The Very Definition of Love

by Sophia Benoit

A plucky yet innocent wallflower writing a dictionary of bawdy slang arranges her own marriage to the ultimate the town rake. As sexy as it is witty and as charming as it is irreverent, The Very Definition of Love is Emily Henry for the regency era.

1816– Harriet Barrington may be on her fifth season with no marriage prospects, but she’s fine with that. It gives her more time to write her dictionary of modern slang. Words are her passion, especially the exciting, filthy ones men have kept hidden from women for far too long.

While researching late in the library during a party, Harriet accidentally finds herself in a compromising situation with notorious rake, Lord Alexander. To save her reputation and her younger sisters from ruin, Harriet has no choice but to slightly kidnap Alexander and strong arm him into an elopement. This arranged marriage has a very particular condition—it will be in name-only, leaving each of them to follow their own interests. For Harriet that’s her work, for Alexander, that’s women.

But soon Alexander’s rakish existence is not nearly as fun as spending time with Harriet, and Harriet’s beginning to worry about how much she actually likes her husband. Behind the closed doors of their respectable home, things become a little… complicated. After all, who better to teach her the very thorough meaning of these indecent words than the renowned lover, Lord Alexander Stirling?

Perhaps this marriage will teach them both a little more about that word they’ve been avoiding—love.

If Carrie Bradshaw wrote a Regency romance…. Meet an irresistible new voice in sex and relationships columnist and lifelong romance fan, Sophia Benoit.

Tropes
Enemies-to-lovers / Marriage of convenience / There’s only one bed / Yearning / A misunderstanding / He teaches her / Regency era / Rake x wallflower

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

448 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Kimberlylovesreadingbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley and Zando publishing for this Earc in exchange for an honest review ♥️🎀.

I have a big space in my heart for regency romance and this book didn't disappoint 🤭.

I read this book in one sitting because of how interesting it was.

Harriet, our fmc, is writing a modern slang dictionary and one day as she's researching in a library at a ball she's found in a compromising situation with the well known rake, Lord Alexander. 🙂

Alexander is used to women fawning over him but something about Harriet, the quiet Wallflower, makes him experience emotions that he doesn't want to explore.

I loved the dynamic between Alexander and Harriet, the tension was top tier.🛐 I found myself giggling at the funny banter between them🤭.

I just wish the epilogue was a little bit longer and that we actually read about Harriet 's reissure of the slang dictionary.🙂 Maybe it should have been written like months later instead of just the next morning.

Other than that I loved reading this and I hope we get books about the sisters.🤞🏾🙂

I can't wait to see the cover!!!! The cover is sooooo 😍✨🎀

[Lina]

4 / 5 Stars
This was pretty delightful and a fun romp. The gist is that Harriet is a big nerd (complimentary) who just wants to learn naughty words so that she is contribute to Mr. Dawkin’s dictionary and make some money for her sisters. When she is found in a compromising situation with well-known rake, Alexander (he is literally holding her wrist in a library when they are alone but that is SCANDALOUS for their time), they have no choice but to get married. Chaos ensues.

You will probably like this book if you like:
🌸 Regency era historical romances
🌸 Opposites attract
🌸 Rake MMC x Wallflower FMC
🌸 Spicy lessons
🌸 Reformed Playboy MMC x Virgin FMC
🌸 Oops, there’s only one bed

I really enjoyed Harriet and Alexander together. Alexander is a rake (cough, man slut, cough) but he is a thoughtful, kind rake with a traumatic past that makes you root for him. Harriet is shy and nerdy and sometimes comes off as very naive but again, there are good reasons for it. They are both really endearing and they work together as a couple. She throws him off balance which I LOVE and he just stares at her with stars in his eyes. This is another idiots to lovers story because neither one gets that the other likes them and they make assumptions and jump to conclusions. While I would find that annoying in other books, I think it worked here because these two just don’t have the life experience to do otherwise.

There is definitely some insta-lust but Alexander lives his life very … penis forward so if there wasn’t insta-lust it would seem out of character. I did find it slightly unbelievable that Harriet knew literally NOTHING about sex. Like I get that there was no sex education in Regency times but girl, you didn’t talk to your older sister about sex? Or like do any self discovery of your own ever? You’re learning these bawdy terms and none of them seemed interesting to piece together in a practical sense? I feel like I needed a little more about why she would be so clueless because it started to feel like a plot device instead of an understandable character trait.

Overall, this was fun and had some of my favorite tropes. I learned a lot of fun words and there is a literally glossary at the end.

Thank you Zando Projects | Slowburn and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: June 23, 2026
___________
Pre-Read Thoughts: It really tickles me that we call slutty men "rakes" in historical romances. (And of course, women don't get a cutesy term like that but you know, the patriarchy). Also prepare to be sick of me when I learn all of the "bawdy terms" from this book.

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This is the kind of book that you need to force yourself to put down or else you’ll stay up all night reading it.

As far as regency romances go, this one was top-tier. Harriet and Alexander were such a good pairing: the intelligent, overlooked wallflower and the rakish, bastard son of a duke - a matched made in chemistry heaven. The tension and spice were immaculate, but there were also many tender and romantic moments between them that made their connection feel so genuine.

If I had nitpick anything, it would be that I was hoping for a bit more from the final scene. Regardless, this book exceeded my expectations!

Thank you NetGalley and Zando (Slowburn) for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Berry ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ (Updating Reviews!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Sophia Benoit, Zando/Slowburn, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 / 5 ⭐️ I ATE THIS UPPPPPPP omg
3 / 5 🌶️

I devoured this book in a day. Absolutely loved it, wouldn't change a thing, Harriet and Alexander live rent free in my mind now.
Marriage of convenience? Yes.
The tension?? Yes.
SPICY lessons??? YES!
ONE BED???? YES!!

I had such a good time reading this. Regency-era books aren't typically my thing, but I am so glad I took a shot and requested this arc, because it brought me so much joy! I was charmed from the very beginning.

Harriet, our sweet little wallflower FMC, is so timid, naive, and smart in such an endearing way. Her personality doesn't feel too forced. I loved her, and reading about her so much!
Alexander is... a capital R rake. A bastard child of the duke. But ohhhhh my gosh. He was just so thoughtful. It was so easy to fall for his character.

After an accidental meeting, they get roped into quite the tricky situation, and the only way for them to move past it is to... get married. The marriage of convenience plotline was executed flawlessly.
Together, they were SO cute. I thought they both suited eachother nicely, and I truly did root for them til the end!

This was such an amazing read, and an even more amazing romance debut novel by Sophia Benoit!

♡ pre-read ♡

I am going to devour this regency era marriage-of-convenience book HEHEHEHE

[°✧ susu ✧° · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the PERFECT book to satiate my regency romance needs. Especially for the upcoming Bridgerton season that’ll be out by the time this releases!

The tension was absolutely delicious. There really is no other way to describe it. From cute banter to meddling sisters and a noisy ton, every element brought Harriet and Alexander together even when all they intended to do was be far apart as possible.

Harriet and Lord Alexander are found in a compromising position, which forces them to wed. Although Alexander avoids the act as much as possible.. he kind of gets kidnapped by Harriet? 😭 She just wants to avoid her family from getting ruined and I mean, you go girl. So this ends up being a forced proximity, marriage in name. But after spending so much time together, Alexander can’t help but think of Harriet and realizes he doesn’t want anyone else.

They are so so cute. The bashful nature of Harriet does well with Alexander confident ‘rakish’ one and they compliment each other very well. Also Harriet isn’t afraid to be herself around him, when she usually sticks to the sidelines and is quote on quote a ‘wallflower’. He cares for her and her sisters’ wellbeing, and really really hope they get books too!

Great chemistry and highly recommend.

[Stroop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming! Harriet’s goal in life is to co-author a dictionary of slang and curse words. She has long given up on finding love. Enter Lord Alexander…literally. He walks into a room where Harriet is alone and they are discovered in a compromising position. While they agree that marriage is their only solution, they also agree that they should basically do whatever they want behind the scenes as they don’t have a real marriage. However, going back to “normal” may prove difficult as their feelings for one another develop.

This is a fun read. Harriet is a plucky and endearing lead and Alexander is sweet and thoughtful (even though he may not think so). 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Zando and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's been soooooo long since I've dived into historical romance. Historical romance IS the reason I'm into the genre in the first place. Truly my first love. I knew from the cover alone I wanted to get my hands on this one.

It didn't disappoint and gave me exactly what I was hungry for. Utterly charming and such a sweet and fun story. The chemistry was great. The banter even better. Writing was great! Honestly, it's a fun read.

My biggest complaint, and what held me back from going with four stars, is Harriet's naivety drove me crazy. It got to the point where it was almost comical. I also wish there was an epilogue to make the ending a bit tighter.

Thank you to zando and netgalley for the arc!

[lina ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

// thank you to the publishers and netgalley for providing me with an arc!

this book deserves all the love it’s going to get and more. i actually cannot remember the last time i enjoyed a regency romance this much (and i’ve read a lot). let’s start with: the cover is absolutely stunning. but also, i read this whole book in one morning (from 10am until 2pm) without meaning to (i had studying to do) because it was so addictive that i simply could! not! put it! down!

i loved both our main characters, but the cast of side characters was also so rich and felt so real to me. i’d love to see some of those characters get their own books. i loved how much personality both our main characters had, and how well they suited one another once they let their true selves show.

i really don’t know what else to say except compliments to sophia benoit. this was an exceptional debut into the romance genre, and i’m so excited to see what else she’s going to cook up.

+ rounding this up to 5 stars because it's a tragedy this book has as little reviews as it does, and it deserves the world.

[☆Laura☆]

Harriet Bancroft ha pasado gran parte de su vida en el papel menos interesante de cualquier salón londinense: el de la hija mayor que nadie invita a bailar. Acostumbrada a observar desde la sombra mientras sus hermanas acumulan atenciones, ella se refugia en sus libros y en la correspondencia secreta que mantiene con un académico que desconoce su identidad. Una noche, mientras intenta ampliar su peculiar colección de palabras poco decorosas, termina en la biblioteca de un baile donde se cruza con Lord Alexander Stirling, el segundo hijo de un duque, célebre por su encanto y por la facilidad con la que evita cualquier compromiso. Lo que ocurre allí no debería significar nada, pero una interrupción inoportuna convierte un malentendido en un escándalo. La sociedad ya ha decidido su destino y ambos deben enfrentarse a una unión que ninguno planeó. A partir de ese encuentro forzado surge una relación que desafía sus prejuicios y que revela cuánto pueden cambiar dos personas cuando se ven obligadas a mirarse sin disfraces.


___


Lo único que no me gusto que es Alexander no termino su relación con Giuliana, ya no son amantes, pero quedaron como amigos. Además me quedo la duda de si le seguirá dando dinero y me imagino que se quedara con la casa.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[QuirkyTofurkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

LISTEN. This book isn’t perfect—and if I were more like Harriet, I’d be able to provide a million synonyms for imperfect—but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it one iota. There were some deeply emotional moments between our leads, and the secondary characters were delightful. I am currently taking applications for a mistress psychologist of my own (strictly platonic).

If I have one real complaint, it’s that the plot felt a little chaotic at times. Maybe one too many plot devices? A few conflicts were left dangling (I’m looking at you, Daddy Dearest). But it’s fine. I’m fine. We’re cool. I don’t need every storyline tied up in a neat little bow. But I am vindictive.

That said, I went into this book hoping to pick up some delightfully filthy 1800s slang and emerged with an entirely new vernacular. Ms. Benoit, I myself and everyone around me thank you for this gift. My reading of this book may be temporary, but the edification will be eternal.

I have never used the dictionary function on my Kindle more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zando Projects, and Sophia Benoit for this advanced reader copy. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

I hope by the time of publishing, the Americanisms have been edited out along with the repeated usage of the word 'nonce' that is absolutely not being used correctly by the author.

I especially hope they've been remedied by publication because they're the only major faults in this book. It's a delight from beginning to end. Harriet is a bookish, chatty, overlooked wallflower but manages not to become a cliche or come across as so innocent that she's annoying. I loved her and how she completely enraptured Alexander.

There's a little of The Devil in Winter here except instead of striking a bargain like Evie and Sebastian, Harriet has to kidnap Alexander to abscond with him to Gretna Green.

The book isn't quite as screwball as the blurb implies, but that's not a bad thing. They spend so much time together and in conversation on the page that you really get to see their relationship grow and thrive.

[justclayreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Would have been 5 stars because it actually does have me wanting to read more regency romance, but that pesky miscommunication trope at the end was very unsavory for me. It also didn’t really make sense for the characters since they were excellent communicators up until that point. It was a bit of whiplash for sure. It does get cleared up rather quickly though.

Other than that, I love Alexander and Harriet as a couple. The banter was bantering. They truly do complement each other so well. Their character archetypes are kind of similar to popular jock and nerdy/shy girl. This was such a dreamy romance. I delight and something different from what I usually read. I’m on the hunt for my next historical romance now. If you like shows like Bridgerton, I would highly recommend this!

Thank you to Zando/Slowburn for the gifted finished copy via NetGalley.

[Grace Oeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to the team at prh for the advanced reader’s copy through netgalley // I’d say this is more of a 4.5 stars, because i loved the banter and the characters felt so vibrant for me! also, talk about YEARNING. slight spoilers, but this is the book that made me realize i love the “oops, I’m in love with my wife!” trope 🥰

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ummmm…. Hello, Sophia. I need more Harriet and Alexander. Thanks.

Regency romances are still relatively new to me, and if I continue reading them, I genuinely hope they’re like this one. The banter… Phenomenal. The characters… Lovable. The story… Just a fantastic time. Like Harriet, I absolutely loved learning new words. (Old words?) You can tell how much work Sophia put into researching phrases and such for this book, and it just really makes the story all that much better. (She even shares definitions of certain words and phrases at the end!)

Girl meets boy. Boy and girl get caught in compromising (for the 1800’s) position. Girl kidnaps boy. Girl and boy slowly fall in love. Girl and boy DON’T FREAKING SHARE THEIR AFFECTIONS WITH EACH OTHER LEADING TO BOTH INFURIATING AND HILARIOUS OUTCOMES. Okay.. I’m chill, I’m chill. I might not have been chill with the amount of times I wanted to slap either of them at any given moment, but I’m over it. (Not really.) As much as the lack of communicating angered me, I still couldn’t help but eat this book up. Seriously… THE FREAKING BANTER! This book had me laughing, swooning, crying, just feeling a myriad of emotions. I will say that I’m a little upset at the ending, but that’s really just because I want more. I want more of their story to exist. I want to be able to read more about them and follow up with their families and relationship. I’m being greedy. 😂

Some bullet points because I can’t just keep repeating how much I enjoyed this book…
-Loved Harriet’s curiosity and growth.
-Philippa and Presley were both such a vibe.
-Learning new (old) vulgar words.
-Character development.
-I can’t say this enough, BANTER. chef’s kiss
-How Alexander treated Harriet even before falling in love. 🥹
-Wishing Alexander had gotten that danged punch in…
-Sooooooo many good quotes to save.

Very small amount of my highlights… (None too spoilery.)
-Philippa adjusted her posture, dabbed carefully at her lips, and glanced down at her bodice to make sure it was sufficiently in danger of exposing her nipples.
-His shirt was off. Gone. It might be floating in the Nile for all she Knew. Harriet had gotten used to breathing while looking at his exposed neck, but when Lord Alexander removed his shirt to reveal the entirety of his bare chest, that did her poor respiratory system in. She inhaled sharply, promptly choked on the air she'd inhaled, and spun around quickly to have a coughing fit facing the wall, which seemed approximately one percent less embarrassing than continuing to face him.
-"Alexander," she pleaded.
"Yes?" he teased.
"Please," she begged, although she had no earthly idea what she was begging for.
But he did. He seemed to know precisely what she was asking for.
-In a fit of madness, she spoke:
"Oh my, you are the most handsome man l've ever seen." The smile that cracked open his face was almost worth her embarrassment at having let the words escape her mouth.
"I'm inclined to agree," Presley said, and Harriet had no idea how serious he was. It sent her into a fit of giggles, which she tried desperately to cover.
-Thank God she talked so much; it gave him the perfect cover for watching her mouth.

I could share soooooo many more, but that’d basically be giving away the whole book. 💀 Definitely, definitely, definitely recommend!
I was blessed with an early copy of this book thanks to Netgalley, and I will absolutely be buying the physical copy when it comes out.

[Mora ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦⚬───────────────────────────✧───────────────────────────⚬✦
ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ/ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜᴇᴅ: 21 ᴅᴇᴄ/22 ᴅᴇᴄ
ᴅɪꜱᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇʀ: ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ/ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ ᴠɪᴀ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜰᴜʟʟʏ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ.
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ: ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴɪᴇɴᴄᴇ, ʀᴀᴋᴇ x ᴡᴀʟʟꜰʟᴏᴡᴇʀ, ʀᴇɢᴇɴᴄʏ ᴇʀᴀ, ʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇꜱ ʜᴇʀ, ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
✦⚬───────────────────────────✧───────────────────────────⚬✦
Rating 4.25/5 | Spice 4/5 on the romance.io scale

I really didn't expect to like this book as much as I did! I usually read contemporary as English isn't my native language and historical writing can be hard. But as the book is about a dictionary (and the book having one too!) it was actually delightful. The book is very well written.

FMC is insecure/shy, she gets proven again and again that people only care about her sisters. It made it very easy to root for her. I liked to see how MMC changed from a rake.
The book is very much a slow burn. I really liked that. The book heavily leans into it's premise at times but it also made this romance unique.

I did miss an epilogue. It made the book end so sudden and I didn't feel completely satisfied.

𖹭 The relationship
The relationship is driven on mutual misunderstanding. Over the course of the book they realise they want more from eachother than just a marriage on paper, but both think the other doesn't.
I really liked how different they were from eachother. FMC's inexperience never read as childish to me, it was written as curious.
This book did a very good job of mixing lust and love. When physicial things finally happen, they feel earned and real.
Over the course of the book I "fell in love" with MMC too. He has a caring personality.
There is a miscommunication but it didn't make me hateread which I sometimes do. It made the pining much better.

Ი𐑼 The smut:
The book is very "he teaches her" with her being inexperienced but enthusiastic to learn. The intimacy builds gradually. There is an emphasis on female pleasure. The scenes are sensual and very character driven. I never got bored of any scenes, and it actually takes really long for more than "feeling eachother up" to happen. It was rewarding. The scenes are explicit but not overly.

ೀ Characters:
MMC
About: Lord Alexander Stirling, late 20s, Notorious rake, Bastard son
Appearance: Jetblack hair, deep brown eyes, broad shoulders
FMC
About: Harriet Bancroft, Wallflower, Wo-writing a dictionary of modern slang
Appearance: Chestnut dark hair, gray eyes. strong brows, full lips

✦ Features:
Standalone
HEA
Vanilla smut
✦⚬───────────────────────────✧───────────────────────────⚬✦

[Alice Turrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for an ARC of this book!!

London, 1816, Harriet is on her fifth season with no marriage prospect and a fixation with words and books. During a ball she found herself wandering in the library and in a compromising situation with well-known rake, Alexander. Deciding that she needs to be married to the man in order to protect her sisters' and her own status and reputation she kidnaps the man and they elope in an arranged marriage with rules that allow them to continue their old life. All they want is for Harriet to go back to her work with words and for Alexander to meet with a different woman every night once again, or is this not all they really want?

I don't usually read regency romances, however this book satisfied and overcame my expectation in a surprising way for me. It's entertaining, funny and easy to read despite the language that is, of course, period appropriate. I loved Alexander's yearning and the banter between him and Harriet, they definitely work as a couple and their chemistry is off the charts. A great point in this book are the words that are used and the setting. Both of them are time appropriated, the descriptions allow you to enter in the story and adjust to the time it is set in and the glossary at the end of the book is a genius move. I learned so many new words (most of them are smut words but still words).
What I didn't enjoy particularly was the end which felt rushed and I think it needed at least one more chapter to give the story a proper ending.

"The very definition of love" by Sophia Benoit is out on the 23rd of June 2026 and it's a must-redd for every romance reader out there (regency or not)!

Here’s what you should know:
❤️Regency era historical romances
❤️Enemies to lovers
❤️Marriage of convenience
❤️Yearning
❤️Opposites attract
❤️Rake MMC x Wallflower FMC
❤️Spicy lessons
❤️Only one bed
❤️Two povs, 3rd person
❤️Spicy level: 3/5

⚠️TW: alcohol abuse and abusive father (mostly mentally but he also hit another character)

[Michelle Brashars · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so so happy to get the arc for The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit!!! I love historical romance and love seeing Slowburn putting one out!!! I was hooked from the very first page!! Harriet is a bluestocking wallflower who had been out for five seasons and is totally fine to not get married. She has 3 other sisters and she lives at home with 2 of them trying to keep her household afloat while her abusive father gambles their money away. Harriet loves words and is working on a list of slang that’s usually kept from ladies. Unfortunately when she’s in a library at a ball, Lord Alexander Stirling, the bastard second son of a Duke, mistakes her for her sister. When they’re discovered alone and her reputation is sure to be compromised, Harriet basically kidnaps Alexander and forces his hand in marriage. Alexander is a well known rake. He loves women and hates his father. He has no plans to ever marry or have a family, and extremely put out by his new wife. She’s a yapper of the highest degree and he’s just constantly out there fighting for his life in every conversation with her. These two are ADORABLE!!! Alexander is surprised to find that he actually really really likes his wife. He wants to spend time with her and bed her. She seeks his help in sating her carnal curiosities without actually sleeping together. So there’s sexy lessons and lots of spicy touching 🥵🥵🥵🥵 so so hot!!! I laughed and cried in this book. The writing was wonderful and engaging. I absolutely loved it, but I felt like some things were left unresolved! I needed more on like 3 topics and I was sorely disappointed that the end was the end. I kept checking for more chapters. I will absolutely read more historical romance books from this author though. It’s still a five star for me because up until it was over I was so giddy reading this.

[k · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t even tell you how excited I was when I received this ARC! Regency romance is what got me back in to reading as an adult. No regency era romance that I have picked up since then has gripped me… until this!Sophia Benoit is wildly witty and devastatingly charming.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved the concept of a naive wallflower writing a dictionary full of slang words. Pair that with being found in a compromising situation with the town rake and her kidnapping him and arranging her own marriage, the story promises to satisfy any sort of sexy regency craving you might have.

I laughed so much during this book. The tension between Harriet and Alexander is one of my favorites. It was hysterical when Harriet would ask him about specific slang words and he didn’t want to ruin her by talking to her like that. But it would also make him very “excited” that a woman was asking him this kind of stuff and Harriet had absolutely no idea that she was actually torturing him. It is absolute GOLD.

The side characters were great. Loved the different slide stories with Harriet’s sisters and father, and also Alexander’s father and brother, oh and his mistress. The reason I’m giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 (which it really had the potential to be) is because the ending was very abrupt. The resolution between Harriet and Alexander seemed rushed. I was truly shocked when I turned the page and the acknowledgments popped up. There are many loose ends within the subplots. Usually I’m ok with this when you can tell it’s going to be a series so you will get questions answered in the next book, but I don’t feel like the story is properly set up for that. I would absolutely love a second book though.

Overall, would recommend.
Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the ARC of The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit.

[Mary Dallenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The blurb caught my attention. A heroine who loves words really called to me. Harriette, the heroine, was the main reason I chose to read this book. As I read, she was also the reason I almost stopped reading the book.

She is intelligent, and as expected, a wallflower. Her sisters always overshadow her, and it has instilled a hefty amount of insecurity. The second oldest of four sisters, she is the dutiful one. It was her naivety that irked me at times.

She finds herself in a compromising position with our hero, Alexander. Wishing to save her sisters from disgrace, she decides to take matters into her own hands and force Alexander into marriage.

I found Alexander likable from the get-go. He is charming and funny. He vowed never to marry, yet goes along with her scheme.

She doesn't think she is good enough for him. He is attracted to her but wants to hold to his vow to have a marriage in name only.

Throw in her desire to learn new words, words of the erotic sort, and mahem follows. All is a recipe for a fun time. Except her insecurity and naivety constantly get in the way. There was one encounter between them where he was left hot, bothered, and utterly frustrated. As I read the scene, I had a literal head slap moment.

This is about when I almost stopped reading. I'm glad I continued and chose to binge the second half of the book. The rest of the story takes a painful turn, but they are each redeemed and come together to have their happily ever after. My favorite part of the book is the exchange Harriette has with John towards the end of the book.

All in all a good read. If you enjoy erotic angst, you'll enjoy this book.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve officially fallen down the regency romance hole with The Very Definition of Love and don’t want to be pulled back up! I have a plethora of good things to say about how sweet this story was.

I love a rake character (or any MMC really) who can settle down with the woman he loves and this scratched the itch for me. Alexander and Harriet are an unlikely pair from the get-go but develop feelings along the way for each other.

Truly, I think one of my favorite parts of this story was the introduction to words that are not often used. (Thank you Kindle for the dictionary!) It was fun to come across words I either hadn’t heard of or rarely see used (“apoplexy” -- reminded me instantly of The Office). The end of the book also has a thorough dictionary that goes chapter-by-chapter for lesser or uncommon words which I found unique!

Sophia Benoit also cites her sources on where she got information for the story. She specifically mentions that the word “Hello” was not used until a certain time and since this story takes place before that, it is a word not used. She truly tried to stick to the time period and I applaud her for her efforts!

Harriet and Alexander fall into the category of “rich and poor fall in love with each other” but done in a cute, fun way. Alexander is loathe to admit his feelings for her because that means confronting his own family issues. Harriet struggles with wanting to save her sisters from their father and is unsure of how to ask Alexander for help when she needs it.

I love Alexander’s willingness to change and come around for her! Such a cute story.

[Colie Tichner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Zando and Netgalley for providing the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

*3.5

The Very Definition of Love is a hilarious, heartwarming, and scandalous romance that fans of Tessa Dare are sure to love. I started and finished the book in one sitting when there were far more responsible things I could be doing because I got too invested. Harriet's love of words and their origins, no matter how debased, is a great frame for the story (I honestly would've loved even more word info! Although there were lots of great tidbits in here), and she's a charming and capable main character. The banter between her and Alexander is fantastic, bouncing between witty, vulnerable, and heated. Benoit is somehow able to have both Harriet and Alexander apologize when they mess up while still keeping the angst up, which felt very refreshing compared to other moments I've read in romance novels. There were some instances of "reveals" to the other characters that I was confused about because I had read previous dialogue that seemed to be already referencing it. In addition, some moments feel a bit too convenient, with the side characters giving the exact perfect phrasing the main characters need to hear. There was a lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication in the novel, but it didn't bother me too much because I was so attached to the characters. This book is just such a fun time!

[Luca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start with this: I LOVED THIS BOOK
Plot and Characters where 5🌟 soo fun!! We have the regency era (think Austen or brigerton) and Harriet and Alexander who meet rather innocently because of a misunderstanding, but from the outside it looks rather scandalous. So naturally they have to get married. Forced together they agree to a marriage only by name. Alexander, a notorious playboy, could never just limit himself to one woman, right ? And intelligent Harriet is to focused on collecting all the words a woman is not allowed to use but men seem to be able use freely. So there is no chance of her falling in love with her rake of a husband, right? 👀 I honestly think Harriet would be my best friend if we met today, she’s such a yapper and so funny and all her feminist stances she expresses, sometimes subtle sometimes not so much. She would be such a great friend to have. And Alexander,oh my, we love a guy losing his mind over a woman and not knowing what to do with himself.
My only problems with the book were that the pov shifts needed getting used to. I had wished for clear pov chapters. And there is the miscommunication trope and oh how I loath it. Especially its miscommunication in the sense that they won’t let the other one finish their sentences… And the ending was quite abrupt, I wished for an epilogue 🥲🥲
But all in all this was an absolute treat 🥰 definitely gonna preorder a physical copy! Very excited to annotate this one when it’s published in the summer 🫶🏻

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dearest, gentlest readers
In a world where gossip girls, balls, and presenting oneself to society in the purest manner were the norm, Harriet and Alexander come along to break the mould in this Bridgerton-esque story.

She does not resemble a woman of her time, not because she is not refined, but because she asks questions that women of that era did not ask, engaging in conversations that would make any duke or marquis roll his eyes. Harriet and her incessant need to learn more words and earn a place in a society that does not allow her to do so make us want her to achieve her goals at all times.

Alexander, oh Alexander, the rake, the bastard son, who pretends and wants to live a carefree life: meeting and dating the women he wants without ties, doing the bare minimum with a title he never wanted.

The two demonstrate on a short trip what the real definition of love is. Something that comes as a surprise, a coincidence so cathartic that it destroys your preconceptions and everything you thought you knew about yourself.

Impressive, enigmatic, and oh lord, hot. The dual POV draws you into the story and connects you deeply with both characters. Alexander's pining and yearning are just the cherry on top.

Thank you, Netgalley, Zando Publishing and Sophia Benoit, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Danny Kearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This was my first time reading a novel by Sophia Benoit, and it turned out to be such an unexpected delight.

Set in the Regency era, this romance pairs a dashing rake with a curious wallflower in the best way. Harriet, the overlooked middle daughter, has been left to manage her younger sisters and the household. Her father is a neglectful drunk and gambler, often disappearing for weeks at a time, leaving Harriet to shoulder responsibilities far beyond her years. Used to fading into the background at balls and being ignored by society, she never expects her circumstances to change.

That is, until she accidentally captures the attention of Lord Alexander Stirling. A case of mistaken identity—when Alexander confuses her for her older widowed sister—leads to a compromising situation that forces the two into an elopement and marriage to protect Harriet’s reputation.

Harriet is unlike any woman Alexander has known before. She is intelligent, curious, and quietly strong, and he finds himself irresistibly drawn to her. Their relationship unfolds as a slow-burn romance, allowing their connection to develop naturally and meaningfully.

I truly enjoyed this story. It struck a wonderful balance between lighthearted moments and deeper emotional themes, making it both fun and heartfelt to read.

[Lynsay McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A regency romp I couldn’t put down!

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. No slow burn, no meandering setup—we’re thrown straight into the delicious tension between Harriet and Alexander, and honestly, it’s fantastic. Imagine Bridgerton having a mischievous fling with Jane Austen, and you’re somewhere in the ballpark of this book’s vibe.

I devoured it in under 24 hours because putting it down simply wasn’t an option. There were several moments that had me laughing out loud, the kind of snort-laughs that make people look at you funny, but you don’t care because the book is that good.

Harriet is an absolute delight—charming, curious, and quietly rebellious, especially in her quest to uncover all the scandalous words the polite world of 1816 London keeps from her. Alexander, meanwhile, is the city’s resident rake, yet he’s instantly captivated by this quirky, sharp-witted wallflower. Their chemistry? Electric. Their dynamic? Utterly addictive.

The writing is sharp, witty, and wonderfully immersive. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of spicy Regency romance or someone who just loves a well-crafted, character-driven story, this book is an absolute must-read.

Highly, highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Sophia Benoit, Zando, and NetGalley for allowing me to secure this absolute delight in advance. Following opinions are my own.

This book was delicious fun. I could hardly put it down, and I genuinely haven’t laughed this hard in ages. The scenes between Harriet and Alexander had me completely hooked; their dynamic was so sharp and charming that I was fully invested from start to finish. I’m always here for a reformed rake trope (even when *spoiler alert* a very convincing case is made that he was never quite a rake to begin with), and this one was handled with such wit and care. Harriet’s sisters were a joy, as was Alexander’s brother, and the supporting cast added so much warmth and humor without ever stealing the spotlight. Like Harriet herself, I’ve long been fascinated by cheeky slang so I loved that element of the story. While reading, thoughts would often stray toward wishing the very dictionary Harriet was compiling into existence. Nearly shrieked at discovering the author blessed us with a glossary at the end. It’s hard to believe this is the author’s first venture into Regency romance and I pray she has the intentions of writing more. Also, special shoutout to whoever designed the cover! What perfection. Cannot wait to purchase a hard copy of this one.

Five stars. Ten out of ten. Not to be missed.

[carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 / 5 stars -

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

I'm yet again roped into another romance novel - I was a bit excited to read this one and thought the premise seemed promising.

Truth be told, there's not much to say here. It's a "meet-cute" slash Bridgerton-esque slash arranged marriage kind of romance between our main character, Harriet, and the town's rake, Alexander.

The one thing that frustrated me was the constant miscommunication and assumptions made by both parties, especially Harriet. It was clear they both liked each other, yet still fumbled so bad until the very end! I get this was supposed to drive the plot, but it would've been better if they fell in love slowly and took their time to build their romance. 

Also, the main driver in this plot is Harriet's curiosity and the author has hinted this was an endearing trait of hers but at times, I found it annoying. My girl, you really don't know anything? At all? This part didn't feel so realistic - I get it, you were sheltered but couldn't you have asked your older sisters? And for someone who knows a "lot", she is very dense.

I don't have much else to say here, but it was cute, it was fun, and at times annoying. If you really like Bridgerton, you'll likely enjoy this book.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

This was such a fun and quick read to get through and the writing reminded me of some of my favorite historical romance authors: Lisa Kleypas, Tessa Dare! There were some minor things that felt off but nothing too substantial to take away from my overall enjoyment. First off, I love how each sister had their own fleshed out personality. I would love to see their own books come to life next.

I had a soft spot for Harriet as she reminded me of Penelope from Bridgerton. Particularly when she tried to put herself out there by changing her appearance and still couldn’t catch a single persons eye ( which I though was a bit weird since she looked a lot like her sister Phillipa and everyone gravitated towards her )

I loved how easy Harriet and Alexander’s friendship formed, their energy seemed to bounce off each other especially in the bedroom where he teaches her the meaning of naughty vocabulary. I learned a thing or two from the reformed rake myself. 😂 Although their relationship itself was hot and cold throughout, the ending wrapped things up nicely. I do think the miscommunication near the end was unnecessary, though, since they were usually so good at talking things out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zando Projects for the ARC for an honest review! 🥰

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t have picked a better book to dive into after finishing season 4 of Bridgerton! It’s spicy, hilarious, witty, and surprisingly educational 👀. Initially, it seemed like a typical romance—an experienced and roguish MMC, Lord Alexander, the infamous rake, falling for an innocent, doe-eyed FMC, Harriet. However, I was pleasantly surprised that, after being caught together unchaperoned, Harriet essentially kidnaps and forces Alexander into marriage to protect their reputations. Despite his initial reluctance and desire to continue his rakish lifestyle, Alexander finds himself captivated by Harriet’s charm and intrigued by her project of writing a dictionary with modern slang—specifically, dirty words. Harriet, ever curious, enlists Alexander’s help to understand and practice the meanings of these spicy words.

This book was so fun to read! I literally couldn’t put it down and had me sneaking around at work trying to read bits and pieces. The vibes gave what needed to be given, the characters had satisfying arcs, and the writing made it effortless to follow the story. I’ve officially become a fan of Regency-era romances! Let this be your sign to start reading period romances!!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange of an honest review!

Pub Date: June 23, 2026

[Anjolie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. I had so much fun with this book. I don’t think I’ve ever highlighted so many one liners before.

This gives me everything I want from a regency era novel (time period specific constraints on relationships, interesting sentence structure and challenging vocabulary) while having the ease of use of a modern rom-com novel (the plot beats and archetypes were familiar and the writing modern enough to follow easily).

I adored Harriet and Alexander. The yearning that they both exercised for one another without recognizing it in the other was delicious. The writing had so much wit and sarcasm that had me laughing out loud.

Where this loses me a bit is the inconsistency in the characters. I was having trouble truly identifying what the author intended me to think of both MCs. For example, Harriet seemed Amelia Bedelia-ified when it came to her interest in words or identifying romantic interest from men but was emotionally intuitive in every other capacity and incredibly capable (e.g. managing a her father’s failing household). Additionally, there were scenes where emotional tones in the dialogue felt like it shifted from sentence to sentence.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. 4 stars. Will be recommending it!