Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Marriage comes with extremely high stakes for the sapphic heroines of this riotously entertaining Regency, the adult debut from bestselling YA author Lee (A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue). For Emily Sergeant, whose reputation has been tarnished by scandal in her small hometown, finding a wealthy match in London is her best hope of avoiding an arranged marriage to a despicable and much older neighbor. Meanwhile, Harriet "Harry" Lockhart, the libertine daughter of a prostitute, is shocked when the Prince Regent reveals himself as her father and offers her an inheritance on the condition that she settle down with a respectable husband. Loathe as she is to change her ways, Harry needs the money and imagines that marriage might be bearable with her friend and occasional lover Alexander Bolton, Duke of Rochester. Unfortunately for her, Emily has also set her sights on the duke. Emily initially sees Harry as a "sneering amazon," while Harry calls Emily an "infernal pixie," but after Emily naively asks for Harry's help winning Alexander's attention, sparks soon fly between the two women. Lee injects this sprightly enemies-to-lovers tale with equal parts humor and sensuality, and it's especially gratifying to see Emily come into her own. The result should win Lee a legion of new fans. (Sept.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Often in historical romances when two women want to wed the same duke, one ends up in a happily-ever-after, while the other must continue her search for a husband in the sequel. However, Lee's first adult novel gives both women their happily-ever-after; the duke doesn't even factor into the final equation. Harriet "Harry" Lockhart, who plays breeches roles in a risqué sapphic Shakespeare troupe, is told that she must become more respectable and find a husband in order to receive her much-needed inheritance. Meanwhile, the demure Emily Sergeant, who is betrothed to a truly awful man, absconds to London to find a better fiancé. Harry and Emily become entangled as they each prowl the marriage mart and quickly realize that they like each other a whole lot more than they like any man. Much as in her "Montague Siblings" YA series, Lee brings delightfully flawed characters to life with a healthy dose of humor and a heap of queer joy. Fans of Lee will be thrilled by her excellent adult debut and left clamoring for more. VERDICT A charming must-have addition to any historical romance collection.--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two ladies chase the same duke, then fall for each other. Harriet Lockhart, born in a Camden brothel and now an actress in a Sapphist Shakespearean theater company, has long been accustomed to living on the fringes of society and finding happiness when she can, with whomever she pleases. When she learns that her father is the prince regent, it's a shock to consider what life might be like on London's fancier side. Prinny offers her an inheritance, of sorts, provided that she can find a respectable marriage. Luckily, Harriet knows the Duke of Rochester, and she can imagine some sort of marriage in name only to him. Unfortunately, he is also being pursued by Emily Sergeant, who has arrived in London desperately looking for a husband who can outrank the odious man to whom her family has betrothed her. When their separate pursuits of the duke bring the two women together, after a few days of bickering both become more interested in each other's company than anything, or anyone, else. The worldly Harriet is well aware of the nature of her developing feelings for Emily, but it takes Emily longer to understand her emotions. When she finally learns what a Sapphist is, the women connect emotionally and physically. However, society hasn't changed, nor have the expectations of their families. Lee's delightful adult debut will please fans of her YA historical fiction as well as romance readers encountering her for the first time. The story, which centers queer and theatrical Regency life alongside the familiar tropes of the London Season, is well-paced, with entertaining side characters and rich detail. The clever ending, moving and satisfying on its own, is enhanced by Lee's extensive, thoughtful notes sharing historical background and revealing that much of her plot is less fantastic than readers might assume. A sparkling Sapphic romance that brings many facets of Regency London to life. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
