Review to appear July 20 on Smexy Books:

Jess Everlee follows up her debut novel The Gentleman's Book of Vices with the second in the Lucky Lovers of London series, A Rulebook for Restless Rogues. It takes up two of the more interesting side-characters in the first book, David Forester, the manager of the queer club “The Curious Fox,” and his schoolboy compatriot, Noah Clarke, who frequently appears in the club as Miss Penelope. It takes a little while to layout their personal histories, in chapters that alternate between teenage days in boarding school and the present in the novel. I suppose what we have in this romance is a friends-to-lovers-to-friends-to-lovers trope. It takes a bit of a nudge from their friends, as well as an outside threat to bring them together. It’s quite lovely when it happens. I loved the way Everlee wrote these moments of re-discovery. But even though we know David has been pining for Noah for a long time, Noah’s realization that he’s in love with David seems sudden and less motivated.

The outside threat that the two men face is that the owner of “The Curious Fox,” Lord Belleville, is using a pending police raid on the club as an excuse to consider shutting the place down and selling it. He tells David that if he wishes to plan for a more profitable future for the club, he must come out to his country house to discuss it, with a plausible wife in tow. We understand by this point that for David the club is everything – not just a job, but a family of people he must protect from the threats and hostility that gay men encountered in London at the time. Lord Belleville initially comes across as a caricature of a villain, and he only gets worse as the book progresses. When everything comes to a head, the resolution is underwhelming in an “out of nowhere” kind of way.

There were a few things that I felt were missing from the close third person view we get of Noah and David. David doesn’t want to talk very much about Lord Belleville, but since we could see his thoughts, I felt like we should have been privy to more. Similarly, Noah dressed like Miss Penelope at a time when that could have only multiplied his risk. We see what being a tailor meant to him: the cloth, and the designs, and his attitude towards his Penelope dresses seems to echo his interest in male clothes. Was that what he got out dressing as Penelope, or was it something else?

In this series, Everlee has created an ensemble of characters that were a delight to re-encounter in the 2nd book. Charlie and Miles from the first book appear several times, as well as Miss Jo and Miss Annabelle. But my money is on Warren the bartender for book 3!



Grade: B
Amazon * Goodreads

I enjoyed Jess Everlee's A Rulebook for Restless Rogues. I think she has a solid series started between this and her earlier book (which I also read on NetGalley and recommended to friends). Everlee has a certain lightness to her writing and she excels at resolving plots in the last moments of the book. I think this book fills a much neglected space in the romance genre. For men and women who are interested in a gay historical romance (without death at the end), this certainly fits the bill.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy.

Queer hisfic was my favorite one and Everlee wrote one of the best queer hisfic so far. I loved how David and Noah yearning for each other. The book was romantic enough and I loved that.

David Forester cares about two things in this world. The first is The Curious Fox, a queer gentleman’s club that he runs with a care and devotion that is so tender.

The second is Noah Clarke. David and Noah have been best friends since David rescued Noah from a school bully, and they are as fiercely devoted to one another now as they were then. They’re both obviously madly in love with each other and refuse to admit in out of fear that it will ruin the most important relationship in their lives.When The Curious Fox is threatened with a raid and everything that David has worked so hard to protect is threatened, he has to make tough decisions about how much he’ll risk to protect it, and Noah has to decide just how far he’ll follow the man he’s spent most of his life loving.

Despite a very intriguing plot set up, most of this book focuses primarily on the relationship between David and Noah rather than the crisis of The Curious Fox. Part of me wanted more to happen, but part of me was perfectly content in the cozy little bubble of queer love and joy.

things I loved: oblivious idiots in love, queer community, drag in a historical romance

things I wanted more of: as someone who loves “The Birdcage” (1996), I firmly believe that if you are going to dangle the possibility of a fake marriage with one of the heroes posing in drag, you should fully commit and make it a major plot point with all the hijinks that entails. Once the possibility was brought up early in the story, I kept waiting for it to pan out and was so excited for it, and then it just....never did. I still had a good time, but I was disappointed that that exciting plot point didn't pan out.

