4.5 stars

This queer regency-era book is a must read for any queer historical book lovers.

These characters were some of my favourite ones to read about in a long time. The misogyny that Elf deals with, and her need for validation in her work is so emotional and upsetting. It really sheds light on the infantilization of women in this era of history, even if this is fiction. Georgie's exploration of their non-binary identity was so wonderful to read about, especially in the way that they use clothing to physically express how they feel about their gender on any given day.

The romance was so beautiful. The tension between Elf and Georgie was amazing, and the progress in how they warmed up to each other slowly, and began to trust each other was so enjoyable to read about. The way Georgie continuously wants to prove themselves to Elf, and helps Elf to receive credit for her work is just wonderful.

Overall, I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a historical queer romance, or a Regency era book with non-binary representation.

A huge thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group and Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This had a delightful enemies to lovers, childhood rivals dynamic. Elfreda and Georgie are neighbors. Elfreda is a scholar and has been trying to find any proof on her fathers land to support the stories told. Georgie who was a bit against the norm who secretly worked on the stage and sometimes wore men's clothing. Also, as neighbors their families don’t get along because of long histories.
I love how their relationship developed. As Elfreda didn’t realize that Georgie was just trying to get her attention but seemed more like she was trying to annoy her. But once the lake incident where Georgie was trying to help happened her thinking shifted. Elfreda learning that sapphic love was a thing and that she didn’t need to be with a man like society told her. Or her useless father told her, honestly it seems like the majority of fathers in this time period are awful to their daughters. Or just in line with society taking credit for womens work.
I love historical romance books as now lgbtq+ is talked about, then it was illegal or taboo in that time period. Ancient times it was there and much different. Our human culture is fluid and stories and histories change or are removed by man and are interpreted as they will be. But it doesnt change the fact that gay people have and always will exist.

Was sooo excited to meet and interview this author at Apollycon this year.

Thank you berkley romance for the gifted copy

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted eARC. My opinions are my own.

Synopsis: When an aspiring archaeologist teams up with her childhood enemy for a treasure hunt, they find it impossible to bury their growing feelings.

Read this for:
- childhood enemies to lovers
- queer historical romance
- lots of info on archaeology
- crumbling manor house
- treasure hunting
- non-binary MC
- daredevil twin sisters
- thumbing noses at the patriarchy

My thoughts: this is a charming story filled with interesting characters (some of whom I wanted to punch), lots of historical tidbits both of ancient peoples and 1800’s England, interesting history of archeology in England. I loved Georgie and Elfreda’s journey from childhood enemies, to treasure hunting partners, to lovers. The side stories of Georgie’s ex fiancé and Elfreda’s terrors of little sisters are fun and I want more. The dual perspectives of Georgie and Elfreda helped balance the understanding of what was going on, because they have vastly different ways of seeing the world.

Highly recommend! I also picked up A Shore Thing also by Joanna that I can’t wait to read.

I really enjoyed this Sapphic queer historical romance between Georgie, a nonbinary/gender nonconforming actor and their childhood friend, Elfie, an aspiring archaeologist who is determined to prove her father's property was once the site of Viking camp.

This book had great queer characters, a romance to root for, adventures in archaeology with riddles and clues from Elfie's grandmother (herself a budding archaeologist). I loved how the two main characters challenged gender roles of their time and fought for the love and lives they wanted.

Great on audio narrated by Ros Watt and perfect for fans of authors like Erica Ridley. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Elfreda Marsden discovered an amulet proving that the Viking army camped on her family’s estate. Her nemesis, Georgie Redmayne, is back from London and literally collides with Elfreda. The amulet is lost, and now Elfreda can't lead an excavation to prove her theories. Georgie hates being in the countryside and needs money to leave Derbyshire. Joining forces to locate a hidden hoard of Viking gold is the best chance for them both, but attraction builds up between them. Is there something more valuable than the gold?

