okay miss vivienne, i see you!!!! this book was an absolute blast from start to finish and i will absolutely be reading more from her! i am grasping at any historical romance i can find and this one is definitely one of the best!!!

This author can WRITE. I don't know where I've been that this is the first book I've ever read by Vivienne Lorret, but I'm onboard now.
It is such a JOY when you discover an author who has this much talent. She can describe a scene so well even down to the smallest details and I was CAPTIVATED. I even laughed several times and so many times I was just smiling while reading because it is that good. Well done. Consider me a new fan!

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

A cute, quick, humorous story. The author developed the storyline and characters enough for the audience to buy in and believe in the romance. Recommend this for a nice, lighthearted read.

Vivienne Lorret's "This Much Is True" weaves a delightful tapestry of romance and intrigue against the backdrop of Regency England. Althea Hartley, the youngest daughter of an eccentric family, finds solace in her playwrighting amidst the disappointments of two failed Seasons. Desperate for inspiration, she creates tales of a daring highwayman, unwittingly drawing the attention of the mysterious Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James.

Jasper, harboring secrets beneath his clumsy facade, is determined to protect his loved ones from his menacing uncle, even if it means confronting the enchanting Miss Hartley. Sparks ignite when their paths cross, leading to a battle of wits and hearts. While Thea seeks to uncover the truth, Jasper fights to maintain his hidden identity. Yet, their undeniable chemistry pulls them closer, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

In "This Much Is True," Lorret masterfully blends passion with suspense, crafting characters who defy convention and embrace their desires. Thea emerges as a heroine of her own making, unafraid to challenge societal norms, while Jasper navigates the shadows of his past with resilience and charm. Their journey unfolds with grace and depth, offering readers a captivating escape into romance and adventure.

Amidst the chaos and darkness of their world, Lorret's novel shines as a beacon of hope and light for 2025. With her signature elegance and storytelling prowess, she delivers a narrative that resonates long after the final page. "This Much Is True" stands as a testament to Lorret's ability to enchant and captivate, reaffirming historical romance's enduring allure. For those seeking a tale of love, intrigue, and the triumph of the heart, this book is an absolute must-read.

Vivienne Lorret has once again proven why she is a force in the genre, and "This Much Is True" is undoubtedly one of the standout novels of 2025. Her portrayal of empowered heroines and complex heroes breathes new life into historical romance, reminding us all of the power of love and determination. Prepare to be swept away by this enchanting story that celebrates passion, courage, and the beauty of following one's heart.

A highwayman romance? Sign me up. I could not believe my luck when I was approved for an ARC! I have loved this series and couldn’t wait to read the third book. It lived up to my hopes! The romance was swoony and I was hooked from the beginning. Althea was an engaging lead and I enjoyed her antics and personality. I’m excited to see where the series will lead and who will be next lead.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This Much Is True by Vivienne Lorret is a first person dual-POV Regency romance. Aspiring playwright Thea is on her third season and looking to regain her confidence, so she invents a highwayman to capture the ton’s attention. Unfortunately for her, Jasper is a highwayman and a viscount who needs her to stop creating tall tales in order for his own plans to escape from under his uncle’s thumb to succeed.

One of the things I really liked was how much Thea loves the world of theater and how being creative is a huge part of herself and her family. Her confidence was destroyed by Kemmell, a playwright who said her work wasn’t worth anything as a way to keep her down and a large part of Thea’s story is her getting over her feelings for him and removing the power he still has over her. I loved watching her slowly pull further and further away from him as she moved closer to Jasper.

Jasper’s storyline is darker than Thea’s as his uncle has been harming young women for yeast and hiding it with his power and influence. While both Jasper and Thea are held back by men with more influence than them, Jasper’s uncle is, by far, more dangerous. One of the main reasons Jasper allows the ton to think he’s unintelligent and can’t think for himself is because it serves his uncle’s purposes and keeps his uncle away from Jasper’s aunt and cousins. At least, that’s what Jasper hopes.

