Overall I enjoyed Vasti's novel, it was well written and well documented. I thought the characters were well developed and worked well with the historical settings. I loved the feminist vibe and the fight against inequality and women oppression, although I thought it was very in the reader's' face as a manifest and social commentary more than a novel. The sex scenes were a bit "technical" in my opinion but that may be taste.
Possibly a bit too close to "Bridgerton" in term of plots and characters which may feel a bit "seen and done" for the aficionados of the genre.
Thanks for the ARC, I'd be totally happy to read more about this author in the future.

I really loved this. I've been on the hunt for a regency romance that can fill the gap that Bridgerton has left, and this definitely did and maybe even more! Lady Selina was such a great lead and I loved her instantly and wanted to be her friend. I loved that she secretly runs a lending library that gives women access to books and information that would raise a few eyebrows.
Peter Kent was a great male lead as well and the chemistry between him and Selina was so obvious right from the start.
I also really liked all of the side characters and their stories that got mentions- there are so many potential follow up books here that I really hope the writer does a series and gives all of these side characters their chance too.
I will definitely be recommending this book in my library, and I think it would make a great book club read.

4.5/5

That was so fun! I usually love Regency romances and this one wasn't the exception. The writing was clever and fun, the characters amazing, the plot interesting and engaging.

I loved both characters. And I loved the relationship between Silena and Peter. I loved how she tried to get him to marry someone, bu fell for him instead, and how he couldn't even imagine marrying anybody else, not even for a moment. I wish we had more of them - I would have loved a prologue with their first meeting all all the encounters that happened since then that were vaguely referenced in the book. Because at first, it seemed as if the book began in the middle and I missed a huge chunk of the plot or a backstory. I would have loved to see more of when Peter first came to England and met Silena - perhaps a few flashback scenes interwoven into a plot would have explain their relationship and connection beer. But other than that, I enjoyed the book.

I wish we met Will, though. I hoped he would come back at the end of the book to meet Peter. His relationship with Selina was supposedly special, and I get that he was hurt after what happened to his family - though I hoped he would have come back at the end. Perhaps in the next book? I would like him to come back and perhaps become interested in Lydia? I would have loved to see that.

All in all, the book was amazing and I will definitely check out Alexandra Vasti's books.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atlantic Books for proving me with the ARC of this book for my honest review.

I wasn’t expecting to love this one so much! It’s not definitely between my favourite period romances ever.
Ne’er duke well is set in London during the regency era and it tells the story of determined, ambitious and secretive Lady Selina Ravenscroft and the goofy, charming and entirely inappropriate duke of Kent, Peter.
These two make a mighty couple!! Selina is super resourceful and clever, while Peter is passionate and absolutely OBSESSED with her, he’s definitely her n.1 stan and wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.
There is also a super cute set of secondary characters, like Selina’s friend, awkward Lydia (i’m very curious about reading her book next!), Peter’s half-siblings, Lu and Freddie, that are the sweetest troublemakers and Selina’s whole family! It was a delight to read this witty, original and heartwarming story.
I also love when authors include politics and their sources when writing books set in the past.
I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll also get Will’s book hopefully, i’d be super excited to learn more about Selina’s twin brother!

3.5 stars. This was definitely a great read! It was personally quite hard for me to get into, which is the main reason for my rating, but I was definitely enjoying myself as I was making my way through this. I hope to read it again in the future when I know I will appreciate it more!

This is an absolutely wonderful read, unbelievably Vasti’s first novel, with charming characters, a beautiful plot, and a very touching story. This is quite simply the best historical romance I have read this year! Need I say more? I should hope not, and you should be devouring this book posthate! However, since you are still here, wow let me tell you, this is everything you could possibly look for in a historical romance: slowburn, he falls first, blind to love, found family tropes meets a great mixture of humour and heart – and (arguably best of all, aside from the exquisite spice), no third act breakup. Highly recommended for lovers of Netflix’s Bridgerton and Austen’s Emma.