Elfreda and Georgie had multiple interactions over the years that were less than stellar and would be the stuff of pratfall comedy if this were a different type of book. Elfreda felt that she was being made fun of and belittled, especially with her father denigrating her intelligence as female whimsy, and the Redmayne family purchasing part of their property when they fell on hard times. She had archeological theory instilled in her, but her father's and society's beliefs still override hers. Without the amulet to prove her theory, even her grandmother's translated works are dismissed. Georgie had drummed up a scandal in London by dressing in masculine clothing some days, acting on stage, and drinking. They don't feel like any particular gender, and they are best friends with a pair of women in love with each other. As much as they clock Elfreda as one of them, the potential for an archeological dig and recognition is more alluring to her.

There's a bit of discussion regarding how the gender binary doesn't quite fit Georgie, and how acting allowed them the ability to test that fluidity. Seeing two women in love and realizing it's even an option led Elfreda to consider that with Georgie. They discover each other's dreams, and in their own ways, try to make it happen. The discovery of what is important to them, as well as the historical finds, brings them together. While the Regency time period is working against them, they're willing to risk it for happiness.

I liked A Rare Find! It’s not too plot heavy, more of a slice of life kind of story. We get a lot of good character development about both Georgie and Elf. The romance enemies, to friends, to lovers.
There’s a lot of really great exploration and discussion about gender in this book. Due to the time period, the way the characters talk about it is a little different than you and I would today, but their sentiments and experience aren’t all that different than many current queer experiences might be.

The authors note is excellent. If you skip it, you’d be doing yourself a disservice! It’s very well written and thoughtful and gives a great perspective on the book.

Another sapphic historical romance author that I’ll be keeping my eye on!

This is my first Joanna Lowell book, and I’m glad I picked it up. Though it launched with a slow start, one that required a couple chapters for me to get into I eventually was smitten.

With budding archeologist and historian Elfreda getting into mess after mess. From losing a medallion to support her findings, to falling into a lake, and running into her childhood enemy.

Said enemy, Georgie, is the non-binary of my dreams. A chaos Muppet who is still just trying to figure out where they fit. Running into Elf, Georgie’s nickname for our archaeologist, stirs up a ton of memories, feelings, and a personal mission to somehow redeem themselves in Elf’s eyes. Though winning her over and succumbing to a decades-long crush wasn’t the plan… or was it?

The journey these two take to falling in love is equal parts adorable, dangerous, and heart-aching. Both Elf and Georgie have gone through tough battles of not being enough, of feeling less than, due to family and others, but it was discovering their importance to one another and their ability to be steadfast to someone else that kept me turning the pages.

There is a bit of a Pride and Prejudice element to Georgie and Elfreda’s interactions at first, this misunderstanding was born of assumptions and misinterpreted actions or behaviors that only come from youthful mishaps. I think it was refreshing to see how the interactions in the present and the rehashing of their childhood encounters foster the acceptance these two eventually discover.

In the end, I couldn’t wait to see how they got their happily ever after, and the end result was satisfying, despite the sluggish start. There are proper villains, a couple of side characters that do get their well-deserved moments, and even a pair of spoonicorns.

For readers who enjoy Olivia Waite.

~ Landra

This is my first Joanna Lowell book, but she has been on my radar for awhile, so I was very excited about the opportunity to read her latest book. I follow both a mudlarking on the Thames page and a UK metal detecting page on social media, so needless to say, I was thrilled to pieces when I found out that this book was—in part—about archaeology.

Elf and Georgie were never particularly friends in their youth; their interactions were based on proximity rather than affection. Their reunion as young adults begins catastrophically when Georgie knocks the amulet that is supposed to change Elf’s life into a cowpond. Their mutual decision to put aside their differences turns out to be the best decision of their lives.

This book highlights a key sociological theme: Elf’s family—the Marsdens—are old and genteel, although lately, it’s been more like genteel poverty. Georgie’s family—the Redmaynes— are wealthy, but relative newcomers to the district. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the surnames? Chef’s kiss! Brilliant!

Elf’s father is an antiquarian who refuses to believe that there might be evidence of Northmen (Viking) activity in his own backyard, and dismisses evidence from his late mother’s notes as fanciful fiction. Nor does he seem to notice or care that his six year old twins are feral and his teenage daughter thinks she’s a locked princess in a tower. He appreciates Elf because she is like him, but similarly refuses to acknowledge that she is intelligent enough to be capable enough to be his successor.

So that is why Elf agrees to accept help from Georgie in proving her theory about the winter camp of the Northmen. Coming into Georgie’s circle is eye-opening for Elf who encounters new people and ideas, chiefly that maybe Georgie Redmayne is not such a horrible person.

I have focused on Elf, but Georgie is equally delightful for living their life genuinely and without (much) concern of scrutiny or censure. They are bold and brave and the perfect foil for Elf, who would never have truly dreamed for more without Georgie telling her that she didn’t have to accept the place she’d been assigned. Georgie is kind and loyal and just an absolute sweetheart.

I loved everything about this book: the characters—both main and side, the banter, the archaeology…everything! But the best thing about this book is that there is no Big Misunderstanding in which the protagonists separate because of something that could have been resolved easily with one conversation. When books exclude the Big Misunderstanding from the story arc, it proves that it doesn’t need to be an essential part of the arc.

I would absolutely recommend A Rare Find. Like I said at the beginning, this is my first Lowell book, but it’s not going to be my last. When I really like a book, I make sure to acquire print copies and audiobooks in addition to the e-book. This is one of those books. I’m not sure which Lowell book I’ll read next, but I already know I’m going to enjoy it.




I received a digital ARC of this book from Berkeley/NetGalley

While there are a lot of things I like conceptually about this book and nothing I particularly disliked, it never really sucked me in and I just felt apathetic for most of my time reading it. I thought the prose was nice, not too flowery but not without embellishment.

I appreciated the themes of exploring your gender identity, queer solidarity, women's rights in various fields, archeology and history, sisterly affection, and dealing with toxic parents. I do think most of these themes were only dealt with in a fairly light and fleeting way for much of the story.

I had less appreciation for how Elfreda and Georgie acted like children even though they were in their 20s. The bickering and misunderstandings between them felt forced, which made the overcoming of their disagreements feel less earned and genuine. I didn't particularly like either of them for most of the book, but their later character development helped my opinion end on a more positive note.

So, ultimately this is a low-stakes slow paced story about childhood enemies reconnecting romantically as adults and overcoming the flaws that kept them from understanding each other. If you're in the mood for a historical romance that's easy breezy and mostly wandering around nice country estates, you may enjoy this.

Content Warnings:
Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness

A lovely and heartfelt romance between two people who are looking for their places in the world and find mutual support, love, and joy with one another.

I’ve always been interested in archeology, so I loved the premise of a regency era story featuring an intelligent, focused young woman with a passion for history, searching for proof that the Anglo-Saxons indeed encamped on her family’s property. Elfreda was truly the central heart of her family, not only focused on keeping her beloved grandmama’s legacy of scholarship alive but also taking care of her little sisters and her self-obsessed, miserly father. I can’t say I have any sympathy for Elf’s father - he was a constant disappointment, and the way he and his colleagues dismissed Elf’s work and worth at every turn was so frustrating, even though I know that is exactly what happened to women back then (and still happens today).

Georgie was a delight, and their “banishment” to their country estate was exactly what both they and Elf needed to push them out of their comfort zones and to a place where they were ready to seize their own happiness. I’m so glad we hopped back and forth between Elf and Georgie’s points of view, because I loved seeing each of them fall in love, hearing their memories from childhood, realizing that their rivalry was all misunderstanding and the sensitive hurt feelings of children. Their moments together, once they’d realized neither truly hated the other, were full of joy, passion, and true happiness, as they grew increasingly closer and more honest with one another about their feelings.

I really appreciated the author’s sensitive handling of Georgie’s gender, both in the text with their conversations about pronouns and in the intro and author’s note. As the author noted, words like non-binary and they/them pronouns weren’t used back in the regency era, but non-binary people existed back then, as did queer people. I enjoyed this glimpse into what a happy life could look like, outside of the roles society expected of women and men. Georgie also had some deep thinking to do about their future, and being around Elf was a big help in that regard. Not only is Elf’s all-consuming passion for history adorable to them, Elf could see Georgie more clearly than they could see themself. Having that outside perspective and support telling them that they bring joy everywhere they go, and that their ideas are good and not silly, was the kind of grounding Georgie needed to start taking themself seriously as well.

For my romance readers, I’d say this is probably 2/5 on the spicy scale, though it does escalate rather quickly, considering Elf hadn’t even thought about kissing a girl until she saw Georgie’s friends, lol. Nothing felt out of place, though I can’t imagine a world where a pile of blankets on the roof of an ancient house that’s practically falling apart is comfortable haha.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this book for review purposes. It just came out a few weeks ago, so you can grab a copy from your favorite local bookstore or library today!

A Rare Find - @joannalowellauthor 

✨Queer historical romance
✨They/them rep
✨Enemies-to-lovers
✨Treasure hunt

Let’s set the scene:
Elfreda Marsden = no-nonsense archaeology nerd, family breadwinner, has probably threatened at least one Victorian man with a shovel

Georgie Redmayne = scandal-soaked stage darling, nonbinary icon, chaotic bisexual with charm for days

These two? ENEMIES.
But now they’re partnering up to excavate an ancient Viking treasure.
And maybe each other’s emotional walls. 😏

This book has everything:

🧭 Enemies-to-lovers slow burn that simmers

🎩 Genderqueer historical rep that’s affirming, beautiful, and never treated like a plot twist

🪙 Viking relics, cursed amulets, and just enough mystery to keep the tension crackling

📖 Found family, supportive sisters, emotional healing, and delicious mutual pining

🔥 And yes… historical spice done right. Did I mention the face sitting? Because, babes. 👀

💬 Favorite moment? Georgie’s gender journey explored with such softness and respect—plus the banter is peak Regency rom-com.

Joanna Lowell doesn’t just write queer historicals, she reclaims the genre, lovingly inserting the messy, joyful queer lives we know have always existed, but rarely get the spotlight.

So if you’re craving:
🌿 Big queer feelings in a dusty museum coat
🎭 A chaotic, charming enby who steals scenes AND hearts
🛠️ Strong women who dig for relics and respect
💋 A romance that builds tension like it’s laying bricks

Then A Rare Find belongs on your Pride stack, no questions asked.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Elfreda wants to pursue archaeology and digs around her family property following her grandmother's journal and stories. Her neighbor Georgie is banished back to the family estate after a scandal. And while they give Elfreda a hard time, they also join together to search.

I found the treasure search fascinating. The ensuing fight against the patriarchy of such pursuits was also well written. And I appreciated a nonbinary character in this historical romance. The author's note addressed the historical time and likely accuracy quite well.

However, I was less entranced by the actual romance. It seemed to progress quickly and be grounded more in the physical than in emotion. And there were some aspects with secondary characters that felt both outlandish and unnecessary. This one didn't quite live up to the promise of A Shore Thing for me. But I will continue to read further books from Joanna Lowell.

Ros Watt narrated the audiobook admirably.

3.5 stars rounded up

Elf needs a friend. A confidant. Someone who can listen and see her dreams.

Instead, there's Georgie. The bane of Elf's existence.

And they are growing more important to Elf every day.

"Vengeful fury. There was no point. In truth, she didn't feel vengeful or furious. That was all gone. She felt tired. She went to the chair and sat."

This book is, indeed, a rare find. Austen-ite, in the best way.

Even though it wasn’t the book I expected to be, and it took me a while to get over that disappointment, I still enjoyed A Rare Find for what it was.

Let me start with what this isn’t. The blurb is heavy on the treasure hunting aspect, talking about a proper excavation, a hidden hoard of Viking gold, and unexpected adventures, but that’s something that’s talked about far more than explored. The actual treasure hunting scenes are scattered few and far between, and there’s really only one that has any sense of tension or excitement to it. There is some strong history behind it, with some interesting research into the possibility of treasure, but even that is mostly surface level.

Now, as for what it is, this is a historical romance that delivers on the relationships. Elf and Georgie have a deep history, and it makes their enemies-to-lovers journey even more exciting. Wrapped around that relationship is deep discussion about gender, gender roles, and gender politics at a time when women weren’t free to choose their own path, and their circle of friends brings fantastic color to the scandalous opportunities of their world.

The story is low-stakes and slow-burn, but the supporting cast of characters bring enough life to the story to keep it moving. Not my favorite WLW regency romance, but still a pleasant read.

A Rare Find is a sweet historical fiction romance about an archaeologist wannabe and her next door neighbor frenemy who team up for a treasure hunt. This was silly and lovely with such a sweet romance between these two young women. I loved the quirky characters and I loved the theme of finding yourself. Pub day is today!

