4.5/5 There’s a lot of different aspects to this story that made it so enjoyable. It’s a character driven story with the characters’ development unrolled gradually through the story. Warren and Matty had different upbringings but find themselves meeting one another at a time where they’re both have a lot of upheaval in their lives. They find common ground through an art class that allows them to get to know one another better when the rest of their world doesn’t align.

Warren is the son of Punjabi immigrants and since he was 16, he’s taken care of his mother after his older brother ran off to find his fortune ten years ago. But he lives two different lives, one charming and haggling market vendors to stay on budget and being the dutiful son for his other; and the second working as a barkeep at The Curious Fox where he’s cultivated a carefree and debauched reputation. But the rakish hero finds his match with Matty and a way to blend the changes into his life.

Matty has been a Special Investigative Detective at Scotland Yard ever since his mentor rescued him. Solving cases by working as an entrapper and going under cover. I was wary about Matty’s past, but trusting the author and following the breadcrumbs I was given about his past as an entrapper, it gave me the full picture of what he’d endured and his own reconciliation with it. The retirement of his mentor and meeting Warren really shakes up his perception of himself and how others see him.

I really loved the self exploration Matty had from finding a new interest and a sense of belonging he felt with Warren that gave him the confidence to stand for himself.

There’s so much depth of emotion between these characters and side characters that mean a lot to them. It was beautiful and heartfelt and I couldn’t stop highlighting lines throughout the story.

To Sketch a Scandal is the fourth book in the Lucky Lovers of London series.

I’ve only read the last two books of the series and while this could be read as a standalone. The side characters and one of the main locations, The Curious Fox, may provide more context if previous books are read first.

There are two open door encounters.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I found myself really struggling to give like an ounce of shit about Matty enough to get invested in the romance. Like it certainly would be a tough position to be in, but like sympathy for cops that held up criminalizing homosexuality is apparently hard for me to muster. Otherwise it had everything I've come to love in a Jess Everlee novel. Like the romance was enjoyable, Warren and his family were phenomenal characters, and Matty was swell written it is just his premise that proved too big of a roadblock for me to really enjoy this one.

This made me happy!

So I loved The Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence but still need to read the first two books in this series. This references book 2 often enough, though I didn't need to have read it to keep track of the story.

Our lovers:
- Warren Bakshi, bartender at The Curious Fox, an underground gay bar
- Matthew (Matty) Shaw, a detective with Scotland Yard with a precarious position due to previous undercover work

Matty's mentor is retiring and hopes to promote him to a better job, but it's going to be hard considering his reputation (all of his previous undercover work had him posing as a gay sex worker). For his new investigation, his mentor Detective Barrow signs Matty up to pose as an art student at a shady art school... except that Matty is absolutely terrible at making art. When trying to psych himself up, Matty wanders into The Curious Fox and meets the handsome bartender Warren, who is told by his own boss, David Forrester from book 2, that he is ABSOLUTELY NOT allowed to have any further contact with the known cop. Warren and Matty find themselves in the same art class and ohhhh nooooooo Matty is terrible, guess Warren just needs to help him practice drawing!!!

This was very cute, and just my speed. I liked the art setting and was really happy to see a British Indian MC + family. I was charmed by all of this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Adores for the ARC.

Following two side characters appearing throughout this series, To Sketch a Scandal follows Detective Investigator Matthew Shaw, who was briefly Forester's handsome valet in Book 2, and Warren Bakshi, the bartender of the Curious Fox as they inadvertently take the same art class and form a quick and warm friendship.

Despite the setting and ever escalating indecency laws and arrests in Victorian England, this is a surprisingly low stakes and tender romance with an unlikely pairing slowly figuring out how to shape their lives around each other.

I personally found the low stakes to be a bit on the boring side. Despite Warren being forbidden to associate with Matty by Forrester, it seems the consequences of being caught are practically nonexistent. Matty's profession is perhaps the most interesting part of this as he has built a career out of being an undercover investigator, especially as an entraper. Unfortunately his current undercover assignment, as a portraiture student investigating the art school, is incredibly tame, and the investigation itself does not even cover a side plot in this novel.

