I had a little trouble adjusting to the period writing but once I did I flew through this one. While I didn't find either Violet or James particularly likable, I did love that all their friends were like "...why don't you just talk"? because that's really what needed to happen.

The side plots, particularly with Emily's love triangle and Diana's bet make me wonder if we'll be seeing Violet and James again soon as we dive deeper in this circle of friends.. I'm interested in more of Diana's story, as she was easily my favorite character.

I was looking for something that would take my brain off everything that is going on right now and this book for the bill. It is smart, witty and entertaining. Violet isn’t shrinking to society norms to her mother’s chagrin and that is exactly what James loves about her.

Their quarrel for 4 years could have been easily rectified if they had just talked but they are both stubborn. I enjoyed their journey back to each other.

A fun book with likable main characters that have amazing chemistry and secondary characters that support the story perfectly. The relationship between Lord James and Lady Violet has so much potential but has been strained for many years because of a lack of communication. Their 5 year marriage is failing even though they do not hate each other as much as they thought. After an argument 4 years ago they have avoided each other as much as possible though beneath all the tension between them they both want their marriage to work. The fun ensues when their friends become involved in Violet's schemes to make James find the error in his ways. Through the schemes they find themselves realizing their may be some hope and great chemistry left in their relationship but somehow they need to find a way to communicate their feeling to one and other. I enjoyed this couple's journey to find understanding with themselves and their relationship. I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an ARC of this entertaining book in exchange for a honest review.

Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley have been married for four years. They once loved each other—in fact, they probably still do. But early in their marriage they had a huge fight, and now they can’t stand to be near each other. James has lately become obsessed with his horse stables, which makes Violet incredibly jealous (and sometimes worried for his safety). When Violet gets a letter from one of James’s friends that James has been thrown from his horse and is injured, Violet is terrified he’s close to death. Imagine her surprise when, on her way to the stables, she catches James coming out of a tavern, completely fine. Violet is furious and vows to get revenge. She decides to fake having tuberculosis in an effort to make James worry about her for a change. James quickly sees through her plan but decides to play along, only so he can continue tricking her. The longer the game goes on, the more both realize that they may be hating their way back to love.

To Have and to Hoax is a tongue in cheek, period-piece-type book not meant to be taken too seriously. I loved the premise, but, unfortunately, the execution fell short. My main complaint is that the book moved at a glacial pace—Violet and James don’t even really speak to each other until the 50% mark. A little bit of cat and mouse is okay, but it’s maddening to read a book where the main characters seem to purposely miscommunicate with each other. Not only is it unrealistic, but the predictability slows the plot to the point of becoming boring. I wish the book had been edited down by at least 30%. This could have been a four-star read, but, unfortunately, as is, I can’t recommend it.

This book was so much fun! The writing style is clever and witty, and highly reminiscent of Jane Austen without trying to be a copy-cat. Now, it is worth noting that this book is the absolutely definition of the word "bonkers". You would NOT like these people if you knew them in real life and this situation in the real world would be ridiculous. However, in this novel it is fun and entertaining and at times laugh out loud funny. Honestly, I can't wait to read more from this author because this book was such an absolute delight.

DNF at 21%. One of my favorite things in a romance is great communication and working through problems. So it makes sense that one of my least favorite is the opposite. Violet and James have been married for 5 years but after The Argument 4 years ago, they’ve barely spoken. Despite her friends urging her to talk to him - Violet decides to go a different route. It is too immature and frustrating for me - I’m out. Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but it does not influence my opinion of the book nor the contents of this review in any way. 

This book sounds like the regency of You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle, another romance dropping this spring. So when I heard the plot, I immediately requested the book, and was accepted, despite it being after release date. That means it's available for you to get! 

To Have and To Hoax really is a great title for this one. It's a story about a married couple of 5 years, and in their fourth year of the Cold War Marriage. It all started quite nicely... they were married quickly to avoid scandalous rumors, but that wasn't really a problem, as it was a love match. They were deeply in love and the best of friends in a passionate marriage, until an argument a year into their marriage destroyed their relationship. They merely exchange pleasantries now, and can scarcely stand to be in the same room as the other. They're still very much in love, but there's a spike in their relationship that can't be ignored. 

