Like in Love with You: A Steamy Tale of Rivals Turned Lovers in the Heart of Regency England
This sapphic romance is full of delightful historical tidbits, like how awful the water actually tastes when one “takes the waters” at the Pumphouse in Bath. It blends research into the spa town in 1817 with modern prose for a refreshing take on the tried-and-true Regency trope of the Marriage Mart.
Lady Rosalie is the It Girl of Bath—until tall, accomplished, beautiful Catherine Pine shows up. Unbeknownst to either marriageable girl, their mothers have a history, and it isn’t a good one. Kept in the dark about the specifics, the girls only know that they are competing for attention. While Lady Rosalie doesn’t mind not receiving attention, she does mind having her plans thwarted. Protecting her friends’ soon-to-be-announced matches, Rosalie must protect her own. But Catherine’s mother is set on her daughter stealing Lady Rosalie’s beau. He might be heir to a title, but he’s deadly boring and has no interest in anyone other than himself. So, what begins as a rivalry between the two girls soon becomes friendship, and then even more.
With supportive families, this queer historical romance shows that some love stories are in plain view and reconciliation is a far better option than retreating to one’s own corner. Recommended for those who like a mean-girls-to-lovers happily ever after.
