4 stars

Taking place in London 1751, newly mothered and Duchess of Clare—Marian—is blackmailed via letter correspondence with—Rob—a con artist. As she, unfortunately, comes to know that the man she believed to be her husband contracted a marriage to a woman who still lives. Within these continued letters back and forth between the duchess and Rob, she finds comfort and ultimately what seems to be a likeness starting to form. Events unfold and the duchess shoots the duke to which she finds solace with her blackmailer and the journey to happiness and love begins.

I severely enjoyed this book. All in all, is a queer romance with heteronormative relationships throughout and the found family trope, along with the all-so-loving grumpyXsunshine trope. Rob and Marian had the best banter (that never left) and some of the sweetest, most tender moments between just their mutual attraction and infatuation with one another as well as talks of the past and the future. Their relationship just blossomed and of course, he fell first. Rob being an all-out in the open kind of guy regarding those he loves and cherishes, he couldn't hold back or hide his true feelings for Marian. And she showed them in her own ways.

To say the least, this was the perfect crimes of Marian Hayes with everything packaged up beautifully in the end.

Is it possible that I loved this one more than Kit Webb??? Somehow, I think it is. Marian was so intriguing during the previous book and she was just perfect as the star of her own book. I love when the grumpy/sunshine trope has a grumpy heroine, and Marian’s acerbic personality was delightful. Rob was just a very soft sweetheart and I loved him. Absolutely going on my keeper shelf. As a side note,
it is SO nice to see a M/F book that doesn’t involve vaginal penetrative sex. The enthusiastic consent and respect for boundaries in this book was top notch.

I received an advance copy of this book free in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

This book is, at its core, a queer romance. Common queer themes such as found family and shirking heteronormative relationship models prevail in this delightful sequel to the Queer Principles of Kit Webb. The original characters pop in enough to connect this book to the earlier canon, but Marian and Rob truly are the stars of this particular piece. Despite a dearth of activity in the plot itself, the pacing never felt slow, and the story kept me interested and engaged. It also cast a significantly different light on the events of the first book. Seeing more of who Rob is and what his perspective was made me feel like I got a fuller version of the original story, which is a nice touch in a sequel. In short, would recommend. Make sure you've read Queer Principles of Kit Webb first though, not that that's a chore by any means.

I absolutely loved The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian!

After shooting her husband in a robbery gone wrong, Marian, Duchess of Clare has to get out of London. But she knows that the roads aren’t safe for a woman to travel alone, especially a murderer everyone might be looking for. So she does the sensible thing and turns to the highwayman who’s been blackmailing her…and who she, hours before, left tied up in an inn. Rob Brooks has had many adventures in his life, some innocuous, some ending with him in prison. He believes himself to be like Robin Hood, stealing from those he deems to have too much and giving to those who don’t have enough. But when his mom reveals who his father is, Rob is left questioning everything he knows. To make the best of a bad situation, he blackmails Marian. Neither of them count on finding someone who truly understands them.

For a book with murder, this sure is fun and even lighthearted at points! I loved the dynamic between Marian and Rob. Their relationship develops so naturally and it is easy to see how they start falling for each other. From their letters back and forth to their first meeting in person, they have so much banter and it’s so fun to read. I also loved how well Sebastian wrote the relationship between Marian and Rob, and how respectful they both are of each other. While this is a M/F relationship, both main characters are bisexual and I loved how well they are written! It’s definitely a grumpy/sunshine book, but with the “typical” roles reversed. Marian keeps to herself and can be pretty irritable. Rob loves making friends with everyone he meets and rescuing kittens. But they balance each other so well!

I also love that they are morally grey characters (she has murdered her husband and he robs people…and maybe more) and the questions that this raised for me while I read.

Finally, I loved how well this book handled hard subjects. After Marian was in a previously abusive relationship, I really loved how respectful Rob was in not pushing her boundaries. I also loved how Sebastian explores motherhood and parent/child dynamics in general.

