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Lucky Lovers of London #3
A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence
Love can make even the most buttoned-up bluestocking come undone…
London, 1885
A lesbian in a lavender marriage, Jo Smith cuts a dashing figure in pin-striped trousers, working in her bookshop and keeping impolite company. But her hard-earned stability is about to be upended thanks to her husband’s pregnant paramour, who needs medical attention that no reputable doctor will provide.
Enter Dr. Emily Clarke, a tantalizing bluestocking working at a quaint village hospital outside the city. Emily has reservations about getting mixed up in Jo’s scandalous arrangement, but her flustered, heart-racing response to Jo has her agreeing to help despite herself.
There’s a world of difference between Jo’s community of underground clubs and sapphic societies and Emily’s respectable suburbs. Perhaps it’s a gap that even fervent desire can’t bridge.
But for those bold enough to take the risk, who knows what delicious adventures might be in store…
Lucky Lovers of London
Book 1: The Gentleman's Book of Vices
Book 2: A Rulebook for Restless Rogues
Book 3: A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence
London, 1885
A lesbian in a lavender marriage, Jo Smith cuts a dashing figure in pin-striped trousers, working in her bookshop and keeping impolite company. But her hard-earned stability is about to be upended thanks to her husband’s pregnant paramour, who needs medical attention that no reputable doctor will provide.
Enter Dr. Emily Clarke, a tantalizing bluestocking working at a quaint village hospital outside the city. Emily has reservations about getting mixed up in Jo’s scandalous arrangement, but her flustered, heart-racing response to Jo has her agreeing to help despite herself.
There’s a world of difference between Jo’s community of underground clubs and sapphic societies and Emily’s respectable suburbs. Perhaps it’s a gap that even fervent desire can’t bridge.
But for those bold enough to take the risk, who knows what delicious adventures might be in store…
Lucky Lovers of London
Book 1: The Gentleman's Book of Vices
Book 2: A Rulebook for Restless Rogues
Book 3: A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence
Audible Audio
First published June 4, 2024
62 people are currently reading
5362 people want to read
About the author
Jess Everlee
4 books246 followersJess Everlee writes decadent romance from the Northeast Ohio split-level she shares with her small family of furballs and fellow humans. She holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University, where she studied English and Gender Studies, focusing on Victorian Literature and public health topics. While that background resulted in an eclectic resume, her passion for reading and writing has never wavered. She has a deep love of interesting art, offbeat communities, and admittedly pretentious coffee brewing systems.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
September 26, 2024
Passable as a historical lesbian romance with main characters who aren’t fem but are rather feminists— nowhere near as good as some others tho….. such as Perks of loving a wallflower (who said that??)
June 25, 2024
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (there’s a scene or two but they aren’t overly long or detailed)
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person with both heroines (split by chapter)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a bit of time setting up each heroine first, pg 39 of 237 (about 16%)
Cliffhanger: no, this ends with a happily ever after for the couple
Epilogue: not really, but the last chapter is a bit of a wrap up about a week later
Format: I read an ARC in e-book format through NetGalley
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
“Emily,” she said, just before either of them could catch the eye of those waiting on them in the parlor. “Write to me in the meantime.”
“Write to you?” Emily repeated. “About what?”
About anything, Jo wanted to say.
Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and thought it was fine out of order – but the characters are overlapping so you might get more depth if you read the whole series. (I think the first two books are M/M and book 2 features this heroine’s brother.
Basic plot:
Jo is working to find a doctor that will help her husbands paramour and is recommended the starchy Emily...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (1885)
- mix between London and country settings (more London?)
- sapphic romance
- Emily whittles chess pieces in her free time
- Doctor heroine / Bookseller heroine
- animosity to lovers
- opposites attract
- epistolary
- lower steam – there is open door action but it’s very light, vague, and short
Ages:
- Emily is 30, I didn’t catch Jo
First line:
That there was a village hospital at all in such a funny little corner of Surrey was lucky enough; that it boasted eight beds, two nurses, a skilled surgeon within calling distance, and two-and-a-half physicians was a luxury.
My thoughts:
This novel was really sweet! I really enjoyed Everlee’s writing style and want to try more from her.
I did find this one a bit of a slow start. I was intrigued by Jo’s lavender marriage and was into how different Jo and Emily’s personalities were – Jo is the one to bring Emily out of her shell a bit and Emily calms Jo – they are both really lovely characters that I appreciated. The latter half picked up a bit more for me.
I did find myself wanting them together more than they were, especially in the first half. This had a lot of great banter I appreciated and some really sweet scenes as they start to melt for each other.
