Hostility & Heartstrings

Eton Cottage #1

by E.G. Verot

Our story begins in England during the early 1800s, or as it is more commonly known, the Regency era. Marriage is common amongst the residents of England, love is a rarity.Margo began her journey in society as a teenager, inconsiderate and so consumed by her own fears that she was unaware of the hurtful effect her words had on someone very important to her. She now finds herself nearly a decade older and is just now realizing the error of her ways. When she meets a young friend who finds herself in a similar situation upon entering society, Margo tries to share her mistakes in the hope that another will not repeat them. Will she be able to save a valued friendship once lost?Edward however had a very different outlook on love when he was younger. So much so that he made himself vulnerable to utter heartbreak…a devastation he has never recovered from. Now, he is forced to come face to face with the woman who broke his heart when his sister decides to spend her summer holiday at Margo's country estate.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers, Historical

356 pages, Paperback

Published February 29, 2024

About the author

E.G. Verot spends her days in the world of education but spends her nights reading, writing, and loving books of all flavors and spices. She has a TBR list longer than she cares to admit. She has been longing to share the characters from her daydreams with you for many years. She lives in the Northeast and looks forward to the winter weather all year. When she is not reading, she can be found spending time with her pets, crocheting, and enjoying her life with loved ones.

Reviews

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This felt like I was reading a new book penned by Austen or Alcott. From the characters, to the tension I loved everything about this story. If you’re a fan of books with a Bridgerton-esque vibe then I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR! You won’t be disappointed.

[Amber Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Lifting my mouth to her ear, I take a deep inhale, then allow only one word to escape on the exhale, “years”. - Hostility and Heartstrings by @e.g.verot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
I fell deeply in love with this story and its characters, thanks to E.G. Verot’s captivating writing style which kept me yearning for more with every turn of the page. The banter between the MFC and MMC in this book is one of the best Banter I have ever read in a book! It was so vivid that I forgot I was reading and instead felt like I was watching a movie. The side characters were just as delightful as the main ones, leaving me grinning from ear to ear. This is undoubtedly one of the best historical romances I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I cannot wait for the second book to be released!
(P.s. if you love Bridgerton Vibes you need to be reading this one)

[spidermse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read historical romance and definitely not one with only humans (my brain kept thinking when the monsters were gonna show up!) but I wanted to try this one out because I had heard some good things.

Overall it was a nice read. I took it slow and didn't rush myself since I had the time. To be honest I didn't really like the MMC very much. I get that his heart was broken and there was A LOT of miscommunication going on but his reactions to all that happened was really shitty. He was more of a jerk than grumpy but swoony male character.

I absolutely loved Margo! If I were to imagine myself living in the Regency era, I would want to be like her. She didn't care what anyone thought about her and made it a priority to live the life she wanted and how she wanted. I was cheering her on the whole time!

There was a lot more miscommunication and just straight up fighting than romantic moments so I was a little disappointed in that. I love fighting as foreplay and enemies to lovers but I also need some good tension! But once they got their heads out of their asses and realized they both loved each other it was sweet! And when he protects her from slimy men? HOT.

Hopefully I'll be able to get to Albert and Lily's story soon! I had a feeling throughout the story there was more to them than it seemed so I was happy to know that I was correct!

[Marian Pattechat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Regency-era romance swept me off my feet!

The writing style had me immersed in those times from the very beginning of the book. From dancing at lavish balls to enjoying the English countryside, I had a blast alongside the characters.

They were all likeable, including the secondary ones. I loved how the heroine was independent and outspoken without appearing out of her time; she was a realistic character. The hero was a stubborn chap, making him a great match for the equally stubborn heroine. Seeing them clash was a sight to behold! The slow burn was delicious and the end result, explosive :P

A swoon-worthy romance! The next book can't come soon enough, since I already have a crush on that hero :D

[Megan Longmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely FLEW through this book, the story and the pacing of events kept me on the edge of my seat!! Every chapter was full of these little breadcrumbs that kept pulling me forward, it didn't take very long before I couldn't put it down...

Margo is such a likeable and unlikable character all at the same time. She's an heiress who's headstrong with a sharp tongue, and yet she is a simple girl who loves those within her inner circle fiercely. She takes good care of her people and longs for real connection in all aspects of her life, rejecting societal expectations in favor of doing what's right for herself long term. She is easy to connect and empathize with, her desire for love and true connection something we can all relate to.

Eddy is FRUSTRATING... he has so much love to give, and yet he's so overcome by it that he can barely articulate what he wants. I love his relationship with his sister and how fiercely her protects her, preparing her for realities of society while shielding her from an immediate marriage. It is his love for her that allows him to see how he's wounded Margo, his thoughts and behaviors shifting throughout the book, transforming him into a man that's actually worthy of her. If you've ever experienced an all-consuming love, you will understand Eddy, his actions ping-ponging between romantic and maddening.

