I love Vasti’s writing so much and it just keeps getting better.

Lydia Hope-Wallace is very much on the shelf after 7 seasons despite being an extremely wealthy heiress because she really has the worst social anxiety. But she does find her voice writing radical pamphlets calling for the abolition of the aristocracy and the like (I’m sure we would be the best of friends). She travels up to Scotland to see the Earl of Strathrannoch who she’s been corresponding with for years to be like hey maybe we could get married. Except, oops, the Earl has no idea who she is and def has never written her a letter. Hijinks ensue. This book had me laughing out loud many times in the front half and then the very earnest feelings happened and had me crying by the end. I loved EVERY SECOND. I love a meddling steward who’s like maybe my reclusive boss could marry this lady who just showed up. I loved loved the tender but strong blacksmith earl who was so very lonely. I loved the way these two wonderful people with no confidence who could never ask anyone for anything but give of themselves found their confidence for the other. I loved the zebras. Yes, zebras. I also got to feel like a smarty pants as the book mentions the Scottish clearances many times and I now am an expert because I have read Clear (very good, different mood). I absolutely have an earl crush on the Earl of Strathrannoch and you will too after reading this. May I humbly request books for every Hope-Wallace brother? I’m obsessed with them.

Earl Crush is out January 21, 2025 and you will not want to miss it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced review copy for an honest review.

Lydia, the FMC of this novel was a character that I really related to in a lot of ways. Her anxieties, but also her strength in advocating for what she believes in was truly inspiring. I genuinely loved everything about her character.

Unfortunately, what I struggled the most for when reading this was the pacing and the direction the author took for the characters actions. For most of the book I just wanted to grab the characters by their shoulders and shake them. I struggled to understand their motivations and reasoning into why they acted the way they did. Regardless, I plan to revisit this book after it’s published and I have a physical copy to read. I’ve come to realize that I genuinely don’t enjoy reading on the net galley app, nor the kindle app on my phone. I hope having a fresh set of eyes will encourage a better response from me.

Thank you to the Author and net galley for the ARC copy, it is so appreciated each time I’m given an opportunity like this.

I’m obsessed with all of Alexandra Vasti’s work, but Earl Crush took it to another level! So excited for everyone to meet Lydia and Arthur!

When wallflower heiress Lydia Hope-Wallace shows up in Scotland, she has a plan. Propose a marriage of convenience to the reclusive Arthur, Earl of Strathrannoch. After all, they know they get along after years of correspondence. But Arthur has no idea who she is and swears he hasn’t written to anyone. When the two figure out the real person she’s been writing to is Arthur’s traitorous brother, Arthur enlists her help in hunting him down.

What follows is a brilliant, hilarious romp of a romance, filled with spies, fake marriages, and ZEBRAS of all things! It’s wacky and wonderful, and the emotional depth of Arthur and Lydia’s relationship was beautiful to read!

I adored this book, and it made me even more excited for Georgiana’s story next!

5 stars for this beautiful and unique historical romance by Alexandra Vasti

Lydia, the FMC, secretly writes political pamphlets and starts corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch as a result. She decides out of the blue to go to Scotland to propose marriage to him since she is a wealthy spinster and his estate is in need of money. But when she arrives at his front door, he doesn't know anything about the letters she has been receiving. Arthur, the earl, puts together that his brother is the one who has been corresponding with Lydia and asks for her help in locating him as he took a dangerous invention from him. At first, Lydia refuses and leaves but through a series of unusual events, including a herd of zebras, she changes her mind.

I really enjoyed the plot of not only the romance but also the mystery in this book. I love a good epistolary romance and the snippets at the beginning of every chapter were great. The mystery of the missing brother was different from other historical romances I have read and had such an interesting ending.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I highly recommend reading it!

Five Star Book Review!

Quick Synopsis: We are in 1800s England following heiress Lydia Hope-Wallace who writes anonymous political pamphlets supporting what is considered radical and progressive ideas for the time. At the same time, she has also been corresponding and connecting with the Earl of Strathrannoch - BUT the two have never met. She decides she is going to change her life and sets out for Scotland (where our Earl lives) to offer him a marriage of convenience! Through some mix ups that I won't spoil for you the two decide to join together on a mission to find the Earl's brother!

This lovely story was such a romp! Not only is it dual POV between our FMC/MMC but each chapter starts with an epigraph (little quote) that usually adds to the humor or emotion of the book! You'll have to read it to know what I am talking about - it was like having little easter eggs in every chapter. Add to that our Earl who is so smitten with Lydia and his every other thought is how he admires her intellect, and her bravery, and her humor. I was swoooooooning! We have a lovely and diverse cast of side characters, relatable and emotional back stories, a twisty mystery, laugh-out-loud hijinks, open-door spice, and the most adoooorable epilogue. This story just does a rom com right! Please read for when you want a super quick and funny read that still manages to pull at your heart strings!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was very excited to read the next book. However, readers can start with this book without being too lost; the protagonists from the first book are not central to the plot of this one.

I don’t think the “wrong brother” trope is particularly common, but I’m here for it. Lydia and Arthur’s first impressions of each other are not particularly amorous, but they are united in the goal to track down Arthur’s missing brother. As the stakes get higher, so does their passion. I’m so sorry; that’s so cheesy, but there’s no other way to describe it.

Both protagonists have always felt like awkward outsiders, but they found happiness through their passions: Lydia writes radical political pamphlets and Arthur devotes himself to the estate and his inventions. Neither of them had been particularly concerned with finding love, although Lydia thought she’d found a kindred spirit in her Scottish penpal. Of course, she’d really been writing to Arthur’s brother– hence the “wrong brother” trope, but it’s clear almost immediately that Arthur is the only brother for Lydia.

Anyway, there’s also a fake marriage trope, which is another of my favorites… and of course, it doesn’t take very long for them to catch legitimate feelings for each other, although if we’re being realistic, I don’t think there was ever a point when they didn’t have feelings for each other.

As much as I like a road trip, I wish they could have spent more time at Strathrannoch because it was such a cool house. There were zebras! Zebras!

I would absolutely recommend Earl Crush. Lydia and Arthur had such great chemistry and their banter was top-notch. Vasti has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.



I received a digital ARC of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley

Scottish lairds and zebras!

I laughed, was sentimental all over the place, and pleasantly shocked by Lydia Hope-Wallace and her Earl.
Lydia finds it hard to talk to people even though she’s a most erudite writer. She’s had seven unbearable seasons hiding in plain sight, uncommunicative and unhappy. With the written word Lydia is in her element. She secretly writes tracts on everything from land clearances in Scotland to women and divorce.
She’s been exchanging letters and views with the Earl of Strathrannoch, Arthur Baird, for three years. As it happens the Earl needs money. Lydia, a heiress, makes a plan. She decides to journey to Scotland to propose marriage to the Earl.
Unfortunately things don’t go according to plan. Lydia finds she hasn’t been writing to the Earl but his brother, Davis, who’s stolen off with the Earl’s plans for a rifle telescope. Something awry and if the wrong parties obtained the plans (like the French) there’d be all sorts of ramifications.
A zany, madcap, runaway romance with a herd of zebras!
I loved the cover btw.

A St. Martin’s Group ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was such a lovely historical romance with a bit of suspense thrown in making you want to keep reading to find out what the mystery of all the things are.

Lydia Hope-Wallace has been penning letters to the Earl of Strathrannoch for years. She makes the bold decision to go visit him and ask for his hand in marriage because she thinks they could be a decent match. The sunrise comes when Arthur Baird, the Earl of Strathrannoch, tells her he has no clue who she is. Turns out that his brother has been writing her for years pretending to be him.

In an attempt to find his brother, Arthur asks Lydia to help him by continuing to write to him. The journey doesn't stop there. Lydia with her amazing intelligence helps to find a lead and the two are off chasing after Arthur's brother. In some quick thinking, Lydia lies and says her and Arthur are married in order to dig deeper into the mystery of where Arthur's brother is.

I loved the depiction of these two more quite characters who find themselves wrapped up in suspenseful chase. Lydia suffers from social anxiety, but Arthur never once judges her. He sees her for the strong, intelligent, bold woman she is, and he gives her the care and space she needs to be able to put herself out there.

The way each sees the other as such an amazing catch is so sweet because neither of them think the other would want them. They are forced together into so many situations, but they also give one another the respect and trust they deserve so they begin to see how they count on one another.

I listened to this one and thought the narrator did a great job in keeping the audience engaged with her narrations. It was sweet, fun, and adventurous ride that I truly enjoyed!

Thank to Dreamscape Media for the ALC and SMP for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC and St. Martins Press for the eARC.

I had such a fun time listening to this one. Lydia is so relatable. She has social anxiety and hates talking in front of people, but give her a pen and she’s in her element.

With a mix of humorous antics, witty banter, a mysterious plot, and plenty of chemistry, Earl Crush is my favorite kind of historical romance. Arthur was a wonderful MMC, and he was down bad for Lydia. The protectiveness and devotion he showed was exceptionally swoony.

While this is a single narrator, I honestly didn’t notice. Mhairi Morrison did such a great job on Arthur’s Scottish accent and I had to force myself to take a break and stop listening.

My first from Alexandra Vasti but not my last.

A lot of angst for Arthur Baird, Fifth Earl of Strathrannoch when his own invention, a rifle scope, disappears with his brother, Davis. Then there's the mad English woman who shows up at his door, faints and falls into his arms. Lydia Hope-Wallace is in Scotland to offer marriage to Arthur. Corresponding letters between them gave Lydia hope for a marriage of convenience, eventhough they have never met. Hmmmm..letters Davis wrote and signed with Arthur's name. How embarrassing! Arthur can't stop thinking about Lydia, She is very attracted to Arthur. Those passionate kisses! French spies and a stolen rifle scope, have Arthur, Lydia and their friends on a mad dash from Scotland to London.
Humor (zebras?) and very hot descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti is an absolute delight! Lydia, a socially anxious wallflower and secret political pamphleteer, travels to Scotland to propose a marriage of convenience to the Earl of Strathrannoch, only to discover she’s been corresponding with his brother instead. What follows is a captivating mix of romance, humor, and mystery as Lydia and Arthur team up to track down his wayward sibling.

The romance between Lydia and Arthur is swoon-worthy, with fantastic chemistry, witty banter, and a slow-burn connection that had me hooked. Lydia’s growth from shy wallflower to brave, confident woman is beautifully written, and Arthur is the perfect grumpy yet supportive match for her.

The secondary characters, intriguing plot, and epistolary elements added depth and charm to the story. With humor, heart, and a touch of espionage, this is a must-read for fans of historical romance. I couldn’t put it down and adored every page!

Love, love, love this book! The second in the Belvoir’s Library series, the boy-shy Lydia finally gets her HEA, but not without a ton of shenanigans. At 26, Lydia Hope-Wallace is considered “on the shelf” due to her failed previous 7 seasons (she’s painfully shy and even vomits into potted plants due to nerves). But behind the scenes, she has been writing political (feminist) pamphlets for the last 3 years distributed through Belvoir’s Library. Through her writings, she had struck up a pen-pal relationship with the Earl of Strathrannoch and decides to travel to Scotland to basically propose since she is a lady of means, but she knows his earldom is cash-strapped due to what the previous earl had allowed to happen before his death. When she shows up on the Strathrannoch doorstep, the earl, Arthur Baird, has no clue who she is. They soon realize that his brother Davis had been using his name to correspond with Lydia. I won’t spoil for you all of the hijinx that ensue, but Lydia and Arthur have to work together (and pretend to be married) to find Davis and figure out what kind of trouble he is in. Arthur is an amazing character—full of heart, soft but still has that “touch her and 💀” energy, and has always wanted a loving family. Lydia is stronger than she realizes, and so smart and loyal and a champion for women. The side characters are great and diverse. I loved this all the way to the last page of the epilogue and cried because it was so touching. If you’ve never really been into historical romance but want to try it, start with Ne’er Duke Well and then continue with Earl Crush! You won’t be disappointed.

Ohhhh I’m so obsessed with them

A man who is instantly besotted with her eyelashes?? Hell yes!! Lydia is so me in this book - faints during awkward situations ✅ anxious when speaking to new people ✅ runs away during dinner to her room ✅ I loved her internal monologue and her character growth in the book so much!!! Arthur was always in awe of her and I think that all me should be like that. The romance and the high stakes spy plot blended really well together and I needed to know what was going to happen - in their love story and the main plot as well!

Things I also loved:
-the herd of zebras
-Arthur telling her that’s she brave
-that scene in the woods 😏
-the epilogue letters!!!!! I’m still kicking my feet over them!!

Can’t wait for Georgiana’s book next!!

Pub date: 1/21

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest review

This book has mistaken identities and all the crazy that regular historical romance readers love. Author is the perfect grumpy recluse and Lydia is great shy wallflower blue stocking. All the side characters helped bring everything together and were very lovable.