This was a sweet romance that felt historically accurate. The romance between David and Noah was charming, and their easy flirty friendship was a joy to read. A nice sprinkling of spice throughout. A solid 3.5 for me, an enjoyable weekend read.

A RULEBOOK FOR RESTLESS ROGUES, Jess Everlee's second novel, is a quieter story about two BFFs who finally admit they're in love, and it never sparkled for me the way her first book did. While I can appreciate how Everlee disrupts some of the expectations readers have for the friends-to-lovers trajectory, I felt like the plot kept destroying its own momentum and the emotional payoff was too understated to compensate for the lack of dramatic tension. Whenever I began to click with it, it pivoted and delivered something far less engaging than I anticipated.

Which, I'll note, is a highly subjective response that seems to put me in a small minority. The other NetGalley reviews are a 5-star gushfest about everything Everlee does with these characters and their story; further proof, if anyone needed it, that none of us ever reads the same book as all the rest. This was a 3-star read for me (ie, something I rather liked but had big issues with). You might love it to the core of your being.

A Rulebook for Restless Rogues explores themes of self-acceptance, personal growth, and the power of embracing one's true desires. The novel challenges societal norms and expectations, urging readers to question conventions and follow their hearts. Everlee's lighthearted and uplifting exploration of these themes encourages readers to embrace their own restless spirit and find the courage to pursue their dreams.

At the heart of the story are endearing and relatable characters who embark on a journey of self-discovery and love. The protagonist's quest for liberation from societal expectations and the pursuit of personal happiness is both relatable and inspiring. The supporting cast of characters, each with their own quirks and charm, adds layers of humor and complexity to the narrative, creating a delightful ensemble.

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

3.5 stars if I could.

I can't tell if I loved this or not, hence the ambivalent rating. There were absolutely elements that I loved but the ones I disliked were enough to bring things down.

Positives:

This is a lovely, intricate proposal of what queer life was like in England in the late 1800s. I've never seen all these elements at play before. All manner of sexual orientation is represented but there's also period-appropriate trans representation and a healthy appreciation for drag. It's a delight to read in this day and age.

Watching Noah and David come into their own was heartwarming, not only in terms of their relationship but in all other facets of their lives. I particularly loved reading about Noah and his family.

The ending is more realistic than most queer historical romances offer. Everlee beautifully weaves together uncertainty and hope. It made me smile to read it.

Negatives:

The pacing is terrible, mostly because the more mysterious elements of the plot lead you towards a path that you should be on much sooner if this were actually more of a mystery. Instead, that whole part of the plot ends up being rather convenient. It came across as a little lazy. I understand it was integral to David's backstory but that's really the only purpose it served.

Noah and David hovered on the precipice of becoming truly great characters without ever achieving it. They needed just a touch more depth and emotional connection with the reader and it would've been brilliant.

The ending was all too convenient and rushed when compared with the pacing of everything else.

Note: this is part of a series but can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you to Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for the ARC of Restless Rogues via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I’ll first cop to the admission that I haven’t read The Gentlemen's Book of Vices (though it is certainly on my list now), and while common decency suggests reading books in order, this one more or less lives independently and thus I did not have difficulty following along. I shall endeavor to correct this misstep soon!

A Rulebook for Restless Rogues follows David Forester and Noah Clarke, friends since they were schoolboys, and now men living in London in 1885 and trying to live their authentic lives. I am obsessed with telling queer stories set in history - a much needed reminder that we’ve always been here (and always will be). David and Noah have something unspoken between them, a comforting familiarity that should be romance but instead has settled reluctantly into close friendship. David is the proprietor of the Curious Fox, a queer club, and Noah is a tailor who moonlights as Miss Penelope Primrose. As the livelihood of the Curious Fox comes under threat, the two must hatch a plan to save their sanctuary, and perhaps each other in the process.

Sometimes you just want to feel good - and Restless Rogues is just that. Something sweet, with just enough emotional punch to keep us latched onto David and Noah and their will they-won’t they dynamic. David in particular stands out to me, a protagonist who is filled with shame and bravery, able to fight to the end for others and hardly take care of his own needs. He’s a bleeding heart, searching for family and belonging, creating something for others he never had for himself. I highly recommend A Rulebook for Restless Rogues… now off to do some reading.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hard copy. All opinions provided are my own.

