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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
A historical romance that asks what if the love triangle doesn’t resolve in a typical way.
What if, instead the guy choosing one of the women, they instead chose each other?
Emily, reputation ruined by a tragedy in her youth and so still single, is being forced to marry an odious - not to mention dangerous - man by her parents.
Cousin Violet cooks up a scheme to take her to London as a companion and help for her new baby, while secretly finding her a better match.
There, when trying to catch the attentions of a duke, she meets Harriet who has also set her sight on the same man.
Harry is 34 years old, and happily unmarried
An actress in a sapphic Shakespeare theater group, she paints a picture of scandal in her men’s suits, short hair, not to mention her late mother’s own history
Her life is being turned upside down, because her preciously unknown father turns out to be the future regent. He’ll set her up with a home and inheritance, but it comes in the condition that she settles down into respectability and finds a suitable husband
This book opened with an amazing line, but the story itself felt a little slow to me until the ladies met each other.
After that though? The verbal sparring began and I was invested again. The two played off each other very well!
Harry’s brother Collin might have had to idea that Emily would give his sister some refinement while she helped Emily let her liveliness show, but I think most of the change was on Emily’s part
As for the side characters, I wish we had gotten more of Collin - he seemed quite interesting, with his secrets and respectability that wasn’t really
I also worry for Violet, but *that* could fill paragraphs
Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for the arc
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Mackenzi Lee, and Random House | The Dial Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I have conflicting feelings on this one. I enjoyed the concept of Harriet and Emily fighting over the same guy, both looking for security. But instead, they fall in love with each other. I was expecting a bit more bantering and scenes with them trying to be better than the other. There are a few, but not as many as I would have thought. Harriet and Emily both have had some horrible things happen in the past to make them who they are today. I was hoping to see more character development with Emily. She had the potential to take control of her life, but she still let others make decisions for her. I felt like Harriet and Emily were good together. I would have loved more stolen moments with them. Overall, I enjoyed it. I would read another book by Mackenzi Lee. If you are a fan of Regency Sapphic Romances, then you should give this one a try.
I have conflicting feelings on this one. I enjoyed the concept of Harriet and Emily fighting over the same guy, both looking for security. But instead, they fall in love with each other. I was expecting a bit more bantering and scenes with them trying to be better than the other. There are a few, but not as many as I would have thought. Harriet and Emily both have had some horrible things happen in the past to make them who they are today. I was hoping to see more character development with Emily. She had the potential to take control of her life, but she still let others make decisions for her. I felt like Harriet and Emily were good together. I would have loved more stolen moments with them. Overall, I enjoyed it. I would read another book by Mackenzi Lee. If you are a fan of Regency Sapphic Romances, then you should give this one a try.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lady Like was such a fun read! The story is a sapphic tale set in Georgian, England that has subtle influences of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (one of the best Shakespeare plays, in my opinion).
Initial thoughts: this was a great palette cleanser from some of my previous reads which were heavier (although there are some heavy topics, they were so well done here that I wasn’t overwhelmed). I liked both of Harry’s and Emily’s characters, two very passionate and headstrong women. I love the arc of rivals to friendship to realizing what they felt was more than that. I have thoughts on the Duke’s character and have some qualms about the way his character was handled that I will leave out for spoiler reasons but that was partly why my review was knocked down. The second reason I was taken a little out of the story was the modern phrases the characters used but set with the antiquated values of that society. This isn’t an exact deal breaker, and I understand that there have to be some compromises, but it was enough to pull me out of the story. I also feel like the story ended so abruptly that I didn’t get any closure or time to sit with all that I’d read.
I would like to give a shoutout to the author for the note/section in the back of the book talking about the history of sapphism in the Regency/Georgian eras. So many women (and members of the LGBTQ+ community) have had their stories or their sexuality erased in history due to the agendas of those trying to tell those stories. People of the LGBTQ+ have always existed and deserve to have their stories told and their love celebrated. It was interesting to read about the women who inspired our leads.
Lady Like was such a fun read! The story is a sapphic tale set in Georgian, England that has subtle influences of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (one of the best Shakespeare plays, in my opinion).