Nonetheless this is a very tender relationship and I loved how trusting and secure Warren and Matty are with each other.

Insta-lust, friends to lovers, no third act break up.

Thanks to Harlequin for the gifted review copy! Thoughts are my own.

There's much to recommend the fourth novel in Jess Everlee's Lucky Lovers of London series. I read it as a standalone, and it works well. Matty and Warren's chemistry is palpable, and the experience of living as a closeted gay man during the social purity movement of the late 1800s feels grounded. The stakes are high for our lovers, though at times the story moves a bit slowly. Warren's family is a true bright spot; their love for one another and realistic frustrations and shortcomings are lovingly portrayed.

To Sketch a Scandal is a throughly enjoyable queer historical romance. Jess Everlee once again sets the story in the world of the Curious Fox, a London gentleman’s club where everyone is queer and the found family is top notch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Warren Bakshi is the bartender at the Curious Fox, where he can outwardly be himself and has had his fair share of conquests. But when his long lost brother returns home married and wealthy, he’s forced to find more appropriate things to do. He decides to try an art class, where he runs into Detective Matthew Shaw. Aside from the fact that the pair have a history, Matty doesn’t want Warren to blow his cover; he’s having a tough enough time with his loutish police colleagues. But it turns out that while Warren is a talented artist, Matty is…not. So he turns to Warren for some extra tutoring sessions. And naturally this one on one time turns into other activities too.

It’s delightful watching these two spend time together. Their mutual attraction is never in doubt. I also like the way they both open up and let themselves be vulnerable the more one on one time they spend together. It took a little while to get them to their art class, but once they were there I was fully invested in this couple’s happiness.

It’s always fun to be back at the Curious Fox. The found family is top notch, with the realistic fear of being outed as a queer club. This story can definitely be read as a standalone, but there are references to events from earlier books. I also want to shout out Warren’s Punjabi family, who ultimately love and support him even when he can’t share all his secrets.

To Sketch a Scandal is a charming queer historical romance. With two very different main characters, legitimate obstacles to overcome, and great found family, I truly enjoyed Warren and Matty’s story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

To Sketch a Scandal is about our dear barkeep at The Curious Fox and a very familiar detective figuring out what it means to belong and be seen.

Warren Bakshi is The Curious Fox's flirtatious and devoted barkeep, known for the numerous notches in his bedpost. He likes his reputation and how it keeps his life at the Fox separate from his familial duties. He isn't looking to change that.
Matthew Shaw is a Special Investigations Detective at Scotland Yard, but his mentor is retiring soon and he isn't prepared for such a huge loss. When he goes looking for company at The Curious Fox, despite his precarious occupation, he finds a sweet and enticing barkeep who leaves him wanting.
But things aren't so easy when the detective is being watched due to his roles in previous cases and Warren has been warned against getting involved with Matty.

Oooooh Boy. This one was a TREAT! I pledged to read the preceding books in the series, and that certainly heightened the overall experience. I felt sucked into the series from the start. This book in particular felt like something about myself was being examined. Like someone was saying "Look! It's not just you!" While it's particularly the feelings and thoughts that I related to, it impacted me no less. Everlee manages to give our leads a happy ending whilst tackling the risks of queerness during the 1800s.

📚 *To Sketch a Scandal* by Jess Everlee
📖 Format: eARC via NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✧

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—this is my honest review.

Set in 1886 London, this queer historical romance follows Warren Bakshi, a barkeep at the underground queer club The Curious Fox, and Detective Inspector Matthew (“Matty”) Shaw, who’s undercover in an art class as part of a criminal investigation.

