Sadly I can't finish the audiobook, I swapped my phone and the netgalley app didn't keep the download.
Based on how far I got and the sypnosis I think my rating is correct.

Really fun read, especially for historical fiction fans or lovers of shows like Bridgerton!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Lex Croucher's first Regency Romance Reputation was a debut hot off the heels of Bridgerton which turned the genre on its head.

Infamous follows in the same vein, promising a queer period romance with all of the humour and irreverance of Croucher's first novel. Aspiring writer Edith, otherwise known as Eddie has spent her life with best friend Rose. As children they have always done everything together, promising that they would never marry. But following their debutante ball Rose is talking of marriage.

Meanwhile Eddie is charmed by her hero, the romantic poet Nash Nicholson. When Nicholson invites her to finish her novel at his gothic country mansion, of course she readily accepts and is drawn into a hedonistic literary circle. But Eddie soon learns that her heroes aren't who she thought.

The plot of Infamous is fairly predictable, but the beauty of the novel lies in its wit, its vibrant cast of characters and the coming-of-age life lessons that are realised by the protagonist. Eddie is a flawed, and often unsympathetic, heroine but this makes her utterly relatable. While she is making terrible decisions and she's hopelessly self-absorbed, she is as perfect a period heroine as Austen's Emma.

Infamous is also a clever exploration of literature and art itself, with a funny social commentary on the literary elite of the period. The devilishly charming Nicholson is a walking red flag but it is easy to be taken in by him nonetheless, along with the hedonism of his friendship group.

Infamous might not be historically accurate but that's exactly what makes it so enjoyable. Croucher is clearly having fun with this diverse cast of characters and has created a wonderful queer regency romance.

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

The narrator was brilliant, they’re the reason I kept on with this one as I might have DNF’d around the 40% mark because I found my attention wandering a little and was feeling a little bored but the narrator did such a good job I couldn’t help but keep on with it!

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!

I’m sorry. DNF @78%.

I persisted with this book. I really did try. But now, I’m more bored than ever, really hate the female protagonist and will probably never pick up another Lex Chroucher book again.

I took me way to long to finally write this review because I'm quite disappointed in myself and in the book.
I had really high expectations with this book, best-friends to lovers in a historical setting? It sounded like a dream, but alas, it didn't really hold up.

It's fun and it keeps the reader quite entertained, but it's just mediocre, nothing really stands up and it will be easily be forgotten. It is quite a shame, I believe.

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.

Firstly, I ADORED Reputation... Infamous... it lost its way in the middle for me if I'm honest. It started off so well and I was engaged and excited, but it quickly drifted. I can confirm that it was firmly grasped back towards the end and I grabbed hold of that with both hands.

The representation in this book is great and I will never tire of stories like Croucher pens being set in the Regency era! I enjoyed the friendship circles and revelations in this one.

I was lucky enough to receive the audio via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was paced and narrated well and the narrators tone was complimenting.

This is an excellently pitched, funny, chaotic romp. The tone of voice was not for me but I have already recommended it to others because I think it fills an obvious gap in representation and I think Eddie (and Rose) are deeply likeable. You are absolutely invested in them getting it together (literally).

I think I would have enjoyed this book slightly more when I was younger, mainly due to the narrator’s tone of voice.

However, I like an unlikeable narrator and I love a sapphic romance so this had 2 things going for it that worked out great for me.

I think the relationships needed a little more developing and the focus needed clearing up a bit more. It was always going to be difficult to follow Reputation, as I LOVED that book !

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this audio copy to review.

It's Jane austen with extra steps and highly enjoyable to boot, it's clever,funny, regency brilliance at its best
It's the historical romcom you both need and deserve.
It takes us on the romantic journey between two of the best written main characters I have read in quite some time and the fact It's LGBTQIA+ is even better, do yourself a favour read/listen to this book and fall in love with these characters and the world they welcome you into

2.5 stars

I have to say upfront that I’ve been a fan of Lex Croucher’s writing style for a long time. (And no, I’m not ashamed to admit that their Marauders fan fic was a silver lining for me during the very first lockdown in 2020.) Having been left disappointed by their debut novel, Reputation, I thought I’d give them another chance with Infamous. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off.

The story revolves around Eddie, a 19th century wannabe writer and free spirit who can’t understand why her best friend Rose wants to get married when there’s still so much fun to be had. Luckily for her, Eddie meets renowned poet Nash Nicholson, who not only seems to share her passion for freedom and the quill, but also invites her to his country estate for a creative retreat. Delighted at first, Eddie soon realises that what awaits her are only drama, debauchery, and dilapidation.

I really tried to like this book … but I just didn’t vibe with it. Granted, Croucher’s writing is as witty and funny as ever (possibly their best yet), but I totally failed to connect to the characters in the story. Especially Eddie, the main character, didn’t elicit any strong feelings in me - apart from boredom. The plot also seemed a bit gangly and could have benefitted from more direction and less noise.

Regardless, I love to see queer representation in historical novels, and this one was no exception. Eddie’s coming to terms with her sexuality was well done and believable, which bumped up my rating.

I listened to the audiobook, which was read well by the narrator, but unremarkably so. Nothing to criticise - sometimes you want just that!

