When I read the description I knew this was going to be a book I would love. (Give me ALLLLLLL the sapphic regency era books please)

It did not disappoint in the slightest! Mackenzi had me glued to the page with every turn.

I was yelling at my phone at one point because I was so worked up over things potentially not working themselves out in the end (looking at you Twathead Tweed).

It was impossible not to love Harry and Emily. I just loved them and their vibe so much. They're feisty and sweet and swoon worthy.

HIGHLY recommend to anyone who enjoys historical romance. Sure it was a bit fantastical at times, but I ate it right up. 100% going to buy this when it comes out to add to my collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Emily Sergeant escapes to London in hopes of meeting an eligible man who can save her from an arranged marriage to a horrible person. Harriet Lockhart never wanted to marry but when her financial future depends on finding a suitable spouse her world turns upside down. Each woman sets her sites on the same duke as the answer to their dilemmas. Originally enemies, the two end up friends and fall in love. Although it started out slowly this was a satisfying read. Both Emily and Harry were likable characters and I found myself engaged in their story. The only negatives were the occasional use of foul language and a totally unnecessary explicit sex scene. 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A refreshingly adult regency-era romance read, I wandered unsuspectingly into the spice and I felt like a blushing regency girl- however, the spice is very minimal after the essential shock, with only two chapters of it and nothing too graphic. Emily and Harry are characters that are interesting and independent to each other, with two personalities that play well with each other while fiery. Both lovers are complicated, and I'm glad to have received a happy queer ending. Near the end, we get more of Emily's POV than Harry's, and I would have appreciated getting a glimpse into Harry's thoughts. Despite that, the slow realization of longing between Harry and Emily was beautifully described, and I'm glad to be able to experience it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Two women in 1800’s England find themselves in competition to the win the hand of a Duke for a marriage that neither one of them actually want. When they begrudgingly join forces a bond develops between them that quickly grows from friendship to love. When society, manipulative mean fiancés and a soon to be King force them toward marriage will our ladies in love actually end up walking down the aisle or are they destined for ruin?

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3⭐️.

Well, I thought this was a relatively cute romcom, and I enjoyed our two female main characters, I thought the plot was a bit too convoluted because of the inclusion of the prince/soon-to-be King. I did enjoy the ending of this book and I appreciated the fact that it didn’t end the way that I thought it would, but in general this book was just ok. I would recommend this as a get it from the library read only.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC. Unfortunately this was not a book for me despite the interesting set up. The present tense was awkward throughout and there were numerous continuity errors with titles and forms of address that threw me off. The characters were interesting but ultimately rather superficial and some of the plot setups felt very implausible. It’s not a bad idea for a book but it needs some polishing and to be made slightly more grounded in order for the emotions to ring true.

My first regency romance and a queer one at that! It was sweet and witty, with really great plot. You could feel the emotional connection between Emily and Harry from their first meeting. The tension and slow burn were phenomenal. I did not know how this would end and as I reached the final page I was very pleased!

What began with a spectacular story became more heartfelt than I expected. Two women set their sights on marrying the same eligible Duke but end up falling in love. There's a bit more to it! Includes a light look into what life was like at that time (and even more of those details after the end of the story) but was refreshing to read a lesbian love story with more substance.

The following are the notes I took while reading, in alphabetical order to prevent spoilers:

banter, delightful inner monologue used sparingly, family is complicated, feel this in my bones, gut-wrenching foreshadowing?, happily ever after, horrifying analogy, legit cackled, literature as a reflection of truth, melt me, mild modernism, modernism?, not not, oohhhhhh noooo, please tell me already, relateable female main character, shan't, that escalated quickly, timing is everything, unexpected dripping, what exactly makes an ass impressive, worlds are colliding, yes let it

What a fun little sapphic Regency romance! Harry and Emily are both such singular characters, but I believed them and found elements of both of them to be so relatable. I thought the book was a little long in places, and it took a while to get into the action, so to speak, but overall I really enjoyed it! The slow burn and tension is so good, and when they finally give in to it I was all in.

This is a great read for fans of historical romance and queer romance! 4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

"Tipping the Velvet" if "Tipping the Velvet" was an utterly charming adversaries-to-lovers romance novel.

On paper, Harriet "Harry" Lockhart and Miss Emily Sergeant could not be more opposed. Rakish Harry, most comfortable in gentleman's clothing, is an actor in a Sapphist Shakespearean theater company. Emily, with her pale complexion and polite manners, is the picture of feminine charm, or at least, she's trying to be. When the two cross paths while attempting to charm the same duke, their chemistry immediately crackles. From foes, to reluctant allies, to friends, to lovers, the slow-burn between these two is deliciously compelling (so much so that I flew through this in a single night).

<i>Life is an ocean, but love does not have to be an anchor weighing her down. It can be salt enough to float.</i>

TL;DR: A heart-wrenching historical queer romance from one of my favorite authors. Not as witty or biting as some of Lee's YA historical fiction, which I did miss a bit, but just as emotionally satisfying. As always, one of Lee's biggest strengths is her characters, which are immaculately conceived and deftly drawn. The MCs are always fleshed out and multi-faceted and, more importantly (IMO), relatable -- like, on the surface, I have very little in common with a queer woman living in Georgian England. And yet. Many of my Kindle highlights were moments were I felt seen.
<b>I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</b>

Vibes: Jane Austen but make it gay.

Genre: New Adult Historical Queer Romance

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 // 🌶 🌶 🌶 ♡ ♡
Maybe 1-2 chapters of spice; more pining and longing than spice (and I'm not mad).

Character MVP: I feel like I should say Emily, but honestly Harry. Her wit and snark reminded me of a toned-down (slightly more emotionally healthy) Monty (from [book:The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue|29283884].

Verdict: 4.5 stars, rounding up, mainly because its Mackenzi Lee and I adore her. She is an auto-buy author for me, and I love a good historical romance.

Honesty, I think one of my favorite things is how much research Mackenzi Lee does, and how evident it is in her stories. I'm a big Regency/Victorian nerd and nothing takes me out of the story more than an historically inaccurate element. Like, I know it's Romance and it doesn't have to be, because "that's not why we're reading," but I notice it.

And even if we tweak some things to ensure a happy ending, the struggles that both Emily and Harry go through -- the pressure to marry, the flattening of one's self to fit the constricting mold of what makes a "proper" woman -- are accurate and somehow relatable to women today. Perhaps not in the same way, but I literally just passed a billboard on my way to the mountains that said something to the effect of "we offer non-judgmental counsel for newly pregnant women." And, why, in the year of our lord 2025, pregnant women would ever feel judged...well, it's a similar struggle that Emily faces. And when Violet says "People act as though shame is a disease. They're terrified of catching it. Not everyone in town blames you -- most people never did. It's just a few middling biddies making a show, and everyone else being too afraid to stand against them." Emily wasn't pregnant, of course, but it's the same sentiment, almost 200 years later.

This is definitely more serious than some of Lee's YA books -- and I did find myself missing some of that humor and snark at times. But, at the same time, I felt like perhaps this was a bit of a catharsis for Lee...Obviously I don't know her, but I do know that she had a career change a few years ago, and I was worried that we'd never get a new book from her. And when you read Harry's story about wanting to be a serious actress "celebrated for playing men's roles" when she was younger and believing "the crowd would love her for the very things she had once believed made her strange" -- and then Harry's fears about "what might happen to her hard-won confidence if she stood face to face with the possibility of real rejection" -- it's tempting (and plausible) to read some biographical interpretation there.

Maybe.

I love Lee's books, and will keep reading and buying them as long as she keeps writing them.

Historical romance isn't a genre I read too often but sometimes it just hits the spot. This one was delightfully charming and a bit sassy. I really liked the main characters but I wish we got more time dedicated to Harry. I felt that at some point the book focused more on Emily and her story but I found Harry to be more interesting.

Overall this was a fun read that would be prefect for a day at the beach. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very funny and I wanted to know how it all turned out. The characters were interesting. I wasn't sure how this story could get to a HEA, but it did. Not quite 100% believable - historically and plot points - but still, a very fun romp. I had not read anything by this author, but will look for more.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Let me just start off by saying that I loved this book. I have always been a historical romance girl, so when I received the email that I was pre-approved for this book I bolted over to NetGalley to get it on my shelf.

Regency era lesbians, string together a better epithet, I dare you.

Star Rating: EASY 5
Tropes: marriage of convenience, rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, he falls first and harder (not a he, but you'll get it when you start to read), SLOW BURN!!!
Spice: One and a half chili peppers at most, there is one explicit scene and regency era terminology is used so it seems even less spicier than it already is.

Summary: This story follows two amazing but different women. Harriet (Harry/Hal) Lockhart, a thespian doing productions for the sapphist troupe in London, she wears her hair short, and dresses in mens trousers at every opportunity. She is charming and funny, and her favorite hobby is getting under peoples skin. Then we have Emily Seargeant, she is the definition of demure, she is the picture of grace and propriety, except she has a secret.

Harriet finds out something about her parentage and is forced to find herself a husband with only four months (this is the definition of a nightmare for her) and Emily is in London trying to find a replacement fiance since hers is a despicable old curmudgeon that has threatened her with violence if she embarrassed him.

Harry and Emily set their sights on the same duke and with a little bit of serendipity, they become fast friends, and things progress very slowly but entirely organically (nothing happens until about 74%) and it is so satisfying!

