To have and to hoax: a novel

After enjoying one year of wedded happiness, Violet and James Audley have spent the last four years locked in icily polite marital combat. Upon receiving word that James has been seriously injured in a riding accident at their country estate, however, Violet immediately sets out from London to be by his side. After discovering that the reports of James' injuries have been greatly exaggerated, Violet decides that turnabout is fair play, only to discover that fooling her husband--not to mention fooling herself with regards to her real feelings for James--just might be more difficult than she first imagined. Waters' cleverly conceived and brilliantly executed debut is served up with an abundance of cheeky charm and wonderfully wry wit. When it comes to delivering the Regency-set equivalent of a classic 1930s--40s screwball romantic comedy, Waters is on par with filmmakers Billy Wilder and Ernst Lubitsch, but what will really win over romance readers is how beautifully she writes about the important role of trust in a true marriage of minds and hearts.

Waters's debut Regency rom-com delights with hilarious, high-concept romantic schemes that call to mind Shakespeare's comedies. Lady Violet Grey's first meeting with Lord James Audley, second son of a duke, was a comedy of errors. Despite an unlikely start and constant bickering, the pair fell in love and married. The first year was bliss for these sparring hearts, but one argument too many turned their passionate romance sour, and an icy distance has persisted between them for the past four years. They're reunited when Violet learns that James has fallen from his horse in a riding accident. She rushes to his side only to discover him totally fine and seemingly indifferent to her concern. To recapture his attention, Violet enlists her two closest friends to help her fake a health crisis of her own. What follows is a series of riotously funny mishaps, pranks, and misunderstandings as the feuding couple weaponize Regency manners for their own ends. Waters gently lampoons genre tropes without sacrificing genuine feeling. Self-aware and brimming with well-timed epiphanies, this joyful, elegant romp is sure to enchant. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary (Apr.)

DEBUT Four years ago, Violet and James Audley had the fight to end all fights, and they've barely spoken since. Once their marriage held passion and romance, now it's filled with coldness and separation. Then Violet receives word that James has fallen from his horse and is gravely ill, and rushing to his side she finds him perfectly healthy. Angered that he dismisses her concern so casually, Violet hatches a scheme to turn the tables on him by pretending to have consumption. Against the advice of everyone she knows--wouldn't talking it out be better?--Violet hires a fake doctor and pretends to be bedridden to trick James into admitting his feelings for her. Naturally, her scheme backfires, and soon both of them are involved in a game of snowballing deception. Amid thorny tropes (big misunderstandings, childish revenge plots), there is enough character growth in both James and Violet to make their reconciliation worth readers' wait. VERDICT Debuter Waters is off to a promising start with a rare historical romantic comedy that is sure to delight fans of either genre. [Previewed in Eve Stano's Romance Preview, "Love for All," LJ 10/19.]--Kathryn Howe, Saint John Free P.L., NB

A married couple's long years of feuding come to an end in this romance debut.In her first season, Lady Violet Grey was caught unchaperoned on a balcony with Lord James Audley. Although they only engaged in mild flirting and friendly banter, he immediately offers to marry her rather than see her ruined. The timeline jumps forward five years to a couple in great distress. Even though they were celebrated as a great love match, a year into the marriage they had a bitter fight that neither could forgive or forget. The chilly, uncomfortable silence lasts for four years, only breaking when Violet receives a note informing her that James was knocked unconscious after falling from his horse. She realizes she still loves him and rushes to his bedside, but he's fully recovered by the time she arrives. Furious and convinced he played her for a fool, she decides to fake an illness of her own to show him how it feels. Their friends and family encourage them to talk to each other rather than plot and plan, but they are too afraid to trust each other after all the years of discord. Waters is a gifted writer. She deploys sharp, incisive prose to describe each character's inner world, showing how each is a product of their upbringing and class. James resents being the neglected second son while Violet chafes at the bounds of feminine propriety. It's clear the novel is attempting to create a comedic War of the Roses-style game of one-upmanship, but readers might lose patience as James' and Violet's immature antics drag on. It's difficult to root for characters so committed to nursing their feelings of resentment, animosity, and persecution.Most likely to appeal to readers looking to see just how far the "enemies to lovers" trope can be stretched before it snaps. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* After enjoying one year of wedded happiness, Violet and James Audley have spent the last four years locked in icily polite marital combat. Upon receiving word that James has been seriously injured in a riding accident at their country estate, however, Violet immediately sets out from London to be by his side. After discovering that the reports of James' injuries have been greatly exaggerated, Violet decides that turnabout is fair play, only to discover that fooling her husband—not to mention fooling herself with regards to her real feelings for James—just might be more difficult than she first imagined. Waters' cleverly conceived and brilliantly executed debut is served up with an abundance of cheeky charm and wonderfully wry wit. When it comes to delivering the Regency-set equivalent of a classic 1930s–40s screwball romantic comedy, Waters is on par with filmmakers Billy Wilder and Ernst Lubitsch, but what will really win over romance readers is how beautifully she writes about the important role of trust in a true marriage of minds and hearts. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

DEBUT Four years ago, Violet and James Audley had the fight to end all fights, and they've barely spoken since. Once their marriage held passion and romance, now it's filled with coldness and separation. Then Violet receives word that James has fallen from his horse and is gravely ill, and rushing to his side she finds him perfectly healthy. Angered that he dismisses her concern so casually, Violet hatches a scheme to turn the tables on him by pretending to have consumption. Against the advice of everyone she knows—wouldn't talking it out be better?—Violet hires a fake doctor and pretends to be bedridden to trick James into admitting his feelings for her. Naturally, her scheme backfires, and soon both of them are involved in a game of snowballing deception. Amid thorny tropes (big misunderstandings, childish revenge plots), there is enough character growth in both James and Violet to make their reconciliation worth readers' wait. VERDICT Debuter Waters is off to a promising start with a rare historical romantic comedy that is sure to delight fans of either genre. [Previewed in Eve Stano's Romance Preview, "Love for All," LJ 10/19.]—Kathryn Howe, Saint John Free P.L., NB

Waters's debut Regency rom-com delights with hilarious, high-concept romantic schemes that call to mind Shakespeare's comedies. Lady Violet Grey's first meeting with Lord James Audley, second son of a duke, was a comedy of errors. Despite an unlikely start and constant bickering, the pair fell in love and married. The first year was bliss for these sparring hearts, but one argument too many turned their passionate romance sour, and an icy distance has persisted between them for the past four years. They're reunited when Violet learns that James has fallen from his horse in a riding accident. She rushes to his side only to discover him totally fine and seemingly indifferent to her concern. To recapture his attention, Violet enlists her two closest friends to help her fake a health crisis of her own. What follows is a series of riotously funny mishaps, pranks, and misunderstandings as the feuding couple weaponize Regency manners for their own ends. Waters gently lampoons genre tropes without sacrificing genuine feeling. Self-aware and brimming with well-timed epiphanies, this joyful, elegant romp is sure to enchant. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary (Apr.)