Infamous
'Bridgerton's wild little sister. So much fun!' Sarra Manning
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
'Ferociously witty and joyously unrepentant, Infamous wraps a rollicking story of Regency revelry excess around a heart of queer love and the power of self-authorship' Kat Dunn
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, practising kissing . . .
Now that they're out in society, Rose is suddenly talking about marriage, and Eddie is horrified.
When Eddie meets charming, renowned poet and rival to Lord Byron, 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 finish her novel and make a name for herself.
But Eddie might discover that trying to keep up with her literary heroes isn't all poems and pleasure . . .
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Following on from the success of Reputation comes Infamous, Lex Croucher’s second adult novel and one that continues down the coming-of-age path that Reputation did so well. Eddie and Rose are inseparable best friends navigating the rocky road to adulthood. While Eddie is an aspiring writer, Rose is content with settling down and getting married, much to Eddie’s dismay and disgust. Some situations in life—like finding yourself at a very different life stage to your best friend—are timeless and Croucher explores those moments in a way that anyone will relate to. The strong-willed Eddie is a brilliant narrator and though the book is set long in the past, the dialogue and atmosphere is kept fresh enough to feel modern-day in parts. Whether Bridgerton is your thing or not, Infamous is a joyous read full of some truly touching moments.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Croucher (Reputation) infuses this energetic Regency era friends-to-lovers sapphic romance with zany wit, joie de vivre, and a distinctive literary bent. Edith "Eddie" Miller is distressed when Rose Li, her best friend, kissing practice partner, and primary audience for the stories she writes, backs out of their childhood pact never to marry and begins seeking the company of an older gentleman. Through Rose's new connections Eddie meets charismatic poet Nash Nicholson, who shows an interest in Eddie's writing. Eddie, Rose, and Rose's beau, Albert, join an eccentric circle of artists at Nash's rundown country estate for a retreat meant to inspire creativity. Amid the ensuing drinking, seances, and chaos, the women get the chance to be more explicit about their true feelings for each other—even as Nash's behavior toward Eddie becomes increasingly dubious. The physical connection between Eddie and Rose is sweet and gentle, if not electric, and the fact that Eddie's reaction to Nash's passionate aggression is disillusionment rather than swooning gives the story a refreshingly contemporary feel despite the period setting. Bookish readers who wish that Alcott's Little Women were a bit more explicitly queer will lap this up.