Lady Like

A Novel

By: Mackenzi Lee

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

A BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Two women set their sights on marrying the same duke, but instead of becoming enemies, they find themselves falling in love—though not with him.

“My new favorite romance author.”—Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series

“A genuinely, strikingly funny romantic romp. I inhaled it!”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Great Big Beautiful Life

Harriet Lockhart never planned to marry. She has spent her life defying expectations, playing male roles on London’s seediest stages, and doing whatever she pleases. When Harry is contacted by her hitherto anonymous father, she finds herself at risk of losing the trust fund that’s subsidized her lifestyle—unless she begins to lead a more respectable life, starting with finding a husband.

Emily Sergeant, the picture of modesty, has only ever wanted to marry. And were it not for one mistake in her youth that rendered her a social pariah, she would be appropriately betrothed. Instead, she’s due to wed the only willing—and most abominable—man in her small town. Desperate for an alternative, Emily flees to London to snag a less lecherous fiancé.

Worlds collide, dramatically and hilariously, when both women decide on the very same duke as their best possible chance at a tolerable husband and a secure future. A tongue-in-cheek romp through London’s summer season, from balls to brothels, horseraces to duels, Harry and Emily compete for the duke’s favor, only to find their true hearts’ desires may be more compatible than they could have ever predicted.

Fun book and great narrator!

The story and characters were fun! Harry and Emily were sweet together! And Moira quirk is always great! Loved it!

Relatable characters

Being a queer woman myself, I enjoyed the romance and perspective of the characters. I’ve never had an author so accurately describe feelings that I can so closely relate to. I also really appreciated the bit at the end that tells about the actual people that these characters are loosely based on. There were several sources and similar stories suggested for additional reading that I plan to check out as well.

The only thing that kept me from giving 5 stars was that I got kind of bored somewhere in the middle.

True Love at its Finest

Moira Quirk made this such a fun read. Just wanted to get that out of the way first. From the delivery to the voices (and, of course, her fabulous accent), my wife and I loved this audiobook.

As for the story itself: it's a regency romance that revolves around lesbians. It's a mix of historical accuracy and fantasy, and the whole thing draws you in like a warm hug. We laughed, we cried, and we cursed alongside the characters, who were well-developed and three dimensional. The author states in her notes that she decided not to make homophobia the biggest challenge our couple faces, and I completely agree with this decision. The LGBTQ+ characters in this book were treated like their heterosexual counterparts—with more on their plates than simply standing out because of their sexual preferences. There was, of course, the concern of wedding and being perceived as acceptable by the community, but it never came down to sexuality. Highly recommend this book to regency and historical fans and anyone looking for a sapphic love story that will move you.