From the start, I could tell this would be a good story. The title itself is rather clever. Ne’er Duke Well is a pun on the phrase “ne’er-do-well” which is a derogatory term for a person who good-for-nothing, worthless, or without means of support. This is how Peter Kent sees himself as, thanks to memories of his horrid father reminding him he was reckless, thoughtless and weak. As a child, his father left the family with literally no means of support monetary-wise, but Peter also has no support in an emotional sense: someone to comfort him, be there for him. He finds this eventually in Selina, which is lovely!

Aside from the excellent romance, I love that the whole premise of the story is Selina and Peter’s fight to keep Lu and Freddie. The found family element to this story was absolutely heart-warming! There is just so much fun yet far more depth to this story. We have relationships, families, friendship and breaking the cycle of toxic relationships and families. Vasti, interestingly, is from New Orleans and it is nice that she used this as the place where Peter comes from.

There are some missing scenes that I would have preferred included such as how Selina and Peter met, and "the time he interrupted a minor royal wedding with a flock of sheep―not his fault!” alluded to on the blurb. I was, I admit, rather disappointed these were not included, but I understand that if you sign up to her newsletter you can receive bonus content, including a bonus chapter on their meeting.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This was a very cute read, it just didn’t end up being what I expected. I really liked both of the main characters and their chemistry together, I thought the book would be more about their romance but it was really about Selina and her library, and getting custody of Peter’s siblings. I enjoyed it, and I loved seeing how many women enjoyed the library and taking more for themselves especially in regency style England.

As much as I enjoyed it it just didn’t really stand out from other books of similar stories and it wouldn’t be one I would revisit.

What a sweet little story. The main couple, Peter and Selina, have great chemistry and it is certainly a unique story line. I did at points get a bit confused with some of the characters and plot references. I would have loved to had more lead up for the couple given that they met a few years before the book starts. A solid 3.5 stars for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

“Don’t be modest. You only wanted to revolutionise female eduction. Makes blackmail look almost decorous.”

If that quote doesn’t make you want to read this, then I hope the rest of my review can do this fantastic book justice.

What a magnificent historical romance! Alexandra Vasti gave me everything I could possibly want from this genre. Incredible chemistry with tension that practically leaps off the page, a tryst in the library and ridiculous schemes. When I say everything, I mean it! Selina and Peter are such a delightful couple and I fell completely in love with them both. Their little found family was such a joy to watch and Lu is my absolute hero!

I loved this so much! I can’t recommend it highly enough and I would definitely recommend this wonderful book to any and all lovers of romance!

Finding an original angle within the relatively strict confines of Regency-era romance can’t be easy, but this author has done it, and done it extremely well - first with her Halifax Hellions (who I was glad to see get a name check here) and now this full-length novel. Main characters Peter and Selina are so well drawn, both determined to do the right thing in the circumstances they’ve been given, one repeatedly getting it wrong in a society he doesn’t fully understand and the other taking it to the kind of extreme that puts her reputation in danger. The writing is sharp and witty (I particularly enjoyed the Serpentine scene, and anything involving Lucinda), the dialogue is on point, and the chemistry between Peter and Selina just sparkles on the page. I loved this, and I’m greatly looking forward to further instalments in this series.

An enjoyable romp, but the plot is all over the place. It's almost as though the author wanted to do two different stories and ended up mashing them together to create some kind of friends to lovers, let's find you a wife story that evolves into a weird feminist book selling/custody plot. The two half's of the story really didn't gel well together. I also would have liked more build up in the characters relationship. It felt a bit rushed, although I did really enjoy Selina and Peter as characters. Except I also wasn't that fond of Peter being American - I just found ti quiet jarring compared to the setting.

A interesting historical fun time, but I have a feeling this won't stay with me for very long.

