Very cute. Could’ve done for some more obvious pining before loving each other, but I enjoyed it just the same. Things making sense when he takes off his shirt? *nods in understanding*

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC e-copy of Trouble by Lex Croucher.

Have you ever watched The Sound of Music and wondered how hilarious it would have been if Maria was, well… the worst?

Her governess sister, Amy, sick and indisposed, Emily Laurence goes in her place to Fairmont House, home of Captain Edwards and his two teenage children. Emily has no intention of staying very long—in fact, she plans to stay only long enough to nick enough expensive-looking trinkets to pay for her sister’s care. But, of course, despite Emily’s every terrible intention, things do not go as planned…

This book—with an opening plot device somewhat vaguely similar to School of Rock… is it just me?—is both funny and touching. The touching part surprised me, but this story, full of quirky and lovable characters who can’t help but say every thought that’s on their mind, was very enjoyable.

I have had Reputation and Infamous on my shelf for a while, but I haven’t yet had the opportunity to read them. Now I know that when I do, I’m sure I’m in for another hilarious and charming regency romp. I can’t wait.


☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - GREAT

Lex Croucher's books are always brilliantly funny and unique! Their third Regency romance -- a retelling of The Sound of Music with a fake governess who hates children -- is an absolute joy. I'll genuinely read whatever they write next!

I could not get into this book. The main character Emily lied, stole and was so bitter and this was in the first 5 chapters. Yes her sister is sick but still she is jealous of another sick child. Seriously the pettiness was a bit too much.

The side characters were worth rooting foe and that just about summed it for me.

A very slow slog of a book..

LOVED the inclusivity in this book the representation for disability in here! but sometimes it feels like when authors incorporate so many different types of people it feels like thats all the book is about and that was kind of how i felt about this one. So i did love that she was trying to include and make everyone feel heard and loved but i personally felt like there could have been a little bit more focus on the plot. I am excited to see what Lex has to offer in the future though because i loved her writing style and see myself trying more of her books!

This might be Lex Croucher’s swooniest romance yet. Probably because FMC Emily is hands down the grumpiest grump in the history of grumpy grumps. It makes her road to love all the more satisfying. Her grumpiness also causes some truly hilarious thoughts and actions.

I received a copy of this book from SMP.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. It was so charming and hilarious. There was a lot of ridiculous lines that made me laugh and the romance was a slow build that was very much worth the wait. I also loved the all representation in this book, specifically the focus on the disability reps! But most of all, I loved Emily. She was so surly I loved it.

I think this is my favorite by Lex Croucher and I can't wait for the next book!

4.5! such a cute romance where the romance isn't the main factor (there was more of a connection focused on between our protag and Grace+Aster (the captain's kids). i loved their connection when it got started though, and it was so casually queernormative that was great!

I love Lex Croucher's historical, lgbtq+ inclusive romances.

Our heroine in Trouble is a Emily, a salty, prickly woman who assumes the role of her sweet, mild-tempered sister in order to secure her new governess job while she recuperates from an illness. Over time, Emily learns that you don't have to be a people-pleaser for people to appreciate you and that trying to emulate her sister isn't fooling anyone. Emily's desire to just keep the gig as long as she can then run with stolen items seems inconsistent with her goal to keep the position available for her sister to take on as soon as she is better.

Is this an m/f romance and includes children (two of my least favourite things to read about)? Well yes, but it’s Alex Croucher so of course I had to read it!
It’s actually very queer and the children are teenagers, so it was all more bearable than I thought.
Emily’s sister Amy has fallen sick and doesn’t seem to be able to shake it off. So in order to not loose her new job and the money she earns as a governess and to maybe get more money in from the rich peoples house, Emily jumps in and pretends to be her sister. Only she never worked with children before.
Lex Crouxher has a way of writing imperfect, unlikable characters, but still making you understand their motives and where they’re coming from so you can’t help yourself but love them no matter what.
I completely understood Emily’s behaviour and her actions, she is poor and afraid for her sister, angry about her circumstances. I really love that Lex Croucher includes the difference in class and society in a lot of their books and this one’s main focus was on it. I loved to see the house staff, it reminded me of watching Downton Abbey (one of my absolute favourite shows) and how everyone in the house acts so differently to what they’re expected to.
It was fun to experience Emily slowly starting to like them all and become part of the family.
I honestly have to say I didn’t feel the romance in this a lot. They had too few interactions and conversations for me to actually even ship them or to feel them falling in love. It was much more focussed on the interaction with the children in my opinion.
The ending was a little too over the top dramatic for me and I wish Emily would have just spoken out about her doings earlier, because it really wasn’t an unsolvable problem.
All in all this was fun, but not my favourite Lex Croucher.

