Infamous A novel

Croucher (Reputation) infuses this energetic Regency era friends-to-lovers sapphic romance with zany wit, joie de vivre, and a distinctive literary bent. Edith "Eddie" Miller is distressed when Rose Li, her best friend, kissing practice partner, and primary audience for the stories she writes, backs out of their childhood pact never to marry and begins seeking the company of an older gentleman. Through Rose's new connections Eddie meets charismatic poet Nash Nicholson, who shows an interest in Eddie's writing. Eddie, Rose, and Rose's beau, Albert, join an eccentric circle of artists at Nash's rundown country estate for a retreat meant to inspire creativity. Amid the ensuing drinking, seances, and chaos, the women get the chance to be more explicit about their true feelings for each other--even as Nash's behavior toward Eddie becomes increasingly dubious. The physical connection between Eddie and Rose is sweet and gentle, if not electric, and the fact that Eddie's reaction to Nash's passionate aggression is disillusionment rather than swooning gives the story a refreshingly contemporary feel despite the period setting. Bookish readers who wish that Alcott's Little Women were a bit more explicitly queer will lap this up. (Mar.)

Two best friends travel a rocky road to a happy ending in Croucher's Regency romance. Edith "Eddie" Miller and Rose Li have grown up as neighbors and the closest of friends, but as they become adults and enter polite society, the differences between them grow. Rose enjoys parties and the whirl of society while Eddie is focused on her dreams of literary glory. As Rose begins to talk of marriage with an older man, Eddie meets her hero, a Romantic poet whose charisma draws her into an unconventional circle of artists and writers. When the two friends are invited to a country house with this wild crowd, Eddie will have to choose what really matters to her. This is a sapphic romance, but one that centers the character growth of Eddie, from emotional immaturity to greater wisdom and self-knowledge. While this arc is satisfying, it may frustrate more seasoned romance readers, and some may find the ending, although happy and optimistic and perhaps realistic for the times, to not be as much of an HEA as they would want. VERDICT Croucher's (Reputation) novel is witty, well-written, and heartfelt and will intrigue those looking for writerly heroines and friends-to-lovers romance between women.--Sierra Wilson