This Friends-To-Lovers romance reminded me of "Romancing Mister Bridgerton". A friend, in this case Lady Selina, is trying to help Lord Peter to find a suitable wife. He needs a respectable wife, because he wants to gain guardianship of his siblings and knows the judge presiding over his case has a grudge against him. By the time this book is set, Selina and Peter have known each other for several years and there already is a lot of chemistry between them. I would have loved to see more of their encounters from the beginning of their friendship, their earlier chemistry. Still, Selina is adamant that one of the three ladies she picked for Peter would be much better suited than herself; she's hiding a huge secret from the 'ton' (yes, Lady Whistledown huge).

I liked the two MCs, they felt fully fleshed out. The reasons for their actions and also for Selina's secret are well-explained and made sense to me. The reader gets to see them realising their feelings for each other, the complications and how they overcome them. (Again, it has parallels to Romancing Mr Bridgerton - or maybe I just drew them since I recently re-read the book and watched the show.)

The secondary characters were great. I really want to know more about the individual quirks of the other three ladies and see them find their matches. And any sequel needs more Lu and Freddie, as well as aunt Judith and Thomasina.

Ne'er Duke Well was a super fun and steamy historical romance and, despite the almost insta love vibes, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Peter Kent never expected, nor wanted, to inherit the Dukedom of Kent, but after a number of deaths in the family, the title fell to him. Now back in London, he seems to find scandal wherever he steps, whether through his radical politics, or his courtship techniques. The problem? His scandalous reputation will not help him in gaining custody of his two younger siblings, something he is desperate to do, determined to give them the life his father denied them so far. Enter Selina Ravenscroft. Selina has never met a problem she can't fix. Ask anyone in society and they will tell you she is a proper lady, but Selina carries a secret, one that could upend her family if it ever got out. Offering to help Peter find a wife seems an easy solution to his problem, but there is one tiny issue, a simmering tension between Peter and herself that, no matter how many women she throws at him, never seems to go away. She know's she can't marry him, her secret could ruin any chance of him ever getting custody of his siblings, but their chemistry soon becomes impossible to resist, and very quickly the scandal that she has been trying desperately to avoid might be upon them.

Peter and Selina were two brilliantly written characters and I enjoyed that we got both of their POV's. Both know loss, know what it's like to never quite live up to people's expectations, and I really enjoyed how they just accepted each other without question. While I did love our two MC's, a couple of the side characters definitely stole this one for me; Lu & Freddie, Peter's siblings. These two added the perfect amount of hilarity, heartbreak as well as some truly heartwarming scenes, and I enjoyed how the author showed them wary of Peter, this person who has shown up in their lives. They aren't easy to trust, after constantly being disappointed in life you can imagine why, but the author allows them to add to the tension of the story, as well as the character growth for both Peter and Selina.

If I had one niggle with this book it would be the romance felt too quick for me. This is large in part to the characters actually meeting over 3 year ago, this is mentioned in the book, and I feel they already had this base of friendship with the want for something more... we basically miss the best bit of them falling in love which disappointed me a little. However, they do give off peak idiots in love vibes, and I liked how the author allowed us an insight into their married life, showing that their problems weren't instantly fixed with a ring and a ceremony, but rather marriage brought it's own set of problems. Their scenes together start off innocent enough, but then quickly make a turn for the smutty and they absolutely got me a little hot under the collar.

The main two plots of the book were Peter trying to get his siblings, and Selina trying desperately to keep her secret life a secret and I really enjoyed how the author wove these two together. Selina is adamant she isn't good enough for Peter, knowing that if society found out about her little secret the scandal would end his custody battle on the spot, but Peter is the ever loving and supportive partner through it all. Her secret of creating leaflets, books, poetry all to inform women about sex, sexual intercourse of all different kinds. I enjoyed how passionate she made Selina about this project, giving us an understanding as to why she came to create this library, and also how she never allowed Selina to waver on her determination for it to carry on. She knows how important this information is, and I enjoyed how Selina never once contemplated giving it up for love.

Overall this was a really fun historical romance. The insta love vibes bothered me a little, but they didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. If you like your romance's on the smutty side, with no third act break up, look no further.

