Truly loved this book, the closest thing to Bridgertons I’ve read in a while! A fresh, modern voice with a true regency romance storyline

Alexandra Vasti is one of the authors I consider responsible for getting me to read historical romance. It's never been my jam and yet, here we are. Now I'm a convert and I'm not even mad about it.

This book is hilarious. Peter's an American duke who would much rather not but he's there so he will. He's a progressive abolitionist which is the sexiest thing you can be in Regency England, imho. Selina is a wonder. She runs a secret feminist library to teach the ladies of the ton a thing or two. And she somehow thinks of everything. She's playing 3D chess while the rest of society's playing cornhole. I want to be her when I grow up.

One of Alexandra's (many) strengths is her character development. Every side character is multi-faceted and no one feels like a caricature/placeholder. With most characters in this book, I had a moment where I thought "I need his/her story." There's so much depth to the world and characters she's created.

I absolutely loved Ne’er Duke Well! The storyline was heartwarming and fun, and the characters leapt from the pages! With a friends to lovers mixed with a trope I absolutely love but don’t want to say for spoilers, this book was so easy to love! I found myself laughing, smiling, and even sobbing too. If you’re looking for a historical romance novel to read, definitely let this be the one you pick up!

Selina was convinced that Peter Kent needed to be married, so he would be able to win custody of his half siblings. Btw, I absolutely adored half siblings, Freddie and Lu! They made me laugh so much! Lu was feisty and hilarious without even trying and I just wanted to scoop Freddie into a ball and give him the biggest hug ever. Peter having his hands full with them is an understatement lol. With Selina overseeing Peter’s prospective options for whom to marry, I couldn’t put this book down!

While the interactions between Peter and Selina had me laughing out loud, Peter couldn’t help but be pulled to Selina. As he went along with her plans, I loved watching that friendship solidify. And Peter realizing that he was slowly falling for her. And while Selina couldn’t help but fall for his siblings, and all of their adorable antics, she couldn’t help but be charmed and fall for Peter too.

Selina was thoughtful, had the most fabulous family ever, but she had a huge secret. One that could ruin Peter’s chances at getting custody of his siblings. Which was why her being a viable option as his wife wasn’t feasible. As the story alternated between the two of them, you couldn’t help but love them both so much. Peter with his considerate, caring and good guy ways, and Selina with her heartfelt nature. Yet they could never be, or could they….

The story unfolded in the most entertaining and hilarious way. The scandals kept piling up. And with steamy kisses, scorching hot detailed scenes, and confessions, this book pulled us along in the most wonderful journey. The side characters added so much heart. And I loved how this book had little extras, like at the beginning of the chapter the little sentence or two from a letter added so much depth to the story. I’ll be reading whatever this author releases next and that happily ever after was absolutely perfect!

I've been in such a reading slump and this was the perfect book to get me out of that! I love that the romance feels so genuine and lovely in this book which I sometimes find lacks in other regency dramas. I also love that the actual drama of the book is totally separate from the romance and doesn't rely on any miscommunication or harshness between the leads which can be a bit off putting sometimes. Overall a really great book that has firmly gotten me back into reading!

This book took everything I love about the Halifax Hellions novella series and expanded on it. Alex Vasti's writing style is so light and witty that you forget she is planting seeds for larger conflicts and confrontations with society. I love the idea of a slightly hapless Louisiana transplant MMC who cannot for the life of him figure out English society and the secretly revolutionary FMC intent on finding him a respectable match on the marriage market. Selina and Peter's chemistry is felt from the first, and the mix of spicy and sweet is lovely, especially with so many textual inspirations! I am also obsessed with the fact that Alex puts her research skills to use here, giving us a period-appropriate list of erotic texts for Belvoir's library. I am already so looking forward to Earl Crush, the next installment of this series!

First I would like to thank the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the story of Peter, newly inherited Duke of Stanhope, whom is in the process of getting full custody of the half siblings he learned about upon inheriting his title. As a single man it has been harder than expected to get the children and he asks a family friend Lady Selina Ravenscroft for help. Selina agrees to help Peter and she believes the best way to help is to get him married as soon as possible. As she presents Peter with options for a suitable wife she continues to fight her own attraction to him as she has a secret that could ruin his chances of ever getting custody of the children. When found in a compromising position, Peter and Selina end up engaged and quickly married hoping to keep Selina's secret from society until after the hearing. When everything does come out Selina will do everything in her power to ensure Peter gets the children even if it means leaving him and breaking her own heart.

What I Loved:
- Peter and Selina, as children they spent time together and when they reconnect I love the banter that is already established and the "loathing" Selina has for him
- Siblings, Peter's half siblings were never claimed by their shared father and are slow to trust anyone but will still try to get what they can out of Peter
- Selina's secret, I absolutely LOVE Selina is in charge of a library full of books meant to educate women about topics that were not supposed to be spoken about and provide that freedom that knowledge provides
- Selina's family, they knew that Selina had feelings for Peter and really tried to push/encourage her to go after her heart's desire and supported her when she eventually told them the truth of her library

I am a sucker for a historical romance especially one with a strong main female character who refuses to adhere to the restrictions of her time. The romance between these two main characters felt so authentic and I felt like they really did enjoy/love each other for exactly who they are. If you are looking for a historical romance in the same vein of the A League of Extraordinary Women series then please go check this book out!

