Sasha Butler's beautiful, lyrical narrative style flows consistently through this historical novel set in UK's Midlands. Love, family, hope and conflict are finely handled, and the tropes of family dispute are set against a tender love story and are smoothly woven narrative elements. What Butler does well is capture an evocative sense of time and place whilst at the same time creating characters who are believable and worth caring about. An impressive novel.

Grateful thanks @saltpublishing and @netgalley for the ARC.

It’s been a while since I read descriptions as beautifully written as those that flicker through this Elizabethan-era story of love, escape, art, and growth: from the depiction of the land and its rhythms, to the details of the characters’ surroundings and their daily lives - from the comforting and commonplace to the passionate and the heartrending. They made this a delight.

Set in the English Midlands in the late 16th century, the novel follows Eliza, a Worcestershire yeoman farmer’s daughter, whose violently ambitious father is determined to climb the social ladder by forcing her to marry a gentleman. But - as so often happens - she falls for someone else. And - as happens just as often - the course of love (true or otherwise) does not run smooth.

What emerges is a quietly contemplative and tender exploration of some heavy themes and conflicts, in which dark shadows are matched by golden glimmers of hope.

Highly recommended for fans of thoughtful historical fiction with a gorgeous sense of place, and a look at Elizabethan England in which the lives of ordinary people aren’t eclipsed by the A-list courtiers.

It’s out this autumn.

Big thanks to @saltpublishing and @netgalley for the review copy.

Have you ever heard about a book and just known, deep within your bones, that you need to read it?
Well, I saw a post on the publisher's Instagram page about The Marriage Contract and raced to set up a Netgalley account, and here we are a few days later, and my goodness was I right!

Sasha Butler has captured magic and thread it between the lines of her writing.

I adore this book. There are moments that made me cry so hard and rage violently, but others had me giggling aloud and grinning a ridiculously toothy grin. The writing is evocative, every line eliciting a visceral reaction.

Sasha Butler's characters walk confidently off the page and enter your conscience, making you care deeply as you navigate their life with them. I love Eliza with every breath of my being, and if anyone attempts to remind me that she is a fictional character, I shall be displeased with them, to say the very least! In direct contrast to my feelings for Eliza, I despise her father with the same venomous abhorance I reserve for Absalom Cornet, witch hunter and all round abomination from The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

Needless to say, I would encourage each and every one of you to pre-order The Marriage Contract (publishing 6th October this year) and when you have read it, come and talk to me about it because *scream* I need to discuss this story with you!

Bitter-sweet romance set in 16th century England, when women's lives were totally controlled by their male relatives. Eliza, the only daughter of a vicious, violent, upwardly mobile yeoman loves one of her father's part-time labourers. Despite her treatment she stands up to her father, and decides to defy him. He arranges a suitable marriage with a gentleman, and also arranges for the labourer to disappear. However, her new husband is truly a gentle man, and her life improves. But - no spoilers.

It is a well-written, believable tale which I would recommend to anyone enjoying historical fiction. The characters are three dimensional, and all too human.

With thanks to NetGalley and Salt for an ARC.

A beautifully written, emotionally resonant historical romance that truly captures the heart.

The Marriage Contract by Sasha Butler is a compelling and heartfelt tale set in 1577—a period that can sometimes feel distant or difficult to connect with, but here, it comes alive with surprising ease. Despite its historical setting, the prose is wonderfully accessible, making it an effortless read even for those who don’t often reach for historical fiction.

The story follows Eliza, whose life is about to change through a marriage contract that promises more than just societal advancement—it becomes a journey of love, loss, and resilience. What struck me most was how seamlessly the emotional weight of the narrative blended with the rich historical detail. The author doesn’t romanticize the past—instead, she paints a realistic picture of the hardships, duties, and emotional cost of marriage during this era, especially for women. There are some genuinely sad moments that ground the story in the harsh realities of life at the time, but they’re handled with sensitivity and depth.

The characters are undoubtedly one of the novel’s greatest strengths. I adored Eliza's mother—she was wise, warm, and quietly fierce in her own right. Every character felt authentic and likeable, which made the emotional beats land all the more powerfully. Eliza herself is a standout; her growth throughout the story is both believable and inspiring.

That said, I wasn’t especially drawn in by Francis’ time at sea. While it served a purpose in the broader narrative, those chapters didn’t quite hold the same emotional gravity or engagement as the rest of the book. The pacing also lagged a bit in the earlier sections—while the wedding doesn't occur until about 32% in, the story really begins to take off from there. Once it hits its stride, it becomes incredibly absorbing, and I found myself completely swept up in the drama and the dynamics of Eliza and Francis’ relationship.

Sasha Butler has a real talent for creating an immersive atmosphere, crafting historical settings that feel both lived-in and emotionally charged. There’s a poetic quality to the writing that elevates the entire experience, and I appreciated how she balanced the romance with the grittier realities of 16th-century life.

All in all, The Marriage Contract is a richly textured and emotionally satisfying read. It may take a little while to fully settle into, but it rewards your patience with a beautifully layered story full of heart, hardship, and hope. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Sasha Butler.

Recommended for fans of: character-driven historical romance, strong female leads, and stories that don’t shy away from the complexities of love and life.