TO LOVE AND TO LOATHE

Published April 6, 2021 by Atria Books (US) / Headline Eternal (UK)

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.

PRAISE FOR TO LOVE AND TO LOATHE

Named an April 2021 LibraryReads pick! Named a top 10 romance of 2021 by Entertainment Weekly!

“Waters has an arch sense of humor and a marvelously witty voice that rivals the best of the Regency authors (see: Julia Quinn, even Austen herself). She threads the needle deftly, couching her sharp banter in a gentleness that makes To Love and to Loathe as confectionary as a box of macarons... To Love and to Loathe is something we could all use more of: unabashedly fun and bursting with screwball energy. It’s a romp of the highest order, difficult to put down and effervescent with its own abundant charm.”
—Entertainment Weekly, grade: A

“In her second superbly entertaining Regency-set historical, following To Have and to Hoax (2020), Waters once again rewards readers with a comically clever love story that blithely blends engaging writing spiked with deliciously dry wit and a beguiling cast of characters.”
—Booklist, starred review

“[I]rresistibly irreverent...the journey to their happy ending is worth every step.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Never underestimate the restorative powers of a Regency romp, especially when it’s as clever and emotionally-intelligent as this one.”
—The Globe and Mail

“Waters excels at pitting Diana and Jeremy against each other with clever dialogue and comical situations to ensure a lively and steamy rivals-to-lovers story….A worthy addition to the trend for historical romantic comedies.”
—Library Journal

“This absolutely perfect Regency romance is chock-full of chatty, flirty characters and delectable scoundrels…. Waters sets a jaunty pace with flirty dialogue, easy camaraderie and enjoyable characters. All the typical trademarks of Regency era are present, but thanks to Waters’ charm, this story feels timeless and young and fun.”
—BookPage

“Martha Waters’s second historical romance is a delightful enemies-to-lovers escape filled with banter and humor—perfect for readers looking to laugh and swoon in equal measure.”
—Shelf Awareness

“Diana, Lady Templeton, is not only highly intelligent, but refreshingly clear-sighted about the situation of women in the aristocracy; and despite his roguish lifestyle, Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham, is really a considerate and decent chap. The minor characters, especially Diana’s close friends, provide a strong supporting cast. And beneath the humor, there are penetrating insights into the predicament of women in the Regency era. Strongly recommended.”
—Historical Novel Society

“A wonderful romp, full of ridiculous fun and utterly charming characters.”
—San Francisco Book Review

“Sweet, funny, and electrifying from the very first chapter.”
—First for Women

“Martha Waters’s To Love and to Loathe is sweet, sexy, and utterly fun. A love story with depth to match its humor, and refreshingly frank communication between its two headstrong leads—I adored it.”
—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read

"With delightful screwball-comedy energy, this Regency romance turns a playful wager into an escalating emotional tug-of-war between two dedicated antagonists, their meddling relatives, and a charming circle of friends. As with her debut novel To Have and to Hoax, Waters has gifted readers another swoony tale full of romance, impish banter, and just the right amount of lust."
—Natalie Jenner, USA Today bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society

"To Love and to Loathe is pure fun on every page. With their witty verbal sparring, steamy chemistry, and unexpected tender moments, Jeremy and Diana were made for each other but are the last to know it.”
—Sarah Hogle, author of You Deserve Each Other and Twice Shy

“Packed with saucy banter and delightful period details, this Regency rom-com is completely charming. Diana and Jeremy’s maddening and magical chemistry make this hard to put down.”
—Hannah Orenstein, author of Head over Heels and Love at First Like