Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a charming and delightful historical romance that expertly combines sharp wit, sizzling chemistry, and an unlikely love story that is both heartwarming and full of surprises.

The novel follows our heroine, the quick-witted and independent Lady Isabella, who has a reputation for speaking her mind—something that doesn’t sit well with society’s expectations of young women in Regency England. Enter the infamous Duke of Wexley, a man known for his brooding demeanor, scandalous past, and a reputation that matches Lady Isabella’s in terms of defying propriety. Their initial meeting is filled with tension, misunderstandings, and playful jabs—setting the stage for a romance that promises to be anything but conventional.

Vasti’s writing shines with its balance of humor and deeper emotional exploration. Lady Isabella’s feistiness and determination make her an unforgettable heroine who refuses to be boxed into societal norms. The Duke of Wexley, though an undeniably flawed and brooding figure, is unexpectedly endearing, and the dynamic between the two is wonderfully electric. Their slow-burn romance is a masterclass in developing tension, and the witty repartee between them is as engaging as it is entertaining.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its exploration of identity and transformation. Both Isabella and Wexley must confront their pasts and the facades they’ve built in order to find true happiness. As they navigate their feelings for one another, they also embark on personal journeys of growth, proving that love, in its truest form, is about embracing vulnerability and accepting one another for who they truly are.

Ne’er Duke Well is a refreshing take on the Regency romance genre. With its strong, smart heroine, a dashing yet vulnerable hero, and plenty of twists and turns, it’s a delightful read that will have readers laughing, sighing, and rooting for this unlikely couple until the very end.

Alexandra Vasti has done it again! I've been following her the Halifax Hellions series and was so happy to see this new book. Funny, romantic, and incredibly spicy. Highly recommend!

This was so swoony and fun! The steam and spice were unexpected and too tier. Chef’s kiss all around!

I don't usually read regency romance so this book was a little outside of the norm for me and I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed it! Llight and fun with charm for days, this entertaining read managed to somehow feel contemporary.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Fun and funny and absolutely charming.
Perfect for Bridgerton fans, thought personally I enjoyed this book and author way more. Immediately bought the physical copy once it was available and reread it.
Selina and Peter have such great chemistry and more importantly the banter was immaculate.
The fact that this is a debut for the author is staggering, can’t wait to see what else Alexandra Vasti has in store.

I love Alexandra Vasti’s books! This was no exception. I liked the refreshing spin on the idea of becoming respectable and this is absolutely a book I would buy and reread.

A regency romance that didn’t feel old-timey at all, it was a lighthearted, refreshing read! I appreciated the moderness of the intimate scenes that were spicy and steamy— all the while keeping with the authentic regency era. I loved the freshness and humor from the writing style too. Selina helps Peter, the newly minted Duke of Stanhope, on his quest to find a wife, but instead tries to not fall for him herself. The romantic plot was fast paced and enjoyable, and I’m looking forward to coming back to this world in future books.

Woah, this was my first Alexandra Vasti but I immediately need more of her work and I need it ASAP.

Peter Kent yearns to have guardianship of his half siblings. The only issue is that society looks down on him because a) his views on politics are things the ton would have to fan themselves over and b) sheep.. Luckily, an acquaintance he hasn't heard or seen from in two years has a solution: he needs to marry. He thinks Selina is bright to have this idea and agrees to date some matches she's set up. But as time goes on, he can't help the thoughts swirling in his head about the matchmaker herself.

Selina is someone everyone in society wants to be seen with. Yet, she's carrying a heavy secret: she's the secret leader of putting out erotic literature. She agrees to help Peter with getting guardianship of his siblings through matchmaking. But what happens when the matchmaker herself gets stuck in "wet" situations that make her admit her feelings for the man himself?

Ne'er Duke Well is a book that had me laughing, blushing and flipping the pages as I was IMMEDIATELY in love with both Peter and Selina's storylines. Those who love Bridgerton, especially Lady Whistledown, will ADORE this book and root for these two friends to kiss in the carriage. It's spicy, it's delightful, it's the first of what I'm sure will be a delightful series.

This was such a fun historical romp! I loved the Belvoir's Library part of the storyline - of course the FMC is fun and feisty with a strong compass toward doing right and trying to make life better for women in general during the time period in which the story is set.

I love a storyline when the FMC is trying to match the MMC with other women and ends up realizing that she's perfect for him herself. I don't know exactly what trope that is - but it works really well in this story. There's some fun banter and lots of activity to keep the story engaging and moving forward.

The cast of characters is great - I love the way this sets up the interconnected series with the three women and how unique each woman is to give them the opportunity to have their own story. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

Ugh, I honestly am really enjoying my romance era. It's just a good time, every time. This was a fantastic debut novel! It was very well written, the characters were fantastic, and I actually LOLed a few times. This was a pretty perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and witty. The plot was enjoyable, but there's a lot going on. (I'm pretty sure there were at least three subplots happening simultaneously). Also, I don't like how long it took them to finally realize the other was also interested in them and get together (that's a me problem though). Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first regency novel and I quite enjoyed it!!
There was angst and yearning and it was simply delicious!
This also had a pretty good plot.

I actually believe that Peter and Selina are end game. Their love is so sweet and pure.

