Earl Crush

Every single book or novella written by Alexandra Vasti has been a knockout—including this one. Her characters are always so relatable and seem so three dimensional. Real people with real issues. Her sex-positive stories are full of consent and mutual pining. I love how her female characters are feminine but also not stereotypical, especially with the time period of the novel. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this remarkable story! Opinions are my own.

In Alexandria Vasti’s upcoming book, Lydia Hope-Wallace, a radical heiress with social anxiety heads to Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience to the impoverished Earl of Strathanroch with whom she’s been writing/sharing political ideals (in secret) for the last few years. Soon after she arrives, however, she finds out that she wasn’t corresponding with the earl himself but his ne’er do well younger brother posing as the earl— a brother who may be mixed up in something quite dangerous. Together they decide to work together find him and end up finding themselves pretending to be newlyweds as part of their investigation. Will their fake vows result in true love?

There is so much to love about this book- secret identities, road trips, fake marriage, protective older siblings, espionage, treason, PLUS an epistolary epilogue! It was fun, funny, and steamy. I adored literally everything about this- my favorite Vasti yet. Early Crush is out January 21st!


Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book Review: Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
Alexandra Vasti does it again! After thoroughly enjoying Ne’er Duke Well, I was delighted to see Lydia Hope-Wallace return for another adventure in the Belvoir’s Library Trilogy. Earl Crush is a wonderful, funny, and swoon-worthy read that I found incredibly hard to put down. This latest Regency world is so immersive that I believe fans of Evie Dunmore’s The League of Extraordinary Women series will absolutely love Vasti’s writing in this trilogy.

Non-Spoiler Book Summary
Following the introduction of wallflower Lydia Hope-Wallace in Ne’er Duke Well, we rejoin her life three years later. Lydia embarks on a journey to inject herself into the Earl of Strathrannoch’s life, hoping to help save his financial situation. Over the past three years, she has developed an attachment to him through their correspondence. However, the Earl, Arthur Baird, is taken aback by Lydia’s sudden appearance in Scotland (with Georgiana Cleeve in tow and Sir Francis Bacon in hand) because he doesn’t know who she is. It is quickly revealed that Arthur hasn’t been writing to Lydia all these years; instead, it was his brother, Davis, masquerading as Arthur. With this looming mystery in the background, this charming novel follows Lydia and Arthur as they discover themselves, navigate love, and ultimately explore the meaning of family.

Reviewer’s Overall Thoughts
• Vasti’s portrayal of the love interest in this novel is refreshing. I appreciated having a male character who feels genuine and relatable, breaking away from many overused tropes. Additionally, Vasti’s decision to include more chapters from the male perspective allows readers to connect deeply with the characters at the heart of her stories. She did this in Ne’er Duke Well, and I was pleased to see it continue in this second installment.
• I was pleasantly surprised by a twist near the end of the book. Without giving anything away, I felt that this story transcended the typical historical romance genre. Rather than simply focusing on two people falling in love, Vasti weaves a plot with purpose and meaning. I enjoyed how she elevates the narrative, bringing the overall story to life in a way that feels both impactful and engaging.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this advance reader copy of the book and the opportunity to submit a review.

Yet another fun, genuinely humorous romp from this author. The opening is pure, romance novel nonsense that I wanted to shoot straight into my veins. Lydia Hope-Wallace is whip-smart, accomplished, and ambitious, but suffers from serious social anxiety. She embarks on a journey to propose a marriage of convenience to an earl with whom she's been corresponding about politics. She figures she can help his financially troubled estate and she can gain the relative freedom that a marriage affords a woman in this day and age. What she doesn't expect is that the man she meets, the true earl, is not the person she has been corresponding with... but his brother.

To say she is thrown off by this change of course, and state of the estate she arrives at, is an understatement. There is fainting. There is vomit. There are zebras.

Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch, is flummoxed but also... of course... enchanted by Lydia Hope-Wallace, and his protective instincts immediately kick into gear as he protects her from a stampede of said zebras.

The mutual pining that ensues was delicious. He assumes she's in love with his brother, she is not used to trusting her instincts when it comes to those outside of her family, and they both want to jump each others' bones.

