As always, Lex writes with a true form of wit and humour that I have come to love in their books. Dry and sarcastic, to playful and teasing, each character has their own sense of humour and personality which I do often find lacking from a lot of historical books. Edith and Rose are both so likeable and relatable, two characters I found myself rooting for and waiting with bated breath for them to share a scene. Lexs writing is light and joyous, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book

Thank you so much to the publisher, the author, and netgalley for sending me an e-ARC to read. I gave this book four stars.

A great historical fiction that felt modern, but was still fun to read. I feel like i was missing out a bit by not reading the first book so I’ll pick that up soon.

Unfortunately I will be unable to give feedback on this book. I requested this book and had intentions of reading it. However my taste in books has changed and I do not feel that a review from me would do the book justice

I enjoyed this one a lot more than I did with reputation, however I couldn't get into either the way I really wanted to and it's such a shame as so many love this series.

I enjoyed this more than Reputation, I think because I had gotten a little more used to the writing style. I enjoyed the sapphic aspect to this book, which was much better done than in Reputation.

This is just not a book that will stick with me long term.

I was apprehensive about this as I don't tend to read novels of this genre and I hadn't read Reputation but I really enjoyed this, it was so fun and absorbing and great for anyone who still watches Pride and Prejudice (2005) on the reg.

I loved the premise of this book - a Regency romance with a Sapphic twist, the story of two friends realising their feelings for each other and set against a literary background. This was my first Lex Croucher book, but I'd definitely read more.

The story centres on Edith (Eddie) Millier, an aspiring novelist, and her best friend, Rose Li. Both are of an age where society expects them to find husbands, something Rose is prepared to do while Eddie pushes back at expectations placed upon her. Instead, she's seduced by an arty crowd, led by Byronic poet Nash Nicholson who offers to help getting her book published. When the whole group decamp to Nash's decrepit and decaying family estate, hedonistic parties ensure - but is that really what Eddie wants?

The relationship between the main characters is managed with subtlety by Croucher - as you'd expect, there's lots of misunderstandings between them as the path to true love is never smooth. Still, they seem well-rounded and believable characters, even as you wait for the penny to drop and for them to find each other.

Although I found Eddie a bit frustratingly naive, the strength of this novel for me was in the wider cast of characters. Nash might have his flaws (an understatement), but he was also witty and sharp. Other characters were presented much more warmly - I found that Albert, Kitty and Valentine grew on me as the novel progressed and I enjoyed the humorous repartee as the group navigated the crumbling country house falling down around them.

This is very much a modern take on a Regency romance so it was heartening to see LGBTQ+ and ethnic representation throughout. Readers in search of something traditional won't find it here, although the period detail is also well done. As a history buff, I always want more historical accuracy, but the premise of removing the characters to a remote house where society's rules didn't apply skirted some of the more obvious transgressions against decency that occurred.

Although the central romance seemed destined from the beginning, I was pleased that there was plenty of surprises in the plot - and some obstacles that I really didn't know how they were going to overcome. It's well plotted, although a little long in places. I did find the final scenes on the island with Henry a little confusing, but it didn't detract from the overall effect of the novel.

If you're after a smart, funny and fresh take on a Regency romance novel, this is the book for you. There's characters you'll love, others you'll love to hate, plenty of fun and bucket-loads of smashing Georgian society's rather stifling conventions.

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy - and apologies for the late posting of my review.

This is the second book by lex croucher I have read and much like her previous novel this take historical fiction and makes it modern in a fun way. This book has the same feel as Bridgeton set in a regency era, but has more modern themes.

Lex Croucher’s voice and style are phenomenal. This book is gorgeous - funny, furious, romantic. Totally it’s own thing. Reading this was pure pleasure!

Aspiring writer Edith ‘Eddie’ Miller is the engaging heroine of Lex Croucher’s second novel. A kind of Regency Jo March, she is always trying to find a quiet corner to settle down and write, always interrupted by one or other members of her noisy, sprawling, affectionate family. “Her mother, it was whispered, had been exposed to far too many books from a young age, and it had engendered in her a curious mind and a lack of respect when it came to propriety for propriety’s sake”.
So it is entirely in character that when we meet Eddie, she and her dearest friend, Rose Li, are practising kissing in Eddie’s “rather halfhearted treehouse on the first chilly evening of a London September”. It is a funny, tender, charming scene that sets the tone for the entire book, and firmly establishes the characters of passionate, heart-on-her-sleeve Eddie and thoughtful, quietly uncompromising Rose.
But when Eddie’s literary hero, radical poet Nash Nicholson, invites her to one of his salons, her life takes quite an unexpected turn. Nicholson takes Eddie under his wing, promising to show her work to his literary agent and inviting her to spend time at his country retreat – a crumbling mansion on a remote, possibly haunted, lake island.
Here, all Eddie’s assumptions and beliefs are put to the test, and she is forced to confront her feelings for Rose – by now engaged to kindly (and almost middle-aged) Mr Albert Rednock – and the reality of Nash Nicholson’s intentions. Everything comes to a head at Nicholson’s ball, the description of which recalls reports of William Beckford’s Gothic-themed extravaganzas at Fonthill Abbey.
This is a story that demands to be read at one sitting: deliciously frothy, but at the same time addressing serious issues of gender politics, feminism and radical thought.