Oh the pining! These two characters – Lydia and Arthur – were made for each other, if only they would let themselves be open to the possibility. Lydia is our lovely, intelligent, socially anxious heroine who has been secretly writing politically radical pamphlets for years under a pen name AND corresponding with a like-minded Earl of Strathrannoch. When the Earl writes of financial worries, this heiress does what any woman would do and takes off for Scotland to propose marriage! One small problem, the Earl has no idea who she is, AND he (Arthur) quickly figures out his brother has been impersonating him and writing to Lydia the whole time. What happens next is a road trip of epic proportions where Lydia and Arthur realize that love, respect, being seen for who you are and being loved for it is possible. Reasons why I loved this novel – 1) brilliant, emotive writing that makes these characters feel real 2) each chapter opens with a note written by Lydia or Arthur to the other, and the pining is next level 3) this story is sexy in a sly, understated way and you feel their attraction to each other. Earl Crush is why my love for historical romance is never-ending! Alexandra’s writing brings a contemporary sensibility to a historical setting and characters, and I am huge fan! Earl Crush is out now, and it is available as e-book, paperback and audiobook. This is an ARC review – thank you to NetGalley.

This story was so charming. I love how distinct and animated the characters were. I was laughing and tearing up, occasionally at the same time. And it had such a timely and poignant message about sex education and the stigma growing around writing romance and books with sexual content

Near Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is a charming and sweet romance that blends slow-burn chemistry with likable characters. The story follows two very different people who find themselves drawn together, and while the chemistry is strong, the pacing can feel a bit uneven at times. The characters are well-written, though their development could have gone a bit deeper. Despite this, the book offers a heartwarming and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of the genre. It’s a solid, feel-good romance with just enough tension to keep you hooked.

Ne’er Duke Well is a whole mood—clever, spicy, and chaotic in the best way. Alexandra Vasti came through with a historical that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still hits where it counts. The banter snaps, the chemistry simmers, and the vibe stays fun from start to finish.

Selina and Peter had that kind of tension that feels lowkey ridiculous and completely irresistible at the same time. One minute you’re laughing, next minute it’s getting hot, and somehow it all works.

It’s sharp, playful, and unexpectedly sweet. A solid four stars and a fun ride all the way through.

\\\\\ 4.5/5 \\\\\

Everyone told me I had to start with the first book for this series and after putting it off for so long (for no other reason that I’m the worst at managing my TBR) I listened and finally read it! And I’m happy I did. What an amazing one it was! While I’m sure you can manage to read each book on its own as a standalone, I agree that this first book lets you in on a lot of characters and plot elements that you will enjoy knowing about for the other books.

I absolutely adored our main characters. I cannot express how much I loved their relationship and how freaking unproblematic they were. They actually talked to one another and found solutions together and made it work, and it was wonderful. They had instant chemistry, and it was just the best thing to see them interact together. The premise was fascinating, and I stayed intrigued by this story till the end.

I absolutely loved Peter’s devotion to his family and how protective he was of everyone around him. The interaction between him and the kids were heartwarming, funny but also emotional at times. It was a perfect blend that made it all truly beautiful. And let’s not forget about Peter the cat, I laughed so much about that one. Selina is such a gem. From the first page, I wanted to be her friend, and as this story went it just made me want that even more.

There was also a great placement for future stories with her little group of friends, who got more and more captivating as this book went on. This is for sure a series I’m excited to continue in the future and an author I want to read more of!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I had a few issues with this, the pacing was off in the 2nd half. And I was hoping for Selina and Peter to have more bonding time with the kids or at least between Selina and Lu. I feel like the kids appeared so little in the story despite them being key characters to the entire plot. I would've loved to see more of Lu. I also thought the hearing was underwhelming. HOWEVER, I thought it was very entertaining.

I love the cover on this one - it's so vibrant and cute and made me gravitate towards this book.

I loved the found family, nonconformity, and "scandal". I'm usually not a fan of historical romances, but I did enjoy this. This was cute and sweet, and I enjoyed the writing style and felt elements like the pacing and characters were great.

Peter Kent lived in New Orleans for the vast majority of his life, until he suddenly found himself the new Duke of Stanhope, living back in England with his (surprise!) younger siblings (whom the old Duke wasn't interested in claiming). He's trying to gain guardianship of said siblings, but his progressive political views and inability to remain free from scandal are sort of impeding on his ability to get the judge from the opposing political party on his side. He enlists the assistance of Lady Selina Ravenscroft, who determines that the best way to facilitate Peter's goals is for him to find himself a wife of impeccable respectability. And despite the attraction and intrigue between them, Lady Selina cannot be said wife because she runs a rather scandalous lending library and it would be bad news bears if The Ton found out about it. Many hijinks ensue.

I listened to this audiobook after DNF'ing another on my drive to Charlotte and upon checking into my hotel, I promptly proceeded to press play again and color for another two hours until the audiobook concluded because I was having such a good time with this book. I did pause it to order Indian food via Door Dash, but aside from that, I was truly enraptured with this book. I loved the hijinks, the children, and the found family vibes of this book. I didn't always adore the way Lady Selina felt like she was not a good pick for Peter, despite the obvious way that the two cared for one another, but that's romance reasons for you, so I waved that annoyance away. Ultimately, this book was just so much fun and exactly what I needed at the time. I definitely recommend.

I liked this book a lot. I purchased 100 licenses on Overdrive and made it the library's selection for our monthly audiobook club and it has circulated very well. I will continue to watch Vasti's new books, which are popular at my library.