Overall, this was sadly only a mediocre reading experience. My search for a top-tier historical romance with queer representation continues.

I wanted to like this book SO much more than I did. But alas, this was not at all for me.
Unlikable narrators can sometimes be a fantastic device to weave together a plot, but petulant, ridiculous, and down-right irritating ones - not so much.

Eddie was all of the above, and more. Every single one of her actions was selfish and egotistical and the fact all of the other characters were so quick to forgive her felt insulting, especially Rose, who deserves so much more. It was baffling to me that we were meant to be rooting for Eddie, when this whole book was just scene after scene of her acting like an overgrown child.

The actual plot felt incredibly incohesive. Nothing happened at all in the first 40%, then the middle section all got muddled together, only for the last act to introduce an unresolved murder plotline out of the blue that went nowhere.

Ultimately, the actual book would be one star for me, but I’m rating it two as at least reading it via audiobook gave me the pleasure of Ellie Kendrick’s narration, which made the whole thing bearable. She did a fantastic job at creating tension, yearning, and humour in her voice, and I hope I get to listen to her again.

Thank you to Bonnier UK Audio and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rated up

Bunch of rich people go to a big falling apart house on a small island to just eat/drink/talk/make art for almost the whole book. Main character is clueless and in puppy love with a washed up poet.

-Marketed as a Sapphic romance but I felt the actual romance took a back seat to Nash and Eddie’s worrisome relationship.
-Would have liked it as a dual POV with the bestie, Rose.
-It’s amusing at first how clueless the MC Eddie is, but got a bit old towards the end of the book. She's very self-absorbed!
-Because Eddie is so insufferable and gullible I thought I was reading a Young Adult book…
-Narrator for the audio book was great. She’d do this weird thing with her breath before starting a sentence, so once I realised it happened I noticed it EVERY time.
-Overall an enjoyable read, can get a bit slow but was kept entertained.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How I rate books
1- I disliked this book very much. Highly unlikely to read this author again
2- Eh. I didn't hate it. Might give the author another go
3- It was fun
4- Amazing and would read again
5- I'm in love. Give me more right now!

A really fun regency romp - sweet, likeable characters (and despised ones) and a good story. A little slow in places but overall a really worthwhile read for a bit of period ~drama~

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

A Sapphic regency novel which is quite entertaining and fun, although the main character can be a bit annoying for the way she deals with people and her own situation, or even her best friend. Rose you are a saint. If you can push though that, I would recommend to give it a go.

4.5 stars

INFAMOUS is another romp of a contemporary-feeling regency romance, this time about a Byron-esque poet and a writing retreat he hosts in his crumbling house.

It is chaos, in the best possible way. From the physical dilapidation of the house progressively getting more dangerous to the shenanigans the artistic group get up to. It was such a good setting for the story and so very funny. Nash's friends were also hilarious and the way everyone reacted to the disasters around them, treating everything as common place, made it feel even more surreal and quirky.

Eddie spends most of the book utterly unaware of her own feelings, leading to a delightful slowburn. The reader can see her noticing more and more of her love interest, her gaze lingering more and more, before a "oh heck, ok then" moment that was so much fun. Slowburn is my favourite type of romance (because it can be read as demi often) so I was very pleased to see it was in here.

This is another book where I received an audiobook arc, and alternated between physical and audio copy, which I think is helping me read at the moment. The narrator (Ellie Kendrick) manages to capture the poetical declamations in a way that is both engaging but also (when you stop to think about it) completely ridiculous, and so brings Nash to vivid life.

There is a third book out in this vein, TROUBLE, later on this year, and I am absolutely intending to get my hands on it as soon as I can.

I adored this audiobook. Brilliantly read, wonderfully written - a very entertaining romp. The characters were rich and interesting. I loved Edie and her smarts and her silliness. Rose and her calm, soothing demeanour and her surprisingly naughty side. There were so many times I laughed out. Very much recommend this book!

Rose and Eddie are best friends and entering London's society together they make a pact to never get married and that nothing will ever change between them. Eddie longs to be a writer and spends her days make up stories for her family and Rose. As they years go on Rose happily ensconced in London's society decides that she must marry, there is tension between the friends. When Eddie is invited to a party at the house of Rose's chosen Fiancée she encounters her favorite poet who invites her to join his writing workshop. When invited to Join Nash Nicolson at his house in the country, rose is determined to make Eddie see that for her getting married is the only option. Whilst Eddie is determined to become a published author and convince Rose that she doesn't need to be married in order to be happy.

This book is delightful and gives all the Bridgeton Eloise and Pen vibes, with a very LGBT friendly background. The regency period in which this book is set, gives all the Chaperoned courting/horse and carriage/swoon worthy gentlemen/disapproving parents/debauchery that you can want in a book. Whilst following Eddie, you get an outsiders look into the debauchery of this time through the eyes on an innocent and naïve young girl and gives an enjoyable spin on the storyline. Eddie's Character goes through a lot of growth and maturity throughout and I was very happy at how this book ended. You could see how the plot would unfold, but due to the arc of the character I didn't mind that it was predicable.

The narration of this book made the story line easy to follow along with and I was enjoyably swept away in Eddies life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who love period romances!

I feel as though maybe I was not the target audience for this story, and I unfortunately did not enjoy the audiobook.