Not only does A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee have a great alliterative title, it’s also a nuanced & loving & steamy story of best friends (who have been oblivious about their deeper feelings for years, so good ) turned lovers.

David Forester and Noah Clarke were best friends at school who have since dropped any physical entanglements & remain BFFs.

But when tavern proprietor David’s business/refuge he offers for LGBTQIA people is facing a raid & permanent closure, David & Noah are brought together in ways they hadn’t anticipated.

Everlee’s settings & characters are always so intriguing. The Curious Fox—the tavern David manages—is more than just a place where a person can get a drink, it’s a place where LGBTQIA people can relax, have fun, dress & act in ways outside society doesn’t allow, and seek pleasure.

It’s also a bit of a burden on David, this protective role he’s taken on, & Everlee explores that well, in addition to how Noah’s own seemingly very supportive family hasn’t always been/isn’t always totally supportive.

The story, the characters, & the relationship all feel thoughtfully developed, & Noah’s gesture at the end brought me so much joy.

If you’re looking for queer historical romance, definitely check out this author!

4.5⭐️. Out 07/11.

CWs: threat of violence, emotional manipulation, reference to past insurance fraud that David’s father perpetrated & that led to people dying.

[ID: a copy of the book sits on a distressed antique mantle. In the background is a wall of white brick.]

With thanks to Net gallery for free access to a review copy of the book it exchange for an honest review

This is the second book in the series and I have not read the first, I was able to understand and follow the story having not read the first book.

The story takes place in the late 1800s, in London. David runs a Molly (queer) bar, his best friend, Noah, works as a tailor and dresses in drag.

The story starts in Noah and David's school days.The two characters are interesting, well written and super engaging. The language and style used for the flashback chapters is different to the present day chapters, I really like that detail. The chapters also change Pov, the author managed to successfully write in a different style for David's and Noah's Pov. The story is gripping and a real page turner.

The writing style is modern and easy to read but there are historic details included, which can sometimes be lacking in historic fiction. I enjoyed the detail of different Christian denominations, and found the portrail to be accurate. My only complaint in this matter is the use of the word 'snogging' which I found odd. I love the care which the author has taken in building the setting and it is generally well done (minus the use of the word snogging).

★★★★.5 / 5

Going into this knowing who the main characters were, and wondering if there was enough to write an entire novel about them, I really thought that A Rulebook for Restless Rogues wouldn't live up to The Gentleman's Book of Vices. Boy, was I wrong. It not only exceeded my expectations, I actually enjoyed this even more than Gentleman's Book.

My Thoughts ⤐
I really enjoyed Noah/Penelope in book one, and seeing so much more of him and David in this was a treat. Everlee includes past snippets of them falling for each other at school in tandem with present day, as they fumble and bumble around their blatant desire for each other, and it was so sweet. Friends-to-lovers is always a favorite trope, however second chance lovers tends to be a trope I avoid - but I thoroughly enjoyed their dynamic here.

I think Jess Everlee is on her way to becoming an auto-buy author for me: her writing is so compelling and I fall in love with her characters, both protagonists and side characters alike. In Rulebook, the dialogue is so satisfying. So many romance books I'm left wanting when it comes to dialogue, many authors seem to avoid putting the love interests together for too long, and I don't get enough time to properly get to know who they are and what they want. This is not the case at all with Everlee; the way the characters interact with each other feels so real, each scene plays out vividly, I can picture and feel their emotions without it feeling too heavy handed.

I think some people might find this slow or lacking in plot, but I loved it. A slow burn, historical, friends-to-lovers is my bread and butter! I can't wait to read more from this author, and I'd be interested in more books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are unbiased and are my own.

This was another cute early foray for me into LGBTQ2+ historical romance and I loved it!

Noah and David shine in this friends to lovers romance laced with business and espionage (and a touch of fashion!). This world (author, characters etc) is new to me but I loved it and would read more from this author.

Everlee communicates some very real, authentic fears for their characters in a way that really spoke to me and I think it's been very well done.

