Thank you to Net Galley & St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Genres, settings, categories, themes: historical romance (M/F), politics, feminism, found family, Regency England

💗 Tropes: 💗
> Danger
> Forced Proximity (Cohabitation & Only One Bed sub-tropes)
> He Falls First
> Lords & Ladies
> Marriage Tropes (Marriage of Convenience proposed early on, doesn't unfold this way)
> Mistaken Identity (corrected early on)

POV: 3rd person, with open window into their thoughts all along

Series/Sequencing Style: standalone (so far - hoping for an anthology of other characters from this world)

Format: ebook (ARC)

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Overall ratings

🌋 Heat level: 4/5 light red hot 🌋
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic) - link on Goodreads review

~ Heroine (Lydia) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 A character focused around bravery and overcoming her fears, she is a fiercely loyal, strong feminist, who quietly affects change behind the scenes. The H describes her perfectly in his thoughts as clever, open hearted, sympathetic, organized, & brave.

~ Hero (Arthur) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 He’s a marshmallow and I love him. A quieter type, smart & hardworking, devoted to his people, with a soft spot for animals & his tenants. He’s drawn to her in a way that gives *all the feels* and I appreciate that his devotion that doesn’t waver with any fuckery like many romance novels that thrive on angst. He’s supportive of her (in everything including her feminism & own ideas), and he actively accepts and loves people who would otherwise be ostracized by society (including gay employees who are more like family).

~ Side characters ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Pacing ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 devoured it

~ Plot ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 not the most interesting or complex plot, but it worked for what this was

~ Romantic connection ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 They just work really well together and the sparks are hot 🔥🔥 They bring out each others' best and operate as an equal functioning partnership.

~ Writing ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Depth & tone (light & fun --> more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 2/5 politics
~ Diversity & representation: an MC with social anxiety; M/M side couple (part of a found family)
~ Angst level: low
~ Sadness level: none

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📝 Review/Notes 📝

Just a really solid historical romance with great characters, vivid chemistry, and a HEA. Not super complex or convoluted, not dark or angsty. The letters in the epilogue are pretty sappy, but whatevs. A lovely read-in-all-one-sitting romantic romp to recommend to any spicy romance lovers. Loved it.

I feel like it’s being set up to be an anthology series? Here for it, I wanna see these other characters we’ve glimpsed in their own stories!

Earl Crush is basically what would happen if Jane Austen and Shonda Rhimes had a love child. we’re talking Regency era scandal with a side of modern sass, and trust me, i am here for it. Lydia and Arthur captured my heart from their first interaction. this book has drama, espionage, the sweetest love letters and ZEBRAS!!! it’s basically my dream historical romance checklist all wrapped up in a package with a nice little bow on top.

This book was SO delightful. A romp, if you will. The characters were beautifully human and charming and the bit of mystery in the plot (I won’t spoil it) was just fun. I’m extremely excited to read more books in this series, and will be reading everything Vasti writes. Read this if you like Erica Ridley or Lisa Kleypas!

4.25 stars. A fun romp of a book, with two great MCs and some fantastic spicy scenes. Lydia was a great FMC — she is strong in her values, but has social anxiety, so she is truly herself with her friends, family, and, eventually, Arthur. She writes political pamphlets under a pseudonym to argue for the causes she supports! Arthur is just very into supporting Lydia, which was adorable. He also helps rescue exotic animals! They were a great couple, and most of the conflict was external (a spy plot!). I do think the plottiness of the caper overshadowed their relationship development at times, especially for early-on in the relationship, when they were in forced proximity together at Arthur’s castle. However, overall the book was very enjoyable, well-researched (duh, the author excels at this) and a great addition to Vasti’s œuvre 😊

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC!!

I really enjoyed the book. I thought the two main characters had a lot of growth. It was just a really quick book. I love the ups and downs that the plot had which made the book enjoyable for being a quick read. I wish that there was more to the book. There were a lot of adult themes to the book which was fine. I would not really change anything about the book other than there wasn’t a lot of bridging between chapters so there were some details missing in the book.

