Reviews

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

emmelnie's review against another edition

5.0

If I had to describe Ne’er Duke Well in a word, it would be “charming.” Vasti has two exceptionally likable leads in Peter and Selina. He’s an unexpected duke, an American by birth, so he doesn’t know the ins and outs of Regency society. He needs all the help he can get to claim custody of his half-siblings, and he decides that Selina, the sister of a duke, is the perfect person to advise him how to succeed in his goal. Her solution? Find himself a wife to show that he’s settled and ready to raise children.

 

This leads to a delightful read. Peter is earnest and open, if a bit too easily politically correct, and he’s blissfully ignorant of Regency rules. Selina knows them all and follows them scrupulously due to her secret circulating library (hey, the blurb tells you about it) and her resulting need to appear utterly disassociated from it. I loved in particular Peter’s “courting” scenes, where Selina sets him up with perfectly suitable women who are perfectly unsuitable for him. 

 

Ne’er Duke Well is light and fun and frothy. If things go a bit too swimmingly at times, I took that in the joyful spirit in which it was written. I especially liked the allusions to Harriette Wilson and her memoirs, which this book parallels nicely. And I hope Vasti makes some of Peter’s rejected prospects heroines of their own books!

Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for the chance to review.

katiemack's review against another edition

4.25

 I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

There are some dramatic moments toward the end of the book that took me out of the story, but otherwise I love the plot and characters! There's great chemistry and solid banter between Selina and Golden Retriever Husband Peter (SO NICE AND SUPPORTIVE AND LOVES HIS FAMILY), and I'd happily read a spinoff about their friends and family members (especially Lu and Lydia). 

charlottereadshistory's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am a big fan of Alexandra Vasti’s writing and there is no exception needed for her first full-length novel. 

Vasti’s passion and care for the historical romance genre shines through in this book set in the Regency era. 

Lady Selina is determined to find the newly inherited Duke of Stanhope a wife so that he is more likely to obtain guardianship of his younger half-siblings. The problems begin when she starts to realise that she might want to marry him instead! 

I really enjoyed the exploration of the importance of both found and blood family in this book. The Ravenscroft’s fierce loyalty to each other was so satisfying, and I loved how determined Peter and Selina were to rescue his chaotic yet vulnerable siblings. 

Selina Ravenscroft’s character was developed and interesting - she was independent and clever but also stubborn and prone to catastrophising. I loved the proud feminist thread throughout the book and the side-plot of the Venus lending library. 

I really enjoyed that the two protagonists needed the best of each other to solve their problems - there was no shining knight because it was the love and support of friends and family that saved the day. 

I would say that the host of supporting characters are screaming out to be main protagonists in their own books within a series so fingers crossed there! 

cozynoveltea's review against another edition

4.0

This was such a fun read! It gives off Bridgerton vibes (regency, the ton, scandal, etc.), especially with that cover, but the matchmaking also made me think of Emma. There are some fresh spins on standard tropes. For example, single parents switch to older brothers taking care of younger siblings. It's also progressive for a novel that takes place in the regency era. Not only are women making their own way in the world/not immediately marrying if they choose not to, the MMC is respectful of the FMC.

I was a bit surprised by how quickly into the story the couple gets together - and for a friends to lover story, I wish we had gotten more regarding how they initially met - but by doing so, it allows the story to focus on the other conflicts (getting custody of the children, dealing with a villain) and even include some spicy scenes.

This was a great debut novel and I could see this becoming a series, either focusing on Selina's friends or the children when they are presented to society.