Overall, this is a beautiful story about love, duty, family, and self-discovery. I LOVE the characters in this book, there are so many strong relationships to admire and root for. I'm so excited for Secrecy & Swooning to come out next year, can't wait to jump back into this world and experience the intimate lives of Albert and Lily.

[Aria Maze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never loved a slow burn more!

Oh where to even start. I adore historical romance though I don’t read it very often. I’m gonna have to change that!

Margaret our independent and intelligent FMC has spent years fighting against getting married. She’s not against marriage but her father made it abundantly clear that whoever marries her will inherit his business and all his money making them extremely rich. Naturally, men flock to her even though they don’t know her or even truly like her. Margaret decides that’s not what she wants, rightfully so.

Sadly as she attends her first ball, Edward one of her childhood friends attempts to express his desire to marry her and she says something that breaks his heart. He then spends years pulling away from her and eventually they only speak cruelly to each other. Until his little sister attends her first ball and Margaret offers her comfort and then extends an offer for her to spend time in the country with her.

This book was so amazingly written!

The way they toed the line of hatred and desire? The barbs thrown at each other? The clear jealousy at the thought of them with someone else? Delicious. Friends to enemies to lovers. It truly doesn’t get much better than that.

I was on the edge of my seat and there were so many moments that I thought, this is it! Kiss her! Tell him how you feel, but she makes us wait for it. They work for their ending.

It was so worth it! It felt satisfying and I’m so ready for book two!!

[Megan Ash · Rating 1 out of 5]

First off one of my pet peeves with this was the American language whilst the book was set in Victorian England. E.g. “momma bear”, “pants” and “bangs. In England we call them trousers and fringes. If you are going to set it in England, you have to commit to the cause I’m afraid as we do tend to be quite specific about our language.

Second of all it all just seemed a bit contradictory (and this is where the *SPOILERS* come in….)







There was huge talk about polite society, however the main characters best mates are having an illicit affair and neither one of them seems overly phased by it, as if that would not be scandal of the century.

Then, the two main characters just off and have sex just after he proposed marriage, with neither of them seemingly phased by the scandal that would cause. I am no prude (just a massive history geek), but considering the rest of the book it just seemed utterly ridiculous. The final straw came when this dude was battering someone and she’s turned on by it (after her best pal has whacked him with an umbrella).

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really freaking cute 😍😍😍 the writing had a couple issues, but the storyline was so much fun to read. My only issue was how repetitive the arguments got. I wish there was so variety of what was being said verse the same few lines over and over again.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet romance, but it’s missing something

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, enticing and sweet romance.
Margo and Eddy are so right for each other. And while one sees the potential of their relationship, the other is oblivious.
The secondary characters bring so much laughter and warmth to the story.
The story was written with care and intention. A wonderful debut novel. I’m very excited for the next book in the series.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew at that moment that I wanted to spend the rest of my life making her mad, getting yelled at, and then resolving it with endless kisses. Why have I been so cursed to love a woman that makes it impossible to do so?

4 stars

This debut novel by Verot kept me intrigued and enthralled by the love/hate relationship between Margo and Edward until the very end. Even though there was a lot of open animosity between them, the sexual tension was also a palpable layer that further complicated the relationship between the former friends.

I was deeply interested in the reason as to why Edward's feelings for Margo suddenly changed, and while his misunderstanding could have been solved by a simple conversation, I actually understand his reasoning for why he reacted the way he did. I adored their love letters to each other and appreciated the subtle P&P references that Verot weaved throughout the story. Overall, I really enjoyed Margo and Edward's story of redemption and look forward to more as Verot continues to grow as an author🖤

Tropes: childhood friends-to-frenemies-to-lovers, second chance romance, scorned hero, independent heroine, forced proximity, unrequited pining, love letters, misunderstandings, 'it's always been you' vibes, found family, SLOW BURN, light steam

[Jan Vasilius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

The premise is promising but the execution weak. The author writes well enough. There are a few odd usages, a horse is hitched to a wagon, not a saddle, but there's some lovely bits of period trivia that compensate.
But the story does not hang together.
The father raises his daughter to manage their business, but then puts her in a position where she would only marry a fortune hunter with complete control. The mother is socially obsessed, but abandons her only child to be raised by servants. Two servants are the only staff at a country manor, without even a maid or groom. The hero is a jerk, and a rather stupid one. He spends years vilifying the heroine to all and sundry because she failed to comply with his plans for her, which he never even told her about!!! What finally brings them together? Good old lust, neither compelling or original. Definitely disappointing.

[Brittany ( BookWyvernLovesTea ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely delightful regency era romance! Complete with ballroom dances and country cottage shenanigans.
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It's a friends to enemies to lovers. Mostly because our dear MMC, Edward, has emotional constipation and when he finally gets over it, poor Margaret is both flabbergasted and highly dubious. 😂😂😂 Good thing they have good friends and family to help them out.
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Eddy made a lot of assumptions about Margot and vice versa, and it took some serious meddling to help them see past their colored views.
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But they were quite hilarious at times. I applaud Margot's book throwing. And I loved all the letter and note writing! And the way it all came together at the end.
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If Austen and Bridgerton type stories are your cup of tea, I highly recommend checking this one out!