The steam is a bit lower, with a few open door scenes but nothing too explicit.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (there’s a scene or two but they aren’t overly long or detailed)
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person with both heroines (split by chapter)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow to medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a bit of time setting up each heroine first, pg 39 of 237 (about 16%)
Cliffhanger: no, this ends with a happily ever after for the couple
Epilogue: not really, but the last chapter is a bit of a wrap up about a week later
Format: I read an ARC in e-book format through NetGalley
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
“Emily,” she said, just before either of them could catch the eye of those waiting on them in the parlor. “Write to me in the meantime.”
“Write to you?” Emily repeated. “About what?”
About anything, Jo wanted to say.
Should I read in order?
I picked this one up alone and thought it was fine out of order – but the characters are overlapping so you might get more depth if you read the whole series. (I think the first two books are M/M and book 2 features this heroine’s brother.
Basic plot:
Jo is working to find a doctor that will help her husbands paramour and is recommended the starchy Emily...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (1885)
- mix between London and country settings (more London?)
- sapphic romance
- Emily whittles chess pieces in her free time
- Doctor heroine / Bookseller heroine
- animosity to lovers
- opposites attract
- epistolary
- lower steam – there is open door action but it’s very light, vague, and short
Ages:
- Emily is 30, I didn’t catch Jo
First line:
That there was a village hospital at all in such a funny little corner of Surrey was lucky enough; that it boasted eight beds, two nurses, a skilled surgeon within calling distance, and two-and-a-half physicians was a luxury.
My thoughts:
This novel was really sweet! I really enjoyed Everlee’s writing style and want to try more from her.
I did find this one a bit of a slow start. I was intrigued by Jo’s lavender marriage and was into how different Jo and Emily’s personalities were – Jo is the one to bring Emily out of her shell a bit and Emily calms Jo – they are both really lovely characters that I appreciated. The latter half picked up a bit more for me.
I did find myself wanting them together more than they were, especially in the first half. This had a lot of great banter I appreciated and some really sweet scenes as they start to melt for each other.
The steam is a bit lower, with a few open door scenes but nothing too explicit.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
May 31, 2024
This is a charming, sexy, touching sapphic historical romance, and I loved it.
Emily is the bluestocking: she's a doctor who feels like she's spent her whole life doing the hard jobs that need doing, whether you like it or not. She's a doctor because her brother wouldn't take up the family business; she's still living with her father because no one else will take care of him; and she's working at the hospital for pennies on the dollar to what a male doctor would make because someone needs to take care of the ill. Jo is the decadent: she's a typesetter and bookseller who wears men's clothes and belongs to a sapphic club. When her husband's mistress falls pregnant, Jo decides to make herself useful and find a doctor who will assist a mother in such an irregular situation ... and ends up finding Emily.
The interpersonal relationships might be messy, but this is a low angst romance between two adult women who know how to give each other second chances. There's some steam for those who want it, too! The book does not present a fantasy past where two women or two men can live together as spouses, or even a fantasy past where a woman can sell smutty books, but within those constraints the HEA is appropriate, earned, and really sweet. Check this one out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Emily is the bluestocking: she's a doctor who feels like she's spent her whole life doing the hard jobs that need doing, whether you like it or not. She's a doctor because her brother wouldn't take up the family business; she's still living with her father because no one else will take care of him; and she's working at the hospital for pennies on the dollar to what a male doctor would make because someone needs to take care of the ill. Jo is the decadent: she's a typesetter and bookseller who wears men's clothes and belongs to a sapphic club. When her husband's mistress falls pregnant, Jo decides to make herself useful and find a doctor who will assist a mother in such an irregular situation ... and ends up finding Emily.
The interpersonal relationships might be messy, but this is a low angst romance between two adult women who know how to give each other second chances. There's some steam for those who want it, too! The book does not present a fantasy past where two women or two men can live together as spouses, or even a fantasy past where a woman can sell smutty books, but within those constraints the HEA is appropriate, earned, and really sweet. Check this one out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
May 25, 2024
Dnf at 45%
I’m just not feeling any of the characters or plot.
The writing itself is alright. I just am not connecting with the story.
Thank you netgalley and harlequin trade for the arc. My opinions are my own.
I’m just not feeling any of the characters or plot.
The writing itself is alright. I just am not connecting with the story.
Thank you netgalley and harlequin trade for the arc. My opinions are my own.
May 17, 2024
3.75 rounded up because of the supporting cast.