I just finished reading Ne'er Duke Well when I was approved for this so it was excellent timing. I don't remember what made me sign up for Vasti's newsletter but the novellas in it (sign up now if you haven't yet) locked me in as a fan of hers and both of these full length works didn't disappoint.

Earl Crush has everything. Road trips, Espionage, Zebras (no I will not elaborate), and is led by a capable heroine with tremendous anxiety issues and reclusive hero who is the definition of he fell first and harder. While connected to her first novel, it also stands on its own.

Vasti delivers a comical, thrilling, and romantic novel that should be on every most anticipated list.

Alexandra Vasti might be my new fave regency writer. Her heroines are clever and enticing, easy to root for. Can’t wait to read more!

thanks so much for the ARC! Vasti is quickly becoming one of my favorite hist rom authors and i was so excited to see this book up on netgalley! this book certainly did not disappoint. i loved the plot i loved the characters i loved the pacing it was all so good. cannot wait for vasti's next!

I love a good historical romance and this is a great one! The setting felt fresh and new because of author writing style. The characters and romance were so entertaining ans sweet. I'm looking forward to reading more Alexandra Vasti books!

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An enchanting book with engaging dialogue and a steady-paced plot that made it hard to put down. Would recommend it to others.

Oh my, I am swooning over here! What a fanastic regency romance from Alexandra Vasti set to hit bookshelves in January. I devoured this and want more of Lydia and Arthur now! Is it possible to get a sequel? Can I request that now?!

***“Do you know when it started for me, love of mine? It was that first moment. The very first instant that I saw you on the doorstep…..”. ***.

The storyline, our main characters, the side players, the Regency of it all? Perfection. Alexandra’s writing style is beautiful and flows so well; I could feel the love and devotion come through the page.

And the steam? Wooooweeee!! Arthur, you’re making me blush! These scenes were written perfectly.

Can’t recommend this one enough!

Thank you to Alexandra Vasti and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Another delightful regency romance from Alexandra Vasti. I loved Ne’er Duke Well and was so pleased to be invited to read the ARC of Earl Crush as well. This adventure follows Lydia Hope-Wallace, a character we meet in Ne’er Duke Well, as she seeks to established a marriage of mutual respect with a Scottish Earl. Of course, shenanigans ensure and we are taking along for the ride of solving a mystery. I’m already looking forward to Vasti’s next installment in this Belvoir’s series.

Having received an arc of this book through netgalley, I found myself immediately intrigued by the synopsis having not read any of the authors previous books.

The story quickly took off with likable protagonist whose romance quickly had my attention and I found myself reading til the end craving the happy ending for them. Lydia, the female protagonist was able to stand on her own two feet with an adventurous spirit with an partner whom matched her with wit and spirit.

The history seemed well researched but also written enough for it not to take away from the novel, I would definitely recommend this book to other historical romance readers and look forward to reading other works by this author

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for this little gem!!!

I.. love Alexandra Vasti 🩷 and this series so much. This was quite a departure from the first book (we go from horny library -> espionage & assassination plots), and I couldn’t love it more.

I was so happy to see Lydia grow & find herself- since Ne’er Duke Well, I’ve been excited to read her book & it was perfect! Arthur is as delish as he is obsessed with her, and I LOVE to see it!!! What a great pair they are together.

The larger plot (and the twist involving Lydia’s brother that I truly didn’t see coming) lays a great foundation for later books in the series.

This was perfectly paced & so romantic. The epilogue absolutely KILLED/DESTROYED/ENDED ME; I almost cried. Can’t wait for the next book!

A truly epic love story. I'm in awe of Alex's mind and how wildly creative this was. From letters to mistaken identities to zebras and everything in between.

Thank you NetGalley & St Martin's Press for allowing me access to this ebook.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti is a delightful historical romance that blends intrigue, wit, and sizzling chemistry. It's released on Jan 21 2025 and it should be on every historical romance lover's TBR!
Lydia Hope-Wallace, a daring wallflower turned radical writer, and Arthur Baird, a brooding earl with more on his mind than romance, are an unlikely but compelling match. Their relationship, born out of mistaken identities and a marriage of convenience, is filled with sharp banter and undeniable attraction.
In this book you'll get a little bit of suspense of espionage with tender moments of romance, creating a story that is both thrilling and heartwarming. A must-read!