Step back in time to the enchanting streets of London in 1885, where Jess Everlee's "A Rulebook for Restless Rogues" transports you into a world of friendship, secrets, and burgeoning love. This captivating Victorian romance weaves a tale of two best friends, David Forester and Noah Clarke, whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways, leading them on a journey of self-discovery and forbidden passion.

David, the former socialite turned proprietor of The Curious Fox, an underground queer club, finds solace in creating a sanctuary for those seeking acceptance and love. But when the unscrupulous baron threatens to shut down the club, David's carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Enter Noah, the clever and eccentric young tailor of Savile Row, who is not only David's closest friend but also harbors deeper feelings for him.

As Noah risks everything to help David, he uncovers startling truths about his friend's past and realizes that his own emotions go beyond mere friendship. With their futures hanging in the balance, Noah and David navigate a web of deception, discovering the true nature of their connection as they yearn for a future filled with love and acceptance.

Everlee captures the essence of the Victorian era, immersing readers in the richly detailed streets of London. The historical backdrop is meticulously researched, and Everlee's vivid descriptions bring the setting to life, from the bustling Savile Row to the hidden corners of The Curious Fox. The attention to detail enhances the authenticity of the story, creating an immersive reading experience.

At the heart of this novel are the characters of David and Noah - Each with their own complexities and vulnerabilities. David's journey of self-discovery and the weight of his secrets are expertly portrayed, eliciting both empathy and admiration. Noah's unwavering loyalty and the blossoming of his romantic feelings for David add layers of emotion and intensity to the narrative. Their chemistry is palpable, and you will find yourself rooting for their happiness.

"A Rulebook for Restless Rogues" goes beyond the surface of romance and tackles themes of identity, acceptance, and the courage to embrace one's true self. Through the lens of a society where love between men is deemed forbidden, Everlee explores the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love to overcome societal constraints.

The pacing of the story is well-balanced, blending moments of tenderness and passion with the tension of external threats and internal conflicts. The writing style is elegant and evocative that transported me to a bygone era while delivering a heartfelt and poignant love story.

Everlee's meticulous attention to historical detail, complex characters, and a forbidden love that defies societal norms make this novel a delightful and emotionally resonant read. Fans of historical romance will find themselves enthralled by this enchanting tale of friendship, secrets, and the power of love in the face of adversity.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a book filled with cute, but a little bit "confused" characters. Well... wouldn't you be, if you'd just discovered how you're really feeling towards one of your best friends? Even though you already had some awkward make-out sessions with them in the past? Oh, and you have to find a way to save your secret not-so-legal gay club? And this while navigating your feelings. Oh and Miss Penelope is just amazing.

A charming and cozy historical romance, A Rulebook for Restless Rogues is Jess Everlee's sophomore novel following The Gentleman's Book of Vices. The novel itself is quite well written and the intense chemistry between friends to lovers Noah and David makes up for the slight issues with pacing that I found towards the end of the novel. If you're looking for something cozy and low stakes to read, I cannot recommend this book enough!

Noah, tailor by day and glamourous Ms. Penelope by night, has known David, the proprietor of the underground queer club The Curious Fox, since their early school days. Though both harbor feelings for the other circumstances (both personal and societal) have kept them from indulging in anything beyond being very-best-friends-with-occasional-benefits, but when the owner of the fox, the dubious and dangerous Lord Belleville, threatens to shutter the place under mysterious circumstances Noah and David are forced to work together to save the place.

If you're looking for an excruciating slow burn of a romance I'll be up front -- this books isn't for you. David and Noah get together far more quickly than that, but the speed of their romance is truly part of the charm of the book. There are other obstacles for them to overcome -- like the closing of the fox, David's past with Lord Belleville, and the laws of the time period. My only real issue with the novel was the pacing. The plot initially revolves mostly around the closing of the club and Belleville's demand that David join him at his country estate with a new wife to remove any suspicions as to the nature of their relationship. That plot, however, falls to the side and somewhat tapers into nothing as the focus shifts to David and Noah's strengthening relationship. I found the actual problems that David was facing were wrapped up a bit too neatly towards the end, but I think that makes it a perfect cozy read. It's low-stakes and high romance and overall I found the novel extremely enjoyable! I look forward to reading more from Jess Everlee soon.

