From the day of their debut, when Matilda smoked a cheroot and Margo tied a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue, the Halifax twins have flouted convention at every turn. But when Matilda runs off with the dangerous Marquess of Ashford - who has every reason to hate her - she may have gone a bit too far.
Determined to stop Matilda's inexplicable elopement, her sister Margo turns to her oldest friend for because if anyone can get her to Scotland in time, it's starchy solicitor Henry Mortimer. But the road to Scotland is paved with secrets. Beneath his buttoned-up exterior, Henry is ardently, wildly, miserably in love with Margo. And Matilda and Ashford's relationship too may not be quite what it seems.
Between salacious engravings, secret identities, and demanding feral cats, nothing about the journey goes as planned. With the Halifax Hellions at the reins, a week in a carriage is exactly enough time to turn the world upside down . . . and, perhaps, find the love stories they never expected.
For the first time ever in print, The Halifax Hellions brings together Margo and Matilda's novellas, along with a swoony new epilogue.
Alexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.
4⭐️ In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation A fun historical romp on the road to Scotland! When the scandalous Margo Halifax needs help in chasing her twin sister to Scotland, she begs her brother's best friend, Henry Mortimer. Henry of course has been in love with Margo for years but never said anything, because as the son of a pipe fitter he believes himself unfit for the sister of an earl.
I enjoyed this was- it was fun, fast paced and packed some heat. I think Alexandra Vasti did a good job in giving us the jist of Margo and Henry's past relationship. We're given brief mentions of them over the years, told that they talked and interacted and given some stories. And it such a short story it was the perfect amount
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint I didn't check the actual page count but I felt like Matilda's story was longer here- and thus felt more fleshed out. Where Margo and Henry's story was more secluded because they were on the road to Scotland alone, with Matilda and Christian come some supporting characters.
Matilda meets Christian after lewd etchings she had done are altered to look like him- his sister's art tutor quits and he's angry enough to confront Matilda. The two strike up a slightly reluctant correspondence that ends with Matilda accompanying Christian to Scotland to take over as his sister Bea's painting instructor.
This was also fun! We got the gloomy Scottish castle, a brooding lord and a moody cat. What's not to love? Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s rare for me to reread books, but I couldn’t resist revisiting the Halifax Hellions when I learned that the first 2 novellas were being published together with an all new epilogue.
Margo’s story still checks all of my boxes - pining, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, and more. I love how the timeline overlaps with Matilda’s story and we’re able to see the same events from different perspectives. Speaking of Matilda, I did not remember how spicy her novella was. Well done Christian! *fans self*
Reading both novellas back to back and then the bonus epilogue was chef’s kiss. Getting that extra bit of the happy couples made my heart so full. I really hope we’ll be able to see Spencer and Winnie’s story in print as well!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
This was my second book by Alexandra Vasti (technically, this is two novellas put in one book). I loved this so much ❤️; just as much as I loved Earl Crush. The novellas tell the love stories of two sisters, with much of the timeline overlapping. One is told from the point of view of Margo and the other one from Matilda's.
There is quite a bit of smut in the book. Not the most graphic smut I have ever read in a book, but it's pretty smutty. If you are looking for a clean historical romance, sorry, this isn't the right one for you.
Would definitely recommend it! I just need more time to read more books by this author.
Content Warnings: Consensual bdsm (nothing extremely graphic, spanking, some restraint, etc), references to past sexual assault, death of spouse
Omnibus that features one novella and a full length but short book about two twin sisters who never do what is expect of them.
Book one: This was cute but I thought it was going to be more fun. I was looking forward to the H and h getting into some hijinks while they looked for the sister but it fell flat for me in that area. I did think the romance was sweet though especially in the end when the h had to grand gesture the H and go after him. She was mostly focused on her twin the whole time and her reckless life changing so it was nice to see her have to fight for the H a bit.