Il y a quelque chose de spécial dans l'écriture d'Alexandra. Du premier au dernier mot, j'ai été totalement immergée et j'en suis ressortie satisfaite et heureuse, souhaitant pouvoir le relire pour la première fois. Les épigraphes. Certaines des déclarations d'amour les plus romantiques que j'aie jamais vues sur papier. Certaines des plus drôles aussi (Selina et les préservatifs, j'ai gloussé). L'épilogue m'a fait pleurer par sa simple description de l'amour qu'ils se portent. Cette histoire est remplie de petits moments qui donnent vie à la façon dont aimer quelqu'un discrètement, bruyamment et doucement peut signifier tout. Elle met en évidence la vulnérabilité de nos peurs et la profondeur avec laquelle elles peuvent nous affecter sans même que nous nous en rendions compte. Lorsque quelqu'un vous voit, vous relève et prend le temps de combattre vos peurs, vous pouvez faire n'importe quoi. Arthur et Lydia s'aiment tellement. Sa bravoure et le fait qu'il la reconnaisse immédiatement, alors que tout le monde ne voit que sa timidité. Sa loyauté inébranlable et son bon cœur quand tous les autres voient une brute. Les façons dont ils se sont aidés et soignés l'un l'autre.

A Period Piece Romance with some marriage of convenience, mystery elements. When first looking into this book, I thought it would be a more modern take on a period romance, however through the writing and story itself it was mostly a classic period piece. That being said, this is not my usual genre of romance, and the writing style is not my favourite. I found the writing and prose a little awkward at times, a little stop and go with the flow of the story telling. I also could not get attached to the FMC and MMC. I found that Lydia with all of her quirks and strong opinions, and Arthur with his awkward, blunt manner - were just missing some depth. I do think this book has promise, however it was not my cup of tea. I did however enjoy trying something new.

I. AM. WEEPING. This was the most exquisite, deeply romantic story I’ve ever read and only Alexandra Vasti could manage to find a way to have me crying over a love story that included a moldering castle, mistaken identities, espionage, and sixteen zebras.

I love every single one of Vasti’s characters with every fiber in my being, but Lydia Hope-Wallace will hold a special place in my heart. As a gal with social anxiety who also mulls over potential topics of conversations before social interactions, I felt a kinship with dear Lydia. I adored how Arthur saw Lydia and didn’t try to shield or remove her from interactions with crowds and new people, but became attune to Lydia’s tells, ASKED what she needed, and readily provided support.

I also loved how Lydia, while she might be silent in a crowd, was still fierce and a force to be reckoned with. Girl utilized her privilege and power while wielded her pen to fight injustice and give a voice to those who were silenced. Lydia’s fight for social justice reminds us that we don’t have to be the loudest in the room to enact change!

My heart ACHED over the decorations of love. Truly, I clutched my book to my chest with tears in my eyes and a heart bursting over these precious souls. Arthur and Lydia were two individuals who felt as if they never quite measured up to a societal standard or familial expectations and they desperately longed for more — for a place to belong, to enact change and give a voice to those on the fringes in their communities, to be brave and speak their hearts.

There were countless quiet moments of love and devotion shared between Arthur and Lydia that brought me to tears. Bearing witness to their love and the life they dreamt of and built with each other, the change they enacted as steadfast partners, and the home and joy that flourished from their adoration and respect had me weeping.

This story is overflowing with joy and hope and has it all - mystery, suspense, hijinks, sensational steam, swoony romance, and the most breathtaking love letters. ALL THE STARS for Lydia and Arthur!!

This delightful regency rom-com has two of the most lovable main characters. We first meet a very anxiety ridden Lydia making huge life decisions. Her storyline growth is worth the read alone. But then we meet gruff yet sweet Arthur. Reading their development was a joy. Along with some twists in the story I wasn’t expecting, some first class tension, and side characters I loved Earl Crush was a quick and enjoyable read.