This book is full of rich descriptive language making the landscape and the characters come alive.
At first I thought this was a typical romance trope that had often been hashed out in the regency period that had been reconstructed in the Elizabethan era but the book was much more than that.
It tells of the strength of women and how we find that within ourselves. Social class during period is highlighted too as well as other issues which we can connect to today. Grief is portrayed taking its different forms.

This is a book about love, in all its forms. Forbidden, longing, enduring, familiar, growing and changing. But it is also a book about grief. Set in Elizabethan England, rather than being a picture perfect account of life then, this book focuses on the reality of the times.

Eliza Litton is forced into a marriage by her violent father, to Edmund, a seemingly cold man who later turns out to be endearing, kind and loving. Eliza is torn between this new life with Edmund, and her past love, Francis, who has disappeared. As her life with Edmund starts to bring her renewed purpose and agency, she is forced to comfort her feelings for Francis and her family. This story is both beautiful and gritty.

Languishing sentences, evocative and descriptive, add to the story, slowing down the pacing so the reader can immerse themselves in the emotions Eliza is feeling. I recommend this book to any historical fiction fans. It truly is a beautiful story.

Thank you to Salt Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Sexy, dramatic, and utterly addictive 💍🔥. The Marriage Contract delivers sizzling chemistry, high-stakes romance, and unexpected twists. Sasha Butler crafts a steamy, emotionally charged love story full of secrets, passion, and undeniable tension. I loved the complex characters and the slow-burn intensity. Perfect for fans of arranged marriage tropes and fiery, unputdownable romance.

The Marriage Contact is a beautiful historical romance set in 15th century Elizabethan England. Although some parts I found a little bit slow I really enjoyed this book. The feeling of love was so sweet and cute to read, perfect to anyone who loves romance (especially hopeless romantics). Overall this is a book full of feel good, sweet romantic moments that I believe a lot of people would love.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Interesting plot. Reminded me quite a lot of The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell, although the latter was much more accomplished. The writing felt clunky in places and descriptions overdone. There was quite a lot of jumping around that gave a disjointed impression.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this review copy. As a fan of historical fiction, I enjoyed this tender and gentle novel covering love, acceptance and hardship. The writing is intricate and although there are no surprises, it is a good satisfying read.

Love has many facets, which reflect and refract emotionally. A theme which entwines the lives of our three protagonists in this riveting coming-of-age love story set in the Elizabethan era.

Eliza Litton is in love with her childhood friend Francis, a farmhand who works on her father’s land. Terrified of her tyrannical father, the young lovers plan to run away once summer ends. But, after a drunken night at the tavern, Francis vanishes, and Eliza’s father forces her to marry a gentleman, Edmund.

Edmund and Eliza eventually form a passionate and fragile bond, but Eliza, still haunted by her memories of Francis and his disappearance, finds herself caught between her past and her present, especially when Francis returns. With devastating news from Edmund and her sister-in-law Alice, Eliza begins to reach for the comfort of nostalgia to soothe her furrowed brows. But how long can she stay in-between? Will she choose to walk forward into her future or remain rooted in her past?

The exploration of identity in conflict is a recurring theme, examined deeply through each character. Butler gives every character time to grow and develop, unveiling them with patience and care.SHe explores the evolving dynamics between as the story progresses with emotional succinctness, showing that they aren’t stuck in stasis. There is Eliza and her elder brother Henry, finally free from the tyrannical presence of their father and free to explore themselves— Eliza with her art, and Henry with his trade and sexuality.

In the fiercely patriarchal society of the Elizabethan era, an irony, sisterhood played a vital role in women’s survival and strength. Eliza’s mother protects her daughter from her husband’s beatings, and encourages her artistic talents albeit in secret. When Eliza departs for her marital home, her first friend is the housemaid Dorothy, who fills her in on the family she is married into. Her sister-in-law Alice, with whom Eliza shares a loving bond, which threatens to break once the secret she shares with Edmund is revealed.

A constant state of emotional flux forces Eliza to take steps to secure her future — reclaiming her agency and her freedom. Butler showcases these pivotal moments in the final part of the book, where Eliza leads conversations and discussions to reach a satisfying end for herself. My favourite scene is when she turns down an invitation by Francis to paint a portrait of his wife, much to her surprise.

In the end, Butler does a commendable job in narrating an engrossing tale about the precariousness of love and how its shifting forms can lead the players in the game to foreign shores with unexpected, yet liberating results.

For fans of coming-of-age stories set in a historical background, this captivating book offers a thought provoking take on love.

Theres so many things i could compare this to but my hopeless romantic heart is overwhelming my brain with too many emotions to think properly. This is a book that will have you cheering for your favorite man worse than you would when watching a season of the gilmore girls. FANTASTIC! well done and i cant get enough.

Set in 16th century Worcestershire the story centres around Eliza Litton. Her father, a yeoman, is a cruel man who beats both his wife and daughter.
The author captures the hardships women faced during the Elizabethan era where the men made all the choices and the women had to obey.
Eliza however has her own ideas and because of this takes many beatings, but her mother who is a herbalist is always on her side, however they both fear the wrath of the yeoman.
I was captivated by the way Eliza's story unfolds and by the beautiful writing.
This is a compelling read and is historical fiction at its best.
Highly recommend.

There is a gentle humanity to this tender story of love. As nature cycles through each season, the lives of Eliza and her family unfold and entwine, setting out the future for them all. Eliza’s father is a bully who drives her to find safety in the home of her childhood friend setting a course for heartbreak. Author Sasha Butler describes the drive and passion of young, first, forbidden love and then examines a different, steadfast caring, tenderness where love is about seeing and accepting another in their fullness of their past mistakes. I very much enjoyed Eliza’s growth as a woman and artist and cared about the thoughtfully described characters. Gorgeous descriptions of nature, weather, the smells (good and bad) and colours evoke an Elizabethan world and set the stage for this compelling and unexpected story.

The Marriage Contract is a story of forbidden love and self-suppression set in Elizabethan England. Eliza’s comparatively comfortable lifestyle as a yeoman’s daughter is dominated by her father’s violence and control which extends to all those in his household and to his farm labourers. As her father’s thoughts turn to securing his elevation in society, Eliza’s hopes of a happier, safer future are compromised by her duty to marry well.

The tension in this novel was palpable and I read it with a sense of impending doom. The story of finding a second chance at happiness only to discover one’s first love has returned is a well-used plot idea, though this novel stands out because of the infusion of historical detail about life in the Elizabethan period. The incorporation of well-known events of the era, such as Francis Drake’s expeditions and the burning of religious relics to usher in Protestantism, enhanced the historical depth of the novel.

Butler wrote convincingly about the profound impact of first love and how it can shape future relationships. Eliza’s fate was determined by men and was, arguably, never her own to choose. Yet when given the opportunity to grow and flourish, she could not shift an underlying sense of betrayal to her first love. Throughout the novel, I hoped that Eliza would find a sense of contentment and peace and remained unsure about how events would unfold right up until the final chapters.

I recommend this well-written novel to readers of historical fiction, particularly those who have enjoyed Maggie O’Farrell’s writing. Thank you to Salt Publishing and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Salt Publishing for allowing me to read this gorgeous book in advance!

The Marriage Contract is set in the late 1500s in the Midlands. Eliza Litton and Francis Marshall are childhood sweethearts and dream of a life together. She is a strong-willed young woman, a talented painter, but her tyrannical father has set his sights higher than a labourer. He wants his daughter to obey, to be seen and not heard.

By summer’s end, Francis has vanished, and Eliza is married to a stranger, a gentleman named Edmund Cecil. He seems cold, and she yearns for her missing love, but could this marriage give her a better life with time?

Edmund encourages her talent, and while Francis battles his way back to Eliza, she finds herself softening towards her new husband…until a revelation is uncovered that will change everything.

This is such a well-accomplished debut and a great piece of historical fiction. You are truly transported to the sights, smells and sounds of the time. It explores Elizabethan values and the lot women were expected to bear, as well as the love that holds people together, no matter the circumstances. Without spoilers, I just loved Eliza as a character and the women she represents. Female artists did exist at this time, but they were not encouraged and certainly not remembered the way they should be.

I cannot wait for more people to read this book. The Marriage Contract is out on 6th October 2025 with Salt Publishing,

I adore Historical fiction and this book was just amazing.


Eliza, the daughter of a yeoman,is to marry a gentleman named Edmund, however her heart is with her childhood sweetheart and she is devastated.

This is a book that shows all the emotions of what being in love entails. It is set in Elizabethen times and back then, love is no different than it is now.

It is a tender descriptive read that shows us all the kinds of love that there is and the struggles Eliza goes through makes the reader want the best for her.

Sasha Butler’s The Marriage Contract immerses readers in the raw and gritty reality of Elizabethan England. Unlike picture-perfect historical depictions, this novel focuses on the grim realities of the era. At the heart of the story is Eliza Litton, a talented artist determined to carve out a space for herself despite societal constraints.

Eliza Litton, a talented artist in The Marriage Contract, strives for creativity and independence in a patriarchal Elizabethan world. Forced by her violent father into marriage with Edmund, a seemingly cold gentleman who later shows unexpected support, Eliza is torn between her past love, Francis, who disappears after a drunken night, but fights to return. This tangled relationship, shaped by love, betrayal, and control, drives Eliza’s transformation from a trapped girl to a woman claiming her own agency. Edmund’s evolving kindness and Francis’s lingering influence add emotional depth and tension, making the characters’ interactions central to the story’s themes of resilience, loyalty, and self-discovery.

Butler bravely addresses issues such as abuse, control, and patriarchal structures, echoing concerns still relevant today. The quest for personal expression and freedom underpins Eliza’s journey, as does love in its many forms, including betrayal and forgiveness.

Butler masterfully transports readers to Elizabethan London through vivid descriptions that avoid bogging down the narrative with excessive historical detail. The alternating viewpoints of Eliza and Francis add depth and maintain emotional engagement, striking a balance between realism and accessibility.

While the narrative may slow down during detailed descriptions of scenery, these moments contribute to the reader’s sense of confinement alongside Eliza, enhancing empathy for her struggles. This pacing choice amplifies the emotional investment in her journey.

Focusing on everyday individuals instead of royalty or nobility provides a fresh perspective. Butler highlights the resilience of ordinary women battling for freedom in a repressive society, offering an intimate and relatable story that sets it apart from typical Tudor-era narratives.

The novel’s intense atmosphere captures an interplay of danger, hope, and love, with characters like Eliza and Edmund navigating a challenging landscape to find happiness. The Marriage Contract resonates with readers due to its honest portrayal of personal struggles and the pursuit of self-determination.

Historical fiction lovers: assemble! This is a must-read for you. The Marriage Contract is a tender, bittersweet, and emotionally powerful story set in the English Midlands during the Elizabethan era. It follows Eliza, the daughter of a yeoman, who is forced to marry a gentleman named Edmund –despite her affection for Francis, the blacksmith’s son and her childhood friend.

Although romantic love drives the plot, this novel is truly about the many shades of love – how it grows, how it transforms, how it feels different depending on whom we love, how we grieve its loss, and how our capacity to love evolves as we ourselves grow.

It’s also a quiet meditation on the hardships women faced in times when they were entirely dependent on male guardians. Eliza lives a relatively comfortable life as the daughter of a wealthy man, yet when it comes to choosing her own path, she has as little say as any woman of her time. The novel powerfully illustrates that in a world without female independence, suffering and heartbreak are almost inevitable.

What I really appreciated about this book is that it doesn’t rely on overly dramatic twists or grand declarations. Instead, the story unfolds with quiet intensity and emotional truth, grounded in the realities of 16th-century life. The characters’ desires, regrets, and sacrifices felt so real and intimate that I found myself completely immersed in their inner lives. The emotional impact broke my heart more than once. And yet, despite all the sorrow, this story brought a deep, unexpected sense of comfort. It felt honest – not tidy or perfect, but very human and grounded in emotional realism.

I won’t be the first to say it, but what made this book especially memorable was the writing. It’s an exquisitely written novel. Every sentence feels deliberately crafted, with a lyrical elegance that draws you into the texture of the time and place, yet never overshadows the story. The author has an extraordinary gift for conveying complex emotions with subtlety and precision—transforming even the quietest moments into something resonant and beautiful. Literarily, it’s a feast: rich, evocative, and deeply affecting.

I highly recommend this book to all lovers of the genre, especially fans of The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. I’m excited to see what Sasha Butler writes next.

The Marriage Contract is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in a long time, I felt as though I’d stepped through the pages into the Elizabethan era.

The story is a classic, it follows Eliza, a young girl in love with Francis - her childhood friend and a labourer working on her father’s land and tells the tale of what happens when the two are forced to be separated. Despite being fairly privileged, Eliza’s life is not smooth sailing but at the heart of the story is a talented girl who loves fiercely.

I honestly could not put this book down, I felt as through I was tripping over myself to absorb as many details as possible. The final few chapters are incredibly emotional and truly show the incredible bonds of female friendship and love. I was reminded of Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell as I read and I truly hope The Marriage Contract receives the same amount of love, it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and I will certainly be recommending it.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Salt Publishing for the ARC

I quite often struggle with historical fiction BUT this is one of those books that provokes such an emotive and immersive reading experience and ultimately is a story about the human experience which transcends time and place. Having said that, it was a masterful portrayal of Elizabethan England and especially the place of women in society at the time.
The prose is beautiful and the characters brilliantly fleshed out. You go through the butterflies of first love and loss with Eliza, her strenuous relationship with her father, her mother who could do nothing but love her children fiercely and who did everything to ensure she brakes the generational cycle for them, the beautiful bond with her brother due to their traumatic upbringing, her slow but strong love for Edmund and her multifaceted friendship with Annabel.
I cannot recommend this book enough, it was truly a beautiful story and there were many times I had to take a deep breath and have a little cry. I was fully invested from page 1 and Eliza's story resonated deeply with me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

Beautifully written historical fiction, reads like poetry set in 15th century England a tale of love and its bindings and expectations of family with constraints.

The Marriage Contract is an upcoming historical fiction novel that tells the story of Eliza, the daughter of an ambitious yeoman, who is torn between her first love and the man she has been forced to marry, whilst navigating the everyday challenges and heartbreaks of life in England in the 1500s.

This book was beautifully written and I found I couldn’t stop highlighting the countless lyrical descriptions that made me stop and go “wow, that is beautiful”. I felt immersed in the world and the book was very atmospheric, it reminded me of reading some of my favourite classics. I would only have liked to have a few more references that were specific to the time period, perhaps more description about the food or buildings to really put me in 16th century England (but that is just my preference!).

There was one POV that I didn’t enjoy as much as the others but I enjoyed the story and characters on the whole. Overall, this was a lush reading experience that often made me feel like I was in the British countryside on a foggy day (which is a good thing!) and I would recommend this to any fellow lovers of historical fiction and romantic stories that feel real.

Thank you to Salt Publishing and Netgalley for access to this beautiful eARC.

The Marriage Contract by Sasha Butler

Summer in Worcestershire, 1577. Eliza Litton, a talented artist, is in love with childhood friend, Francis. But her tyrannical father, who rules the household with insults and fists, has other ideas. As summer comes to an end, Francis vanishes after a drunken night at the inn and Eliza’s father forces her to marry a gentleman, Edmund.

Thrown into a new, unfamiliar life with her husband who appears distant and cold, Eliza cannot tear herself from the memory of Francis. Yet her feelings for Edmund soften with time; he presents a life to her better than she ever dreamed. He provides her a safety she never had beneath her father’s roof and encourages her to paint, to pursue the things she loves.
I didn't quite know what to expect when reading this , but happy to say I was drawn in from the first chapter , it was totally captivating.
Loved the plot and the characters Eliza and Edmund , a man she didn't expect to enjoy being in the company of.