Overall, this book was a delight to read and I recommend checking it out when it comes out on June 7, 2022!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Reviewing an ARC of The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian from NetGalley (thank you!)
Note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted in whole or in part without explicit consent from the author.

I’ve been reading books on my Kindle for a few months now, and this is the first one that had such elegantly composed passages that I used the highlighter feature … and I read a lot of books, so that’s high praise.

This is the second book that takes place in the Queer Principles of Kit Webb (QPOKW) universe, and I am here for it. When an author builds out a set of compelling characters in a particular time and place, and that author writes well and is a good storyteller (and Cat Sebastian ticks all those boxes), I want to devour all the books that world has to offer so I can live there a little longer.

Main characters Marian and Rob build a connection first through letter writing, then cement their relationship by spending time traveling together. They’re both Robin Hood-esque people who value equity and disavow the unfair social structure of 18th century England. Though they each have secrets, they’re open with each other about having secrets, which spoke to me of the importance of building trust in a relationship before you spill everything.

I also liked the sex-positive tone of the characters and the fact that PIV sex wasn’t the end goal for this hetero-looking couple. Pleasure was celebrated but it wasn’t straightforward, and that was refreshing.

Highly recommend!

In Marian Hayes, Cat Sebastian does some things better than Kit Webb and some worse. The characters here are stronger and, for me at least, more compelling and relatable. The sex does a lot more character work than it tries to be purely sexy, which could be a pro or a con for you depending. The plot outside of Robb and Marian's relationship development is, unfortunately, messy and both too shallow and too broad. There are too many threads to Marian's conflict and it results in all of them getting not enough airtime and weak separate resolutions instead of one truly satisfying ending. Her abuse by the duke, her brother, the danger of pregnancy, her disconnect from her daughter, her father's landlord, etc. - none were adequately delved into because we were trying to delve into everything. Several could and should have been edited out. I enjoyed every second of reading this book but it was purely on the strength of the characters. In terms of plot, this book deserved at least one star knocked off, but it managed to be so compelling a romance regardless of its issues that I can't bear to give it anything less than 5 stars.

Cute and poignant at the same time. I didn't read the first book in the series before reading this one and was still grabbed by the story and characters! Can't wait for book number three!

This review has some spoilers for Queer Principals of Kit Webb, as the events in this book pick up during the last few chapters of the first. I strongly recommend reading these books in order. You won’t be disappointed by book one; Kit and Percy are charming! Luckily Marian’s book publishes 6/7/22, so you have time to go read Kit’s.

Marian Hayes, Duchess of Clare, has two problems: 1) someone has been blackmailing her for months claiming that her marriage to the Duke may not have been legitimate and 2) she’s just shot and murdered her husband. At least she’s able to catch the blackmailer - with whom she’s been corresponding for months and spying on for weeks - by poisoning his beer with laudanum and tying him to a bed. The blackmailer is none other than Rob Brooks, Kit Webb’s best friend and partner highwayman. When Marian returns from the incident in the carriage with the Duke, she intends to run away to escape prying society eyes for a few weeks. So she leaves, kidnapping Rob in the process. (Rob is an affable and willing abductee, as it’s clear very early on that he’s already falling for Marian.) Soon Marian finds herself relying on Rob as they plan a Robin Hood-esque heist.

There’s so much to love about Rob and Marian. Marian is sharp, witty, and determined like a lot of favorite historical heroines. But she’s also tired, worn out, and wary after an ordeal of a year. Her character depth continued to surprise me at every turn, making her one of the most satisfying heroines I’ve read in a long time. From his love of animals, to his unflagging support for his friends, to his open and trusting nature, and to his willingness to do what it takes to win Marian over, Rob is a complete and utter joy. While this romance is a MF pairing, both of our main characters are queer, and their sexuality is introduced as entirely unproblematic. Their chemistry and relationship building smolders throughout, and I couldn’t get enough of them on the page together. And there’s nothing sexier than a hero who respects the heroine's bodily autonomy.

Plus, heists! I love a good heist adventure, and it’s even better when the heroine is the one sneaking out of windows, lifting the silver, and taking the plans into her own hands.

