A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence

Everlee’s solid third Lucky Lovers of London queer Victorian romance (after A Rulebook for Restless Rogues) balances an upbeat and erotic love story with the realities of life in 1880s England. Primly ambitious social reformer Dr. Emily Clarke has dedicated her life to the healing arts, only to be forced to do twice as much work as her male colleagues for inadequate pay. Meanwhile, louche lesbian Jo Smith leads a comfortable if decadent working-class life—until she learns her platonic husband’s paramour, Vanessa, is pregnant. A search for a doctor who will oversee Vanessa’s high-risk pregnancy without judgment leads them to Emily, who is loath to pursue obstetrics after her own mother died in childbirth. Still, her values won’t allow her to turn Vanessa away—nor can she resist her intense attraction to Jo. Obstacles abound for these two women, but most are either easily surmounted or rationally discussed, leaving a satisfying amount of conflict, and the focus on community and mutual aid is especially timely. Emily, Jo, and their motley companions will win over Everlee’s established fans and new readers alike. Agent: Laura Zats, Headwater Literary. (June.)