Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.
The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.…
Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.
If you enjoy historical fantasy romance with absolute chaos baked into every chapter, The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire by India Holton delivers exactly that. This novel takes the familiar enemies-to-lovers setup and twists it into something far stranger and funnier: “fake hating.” Instead of pretending to be in love, the characters are essentially pretending to despise each other with theatrical dedication, and the result is delightfully unhinged.
Holton’s writing style leans heavily into absurd humor, witty narration, and over-the-top situations that somehow keep escalating. There were moments where I genuinely laughed out loud, especially during the more ridiculous exchanges and dramatic misunderstandings. At the same time, there were several scenes where I found myself thinking, I feel like I’m reading a trainwreck—not necessarily in a bad way, but in the sense that everything seems one disaster away from complete collapse and you cannot look away.
The romance itself is messy, which fits perfectly with the tone of the story. Readers looking for a grounded historical fantasy may struggle with the constant whimsy, but if you’re willing to embrace the madness, the book becomes incredibly entertaining.
What made this novel especially memorable for me was the timing. I read it during a camping vacation that ended up being mostly rained out, and honestly, it was the perfect companion for being stuck indoors listening to rain hit the roof. The book’s eccentric energy and nonstop banter made the gloomy weather feel far more cozy than disappointing.
Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
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