This had everything I've come to expect in a Cat Sebastian book- lovable (if prickly) MCs, adorable banter, very little angst or stress, and lots of feels. As with the first book in this series, the plot was the weakest point for me, but if you head into the book knowing it's going to be heavy on feels and fluff and light on plot, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I did skim over some details from The Queer Principles of Kit Webb before beginning this one, just to refresh my memory about Rob and Marian and how the first book left things. I loved the letters back and forth between Rob and Marian, and their first meetings had such great chemistry. I could definitely understand what the MCs saw in one another, though Rob decided he was in love with Marian too quickly for me to really buy into it. He barely knew her at all at that point.

I love the way Cat Sebastian writes grumpy characters, she always gets them just right for me, and Marian was no exception. And I loved what a cinnamon roll Rob is. They made a great pair. The sex scenes were fairly low heat, but they had a dynamic which is nearly impossible to find in m/f romance- a somewhat dominant FMC and a submissive MMC. It was all very vanilla, but having an MMC who likes to be bossed around a bit in the bedroom and an FMC who likes to push him up against walls while praising him was such a refreshing change.

It was lovely to revisit characters from the first book, and to see everyone get their happy ending. Again, the plot could have been tighter and more believable, I'm still a bit fuzzy on some aspects. And still a bit squicked out by the family relations between Rob, Marian, and Marian's daughter. But I'm fine to overlook all of that, because it's fluffy and fun and I'm willing to suspend my disbelief and just go with it because it's such an enjoyable ride.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: murder, forced pregnancy, postpartum depression, parental abandonment, sick parent (alzheimer's), abusive relationship (past)

The second book in the series it can be read entirely as a standalone

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f historical romance
-frenemies to lovers
-only one bed
-found family
-be gay do crime
-epistolary
-rescue cat

While a bit heavier than I was expecting, I adored this book which was full of adventure and romance just like the first book in the series. Marian and Rob were opposites in a lot of ways but fit perfectly with each other. I adored Marian, strong, willing to do whatever she had to for her family. Not in control of her life before she needs it and I loved how that need for control lend itself to her interactions with Rob in the bedroom.

Rob, sweet chaotic man who fell for Marian immediately willing to take whatever she can give and just wanting her to feel good. How this book expresses their intimacy and needs through sex scenes was so well done, allowing the characters to say things they otherwise struggled to. They had everything working against them including their own fears and they fought through it all.

I love a world where everyone is queer and this fit that so well. I hope there will be more books in this series.

Steam: 3.5

3.5 stars, rounded up. I liked this book more than its predecessor, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, but because I read about Kit and Percy almost a year ago, I had forgotten many of the details and was more than a little confused about the backstory. But epistolary books (or books with epistolary features) are my catnip, and I loved the letters between Rob and Marian that demonstrate the attraction clearly growing between them, even though their correspondence is based on his attempt to blackmail her. After the climactic events of Kit Webb, Marian is on the run and Rob is with her (how much of their partnership is voluntary on Rob's part is subject to debate). Rob is an admitted criminal and also a cinnamon roll, and he admits quickly that he has fallen for Marian, who is a tougher nut to crack. She's prickly, unsentimental, and seemingly fearless. Given the differences in their backgrounds and the specifics of the current situation, there doesn't seem to be a future for them. But with the help of their friends and Rob's singular mother, their HEA is finally won.

Sebastian is best at throwing characters together and watching them spark, with a loose plot that is mostly window dressing. I give her credit for truly making Marian "different from those other girls" in that she is unable to have P-in-V intercourse due to health risks, and she is a new mother who isn't maternal in the traditional sense. I liked the bantering between Marian and Rob, and his steadfast loyalty and support is endearing. There's a strong "eat the rich" and "fuck the patriarchy" tone to the book, and if you're not comfortable with characters who intend to merrily continue their version of redistribution of wealth, you're in the wrong place.

The book does run a little to long, and I felt a little lost through large chunks of it, which slightly diminished my enjoyment. My suggestion is to read Kit Webb and this book back-to-back, so you catch enough glimpses of Rob and Marian in the first book to feel fully engaged with them in the second.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

Marian, Duchess of Claire, has just shot her husband and the only help she has to escape is from Rob, who is blackmailing her.

Despite some of its darker elements, this was a fun book. Rob is absurd and hilarious. Marian is a bit prickly but is very loyal to those she cares for. I like the characters are bisexual, but it's not a big deal, that Marian's stepson is gay, but it's not a big deal. I also like that the author allows Marian to be detached emotionally from her baby daughter (not every mother is thrilled to become one, despite popular culture's portrayals).

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

I picked up this book solely based off of cover art and the summary description. I was surprised to learned that this book was the second book in a series. So it was no surprise to me when I was little bit confused in the beginning trying to keep up with the characters and relationships. However, once I got passed that, like 30% in, this book got good and I was able to follow along better. I absolutely loved the characters, Rob and Marian were great! Their chemistry was adorable and I enjoyed reading how they fell in love. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves historical romance!

This story grabs you right away, and Cat Sebastian has a unique and entertaining way of introducing you to the main couple. I'd highly recommend reading The Queer Principles of Kit Webb first though.

Cat Sebastian delivers such fun historical romances. Really enjoyed the dynamic in this. It is a quick and easy read as well.

I absolutely adored The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes! I loved the first book in the series and definitely recommend reading The Queer Principles of Kit Webb first to fully enjoy this book.
I loved the banter in this book! I love how sarcastic Marian is!! Cat Sebastian does a wonder job pulling a reader into the surrounding of the book.

I adore historical fiction, and this is such an interesting premise. I recommend because of the story itself, writing style, and its ability to transport you into a different world/time period.

This was cute! I wasn’t aware that this was the second in a series, the first involving Kit Webb. I think perhaps I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first as I was a bit lost without having read the first. However, I loved the chemistry between Rob and Marian. I also enjoyed the spin on the trope of grumpy/sunshine with Rob being the sunshine.

I just gobbled up an ARC of The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian and it was like golden retriever sunshine formed a double helix with perfectly arched eyebrows of witty rejoinders. I'm obsessed with Rob and Marian and their letters, chemistry, end encompassing love. A++++++

Love a historical road trip? Banter? Add in good natured criminals and crimes for the “right” reasons? Then Cat Sebastian’s The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is the perfect steamy historical read. I loved every minute of it, and would happily spend more time with these characters if I could.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rob and Marian meet when Rob begins blackmailing Marian. The initial letters between the two are a hilarious way of updating the reader on the important points of the story from the previous book in the series, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb. Essential backstory has never been so entertaining. (That said, I highly recommend reading The Queer Principles of Kit Webb first. Not only is it another fantastic story, but some of the timeline overlaps with this book, and it makes it easier to grasp the engaging plot.)

They finally meet in person when Marian kidnaps Rob. Her goal is to keep him from interfering in her friend/stepson Percy’s heist of his father the Duke’s carriage, not knowing that Rob has been roped into helping his friend Kit with the scheme. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned. Naturally, the next step is for the two to road-trip across wintery England. High jinx, banter, and the appearance of only one bed ensues.

I’m having a hard time expressing just how much joy this book gave me. The humor is lighthearted, even in the most serious situations. The characters are strong and likable, even when (especially when?) they don’t conform to the strict standards of the 1750s. While the main characters in this book are MF, in true Cat Sebastian fashion they both identify as bisexual.

Rob sums up Marian’s character best when he realizes “What a trick it was to be able to say I beg your pardon in a way that meant f*** off and die, and to look serene and saintly while saying it.” Marian is in the unenviable position of having to care for and protect her family while being forced into the the very narrow box of an upper crust lady. Rob can see through her tough exterior, and loves her because of it, not in spite of it.

This book was amazing. It pulled me out of a reading slump and transported me into the midst of a great adventure. The twists and turns, and banter kept me entertained, but it’s the characters that have ensured The Crimes of Marian Hayes holds a special place in my heart.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.