4.5/5
Ne’er Duke Well is a whip-smart Regency romance centered around the essential quest toward agency for women, and the families we work to secure. Alexandra Vasti brings together an inventive take on historical romance tropes as a kind-hearted matchmaking debutant turned rebel librarian is at odds with the very man she is trying to marry off. Protagonists Selina and Peter have unquestionable chemistry and a hilarious repartee that will make this an entertaining romp for any romance lover out there. The conflicts introduced over the course of the novel feel essential as these two build the life they want together. This book can be boiled down to two kind-hearted people who just want to be in love. That’s it. Ne'er Duke Well is all around a fabulous debut. I want more from this author and her characters and I certainly won't be satisfied with just one book. Vasti is a scintillating new voice in romance and I’m on board for whatever course she's charting next.

I hadn't had the pleasure of picking up anything by Alexandra Vasti prior to this book, but I will absolutely continue reading her work. Selina and Peter are an incredible pair (once Selina gets out of her own way) and they are a force to be recokened with in the ton for sure. Real family, found family, and women standing up for themselves abound in this novel. I adored every character and cannot wait to see what adventures arise in the future.




**SPOILER: I was so nervous that Selina would enact her plan without telling Peter, causing the 3rd act breakup, but he basically said "don't be silly" and they fixed it together. No breakup.

Fans of Historical Romance will be thrilled to read the new novel by Alexandra Vasti and welcome her to their bookshelves!

The new Duke of Stanhope, Peter Kent, enlists the help of Lady Selina Ravenscroft to find himself a wife who will add respectability to his reputation in his quest to become guardian of his two half siblings. Selina gets a bit more than she dared to imagine and Peter is happy to oblige!

The cast of characters is fun, quirky and a little daring for their time. This Regency romance is delightful to read and has a bit of spice for added enjoyment.

Thoroughly enjoyable and leaves you eagerly looking forward to Vasti’s next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book! As a book nerd, and a Bridgerton lover, it was right up my alley. An enjoyable vacation read!

This was a solid okay. The character development seems to happen off the page, with lots of telling instead of showing. The main characters already know each other, already have feelings for each other, and are already involved in each other lives. The book is very plot forward instead of character forward and that’s not my favorite thing. I want character growth and relationship development, but these characters were already the best version of themselves from the start of the book….they just had to work together to fix plot and I got bored. The steamy scenes were well done. And the historical aspects were well researched. The writing is great too, with a good pace to the book, I just wanted more romance and character growth and tension between the two MCs, instead it was a lot of scheming and kids.

I loved this book!! This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. The chemistry between Peter and Selina was noticeable from the very first conversation and they were a wonderful pairing. Also, Selina’s super secret sex library (say that 3 times fast) was a fantastic story line. I could not have asked for two better characters to form a pair. Peter being willing to do everything he can to get custody of his younger siblings was so sweet and I really loved that part of the storyline and I like that it never felt like it was overtaking the romance. Will definitely recommend.

This book is feminist smut about feminists writing smut, and I loved it.

"But then again, this was exactly what she wanted Belvoir’s to be: an attainable resource for women who would not otherwise have access to knowledge that could change their lives for the better."

Peter Kent, a Louisiana abolitionist that can’t help but create scandals everywhere he goes, inherits the Dukedom of Stanhope and discovers two precocious half-siblings. Determined to become their legal guardian, Peter turns to society’s most meddlesome debutante who has a dangerous secret — Selina Ravenscroft curates and distributes a circulating erotic library exclusively for the women of the ton, marked by iconic green cloth bound covers. Arranging the perfect match may be just what Peter needs to convince the chancellor he deserves custody, but Peter’s impulsivity and Selina’s illicit secret just may put everything they’ve built in jeopardy.

"I know this isn’t funny. But only you would turn up your nose at embroidery and resolve to overturn society in its stead."

I definitely thought this book was going to be 80% arranging a match, and while that was important to the plot, it was much more about childhood relationships, grappling for control in a society actively working against you, and the beauty of loving someone wholeheartedly for who they are. There were passages that legitimately gave me chills, which has not happened to me in years.

Despite how emotionally grounded this story was, there was no shortage of spice. Honestly, more than I was expecting! There were a few passages where I thought, okay let’s get back to the plot, but the author usually brought it back around through character development, and the spice didn’t make the book drag on at all. Every plot point and character arc took its time to play out, so the spicy interludes were tons of fun.