This was such a fun read with quite a few laugh out loud moments especially in the first half. I liked the theme that the lead characters, though highly competent also had a reckless side to them that often led to crisis or disaster. The book makes a really 8mportant point, that women should be full6 educated, especially when it comes to knowing her own body and what can happen to it. Definitely a well worth read

I have really enjoyed reading this book.. I would describe it as a "modern", sexy, Jane Austen style of book.
Lady Selina Ravencroft is an independent woman, not so different from Lizzie Bennet herself, with a great family behind her back and a business that would've certainly made people blush at the time. She sets out to help the Duke of Stanhope find a suitable wife, so he might obtain custody of his young half siblings.. but Lady Selina's matchmaking efforts may be unnecessary, as the two seem to develop quite an interest for each other instead... It's a fun, witty Regency romance with just the right amount of spice!

Overall, though, I'd definitely recommend this boom if you're looking for a historical fictional romance with amazing chemistry between MCs.

Ne’er Duke Well
Alexandra Vasti
Chapter 19 Page 246

||: Which was a relief. Scratch, scratch, went Selina’s pen. Flip, flip, went the pages in Peter's hands. He replaced the book on the shelf and took down three more.
She couldn't stand it any longer.
“ Find anything of note? ”
“Mm,” he said abstractedly. “I'm researching larking.”
Selina tossed down her pen. “You are not.”
Did the man not realize they were in the middle of a crisis?
“Fine, then I'm not. By the did, did you make these notes? You have beautiful handwriting.”
Sbe kept to her feet and strode across the room, snatching the book from his hands. “No! Of course not.” She blinked down at the text. Yes, that was most certainly in her hand: Can this be physically possible???
She was going to die of mortification, right here in her own office.
“Peter,” she said, pretending her face wasn't red-hot, “this is a place of business. Sit down.”:||

Selina Ravens Croft is a well liked, popular socialite of the ton, gracing many influential circles and is offered the luxury life that her name holds even if it does bear some heartache. We hear early on about her twin brother which is quickly imprinted in the Kent-Nash siblings setting the scene for a fun packed wild adventure, without adding the Library’s secret Belvoir’s and how it's related to our character. It is a genius idea which in the end ends up being a major storyline promising drama!
Will the Kent and Nash household be united in the end or will the Kent-Nash siblings end up with another distant relative, due to the scandalous secrets behind closed doors. We leave it in the hand of Lord Eldon and hope for the best..

In this feisty and shall I say strong female led book we meet the Ravencrofts and from the very first second Selina stumbled onto my page I was sucked in. I can see a female lead from a long shot and I was hoping she would be one. I loved the character of Lu, it reminded me of a childhood friend of mine and for that reason I knew this book was going to be in a major positive book pile for me. I liked the idea of Peter although Selina being as clever as she was, I so wanted her to be the one to have all the ideas to create and muse to help her own situations but we got to see a different side of her, that even behind the strongest of people, there is a stable pillar of support. So how could I not love Peter just for that!
His brother's story pulled at my heartstrings.. And even though I'm not that old (30s category) there was nothing around my age showing me what or how to do things so the idea behind this book was so clever I loved it!
I just wish we could have met Will 😭
But hopefully in the next book!

Thank you so much to Alexandra Vasti, Corvus Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review

This was a really fun historical romance. I loved how strong and independent our fmc was. The fact that she ran a secret libraray with erotica was entertaining and unusual, but really enjoyable. Their relationship was adorable. They didn't mean to fall in love, but who can control fate?

I highly recommend the book for fans of historical romance with some spice

This wasn't my favourite book I've read. It was a ok read if you like Bridgeton vibes and it had some ok spice but it felt rushed and I did find it slightly cringe at some points. I feel like the main characters story did take a backseat at points and wish there was more of them.

This was a truly wonderful read with the perfect amount of spice! Although we had a slow burn, the story was fast paced and our two main characters had me fully gripped and swooning. A perfect read!