This was a joy, and surprisingly mysterious and high stakes! I love Vasti's lean into (historically authentic) absurdity, and the opening scenes were hilariously melodramatic. Lydia was such a compelling character in Ne'er Duke Well, and to see her absolutely wreck a big, burly, pure-hearted Scotsman feels so RIGHT. I loved seeing how she and Arthur learn one another's minds, and how her secret and scandalous political career is foundational to how she's understood by him and his family. Lydia deserves to be a whole person, and the exploration of how her family has shielded her - a misguided attempt to protect her - from conflict and anxiety was so well done. To see her and Arthur again self-confidence and a sense of individual purpose through their journey was so moving.

And this political plot!! I didn't see it coming and loved where it took us. This made for an exciting third act that propelled us headlong into difficult discoveries, and thankfully brought along a cast of loveable side characters, too.

The interwoven epistolary elements and chapter starts were brilliantly done and helped land an emotional gut punch in the third act, and I give 12/10 stars to these love declarations. Such a fun follow-up to Ne'er Duke Well, but one that can easily stand alone for new readers. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy.

Marriage of convenience, only one bed, grumpy/sunshine, social anxiety rep

Lydia Hope-Wallace at six and twenty (a spinster, really) has corresponded with the Earl of Strathrannoch (Arthur), on political matters, in which she also writes pamphlets about under a pen name, Lydia decides to surprise him with a marriage proposal. Except, once she arrives in Scotland, nothing is as it seems.

Hilarity & adventures ensue, along with a few steamy scenes, a zebra chase and a bit of mystery,

Alexandra Vasti does it again, an absolute 11/10 read.

The characters are complex, human, and relatable. Even the side characters have incredible depth to them, and I can't wait for more of this series. I love how the rules and norms of the time are portrayed accurately and include groups typically left out of historical romances. The best thing about this book are undoubtedly the characters. The women supporting other women, and the men that respect them as they are despite the time period the story is set in.

I am recommending this book to absolutely anyone that will listen for preorder.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc! Earl Crush was such a fun, cute read. As a fan of historical romance, I had a good feeling about it, but Lydia was such a likeable character that it elevated it even more. She seemed to refreshingly normal in the sense that she was anxious,‘didn’t always light up a room, and had so many options but didn’t know how to express them. We also love a moment of romance where the person on paper literally doesn’t match what she had in her head, and chaos ensues.

This book is so much more than a historical romance. To start, I’ve never come across a character more relatable than Lydia. In her moments of anxiety and self-doubt, I saw myself. With the soft, supportive scotsman Arthur at her side, she truly blossoms. As a fellow wallflower, I was inspired by her growth.

In regard to the plot, the addition of mystery and suspense was a refreshing twist, offering readers more depth and intrigue than the usual historical romance storyline. Finding out that it’s inspired by actual historical events was an added bonus. I would definitely recommend this to my romance reader/historical fiction friends.

Thank you NetGalley, Alexandra Vasti, and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun read! As a fellow anxious lady, Lydia was such a lovable and relatable character. Earl Crush is the perfect historical romance for those that love an adventure and a little bit of espionage.

Mark your calendars for January 21, 2025!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, stmartinspress, for this gifted copy!

Short summary: Lydia shows up to propose marriage to the earl she has come to know over 3 years of writing letters to each other, an offer or marriage that is purely logical

I don't read many romances as thrillers, memoirs, and classics tend to catch more of my attention. It's not that I don't like them, they just sort of fade into the background among other books. But this. I loved this!! As the characters travel, become acquainted, take on disguises, and get to the bottom of things, I was laughing out loud, scoffing when appropriate, and overall just truly enjoying the story.

The main gal had me giggling at times. Her personality begins as timid and a bit shy, but throughout the book we see she is also determined. She pushes herself up to speak up, have adventures, and figure out what in the world is going on!

Arthur. Oh, Arthur. I just love you.
Arthur is a big, brawly man who appears tough enough to carry it all and not give a lick what anyone things. Nay nay. Arthur is the sweetest!! Underneath his burliness he's soft and squooshy, and even a little insecure.

For all of you smut lovers, don't you worry. As sweet as the romance here is, there is some mm-mm-mm.

Truly! Truly. I loved this book. Would recommend.

