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The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit

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The Very Definition of Love

Publisher
Little, Brown Book Group
Publish Date
23 June 2026
Run Time
12 hours 26 minutes
Format
Audiobook

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What to expect

Bridgerton meets Emily Henry in this fresh take on regency romance about a wallflower writing a dictionary of bawdy slang who arranges her own marriage to the ultimate instructor: the town rake.

'Sexy and witty . . . a clever regency romance that kept me giggling' JOSS RICHARD

1816 - Harriet Bancroft doesn't mind that she's on her fifth season with no marriage prospects, it gives her more time to write her dictionary of modern slang. Words are her passion, especially the exciting, filthy ones men have kept hidden from women for far too long.

Enter the ultimate teacher . . .

When Harriet accidentally finds herself in a compromising situation with the notorious rake Lord Alexander, she has no choice but to sort of kidnap him and strong-arm him into an elopement. This arranged marriage has a very particular condition - it will be in-name-only, leaving each of them to follow their own interests. For Harriet that's her work; for Alexander, that's women.

But love has a different lesson in mind . . .

Soon Alexander's rakish lifestyle is not nearly as fun as spending time with Harriet, and Harriet's beginning to worry that she might actually like her husband. Behind the closed doors of their respectable home, things become a little . . . complicated. After all, who better to teach her the very thorough meaning of these indecent words than the renowned lover, Lord Alexander Stirling? 

Perhaps this marriage will teach them both a little more about that word they've been avoiding - love.

Tropes
❤️‍🔥 Enemies-to-lovers
💍 Marriage of convenience
🛌 There's only one bed
💘 Yearning
📚 He teaches her
💐Regency era
💕 Rake x wallflower

Praise for The Very Definition of Love

'Hot, heartfelt, and witty. This smart and sexy Regency romance is the very definition of a page-turner' Lauren Kung Jessen

'Sweet, funny, romantic, and sexy . . . precisely what I need in all my historical romances' Bolu Babalola

'A witty, sexy, and deliciously fun romp!' Liana De la Rosa

'Endless pleasures: a bawdy romance, a good laugh, and a sneaky education in the Regency era's filthiest slang' Hannah Orenstein

'Wickedly nerdy and unapologetically hot!' Ella Dawson

'A very sexy, witty take on the classic Regency romance' Marie Claire

Critics Review

  • The Very Definition of Love is a witty, sexy, and deliciously fun romp! Historical romance readers will love Sophia Benoit's charming debut!

    Liana De la Rosa, USA Today bestselling author of Ana María and The Fox

  • The Very Definition of Love is hot, heartfelt, and witty. This smart and sexy Regency romance is the very definition of a page-turner

    Lauren Kung Jessen, author of The Fortune Flip

  • The Very Definition of Love is sexy and witty . . . a clever Regency romance that kept me giggling

    Joss Richard, international bestselling author of It’s Different This Time

  • The Very Definition of Love serves up endless pleasures: a bawdy romance, a good laugh, and a sneaky education in the Regency era's filthiest slang. It's heartfelt, sizzling, and witty, and the characters are so richly drawn, it's easy to forget this is fiction. Sophia Benoit is unmatched!

    Hannah Orenstein, author of Maine Characters

See more reviews
  • Wickedly nerdy and unapologetically hot, I challenge you to read The Very Definition of Love and not fall for Harriet and Alexander. Sophia Benoit is a sparkling new voice in romance!

    Ella Dawson, author of But How Are You, Really

  • [A] playful and sexy Regency debut . . . This should win Benoit plenty of fans

    Publishers Weekly

  • Sweet, funny, romantic, and sexy, I swooned, smiled, and sweated whilst devouring this book! Benoit has written a gem of a love story, and precisely what I need in all my historical romances. I cannot wait to read more of what she does!

    Bolu Babalola, international bestselling author of Honey and Spice

  • A very sexy, witty take on the classic Regency romance

    Marie Claire

User Reviews

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Details

Author
Sophia Benoit
Narrator
Grace Blyth, Stewart Clarke
Duration
12 hours 26 minutes
Release Date
23 June 2026
ISBN
9781405569477
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Little, Brown Book Group
Genre
Historical romance, Romance: unlikely or unexpected lovers, Romance: unintentional or forced proximity

Synopsis

Bridgerton meets Emily Henry in this fresh take on regency romance about a wallflower writing a dictionary of bawdy slang who arranges her own marriage to the ultimate instructor: the town rake.'Sexy and witty . . . a clever regency romance that kept me giggling' JOSS RICHARD1816 - Harriet Bancroft doesn't mind that she's on her fifth season with no marriage prospects, it gives her more time to write her dictionary of modern slang. Words are her passion, especially the exciting, filthy ones men have kept hidden from women for far too long.Enter the ultimate teacher . . .When Harriet accidentally finds herself in a compromising situation with the notorious rake Lord Alexander, she has no choice but to sort of kidnap him and strong-arm him into an elopement. This arranged marriage has a very particular condition - it will be in-name-only, leaving each of them to follow their own interests. For Harriet that's her work; for Alexander, that's women.But love has a different lesson in mind . . .Soon Alexander's rakish lifestyle is not nearly as fun as spending time with Harriet, and Harriet's beginning to worry that she might actually like her husband. Behind the closed doors of their respectable home, things become a little . . . complicated. After all, who better to teach her the very thorough meaning of these indecent words than the renowned lover, Lord Alexander Stirling? Perhaps this marriage will teach them both a little more about that word they've been avoiding - love.Tropes❤️‍🔥 Enemies-to-lovers💍 Marriage of convenience🛌 There's only one bed💘 Yearning📚 He teaches her💐Regency era💕 Rake x wallflowerPraise for The Very Definition of Love'Hot, heartfelt, and witty. This smart and sexy Regency romance is the very definition of a page-turner' Lauren Kung Jessen'Sweet, funny, romantic, and sexy . . . precisely what I need in all my historical romances' Bolu Babalola'A witty, sexy, and deliciously fun romp!' Liana De la Rosa'Endless pleasures: a bawdy romance, a good laugh, and a sneaky education in the Regency era's filthiest slang' Hannah Orenstein'Wickedly nerdy and unapologetically hot!' Ella Dawson'A very sexy, witty take on the classic Regency romance' Marie Claire

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