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

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!!!

[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.

[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.

[☆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.

[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.

[Dominique Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC gifted in exchange for review
For me to pick up a regency romance, it really has to grab my attention and this did exactly that. The FMC, Harriet, is writing a modern slang dictionary while trying to care for her younger sisters, and shield them from their awful father. Our MMC knows a thing or two about awful fathers and is a notorious rake. The two are found in a compromising position and that’s where the story gets interesting for me. I love when a woman takes charge of her own destiny and makes the best of a bad sit and that’s what Harriet did in order to protect her sisters and their chances at the marriage mart. The growing tension between Alexander and Harriet was sumptuous. The spice had me blushing from head to toe, and the bond that grew between the two of them had me swooning. You’re in for a good time with this one. Think Bridgerton but with spice so good you’ll be fanning yourself

[Raven Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
as a long time historical romance lover this is truly an ode to the genre. i was quickly enamored by the characters and engulfed in the story. i love a rake x wallflower trope when executed as effortlessly as this. i had to stay up until about 4 am to finish this because it was just IMPOSSIBLE to put it down. Lord Alexander Stirling will live on in my head for years to come. his ability to be so kind and genuinely romantic while having moments of such debauchery was just perfect. i LOVE a man who yearns. i genuinely loved each character individually and Harriett and Alexander together. My only qualm is that i wish this was longer, i would have read many more chapters about these two.

Thank you so much to Sophia Benoit and Netgalley for this ARC!

[Tewzdai R · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️
I’m not sure how to properly express how much I enjoyed this book! A regency rom-com centering around naughty slang? Of course I couldn’t resist.

The way that I devoured this book. Sophia did a great job incorporating historically accurate dialogue while still making it easy and interesting to read. I can honestly say I was laughing out loud while reading this. There’s so many positive portrayals of love, friendship, sisterhood, and just being a girl’s girl. Literally giggling and kicking my feet just thinking about it.

Loved the addition of the glossary in the back too! I had fun going through it after I finished reading.

Thank you Zando and Netgalley for the eARC of this title ✨

[tinny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

just darling from start to finish! (even tho the ending was a little quick)

i initially had my qualms with the sister’s introductions bc i couldn’t tell them apart but in the end they endeared me so i missed them towards the wrap up

also ditto with harriet’s naïveté that initially grated on me but eventually grew on me

regardless i loved harriet & alexander’s relationship a lot and enjoyed their banter more than i was expecting to

i am begging for a book about john tbh (or phillipa!)

overall it was a fun easy read and i look forward to more from the author!

thank you to netgalley and zando projects for this arc to review!

[Col (Lizzie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book and read it in one sitting. It was such a fun, witty, educational and romantic read that i was devastated for it to be over. I loved Alexander and Harriet’s relationship and was super happy that Guiliana was a girls girl (we love to see it). If you love bridgerton but with Poldark’s moody vibe MMC and the witty banter of an Elizabeth Bennet type FMC you will absolutely ADORE this book. It’s an instant 5 stars for me, and I cannot wait to discover Sophia Benoit’s other works.

[ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this arc! first i’d like to say i really love the cover of this book, something about it stands out. now for the actual book, i was super interested in the premise, especially given the time period it takes place in. i think something about it unfortunately didn’t hit (FOR ME!). there were moments i was really interested in, and then moments the story got boring. i also felt like we didn’t tie every storyline up. overall, it was an easy and fast read. just left a little something to be desired.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main romance was really good with a solid build up. Ending felt a little rushed. The secondary characters felt a little two-dimensional. Sisters were mostly forgotten about after the beginning unless it was to deal with the drunk dad. The brother had a mysterious unnamed illness that felt very much like a “death by plot” sort of thing. There were a few moments of pov switching inappropriately that an editor should have caught. Overall a good romance to read when you want something easy.

[Mani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Bridgerton and steamy period drama romance will love this book. Harriet as our main character is sharp and witty yet innocent. Alexander on the other hand is an experienced and infamous ladiesman who ends up speechless more than once when he encounters the wild and unbridled intellect of Lady Harriet.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the ARC!

[Maya L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent excellent sexy good smart i love historical romance

[Mia]

What a fun read! GREAT cover too