I really enjoyed this novel. Vasti is an excellent historical romance author!!

Peter was so stupidly gone for the brave, vivacious and pioneer of a woman that is Selena. I really loved how Peter was infallible when it came to Selena and just loved her more the more he knew about her.

I loved the library and the support it ended up bringing to these characters lives.

Good spice, good story, was just a touch too long.

*Ne'er Duke Well* by Alexandra Vasti is a Regency romance that brings together an unconventional duke and a matchmaker with a few secrets of her own. Peter Kent, the newly minted Duke of Stanhope, is as scandalous as he is sincere, and Lady Selina Ravenscroft is determined to find him the perfect, respectable wife. But as Peter's half-siblings cause chaos and Selina's secret double life begins to unravel, the two find themselves growing closer.

I feel like I've read these characters in other historical romances: the aristocrat raised in the American colonies/US States, so he's iconoclastic. The liberated female who covertly encourages other women to educate themselves on sex as well as erudite topics. But Vasti can write fun and steamy scenes well so it's still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Ne'er Duke Well was highly anticipated for me and it exceeded all of my expectations! This book was well paced and obviously well researched. It was full of heart and would be great for any fan of historical romance.

I absolutely adored the 3-novella series that @alexandravasti released last year, so as soon as I could I requested her new novel from my public library, you better believe I was #1 on that hold list!

It was so wonderful to get to read a full-length debut novel by this author, and to know we have #2 of the series not far behind!

This book had some serious Emma/Cher vibes, as the FMC Selina is determined to find the perfect wife for Peter Kent, who needs a wife quick, and of course has discredited herself as being the right match for reasons, that ultimately don’t hold up!

An enjoyable read with a fun cast of characters, a secret collection of spicy and informative books at a library, dog rescues, orphan rescues, and love, true love! 💕

This July release should definitely be added to your TBR!

A perfect historical romance. Ne'er Duke Well had everything I could have wanted: humor, spice, brilliant characters, great pacing, and tons of all-around fun. Selena and Peter were so delightfully smitten, and watching them come to accept that they really could be right for each other was a blast. The side characters were equally wonderful, and I'm greatly looking forward to books for Lydia and Georgiana. Vasti is a true talent, and I can't wait to see what she brings in the future.

I was so excited to get this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, and it did NOT disappoint!

I loved Selina and Peter's story, and their romance was HOT! Even though the matchmaker trope is fairly common, this book put a new spin on it, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I actually really liked the inclusion of Lu and Freddie; normally I'm not big on kids in my romance novels, but Peter's siblings were so sweet and ferociously loyal, and were so easly to love.

Selina was a strong heroine and I rooted for her from the start. Vasti did a remarkable job of making clear the societal expectations of a woman like Selina, and the character's determination to break that mold was so satisfying and authentic!

Peter, oh lord, what a man. He was funny and so clearly out of his element for most of the book, but the scenes with him and Selina just clicked. And the heat! The spice! My regency loving heart was so happy!

Overall, a really solid historical rom-com, and a quick read! Can't wait to see what else the author has written!

Another excellent regency romp - this used to be my absolute favorite/go-to for a quick read, but I fell off the wagon. Recently, however, it’s come back to me and this novel by Vasti very much helped that. The characters were so real and loveable. And the sizzle between Selina and Stanhope is palpable. However, it is the side characters who really got me - Lady Georgina, Stanhope’s siblings and so many others. What a delight!

This reminded me of a more modern bridgerton story ! I absolutely loved it and immediately told my friends they needed to read it

Fast and adorable historical read.
Great characters and great romance with main characters who had the right amount of awkwardness, spice and badassery.

I was so excited for this book after reading the Halifax Helions novellas and it absolutely delivered. Vasti excels at writing courageous heroines and men who are absolutely down bad and the characters are so charming.

Ne'er Duke Well is honestly one of the BEST historical romances I've read in the last 3+ years. Whip smart banter, sparkling chemistry and Vasti's keen voice for sex positivity easily slots itself in a shelf among the giants of the genre, grab it today you will not be disappointed.

I love Alexandra's particular brand of comedy and swoon, I love how endearing her men are and how badass her heroines. This was no exception and the chemistry between Selina and the duke was delicious. He was endearing and lovable, I also enjoyed the side characters and could read more about them. This debut novel cements Vasti as a powerhouse of historical rom-coms 💖

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion

Perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Vasti sets us in Regency England with a charming American-raised duke and a woman determined to educate the women of the ton in all matters intimate. Vasti is a delightful storyteller, capturing the rollicking emotions of falling in love.

I am still participating in the marketing boycott of St Martins Press so I will not be providing a review of this book. Their recent responses (and bizarre publicity practices) are questionable.