If you like banter, grumpy x also grumpy dynamics, and innuendos disguised as very proper letters, then you’ll enjoy this most recent 1800’s romp from Jesse Everlee!
Joe and Emily were both pretty fun to read, what with their stubborn personalities and constant battle of words, but I did find them to be the least compelling of pairs in this book series. I do think this wasn’t entirely the characters fault themselves, I just felt the plot didn't serve them well. Whilst the other books of this series have stakes that come from outside forces - the threat in this story seems entirely self constructed on both Joe and Emmily’s parts. Sure, their relationship was enjoyable to read, but did I really care/worry about their individual plots/struggles? Not necessarily.
If you are looking for a charming sapphic romance with low stakes and a fantastically queer supporting cast then I recommend this read!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores for the arc of this book! I am leaving this review voluntarily!
If you like banter, grumpy x also grumpy dynamics, and innuendos disguised as very proper letters, then you’ll enjoy this most recent 1800’s romp from Jesse Everlee!
Joe and Emily were both pretty fun to read, what with their stubborn personalities and constant battle of words, but I did find them to be the least compelling of pairs in this book series. I do think this wasn’t entirely the characters fault themselves, I just felt the plot didn't serve them well. Whilst the other books of this series have stakes that come from outside forces - the threat in this story seems entirely self constructed on both Joe and Emmily’s parts. Sure, their relationship was enjoyable to read, but did I really care/worry about their individual plots/struggles? Not necessarily.
If you are looking for a charming sapphic romance with low stakes and a fantastically queer supporting cast then I recommend this read!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores for the arc of this book! I am leaving this review voluntarily!
June 20, 2024
A fantastic addition to the Lucky lovers of London queer historical romance series that sees Emily, a lesbian bluestocking doctor and Jo, a bisexual tailor forced together when Jo takes on the task of finding a physician for her husband's mistress. While this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone and I really appreciated how complex the relationships were.
The author does a great job showcasing how possible love stories might have existed in the past. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Erica Ridley's The perks of loving a wallflower or Alexis Hall's A lady for a duke. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Steam level: a couple mild open door scenes
The author does a great job showcasing how possible love stories might have existed in the past. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Erica Ridley's The perks of loving a wallflower or Alexis Hall's A lady for a duke. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Steam level: a couple mild open door scenes
August 1, 2024
*The publisher has provided me with an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.*
I've said before, when reviewing Jess Everlee's previous books, that the thing that makes her most interesting as a writer is how in conversation she is with her genre. Lesbians have really struggled in historical romance; while some authors have tried their hand at having two women leading their books, they tend to fall into the trap of assuming that female leads are inherently more mature, more composed, and generally less interesting than their male counterparts. Lesbians in historical romance dispense no-nonsense advice, they wear sensible clothes, and they talk about their problems like grownups (when they have any problems at all, which is rare.) They don't make mistakes, or hurt each other, or struggle to articulate their feelings. In short, they aren't human. And when I come across passages like the one I quoted above, I suspect Everlee knows that, and is consciously working against it.
That being said, Everlee is a low-conflict writer in general, and that bears out here: when Jo and Emily have misunderstandings, they tend to get cleared up within a few pages, and there is very little plot to be found. After the ball gets rolling with Jo telling an impulsive lie (that she knows midwifery), the engine of the story springs from their respective inner conflicts: Jo's tendency to cut and run when she thinks she's about to be left, and Emily's belief that she needs to manage everyone's lives because she's been slotted into that role since she was a child. Their path to happiness is, therefore, largely about them working out these issues for themselves, rather than having to deal with interpersonal problems. It's not my favourite mode of romance, but it is very clearly one done with care, and credit to Everlee: Jo and Emily actually feel like human beings. While I still yearn for a lesbian histrom between two absolute human disasters on the run from the law wearing ostentatious Pre-Raphaelite gowns, that's not really Everlee's style, and it wouldn't be fair of me to expect otherwise. What this book is is an Everlee romance, told exactly the same way as she tells all her romances, and while it's not necessarily to my personal narrative tastes, I cannot fault it on a craft level.
(Except the sex. Needs more sex.)
Sure, she'd had her share of youthful infatuations at church and school, pointless and distracting though such feelings were. She'd even had what one might call a very close companion at the medical college. But unlike her brother's uncommon attractions, which were associated with bohemian artistry, European exploration, and forbidden passion, there was nothing more ordinary and dull than a couple of overeducated women who couldn't be bothered with the suffocating interest of men. Emily and her friend got their passions out of the way without any nonsense, the same way they approached their work, their dress, their social considerations. They no more needed to cast red shawls over their lamps than they needed to don sparkling jewelry.