My only gripe is that there is one loose end that I was sure we would get resolution on, and didn’t really come full circle — but I’m suspecting that if the story is the hit it deserves to be, we may get a sequel or spin-off exploring that character.

If you are 1) a lover of historical romance heavy on the history AND the spice 2) a meddlesome auntie in training with a solution to every problem or 3) a lover of complex sibling relationships, then Ne’er Duke Well will knock your stockings off.

For all the Bridgerton lovers! The messy, drama and love will bring them here. This book was a wonderful read that swept me up in it from the first chapter. Loved seeing the characters fall for each other and all the banter that went along with it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (Historical Romance)

Synopsis: Peter Kent, the Duke of Stanhope needs a wife, and Lady Selina Ravenscroft is determined to help him find one. However, on their quest, she realizes that she might be the right woman to be his wife. Peter is always getting himself embroiled in one minor scandal or another, but he really needs Selina’s help. Will her help end up in a marriage proposal? Or will she find another way to help Peter?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book!! It was 🌶️🌶️🌶️. I loved that the FMC secretly ran a library filled with enlightening books for ladies. The undercurrent of feminism in this book was fantastic! I really liked it. I thought the characters were believable, I loved the friendship and familial relationships that were portrayed in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you loved Bridgerton or other Regency Romances, you’ll love this.

What an excellent debut novel from Alexandra Vasti! I’ve read all of her novellas and so of course I expected nothing less. Vasti has a singular ability to write two people’s intense yearning, particularly capturing the tenderness and heat within emotional and sensual scenes. I loved so many things about Ne’er Duke Well, but most of all the almost radical honesty practiced by the mmc’s with one another. For example, Peter’s straightforward and direct approach to pining, which is of course to be open and just tell Selina how he feels. How kind, that he doesn’t lead another woman on as so many mcs have done in this trope. And then Selina is honest in turn, both when she tells Peter her secret before the wedding, and again when she confides her drastic solution to the potential 3rd act scandal instead of just running away. This book doesn’t fall prey to the trope-y pitfalls of characters lying to themselves or to the oft-seen well- intentioned lies of omission. Ne’er Duke Well is deeply feminist, sex positive, and refreshingly diverse. It features strong and capable women, whetting our appetite for future books in the series with the introduction of scintillating future FMCs, Selina’s uniquely unconventional friends. I did feel that both of the external conflicts in the story were a bit thin, given the leniency and leeway for eccentricity and sidestepping the law afforded the aristocracy. And I felt the story could have been tighter in places, likely a growing pain with this being Vasti’s first full length novel, and given her incredible facility with the length and scope of the novella. Overall, NDW is a truly delightful and captivating read. Vasti is an auto-buy author for me, I cannot wait until her next book comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

My rating: 2/5

This book and it's romance moved at lightning speed. I really wasn't invested in either character or their romance because of it. Don't like what's happening in the book ? Wait 2 pages it will be over. Which originally I thought was nice because I thought " oh the author isn't dragging us through the miscommunication trope", but turns out they're not dragging us through anything because everything is rushed. Even with it being rushed some parts felt boring as I just couldn't get into these characters.
Their romance took a backseat to the custody plotline and though a history between them was hinted we never really got to see that or their chemistry.
It just wasn't for me I'm afraid, definitely a cute premise and I'm sure it's a fit for anyone that wants a fast paced regency romance!

Ne’er Duke Well is a treat of a Regency romance. It is lighthearted, sexy, romantic, funny and easy to read. It touches on serious subjects and handles them deftly. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable. There are two orphaned children who are not overwhelmingly precocious or overbearing for a nice change.