I struggled a bit to get into the rhythm at first—the pacing felt slow to spark me in—but once Warren and Matty’s art lessons turned personal, the chemistry set fire to the canvas. Warren, torn between newfound family expectations and his secret world, and Matty, navigating forbidden desire and professional duty, brought my heart into each sketch and stolen glance.

Their slow-burn romance is anchored by clever banter, gentle emotional stakes, and historical detail that paints Victorian queer life with grit and tenderness. It’s not flawless—some side plots felt rushed—but the warmth between these men, their community, and the artful tension make it worth the read.

—

✨ Queer historical romance
✨ Barkeep × undercover detective
✨ Slow-burn chemistry
✨ Secret queer spaces in Victorian London
✨ Art class intimacy
✨ Family expectations & hidden lives
✨ Class & cultural tension

#ToSketchAScandal #JessEverlee #QueerHistorical #NetGalleyReviewer #bookstagram #booktok #VictorianRomance #UndergroundQueerLife #SlowBurnRomance

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
To Sketch a Scandal is the fourth book in Jess Everlee’s Lucky Lovers of London series. It can be read as a standalone, and I find that it’s one of the stronger installments of the series, with book two failing to make much of an impression, and book three being a DNF. That’s not to say I didn’t have some misgivings going in, albeit very petty ones; as a Swiftie I cringed every time I read the name “Matty,” especially in the chapter headers, since the blurb referred to him as “Matthew.” I also forgot he was a character from prior books…that’s how forgettable some of those books were! I did get used to it, and it’s absolutely not the author’s fault, but I couldn’t help the somewhat visceral reaction.
However, once I got into the meat of the story and got to know these characters, I was charmed by them. I was a bit more invested in Warren, and intrigued by his family and background, with him being Punjabi, and especially the complexities that come from their sudden change in station due to his brother’s new fortune. Warren also running the queer club at the center of the series’ action was also fairly interesting, providing a window into queer life as it may have been back then, even with the threat of prosecution for “homosexual behavior.”
In spite of his unfortunate moniker, I also liked Matty. His position is even more at risk due to the legal precedent against queer men, as he’s a police detective. The struggle with that, and the expectations of his rather heartless mentor, are issues he reckons with, and while he took longer to get to know, I ended up feeling for him as he struggled to find his own happiness in a less-than-ideal situation.
The romance was also fairly cute, with solid tension and chemistry between them. It’s somewhat lower in stakes, given the words “forbidden romance” are attached, but there’s enough acknowledgment of the situation politically and the other circumstances for that to be understood. And I’m glad that historical queer romances can exist that acknowledge the harsh realities of the past (and nod to some of those same realities in the present), while still being a space for queer joy first and foremost.

I absolutely love Jess Everlee's other books, and this one was just as sweet as the rest of them have been. I like that their relationship developed slowly over time. I also particularly love how Everlee explores the complicated identity politics of the time. I really liked seeing Warren's family dynamic as a Punjabi man in a Punjabi family, and the way that he navigates his changing social status. I also thought that Matty was a really interesting character, and I liked the way he grew through the course of the story. All in all, a sweet, well-written book that I would recommend to fans of Everlee's other work, and also KJ Charles fans.

This was super engaging, fun, and both sweet and dramatic at times. Warren and Matty are adorable together, and their growth both apart and together is lovely to see. I loved the historical aspect, and the struggle to be able to live their true lives is especially poignant. A great cast of characters throughout the story. Thank you to Harlequin for the book!

I really like Everlee's novels, and this one had a good premise and good characters, though it did take me a minute to get into. I like the recurring elements of the series, though!

1886 London.
Warren Bakshi has spent most of his adult life helping his mother at home with the cooking and cleaning, and earning money as a barkeeper at the Curious Fox, an underground queer club. He's saucy and charming, and very good at his job. Matthew Shaw, Scotland Yard detective, walks into the bar one night (and nearly gets kicked out by club owner David Forester for whom he once valeted for 6 months in an undercover operation), and once he lays eyes on Warren, there's an instant connection. When they meet again, it's at an art school - Warren needs to do something with himself now that his brother has returned with a wealthy wife, and Matty is working on a plainclothes operation to see if the owners of the school are committing fraud. This gives them time together...and an excuse to draw one another. But there's no way a detective and a queer bartender can amount to more than an occasional hasty coupling, is there?