If you loved Jess Everlee's first book in this series then you are bound to love this one as well. I liked how this book delved into the lives and relationships of other characters from the bar. I had found the story of Noah and David very compelling. They had both known each other since boarding school and now they are dealing with the feelings they felt and brushed off, when they were young as grown men.

This is a charming best friends to lovers romance set in London in the late 1800s. We follow David, an underground club proprietor, who has gotten himself mixed up in trouble involving the club owner and Noah, a Savile Row tailor, his childhood best friend who would do anything to help. Our characters are lovable and we love them together. Their flaws are believable, understandable, and compelling, especially set over a backdrop of absolutely wonderful childhood flashbacks. Where this novel gives up a bit is in plot details and resolution. There is complexity hinted at with our villain throughout the narrative that is never quite explained fully and remains obfuscated, even to the end. In every other way, resolution drops wholesale from the sky. It is a fun and emotionally pleasing ending, but difficult to parse. All at once there's something new, what we thought we cared about drops away, and everything is fine. We love an HEA, but this one is whiplash inducing.

Well, this was lovely!
I've been very curious about Noah and David's relationship since the very first time they appeared. "A Rulebook for Restless Rogues" was sweet and slightly angsty, lightly steamy ans absolutely endearing, and surprising in some ways. Its two leads were wonderful and their romance was absolutely lovely: oblivious, pining best friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, especially when it's paired with a side of angst and second-chance romance.

So why three stars?
Some things didn't work for me, obviously. I just don't know which ones or why, exactly; and the same thing happened with it's predecessor.
I would have usually loved something like this to bits, but maybe my brain just doesn't function properly these days; maybe it was too long and the writing style was too much? Or maybe I should give up on this series but ugh, the characters and the found family vibes are always impeccable.
Because wow, once again I found myself absolutely intrigued by all the side characters: I'm desperate for a novel about Warren, and one about Shaw, and maybe something about Annabelle too. But I probably should give up on this series because I know I'll end up skimming those as well: I'm furious with myself!!!
I don't understand why I couldn't enjoy this novel fully, and I why I ended up getting a biiiiit bored with it and skimming when everything about it usually works so well for me. Ugh.

So yeah, I think this is very much a "me" issue: if you're a fan of friends-to-lovers, historicals and precious and ridiculously endearing queer found families you'll probably love this. I wish I'd loved it more, but maybe I chose to read this book at the very wrong time. Anyway, there were definitely some positives and I loved seeing Noah and David (David especially! He was my absolute favourite, and I went feral over him many many times) finally reach their HEA.

There's one last thing I want to point out though: Noah uses a lot of Italian words and phrases here, and while most of them were correct, quite a few of his most recurring ones had glaring grammatical errors: "perfetta" instead of "perfetto", "la" used instead of "il" and others that just made me cringe a bit, especially considering the fact that Noah has, supposedly, spent a few years in Italy and his fluency is remarked upon quite a bit.
I hope they'll be fixed in the final copy of this book.

I. Loved. This. Book.

Told with flashbacks and dual perspectives, A Rulebook for Restless Rogues explores themes of gender and sexuality through the friends-to-lovers story of David and Noah, two of my favorite minor characters from Everlee's previous novel, The Gentleman's Book of Vices. For me, the key to success with this trope is a believable and unassailable friendship, and this narrative definitely delivers in that regard. The plot and character development were so well paced; they definitely leant believability to the depth of the MCs' longstanding best-friendship and quiet, mutual pining. I loved watching Noah's growth into a man who could finally articulate his needs, and David's into a man vulnerable enough to step out of the 'protector' role long enough to allow himself some protection.

After such a positive reading experience with her first two titles, I am excited to read more from Jess Everlee. I love the historical period she is currently highlighting, and I deeply appreciate how she consistently indicates the danger her queer characters are in without ever letting that danger tip the novel out of the romance genre. That seems a razor's edge to balance upon, and Everlee manages it flawlessly.