Our main character, Violet, was a great heroine. She's vibrant, full of life and opinions, is daring and passionate and just so much fun. So when she gets a letter from a family friend that her husband was thrown from his horse and unconscious in their country home, and she immediately rushes to his side, Cold War be damned. Turns out, he was fine. But he made the mistake of telling her that he wouldn't have sent the letter anyway, because he ended up being fine. So she decides that she'll show him how it feels for her to be hurt and not tell him, and stages a whole production and being diagnosed with an illness. 

With varying success, because he wasn't fooled for long. But of course, he couldn't let her know that he knew, so he started playing her games, thus starting a war of back-and-forth the likes of which were... quite incredible, really. Because even though they stood by their stances they'd had for the last four years in Their Argument, they missed each other. And arguing and hating the other is easier than pining, right? So they throw themselves into this war. 

It was quite fun and maddening all at once. This is one of those books that you just wish you could shake the characters. Most of what happened in this book would not have happened if they just talked to each other!! Like for god's sake. SPEAK. 

I read it in one sitting and I did enjoy this one! Things did go too far, but they were handled gracefully and I loved that our heroine didn't back down and accept him the minute he buckled for a second, but made him win her over once more and prove that he could do right by her again. This was a regency romance, so it sucked that I had to read that damn line - that one that's in every regency romance. The one where she's arguing and he thinks about her "heaving bosoms." Woman speak, man notice breast. Not to mention the excess use of "husband" and "wife" when speaking to each other. But what else is new?

Overall, it was an entertaining story. I loved all the side characters who got dragged along for the ride in their roller coaster of marital problems, and I see potential for sequels! It had its small blips, but I enjoyed the main plot line and laughed frequently :)

This book was so fun! I love a good enemies to lovers vibe and this is kind of a twist on that concept, starting with a love marriage and then a misunderstanding and argument that caused them to be emotionally distant for years.
The dialogue was witty, both main characters were likable, the romance was steamy, and I adored the camaraderie within their prospective friends groups. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys lighthearted, clever historical romances.

Regency romance is probably my favorite genre and overall I did enjoy the book. I especially liked how much comedy was in this book. It had me laughing out loud at times and yet at other times it had me wanting to throw the book across the room. I loved the chemistry of the main characters but thought the four year timeline of marriage troubles a little unbelievable. The side characters were just as much fun as he main couple. A fun and sassy story and of a battle of wills between a young married couple set in the Regency Era.

I loved this book! Who doesn't love a period piece? I loved this back and forth battling between two warring spouses who after being in love have acted that they are not for YEARS. Their continua denial and while still being aware (to a degree) that they still want one another made the book sizzle. The concept of trying to up one another in making the other believe either sickness or disinterest was such a fun element of the book. It's a cute read and so easily grasps the readers attention that it's hard to put down.

I’m going to be super honest, if you are looking for a laugh out loud rom-com about a relationship in trouble, I think you should skip this one and read You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. Maybe if I hadn’t read that book just weeks before this book, I would have liked this one better. Who knows. The premise here is that an already married couple have been in a fight for four years and now are going to try to work it out. He gets hurt, she’s worried then she’s mad because he didn’t respond the way she wanted. It is full of hijinks that didn’t feel overly funny to me. Also the heroine pretends to be suffering from consumption (tuberculosis) and has all these fake coughing spells that felt weird to be reading about right now.

The side characters were interesting enough that I might be compelled to read more about them.

This was also a reminder to me that Regency romances are not really for me. I spend too much time trying to figure out what things are happening and what they mean. I shall stick to contemporary.

Some smooth writing and likeable secondary characters couldn't save this book from itself, and that's even while I smiled every time I encountered the nostalgic reference to the Friends' episode, "he knew that she knew that he knew." The premise here of a young married couple pranking and one-upping each other in an effort to get even for perceived neglect was initially amusing but great very tiresome, and pretty quickly. I went into this one open-minded having just had an unexpected blast reading Sarah Hogle's bittersweet but utterly romantic You Deserve Each Other, but with each chapter I become more and more frustrated. Note to readers: very little changes in this book until 94% and so be prepared for a story that spends nearly the entire novel mired in misunderstandings and self-righteousness.

In the prologue, Violet and James fall in love instantly at a ball and subsequently marry. Fast forward four years later as they reflect back on a fractious and rocky start in an otherwise passionate union, they know just when the relationship went off its track, and that one moment comes to define four years of cold war - yes, Four Years. For four years, we are meant to believe that the two live in the same house and do not speak. I obviously had trouble reconciling a four-year silent roommate situation, but once I found out the reason why they stopped speaking, I lost much of my interest in the book. Part of the book is about understanding the mental harm both characters experienced growing up with negligent and even emotionally abusive parents and how such experiences challenged their ability to form healthy and mature adult relationships rooted in trust. So, there's that. It's not a theme I'm crazy about and one that feels quite over done in romances, but it's meant to explain the actions two immature people play on the one person in their life they should love and trust.

The other major aspect of this novel focuses on a series of pranks and retributions Violet and James enact to slap back at each other. At times it seems as if they are just striking out, but at other times, they seem aware that they want the attention of the other, even if it's negative attention. Some of the pranks are amusing but there were moments when I was reaching to find my sense of humor and struggling. For instance, James's open flirtation with another woman in society to make his wife jealous was a particularly difficult scene. Violet feels humiliated and most everyone else feels either uncomfortable or titillated by the scandal they are witnessing. Several key people later try to explain separately to James that it wasn't the thing to humiliate one's wife in public or to risk harming the reputation of another woman. This entire episode in the book reminds me why I love the concept of the hero in romances and why I disliked James. Most romance heroes stop short of hurting innocent bystanders for selfish reasons, and most heroes don't want to humiliate the woman they love in front of others. Furthermore, most heroes have a degree of emotional intelligence that clarifies their actions. That brings me to a somewhat bigger problem with this book, which is that even though Violet and James behave equally stupidly and immaturely at times, James is an especially difficult character to reform. He's wrong nearly all the time and there is not parity in their grievances. The misunderstanding that separates them for Four Years is mainly his fault. I felt sympathy at times for Violet, therefore, and I can't honestly say that I'm entirely satisfied with a HEA for this couple.

The book is filled with some appealing secondary characters and there are clear signs of where some future romances are heading. I'm giving it a generous 3 stars because of appealing secondary characters. However, I initially thought I would want to read future books from Waters but given in the end how little I enjoyed this one, it's unlikely now.

I think if you like historical romances you will like this one. I started this one and had no idea what was going on and had to restart it. I enjoyed portions of the story but others made me want to throw the book. All of the characters are flawed and the lack of communication causes all of their problems. And all the pride. I am going to give this three stars because this is outside of my normal reading genre. I am not sure what I thought it was going to be but it wasn't what I thought it would be.

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters was such an adorable and entertaining Regency rom-com that served as a perfect distraction from everything going on in the world right now. I really enjoyed this debut novel and finished it in 2 days because I didn’t want to put it down.

Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met on a balcony while attending a ball, fell in love instantly, and were married shortly after. One year later, their passionate romance abruptly turns cold and detached after an awful fight that keeps them from speaking to one another for four years.

One day, Violet receives a letter from her husband’s friend stating that he has sustained an injury from falling off of a horse at the family stables, and is currently unconscious. Violet is naturally worried about her husband and his condition and immediately sets off to see him at the hospital. Along the way, she stops at a tavern and runs into James and his friends where he is 1) appearing perfectly healthy, 2) completely unaware that she was alerted about his fall, 3) not at all bothered by the trouble this has caused her and 4) having the audacity to tell her that the matter didn’t concern her.

Naturally, this does not help their already distant relationship and her husbands reaction inspires Violet to teach him a lesson by feigning an illness and even going as far as to get her friends in on the charade as well as hire a fake physician to diagnose her. James sees right through Violet’s scheme and the two of them spend majority of the book trying to out do one another in seeing who can piss the other person off more.

Through all of the manipulation, we discover that James and Violet might not actually hate each other as much as they thought they did and the reader is taken on a wild ride to see if these two will either continue to torture one another by denying that they are meant for each other, or will find a way to break down their walls and work together to move past the last four hurtful years of their marriage.

Martha Waters did a great job at balancing this elaborate and witty storyline with ongoing charm and delight. The character development was well done too- it was hard not to fall in love with the mess that was Violet and James and root for their reunion the entire story. Violet and James’ characters were both relatable in many ways and I loved being able to watch them mature throughout the book and hold one another, as well as themselves, accountable for where they made mistakes in their relationship. At times, I personally felt that their issues and the manipulation of one another was dragged out a little and resulted in a story that was a little longer than needed, but I enjoyed this book overall.

If you’re a fan of rom-coms, or even just looking for a quick, light hearted read that will keep you laughing throughout the entire story, To Have and to Hoax is a great choice! Thank you so much to Atria Books for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

3.5

Violet and James met during her debut season. James actually saved Violet from being ruined by one of his good friends. But in the process he and Violet are the ones found in a delicate situation where the only solution is marriage. This doesn't bother either because, believe it or not, they actually have a love match. That is until a fight about a year into their marriage causes a seemingly irreparable rift between the pair. Fast forward four years later and Violet and James can barely stand to be in the same room with one another. That doesn't mean the feelings aren't there, just the issues between them overshadow the feelings.

So when Violet received word that James had been injured after being thrown from a horse, she races to his side, only to find out that he's perfectly fine. Feeling scorned, Violet looks to give James a taste of his own medicine. Their hoaxes end up bringing the pair closer than they've been in years, and to the discovery that maybe not all is lost, but to really fix everything between them, they'll have to revisit that day four years ago.

I absolutely love the premise of this book. I love getting the glimpse of a couple who has been married, not newly married, not courting. Married. Seeing them at a crossroads in their relationship where they're no longer content to just let the issues stand between them, but they don't really know how to move forward. So they concoct what amounts to a game that opens up the lines of communication between them. I thought that Martha Waters also gave a good amount of detail and page time to the root of the rift - what initially broken the couple apart in the first place - and the way to heal.

What got it for me is that the story dragged a little bit in places. I could have doubled, or tripled, the shenanigans that happen over the course of Violet and James trying to deceive one another. I've heard this story touted as a historical rom-com and I definitely wanted more of the "com" component.

Also, I would have loved Violet's predilection for scholarly pursuits to be highlighted a bit more, possibly even used to one-up James at times? We are told that Violet is smart, reads journals, does research and writes papers, but I wanted to actually see this within her actions in the story as it's a wonderful piece of her character but it gets a bit overshadowed with everything else going on.

I thought that Martha Waters did a fabulous job of really making the chemistry between Violet and James jump off the page, even when they're angry with one another, you could feel that they both want their marriage to work, you can feel the love is still there. Yet the adversarial aspects of their relationship is spot on as well.

Overall, I thought To Have and To Hoax was a good debut. I'm very interested in Violet and James's group of friends who make a wonderful group of secondary characters. I hope we get another story featuring one of them. Regardless, I'll be reading whatever Martha Waters writes next.

TO HAVE AND TO HOAX is a Regency romcom that’s as playful and witty as its title. Lady Violet and Lord James have been married for half a decade, but due to a horrible fight at the end of their first year together, it’s been a long time since they’ve shared a bedroom or held a conversation that wasn’t quick, tense, or awkward. After an incident in which Violet’s pride is wounded, leaving her to believe that James truly has no regard for her anymore, she devises a series of schemes to try to pay him back. James, seeing through Violet’s plans, decides to play along, which leads to an escalating (and hilarious) game between the estranged couple. But as they start to remember their true and deep feelings for each other, will they be able to address the root of their problems—or will they find there are no winners in the game they play?

The characters in this book were so much fun, and Martha Waters did an excellent job of establishing their compelling personalities right from the very beginning. Although the setting is early nineteenth century Britain, and the story is very much steeped in the culture and traditions of the time, the dialogue is as whip-sharp as any contemporary romcom. I also loved how so much of this book felt like the “They don’t know we know they know we know” episode of Friends; in fact, there are a couple lines in TO HAVE AND TO HOAX that are nearly identical to that iconic one, and it made me so happy. As the novel progressed, I did find myself getting so frustrated with both Violet and James. “Why won’t you just talk to each other?” I wanted to scream at them. “Just communicate! Be honest about how you feel!” But that frustration is a key element of the book, which speaks to how difficult communication can be, even and especially when you love someone. As these two characters struggle to overcome lifelong flaws and insecurities, they each embark on a satisfying, heartfelt, and humorous journey toward better understanding themselves and each other. I had a blast reading this book, and now I can’t wait for the sequel, TO LOVE AND TO LOATHE.