The banter between Emily and Harry is so funny and clever, you could literally never get tired of reading their conversations!

Also an honorable mention for Violet, one of the best supporting characters, a true gem and I will never have a bad thing to say about her! As well as Havoc, the doggo, he was just adorable and I loved his presence in the story.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Random house Publishing and author Mackenzi Lee for providing me with the eARC of “Lady Like”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 9th, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads, June 22nd, 2025

This book was an absolute masterpiece. Truly phenomenal in every sense of the word. Can I give it 6 stars?
I am not sure I even have the ability to review this story in a way that does it justice, but, I shall try.

“Lady Like” in a sapphic romance, set in England in the Georgian period.
We meet Harriet (Harry), a woman who is very unconventional for the era. She is an actress in sapphic Shakespeare plays, but soon discovers she must find herself a suitable man to marry for her inheritance.
We also meet Emily, a woman harboring secrets from a dreadful past, who has run off to London in hopes of finding a suitor and escaping her current engagement.
It may just so happen that Harry nor Emily find what they are looking for- but something far better.

This story is just incredible.
The tension and the romance between Harry and Emily is stunning, and was written to perfection. Harry is SUCH a gentleman (Gentlewoman, might I say). The way she treats Emily is gorgeous.
I felt such a real, genuine connection between the two, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book, anxious to see where they ended up.
Not only is the romance great, but the characters are hilarious. Very rarely do I laugh while reading, but their sense of humor was immaculate, and right on par with what I would expect from this story.

If you enjoy sapphic romance, you should read this.
If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers, you should read this.
Really, everyone should probably read this.

Thank you again to Mackenzi Lee for writing this, to Random house for publishing this, and to NetGalley for the ARC.
I am completely and utterly obsessed.

This is a fun romp through the "olden" days with Ladies and Lords! Harriet--who goes by Harry--is an actress when she gets an invitation to Longley Manor where the reported rake and villain, Robert Tweed will be. Then we meet Emily and Violet who figure into the tale as well. Horse racing, repectability, jealousy, and sapphic humor make this a wonderful tale that is not to be missed!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Review of Advance Rader’s Copy

The Drury Lane stage is Harriet “Harry” Lockhart’s “home,” but a summons by her father. The demand that, if she chooses to continue to receive the allowance provided for her by her mother, she must marry a respectable husband. This is not to her liking, but her income from her stage career is paltry.

Emily Sergeant is promised in marriage to Robert Tweed, a man she absolutely loathes. In an effort to change their circumstances, each woman heads for London in hopes of finding a suitable husband.

Can the women succeed or is there something unexpected waiting for them in London?

=========

With delightful turns of humor throughout, this historically-set tale is sure to please readers who enjoy romance stories as well as those who enjoy historical fiction. With its strong sense of place and well-drawn characters, the unfolding story is both entertaining and fun.

The prospect of both women choosing the same Duke makes for some delightfully funny moments, but readers will surely be rooting for both Harry and Emily to find their happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Random House / Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#LadyLike #NetGalley

This book lived up to all my expectations after falling in love with Mackenzi Lee's Montague Siblings series. It was so fun reading a brand new story from one of my favourite authors!

Harry and Emily are fantastic characters. I loved the pacing and the hijinks, and the ending felt just right. It could maaaaybe have been even better with a little epilogue (or perhaps just a sequel someday so I can check in on my favourite Sapphists).

I'm also thankful that the author chose to omit homophobia from this historical queer romance. It allowed for complete escapism, which feels extra important to me lately.

All in all, this is a new favourite read! I can't wait to purchase a copy.

The premise of this book is great and I loved the Montague Siblings trilogy so I was excited to read this one. Overall, this book is fine. It isn't a topic historical romance recommendation for me but it wasn't bad. I liked the characters and the plot enough, honestly I just found it kind of forgettable after I'd finished.

Call me ‘easy’ but I absolutely adored this book. If you’re into regency, Bridgerton vibes then this is for you. I’m a huge fan of all of the above but obviously we don’t get much sapphic content so I’m always happy to read anything that comes out.
That being said, sometimes the storylines feel too tropey so I’m glad the author totally made it feel like a ‘real’ (as real as can be in this type of story) relationship but still had banter and development.
Super excited to get this in physical form!!

This book is a charming, straightforward read that really leans into the "classic" romance novel structure but with Sapphic leads (which warrants bonus points, in my opinion). I sped through this one & enjoyed it, but it's not a book that stands out against others I've read in the genre. Ultimately, if you're just looking for something fun, this book will meet that mark.

It's also worth noting that this unedited proof is exactly that! There were some typos that I found a little frustrating while reading, but I'm sure that'll be fixed in the final release.