[Cait Hardcastle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hostility and Heartstrings was one of my top reads of the year! Margo and Edward’s story is simply put - beautiful. E.G. Verot is a gifted author which shines through the historical romance. One of the best aspects of the story was the relationship between the two MCs. It felt so real and honest. The writing made me feel like I was in their story living in regency times. I could feel the emotional push and pull of their attraction and I understood Margo’s want for independence and still be loved for who she is. I cannot recommend this story enough!!

[Maggie Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

My advice to you would be pour yourself a glass of wine, download this book and settle in for the evening.

I was really looking forward to Hostility & Heartstrings release and it didn’t for one minute disappoint. It’s Pride & Prejudice meets Bridgerton in all the best ways—if you are fan of either you need to read this book. It is beautifully written and the characters jump off the page at you. You can’t fail to be affected by their story and fall in love with both Margo and Eddy

[Irene Dudeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This was a fun, enticing and sweet romance. Truly a combination of Pride and Prejudice mixed with Bridgerton! The character’s took time to acknowledge their flaws and grow from them and evolve over the course of the story. The writing is very well done and you can see the work put into this story. If you love forced proximity, enemies to lovers and witty banter, you will enjoy this historical romance!

[Helen G-W · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.G Verot has written such a perfect period piece.
I love this book so much.
I’m obsessed with this book so much.
It’s just perfect.
The banter is exceptionally done and the characters are so easy to fall in love with.
If you haven’t read this book yet, you need to immediately, and watch out for anything else that E.G Verot puts out because I know I’ll be sure to grab it.

[Anavihs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!

I absolutely loved this book! I love regency books and this one was so well done!! The FMC is strong and reslient in a time when that isn't seen as traits a woman should have and the MMC loves everything about her... You're going to be obsessed. *swoon* 10/10 recommend!!

[Jessie Kratzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Regency era slow burn enemy to lover romance is a must read!! This book is so well written!! You will fall in love with all of the characters(except for Harold🤮) I could not out this book down!! The history is well researched and you feel as if you are transported back in time! You will not regret this read!!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was great and it had good promise!! The writing has a ton of potential! I thought some chapters were filler, like a play by play of each day rather than getting to the point of the scene. And, while the conflict was definitely there, I didn't feel like the misbeliefs and fears of the characters were fully explored.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good Regency-era romance, and while I thought the concept was great and the writing holds a lot of promise, I honestly could not stand the main characters and it went a little too hard on the miscommunication trope for my tastes. However, I really enjoyed a lot of the side characters and definitely plan to read book 2 for Lily and Albert’s story.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A regency era friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance with incredibly well written main and side characters! I loved every interaction between Margo and Eddy, and could not stop reading to see what happens between them next as each chapter progresses the plot significantly

[Chrissy Kullmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this enemies to lovers story! The letters written between the two MCs had me genuinely laughing out loud, I even read a few to my sister when she called to chat. She'll be reading this story soon enough now! Looking forward to book 2!

[Samara Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margo is a modern character written in historical times. She is independent, smart and very proud. It's fun to read her trading wits with Eddy, beating him time and time again. Until, the moment when the inevitable happens. Some might compare them to oil and water, which shouldn't mix, but these two are perfect for each other. They just need a little shaking/time!

[Maddie Butterfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine pride and prejudice with 20% more angst between them, and there’s still a semblance of the pining hand-flex scene

[Sheenamy]

DNF at 37%
Couldn't really get into it and felt bored. Wasn't a big fan of how I didn't know what on earth happened back in the day.

[madeline romberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

looooved this one!

[Erika Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of my favorite books this year. I couldn’t put it down. Her writing pulled me in from the get go and I easily imagined myself in Margo’s shoes. I enjoyed the back and forth character storylines. I’m looking forward to reading the second one soon!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hostility and Heartstrings is a clever and heart felt regency era romance.
I fell absolutely in love with Margo, our bold and witty FMC. The story centers around Edward and Margo, a pair of childhood friends turned enemies that can’t escape each other during the London social season.
As children, Edward developed a love for Margo as he saw her to be different from any other ladies he knew. She was an only child, yet her father treated her as his heir, which was unheard of for the time and space. Upon coming of age and entering society, Edward had every intention of courting his dear friend, but a slip of the tongue makes him believe he could never be the one for her. Watching them forced together by Margo’s blossoming friendship with Edward’s little sister and be made to face their own prejudices of each other was a fulfilling journey. I loved their banter! Margo is so witty and hilarious, besting Edward in every verbal spat. As their time together unwinds in Margo’s beloved country estate, they begin to rekindle their friendship and perhaps, if they can put their own egos aside, something much more. If you enjoyed Bridgerton, this is a wittier, more enjoyable take on the regency era but has the same charm and overall feel. Tropes such as enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family… a thoroughly engaging and fulfilling read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️