A cutie little historical romance. Love that Peter stood by Selina even when she didn’t believe in herself. A great lesson in asking for help when you need it even if you are an independent badass woman.

Unfortunately, I don't think this one was for me. It started out fun and had its fun moments, but it got overly complicated towards the end, so I just couldn't keep up. The romance took a back seat to the other drama, which I didn't care about, because the synopsis makes it seem like the romance is the main focus. Overall, it wasn't bad, just misleading, and wasn't for me.

vasti does regency romance right! Even though the main plot of the book is resolved around the 60% mark I really appreciated the time we got go see of Peter and Selinas marriage and that Peter never treats her like she is a burden because of the Belvoirs library he gives her the praise and pride it deserves and I feel like it dealt really well with the women's rights issue in the 1800s in a way that felt realistic but hopeful.

This was my first Alexandra Vasti, but it won't be my last! The book was smart, funny, and did a lovely job setting up the rest of the series, which I'm really looking forward to. I love that the FMC, Selina, secretly runs a lending library. I also love the MMC's younger sister Lu, who was absolutely hilarious.

I will say that this wasn't second chance or friends to lovers, but Peter and Selina did know each other already and he was super into her already. Which on the one hand, hot, but on the other hand we didn't get to see them meeting and getting to know each other initially which I'm kind of sad about.

I have been very behind in diving into Ms Vasti’s full length novels but I was looking for an audio book and this was available at the library. So glad I took it out. Mhairi Morrison is a great narrator
Her Louisiana accent for Peter was spot on and she handled a few of the servant accents perfectly.
I love the premise of the story and we slowly find out the reason that Lady Serena is the secret owner of a salacious lending library. I love that we don’t have to wait until the end to see Peter and Selena together and the plot moves quickly once this happens. As with most 1st books in a series we are introduced to a host of characters and sometimes this is overwhelming. But Selena’s friends are featured as possible spouses for Peter in Selena’s matchmaking quests. Their quirks are mentioned without taking away from the main romance. Peter’s half siblings which are the catalyst for Selena’s matchmaking for Peter so he can become a better prospect for guardianship. This is where I feel the story is a bit lacking. As the “natural born” children of Peter’s father I don’t think the courts in that era would put as much emphasis on who gets legal guardianship of them even though they were never recognized as Peter’s siblings. But it makes for a good story and a dramatic ending so I’m okay with it. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

This romance was so good and was so fresh in the way it handled well-loved tropes and themes! 20/10, and I absolutely fell in love with these two characters as individuals and a couple. Peter was such a chaotic and eager simp, and Selina finally found the one person with whom she feels safe. I LOVED how much he adored her and how proud of her he was, and it's truly every man we wish we could have. He was also the most wholesome in his endeavours to gain custody of his young half-siblings, and this part of the story was just so tender and sweet.

The social themes were also beautifully present with Selina's quest to make sure women had access to information and couldn't be taken advantage of with her circulating library and especially the erotic literature. I loved her ambition and her gumption, and it was so lovely to see her arc evolve to a place where she didn't try to do everything by herself and leaned on the people who loved her. Her friendships with other society ladies had so much heart.

As usual, Vasti does an impeccable job in balancing heart with humour and just the right amount of spectacle that makes a historical romance pop. This book is a damn good time, and I highly recommend it!

CWs: Mentions of parental and sibling death in the past; brief mention of a wife and child dying at birth in the past; brief mentions of adultery, abandonment and grief; misogyny

CNs: This is a Regency romance featuring themes of friends-to-lovers, found family and matchmaker to lover. This is high-heat romance with on-page sex scenes.

I loved this book. It is so cute and I just love all the side characters. It’s a quick moving story and found once I started I couldn’t stop. I love regency romances and this has the Bridgerton vibes with contemporary language (I put that in there because I know some people don’t like that). It is open door and the spicy scenes are in there just enough to satisfy what you need. There’s more than what the Bridgerton books have if that makes a difference. I love Peter and Selina and the children. Everyone balances each other so well and the antics would border on ridiculous if they didn’t have that balance. Selina’s love for those around her and Peter’s protective and steadfast nature make them quite the couple. I would read a whole series with just them and the children. This is the first book in a series and I can’t wait to read the other ones.

This book was okay. I can’t quite figure out what it is that didn’t quite work for me? Maybe it was a bit too much not-like-other-girls? I really don’t know.

I adored Vasti’s Halifax Hellions novellas, so was really looking forward to a full length novel, but for whatever reason this one just didn’t hit the same way as those ones did.

Overall, there was very little relationship drama, no third act breakup, Selina runs a library with an erotic section for women because she wants to educate them and Peter is a an abolitionist. All of these are things that should have made me love it, but it just fell flat.

The story is that Peter Kent, the new Duke of Sanford has fallen into the title, being an illegitimate son of the former Duke, who was raised in New Orleans. This obviously makes him an outsider in parliament and the ton. He is also trying to get custody of his two much younger siblings, as their mother has died. It is decided that it would look better for his petition if he’s married. And so starts his sort of courting of three different not-like-other-girls, when Selina is the not-like-other-girls that he actually wants.

