Not good. I had to stop reading. Nothing sharp or smart about this one. Sadly, I couldn’t finish. I tried.

Alex, does it again! She managed to write something that is both heartfelt and humorous. Arthur is somehow a brawny curmudgeony softy, with a heart of gold and also feels not good enough after being verbally beat down by his father. Lydia has social anxiety but is still very brave in writing opinions that could get her arrested. He's a goner for her from the start in typical Vasti-Verse. And I love it. She's totally taken by his size and enamored by his smell and voice. Also here for it.

The story is just as much about them falling in love as it is the plot of possible treason by Arthur's brother, Davis. I was captivated, and I was fully invested in finding out the truth behind Davis's motives and he's really up to. Vasti continues to surprise us with side characters and giving us little glimpses into their lives, leaving us with more questions than answers in hopes that we will see these people in future installments.

This was a captivating, original, and well written romance. The humor, wit, drama, exotic animals, carriage accidents, espionage, Bonapartests, intrigue, and other plot twists and emotional issues that kept me very entertained. I enjoyed the surprising relationship that built up to a steamy, passionate love and the delightful ending. I highly recommend reading!

A charming historical with a shy but opinionated heroine and an impoverished Scottish earl. The two are thrown together in the hunt for the earl's dastardly brother and, as you'd espect, shenanigans ensue.

This is a great option for anyone looking for Bridgerton read-alikes.

God I love Alexandra Vasti's books!! They are my new form of pure escapism. Move over Tessa Dare and Lisa Kleypas, there's a new historical romance queen in town! (I jest, there's seats at the table for all). If you've been craving something to fill the wait between Bridgerton seasons, might I suggest Earl Crush - and its predecessor, Ne'er Duke Well. They're funny, they're sweet, they're swoony.

Earl Crush is a historical rom-com with a dash of silliness thrown in. It took me a while to get sucked in, but once I did, I found it quite enjoyable. Even though it's the second book in a series, and I haven't read the first one, it wasn't a problem. The story stood perfectly well on its own. Overall, this was a delightful read. So, if you're looking for a light, fun historical rom-com read, I'd recommend it.

Overall enjoyed this! I think I preferred this one over the first book, and had a jolly good time reading it

I think both the hype around this author and the early promise of her Hellions novella series have been a detriment to my enjoyment of her novels, which still aren't able to deliver on the ambitions of their influences quite yet. This one was nonetheless a pleasant enough read and if I had gone into it with no expectations or previous exposure to Vasti's work I would have found it enjoyable if ultimately not memorable--which to be fair isn't the worst thing in the world, and the latter also applies to the vast majority of not just historical romance titles but the majority of books, period--but that wasn't the case. I did think it was a little better than the previous novel, though, and the next in the series is about sapphic Gothic novelists so just based on that alone I'll probably give it a chance to see if it does more for me. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

An utterly delightful and funny romp! This is everything I want in a historical romance! I loved building upon the characters from Ne’er do well duke and getting to see Lydia come into her own. Overall, perfect balance of plot, a little intrigue and an engaging romance.

Arthur is rightfully obsessed with Lydia from the second she barrels into his life and takes his time being able to express it clearly. Lydia is written so well that her social anxiety is balanced by her courage and rational. The energy between Arthur and Lydia sizzles from the beginning and their dynamic is endearing and hilarious.

Alexandra Vasti cemented her place as an auto-buy author for me with this novel.

Lydia Hope-Wallace, a courageous and visionary heiress, has dedicated three years to crafting revolutionary pamphlets and exchanging letters with who she believes is the Earl of Strathrannoch, showcasing her unwavering passion for creating positive change. Upon learning of the Earl's financial struggles, she embarks on a bold journey to Scotland, driven by a selfless desire to offer support - and unexpectedly discovers the real Earl, Arthur Baird, in the most unexpected way. As Lydia joins forces with Arthur, a quiet yet formidable Scottish hero, to rescue his brother from a perilous situation, they forge an unbreakable bond, rooted in mutual respect and trust. Lydia's remarkable resilience and conviction inspire hope, while Arthur's steadfast support and protection nurture their blossoming romance, weaving a tale of intrigue, humor, and heartfelt moments that will leave a lasting impact. This was a delightful Bridgerton-ish book!

Respectfully, Lydia and Arthur had me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure. I am obsessed with them. Alexandra Vasti is just so good at regency era fiction that doesn't make me roll my eyes. I love her and this universe she's created.

this was so much fun!! I loved it even more than Ne’er Duke Well but some of the plot points were a little lost on me. the characters are so lovable and I can’t wait to read Ladies in Hating!!!

I finished this book in a single day while traveling home from the East Coast—it was impossible to put down!

