Set during the Regency Era, "Earl Crush" is a witty, fun, adventurous, romantic, and fast-paced romance that kept me turning the pages into the early hours of the morning to see what was going to happen next!

Alexandra Vasti’s writing jumps right off of the page, and her storytelling and world-building are simply phenomenal. She brings the past to life in such a vivid and detailed way, and I truly felt like I had traveled back in time, and was immersed in the story from the very first page to the very last.

(Possible Spoilers!):
Oh my goodness! Lydia and Arthur! Lydia is such an intelligent, brave, and kind-hearted woman, and there is so much more to her than meets the eye. Arthur is strong-willed, driven, deeply caring with a kind heart, and there is also so much more to him than meets the eye too. With a mistaken / pretend identity, politics, humor, wit, forced proximity, fake marriage, and much more, the story of these two, from the moment they meet my gosh, is truly breathtaking and gripping. The more time they spend together and get to know one another more, their relationship begins to deepen and grow. Neither could either have imagined how their love story will spark. I do not want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say this novel truly has so much in it: romance, secrets, twists and turns, chemistry that leaps off of the page, spying, mystery, plans that take a different turn, and so, so much more.

I absolutely love the epistolary epilogue as well oh my goodness!

If you enjoy Historical Romance, I highly recommend this book! I can't wait to read what Alexandra Vasti writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC of this novel and to St. Martin's Press for the beautiful finished copy as well! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book dives right into and does not let up until the end! I loved it! Lydia runs away to Scotland to propose to her penpal, only to realize her penpal was pretending to be his older brother and is now MIA. She teems up with said older brother to find him and set things straight. This is a fun, fluffy, at times ridiculous book but the characters are charming and the romance was endearing, even if it was a little insta lovey/lusty! There's fake-marriage, terrorist plots to stop, zebras, and plenty of spice! My favorite part though, was definitely the little excerpts from letters/journals at the start of every chapter, I was so intrigued and loved how it all tied up at the end, super cute! The epilogue was also one of the best ones I've read in a really long time!

I had high hopes going into this read, enjoying Lydia’s character from the first novel where we meet her, but this story fell flat for me. It was a great start that brought me into the story, but I struggled to pick this book up. It could be the writing style isn’t for me or it was missing something.

Another fabulous novel from Alexandra Vasti. I have never completely loved everything from a single author as much as I love hers. She never disappoints. The entire series is like a delicious little pastry that is over sooner than you want it to be, the characters are charming and draw you in to the story, the pace is good and the story is always satisfying.

The chemistry between the main characters is amazing, the characters were sweet and funny. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical fiction book and look forward to continuing the series

Another charming romp from Alexandra Vasti! Zebras, inventors, spies! In a world that wasn't always kind to women, Vasti finds the best in people and situations. The light tone and humor allow her to explore real issues with emotional depth that sneaks up on you. Can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!

I’m really enjoying this series. This starts off super funny with a crazy meet cute and ends super strong. I loved Arthur so much, strong silent grumpy man but falls sooo hard for Lydia! Lydia is trying to find her footing in the world even though she is a badass behind closed doors and libraries. Great side plot as well.
I can’t wait for more of this series!! Steamy- fun- hot!

These two were so precious, while also having such chemistry! Loved it. I love a good romp through the countryside, with the threat of murder and mass destruction to keep the story moving along. The only area I really struggled with was the little flashback letters. Devices like that always make me hesitant to continue reading to uncover the third act breakup. A me thing, for sure. Well worth a read if you've enjoyed any of Vasti's any other books.

This story was so funny, I just loved the two main characters, take a spicy journey in this historic rom com. I promise it will not disappoint; it will have you cheering for these two Love Birds.

Two brothers, one lady and devious political plan, one brother must track down what his brother is up to, but he will need the help of this beautiful red head. As much as they both try, as they dig deeper in into investigating his brothers plan, they can't help the attraction they have for each other.

Both have no plans to marry, so what they are feeling is just that, maybe one night to get it out of their system. But it seems that they can't keep their hands of each other. Now that they are closer to finding his brother can they just leave all the feelings they have behind?

Thank you to NetGalley and Belvoir's Lending Library for copy of this book for my honest review.

I’m not that big on historical romance, but Alexandra Vasti always manages to capture my heart with the humor and lovely flow of her prose. I fell in love with these characters so hard. Arthur is this big brute (think Jamie Fraser before he fell for Claire), and Lydia is very intimidated. She is very strong minded but kind of socially awkward. She speaks up for women (which is illegal) through pamphlets she publishes under “H”, and has been corresponding with the Earl for years, discussing politics. They have developed an affection for one another, and when she learns that his finances are in dire straits, she has come up with a solution. She will marry him.
So when she shows up to the estate to do just that, plot twist— he has no idea who she is. Turns out his brother, Davis, has been posing as the Earl in his letters and it is he who has been writing. And Davis has gone missing. So Lydia and Arthur go looking for him, and due to some misunderstandings and covers, they have to pose as a married couple. Which naturally leads to real feeling as Lydia starts to melt the brute’s heart (he’s actually a big softie). I loved these two so much, and yes I will be picturing every Scottish male lead as Sam Heughan LOL
I adored the letters Arthur writes to Lydia, because he wants her to have letters written from him and by his own hand. He was very emotionally stunted in my opinion, in terms of expressing his emotions, and he ran away from his feeling quite a bit, especially when in competition with Davis at any point. But Lydia was pretty stable and just like “he’ll be back”, even if it did hurt a bit. Arthur had some learning to do, and Lydia was good for that I think.