Anyway, I’ll likely read Vasti’s other books, in hopes of getting something closer to the Hellions books. And this book wasn’t bad, it was just kind of blah, imo.

I've loved Vasti's novellas so much, so I was excited to see what she did with a full length novel. It was just as funny, as spicy, and as endearing.
However, some personal preferences of mine led me to not enjoy it QUITE as much, but I think others will love the book a ton.
I learned I have a personal ick for Southern accents in audiobooks. (I'm so sorry, I'm from Alabama and I just have a hard time listening to the accent). I also don't LOVE books with children/guardianship as a plot point. I know tons of people love that, and again, it's just a personal thing.

Definitely 4+ stars and I think this will be super popular and well-loved.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Secret erotic library. Matchmaker falls for her “client.” Rambunctious children. Alexandra Vasti packed it all in and it’s amazing. I read this book awhile ago and am just getting to write the review, but I remember the comedy and hijinks in this book, as well as the strong female characters. 4.25 stars.

I was excited to read this book, based on the premise and the author, but I found that the pacing was distracting. Some parts of the book read well and others lagged or were mired in conversation without much plot development. It felt like, after the initial set up, the novel dragged. I enjoyed the novel, but it wasn't my favorite by this author.

I thought this was a super cute historical romance book. I loved the main characters and their romance together!

This was the start of a fun filled series, and I am here for it!

The banter, the chemistry, the secondary characters! All of it had me hooked from the beginning, and I cannot wait to see what these characters get up to in the interconnected books! There is so much going for Peter and Selina, and I couldn't help but cheer for them. Both of them have a lot going on separately, but I loved how they were there for one another along the way.

I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a historical romance 💕

I enjoyed this book so much! I wish there had been more exploration/explanation of the relationship between the two prior to the on-page interactions, but I found that detail easy to ignore because of their interactions. I loved the representation of the two half-siblings and the naughty library. I'm excited to follow this series!

Alexandra Vasti could write anything and I would read it :")

I first came across Alexandra Vasti’s writing when I found out about her Hallifax Hellions novellas. And god, did I fall in love with my chaotic and lovely Hallifax siblings :”) Since then, Mrs Vasti has been one of my auto-pick authors. So needless to say, my expectations and excitement for her debut novel have been high. And honestly, she did not disappoint!

Ne’er Duke Well follows our feisty and badass(and secretly a softie who takes care of everyone with everything she has) Selina, and our kind and charming(and a secretly determined brother and newly appointed duke stumbling through his responsibilities) Peter. When Peter is in need of a Bride, our Lady Selina comes forward to help him find the proper young lady. Which can’t be Selina herself, despite what the flutterings in her heart make her feel. Peter needs a a proper and scandal-free wife who will help Peter’s cause to attain guardianship for his young siblings. Not Selina, who is a breath away from causing the biggest scandal in town, if the secret of her owning “womens’ only” circulating library comes out to society.

I went into this book hoping for a good romance, and it surprised me with not only that,but also one of my favourite tropes "found family" done soooo wonderfully. Every single characters,including side characters our shy bestie Lydia and lovingly chaotic Lu, were incredibly lovable. And honestly, Peter is the most cinnamon roll male protagonist that have ever cinnamon rolled :') And how can we forget our Lady Selina, who I found soooo relatable with her soft heart and big ambitions :')

With her signature witty and addictive writing, and incredibly adorable cast of character, Alexandra Vasti gives you a warm, funny and charming historical romance. If you are looking for a read that'll make you smile and make your stomach flutter the whole time, this is the one!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C69A6Gzys6g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This is a solid debut romance. Some of the steamy sciences fell short for me but over all a very enjoyable novel

📚 Book Review: Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti 💘
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Looking for your next swoon-worthy Regency romance? Ne’er Duke Well has it all: a scandalous library, sizzling chemistry, and a Louisiana-born abolitionist who inherits a British dukedom 👀💫
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Lady Selina Ravenscroft is prim, proper—and secretly running a radical underground library for women. When Peter Kent asks her to help him find a wife so he can keep custody of his siblings, sparks fly… and propriety goes out the window.
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🔥 Steamy
💬 Witty
📖 Smart
👑 Unconventional
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Vasti’s debut is a fresh, feminist take on historical romance—and we’re obsessed.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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#BookReview #NeerDukeWell #AlexandraVasti #RegencyRomance #HistoricalRomance #Bookstagram #RomanceReads #SmartRomance #BookLovers

Ne’er Duke Well is a super fun Regency romance with a refreshing twist. The heroine isn’t your typical swooning debutante—she’s independent, not looking for love, and focused on her own goals. Then there's the Duke—charming, a bit distant, and not looking for trouble, but trouble finds him. Their slow-burn romance is filled with sharp dialogue, great chemistry, and a lot of unexpected moments.

Vasti does an awesome job of making both characters feel real. The heroine’s growth is so relatable, and the Duke, though a bit of a typical aloof aristocrat at first, turns out to be way more than that. The push and pull between them is just so good.

What really makes this stand out is the emotional depth. It’s not just about the romance—it’s about these characters figuring themselves out along the way. The secondary characters bring some great humor, too. If you like your Regency romance with a bit of bite, this one's definitely worth picking up.

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!