While I used to avoid Regency Romances in the past I’ve found myself grow more interested in the genre recently. To Have And To Hoax is a regency romance with more modern sensibilities; as the synopsis takes. It almost feels as if the story is set in a historical period but feels like a modern Rom- Com. Its got that cheeky, witty banter that I enjoy in the Regency genre, but it feels a bit more daring.

Our main characters are Violet and Audley, a couple who has fallen out of love. Readers are alluded to the factors that put a strain on their marriage and though the two still care for each other they’ve grown apart. Violet comes up with a scheme to get back her husband which may just ignite the passion in their marriage once again.

Deep down Violet and Audley do love each other, but have trouble expressing to each other that they still are in love. Its hilarious to watch the two go tit-for-tat in a lovers quarrel as they think of petty ways to get back at each other. This along with the general humorous tone throughout the novel makes it such an entertaining read. Each little prank or joke kept me cracking me up.

This novel was very entertaining and it’s a feel good read that I needed during this difficult time that is happening in the world. Violet and Audley’s arguments may be childish, but the beauty of this novel is the lengths they take to win each others love again. Its humorous, fun, and has a cast of vibrant characters that keep the reader in invested in the story.

To Have and to Hoax was so delightful! I've been eagerly waiting to read the book since I first heard about it, but wanted to wait for the right time. I guess my brain thought that a pandemic was the best time to read it. And it was because for the few hours I spent with To Have and to Hoax, it helped me laugh, swoon, and momentarily escape the real world. If like me you enjoy historical romances, I would add this to your TBRs.

Violet and James had one blissful and happy year of marriage before everything went awry. Despite living in the same house, their relationship is not that of a happy husband and wife duo. There is a ton of bitterness and frustration in their relationship but these knuckleheads don't want to talk through their issues. When Violet receives the message that James has been critically injured following a horse riding incident, she rushes back to their country estate, only to find him thriving at a tavern. Undeniably, she is upset at this and decides that she will get back at her estranged husband by feigning to be ill. And so begins a series of devious games between husband and wife as they try to outplay each other.

Though this concept may seem a bit over the top to some, I found myself enjoying every minute of Violet and James' shenanigans. Yes, they certainly could have saved themselves a lot of heartache by sitting down and having an open conversation, but where is the fun in that for us readers? There's a lot of witty banter and in between all the pranks and you'll find moments where their undeniable chemistry just shines. I had a blast with them and though yes, I did want to smack some senses into both Violet and James at times, I was also attached to these characters. They sure were bull-headed, but also quite lovable. The revenge plans and pranks bring them closer together and we begin to see their emotions and feelings unravel. I found the journey to their reconciliation to be extremely gratifying and so swoony! You'll also find an excellent secondary cast here. I especially loved Diana and Sophie, two of Violet's closest friends, and all the hints at their potential future romance arcs.

If you're looking for an escape in these trying times, I would highly recommend To Have and to Hoax. It's funny, delivers on the swoon, and is utterly charming.

This story was so frustrating for me. I wanted to like it but I just found myself getting frustrated with it especially the two lead characters. Who were married, then they had a huge fight which ends up with them not speaking. Now four years later Lady Violet receives a letter stating that Lord James is hurt having been thrown from his horse.
When she arrives and finds that is not the case, she feels like she has been made a fool of she comes up with her own illness. This is when everything because to get out of control because it starts a back and forth of who can outdo the other one. I just got tired of it all and wished for it to have stayed like it was at the beginning of the story. What should have been a good story did not turn out that way at least for me.

I decided not to finish this book. I read up to about 40% , but sadly did not finish the book.
I was quite intrigued by the premise of To Have and to Hoax. A married couple who is estranged, but try to best each other at elaborate hoaxes sounded interesting!
I did enjoy the beginning of To Have and to Hoax. The chemistry between James and Victoria was great. I even enjoyed their occasional sparring. I really wanted more emotional content between James and Victoria. I loved the scenes when they were together, but more often than not they were conversing with their friends and not each other. And the constant lying and spinning stories was getting a bit complicated for me. Sadly, I just could not connect with the characters.