Fast paced historical rom com with great chemistry between the characters! Insta-attraction but both characters are struggling with their own issues.

I really enjoyed this book - whether because of the fast pace, the mystery, the spies, the found family, or a combination of all of the above.

This is the very definition of a ROMP. We’ve got: Mistaken Identities, Zebras, Bad Guys with Guns, A Runaway Carriage, Really Silly Disguises, the French, Political Intrigue, oh yeah, and a really lovely romance between two very smart and solitary characters who have to put themselves out there and trust to be loved. And they fall for each other, hard. If you are against the third act breakup, I will warn you that this one will make you slam down your book but once you pick it back up, the grovel is well worth it. Drink this book: If you can get a hold of British Sparkling- this is the moment. Otherwise grab a South African Cap Classique and think of Zebras.

I loved reading Alexandra Vasti's books and novellas so it was no surprise that I enjoyed this one too - had the perfect mix of adventure, romance and humor!

Lydia Hope-Wallace a socially anxious heiress and author of some seditious pamphlets has been exchanging political letters with the Earl of Strathrannoch - or so she thinks. So, when she learns of his financial state, she decides to travel to Scotland and offer him her hand in a marriage of convenience. Except when she does meet him, he has no idea about her identity - or the letters!
And that's how Arthur Baird ends up learning that his brother has been communicating with Lydia under his name and he needs to track him down as a rifle scope that Arthur had engineered has been stolen by him too. To do this, he'll need Lydia's help - as if she wasn't mortified enough by this situation!

I loved the premise here and all of the characters!😍 Though Arthur and Lydia spend a lot of time together - there's soo much yearning between them and that was so delightful! They had excellent character arcs too - with Lydia growing in confidence with every brave decision and Arthur realizing that he had many friends who loved him just like family! I really enjoyed the adventures along the way and how they grew closer to each other while admiring each other immensely 😆 All of the side characters were amazing in their own ways(and so well-developed!) - I loved how they tried their best to matchmake them haha!
There were a few plot points that surprised me - but in a pleasant way and I loved how everything came together in the end! I had soo much fun reading this one and I can't wait to read Georgiana's book next - I think I'll definitely love it too!❣️✨

Another slam dunk! Earl Crush swept me up from the very first page with its mix of intrigue, romance, and witty banter. Eternal wallflower Lydia Hope-Wallace, an anonymous author of radical political pamphlets, embarks on a journey to Scotland to finally meet her longtime pen pal—a Scottish earl she believes shares her ideals. Aware of his financial struggles, Lydia arrives at his doorstep prepared to offer both her fortune and her hand in marriage.
Only, there’s one problem: the earl, Arthur, has never heard of her.
As it turns out, Lydia’s correspondence wasn’t with Arthur at all, but with his younger brother. With his brother missing and potential mischief afoot, Lydia and Arthur find themselves drawn into an unexpected search—one that brings them closer in ways neither of them could have anticipated.
Lydia and Arthur were an absolute delight to read. Their perspectives brimmed with longing, and the slow-burn tension had me tearing through the pages. Lydia is my favorite kind of heroine—an overlooked wallflower with a fierce intellect and hidden spark, a quintessential Vasti lead. Arthur, meanwhile, was utterly endearing: steadfast, self-sacrificing, and quietly devoted. The surrounding cast brought plenty of mischief and energy, making the story feel vibrant and dynamic.
The romance itself was swoon-worthy—sweet, passionate, and deeply romantic. The balance between playful antics and tender moments was seamless, making their love story feel both fun and emotionally rich.
My only gripe was with the last 30 pages, where a flurry of tropes appeared that weren’t to my personal taste. The final leg of the journey to the happy ending wasn’t quite what I would have preferred, but ultimately, it was still satisfying.
Overall, Earl Crush was an engaging, heartfelt read with a charming romance, a compelling mystery, and a lively, lovable cast. I am more than ready for Georgiana’s story!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! And thank you to the Libro.fm influencer ALC program for providing the story via audio (highly recommend if you enjoy audiobooks, the narrator is fantastic)

This Regency romance is so good! It’s a good mix of steaminess, emotional vulnerability, and mystery. I have to go back and read #1!

4.5 stars.

Ridiculously funny! I enjoyed this so much. The premise of the FMC having a catfish penpal is hilarious. The book is a mix of forced proximity, fake fiancés, and a chaotic side quest.

Dual POV, with some spice.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

Lydia and Arthur are a perfect match. Although I did feel like Lydia got over her public anxiety a bit too quickly. Loved the scenes with the zebras. I think all the spy stuff took away from the romance but it was great when the story focused on the main characters.

Loved Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti! Her historical romances are so fun. She manages to balance humor and also real world problems that are relatable to her readers!

I love regency romance, and this book is no exception to the rule. The first 25-30% really had me, i do feel like the love/lust was extremely rushed. Also Arthur had no personality.

Earl Crush was fun and twisty historical romance. I really enjoyed Arthur and Lydia and the chaos that they equally caused and end up in. A solid little mystery plot with a very satisfying twist too.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.