TO HAVE AND TO HOAX

Published April 7, 2020 by Atria Books (US) / Headline Eternal (UK)

In this fresh and hilarious historical rom-com, an estranged husband and wife in Regency England feign accidents and illness in an attempt to gain attention—and maybe just win each other back in the process.

Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met, fell in love, and got married. Four years ago, they had a fight to end all fights, and have barely spoken since.

Their once-passionate love match has been reduced to one of cold, detached politeness. But when Violet receives a letter that James has been thrown from his horse and rendered unconscious at their country estate, she races to be by his side—only to discover him alive and well at a tavern, and completely unaware of her concern. She’s outraged. He’s confused. And the distance between them has never been more apparent.

Wanting to teach her estranged husband a lesson, Violet decides to feign an illness of her own. James quickly sees through it, but he decides to play along in an ever-escalating game of manipulation, featuring actors masquerading as doctors, threats of Swiss sanitariums, faux mistresses—and a lot of flirtation between a husband and wife who might not hate each other as much as they thought. Will the two be able to overcome four years of hurt or will they continue to deny the spark between them?

With charm, wit, and heart in spades, To Have and to Hoax is a fresh and eminently entertaining romantic comedy—perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Julia Quinn.

PRAISE FOR TO HAVE AND TO HOAX

Named a best romance debut of 2020 by Publishers Weekly and Booklist!

“Waters’s debut Regency rom-com delights with hilarious, high-concept romantic schemes that call to mind Shakespeare’s comedies.…Self-aware and brimming with well-timed epiphanies, this joyful, elegant romp is sure to enchant.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Martha Waters makes a splashy debut with this pithy and charming historical rom-com that feels like what would happen if Friends were written by Molière….her dialogue sparkles, and she’s endlessly witty, as much a bon vivant as the cast of characters she’s created.”
—Entertainment Weekly

"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.”
—Booklist, starred review

“Waters is off to a promising start with a rare historical romantic comedy that is sure to delight readers of either genre.”
—Library Journal

“Debut author Martha Waters delights with a clever Regency comedy of manners.”
—BookPage, starred review

“To Have and to Hoax is an authentic romantic comedy… This fun and fresh historical debut will delight readers with humor and romance as a young couple battles to win back each other's affection.”
—Shelf Awareness

“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.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Anyone who has ever wondered what happens after the happily ever after in a Jane Austen novel will love Martha Waters’s To Have and to Hoax.”
—PopSugar

"Charming, clever, sensual, and brimming with comedic situations, To Have and to Hoax is a Regency battle of the sexes that will evoke gentle laughter as it enthralls.”
—New York Journal of Books

"A charming regency-era romance with a twist . . . . deliciously hilarious and perfectly angsty.”
—The Palm Beach Post

“A laugh out loud Regency romp— if you loved the Bridgertons, you’ll adore To Have and to Hoax!”
—Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

"Waters's writing is endlessly charming...absorbing and clever and at times laugh-out-loud funny. From the first line she had me hooked, and kept me turning pages late into the night. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!"
—Kate Clayborn, author of Love Lettering

"To Have and to Hoax is a delightful battle of wits that's funny and touching all at once. James and Violet are perfectly matched, and you'll love watching the sparks fly as they both infuriate each other and fall in love all over again."
—Jen DeLuca, author of Well Met