This is the second book I've read by Joanna Lowell, and it has cemented the fact that I can rely on this author for cozy romantic historical goodness!

One of my favorite things about this book was the comedic tone of the narration. Joanna Lowell always excels at crafting characters that are wacky, quirky, and chaotic that you can't help but love. Not only are Elf and Georgie delightful narrators, the cast of supporting characters- from Elf's sisters to Charles Peach and Phipps- make the story shine from start to finish.

I simply loved Elf and Georgie together. The two have such good chemistry from the start, and talk about a meet DISASTER after so many years apart!! It's not every day you meet your soulmate when they PUSH YOU INTO A FREAKING POND, but that's precisely what I loved about the scene (what can I say? I love chaos). Elf and Georgie are pretty opposite, which makes their connection work even better. Elf, an aspiring archaeologist, is very serious, and bears the weight of helping raise her family on her shoulders. She also does not do well in social situations, which makes Georgie so perfect for her. Georgie is a born showperson. They are charming and witty and love to act, and their London lifestyle seams leagues away from Elf's quiet life in the country. At the start, Georgie is desperate to get back to the city, but over the course of the story they build a life in the country that they don't want to leave.

In short, this story was like a warm hug from start to finish (despite how annoying Elf's father was). Between their hunt for buried treasure and the chemistry between the two leads, it's a historical romance that needs to be on your TBR!

This was fine, but unfortunately never fully captured me. Though I enjoyed reading a historical romance that felt fresh with its conversations on gender, pronouns and the non-binary spectrum, and I liked Georgie and Elf well enough, I felt like the plot was lacking. I expected more treasure hunting than what this was.

After meeting the author at Spill the Tea this past April, I’ve been wanting to dive into her books more! One incredibly cool thing she does is teach a class on romance books at Wake Forest University!

A Rare Find features:
🪏Elf, our female main character who is an archaeologist who hopes to join the Albion Society of Antiquaries, which is not open to females. She hopes to gain entry by proving the existence of lost treasure horde of a Norse army’s encampment on her family’s property.
🎭Georgie, her nonbinary neighbor, and a longtime menace, pest, and enemy of Elf. They have just returned to their family’s estate after dramatic events both off and on the stage.
💕Georgie must change Elf’s mind about their character and past events to win Elf’s heart. Elf conversely must come out from under her father’s shadow, find her voice, and courage to step into who she really is and wants to be.

This story felt poignant and was full of heart, and a gentle, soft love story. This is a perfect read for Pride 🏳️‍🌈month, or any month of the year.

An aspiring archaeologist teams up with her childhood enemy for a treasure hunt.

This one started out so good and slowly lost me. I don’t think the plot was strong enough to hold my attention for the length of the book (370 pages). This was also a slow burn and I can’t believe that I am saying this BUT when we finally got to some smut it almost felt too smutty for the book? Overall I had an okay time reading this book but wasn’t a super memorable read unfortunately.

read if you like:
- lighthearted historical romance
- banter
- slow burn
- enemies to lovers
- queer

quotes:

“Elfreda willed herself to expire on the spot.”

“If you have ever an interest in joining one of my excursions,” he said, turning his hard gaze on Elfreda, “know that I am honored to receive you.”

thank you so much to Berkley for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own!

Firstly, this cover is absolutely beautiful and swoony oh my goodness!

I absolutely love historical romance and archeology, and as soon as I heard about this book, I just knew I needed to read it!

Ms. Lowell's writing is incredibly descriptive, visceral, and immersive. Each and every element jumps right off of the page, and her writing is thoroughly well-researched.

Oh my goodness, Elfreda and Georgie!! They start out as enemies, but, the more time they spend together and the deeper they get to know one another, their relationship and story melds into one full of so much mutual love, respect, and support for each other. So many moments had me absolutely swooning, and these two beautiful people truly bring out the best in one another.

Furthermore, I learned so much from the "Historical Note" written by the author as well.

Truly, this book is such a viscerally and breathtakingly written queer historical romance. I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to read what Joanna Lowell writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC of this book, it is incredible, and to Berkley Publishing Group for having me on the Blog Tour as well! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.