Initial thoughts: this was a great palette cleanser from some of my previous reads which were heavier (although there are some heavy topics, they were so well done here that I wasn’t overwhelmed). I liked both of Harry’s and Emily’s characters, two very passionate and headstrong women. I love the arc of rivals to friendship to realizing what they felt was more than that. I have thoughts on the Duke’s character and have some qualms about the way his character was handled that I will leave out for spoiler reasons but that was partly why my review was knocked down. The second reason I was taken a little out of the story was the modern phrases the characters used but set with the antiquated values of that society. This isn’t an exact deal breaker, and I understand that there have to be some compromises, but it was enough to pull me out of the story. I also feel like the story ended so abruptly that I didn’t get any closure or time to sit with all that I’d read.
I would like to give a shoutout to the author for the note/section in the back of the book talking about the history of sapphism in the Regency/Georgian eras. So many women (and members of the LGBTQ+ community) have had their stories or their sexuality erased in history due to the agendas of those trying to tell those stories. People of the LGBTQ+ have always existed and deserve to have their stories told and their love celebrated. It was interesting to read about the women who inspired our leads.
fast-paced
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Someone ought to love you, and I'd like it to be me."
Two women, one refined and one ribald, set their sights on marrying the same duke, but instead of becoming natural enemies, they find themselves falling in love—though not with him.
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Harriet Lockhart and Emily Sergeant are a opposite as can be, but have been forced into the same situation - find a husband. And not only that, but they end up setting their sights on the same one - only to butt heads and end up forced into an acquaintance and friendship (and then more!!) along the way.
This was such a lovely read, and truly had everything. Regency-era, dancing, falling in love, horse racing, drama, pasted-on-mutton chops, duels!!! I was so enthralled the whole time. This is my first book by this author, and I loved her writing - such a perfect mix of beautiful prose, humor, and historical language.
🌹: I loved the banter and the humor in this. Both characters were so fun, and getting to see Emily come out of her shell (esp the scene where's she's so agreeable with the duke, only to turn around and be so animated in her hatred to Harry, omg) was so satisfying to read. The 'will-they/won't they' tension was palpable, and although there was a third-act miscommunication/breakup I thought it was done SO well (lots of different aspects to it, very believable). Violet was such a lovely supporting character as well. And I also loved the additional research notes and literature at the end!
🥀: none! I loved this!
Tropes & Tags: historical romance (regency), sapphic romance, opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers, longing and pining, marriage(s) of convenience
Highlight Count of Sweet & Swoon-Worthy Moments: none, netgalley read
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much! 📖]
Two women, one refined and one ribald, set their sights on marrying the same duke, but instead of becoming natural enemies, they find themselves falling in love—though not with him.
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Harriet Lockhart and Emily Sergeant are a opposite as can be, but have been forced into the same situation - find a husband. And not only that, but they end up setting their sights on the same one - only to butt heads and end up forced into an acquaintance and friendship (and then more!!) along the way.
This was such a lovely read, and truly had everything. Regency-era, dancing, falling in love, horse racing, drama, pasted-on-mutton chops, duels!!! I was so enthralled the whole time. This is my first book by this author, and I loved her writing - such a perfect mix of beautiful prose, humor, and historical language.
🌹: I loved the banter and the humor in this. Both characters were so fun, and getting to see Emily come out of her shell (esp the scene where's she's so agreeable with the duke, only to turn around and be so animated in her hatred to Harry, omg) was so satisfying to read. The 'will-they/won't they' tension was palpable, and although there was a third-act miscommunication/breakup I thought it was done SO well (lots of different aspects to it, very believable). Violet was such a lovely supporting character as well. And I also loved the additional research notes and literature at the end!
🥀: none! I loved this!
Tropes & Tags: historical romance (regency), sapphic romance, opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers, longing and pining, marriage(s) of convenience
Highlight Count of Sweet & Swoon-Worthy Moments: none, netgalley read
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much! 📖]
this was the first romance novel ive read that i really enjoyed. i love that its a historical story, but there are allies within harry and emilys lives that care for them regardless. homophobia was in the story, but it wasnt an all consuming part of it. i loved the banter between the two leads. there were even a few moments where i laughed at loud at some quip harry made. i was worried they would get married to men at the end, and was pleasantly surprised at how the author tied up all the loose ends. although it wasnt an entirely realistic story set in the time period, i liked that it was a fun story about two women falling in love when it seems like everything is against them.
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Two ladies in Regency high society fighting for the same man as they get to know one another? Absolutely.
I am absolutely in love with this book. The writing is good, the plot intriguing, and it features fantastic characters. I especially appreciated the notes at the end about queer women during the 18th and 19th centuries. I’m excited to add it to my physical collection when it comes out!
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes