I teach history and absolutely loved the film “How to lose a guy in 10 days” so when I saw this on NetGalley, I knew had to apply for the ARC and I was not disappointed.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s rare a book has me actually laughing out loud, but the ongoing pranks between the two main characters had me giggling most of the way through. The FMC is fiery and not to be taken for a meek hearted girl and I loved it!

There are so many interesting characters within the story and I loved getting to know each of the individual characters and the dynamic of the group when at the country house. I am so thankful that each of the relationships was brought to a close rather than storylines being left open. I especially love that Aunt Mildred was not the demon she is portrayed to be and his Grace is the exact opposite of what you’d expect of a Duke, family first then his title.

If you’re a fan of period romance and humour then you will absolutely lovely this!

3 ⭐️

It took me a little while to get into this one.

I was super interested in the premise and I found myself laughing out loud several times.
Once Ashford realises what's happening and begins to retaliate, the comedy really kicked in for me. I enjoyed their back and forth.

The side plot involving the mystery was interesting and I really liked Pip. I did figure out the culprit quite early on, though. I will say I felt the author did well with the domestic abuse storyline. The subtle hints to it that got more obvious as Lydia began to notice them were well done.

For me, though, I struggled with the romance. I just didn't feel the connection reached its full potential. They had some sweet conversations, but they always ended in a very stilted manner before going back to dislike. It was better in Lydia's POV, Ashford is so against love that I think it worked against the romance a little.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Harper Collins, Sophie Irwin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days, releasing in the UK on July 31st 2025.

I absolutely loved this book, the banter and scheming between Lydia and Ashcroft were everything that I needed. As someone who doesn’t often read regency romance, this was easily digestible and highly recommend to anyone looking for a hilarious dip into regency romance.

I wasn’t a massive fan of the necklace storyline but it did conclude well, which meant I brought the review up from a 3.5 to a 4 star.

All in all, I will be going away to read more of this authors books!

not usually into historical romance but this one was kinda fun?? felt like bridgerton meets how to lose a guy in 10 days, but make it regency lol. ashford = an actual emotionally intelligent man in fiction?? love that for us. took a while to get going tho and lydia’s chaos was a lot at first (girl pls). vibes were cute, some moments dragged, the side plots lost me a bit, but overall a decent slow burn if you’re into mischief, banter, and almost-kisses in fancy gardens.

When Lydia is bullied into accepting the proposal of a future Duke with whom she has zero chemistry, she decides to act so abominably that the gentleman will have no choice but to jilt her in the next 10 days before the engagement becomes public knowledge. But Lord Ashford has his own reasons for needing this engagement to go ahead, and he will not be put off by some ... Unusual behaviour.

This is a fast paced and engaging regency romance with a lot of second hand embarrassment. I enjoyed that our leading couple actually grew to know and like each other rather than it being insta love. Overall, a fun read!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

What a great book - really fun! Think of Bridgerton and you’re in the right setting then add some great characters. A really different storyline - not many people would try to get out of an engagement to a Lord who would be a Duke one day! - and plenty of humour and you have a great book. Highly recommended for a lighthearted read - great for on holiday.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

Having read Sophie Irwin's two earlier books, I was excited to see this book and eagerly read it. Lydia Hanworth is dependent upon family and she's pressured into accepting the marriage proposal from Lord Ashford. For reasons, the plan is to keep it secret for ten days before an announcement. And so, the engaged couple engage in a full-on war of pranks on each other. Lydia so that she can be released from the engagement and Ashford for firing volleys back. It totally childish and silly but it also becomes a bit fun, until it isn't and then everything changes, of course. There's also a bit of mystery going on as the pair are amongst a crowd at a house party where things aren't quite as they seem.

Much like the two earlier titles, it takes a bit of time to get going in this book. But when it goes, it really moves along, and you can't help being picked up along the way. The characters are all great, and the two main ones are both sympathetic. Of course, a bit of communication might have gone a long way to avoid the "war" but it would have made for smooth sailing and where's the fun in that.?

Overall, I give this 3.5 stars and thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the free advanced reader copy. My feedback is being given voluntarily.

Just wow! I love historical novels, especially those set during the Regency period, so How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin immediately caught my eye. The title gave off fun romcom vibes, and I was hoping for something light and entertaining. I was not wrong, but I definitely wasn’t expecting a full-on prank war between the main characters!

The story kicks off with Lord Ashford proposing to Miss Lydia Hanworth, who reluctantly accepts. Determined to escape the engagement without scandal, Lydia comes up with a plan to make Lord Ashford withdraw the proposal within ten days. The two, along with a colorful cast of characters, head to his cousin’s countryside manor for a week-long house party, giving Lydia the perfect setting - and deadline - to sabotage the relationship before the grand masquerade ball where their engagement is set to be announced.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud at the absurd and clever pranks they pulled on each other and loved how the rest of the group reacted to their antics. The secondary characters were fantastic too - each one distinct, with personality traits that played into and poked fun at familiar stereotypes.

What really stood out to me was how the book handled deeper themes with care and warmth. The representation of same-sex relationships, in a time when they had to remain hidden, was touching and beautifully written. I also appreciated how the issue of domestic abuse was addressed - a heavy but important subject, especially in a historical context where women had few options or rights.

All in all, this was a fun yet thought-provoking read that I devoured in just a couple of days. The writing flows effortlessly, and I found myself sneaking in reading time whenever I could. 10/10 would recommend!

4.5 stars

firstly, I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

if there’s one thing I’m always going to love in a book it’s the regency era! if anything give remotely close to Bridgerton vibes…I am there and I was definitely here for this book because it was SO GOOD

this was such a fun set-up with this group stay at Lady Phoebe’s house. there were so many funny characters and everyone had distinctive personalities and ways of acting so seeing everyone interacting was a joy.

of course our main plot line was also incredibly fun. I found it so entertaining to see this battle of wills between Ashford and Lydia. Lydia honestly had me in fits of laughter with some of the things she was doing to get under Ashford’s skin. I just had the best time reading about the ways they were trying to deal with each other.

amongst all the fun and games we did also have a bit of a deeper thread of plot running through, particularly in terms of Ashford and why he acts and feels the way he does surrounding marriage which was interesting to see develop and also to see him overcome.

seeing Lydia and Ashford slowly grow to care for each other in between all the pranks etc was very satisfying and I think their connection was shown very well.

we also had a small mystery sub-plot which added something extra to the plot and also allowed for more development for certain characters and also relationships so I think it was utilised very well in the plot overall.

I really really enjoyed this and would highly recommend it!! I will always devour a regency romance and this was an amazing one!

Did I read this because the title gave How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days energy but in a Regency setting? Yes. Did I expect a full-on prank war at a country house? Absolutely not.

How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days was kind of a wild ride. Not a huge historical romance reader, but this one had its charms. It started slowww and I wasn’t sure I’d stick with it—but once the chaos kicked in, the banter and chemistry started clicking.

Ashford = rare Regency green flag. Emotionally intelligent?? Actually listens and grows?? A concept. Lydia, on the other hand... was a menace 💀 Her plan to drive him away was petty and chaotic, and honestly made her hard to root for early on. Thankfully, the dynamic shifts once the truth comes out and they start matching each other’s energy in a fun, emotional way.

I just wanted more longing!! More sneaky hand brushes!! More almost-kisses in moonlit gardens!! We don’t really get that “omg they’re falling in love” payoff until the very end.

Fun, messy, a little uneven—but still worth the read if you’re into mischief, miscommunication, and a very soft Regency man 🫶

3.25⭐️

As someone who isn’t a huge historical romance girly, I went into this with moderate expectations and a curiosity fueled entirely by my Bridgerton knowledge. Overall, this felt like a fun, not-too-serious dive into the genre—a kind of Regency-meets-rom-com experiment that mostly worked, though it took a while to find its footing.

The setup dragged for me, and I kept waiting for the momentum to kick in. Once it did, though, the banter and chemistry between Lydia and Ashford were pretty solid. Speaking of Ashford—hello, an emotionally intelligent man in historical fiction?? A man who actually listens, evolves, and takes feedback? Revolutionary.