A joyous sapphic romp with regency sensibilities. You will fall completely in love with Eddie and Rose and even the motley crew in which they find themselves entangled..

I love the combination of a regency tale but with a modern twist and extra added queerness.

A promising extension of Lex Croucher’s work, as I really enjoyed Reputation previously. I can’t wait to read what Lex writes next! Gwen and Art and Trouble will be preordered in anticipation!

Read if you love:
• regency era
• sapphic MCs
• friends to lovers
• forbidden love
• historical romantic comedies
• queer side characters

Okaaaay, I was really looking forward to this one and while it had its good points, I was ultimately left feeling a little underwhelmed.

I’m always here for queer romances, especially historical which is kind of my little niche that rarely sees me manage to hunt down any books that fit both so obviously I was super excited for this one!

I liked the characters well enough, although poor Eddie…I did get a little frustrated with Eddie because I felt that Nash’s intentions were very obvious from the start and I was yelling at the book several times but the romance was sweet when it developed a little and Eddie does eventually stick it to Nash.

I was just disappointed there was nothing to be done but the epilogue with the news cuttings was satisfying enough.

I loved all of the rep and the discussions surrounding race, I liked the romance well enough and there were some fun moments I just found myself feeling a little indifferent towards this one. It felt a little lacklustre and I really did struggle about halfway through to keep going with it as I was a little bored but I’ll still be checking out the authors latest release!

This is a fun friends-to-lovers, Sapphic-style romance which has Regency style but modern sensibilities.

Main character Eddie reminded me very much of Louisa May Alcott’s Jo March in her manner, literary aspirations and determined ignorance of her best friend’s feelings towards her. Rose, on the other hand, was perfect in every way with no flaws at all – beautiful, wise, kind, understanding, patient, accepting, and so on and so on.

I love the banter between the two best friends throughout the story and would happily have continued reading long after the book ended just to read more of their ‘ordinary’ interactions.

The sex is more implied than explicit, with lots of kissing, nibbling and mooning, so nothing to offend delicate readers, although I imagine actual Regency readers might have turned a hair or two!

The tone starts of somewhat Jane Austen-ish at first – I could picture Nash and Albert as Bingley and Wickham! – but that old-fashioned air soon clears as the characters decamp to the lake house for some bohemian debauchery.

A really fun read, with a diverse bunch of characters, this book is almost guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Loveeeed this one so much more than Reputation! A lot of drama, a lot of fun, and really likeable characters. I loved the rebellion against societies expectations and how these two characters develop and find themselves throughout this book.

Having previously read Reputation by Lex Croucher, I was really looking forward to Infamous and it did not disappoint! You can really see how Lex has grown as an author in such a short time so I can't wait to read more by them. The characters are fully formed and three-dimensional and I loved the historical setting. Queer representation is just so wonderful to see and Lex does it brilliantly.

A whirlwind of a queer Regency novel! The story of Eddie and her best friend who realise they love each other after lots of things get in the way. Would recommend for a quick, fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

What can i say except that i LOVED THIS BOOK!!

Funny, chaotic, heart-warming and binge worthy. I am a massive fan of Bridgeton so when i got the e-arc for this book i screamed. I’m so mad at myself for putting it off for as long as i did because i love this book, the characters and Eddie so much.

Will definitely be a book i read again and again and again.

I really enjoyed this Regency-set romantic comedy, which followed aspiring writer Eddie as she meets one of her writing heroes and then finds herself at one of his wild and bizarre house parties with an eclectic bunch of other writers and artists, all of whom with a sizeable contempt for society's rules and the importance of reputation, which seems to trouble Eddie much less than it does her best friend Rose, who goes along with her to keep an eye on her.

Although quite modern in language and feel, particularly with the inclusion of gay and gender non-conforming characters, I never felt that the book was not entirely set within the historical period in which it was meant to be in - the characters were free to be themselves only because they were on an island in the middle of the lake with like-minded individuals, and it was made very clear at several points throughout the story that elsewhere and throughout their lives they would have to make adaptations in order to meet societal expectations. I thought the direction that the story took was interesting, particularly the ending, and overall it was a really engaging and satisfying story, which was both a romance and a "coming-of-age", I suppose. I'm looking forwards to reading Lex Croucher's previous novel, and any future ones set in this genre.

I loved Lex Croucher's debut, and this novel is just as brilliant. She creates amazing characters and really grounds readers in the time period. I also really enjoyed the plot of this book and how Croucher created atmosphere. Another amazing read!