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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My stand-out favorite of the Girl Meets Duke series, The Wallflower Wager had me crying and crying-laughing throughout. Penny has been the glue holding this crew of unlikely female friends together, and it's her ability to make others feel safe and loved, and her determination to live beyond her own trauma, that makes this such a heart-wrecker of a book. This is another class difference story, this time with a lady, though a spinster and a wallflower, and a Duke in power - not title - who has schemed his way to the upper echelons of a society that rejects him for his business acumen and "lowborn" roots.
This isn't insta-love, but it is insta-trust, which doesn't bother me at all, and the chemistry between these two is HOT. Penny takes pleasure on her own terms, and Gabriel Duke, the Duke of Ruin, commits himself to whatever she wants or needs. I love how Dare navigates both of their backstories, handling trauma with sensitivity and care so that it never feels gratuitous, and so that each character can find the closure they need through their own actions and agency.
Come for the brothel parrot, stay for the moment you sob over a penny.
This isn't insta-love, but it is insta-trust, which doesn't bother me at all, and the chemistry between these two is HOT. Penny takes pleasure on her own terms, and Gabriel Duke, the Duke of Ruin, commits himself to whatever she wants or needs. I love how Dare navigates both of their backstories, handling trauma with sensitivity and care so that it never feels gratuitous, and so that each character can find the closure they need through their own actions and agency.
Come for the brothel parrot, stay for the moment you sob over a penny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Sexual assault/child abuse/pedophilia is described in the female main character's backstory.stanleycoochieslibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Misogyny
Pedophilia is in the past and described but not super graphic although one of the MCs experiences it.lanna_aud's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting
anoveldestination's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really struggled to connect with the characters in this. For me, Penny was the stronger character of the two. Her backstory and love for animals gave her a lot more depth than Gabe, whose rake with a dark past storyline felt trite. Usually, Tessa Dare gives her heroes dark pasts, but each of the characters usually still has something unique in their story. Gabe's backstory and motivation didn't feel as fleshed out as Tessa Dare's characters usually are. Also, while Penny was a more believable character, the animal lover trait did seem like it was a little absurd and taken too far.
Perhaps, it was my struggle to believe the characters that also made me doubt their romance, but I didn't feel a lot of tension in their relationship and I never felt invested in their future as a couple. I didn't dislike their story and the progression of their relationship made sense, but I didn't care about their story either. It was a very "meh" romance for me.
In terms of style, I thought this book lacked some of Tessa Dare's usual humor. I didn't really find myself laughing or smiling in many parts, only in the scenes with characters from the previous books in the Girl Meets Duke series. The one redeeming quality of this story for me was the ending and Penny's character growth.
Perhaps, it was my struggle to believe the characters that also made me doubt their romance, but I didn't feel a lot of tension in their relationship and I never felt invested in their future as a couple. I didn't dislike their story and the progression of their relationship made sense, but I didn't care about their story either. It was a very "meh" romance for me.
In terms of style, I thought this book lacked some of Tessa Dare's usual humor. I didn't really find myself laughing or smiling in many parts, only in the scenes with characters from the previous books in the Girl Meets Duke series. The one redeeming quality of this story for me was the ending and Penny's character growth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Bullying and Child abuse
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