Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

138 reviews

purplepoodleinc's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Duke and I is exactly what you want if you’re looking for a fast and fun regency romance. I’m new to the genre, but this definitely has me hooked on the series. 

I absolutely adore the “Lady Whistledown” element, she gives the story a Gossip Girl-vibe. Seriously, who is Lady Whistledown and who are her sources?! 

You can’t help but to love the Bridgerton family, they exude charm and warm heartedness. 

Don’t let the number of children, or novels, in the Bridgerton series intimidate you. If you’re a fan of the show, want to dip your toes in the genre, or maybe you’re even a seasoned regency romance lover, pick up this book and sip some “tea” with the Bridgertons. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Infertility, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse

esther_palko's review against another edition

emotional funny

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

viselik's review against another edition

funny relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

 I read this book because of the Historical Romance Society's Discord Server's mascot, the oh-so-lovely Governess, who is absolutely obsessed with this book and will not stop recommending it. I was also just curious about the book, but the Governess was my main reason.

I found it a rather sweet story with a more tolerable third-act breakup which is a thing I hate about romance books. It makes sense, and is fucking deserved because of what Daphne did. I didn't realise this as the sex scene I had skimmed over, but someone had told me what I had missed. I do not feel like Daphne deserves what she got in the end, and I fully believe she deserves to be alone.

The characters were a good change of pace except one, Daphne, and I found Simon a rather interesting male romance character! He does suffer at first glance from the usual 'stoic, emotionless man' trope, but he quickly sheds that, and by the end of the book, he is a character I want to read more about. I love that he has a stutter and goes mute in certain moments, as I haven't seen that often in HR books from what I've noticed.

I found Daphne was also quite alright UNTIL the sex scenes. Please DO NOT read this book if you are sensitive to the subject of sexual a*sult as Daphne r*pes Simon. I finished the book not realising that, but fuck Daphne. She deserves to be with Nigel from the beginning. She ignored when Simon made it very clear he didn't want this, and she forced it upon him FOR HER WANTS. I do not CARE that it is how she can get pregnant considering that Simon is infertile, HE SAID NO AND WANTED HER OFF OF HIM. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual harassment, Infertility, and Sexual content

tjdewald's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Paints reproductive coercion in a positive light and highlights it as the moral high ground in the scenario in the book. Felt icky to read. Made me had the main character. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Child abuse

juliaaaaaa's review against another edition

3.5

“No,” he groaned, pulling her closer. “I want to be in your heart. I want—” His entire body shuddered when their skin touched. “I want to be in your soul.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Blood

indianagranger's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The drunk sex drops it by a star

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse and Ableism

firstkhao's review against another edition

emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The book is an easy reading, however

I just can't get over how Daphne rapes Simon and that is portrayed as some form of empowerment. It was not necessary for the plot in anyway, the problems could be resolved in another way and, more importantly, by the way it was though about by the characters later it almost felt as if the author knew how it would be received, knew it was wrong and then decided to keep it in the book anyway.

I will probably read the rest of the books because I'm chronically curious, but I do hope this sort of thing is not common in all of them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape

Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Ableism

Minor: Physical abuse and Violence

colloreda's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse

Moderate: Death of parent and Gun violence

Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Infertility

annahamburger's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, Vomit, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Fatphobia

phillyhufflepunk's review against another edition

dark lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

My problems with the book are the lack of stakes within Daphne's search for a husband which makes their whole plan kind of pointless, the Duke's entire personality in Chapter 17, the lack of any real fallout from the event in Chapter 18, and the lack of a presence of other characters in their lives. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent and Vomit