I've said before, when reviewing Jess Everlee's previous books, that the thing that makes her most interesting as a writer is how in conversation she is with her genre. Lesbians have really struggled in historical romance; while some authors have tried their hand at having two women leading their books, they tend to fall into the trap of assuming that female leads are inherently more mature, more composed, and generally less interesting than their male counterparts. Lesbians in historical romance dispense no-nonsense advice, they wear sensible clothes, and they talk about their problems like grownups (when they have any problems at all, which is rare.) They don't make mistakes, or hurt each other, or struggle to articulate their feelings. In short, they aren't human. And when I come across passages like the one I quoted above, I suspect Everlee knows that, and is consciously working against it.
That being said, Everlee is a low-conflict writer in general, and that bears out here: when Jo and Emily have misunderstandings, they tend to get cleared up within a few pages, and there is very little plot to be found. After the ball gets rolling with Jo telling an impulsive lie (that she knows midwifery), the engine of the story springs from their respective inner conflicts: Jo's tendency to cut and run when she thinks she's about to be left, and Emily's belief that she needs to manage everyone's lives because she's been slotted into that role since she was a child. Their path to happiness is, therefore, largely about them working out these issues for themselves, rather than having to deal with interpersonal problems. It's not my favourite mode of romance, but it is very clearly one done with care, and credit to Everlee: Jo and Emily actually feel like human beings. While I still yearn for a lesbian histrom between two absolute human disasters on the run from the law wearing ostentatious Pre-Raphaelite gowns, that's not really Everlee's style, and it wouldn't be fair of me to expect otherwise. What this book is is an Everlee romance, told exactly the same way as she tells all her romances, and while it's not necessarily to my personal narrative tastes, I cannot fault it on a craft level.
(Except the sex. Needs more sex.)
March 24, 2024
Thank you to Harpercollins and Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for a honest review!
I've always been a fan of queer historical romances, seeing how each individuals queerness is incorporated into a historical romance context is always really interesting!
Jo and Emily finding a way to be together and the found family trope was really sweet as well.
I didn't feel the characters chemistry overall, but I think it's important to address that everyone spectrums and views of chemistry are totally different. So although it wasn't the perfect amount for me, it could totally be for someone else!
The characters are incredibly interesting and worth reading about if you enjoy reading sapphic historical romances with a hint of humor and forbidness.
I've always been a fan of queer historical romances, seeing how each individuals queerness is incorporated into a historical romance context is always really interesting!
Jo and Emily finding a way to be together and the found family trope was really sweet as well.
I didn't feel the characters chemistry overall, but I think it's important to address that everyone spectrums and views of chemistry are totally different. So although it wasn't the perfect amount for me, it could totally be for someone else!
The characters are incredibly interesting and worth reading about if you enjoy reading sapphic historical romances with a hint of humor and forbidness.
June 26, 2024
“Indulgence isn’t meant to be taken quick like medicine. It has trappings.”
3.5 stars. Yet another one of those 3.5s where I really don't know where I'll round up to 4 or down to 3. I guess I'll know when I finish writing this review. I've really been enjoying this historical romance series, and I was pretty excited for the first sapphic book in it. I liked it more than book 2, but probably not as much as book 1? It's a really sweet read, with a lot of great banter and such well-written chemistry between the women, but hmmmm. I have some thoughts.
Jo is a bookshop owner in a lavender marriage with her dear friend. Emily is a bluestocking, one of the few female doctors in her time. When Jo's husband's girlfriend gets pregnant, Jo helps to recruit Emily to be her physician, and a really cute opposites-attract romance ensues. I think I'll start with the bad, although the things I didn't really like about this book don't actually quality as 'bad', I guess. Just frustrating, to me. When reading any book, you put yourself in the shoes or the mindset of the characters, seeing how they respond and react to certain things. If, for example, a character does something that you wouldn't do, it should hopefully still be written in a way where you as the reader should still understand WHY the character is speaking or reacting in that way. And man, that was not the case here.
Those were a lot of words, lol. Idk, it wouldn't have been such a big deal if the author had just done a better job of selling me on that reaction.
Emily started to really wonder how freeing it might be, to be loved by someone who went about the business of loving with an attitude like that.