You’re going to fall in love with this couple. While it didn’t have as much humor as the first book in the series, it’s still absolutely wonderful. The big, grumpy blacksmith reminds me of Stoker from Veronica Speedwell.

There’s so much heart in this story, and the glimpses of letters at the beginning of each chapter add such a lovely touch. In short, Alexandra Vasti writes wonderful historical romances!

I adored Lydia and Arthur.
I loved Arthur’s pining awkwardness and Lydia’s forthright determination. I loved the unique backstory of both characters and the slow-burn, utter deliciousness of their relationship.
If you like sharp, incisive banter, off-the-charts chemistry, and unconventional Regency era characters, this is the book for you!

I ended up really enjoying where this book went. I didn't love Lydia's character in the beginning, but she grew into herself. The third act breakup was kind of purely done and unnecessary. But overall some great characters and plot.

ARC review

Alexandra Vasti writes my favourite historical romance characters. I'd be friends with them all and go on bonkers adventures with them in a heartbeat. Arthur and Lydia are THE perfect insecure idiots to lovers. He doesn't believe he deserves her, and she's just trying not to lose her lunch because she's so anxious. Earl Crush is a bonkers on the road romance that slows a little in the second third. I wasn't too bothered as this is when things really heat up between the main characters. I enjoy Vasti's writing and I'd just deduct one star for the uneven pacing. It took longer to get through than her other books but I still really enjoyed it.

The way this book had me kicking and giggling my feet!! Another win from Alexandra Vasti if I do say so myself.

This book was a very anticipated release for me and it did not disappoint. After reading Ne're Duke Well I just knew I was going to love Lydia's book. She's a plus size heroine who is smart and opinionated but also struggles with social anxiety and talking to others. She's not your typical heroine and I just loved her so much. I love how she secretly writes political pamphlets and is working toward making change within British society for women during this time period!

This book is also so fun in how it opens up with Lydia going to propose to her political pen pal only to discover that the Earl she encounters is not the one she was writing. I absolutely loved Arthur and how he was so enamored with Lydia. They had amazing chemistry and I loved how they got along and were so cute together. Arthur is a cinnamon roll hero who would do absolutely anything for his wife and I love this for them!!

We also have a fun Scottish setting with Lydia and Arthur traveling around trying to find Arthur's brother and I loved the descriptions and it reminded me how much I miss Scotland.

This book also shows me how much I love historical romance. It is my favorite genre and Vasti has become an auto buy author for me. I love how breathes fresh air into the genre since so many authors are retiring from HR and I just need her to keep writing.

Also the way I am going feral for Georgina's book...someone check on my when Ladies in Hating comes out lol

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Pree for the arc, I loved this. I really vibe with Alexandria Vasti's writing style. Historical rom coms are so hit and miss for me, but thus far all of Vasti's have hit. I love the attention to detail and how well researched these are. In addition to having a great time reading I also really enjoy reading her author's notes where she discusses the research.

Back to Lydia and Arthur, I love a fake relationship and this one was so well done. The tension and chemistry were amazing. Because it's a historical rom com there were lots of silly exploits, but it never so over the top that it lost me. I'm super excited for the next one.

I'm still not convinced Arthur is a good love interest name, but the author makes a compelling case.

This was fun! I like Selina and Peter as a couple more, but Lydia and Arthur had a much more exciting story. Were they all down bad for each other and dumb as a result? Absolutely. But I allow it. Fake dating/marriage, mistaken identity, dangerous rebel plots -- there was so much to interest me in this and make it feel like a true adventure that I would absolutely recommend for a good time.

I have to say, I am at a loss as to why historical romance is dying when both books in this series had about five separate smut scenes at or before the 50% mark and they were better written than 90% of the romance books constantly being shoved down my throat on booktok. People need to switch their focus a bit here.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book from the start, but about a quarter of the way in, as the story was still building, I found myself a little bored. However, once the characters figured out what they needed to do and the adventure truly began, I was hooked! I ended up really enjoying this book. The characters were fantastic, and I even laughed out loud a couple of times, thanks to the author’s sharp, witty quips.

Earl Crush is a delightful historical romance about an awkwardly shy woman who secretly writes radical political pamphlets and a reclusive Scottish earl she believes she has been corresponding with for years. The story kicks off when she arrives to propose a marriage of convenience—only to discover that the man she’s been writing to isn’t who she thought he was!

Lydia is such a fun heroine—awkward, chaotic, and full of heart. She takes matters into her own hands and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Arthur, meanwhile, is the epitome of a gentle giant—protective and loyal. I loved how he could sense what Lydia needed, and even when he wanted to step in, he never tried to silence or undermine her. He truly wanted her to be her authentic self, making him a perfect romantic lead.

Though the book had a rocky start for me, I ended up absolutely loving it, and I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alexandra Vasti for the ARC.