Warren Bakshi is South Asian, and he and his mother have made do with very little for some time while his brother is off maybe on a pirate ship?! Warren never fully trusts his brother who has been gone for so long, even when he brings back a wife and money. Once he does, Warren is in a difficult place. He no longer has to work at the club, but that's his home away from home, and he no longer has a place in the home to cook or clean. Drawing gives him some purpose, but Matty gives him even more reason for passion. Matty desperately wants a promotion at Scotland Yard, but his superiors keep finding reasons to tear him down. This puts both Warren and Matty in a place where they need the friendship and love they can offer one another, without them realizing that companionship can be available to them.

This series gets better with every book. Jess Everlee has found her stride in writing queer HEAs in a historical setting, and her solution to Matty and Warren's HEA both made sense and made me grin. Any time a reader points to a lack of diversity in historical romance, this is a book I want to recommend. Neither characters is from the aristocracy, Warren and his family are of South Asian descent, and the story is a tribute to underground queer clubs and queer relationships. The research feels careful and thoughtful, and the worldbuilding and love story are all the better for it.

I rarely make it past book 2 in a series, so getting through book 4 is a real accomplishment for me! This was a good, solid MM historical (Victorian) romance and the latest in the Lucky Lovers of London series. Tropes of forbidden romance, forced proximity, and found family abound. Could be a standalone, but starting with the first book (The Gentleman's Book of Vices) would be a wise move. The plot was a little thin and I saw the ending coming, but still worth my time.

Omg what to say about this book! If you follow my reviews you know I love a queer historical romance! This is no different. It took me a minute to get into the book; however, I think that was a me issue and not the book's fault bc when I really started reading this I read like half of it in 2 hours. I was HOOKED!

We have Warren and Matty who have technically already met before this book takes place. Warren help his mother around the house and is a bartender at an exclusive queer club. Matty is a Detective Inspector at Scotland Yard who previously went undercover as Warren’s boss' valet. After a tough day at work where Matty overhears he’s not getting the fancy promotion because there are rumors that he is gay, Matty needs to get out of his room but has no place to go. He decides to go to The Curious Fox (the bar Warren works at). So after this remeeting and romantic encounter, Warren’s brother is back in England and forcing Warren to do something that is at their station level. Warren, like his deceased father, is drawn to art and enrolls in an art class. Well wouldn't you know it, Matty is undercover at the very same art class. Then of course, they grow closer together and develop a relationship even though it is outlawed, would bring ruin to the both of them, and has been forbidden by Warren’s boss.

Ok so now that I’ve typed that out, it is a lot to set the story. But I feel like it’s very much the same in the book. It’s a lot, but not in an unnecessary way. We’re setting the stakes and background for who these characters are, what’s important to them, what their motivations are, and why they’re a good fit for each other. Of course, that’s what any good book SHOULD do, but my point is that the author does it very well and doesn’t add in superfluous information that would make the story drag. Because they did so well here, I felt really connected to these characters and wanted them to find a way to make their relationship work. I was anxious for them because they were engaging in risky behavior and I wanted them to be happy! And I wanted the club to be a safe space and not get targeted because of Matty’s profession. Basically I was feeling all the feels! I would say the only thing I was missing would be seeing Warren and Matty happy together at the end. Like what happened and how did they make it work??? I want to know Jess!!!! I hope we see glimpses of them in future books (if there are future books) like we did with other characters from this series in this book.

This book is great for you if you love a forbidden romance, queer love and joy, found family, and reformed rakes! This book is part of an interconnected standalone series but I don’t think you necessarily need to read the first 3 to understand this book. I didn’t, but I will be going back to read them!

