arrives in Scotland intending to propose to the Earl of Strathrannoch, whom she’s been writing politically-charged letters to for the past two years. But because this is a romance novel, things obviously don’t go the way Lydia planned, her debilitating social anxiety notwithstanding. Surprise! She’s been writing to his brother, who'd posing as the Earl of Strathrannoch, and nobody’s more surprised than Arthur, the 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 earl. 
 
Romance reasons compel Lydia and Arthur to seek out his brother, go on a road trip, pretend to be married, foil a dastardly plan by the French (England versus France: a tale as old as time), and reunite estranged families, all while having really hot s€x and saying absolutely precious things to each other 🥹 Needless to say, this book made me ✨feel things✨ 
 
𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 manages to do two hard things at once: craft a delightful story of two soft-hearted people falling in love AND create a political plot that’s easy for readers to understand while still coming off as high-stakes. It feels a little bit like what would happen if 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 went to therapy and made friends with 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘶𝘬𝘦- it’s the perfect blend of political commentary and romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti, the world of Regency romance is delightfully turned on its head. Lydia Hope-Wallace, a reclusive heiress and secret pamphleteer, has spent three years corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch. When she learns of his dire financial situation, she devises a daring plan: a marriage of convenience to herself. However, upon arriving in Scotland, she discovers that the Earl, Arthur Baird, has been unknowingly corresponding with her through his deceitful brother. This revelation sets off a whirlwind adventure filled with mistaken identities, espionage, and a road trip across the Scottish countryside.

Arthur, initially outraged by the deception, finds himself increasingly charmed by Lydia’s intelligence and bravery. As they join forces to track down the rogue brother and recover a stolen invention, their initial friction turns into a deep, passionate connection. Vasti’s writing shines through witty dialogue and endearing characters, making this novel a mix of romance and humor with a hint of suspense.

Earl Crush is a charming and humorous romp that balances its romantic elements with engaging mystery. The chemistry between Lydia and Arthur is both palpable and heartwarming, and their journey is as thrilling as it is touching. With memorable characters and a plot that keeps the pages turning, this book is a delightful read for fans of historical romance with a modern twist.

I was going to wait until closer to the pub date to read this, but I just couldn't. as soon as I got it in my grubby little hands, I had to devour it. Alexandra vasti is an incredible novelist. there were a few repetitive parts of the writing, like him grabbing her chin a bunch of times, constantly saying "christ," and the word perhaps being used very often. although I noticed these things, they did not hinder my enjoyment. Earl Crush is one of THE MOST romantic books I've ever read. I highlighted so many quotes, and I cannot wait until it comes out so I can purchase a copy and annotate the heck out of it! the characterization is awesome; I loved being in these characters' heads. Vasti is also an expert at plotting books. also, reading this made me want to reread ne'er duke well hehe

Let me start by saying that I'm biased to large, ginger MMCs.
Let me continue by saying that I'm also biased to anything Alexandra Vasti writes. She has officially taken up a spot as a "must read" author for me.
I was so taken with Ne'er Duke Well and excited to read more about the characters. Earl Crush went above and beyond my expectations.
I wasn't expecting the story to be so action-packed, and I loved it! The journey, the relationships, the humor (Alexandra Vasti knows her comedy), everything in this book sparkled. But nothing sparkled more than the main couple. They were constantly saving each other in so many ways. They teach each other about life and love, and they are so soft for each other. The spice was also brilliantly mixed with the most tender moments.
I can't recommend this book enough. There's so much heart, a brilliant cast of characters, a romance for the ages, love letters and, of course, lots of zebras.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

Earl Crush is a fun historical romance with just the right mix of period detail, humor, and spice. I enjoyed Lydia's pluck, Arthur's vulnerability, and their assorted friends and family. Also you have to appreciate a book that manages to incorporate a stampede of zebras.....in 1815 Scotland! I will definitely ready more by this author. #NetGalley. #EarlCrush