Also, as a history nerd, I appreciated that at the end of the story, the author included historical facts.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy of this novel!]

moiraholdman's review

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (Historical Romance)

Release Date: July 23, 2024

Synopsis: Peter Kent, the Duke of Stanhope needs a wife, and Lady Selina Ravenscroft is determined to help him find one. However, on their quest, she realizes that she might be the right woman to be his wife. Peter is always getting himself embroiled in one minor scandal or another, but he really needs Selina’s help. Will her help end up in a marriage proposal? Or will she find another way to help Peter?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book!! It was 🌶️🌶️🌶️. I loved that the FMC secretly ran a library filled with enlightening books for ladies. The undercurrent of feminism in this book was fantastic! I really liked it. I thought the characters were believable, I loved the friendship and familial relationships that were portrayed in the book. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.  

If you loved Bridgerton or other Regency Romances, you’ll love this. 

reytgoodbook's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

A sweet and sexy regency romance that’s perfect for modern readers! I loved this book. It was a breeze to get through and I loved every character. I also loved Selina’s library and the agency she had as a character particularly for this time period. There was some really beautiful familial relationships, both blood and found, and I loved Peter’s younger siblings. 

I also loved the references to actual books of the period and the obviously well researched insights into the time period! 

My only wishes were that we got even more of the younger siblings and the development of their relationship with Peter and I felt like I needed just a smidge more tension at the end to draw it out. 

That being said, the romance is HOT 🌶️🥵 and just what I needed before Bridgerton season 3 comes out 🥰

Thank you to @netgalley and @atlanticbooks for the e-arc! 

readinginfairyland's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kayo32's review

4.0

Alexandra Vasti is quickly becoming one of my favourite historical romance writers. I have loved every one of her books I've read so far and this one was no different.
The unhinged chaos, the found family, the romance - it was just wonderful!
Not going to lie Georgie was my favourite character, what a woman!

This was so much fun and I can't wait to see what this author writes next!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book 

ghostiegail's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! 

This book is feminist smut about feminists writing smut, and I loved it. 

But then again, this was exactly what she wanted Belvoir’s to be: an attainable resource for women who would not otherwise have access to knowledge that could change their lives for the better.

Peter Kent, a Louisiana abolitionist that can’t help but create scandals everywhere he goes, inherits the Dukedom of Stanhope and discovers two precocious half-siblings. Determined to become their legal guardian, Peter turns to society’s most meddlesome debutante who has a dangerous secret — Selina Ravenscroft curates and distributes a circulating erotic library exclusively for the women of the ton, marked by iconic green cloth bound covers. Arranging the perfect match may be just what Peter needs to convince the chancellor he deserves custody, but Peter’s impulsivity and Selina’s illicit secret just may put everything they’ve built in jeopardy. 

I know this isn’t funny. But only you would turn up your nose at embroidery and resolve to overturn society in its stead.

I definitely thought this book was going to be 80% arranging a match, and while that was important to the plot, it was much more about childhood relationships, grappling for control in a society actively working against you, and the beauty of loving someone wholeheartedly for who they are. There were passages that legitimately gave me chills, which has not happened to me in years. 

Despite how emotionally grounded this story was, there was no shortage of spice. Honestly, more than I was expecting! There were a few passages where I thought, okay let’s get back to the plot, but the author usually brought it back around through character development, and the spice didn’t make the book drag on at all. Every plot point and character arc took its time to play out, so the spicy interludes were tons of fun. 

My only gripe is that there is one loose end that I was sure we would get resolution on, and didn’t really come full circle — but I’m suspecting that if the story is the hit it deserves to be, we may get a sequel or spin-off exploring that character. 

If you are 1) a lover of historical romance heavy on the history AND the spice 2) a meddlesome auntie in training with a solution to every problem or 3) a lover of complex sibling relationships, then Ne’er Duke Well will knock your stockings off. 

kimalah's review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Ne’er Duke Well is a treat of a Regency romance.  It is lighthearted, sexy, romantic, funny and easy to read. It touches on serious subjects and handles them deftly. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable. There are two orphaned children who are not overwhelmingly precocious or overbearing for a nice change.

I enjoyed my time with Peter, Selina and their friends and family. I’m hoping there are future books to follow.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.