I’m not a huge reader of historical romance - actually this is the only series I’ve read recently, and I love it!

📖 Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
📚 book 2 • Belvoir's Library series
🎙 Mhairi Morrison

⭐️: 4.5/5
🌶️: open door, a few scenes

💭 overall thoughts:
Alexandra Vasti’s writing is so fun 😍
This story was captivating from the first pages.

Lydia & Arthur don’t expect to want one another, and spend a lot of time fighting it, but ultimately, they’re a perfect match.
I love how neither wants to change the other, and they accept & love one another for who they truly are.

I adored the little bits of letter writing we got at the start of each chapter, showing a bit more depth of each character.

I also love the strong women & their partners who support them, and I can’t wait for Georgiana’s sapphic love story up next!

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Mhairi Morrison has such a lovely voice, and I love her accents!

read if you love:
💜 historical romance
💍 fake marriage
🛏 only one bed
🥹 mutual pining
🔗 forced proximity
🔎 mystery + adventure
🫶🏼 family + found family
💞 dual 3rd person pov

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Dreamscape Media, Libro.fm & NetGalley for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.

This is Alexandra Vasti’s sophomore novel, and it's as fantastic as the first! It’s funny and romantic with a unique mystery and a swoon-worthy MMC and love story.

Lydia, a socially anxious wallflower and secret political writer, travels to Scotland to meet and propose a marriage of convenience to the man she's corresponded with for years, she learns that she's been duped. She hasn't been writing to the Earl of Strathrannoch. Instead, his brother has been writing to Lydia using Arthur’s name. Arthur is furious that his brother pretended to be him, and though he prefers to live a solitary life, he needs Lydia to help locate his wayward brother, who has disappeared with one of Arthur’s inventions.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters are super likable and the mystery is intriguing. I thought Ludia was an amazing protagonist. She's sharp and strong and a great match for Arthur. Lydia also has social anxiety. I love that the author shows us this brave, bold, and capable woman who sometimes struggles in different settings. As an anxiety sufferer, I understood her feelings, and I thought the author captured the complexities of anxiety well.

Arthur, our grumpy MMC is also wonderful. An intelligent, honorable man, Arthur is endearing from the start. His declarations are gorgeous and romantic, and you can tell that he really sees and understands Lydia. All he wants is to support her, and I love that he gets her to see just how amazing she is. The man is smitten, and rightfully so! Lol Both characters are complex and imperfect, and they are perfect for each other.

The romance between Lydia and Arthur is positively swoon-worthy with some sweet and charming scenes, tons of pining, great banter, and a few steamy times that made me stop to get a fan! From their first meet-cute, you can feel the tension between them, and I loved every minute of it.

The secondary characters are great too, as are the setting and the mystery surrounding Arthur’s brother. The found family trope is one of my faces, and it's done so well in this story. I also love the inclusion of letters and writings from the main characters at the start of each chapter. You learn so much about them through these little snippets, especially regarding their feelings about each other.

This is such a great read, and I'm excited to read Vasti's next book. If it's anything like this one., I know I'll adore it. Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This is yet another fun, captivating, and energetic read from Alexandra Vasti. She has a knack for writing characters who you want to invest in from the first page. I love her ability to write strong, independent deme characters, and Lydia is no different. The story moved quickly and was an easy read, and the plot twists were timed well. A good pick!

Earl Crush is a funny/madcap historical romance and mystery. . Lydia has been writing political pamphlets (anonymously) and a man has been corresponding with her for a few years. She knows his name and where his Scottish estate is, and when our story starts she and a close friend are arriving there, to surprise him with a marriage proposal (she’s got money and he doesn’t; they have a good relationship on paper). But it turns out that she hasn’t been corresponding with whom she thinks she has. Things get wild from there, as in runaway zebras wild. Resolving the stolen identity and disappearance of important documents is occasionally difficult to follow, but the slow burn growth of feelings between Lydia and the true Earl is lovely and joy to read. Second in a series, but can be read as a standalone.

I love historical romance and this one did not disappoint. We gave a quirky female main character making crazy decisions, and then we have a grumpy cinnamon roll male lead. Lydia is up to hijinxs when it comes to meeting her penpal. However, she quickly realizes she’s been catfisbed. Now to solve problems, maybe fall in love, and be silly.

This delightful sophomore novel from Vasti enchanted me from start to finish. I adored Arthur and Lydia! The espionage plot also added a delightful drama to the romance.