Freddie Evans is flamboyant, funny, and a lifelong fan of Jane Austen’s love stories which is how he ended up as a guide on a tour bus. He firmly believes in happily ever afters and would love to find his own with his best friend, Darcy.
Driving a Jane Austen tour bus isn’t the most exciting side job in the world, but to Darcy Griffiths, it represents precious time with his best friend Freddie, who’s the guide. He’s loved him since they were teenagers but has never had the nerve to tell him.
Secrets and feelings become revealed as Freddie and Darcy deal with overly amorous newlyweds and arguments over seat allocations. What will Freddie do when he finally realises his very own Mr Darcy is right under his nose?
This novella originally appeared in the Heart2Heart charity anthology, and no new content has been added.
She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven't had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.
She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?
Her latest release is Under Gorse and Stone, which is a magical Christmas story about a centuries-old dragon and his human mate.
You can keep up with Lily's latest releases and read the exclusive short stories '3 Dates' and ‘Best Love’ by subscribing to her newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
3.5 stars
This was very short but also very cute. I really enjoy Lily Morton's writing, and this one had a bit of everything in a short amount of time. Best friends to lovers and pining really isn't my favorite thing, pretty much because it usually just hurts too much, lol. While there was some hurt in this, it was totally okay. Didn't even make me cry, which is a miracle.
Joel Leslie did a fab job with it as per usual. He just brings stories to life.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️ Best friends to lovers Mutual pining Novella Jane Austen tour guide Unknowingly chatting online
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️ Explicit sexual content
⚠️Book safety ⚠️ Cheating: No Other person drama: No Breakup: No POV: 1st person, single Genre: Contemporary romance Pairing: M/M Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles Main characters’ age: Not specified Series: Standalone Kindle Unlimited: No Pages: 66
Loved this! Janes Austen meet “You got mail” but gay and that’s enough for me. I would eat hundred of pages of this, love the writing so maybe I will try something from this author 🥹
“I feel a thrill run through me, and my cock jerks. This is Darcy. My Darcy. And I have his dick in my mouth.” Jane would blush right? 🥵🥵
“The thing is, you might not be Mister Darcy, but you are my Darcy, and that’s something even better” swooning tf out 🥹🫠
This was such a splendid listen. It was sweet, super funny, spicy, just a perfect friends to lovers novella.
The side characters were simply amazing, I'm sure I looked somewhat unhinged walking around the supermarket listening to this and randomly laughing loudly 🫣
Lily Morton is relatively new to me so I'm really looking forward to starting more of her books and Joel Leslie is so so good in everything he narrates.
I loved the pace and flow of this best-friends-to-lovers romance. Freddie is so sweet and selfless, and he’s so gone for Darcy, his own personal ‘Mr. Darcy,’ who’s so kind and attentive. He’s also fun and flirtatious, and a little silly. The story is utterly charming, with very realistic banter between all the characters.
This story is definitely recommended for folks who like Austen humor, sweet love stories, and British tailors who finally get the love of their lives.
It's been ages since I've read a romantic comedy. I loved it. It brought back fond memories of bus tours past with my mother. The Jane Austin tour was a bonus since I'm somewhat of a fan. (Mainly the movies TBH. 😉) Puts a little extra pep in my step this fine day. I must try more romantic comedy. Highly recommended. *****
This was super cute! Childhood best friends, both pining for the other, working together on a Jane Austen themed tour service. Short enough where the romance feels complete, and where the pining/miscommunication isn't overbearing. Low angst, no breakups/conflicts, an explicit sex scene.
Joel Leslie is hit or miss for me, and this one was a hit. Maybe his 2 hour long audios are the key for maximum enjoyment!
I first read this in the Heart2Heart anthology and loved it then.
I still love it now. It’s a perfect little pocket peek into the start of the relationship between Freddie and his own Darcy and it has Lily's usual snark and humour alongside the romance.
Having been at said RARE Edinburgh event where the bus tour which inspired this novella took place, I'll just say it's as funny reading about some of the events as ut was hearing them at the time!
This is a very short story about two dingbats who are best friends and also love each other but never actually talk to each other hence the story about them. I cannot say more or it will spoil the book, as it's that short.
Freddie has been in love with his best friends for years and has been hiding those feelings for just as long – resigned to believing Darcy would never return those feelings. That is until during one of their Jane Austen tour bus rides – he gets some urging to confess and maybe get his very own happy ever after.
This was such a short and sweet read. As someone who has watched Pride & Prejudice what feels like a million times since she was a teenager – the little commentary we get during this book was such a treat.
Freddie has been in love with his best friend Darcy since they were teens, and is resigned to the fact that Darcy will never see him as more than a friend. In the hopes to get over Darcy, Freddie has been chatting up with someone on the Heart2Heart app, with plans to meet while in Bath on break during his Jane Austin tour. Despite his feelings for Darcy, he's excited to meet the man he's been talking with because he hasn't gotten on this well with someone outside of Darcy...
It was pretty obvious where this was heading from the start, but I absolutely adored My Darcy! The characters and shenanigans were hilarious, and I loved the P&P tie ins. I will say that I wasn't a fan of the narrator for this, Joel Leslie is definitely an acquired taste, but I still really enjoyed this!
I love Jane Austen, especially "Pride and Prejudice" and therefore always appreciate references to it
This was a classic friends-to-lovers troupe, and it was lovely. Freddie is a fun character, and Darcy fits him perfectly
I loved the way they talked with and to each other.
I am normally not a big fan of novellas but here it worked fine. Could it have been longer? Yes, I would have enjoyed that. But still it was a fun read
Was berating myself for not reviewing this lovely story when I first read it, until I saw in the blurb it was originally in a Heart2Heart charity anthology. I remember the characters and that it was very good.
Freddie and Darcy have been friends since early childhood and it was in their teen years that Freddie knew he wanted an HEA with Darcy. Freddie is the tour guide whilst Darcy droves the bus on a Jane Austen themed tour. A tour with an eclectic group of guests, plenty of Jane Austen information (some of which is highly unusual) and two best friends who finally acknowledge their feelings for each other. Loved the wit and banter, the affection/love between the two wonderfully likeable main characters and of course an HEA with very low angst and plenty of laughs - classic Lily Morton.
I'd originally read this in the Heart2Heart anthology, and figured I'd also put my individual review for this story here!
This story was adorable, and I think that's cause Best Friends To Lovers might be another favorite trope of mine lol. It also helped my enjoyment that Darcy was described looking like a pirate, and I immediately imagined him looking like Keith Richards 🤣 Loved this one!
Cute short very quick read. Freddie has been in love with his best friend Darcy forever but won't admit it. The two are paired as guide and driver on a leg of the literary tour and eventually they realize they love each other.
On a separate note. Whilst I acknowledge that an author has the right to charge whatever they want for a book, I did find $4 for a 66 page book quite expensive.
I adored this book in audio just as much as I did when I read it the first time in the H2H anthology. Lily Morton’s stories are always a perfect mix of sweetness and funny banter, with a healthy dose of spice thrown in the mix. Her short stories are no different and this cute friends to lovers story set on a Jane Austen’s tour is just a perfect way to spend a couple of hours in the company of Freddie and Darcy, masterfully narrated by the always awesome Joel Leslie.
Short, sweet & funny, with just the right amount of steam. I don't think I'll ever come across a Lily Morton book I don't absolutely adore. This one is no different.
This was such a cute short story/one-shot! If you are looking for sweet, spicy, low angst a friends to lovers story and also happen to be a Jane Austen fan then this two hour audio is perfect for you! Plus per usual Joel Leslie does a fantastic job narrating our two lead MCs, and the cast of characters on the tour bus was so true to how group tours always go 🤣
*I received an ALC of this audiobook, all opinions are my own*
This story was originally part of the Heart2Heart anthology and has now been published as a separate book on its own. I enjoyed it when I read it in the anthology and was pleased to read it again with it’s new charming cover and the same sweet story.
This is a friends to lovers trope that struck me as particularly endearing for some reason. Freddie and Darcy have been best friends since childhood. As a teen, Freddie fell in love with Darcy but believes Darcy doesn’t return his feelings. Enter the passengers on the overnight Jane Austin literary tour that Freddie is a guide for and Darcy is driving. The passengers are a hoot, particularly the three older ladies who decide to clue Freddie in about what they see as Darcy’s obvious feelings for Freddie.
The story is such a nice read and the dating app the anthology is based on plays a fun role. The climactic point wasn’t hard to see coming and it was a lot of fun. The book is a quick and day brightening read. Another way for Lily Morton to shine some bright light into our lives.