Book two: This was is about 60 pages longer and the relationship was more developed. This was my favorite of the two. I liked how things played out here. The events of book one lead us to believe certain things about the h and Hs relationship and his reputation but things were not at all what they seemed. I had a lot of fun with that. I really liked the h in this one and how she just wanted to bring joy and happiness into the H and his sister’s lives.
Modern regency isn’t always my thing but the authors wit and writing style were a lot of fun to read. These were a lot steamier than I was expecting too.
I am so excited for the Halifax Hellions to find new readers in this gorgeous new edition, featuring both Margo and Matilda's novellas - and an all new epilogue!
I initially read both Margo and Matilda's novellas in January 2023 and have been a Vasti fan girl ever since. I adore her writing. And she clearly adores the genre - it shines through in the stories she crafts.
In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation: Buttoned up Henry and hellion Margo embark on a road trip to Gretna Green to stop her twin from eloping. Utter catnip! This novella was also such a great role reversal - without spoilers, Henry is all the stereotypes you'd expect the FMC to be, and Margo is basically a rake! Loved it!
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint: The banter via letters. The reluctant emotions. The grumpy/sunshine. The scene where he pulls out his glasses and she can't take it!! Yes to it all!!! This novella was a delight. Heartfelt, humorous, and spicy!
The epilogue was a wonderful treat for readers who already know the Hellions. I loved it!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an eARC. All opinions are my own.
What a treat! I liked Earl Crush by this author and enjoyed this sweet and steamy historical romance even more.
I loved both stories of the Halifax Hellions, twins in regency London who are no strangers to scandal. We follow their chaotic adventures as they learn about themselves, and find what they were looking for and more.
This was such an uplifting and fun read. It has charming and loveable characters, witty banter, yearning, great spice… To me, it was the perfect balance of heartwarming, funny and spicy. I was hooked from the start and loved every minute of it.
I am becoming a fan of Alexandra Vasti’s writing, and will be reading more of her books.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
The Halifax Hellions is the bookish equivalent to a sweet and savory dessert buffet that satisfies all of your cravings. Each novella combines playful humor and delicious spice with complex characters you can’t help but love and root for, even the grumpy ones. It’s only been a handful of hours since I’ve finished this book, and I’ve already texted several friends to read it now. And you better believe I joined Vasti’s newsletter so that I could get my hands on the Halifax Holiday novella of everyone living their best lives. I also learned that Spencer has a novella, which I immediately downloaded, so here I go, happily skipping back into Halifax land!
Things I Loved:
General: 📰 The Adventures - Each sister had their own unique adventure to reflect their distinct personality, and both were highly entertaining in their own right. 📰 The Humor - Creative swearing, witty quips, and funny internal monologues aplenty. 📰 The Desire and Yearning - How Vasti built this so strongly in such a short amount of time baffled me and had my heart in a vice grip. Side note: Traveling carriages are apparently the breeding ground for fantasies. 📰 The Declarations - These people love each other, unapologetically, exactly for who the other is, and it was honestly beautiful. The story takes place like a century and a half before ONJ existed, but “Hopelessly Devoted To You” still applies. 📰 The Growth and Bond of the Halifax Sisters - Their process of finding themselves, learning to embrace their individual desires and identities and trust one another, was so satisfying. 📰 The Epilogue - The wholesomeness of it served as the cherry on top of the delectable sundae that was these novellas (pun intended).
In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation: 🍒 Henry - Are you entirely certain, Henry? Because I don’t believe it either, but I give you a standing ovation. This once orderly and disciplined man was forever undone by a cherry, surely has a bruise on his nose from how often he pinches it, and is sorry, not sorry, and I loved that for him. Risk it all, my man! 🍒 Margo - She may be impatient, chaos incarnate, and fearful of being the rotten seed, but she came into her own, reaching both a “bollocks” and “blockhead” moment that served.
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint: 🐈 Matilda - An erotic artist mistaken for a milkmaid who is not that innocent (Oops!). She’s brave, strong, and just wants to make the people she loves happy. 🐈 Christian - This besotted grouch fears failing his loved ones but has so much love to give, even in the form of chocolate which I am on board with. And don’t even get me started on that starry arse. 🐈 Bea and Mrs. Perkins (Wink) - Such likable side characters who added to the characters’ journeys.
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this text in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
Mediocre, unfortunately. Pacing is a mess, kink is discussed in 21st century therapyspeak, deeply corny situations, overwhelmingly heterosexual in ways that verge on homophobic at times (oh, she innocently fumbled with other girls at school did she? Fucking spare me.) I was just bored the whole time, sorry!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Halifax Twins now come bundled as an omnibus complete with all new combined epilogue for the print version. What a wonderful world we live in.
In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation Margo Halifax knows how to shock people. She and her twin sister Matilda have been doing it their whole lives, in fact, seeing how far they can throw convention to the wind. But when she finds a note from Matilda saying that she’s eloped with *gasp* the scandalous Lord Ashford (with some sort of rumors about a riding crop being involved), Margo takes it upon herself to rescue Matilda from certain ruin with the help of her brother’s best friend Henry Mortimer. Henry has been in love with Margo for seven years, since he first watched her tie a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue as a party trick, and her brazen ways have been a light in his world. Of course he can never tell her this. But the forced proximity of a road trip and a broken carriage throw all of his carefully buttoned up feelings amiss.
This is a reread for me, but I will always give more love to the Halifax siblings. Margo is bold and brash, often making decisions before thinking through them. Henry is the epitome of the starchy hero: quiet, unassuming, and buttoned all the way up, but also a deeply caring and passionate man who would in fact drop everything to assist his unrequited love to find her sister.
One of the delights of this being a novella is that we are never bogged down by extraneous road trip stops or mishaps. It’s quite literally the perfectly balanced arc of plot and character development and extremely passionate sex. A year and a half after first reading Alexandra Vasti, I’m still in awe of how she crafts these outstanding novellas with such care.
In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint Matilda Halifax, twin sister to Margo and the other half of the Halifax Hellions, has crossed her own scandalous line. We knew from Margo’s book that Matilda has eloped, but Vasti brings depth and passion to Matilda’s backstory, which is nothing at all like what Margo assumes.
For years, Margo and Matilda have pulled every scandalous stunt, and yet guarded their hearts. But Matilda doesn’t even recognize herself as the girl who appears in the broadsheets. Yes, she’s been caught by Christian de Bord, Marquess of Ashford, for drawing - and publishing a depiction of him in Professor Flagellante’s Naughty Pupil - but she neither meant for it to be him (the publisher filled in some naughtier details), or assumed that he’d ever see it. In exchange for her indiscretion, she pleads with him to allow her to tutor his sister in painting. But even Christian, assuming nothing short of a scandal, is appalled when Matilda informs him she’s left a note telling her sister she’s eloped because that will keep everything quieter.
There is an underappreciated art to writing a novella because the writer must use an economy of prose and a short plot arc to develop their characters, and Vasti delivers. Her prose is both comfortable and sensual, and she writes incredible characters through the course of this short book. Somehow Christian is starchy, wounded, and devastating, and while Matilda is not his opposite, she’s a perfect counter-balance emotionally. I am not usually one for age-gap romances, either, but that’s because I don’t love the power it typically gives on character over the other, but with Matilda’s fortitude it's clear she holds all the cards, even when Christian is the dominant in the bedroom.
This book is a compilation of two novellas that happen concurrently, tied up in the bow of a lovely new epilogue that revisits and solidifies the two HEAs. Margo and Matilda are twins, and have been flaunting society's rules in the seven years since their debut. They are both at a point in their lives where they are tiring of the Hellion label, and wondering what's next, and how much their reputations will affect the rest of their lives. Our stories kick off when Matilda leaves on a journey and Margo follows.
Margo meddled in Matilda's business, and is trying to fix things by chasing her to Scotland before she can elope (so she thinks) with a nobleman with a sinister reputation. She enlists her brother's best friend Henry, a Steady Eddie of a solicitor who has of course loved Margo from afar since he met when she was 18. Naturally their chase up the Great Northern Road gets a little waylaid by attraction and emotion.
Margo has the fear that she'll ruin things, through being impetuous, or not thinking things through, or that her reputation that seemed so fun and frolicsome while making it, will be the breaking of Henry's law practice. Her chickens are coming home to roost, and while she initially doesn't handle it well, she quickly comes around. She explicitly adopts the role of tending and caring for Henry, as a mirror of the role he has always played of caring and fixing for others.
Meanwhile, we see what lead to the great chase to Scotland in part two, which starts several weeks earlier. Matilda has a secret side hustle illustrating adult literature. It all blows up for Christian when someone edits her drawing to make it explicitly him, and she feels responsible because it's not NOT him she's thinking of when she lets her imagination fly about particular proclivities. They strike up a (delightful!) epistolary relationship, and then for Romance Reasons she goes with him to his country house to be his sister's art tutor.
The weight of reputation is heavy for both these characters, Christian has rumors around his wife's death and her notorious behavior. He feels he doesn't deserve the happiness or ease that Matilda could bring. Meanwhile she is literally bringing light into their home, redecorating and removing heavy curtains and trying to show she is more than her reputation, that she could be a loyal partner as well. "These cursed de Bords! She could make them so happy - if only they would let her."
One thing particularly striking with Matilda and Christian's story was the imagery of hands throughout. In the beginning, both Matilda and Christian think of their hands as instruments of chastisement and reward (Matilda says she wants to be punished and "likes a little pain" but wants to be petted and praised as well). They both imagine her hands bound. But as their emotions get more involved, the hand imagery shifts to empty hands wanting to be filled. Several times Matilda holds out her hand for Christian to take (he doesn't until the end) or he looks at his hands and imagines filling them with a loving touch from her. Its pining and longing made corporal. Their eventual HEA isn't just two people with similar proclivities finding each other in the bedroom, but two sets of hands being filled with love.
These two novellas fit perfectly together as a full length book, as the stories are very closely linked. There is also a novella about the Hellions' brother the Earl Spencer, In Which Winnie Halifax Is Utterly Ruined and a series epilogue A Halifax Holiday which rounds everything out very nicely.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc.
I loved everything about the Halifax Hellions and wish there was even more to read. This book consists of two novellas set along the same timeline. The first part follows Margo and Henry and the second follows Matilda and Christian.
Henry is Margo’s brother’s best friend and has been pining over Margo for years. When Margo begs Henry to take a road trip to Scotland with her to find her sister, he simply cannot say no.
Christian and Matilda have more of an enemies-to-lovers vibe as Matilda fights to right a wrong she unintentionally committed. After much persuasion from Matilda, Christian agrees to take Matilda back to his home to be his sister’s art tutor.
Even though these were novellas I thought the character development was great. I absolutely adored both sisters and both of their stories. I also loved that the stories overlapped in time so we could see everything from the perspective of both sisters. This was such a fun historical romance and the epilogue was just the icing on the cake.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Yeahhh Vasti knew what she was doing with this one. O.o This is a bindup and rerelease of the Halifax sisters’ novellas with a bonus epilogue. I hadn’t read the novellas before, and I LOVE them! Such a fun read! I loved how the first novella gives you ideas about the second sister and then the second novella turns those on their head (the novellas take place around the same time). The spice?! SO SO HOT. The 1st novella is best friend’s brother (he PINES), and the 2nd novella is age gap (he’s a lil’ feisty). The epilogue was sweet. I will definitely be acquiring a physical copy when it releases!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
The Halifax Hellions was an absolute joy to read. I loved following along with Margo and Matilda's adventures and how they intertwined with one another in this dual novella delight. This was jam packed with funny, steamy, and swoony moments. It was also fun to discover why things weren't quite as they seemed along the way.
Bravo to Alexandra Vasti on this wonderfully fun book.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, NetGalley, and Alexandra Vasti for the eARC of The Halifax Hellions.
Margo and Matilda are known throughout London and beyond as the beautiful and scandalous red-headed twins of the wealthy and powerful Halifax family. Insulated from ruin by their lofty noble status, and orphaned at a young age, they run rampant, defying societal norms with their outrageous behavior.
This rollicking and steamy book tells both sisters stories in print for the first time. Having previously been published as ebooks, it combines both novellas and adds a new epilogue tying them together blissfully.
In ‘In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation’, Margo travels to Scotland with Henry, her brother’s best friend to save her sister from a hasty marriage. In close quarters for a week, they can’t help but explore their forbidden feelings and their off-the-charts chemistry.
In ‘In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint’ Matilda’s salacious drawings bring her to the attention of Lord Ashford, an older widower with a shadowy past. When she volunteers to tutor his sister, they find they have more in common than their notorious reputations.
This spicy feminist Regency with dual narration and endearing characters will have Vasti fans swooning and thrill fans of romances with prominent feminist overtones.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with a complimentary advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved these two novellas following our dastardly Halifax Hellions. Both Margo & Matilda's romances were so FUNNY, SWEET and STEAMY, and I giggled and kicked my feet the entire time I was reading them. In such a short amount of time, Alexandra Vasti had me loving all four main characters immensely. Each character was unique, well established, and I know I already said this but: FUNNY. The witty banter is fantastic, and makes for the perfect quick regency ROMP.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Alexandra Vasti for the opportunity to read the e-arc of The Halifax Hellions in exchange for an honest review!
This is the first book I have read for Alexandra Vasti, and I really enjoyed it! I don't know how I missed it or didnt realize before reading, but this book is actually two existing novellas that were put together in a beautiful bundle of charm, wit, and spice - a historical romance lovers dream.
I am looking forward to getting my hands on a physical copy of this book, and reading more from the author!
I loved this book! It was the perfect mix of funny, sweet, and seriously spicy. Both love stories kept me hooked, and I had so much fun watching them unfold. The sibling dynamics were such a standout too—realistic, messy, and full of heart.
If you’re into romance that’s equal parts swoony and steamy, with great humor and strong family vibes, this one’s a must-read. Definitely a new favorite!
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
The Halifax Hellions includes two novellas that follow sisters as they find their happily ever afters. Both stories are compelling, and I was easily pulled into the first, which focused on Margo and Henry as they travel to stop Matilda from eloping. I love friends-to-lovers romances and road trips, and when these characters embark on their journeys, chaos, shenanigans, obstacles, and romance ensue.
Margot is so over the top and vivacious, and it’s clear from the start that Henry is deeply in love with her. Did I mention Henry is also Margot’s brother’s best friend? Love it!! They had amazing chemistry, and the pining was fabulous.
Matilda’s novella had a completely different tone from her sister’s, which made sense considering how different her story is from Margot’s. I enjoyed hers just as much as the first one. I actually liked Matilda a bit more than Margot, and Christian surprised me in the best way. He ended up being so different from his cold and standoffish persona, and once they were at his home, he shone. He was such a strong match for her and their dynamic pulled me in right away. I also loved Matilda’s budding relationship with Christian’s sister. There are definitely some strong messages about female empowerment and sisterhood in both pieces.
Special thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Margo and Henry still have my favorite love story here - I’m a sucker for “it’s always been you,” and Henry is the embodiment of this microtrope. He’s been in love with Margo since he first witnessed her tie a cherry stem with her tongue, but like all good solicitors and brother’s best friends, he knows she’s strictly off limits. But when she comes to him, soaking wet, seeking his help to save her sister from eloping, he can’t resist her. As the two deal with many a road trip shenanigans, they grow even closer, and Margo starts to realize Henry might be the person she’s always needed. He might be a virgin, but this one is extra hot and the perfect spicy and sweet treat.
The letters between Christian and Matilda are so well done- both in hilarity and just building each of their characters for the reader. Matilda is ultimately just trying to do her best despite her scandalous reputation, and she does feel guilty that her drawings have turned into lewd cartoons of Christian. However, he is unwilling to listen to her and accept her help. His crossed-out letters show his frustration, and her slight brattiness and refusal to take no for an answer are perfectly reflected in what will be their bedroom play. Christian is also all kinds of dreamy with his spectacles, beard, and sternness. Like, I totally get it, Matilda. His POVs are also some of my favorites because of his dripping sarcasm mixed with just the right kind of self-deprecation.
Loved this one even more on a reread!! Vasti manages to create two such unique love stories about the funnest set of twins I know. Margo and Henry will always be my faves because I live for a man who pines and a virgin hero. But something about Matilda and Christian hit so much harder for me this time. Not only is their chemistry hot and steamy, but they also complement each other so well. The epilogue was the perfect added touch to this already amazing set of novellas. It really came full circle in the best kind of way, and it was nice to see the twins together. I feel like we didn’t get enough of that in the originals, so this was a really excellent touch. I’m hoping we will get Spencer and Winnie’s story in print too, maybe with the holiday special? Who knows, but I’ll pick up and read anything by this author.
5/5 Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an eARC of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Hilarious, heartfelt, and deliciously spicy historical romance with chaotic twin energy
This book was so much fun. A delightful, dual-novella-style historical romance that follows twin sisters in overlapping storylines—each navigating love, scandal, and just the right amount of chaos.
The first half gives us the impulsive, meddling twin who sets off to “save” her sister from an assumed disastrous marriage, dragging her long-suffering childhood friend (and secret admirer of 8 years) along for the ride. What follows is pure Regency hijinks: elopement, carriage rides, ridiculous assumptions, and a whole lot of pining. It’s fast-paced and full of charm.
The second half slows down into something surprisingly tender and kinky. The quiet, artistic sister with a scandalous side meets her match in a brooding “killer” (read: misunderstood, emotionally repressed protector type) with a dead wife, a protective streak, and very specific… tastes. Turns out they didn’t need rescuing at all since their “elopement” was all a cover and not real. Turns out their feelings for each other turn out to be very real though. Their Dom/sub dynamic is handled so well—equal parts sweet and sizzling—and their emotional arc was really satisfying.
Underneath the banter and spice, the story weaves in a strong theme of love in all forms—romantic, familial, and self-love. This was a standout historical romance for me. Vasti balances humor and heat with heart and depth, and I’ll definitely be reading more from her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Matilda and Margo Halifax are twin red heads who generally wreak havoc all over 1800s London high society. They refuse to be ordinary in a time when women are expected to be prim and proper. This was a re-read for me and I was so excited to read the new epilogue!
These are two (of three!) novellas that begin when Margo learns of Matilda’s sudden elopement to a much older man who is surrounded by his own scandals. She enlists family friend Henry to help save her sister. Unbeknownst to her, Henry is desperately in love with her and will literally do anything she asks. It’s a really sweet, opposites attract story! Henry is so sweet and pure and Margo brings him out of his shell.
Matilda’s story reveals that not everything is as it seems. She desperately wishes for balance and calm despite her nickname and reputation. She does run away with Marquess of Ashford but it’s merely to tutor his sister. I really enjoyed how wildly different both sisters were and how unique their love stories were.
I really enjoyed both novellas and these are a fun and quick way to get introduced to historical romance! Alexandra Vasti is such a thorough researcher and all of her books stand out for me because of that.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I became a full-fledged "Vastihead" when Alexandra Vasti originally published the Halifax Hellion novellas, so I am absolutely delighted that they're getting the release they deserve! I have read and reread these stories over the last few years because Margo, Matilda, Henry, and Christian are such dear characters to me! I remember being like "WOW this Alexandra Vasti is really going places!" and here she is one month out from publishing her third full length novel.
Let me put it to you this way--I read this eARC (which contains a brand new bonus epilogue that is as scrumptious as a phallic shaped pastry), and immediately went back to reread both In Which Winnie Halifax Is Utterly Ruined *and* A Halifax Holiday. For reference I did all of this reading in roughly twenty-four hours because this series is absolutely unputdownable. And you know what? I will continue to regularly turn back to Margo's reticule of cheese to Matilda's madcap plan to be a painting tutor for binge reading purposes for years to come.
If you're "historical romance curious", I think these novellas would be a great place to start!
5/5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
The Halifax Hellions is Alexandra’s first two novellas in the Halifax series combined together in a lovely package with a bonus epilogue. Having read the novellas the first time around and fallen more in love with the author’s writing since, I couldn’t wait to revisit and fall for these stories once again.
‘In Which Margo Halifax Earns her Shocking Reputation’, we follow bold and charismatic Halifax twin Margaret, who Henry Mortimer has been in love with since the second he saw her. When Margo finds out that her twin has possibly ran off to elope, she drags her brother’s best friend Henry to help track Matilda down. What ensues is lots of drama, lots of steamy time, and endless entertainment.
‘In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint’, we follow Matilda, who has been drawing quite scandalous engravings of a man fairly similar to Christian, Marquess of Ashford. To make up for the scandal, Matilda insists she be brought on to tutor Christian’s younger sister in art. With the close proximity fan the attraction between the two?
Loved reading these stories together again, and the epilogue was a perfect combined ending! Would definitely recommend for fans of Alexandra’s writing and historical romance lovers!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.
Super delightful and such a fun read! I’m a big fan of Alexandra Vasti’s historical romances, and was super excited for these two novellas!
Margo’s story is the first ~35% while Matilda’s is the remainder, so it’s a bit longer. I thoroughly enjoyed both but did prefer Matilda’s probably because it was longer and a bit more fleshed out! I think Vasti did a great job walking the line between full story and like straight romance in Matilda’s story especially. Margo’s was a little fast paced because it was so short, but still provides enough context that it feels less like you’re thrown into the smut of it.
This was a nice, fun pivot from a lot of historical romances that are very laced up with prim and proper ladies. Margo and Matilda are wild and fun loving and deserve and find partners who appreciate that about them!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this eARC! The Halifax Hellions is out in print February 2026!
This is my second Alexandra Vasti book and I wasn’t expecting it to be two novellas in one book! Each novella follows one of the Halifax sisters, Margo and Matilda. I enjoyed Matilda’s story more, being lengthier it had more story to it, but Margo’s was just as fun as it also set up Matilda’s.
Margo, a friends to lovers, enlists long time friend Henry to accompany her on the voyage from London to Scotland to track down her sister who left a note saying she is going to elope with Christian, who Matilda just met. Matilda and Christian’s relationship isn’t all that it appears to be.
The tales of these two sisters was a quick and enjoyable regency era reads!
Thank you St Martin’s Griffin for the eARC of this book.
This upcoming book is actually a collection of short novellas weaved into one book. It tells the tales of two sisters named Margo and Matilda and their silly adventures. I will say that it is a very cute book but if you are one of those people who isn't into smut then this isn't for you. Overall I found it to be quite cute!
I loved this so much. This was my first book by the author and loved the Halifax Hellions, Margo and Mathilda. It’s so much fun when you find a Regency that makes you remember why you fell in love with the genre in the first place. The writing is sharp, and funny with so much heart. I now need to go and read Spencer’s book, and add the rest of Vasti’s books to my TBR.