But everything else, I really loved! They have the kind of slow courtship that made me wanna kick my feet. They start off very prickly and wary of each other, because they're very different, Jo being a big of a dandy and a smut peddler besides, while Emily is very buttoned up, strict and sober. But it was a clash that worked so well. I smiled my head off during their first meeting, with all the little barbs that they threw at each other, while simultaneously being intrigued by each other. I looooove the trope of someone who is super straight-laced finally letting their hair down, so to speak. Emily isn't an innocent or anything, but it was so cute seeing her get flustered and teased by Jo. And then giving as good as she got! I really wish there had been more time spent together, just the two of them; a few more lessons in decadence. They had just the sort of swoony chemistry that's easy to get lost in, and I don't know that the book took full advantage of it. I wish the book had said a bit more about queerness (and the bit that it did say made me tilt my head) but I did love getting a closer look at the Orchid and Pearl and some of its members. The details about doctoring and publishing and books were all really interesting too. The author's writing style can get flowery, but it's always somehow fresh and unique, and I do enjoy it.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Ell Potter, and really liked it! I've listened to a few queer historicals narrated by her and they're always really good. I especially loved her voice for Jo, and how her Irish accent would become more pronounced in certain situations. I really did enjoy my time with this, despite the things that annoyed me. I would love to see more books in the universe. Especially for Miss Withers; the possible hints at romance we saw in this were very intriguing.
“Those things aren’t decadence. They’re life.”
June 15, 2024
Genre: historical romance
London, 1885
Jo Smith has been married for nearly twenty years, but she and her husband, while one-time lovers, are now business partners and roommates. Divorce isn’t really a possibility for either of them. Her husband’s lover is pregnant, which, while cause for some joy is also cause for worry as Vanessa is advanced in age and suffering from complications. A friend of Jo’s has a sister in the country who is a doctor, and Emily Clarke may be the solution to all of their worries. Except Dr Clarke wants respect from her colleagues at the hospital, and not refuses to be pigeonholed into private practice obstetrics. And yet, there’s more than just a spark between Jo and Emily, and as Emily grows more attached to Jo, it’s apparent that treating Vanessa is important as well.
I was initially pretty skeptical going into this - the setup made me nervous - but I shouldn't have been. Emily and Jo’s story ended up being tender with what is likely a very realistic HEA. There's a lot of navigation of societal responsibilities in an insightful and careful way that really works. While I can’t say I spent the book swooning, I truly loved the chemistry between Jo and Emily. They go from short-tongues adversaries to sensing a spark to pen pals to lovers in a way that feels so entirely natural and comfortable for characters all around forty-ish. Gentle and relatable; even if a reader hasn’t found themselves in a lavender marriage with a sapphic lover specifically, the emotional complexity is familiar.
I did read the first book, A Gentleman’s Book of Vices, but haven’t read book two, A Rulebook for Restless Rogues, so I can confirm this can be read out of order, even though the book two characters are prominent (and in fact, provide the introduction between Jo and Emily).
Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for an eARC for review. A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence is out now!
London, 1885
Jo Smith has been married for nearly twenty years, but she and her husband, while one-time lovers, are now business partners and roommates. Divorce isn’t really a possibility for either of them. Her husband’s lover is pregnant, which, while cause for some joy is also cause for worry as Vanessa is advanced in age and suffering from complications. A friend of Jo’s has a sister in the country who is a doctor, and Emily Clarke may be the solution to all of their worries. Except Dr Clarke wants respect from her colleagues at the hospital, and not refuses to be pigeonholed into private practice obstetrics. And yet, there’s more than just a spark between Jo and Emily, and as Emily grows more attached to Jo, it’s apparent that treating Vanessa is important as well.
I was initially pretty skeptical going into this - the setup made me nervous - but I shouldn't have been. Emily and Jo’s story ended up being tender with what is likely a very realistic HEA. There's a lot of navigation of societal responsibilities in an insightful and careful way that really works. While I can’t say I spent the book swooning, I truly loved the chemistry between Jo and Emily. They go from short-tongues adversaries to sensing a spark to pen pals to lovers in a way that feels so entirely natural and comfortable for characters all around forty-ish. Gentle and relatable; even if a reader hasn’t found themselves in a lavender marriage with a sapphic lover specifically, the emotional complexity is familiar.
I did read the first book, A Gentleman’s Book of Vices, but haven’t read book two, A Rulebook for Restless Rogues, so I can confirm this can be read out of order, even though the book two characters are prominent (and in fact, provide the introduction between Jo and Emily).
Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for an eARC for review. A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence is out now!
July 3, 2024
I'm not sure if it is just this series or this author in general but their stories are good but they're not memorable. They are fun stories to escape into for a little bit but that's it and there's nothing wrong with that but that doesn't equate a five-star read for me.
