Ahhh I loved Harry and Emily <3 I really enjoyed all the fun historical details in here and also appreciated the author's note giving historical justification for the big happy ending. For me a nice blend of realistic details without too much homophobia - after all if het historical novels can have infinite dukes etc without too much nitpicking, why can't the ladies have a little win?? AS A TREAT.

The regency era was when the Prince Regent was in charge while his father, George III was going quietly mad. His father didn’t like who he had married, and forced him to marry someone he hated so much that when his father finally died, he barred her from coming to his coronation. The Prince Regent, who would become George IV, also happens to be the father of the main character of this story, though she doesn’t know this, seeing as she and her brother are both bastards. Their mother was a whore, in the very real sense of the world.

Harry, the main character, is quite content to do her own thing, hanging out with the other lesbians, whom she calls sapphists, in her Shakespear company, where the women play all the parts.

Emily is about to be married off to a horrible man, and decides to run off to live with her cousin, and look for a rich duke to marry instead.

Harry is also in the hunt for a rich husband, because her father, the king to be, has told her she can live in the lap of luxury, if she just stays respectable, and marries before the coronation.

That is the set up. Harry and Emilly both think they are after the same duke, and end up falling in love with each other.

I liked how realistic this was. It showed that the author had done a lot of research on the era, and knew what could and couldn’t be common or uncommon. And, I also liked that I had no idea what was going to happen. Who would each of them marry? And how would they go about it?

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 9th of September 2025.

What a cute romance book! This one was fun, witty, sapphic, humorous and beautiful! This book made me feel lighthearted and happy. I loved the characters in the story, especially Harry. I could really feel the love and connection between the female characters, which made me feel emotional. It’s so funny that they go after the same duke, only to end up with each other! They should have became enemies, but started to love each other instead. I really enjoyed the twist this book had! I found this book to be thought provoking, captivating and had a well rounded theme. Be sure to check out the content warnings! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Mackenzi Lee and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is set to be published on September 9, 2025!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was the most beautiful love story I have read recently! Each step Harry and Emily took to become closer was so much fun! The way they went from hating each other, to becoming friends and then falling for each other was bewitching to see unfold. I love every character in this book, especially Violet, who was the real MVP with helping Emily and having that really important conversation that was able to help Emily understand that she did nothing wrong, and has nothing to feel guilty about.

This book does touch into some deeper topics, SA being one of them, so make sure you are aware of that before reading, but it's dealt with so well. This is my favorite sapphic read of this year! Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this arc.

HUZZAH for more sapphic histroms!!! I am always on the hunt for sapphic love stories in historical romance and I DEVOURED this book in 24 hours!!

I adored Harry and Emily! Their banter was delightful and I really love how polite and polished Emily completed abandoned that facade when she was around Harry... and how Harry was totally enamored with Emily's unladylike outbursts and colorful language. These two could not have been more different on paper, but at their cores were both carrying some loneliness and looking for connection and a place to belong. I appreciated how the conflict between Harry and Emily being together wasn't them having to hide away, but more a fight common of the time - arranged marriages and familial duty. I really loved how Emily and Harry had support from their dearest friends and family and was especially moved when Violet (I LOVE HER!!) told that while the world and society won't remake itself for Emily, she also shouldn't contort herself to fit within the traditional confines of society.

This story was soft and tender, and I found myself swooning on more than one occasion. If there is anything I would change, I would have loved an epilogue. I really loved the way Lee brought Emily and Harry's story to a close, but I'm always greedy for more and would relished the opportunity to see them settled and in the world of their making.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters (particularly Harry) but by god, the sheer number of typographical errors, misspellings, and word omissions really took me out at times - I understand this is an ARC, and that is to be expected to some degree, but I'm the type of reader to never notice those things unless it's very patent. I'm also not totally sold on the ending - it feels like the Big Dilemma was resolved far too easily.

I devoured this. It was so cute! I knew I was going to fall in love with Lady Like.

I definitely imagined this as a Bridgerton storyline in my head which was so fun. The characters were so entertaining and I loved their romance. The way these two fell in love was so beautiful.

I simply couldn’t put this down. It was that amazing. Highly recommend!

"Lady Like" is the latest novel from bestselling author Mackenzi Lee. This enemies-to-lovers queer Regency tale is told from a woman's perspective. Readers who enjoy the works of Alexis Hall, Lex Croucher, and Emma Alban may find this fresh take on a Regency novel appealing. Like Lee's previous books, it is a humorous, character-driven story. She thoughtfully explores themes of identity and social norms within this historical context while maintaining a contemporary feel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for the advance reader's copy (ARC).

This book is such a delightful, spirited adventure that I couldn’t help but get swept up in the chaotic whirlwind of its wonderful characters. The writing is witty, sharp, and filled with humor that made me laugh out loud. The romantic tension is palpable, and the chemistry between Harriet and Emily is electric. Their interactions are brimming with wit and playfulness, but there’s also a tenderness that blossoms as they let their walls down. The combination of laughter, romance, and a dash of self-discovery makes this such an enjoyable read.

Oh my goodness, well…first thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I really appreciate this opportunity!

I don’t even know what to say other than I read the entire book in one day, one sitting, one hour… (just kidding..but i wish). I loved reading this book. At first, I felt like I was a bit hesitant and was not too sure of where this story was heading, but not too soon after….I was HOOKED!

The way this author writes of Emily and Harry’s banter/flirting made me kick my feet and giggle, sue me. Oh man, it was so hard to stop smiling between the both of them and I enjoyed every bit of it. One of their first few meetings being Harry fixated with Emily and how her vocabulary was “so blue.”

Their love was so tender and honestly, endearing. I have a couple of quotes I enjoyed, but seeing how much Harry loved Emily’s laugh really did it for me.

“Harry laughs too—mostly at Emily’s wild, infectious cackling, which warms Harry’s whole body like she’s stepped into a sunbeam.” Sign me up!

I’m a bit picky with my five star reads, but I really did love this book. I’m already letting my friends know about it.