I love the way this author marries romance, comedy, and mystery (what is the earl's brother up to and why) that drives the plot forward at an excellent pace. And if you don't think Arthur Baird drops a "my wife"... you are sorely mistaken. Highly recommend and can't' wait for more!

Alexandra Vasti has done it once again! Earl Crush is sweet, spicy, funny, and has so much heart. I love the way she writes characters and relationships; her books were my first introduction to modern Regency Romance, and I truly believe she is the queen of the genre. If you want to read a book that feels like a warm hug, this is it. If you're already a fan of her work, you will love it; and if you haven't read any of her books yet, stop reading this & go pick up one of her books immediately!

I devoured Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions series in less than 24 hours. I've read everything she's published and will read everything she ever writes!! There's something about her writing that is so earnest and sweet, hilarious, and steamy to boot.

I was so excited for Ne'er Duke Well and was so intrigued by Lydia Hope-Wallace. After finding out she was the lead in the next book in the Belvoir's Library Trilogy, I knew there was no way I could wait until January 21, 2025 to read her story! When Alexandra posted it was available for a limited time through NetGalley, I jumped at the chance.

Lydia Hope-Wallace is socially awkward to the point of puking! She's also smart and despite her own insecurities so capable and brave! Her intelligence and moral compass urge her to anonymously writing seditious pamphlets that catch the attention of who she believes to be the Earl of Strathrannoch. They strike up a correspondence that leads her to travel to his home to offer her hand for a marriage of convenience. The only problem is, she hasn't been corresponding with the Earl afterall but his brother. When she arrives at Castle Strathrannoch, she finds the real earl, Arthur and her confidence crumbles a little because...

"Truly, not even the bravest, boldest, most fantastical version of herself would have ridden up to Perthshire and offered her hand if she'd known the man looked like that."

Despite the misunderstanding and case of stolen identity, Lydia is impressed and intrigued at the actual earl's appearance and manner. Lydia and Arthur work together to find Arthur's brother and the hijinks that ensue!! Like the screwball comedies of Old Hollywood which I adore.


*Stefon voice* This book has everything: the FMC of all-time, burly blonde-haired blacksmith earl, zebras, found family, achingly tender love letters, espionage, and ohhh so much pining.


"For Christ's sake," he muttered. His fingers stroked her hair, the back of her head. Trailed down the nape of her neck and then wrapped around her waist. "Daft woman. Don't ever do that again."

"Do what, precisely? Watch as you are accidentally abducted?"

"Go away from me."


Arthur Baird falls so hard as evidenced by: "My body and my heart were formed for the loving of you." The longing and yearning he does here is seriously unmatched. The look inside his mind and feelings through the excerpts from his letters at the beginning of some chapters tugged at my heart so bad. This man has never felt good enough or up to the challenge of being the earl. He has felt inferior to his brother even though Arthur is older. He loves Lydia so much he's willing to leave her to his brother because he feels like he's who she fell in love with and what an idiot.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti has her signature madcap adventures between two people who could not be more perfect for each other. And the epistolary epilogue that takes the reader many years into the future of their life together will leave you clutching your chest and wiping happy tears from your face.

I'm a Vasti-fan for life.

Earl Crush is a delightful new read by Alexandra Vasti. Lydia has a nauseating fear of social interaction but through her secret identity as a political writer, is able to get her intelligent and staunch thoughts out into the public. Through this avenue, she starts a secret correspondence with an Earl who shares her political preferences. She gears up her bravery to go meet him in person and propose a marriage of convenience, but finds out that the man she thought she was communicating with wasn’t who he seems.

Enter Arthur, the real Earl and the brother of the man she’s been corresponding with. The two eventually join forces to track down his brother and the valuable item he stole from Arthur and fall in love along the way.

Lydia and Arthur are so well-written, I feel like they could spring out of the page. Both are well-developed characters, with strong backstories and motivations. Lydia and Arthur both feel a little bit lost, a little bit unlovable but immediately strike a friendship laced with a blazing attraction. Arthur’s quiet support of Lydia for who she is and Lydia’s unending belief in Arthur sell the romance. Add in tropes of electricity when they touch, a fake engagement, found family and loving friends, Earl Crush is truly a historical masterpiece.

I can’t wait to read more from Alexandra Vasti and I highly recommend you preorder it now. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!