Thank you to NetGalley, Carina Adores and the author for an ARC for my honest review :) This book is expected to be released on July 22, 2025

ARC Review: To Sketch a Scandal by Jess Everlee
Pub Date: July 22nd

I have really enjoyed this series by Jess Everlee - we all know I love a queer historical! For some reason this book took me a bit to get into and I kept putting it down to read other things instead. I fear this was more of an issue of the mood I was in and not the books fault. I really appreciate how historically accurate these books are - while that isn't always something I look for in queer historicals, the HEAs and relationships here feel true to the time.

I liked both Warren and Matty as characters and thought their chemistry was good. They were both complex characters that also really truly cared for each other.

Thank you to Harlequin for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing| Carina Adores and author Jess Everlee for providing me with the eARC of “To Sketch a Scandal”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: July 22nd, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads: June 28th, 2025

4 stars! Cute read!

“To sketch a scandal” is a MM romance, set in 1880’s London.
Warren is an artist, and a barkeeper at an illegal queer club disguised as a coffeehouse.
Matty is a struggling detective, who is trying to get a promotion, despite his colleagues disliking him due to his undesirable past.

Matty gets a great opportunity to go undercover at a local art school, in which the owners are thought to be criminals. Who he doesn’t expect to meet there is Warren- who already knows his true identity.
Through art lessons, trying to catch criminals, and catching feelings all at the same time- Warren and Matty create their own huge scandal.

I found this story to be pretty enjoyable!
I have yet to read the first four books in this series, but this one acts as a stand-alone, so it did not cause any problems or confusion with the characters or the plot.

I really liked the romance between Warren and Matty. I felt the connection between them, and loved all the intense moments they shared.
I always love a dual-POV romance, since we get some insight into both of their thoughts and feelings.

I also really loved the queer club aspect of this story.
It is nice to think about queer people having safe spaces where they can be themselves and interact with others like them, especially in pre-modern times where they could not express it publicly.
I always appreciate acknowledging the existence of members of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history.

Overall, this was a really great book, and I think a lot of people could enjoy it!

Jess Everlee is one of the most reliable romance authors publishing today. The romance is always worth it, there's an interesting plot, real world concerns and a happy ever after or for now. She always delivers and 'To Sketch a Scandal' is no different. I look forward to reading many more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina adores for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

To Sketch A Scandal by Jess Everlee is the newest addition to the Lucky Lovers of London series. Barkeep and playboy Warren Bakshi enjoys his time at The Curious Fox, behind the bar and entertaining clients in a variety of ways. When detective inspector Matthew ‘Matty’ Shaw walks in looking for company after his plans at work go up in smoke, Warren finds himself drawn to the complicated sad man. The two end up together outside of the Fox in a drawing class and find they are compatible in and out of the classroom. But Matty’s profession leaves Warren hesitant to try for more as the laws are getting stricter and he has his family and found family to protect.


Warren and Matty really had me falling for them. Warren’s protective nature was exactly what Matty needed while Matty provided an outlet as Warren’s life started to change. The two had chemistry for sure but outside of that they shared a natural intimacy. Warren fought his typical urge to flee as things got more serious while Matty looked for someone to prioritize and just want him. Warren’s family as well as the found family at the Fox helped both men find a balance that allowed for their relationship to bloom.


4.5 stars for Warren and Matty drawing up a plan for the future.

As with the rest of the books in this series, it's light and sweet. I think the second did the best job of balancing the romance with everything else that was going on in the plot - this one definitely puts more of the romance and Matty and Warren's emotions at the forefront, which gets a little frustrating when there are moments that of external tension and they're very quickly resolved. It makes it a little hard to get a feel for the flow of the story, but at least Matt and Warren are cute together.

I also don't get the greatest sense of place or time, but since that's consistent with the rest of the series, I'm happy to just let it go and enjoy the fact that Harry and Anjali are basically pirates who shrug at queer relationships because they've seen everything at sea.