Lydia, on the other hand, was... challenging. Her initial behavior during the infamous 10-day house party was petty, immature, and honestly frustrating to read. Her "pranks" and attempts to scare Ashford off felt more like a tantrum than a plan, and it was hard to root for her when her actions were so inconsiderate of everyone around her. That said, once the truth is out and Ashford joins in on the antics, their dynamic becomes more bearable—and even kind of fun. Their prank war shifts into something more emotional, and Lydia becomes much more likeable as she starts seeing beyond her own agenda.

The book does touch on some heavier themes (grief, domestic abuse), but it balances them with a light, witty tone that doesn’t let things get too heavy. Still, the romantic pacing was a bit of a letdown. This is definitely a slow burn, but not in the yearning, smoldering way I’d hoped. We don’t really get the emotional payoff until the final 10%, and by then, I wanted more—more longing, more moments, more build-up.

The subplot also wandered a bit too far off course at times. I came for the romance, not side quests, and there were stretches where I just wanted to get back to the arguing-in-drawing-rooms and almost-kissing-in-gardens vibe.

Also... the historical setting? Utterly unplaceable. The tone is vaguely Regency, the dialogue is occasionally Bridgerton (TV version), and there are references—bananas, kintsugi, Sherlock Holmes-y detective siblings—that made me raise an eyebrow more than once. If you can suspend disbelief and treat this as historical-ish, it’s easier to enjoy, but if you're a stickler for period accuracy, this will probably drive you a little nuts.

All in all, How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days is a quirky, light historical rom-com that tries to blend classic tropes with modern flair. It doesn’t always succeed, but it’s got charm—especially if you go in with the right expectations.

Very enjoyable regency rom com. Loved the pranking between the two main characters. Nice LGBTQ+ rep too. Lots of fun.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

How to Lose a Lord in 10 Days was an okay read for me, but it took a while to really get going. The setup felt a bit slow, and I found myself waiting for the momentum to pick up.

I liked the female main character well enough—she had charm and spirit—but I struggled more with the male lead. While there were definitely moments of humor and wit, overall he felt a bit underdeveloped and just missed the mark for me emotionally. I was hoping for more depth or spark between the two leads.

That said, Sophie Irwin has a fun voice and fans of light Regency romance might still enjoy the banter and period setting. It just wasn’t quite the right fit for me this time.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this historical rom com. The characters were well developed and likeable (or dislike-able, as applicable) and the ending was satisfying. I liked the banter/chemistry between the lead characters, and had a few laugh out loud moments. I would definitely read another book by this author. Perfect for reading on the beach.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinion (which are all my own).

This book was a grower - initially I thought it wasn't going to be my cup of tea: it all seemed too slap-stick and over the top, however about a tird of the way in it became more subtle and I could relax and enjoy the plot.

This was a great fun quirky romantic read. Being a fan of period dramas, this book certainly brought it home with its regency vibes of the era. Overall a very enjoyable lighthearted easy read. Recommend

As a lover of both Bridgerton and How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days, I was very excited about the premise of this one. It took me a minute to get into it and to get used to the language, but once immersed I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in this story. It had a lot of funny moments and in general I loved the regency vibes of the book.

I do wish there were some more romantic moments throughout. I would have felt more invested in their story had we gotten more realisations of their feelings, some yearning, stolen moments, that sort of thing. It’s set in an older time period so I knew it would be a slow burn, it just did not get there until about the last 10% really which was a shame.

The book also felt a bit too long for what it was and at times I did lose interest. I do think this book would be enjoyed if you want a Regency romance that feels a bit different compared to your typical contemporary romances out there.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

Perfect for fans of Bridgerton, This funny and romantic story was a real page turner, perfect for vacation. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

An absolutely delightful, funny and refreshing enemies to lovers read. I really enjoyed Lydia and Ashford’s attempts to outwit each other. Five stars.

How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days - Sophie Irwin due for publication 31 July 2025

Charming witty and so funny.

Lydia a commoner with money and Ashford a Lord with no money virtually come to blows trying to outprank each other in this will she will he get together at a house party. Ashford determined to marry Lydia despite everything she does to try and put him off and Lydia determined to want a love match which does not include Ashford. This novel much like Sophie's other ones made me snort with laughter and the character of Pip (Lydia's not quite all there detecting brother) adds a subplot with a missing diamond necklace to give extra depth to the story.


This was a fun Georgian rom com with great secondary characters adding well to the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy.