To Love and to Loathe

Books | Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy

3.7

(431)

Martha Waters

Named a best romance of the year by Entertainment Weekly Named a most anticipated romance by Oprah Daily, Marie Claire, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, and more! “There was no romance novel more fun this year than this extremely witty enemies-with-benefits confection.” —Entertainment Weekly The author of the “hilarious...joyful, elegant” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) To Have and to Hoax returns with an effervescent, charming, and swoon-worthy novel about a man and woman who never agree on anything—until they agree to a no-strings-attached affair in this Regency-era romp.The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation. One evening, an argument at a ball turns into a serious wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, Jeremy’s country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition. After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party—Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover. Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. With her in the bedroom and Jeremy’s marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, helping to find suitable matches among the eligible ladies at Elderwild, Diana is confident her victory is assured. But while they’re focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts. With Martha Waters’s signature “cheeky charm and wonderfully wry wit” (Booklist, starred review), To Love and to Loathe is another clever and delightful historical rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Evie Dunmore.

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Author

Martha Waters

Pages

352

Publisher

Simon and Schuster

Published Date

2021-04-06

ISBN

1982160888 9781982160883

Ratings

Google: 5

Community ReviewsSee all

"Absolutely my favorite I think of the Regency Vows series. I read it in one sitting and missed out on some sleep cuz of it but worth it. For one there was no prolonged stupid miscommunication. There was some obviously to up the drama but it was fine cuz it was resolved rather quickly so I didn't have any issues with it. Two, even with the subject of the plot, this was very much a romance novel as opposed to more of a porny one. Sometimes romance novels tend to put in too many sex scenes that feel at some point like it's too much like get on with the plot but in this book there was one maybe two scenes and then mostly the plot was continuing. The spicy glances and thoughts, which make up a regency romance, were well put into the story and it felt like I was reading a love story and not a sex story so that was a huge plus for me. All of Waters books that I read are somewhat like that so I highly recommend if you like some spiciness but a lot of adult romance are too much for you. Anyways I loved the characters and I loved the plot and the setting and the humor so very much 5/5 for me."

Ruth

"Slow but came together in the end. Could have been shorter "

Cara Grant

"This series is delightfully witty. Of the three parts I have read this one was my favourite. I am particularly fond of the way the two parties express their love for each other, more a game of chess than heart flutters and poetry. The way they are vulnerable with each other is powerful and real. And the rawness of their arguments, particularly the last one, doesn't feel like a typical misunderstanding but an actual cut to the heart, trapped by ones own feelings of short coming, sort of argument with real pain attached. Masterful. Four and three quarters stars. "

E Hinkes

"This book is honestly one of my favorite romance books of all time. The conversations between Diana and Jeremy were hilarious and the plot was amazing. Most books have unoriginal plots and the plot for this book was extraordinary. I also loved how they expressed their vulnerability to one another and how this book felt like a true love story. I will definitely read this again!"

Bella Coulter

"Heat level: sensual. Susanna Carr’s heat level index used to rank: http://susannacarr.com/contemporary-romance-heat-levels/."

Andrea Pangilinan

"Good humor "

Lori Maldonado

"This book was a pretty good spin on this genre. I would recommend!"

Natasha Ballard

"3.5/5 ⭐️ Even if I don’t connect with all the aspects of her plots, I have really been enjoying the lightness and fun of Martha Waters’s books. This story takes place over the short duration of a house party, about a couple that is somehow both friends/enemies to friends with benefits to lovers. I liked the dynamic between the two and thought they made a lot of sense together but didn’t love some of the dumb decisions that were made, specifically involving other characters. This book was at its best when it was just the two leads getting to know each other better, and I definitely enjoyed the mutual pining. I wish it had taken place over a longer period of time because even though they had a long history as friends together, it still felt like they got together too quickly, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this one."

E T

Emma Tang

"The buildup of the relationship in the book was amazing. It was an friends to lovers, and there were some 🔥🔥🔥 scenes. Wow. READ THIS BOOK. "