I really was looking forward to this book after reading the first two and I did like it and I would bet money that one of the MCs is autistic and that was awesome but I didn't love it. It's a good book. It's cute and romantic but there was nothing gripping about the characters or their relationship that held my attention or care.
I really was looking forward to this book after reading the first two and I did like it and I would bet money that one of the MCs is autistic and that was awesome but I didn't love it. It's a good book. It's cute and romantic but there was nothing gripping about the characters or their relationship that held my attention or care.
July 23, 2024
One of my favorite books of the year so far! This series just keeps getting better and better. Jo and Emily are both absolutely amazing together.They're both strong characters that you can't help but fall in love with.
This book is filled with witty banter, humor, plenty of steam, and simply superb storytelling. With Emily learning to loosen up on her responsibilities and Jo learning to let others in, they ended up with a truly beautiful HEA!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book is filled with witty banter, humor, plenty of steam, and simply superb storytelling. With Emily learning to loosen up on her responsibilities and Jo learning to let others in, they ended up with a truly beautiful HEA!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 27, 2025
4 stars
Pleasantly surprised by this one, considering the first two in the series were a 3 star and a DNF.
Both of our main characters were really good, and people you don’t see much in historicals. A butch bookseller in a lavender marriage. And a radical Rational Dress doctor. Shows some of the obstacles they face in the time (especially as a female doctor looking for fair employment), but they’re both surrounded by acceptance and queer community.
A good pairing. Good side characters. Some believable conflict, even if Jo’s inability to have a proper conversation with her husband was often frustrating. I liked it.
Pleasantly surprised by this one, considering the first two in the series were a 3 star and a DNF.
Both of our main characters were really good, and people you don’t see much in historicals. A butch bookseller in a lavender marriage. And a radical Rational Dress doctor. Shows some of the obstacles they face in the time (especially as a female doctor looking for fair employment), but they’re both surrounded by acceptance and queer community.
A good pairing. Good side characters. Some believable conflict, even if Jo’s inability to have a proper conversation with her husband was often frustrating. I liked it.
June 12, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5
This is my first by Jess Everlee, and I look forward to returning to her earlier books! There is a LOT happening in this premise, and I was pleasantly surprised it all remained coherent. We've got one main character living contentedly - if not exactly happily - in a lavender marriage, discovering in the opening scenes that her husband's mistress is pregnant and her place in her own home could be in jeopardy. She attempts to make herself invaluable by pretending midwifery experience, an absurd decision that is quickly and thoroughly lambasted by all of her friends. Her foil, the uptight, underestimated, overburdened doctor, is the steady presence who will ultimately help her face down her own insecurities (while battling her own). It's laugh-out-loud funny at points, and deeply emotional at others, as each character has childhood trauma (and a complicated family) to unpack.
The through-line in plot and character development is an epistolary sequence that helps our characters cross months of time and find deeper intimacy with each other despite their distance. It's so well done and feels right for both characters. Everlee also nails the found family and the dynamics between each of them as they grow closer, and it added so much to the romance arc for our main characters.
This tiniest quibble - why did Emily make chess pieces? In a plot that already had a lot going on, the occasional mentions of this extremely specific hobby felt unnecessary? But maybe I missed some deeper symbolism here.
Also - audio is narrated by Ell Potter, a fave. Highly recommend this format!
This is my first by Jess Everlee, and I look forward to returning to her earlier books! There is a LOT happening in this premise, and I was pleasantly surprised it all remained coherent. We've got one main character living contentedly - if not exactly happily - in a lavender marriage, discovering in the opening scenes that her husband's mistress is pregnant and her place in her own home could be in jeopardy. She attempts to make herself invaluable by pretending midwifery experience, an absurd decision that is quickly and thoroughly lambasted by all of her friends. Her foil, the uptight, underestimated, overburdened doctor, is the steady presence who will ultimately help her face down her own insecurities (while battling her own). It's laugh-out-loud funny at points, and deeply emotional at others, as each character has childhood trauma (and a complicated family) to unpack.
The through-line in plot and character development is an epistolary sequence that helps our characters cross months of time and find deeper intimacy with each other despite their distance. It's so well done and feels right for both characters. Everlee also nails the found family and the dynamics between each of them as they grow closer, and it added so much to the romance arc for our main characters.
This tiniest quibble - why did Emily make chess pieces? In a plot that already had a lot going on, the occasional mentions of this extremely specific hobby felt unnecessary? But maybe I missed some deeper symbolism here.
Also - audio is narrated by Ell Potter, a fave. Highly recommend this format!
August 12, 2024
I loved this! I really enjoyed Jess Everlee's previous books, though there was always something about them that missed the mark for me. I was a little hesitant about this book because historically, when an m/m author writes a sapphic book it doesn't always live up to its predecessors in quality. This time however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this surpassed Jess Everlee's previous books. I came away from it thoroughly enjoying the story and without any "but here's where it missed the mark..." qualifications.
I found Emily and Jo instantly endearing. Emily is prim and proper and has spent her life stepping up to do what needs to be done. She strikes me as neurodivergent in her mannerisms and ways of thinking. While she needs encouragement to let her hair down, Jo needs encouragement to stop running and hold on to the life she wants.
Together they instantly had sparks and their banter and innuendos were so much fun. I always love an epistolary love story and this one was perfect. Everlee doesn't shy away from a few sex scenes but also doesn't get too bogged down in them, which I appreciated. I know some people will want more, but thought it was an appropriate amount. (I usually skip or skim them, but that's pretty much impossible to do when listening to an audiobook.)
I was a little disappointed that we skip over the resolution of all the plotlines and go with an epilogue after everything has worked out instead, but it was clear where everything was headed so maybe not strictly necessary to see it happen.
*thanks to Carina Adores for providing an early copy for review.
I found Emily and Jo instantly endearing. Emily is prim and proper and has spent her life stepping up to do what needs to be done. She strikes me as neurodivergent in her mannerisms and ways of thinking. While she needs encouragement to let her hair down, Jo needs encouragement to stop running and hold on to the life she wants.
Together they instantly had sparks and their banter and innuendos were so much fun. I always love an epistolary love story and this one was perfect. Everlee doesn't shy away from a few sex scenes but also doesn't get too bogged down in them, which I appreciated. I know some people will want more, but thought it was an appropriate amount. (I usually skip or skim them, but that's pretty much impossible to do when listening to an audiobook.)
I was a little disappointed that we skip over the resolution of all the plotlines and go with an epilogue after everything has worked out instead, but it was clear where everything was headed so maybe not strictly necessary to see it happen.
*thanks to Carina Adores for providing an early copy for review.
March 10, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press/HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Absolutely obsessed with this book! From the very first page, I was hooked. A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence takes place in Victorian London and follows Emily, or Dr. Emily Clarke, and Jo Smith, a bookshop owner. Jo is in a lavender marriage with her best friend and business partner, Paul, and lives an unconventional but simple and content life. When Paul’s companion, an actress named Vanessa, gets pregnant, Jo’s life is threatened to be upended. She decides the best course of action is to try to be useful, so she writes to Dr. Emily Clarke to request help caring for Vanessa. The two women are immediately at odds and do not get along. The natural way that Emily and Jo progressed from "enemies" to friends to lovers THROUGH LETTER WRITING (!!!) was so well-written. I think my favorite part of this story was the correspondence through letters that captured the unfolding romance between the two. The chemistry between them was undeniable and amazing. It made my heart so full!! I especially liked how communicative Jo and Emily were-- if an issue arose, they figured it out and it made their bond stronger.
I loved Jess Everlee's writing style and the way she brought every character to life. Every line of dialogue was well thought out and so realistic. I felt like I was living their lives alongside them and the other characters that made up their unconventional families. Speaking of families, the found family in this book was amazing. I can’t stop thinking about this story! It is definitely now one of my comfort stories.
Absolutely obsessed with this book! From the very first page, I was hooked. A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence takes place in Victorian London and follows Emily, or Dr. Emily Clarke, and Jo Smith, a bookshop owner. Jo is in a lavender marriage with her best friend and business partner, Paul, and lives an unconventional but simple and content life. When Paul’s companion, an actress named Vanessa, gets pregnant, Jo’s life is threatened to be upended. She decides the best course of action is to try to be useful, so she writes to Dr. Emily Clarke to request help caring for Vanessa. The two women are immediately at odds and do not get along. The natural way that Emily and Jo progressed from "enemies" to friends to lovers THROUGH LETTER WRITING (!!!) was so well-written. I think my favorite part of this story was the correspondence through letters that captured the unfolding romance between the two. The chemistry between them was undeniable and amazing. It made my heart so full!! I especially liked how communicative Jo and Emily were-- if an issue arose, they figured it out and it made their bond stronger.
I loved Jess Everlee's writing style and the way she brought every character to life. Every line of dialogue was well thought out and so realistic. I felt like I was living their lives alongside them and the other characters that made up their unconventional families. Speaking of families, the found family in this book was amazing. I can’t stop thinking about this story! It is definitely now one of my comfort stories.
June 10, 2024
This sapphic historical romance tells the story of Emily, a buttoned up bluestocking doctor who makes her own chess pieces, and Jo, a city bookseller who runs with a fun crowd (including Emily’s brother) in a lavender marriage.
Initially brought together to help with Jo’s husband’s lover’s pregnancy*, the two don’t start off on the best foot. Eventually attraction and interest get the better of them both and they find themselves writing letters back and forth over weeks. At an eagerly anticipated visit Emily and Jo add physical intimacy to their relationship and it’s hot. Plus there is a hair braiding scene so gently intimate I reread it immediately.
There are some tense moments over the months that make up this story but mostly it is a cozy, joyful, sexy, love story between two women figuring out their careers and families and how best to live well.
Also they make apologies and give second chances.
*Yes, this is complicated but it works so well in this story and makes for a great found family.
This is book 3 in a series but can definitely be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Initially brought together to help with Jo’s husband’s lover’s pregnancy*, the two don’t start off on the best foot. Eventually attraction and interest get the better of them both and they find themselves writing letters back and forth over weeks. At an eagerly anticipated visit Emily and Jo add physical intimacy to their relationship and it’s hot. Plus there is a hair braiding scene so gently intimate I reread it immediately.
There are some tense moments over the months that make up this story but mostly it is a cozy, joyful, sexy, love story between two women figuring out their careers and families and how best to live well.
Also they make apologies and give second chances.
*Yes, this is complicated but it works so well in this story and makes for a great found family.
This is book 3 in a series but can definitely be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 30, 2024
I have really liked the first two books in this series and was so excited for the third, especially since it was sapphic! There were some things I liked a lot - I liked the relationship between Jo and Emily most and loved seeing cameos from the characters from the other books.
Some of my issues with this book are probably on me - I'm struggling eye reading right now which is an uphill battle. But ultimately at some point, I really lost the plot of this book and just...didn't care enough to find it. I couldn't tell you what happens from the police raid to the end of the book - I feel like there was just far too much going on (though again, that might be my current reading issues.
3.5 Stars. Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some of my issues with this book are probably on me - I'm struggling eye reading right now which is an uphill battle. But ultimately at some point, I really lost the plot of this book and just...didn't care enough to find it. I couldn't tell you what happens from the police raid to the end of the book - I feel like there was just far too much going on (though again, that might be my current reading issues.
3.5 Stars. Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 20, 2024
sadly i was pretty disappointed by this one
July 14, 2024
This was so fun! So much banter and back and forth and I loved the way things developed between Emily and Jo, and the found family elements of this one are so good.
July 29, 2024
A perfect book to read in London :) A good mixture of quaint and sensual, with a fun enemies-to-lovers plot
August 4, 2024
Delightfully mindless Bridgerton era queer romance. Nothing to write home about but I did enjoy it!
March 2, 2025
Historical lesbians! With actual personalities! And with plot and side characters that are important without leaving the main romance underdeveloped! Jess Everlee wrote this for me personally
June 12, 2025
I give up i cant read the last 10 pages im so bored. I don't think I could care less about these characters. Snore!
February 7, 2025
Trippar jag eller hade alla karaktärer ett namn som också är ett typsnitt i Word?
June 30, 2025
Super loved the concept of this and I did eventually like it even though it took a long time for me to get there. I am still not completely sure I got why Jo was so reluctant to simply TALK to her sort of husband--I know conflict is necessary but it just felt silly? Will absolutely read this author again in the future, though!
March 11, 2025
These two started out a little rough but eventually learned the magic of communication and it all worked out! I absolutely love how this series intertwines characters from the previous books but still provides completely new stories and plot lines. I did, however, find these two the least compelling of the pairs out of all of Everlee’s books. I just wasn’t as invested in their relationship as I was the other couples (which is unfortunate because I truly want to love this sapphic couple). Either way, it was a fun read but not one I would pick up again.
December 27, 2024
~3.5 Nothing groundbreaking but hit the spot.
I enjoyed this!! Classic historical romcom hijinx but with lesbian leads and entertaining side characters. Charming, low-stakes, funny, and the leads had good chemistry. The sexy scenes had me giggling and kicking my feet rather than cringing, which is rare. The pacing could have been improved, but it was an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this!! Classic historical romcom hijinx but with lesbian leads and entertaining side characters. Charming, low-stakes, funny, and the leads had good chemistry. The sexy scenes had me giggling and kicking my feet rather than cringing, which is rare. The pacing could have been improved, but it was an enjoyable read.
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