There’s a subtle Beauty and the Beast quality to Jasper and Thea’s romance, with Thea valued highly for her looks while the women of the ton are afraid of Jasper for his size and what they have been told about him from his uncle. Thea is the one who pushes for their relationship to really start with Jasper being a bit harder to convince that he deserves a happily ever after at all. He’s a man with a good heart and even better intentions no matter what life throws at him and Thea is a woman with ambitions outside the expectations for women of her time. It’s a very fun play on the classic set-up.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of Regency romance with Beauty and the Beast elements and readers looking for a historical romance where the female lead is a creative

3/5

As a historical romance girlie through and through it isn't often that I stumble upon a historical romance not entirely on my radar. Vivienne Lorret isn't a new to me author by any means and I have loved many historicals on her backlist, yet This Much is True completely threw me for a loop because I forgot there was more in The Liars Club series. With a slow opening that hints at her leads' extraordinary chemistry, Lorret introduces readers to Jasper, a highwayman, and Althea, a determined playwright seeking inspiration in the worst sort of places brought together by unexpected circumstances. Historical romance has always been the place for unconventional pairings and I love how Lorret takes that idea and runs a marathon while highlighting what works within the romance. Both Althea and Jasper stood out to me from the start as two individuals burdened by purpose but in different ways. Despite their differences Althea and Jasper's partnership made so much sense and what they fight against in this novel are the external obstacles from society and their respective families keeping them apart. Watching Althea come back to her confidence as a writer, and Jasper work towards his master plan was very satisfying to witness and I loved where the story landed where both were concerned. This Much Is True has only made me want to read more from Lorret and I'm excited to see where she goes next.

I enjoyed the previous ones in this series, but I preferred Althea to her sisters. She was much more dramatic but much more entertaining. I felt so bad for St. James this whole read, I was so thrilled when he found a way to save himself with Althea's help. But Roly and Thumper win favorite characters by far! The end where Roly is so excited to be a family- my heart!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for a copy of this read!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for letting me read This Much is True by Vivienne Loretta! Another masterpiece of historical romance! You really can’t go wrong with this author.

ARC Review:

A 5-star read for anyone that is looking for a great historical romance. This book had the perfect amount of challenges reading that makes the reader immerse themselves into the story. The MCs have perfect chemistry from the moment they cross paths.
My favorite quote from this book has been "It wasn't until later that I realized I had buried my heart instead, in a box under earth and stone. And I think you have done the same, Buried the things that are, perhaps, too overwhelming to speak aloud."
I am 100% sure that this quote will stay with me until the end of times because of how great the MCs have expressed their love and their passion for each other

To me this is a no brainer when it comes to giving it five stars.

Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book as an ARC.

This is the third installment of Lorret’s Liars’ Club series. This charming and humorous romance follows the journey of Althea Hartley, a thrill-seeking debutante who has lost her creative spark after two unsuccessful Seasons. As the youngest daughter in an eccentric family, Althea feels the weight of her playwriting legacy. She has lost her spark because of a narcissistic mentor/suitor. In a bid for inspiration, she begins to craft a story featuring a dashing highwayman, unaware that her fictional creation mirrors the reality of Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James, who lives a double life.

Jasper is determined to keep his true identity hidden from society, and Althea’s tales threaten to expose him. When fate draws them together, their chemistry ignites, but their paths are fraught with obstacles. Lorret skillfully weaves a narrative that balances humor with genuine emotional depth, showcasing Althea's journey from self-doubt to confidence. Jasper's complexity and charm as a protective, pining hero provide a delightful contrast. The role he has been forced to take because of his abusive uncle is heartbreaking and makes you want justice and revenge.

The delightful banter, quirky dialogue, and dramatic tension makes this book hard to put down. I love that Thea’s sisters made an appearance in this book. The quirky Hartley family adds an extra layer of charm, appealing to those who appreciate stories centered around strong familial bonds and the magic of theater. High five to the author for the spice level *fans self*. While Jasper is described as pretty large muscular man, I love Thea’s take charge attitude in life and in the bedroom. Yes!!! The cover is beautiful too and matches the characters descriptions. Once I started this book, I could not stop reading it. This book comes out July 1, 2025. Plenty of time to read the first two in the series. Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy.

This was a cute story. It had enough humor to be funny and enough depth to make the romance believable. I would recommend it if you are looking for a quick romance to read one afternoon.

Great thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review the ARC

Love this book! The two leads had me feeling the passion, the love and the ANGST. This book definitely filled the gaps that were missing in the last historical romance that I was reading.

Althea is such a lovable female lead. You find that she's down in spirits because of an asshat (I hope you step in multiple piles of horseshit Kellum) but throughout the book she realizes that there are so many people supporting her and you see her gain confidence back into her writing. She's definitely someone not scared to act first about things which I like about her. You do see doubts in her mind sometimes but that is to be expected from her experience last season.

Jasper, how I love this man but also want punt a ball to his head sometimes. Also hug him a gazillion times over. You can't really help fall in love with him just like Thea does too. He's literally quite honorable and protective of the people he loves. Honestly, he's the character that I most relate too, so I understand some of his faults.

There is quite a plot to this but the conclusions seems a bit rushed to me. Honestly wish there was or is going to be an epilogue in the final publication because I really want to know more about what happened afterwards.

The spice is spicing in this book considering the genre. Thea definitely perceived Lady Content wrong about Lord Turgid.

Overall, this is definitely a book I would read again. The main characters are both fantastic, the supporting cast is favorable, and the villains definitely people I would want to pummel.

This series is making me believe in HR written currently. There are so many subpar new HR being published that I've begun to lose my taste. This series makes me fall in love again. I love this family and Truman needs a book. I highlighted many hilarious and beautiful quotes. She has a way of description that makes an emotion very tangible.

This is a very delightful and well written love story. It told of past wrongs done, death, a highway robber, evil within the ton, and so many more interesting and emotional issues that were highly entertaining. The characters wete complex and likable, and their passion delicious. I enjoyed that good triumphed over the cruel and wicked, and it ended beautifully. I highly recommend reading!

I have been in love with this series since book one, so to read the final installment, I am over the moon. It was everything I hoped it would be. Althea was charming and real, and Jasper, with his dry humor and canny wit, was perfect. There was real depth to this story. First with Althea and her lingering "ennui" as she calls it, when in reality it is the result of a bad relationship, then Jasper and his conniving uncle and all that entails. The story was carefully crafted and thoroughly engaging. My only regret was there were no more Hartley's. They are such a fun bunch and I wanted to see more of them. That aside this book was brilliant and I know I will read this book as well as the rest of the series multiple times. Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

a fun, enjoyable read with a solid premise.
thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am smiling as I think back to this story; there are some absurdities but the author does them well enough to keep you reading... and smiling... and wondering how it can all come together. And it does come together for a happily ever after.

I have to say this book started off a bit much for me, a lot of inner dialogue had me reading slower than I usually do. As soon as we hit the 50 page mark I felt more excited, the chemistry between the two characters is what I love seeing in romance. They clearly are two very different people who are going through complications in their lives. But their commonality is their disinterest in snobbery which is a big part of their society’s class. You wouldn’t think it from how it started but the small bits of humor that come out from the characters had me laughing out loud like a crazy person. Giving no inclination to their small bits of dry humor thrown in it completely catches me off guard. The two characters have these small moments of intimacy that were perfectly placed and described nothing too dramatic for the book. Giving them a good amount of passion between them. Having them both come to terms for their feelings for each other and recognizing their faults. I found very endearing that it was mentioned and their need to work through some of their problems. I had a great time reading the book and the characters a perfect escape.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager publishing I received a ARC for an honest review !

Althea's story is finally here!! Page turner that leaves you with the warm and fuzzes. Free ARC from Net Galley for honest review.