I enjoyed my time with Peter, Selina and their friends and family. I’m hoping there are future books to follow.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Ne'er Duke Well brings together a delightful couple in this light historical romance. Peter Kent was born in New Orleans but has recently become the Duke of Stanhope. The transition has been hard and his hopes of becoming the guardians to his half-siblings rests on him gaining respectability. Lady Selina Ravenscroft has agreed to become his matchmaker and sets out to find an indisputably respectable woman for him to marry. The Duke and Selina's interactions felt natural and sweet, and they eventually realized that Selina would be a good match for Peter herself. But the road was full of wonderful moments with the ladies Selina tried to set him up with. These ladies were all interesting and delightful individually. It would be nice to see some of them get their own books. Unfortunately, Selina has a secret that if it comes out could ruin the couple's respectability hopes. Peter's half-siblings were quite a handful as well but Peter's unrelenting love for them is evident. The ending was beautifully heartwarming. I recommend this one for historical romance fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this was a really good story. Peter and Selina took me a minute to get into but I think it was just that way for the beginning. Once it clicked it clicked👏. The romance was everything and I can’t wait to read more from this author. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read Ne’er Duke Well in exchange for an honest review. :)

"Ne'er Duke Well" by Alexandra Vasti is a historical romance with the perfect blend of romance and comedy. In order to secure guardianship of his half siblings, Peter Kent, the newly inherited Duke of Stanhope, seeks to improve his reputation in society. He enlists the help of Lady Selina Ravenscroft, a well-liked individual in society with a hidden secret. Selina proposes Peter court and marry a woman of impeccable reputation, and takes it upon herself to find the ideal match. However, her matchmaking endeavors go awry, resulting in chaos and unexpected romantic feelings between Peter and Selina. As they navigate societal expectations and the challenges posed by Peter's younger siblings, they find themselves falling in love.

Lady Selina is portrayed as intelligent and charming, and I adored her character immensely. She complements Peter perfectly, balancing his occasional recklessness (with the purest of intentions!!). Overall, the story is heartwarming and lighthearted, with adorable children, humorous characters, and meaningful themes. I had so much fun reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really really enjoyed the novellas from this author so I’m disappointed that this full length fell short for me.

The beginning of this book is great. The Duke wants custody of his siblings, Selina is a fixer and she’s gonna fix this for Peter and obvs that means finding him a wife. The bummer is that he wants her for a wife but she’s got some stuff going on that will 100% ruin his custody chances.

There’s tension, there’s wanting, how are they gonna get together?! What’s gonna happen?!

Oh wait, this is all gonna wrap up fairly quickly and now the romance aspect is over. Now the only driving force in this story is a custody battle.

There wasn’t enough moving the story forward for me at that point and found myself skimming the remainder of the book.

I received an eARC, review is my own.

Thank you netgalley + publisher for the e-arc! I haven’t ever really been a huge fan of historical romance but this cover and description really hooked me, and this did not disappoint! Wasn’t too overly focused on politics and didn’t have crazy historical jargon (which is normally why I stray away from historical/regency) it was just a simple, cute regency romance with historical and political undertones. Kind of had a marriage of convenience trop but with a little twist! Peter was soooo sweet and has such a big heart (we love a man who supports his wife no questions asked). I loved loved loved the “he falls first” trope, the angst and pining had me giggling so hard! The spice was wonderfully done and really worked with the plot instead of just being added for the sake of it, I always love some tastefully done spice. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Peter and Selina's story and it’s made me more interested in regency romance and the author as a whole!

I loved this book! It’s truly a perfect historical romance, a genuine platonic ideal of the genre. The hero is so good. An American abolitionist turned Duke who wants to care for his illegitimate half siblings but also refuses to tow the line about the slave industry to make it happen and a heroine who starts a library to ensure women are educated on their own sexuality.

This book has an amazing supporting cast, a great found family trope, and an incredibly fresh twist on a very old trope. It was everything I could hope for and made me smile the entire way through.

Everything about this was magic, I loved it. The beginning was a bit muddled, and took a little to get going, but once it did the book was like a tidal wave. I loved Peter, he was adorable and the fact that he couldn’t stop talking was great. Enjoyed so so so much.

I really loved this story, which I thought was a light, easy read with low levels of angst but a good dash of tension to help pace the story. The chemistry between Selina and Peter was hot from the jump and the spicy scenes were great. I also loved the dynamics with his younger siblings, who felt like fully developed characters and not simply plot devices. I also appreciated when Peter's past trauma came into play and how Selina and Peter honestly handled it - there was no miscommunication trope here and that was excellent! They behaved like actual adults who respected one another and tried to talk through tough things, even if that was imperfect or difficult for the characters. In the best of ways, reading Peter and Selina's love story felt like you were reading/witnessing a *real* love story between *real* people and not simply characters on a page - Alexandra has handled this story so beautifully and I was thrilled to read her debut full-length novel.