This book is everything you love best about the timeless classics, but with all the characters in refreshingly modern and realistic portrayals. If you find Jane Austen, Sound of Music, historical fiction, 90s rom-coms to be your happy place and comfort favorites, but want to see it play out in a more relevant and accessible and inclusive way, this story is the answer. It's a really fun read with snarky, cute, and funny characters, perfect to recommend and gift for all your loved ones that need a smile on their face.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book a lot. As I have seen other people say, it did remind me a little of The Sound of Music, but with a twist. Bits and pieces of other regency novels also came to mind. The story had intrigue, drama, comedy, and romance. I found the queer parts of the story gave it a little something extra.
In all it was a great book that kept my interest.

I was unable to finish this book. It did not hook my attention unfortunately. I loved Gwen and Art are not in love, but sadly this didn’t give me the same vibe.

I loved this one! It was the perfect mix of snark and heart. Grace is such a spitfire of a kid, she was my favorite side character.

All hail Lex Croucher!

This is the third historical-ish rom-com from her—and the third I've read—and they somehow keep getting better and better. This is definitely my favourite so far. There's an excellent Marie and Captain Von Trapp dynamic between the main character and the love interest and I loved every minute of it. Between the characters and the plot, it is entirely too amusing and swoony and I need Croucher to write a hundred more of these.

A delicious queer histrom that was impossible to put down. As always, Lex Croucher writes with wit, heat, and heart. Aa new favorite

This is my third encounter with Lex Croucher’s work and is my favorite of them all. Trouble is a romance like few others. It is well-written and all the characters are fleshed out and nicely developed. The witty banter and dialogue isn’t just saved for the MC, something I deeply appreciate. The romance developed beautifully and organically. There were dozen of lines that I openly laughed at.

Trouble also featured excellent reputation that didn’t feel forced. The pacing was well done. Truly, I have not a single complaint about Trouble and I’d highlight recommend it to romance readers.

It’s a 5/5 for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a wonderfully fun story! A cute little historical romance with some fun twists built in. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this one a bit early. I devoured this one in nearly a single sitting. All the characters are interesting and given their chances to shine and feel fully real. All adding to the comfy lower stakes vibe of this book. A bit of a slow burn for Emily and the Captain, but also so much real family love and growth and dealing with grief. Some great found family aspects thrown in as well. Emily has a lot of personal growing she needs to get through in this story. And learns so much from the family she finds around her. The queer characters in this story also find so much love and support. Elevating the comforting vibe of the book for me. Recommend to any and all readers of sweet and comfy historical romances.

This was so fun! Lex Croucher knows how to put a well balanced and hilarious cast of characters together. The conversations were quick and hilarious. The relationship growth between Emily and the children, the staff, and Captain Edwards built beautifully and believably. I loved this one and can’t wait to buy a physical copy to reread after the pub date!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Trouble by Lex Croucher is book 3 of a regency era series that are connected to the same universe but each read as a standalone. In Trouble, sticky-fingered budding con artist Emily takes a position as a governess under the guise of her sister Amy who was hired for the position. Amy has fallen ill, and the house is in desperate straits, so Emily has little choice but to pass herself off as her sister, which is complicated by her inexperience as a governess, her dislike of children, and her attitudes toward the class of people who have hired her. Fortunately, her expectations are upended almost immediately by a household that is abnormal for the times, but very normal in a Lex Croucher book--that is: Everyone is a complete mess, and nobody follows any kind of protocol. Still, Emily persists in her prejudices, setting up comic situations of misunderstanding and surprising revelations.

I loved the ways in which the various characters come together with their "flaws" on display, and yet it is because of their grumpiness or distance or inability to communicate that they somehow bring out in each other exactly what they each need to grow and begin to heal. Also, the characters were given room for big emotions - anger and argument - but then also forgiveness and acceptance. There were a lot of threads, both the relationships Emily had with the kids and the captain and the side characters' storylines, that echoed this message of open-armed found family, and it's just nice to know that despite a lot of angst, these characters are going to land on their feet, and love will prevail. I didn't know how Croucher was going to pull it out in the end, and that's half the reason this whole series is so compelling.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC.