Exactly what I wanted to read at the moment. Eddie and Rose have been friends forever with an intense relationship, two halves of a whole. When aspiring author Eddie meets famous poet Nash, he promises her the world and she drags Rose along for the ride. But of course, it's not all as it seems and they end up in a world quite unlike what they're used to.

It's such a relief to see more authors having lgbt+ and poc characters in historical fiction and this was such an enjoyable read. I loved our two protagonists and their relationship, as much as I wanted to shake them sometimes. Flew through this in the end and really adored it.

I loved Reputation so was really excited when Infamous was announced. I think I enjoyed this even more. Witty, full of Sapphic energy and exactly what I needed to cure me of my post-Bridgerton blues.

I really enjoyed this! Eddie is clueless but endearing, Rose is smart and brave. I loved the found family themes in the book. I also liked how the author wrote a very modern historical novel, my favourite kind! I will be recommending this title and I will be buying a physical copy too.

22-year-old aspiring writer Edith ‘Eddie’ Miller and her best friend Rose have always done everything together-climbing trees, throwing grapes at boys, sneaking bottles of wine, practicing kissing…

But following their debutante ball Rose is suddenly talking about marriage, and Eddie is horrified. When Eddie meets charming, renowned poet Nash Nicholson, he invites her to his crumbling Gothic estate in the countryside. The entourage of eccentric artists indulging in pure hedonism is exactly what Eddie needs in order to forget Rose and finish her novel.

But Eddie might discover the world of famous literary icons isn’t all poems and pleasure…

I read Croucher’s first novel Reputation last summer and it was the perfect summer read. So when I heard that there was another novel on the way, I requested it straightaway.

Infamous is an enjoyable read and the characters are fun and likeable. I love a good regency era story, and there are interesting elements to this one as the love story at its centre is between two women. It’s also obvious from reading it that Croucher enjoyed exploring the life of an artist during this time and their many parties and social gatherings.

Even so, I did find it to be another book that could have done with being a little shorter. Something I’ve found with a number of titles I’ve read recently. I think it was possibly also a little too predictable at times, and I saw the twist coming. Which sometimes doesn’t bother me, but on this occasion, I found myself wanting the characters to get to the truth faster.

I did still enjoy it, but I think my main takeaway is that, even though it’s not aimed at a YA audience, if I had read it as a teenager I would have been absolutely obsessed. But as an adult? Not so much.*

*this is not to say that YA novels can’t be as effective to an adult reader. I’ve read many YA novels that I’ve loved.

Infamous is published on 21 July 2022. My thanks to Bonnier Books, Zaffre Books & NetGalley for my copy. This is, as always, an honest review.

Maybe even better than Reputation which I absolutely loved, I need the option of more stars!
Adorable romance with amazing characters, lots of personal growth and great settings. Couldn't have enjoyed it more if I tried.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

(Spoilers in this review) This is the first book I’ve read by Lex Croucher and I really enjoyed it!

I pulled me in straight away and despite being in a reading slump I did enjoy it every time I was reading it.

I think my only complaints (which I don’t think had anything to do with the actual book) was I was a little confused with the pacing of it. I think the format of it was just a little weird and when it’s published it will be spaced out more.

Also I was really confused with the ending I felt like I was on dr*gs while reading it 😭 did Henry die? Was it a coverup, was the whole thing just an hallucination? I would have felt better if I had physically read Henry was Alive after.

I knew that Nash was going to be an horrible person! Because I liked him at first and he defended Eddie! But I knew pretty early on that he was not the good guy in the story. Especially when eddies manuscript went missing. I just knew he stole it.

Where can I find forms to be adopted by Rose and Albert please, because I need them to be my parents…

I loved the side characters (especially valentine. They were just so funny and had my sense of humour! But also loved kitty and how she was just chilling painting

I think Eddie could have had more potential and she just seemed a little immature a lot of the time and even after all the crap Nash did and proved he was not a great friend, she just ruined a lot of her relationships over him for a story she never wrote.

I loved the Rep and I feel like it was really well written for a historical book. Obviously liking the same gender is quite uncommon but how extra uncommon that someone could possibly like both genders. I just like how it wasn’t made into a big deal and they were like one little family.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Thanks to Bonnier and NetGalley for the ARC copy for review.

Infamous follows budding writer Eddie Miller and her childhood friend Rose Li as they follow Eddie's hero, poet Nash Nicholson, to his crumbling country house. While Eddie tries to finish her novel and grapples with Rose's desire to be married, debauchery ensues throughout the house.

I loved Reputation last year on release and was excited to read Infamous and it didn't disappoint. The vibes were impeccable throughout and it made for a really satisfying read. I love the way Croucher writes about characters coming to terms with their sexuality and the way historical and modern and intertwined in the writing

I really wanted to love this one. I had high expectations which made the fact that I hated this, so much worse. I could not stand Eddie. I just... couldn't. She seems trite and intolerable and her interactions with all of the other characters were painful to read.

This book has promise, just to me, it didn't live up to it. The setting is fun and there are aspects that were intriguing but as a whole, this felt disjointed and lackluster and I couldn't make myself care about the plot. There was some nice descriptive language (particularly about the settings) but that's about the best thing I could say about this.

I think I was just expecting something from this, that just wasn't there. I wanted a delightful, queer Regency romp, and this wasn't that for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

I ADORED this book, for so many reasons, but mainly because of Eddie. She is the heart of this story, and while yes, it is frustrating at times that she can't see what's right in front of her, who has not been there? No one has life all figured out, especially at 22, and while we are no longer in Regency England, those themes of trying to figure out where you fit, finding your people, and working out what really matters to you are still incredibly relatable.

I loved the period detail, and the exploration of what life might be if you didn't fit into social norms (and, of course, if you had money and privilege). As with Reputation, I loved the diversity and representation, which not only matters today, but is also historically accurate. There are plenty of shenanigans, and as ever, Croucher writes with plenty of humour. Rose is a wonderful character, and I loved how she very much knows who she is and is determined to make a life for herself that honours that. Her friendship with Eddie is the heart of the story, and I love that we get to explore the ups and downs of a relationship between flawed people. They have fun, they stick up for each other, they fall out, they figure stuff out, things aren't always perfect.

The ending was a cracker, and while it had me spitting feathers, I loved that it demonstrated Eddie's confidence in who she knows herself to be, which is a far cry from Eddie at the start of the book, desperate for validation (again, hard relate). Plus, we are rewarded with a fantastic epilogue, which gave me hope and made me a little teary (in a good way).

This was a very sweet book full of heart. I loved the setting and characters, and thought the house in the Lakes was really well described. I wanted more development from the main character earlier in the novel, she does grow a lot by the end but it felt like it took her a while to get there!

3.5/5 stars

We're shifting away from Austen and heading closer into Eyre, with just a dash of Northanger Abbey thrown in for the fun of it. Did I enjoy this one more than 'Reputation'. Yes, I did. It had a lot more bite and intrigue to it and the queer elements were fantastic.

The book follows Eddie, who wants to be a writer, and Rose, her best friend, who is in love with her. Eddie meets the charismatic Nash Nicholson, who charms her enough to bring her to his crumbling country home and then do a lot of creepy shit. Because that was his whole character and sadly, I've met many of those men before.

Ultimately, that's the core theme of this book. Men are trash, don't let them write anything.

I'm having this issue with another book I'm reading ATM - it's too long. 'Infamous' is 400 pages - it didn't need to be. There were so many instances of repetition, where the same thing happened again and again until finally, it was a little different. There were moments of real dramatic tension that I felt didn't get fully explored - the number of times I wanted someone to punch Nash and it never happened would make ME want to punch him. I also got completely lost with the massive number of side characters who began to blend into each other after a few chapters. It felt like it needed a ren pen through it, just to tighten the whole thing because the concept? Fantastic. Loved it. The execution was not my favourite. Once the location changes, everything gets a bit stuck in the mud.

I enjoyed reading most of it, but I did find myself skimming through chapters when the action dried up. Or Nash was being extra pervy and I couldn't be dealing with that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After Reputation earned a spot in my top 10 reads of 2021 I was so excited for Lex Croucher's next novel. I love Croucher's tone and approach to Regency-era fiction, and I was especially excited for Infamous to feature a sapphic romance.

I think ultimately my expectations for a sapphic romance from Croucher led to Infamous feeling slightly underwhelming for me. The modern approach to the Regency period and Croucher's narrative voice didn't shock/excite me as much as it had in Reputation because I knew to expect it, and my excitement for the romance meant that I went into the novel with the wrong expectations.

Like Reputation, Infamous isn't a romance novel, it's a coming-of-age novel that features romance as a facet of that. Whereas in Reputation the decentralisation of the romance centred Georgiana's relationships with other women, in Infamous the relationship most centred is Eddie and Nash's. (Arguably it's Eddie's relationship with herself, but the relationship with the most on-page screen time is her and Nash's). This frustrated me and I wished there had been more of a focus on Eddie and Rose's relationship.

I think one of the dangers of the friends-to-lovers trope is that it can rely a little too much on the preexisting relationship between the characters. Rose and Eddie only had a handful of intimate romantic moments throughout the book and their romance felt a little underdeveloped. Some of the moments were incredibly sweet and there were definite hints of chemistry but I felt that the majority of the relationship development had occurred prior to the setting of the book.

Outside of my issues with romance, I did really enjoy this book. I liked how Croucher played with a gothic setting, it was very different from Reputation and brought an interesting atmosphere to the novel. I enjoyed the main plot line of Eddie's relationship with Nash and her writing career, it didn't feel tired or overdone despite being (as Croucher acknowledged within the book) one of the oldest stories.

The plot line with Henry did feel a little rushed and inconclusive to me and I'm not sure it added anything to the book. Additionally, I would have loved to have seen more about Rose and Albert's relationship and where Eddie fits into that and their goal of building a kind of counter-culture safe space.

Overall, this was another great Regency-era coming-of-age novel from Croucher. I think if you go into it aware that the romance is not the main plot focus and accepting of it for what it is you'll enjoy it just as much, if not more, than Reputation.

I loved Infamous what a fantastic Regency riot!

The writing throughout is fresh and modern but undeniably Regency- unlike lots of regency set fiction this book so clearly explores the themes of gender, identity, place, sexuality and class!

I absolutely adored the family dynamics, I wanted to be in those rooms living the conversations.

Eddie and Rose were great and the character development was on point!

I could absolutely see this book on the screen! it was a fantastic and fun read that I will be purchasing for my bookshelf once publication date is here!

Also Don't ever mention Byron!

Reputation went down an absolute storm in my Library and after reading Infamous, I have no doubt this will do the same! Sassy, funny, witty and super romantic - a joyous read!

Ever since I read Reputation last year, I’ve been eagerly anticipating what Lex Croucher has to offer next. And Infamous didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

The story follows Eddie, an aspiring writer, and her friend Rose, who, in Eddie’s point of view, betrays their friendship by allowing herself to be courted by a man. At the same time, Eddie makes the acquaintance of Nash Nicholson, a poet, who invites her (and Rose and Rose’s fiance) to his house party.

Infamous is a historical romcom distilled into book form. Yes, it has the usual beats of a romance, but it’s also laugh-out-loud funny at times. It’s a compulsive read, one you won’t want to put down for even the slightest of moments.

Most of this is due to the characters. They’re charismatic and vibrant and carry the story along at a riveting pace. You’re rooting for Eddie and Rose from page one, not only for their romance but also for their growth (in particular Eddie). And when that growth comes, it feels like it’s been earned too.

If one of the main strengths of the book is the characters, that extends to the relationships too. In the best way possible, Eddie and Rose’s relationship frustrates you with its obliviousness. You the reader can tell from the start that Eddie is in love with Rose, but she is so singularly blind to her own feelings that it makes the progression of it simultaneously one of the best and most annoying things I’ve read this year.

All of which to say: if this isn’t a book that’s already on your radar, please rectify that as soon as possible. You’re not going to want to miss out.

Absolutely adored this! Hilarious and with an absolutely brilliant writing style. May have a new autobuy author here

(E-ARC provided thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books)

I really enjoyed Reputation and as I think I said in my original review for that, it really felt like Lex was writing a (very lovely and charming) M/F romance but was also being pulled in a More Gay direction… so to see their next book was an actual sapphic regency romance was very exciting.

This is such a delight. It really is. Eddie is such a fun narrator and her dynamic with Rose is instantly delightful, too. I thought Reputation was great but this feels so much like Croucher is really in their stride with this kind of book, and it’s even funnier. Nash is such a brilliant character for Croucher to write because the humour that he emanates seems to just really vibe with them, and I loved every scene with him:

“Very good, Henry,” said Nash. “God, what have you been eating? Lesser men?”
“Er…” said Henry, nonplussed. “Eggs?”
“I shall have whatever you’ve been having,” said Nash. “Tell your grandmother.”

(SPOILERS)

In a way, Nash is absolutely the stand out character for me, because he’s written so carefully and subtly (as well as being very funny.) When you first meet him, you can’t help but like him, and perhaps you have doubts about his intentions or his integrity but it’s impossible to really definitely point to anything. You get to go on the whole ride with Eddie of figuring out what he’s actually like and what he’s capable of. It’s devastating. It doesn’t make any of his earlier appearances any less charming or likeable.

Croucher also hits all these lovely emotional notes, too, and this particular bit stood out to me:

“But you know, Miss Cliff is a few years your senior. She has had more time on this earth to think about who exactly she’d like to be. And she didn’t invent the concept of ladies in breeches. She probably saw somebody do it, and thought she might like it, and discovered she was correct. None of us are true originals, Eddie. We piece an approximation of a person together from what we like and what we hate, and somewhere in that muddle we find ourselves.”

This is delivered by a nonbinary character who I was very fond of - it’s not necessarily easy to slot in a nonbinary character into a historical setting without getting into all sorts of pitfalls, but this is quite subtle, and generally very low key, and just very nice. I liked them a lot.

Like Reputation, this is quite an irreverent and not-necessarily-accurate historical novel, but it does a lot of fun things with it. (Badmouthing Byron, for one. Always fun. Slotting in your own version of Ann Lister is also GREAT.) Croucher’s couple can’t actually have that typical regency-style happy ever after so they do something else that is just as heart warming. The last few pages (presented as historical documents, almost) are very sweet and emotionally satisfying, it was really lovely.

Really fun historical regency book. Gives bridgerton vibes. I really enjoyed the strong female lead who didn't conform to societies expectations and did what made her happy! Also its sapphic so a perfect book for pride month!

Reputation was one of my top books of 2021, so I was SO excited to see Lex Croucher had another Regency coming-of-age story coming out. And it did not disappoint!!

Our lead, Edith (known as Eddie), is an aspiring writer, who has never quite fit in with her peers. You can’t help but root for her the whole way through, even though you wish you could drag her out of her story and give her some sound advice before shoving her back in there to hopefully make better choices the second time around.

Although this is a romance, it is Eddie’s own story that takes centre-stage, as she – for want of a better phrase – finds herself and her identity. As with Reputation we have a great cast of supporting characters too, and the way they write diversity in a historically accurate way while still celebrating the joy of diversity is something very rare indeed.

I won’t spoil the ending here but just know that it’s absolutely perfect, tying everything up very neatly and satisfyingly and giving us a sense of the wider world outside this group of characters. While the majority of the action takes place in one house on one island, the action never felt confined from the wider world of the story, but more like it was going to have an even bigger impact when those two worlds collided.

It’s definitely true to say that if you like Bridgerton you’ll like Infamous, but I think it’s more true to say that Infamous provides all the things you’re missing Bridgerton. I’m hoping that Croucher’s books mark a turning point in our approach to historical fiction, where we acknowledge that people throughout history were just as messy and chaotic as we are and that’s great!

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a copy for review. All opinions are my own.

If you loved Reputation you will love Infamous. It’s another incredible character led regency romp. Infamous introduces you to a wonderful array of characters spearheaded by Eddie Miller, an aspiring writer and her best friend Rose Li. This book will make you laugh, groan in frustration, roll your eyes, swoon and sigh. What more could you want from a book than a regency romp set in a tumbledown old house on an island!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course Lex Croucher for an eARC of this book!