Earl Crush is a sequel to Alexandra Vasti’s fabulous first novel Ne’er Do Well and is just as charming as the first – actually more. I absolutely adored Arthur and Lydia’s story.
Lydia Hope-Wallace is a painfully shy wallflower who finds an outlet in secretly publishing pamphlets through her friend’s library. Lydia is super smart and intelligent but her debilitating shyness prevents her from being able to speak to strangers or form relationships with people outside her family and trusted circle of friends. Writing gives her an outlet and for the past three years she has been corresponding with the Earl of Strathrannoch. The letters give Lydia a sense of security and she hits upon the idea of a marriage of convenience – since she can hardly speak to any man at a ball or in social situations and he needs money to improve his estate. But when she arrives in Scotland she is devastated to discover that the Earl has no idea who she is. She has been corresponding with his brother instead.
Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch can do without the added complication of a stunning redheaded stranger offering him marriage – when he is already stressed trying to find where his brother has disappeared to. But maybe she can help him in his quest. Desperately attracted to Lydia – he knows that he can’t act upon it. Will their shared quest bring them closer together?
Oh this book! I am really struggling to put into words just how much I loved it. Arthur and Lydia are such memorable characters. Lydia’s anxiety and inability to speak in public really resonated with me and I was with her every step of the way when she had to overcome that and do what needed to be done. I totally understood how she was so comfortable with her nearest and dearest yet found it so difficult to speak to strangers. Still she showed real courage and spirit when she had to.
Arthur is such a special hero. When he was first introduced it looked like he was your standard alpha Scottish male. But Alexandra showed us his insecurities and self doubts. I loved that Arthur always considered Lydia every step of the way. He saw the real Lydia straightaway and never underestimated her – always asking her opinions and asking her what SHE wanted rather than assuming she was incapable because of her shyness. He spent most of the book thinking he was unworthy of her.
I’m loving the world Alexandra has built and the secondary characters are wonderful. The story is fast paced and has intrigue, mystery, humour along with the romance.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Arthur and Lydia have become one of my favourite couples, the writing is superb as ever and I really can’t wait for Georgiana’s story. I’m definitely hoping Lydia’s brothers get their stories. Another triumph from Alexandra Vasti!

I jumped on board with the historical, political, romance… but slowly I realized the romance was the only well done part. I found myself skimming the politics as much as I really wanted to get into them, especially for the espionage aspect. I finished it, but I’d be hard pressed to recommend it.

I love how Earl Crush combined so many elements of the historical rom-coms I adore while also feeling fresh and original, especially with the inter-story quotes starting each chapter.

I related to Lydia’s intelligent but slightly chaotic/impulsive personality, which stood in intriguing comparison to Arthur’s calm and steady yet stubborn presence. It leant itself well to the dual POV - mutual pining - angsty romantic buildup as the story progressed.

Alexandra Vasti writes with a keen balance of humor and drama and mystery with the right amount of spice in the right places. Perfect for fans of Evie Dunmore or Julia Quinn, with additional wit and adventure a la Enola Holmes.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, fake dating, found family

This enormous, thoughtful, wonderful Scottish hero had me sobbing when he finally asked for help. No spoilers but my heart ...

This story was 90% percent fun and adventure and intrigue and about 15% heartwrenching. I absolutely loved Lydia and her gentleness and grit and determination (although she wouldn't see herself that way). I love Arthur, in all his prickliness. I love the depth of the characters, they are all written with such heart. A truly delightful book (sobs notwithstanding) and I am so excited for the next in the series!!

this book was good. definitely outside of my normal readings but I loved this book. I will definitely be reading from this author again.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti is a delightful mix of humor, mystery, and romance that kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The humor in the book is spot-on, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

The mystery aspect of the story was equally compelling. I found myself eager to keep turning the pages, trying to solve everything alongside the characters. The epilogue, with its heartfelt letters, added a final, touching element that brought the story to a satisfying close.

Arthur, the male lead, is an absolute sweetheart. His gentleness, care, and genuine affection for Lydia make him such a lovable character. He’s the kind of hero who deserves all the love, and I adored him throughout the book. Meanwhile, Lydia's journey really struck a chord with me. Her shyness and timidness, coupled with her desire to have a voice made her incredibly relatable. Watching her grow into herself, gaining confidence and finding her voice, was truly satisfying.

Of course, the spicy scenes were definitely a highlight—intense and beautifully written, adding just the right amount of heat to the story!

Overall, Earl Crush is a fantastic read that masterfully blends humor, mystery, romance, and self-discovery. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, heartfelt story with plenty of twists and a touch of spice!

A rich wallflower and an impoverished earl with recluse tendencies?!! MY CATNIP. I loved this book and the premise and the tension. Love the voice of this author

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, and once I started, I was completely swept away. It was such a fun, satisfying read from beginning to end! Lydia is one of those characters you just admire, she’s got so much strength about her that makes you root for her, and Arthur? Wow. His steady, unwavering support for her made him such a standout. Plus, I love a man who is fully devoted to his wife, and Arthur fits that bill perfectly.
This book really hit the sweet spot for me. It’s funny, heartfelt, and let’s be real, very spicy in all the right ways. Alexandra Vasti just knows how to balance everything so well, giving us those swoon-worthy moments and then cranking up the heat. If you’re looking for a historical romance that’s clever, feminist, and full of heart, this is it.
Also, can we talk about the rest of Lydia’s family? I’m already hoping for a series because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters just yet.
A massive thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for this early copy! I already can’t wait for what’s next!

4.25 stars

I have to confess that I was a little nervous going into this ARC. I love Alexandra Vasti's Halifax Hellions novellas, but Ne'er Duke Well, which precedes Earl Crush, was a DNF for me.

Happily, I really, really liked this book. Lydia Hope-Wallace is a fiercely political heiress with severe social anxiety. Having corresponded with the earl of Strathrannoch for three years about her political pamphlets, she travels to his seat to propose a marriage of convenience. But oh noes! The real earl has not, in fact, been writing to her. Instead, it was his brother, who appears to be up to no good. Lydia and the earl, Arthur, team up to uncover his brother's plans.

What follows is funny, and sweet, and sexy, and political without being soapboxy. And given I am often too cynical for my own good when reading the first book after a DNF or bad review of the same author's work, I was so pleased with how Vasti answered any objections I had as the story progressed.

For example, one of my favorite moments is when they first touch, and there is a veritable ✨spark✨ between them as there is in many romance novels. Reader, I rolled my eyes a little. But here, it is literally just static electricity. I laughed with delight.

There is also a fake engagement, which is not my favorite trope, but it really works here.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the very hot dry hump against a door.

Overall, Earl Crush feels clever, fresh and energetic--exactly what I love about Vasti's work. I ate it up.

Fixing these issues would have made this a five-star read for me:

1. I would have liked this to be a little slower of a burn. They got hot and heavy around 40%, and after that, the intimate scenes came thick and fast and lost some of their impact as a result. Lydia and Arthur had such great chemistry that I would have liked Vasti to ratchet up the tension a little longer.
2. There was a little too much internal monologuing, particularly from Arthur, toward the end. That started to feel a little tedious even if Vasti did a good job of showing us throughout the book how his father had decimated his sense of self-worth.
3. Finally, I wanted more of Davis. He was such an off-page presence throughout, and then when he finally shows up in person, it didn't feel like there was enough of an emotional resolution between him and Arthur, and him and Lydia.

Cannot wait to read Georgiana's book! She was a minor character but a delightful and intriguing one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.

Once again, Alexandra Vasti has solidified her spot on my must read author list! Earl Crush is an incredible follow up to Ne’er Duke Well (which is absolutely LOVED) so I was so pleased to find that I loved this one just as much as the last!

The characters come to life on the page with so much heart that you can’t help but fall in love. Lydia and Arthur are so deeply entwined in each other’s lives before they even know it and watching the details unravel as they actually just tangled even closer was a treat.

Lydia’s growth over the novel was incredible. I loved seeing her find her strength, her focus, her (in real life) voice. Arthur’s journey to discovering the love of family and the untold truth of the way his father saw him and how that shaped him was beautiful. The way they grew in their communication, trust and love throughout the story was truly wonderful.

I’m absolutely loving this series and cannot wait to see more from this incredible group of women!

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

This is the 2nd Alexandra Vasti ARC I've reviewed this year. Her first book in this Regency romance series, N'er Duke Well, came out this past spring. And now the 2nd book in the series, Earl Crush, comes out January 2025. I was very impressed with the first book and gave it 4 stars. But let me tell you Earl Crush is a 5 star read! It was addicting, spicy, emotional. I ate it up! Vasti has quickly entered into my list of favorite Regency romance writers.

This novel is a blend of Regency romance and hard boiled detective adventure/mystery. I thought Vasti created an interesting mystery that left me guessing for the entirety of the story until the big reveal. And I ate up the romance. The characters were both very lovely cinnamon rolls. This book also had great spice.

I give Earl Crush 5 out of 5 stars.

This book has it all: romance, mystery, spies, crimes, and good old-fashion regency spice. After a couple clunky chapters at the beginning (just stick with it) this story keeps you engrossed as Lydia and Arthur try to solve the mystery of his missing brother and the mess he’s involved with. If you came for the spicy scenes, there are plenty of those to go around too.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I adored this so much! On the surface, the list of things this book includes sounds like the best kind of chaos: espionage, a crumbling castle, and a pack of wild zebras. It also included an incredibly intelligent and competent heroine and a Scottish earl who was so gone for her. One of my favorite parts of their romance was how he supported her through her social anxiety and learned what she needed. Their declarations of love were some of the most romantic I have ever read and brought me to tears. This was the perfect balance of romp, tenderness, and steamy romance and I truly cannot wait for more from Alexandra Vasti!