Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

27 reviews

britwalsh16's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I usually prefer reading the book before the movie or tv show adaptation, but with this series I fell in love with the show first & then decided to read the book, & usually I struggle to get through it, but overall I usually like the book more. This series is different. I definitely enjoyed the book, & I love all the little details we didn’t get in the tv show; but I miss all the side characters. Though season 1 focuses on Daphne & The Duke, you get to see all the side characters & learn a bit about everyone. In the book, you only learn about the other characters if they are interacting with Daphne or Simon. So I just really struggled to get through this book because of that. That being said, I’m definitely going to read the other books, just maybe not in order, I’ll come back to the Viscount since I know his story already. Lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Sexism, and Gun violence

Minor: Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

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

tspice24's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Grief

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

kayleejanes's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Violence

kkylezzz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was a good read. I thought the humor and banter and character back-n-forth in general was great. The first half was really good, I enjoyed the length of scenes and the dedication to detail and consistency with the characters and descriptions. There was tons of dialogue which I love. I really enjoyed the how the first half too felt them growing together.

Obviously in our timeline, "dating" for more than a couple weeks is conventional before even becoming a real couple let alone considering marriage, but for translatable purposes, this felt well told in that regard.

The second half was enjoyable too, but more so for the pitiable, dramatic love story elements.

I was alright with the separation and then pregnancy scare and the heart-to-hearts getting more in depth each time it was brought up.

The last couple of chapters and Epilogue(s) was (were) redeeming, I enjoyed them.

I liked that it ended on a positive note, the extended pregnancy brining in extra drama, and the possibility of Geogie being afflicted with Simon's same drama without actually confirming that.

The sex scenes weren't too terribly bad either.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Passive suicidal ideation/intention briefly alluded to

chaotically_katie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical content, Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Vomit, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Excrement, Infertility, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Blood

booksalacarte's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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- 3.75⭐️ 3🌶️

In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince--while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable...but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society--just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend's sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm--at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London's elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule...

This novel includes the 2nd epilogue, a peek at the story after the story. 

✨My Opinion✨

This is just the best regency romance writing you can get. It’s so feel good and fluffy, you can’t help but love it. 

With my second re-read, I have to say that this just a really solidly good historical romance novel. The family dynamics are so well done and gave great insight to the bridgerton family as a whole.

Simon’s inner struggle was so much more compelling on page. I found the stutter to be a huge aspect in his struggle as a character. Something that wasn’t as present in the TV show.

Daphne’s character was a little less interesting, but I found the situational plot to be more interesting and held tension between the couple so much better. 

This is a comfort read/series for me, for sure.

Plot tropes: fake dating, ruined reputation duel, quick marriage

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content and Vomit

Minor: Pregnancy

livbugg's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

1.5

wow Netflix made a book better, that’s shocking

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Child abuse, Cursing, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, and Physical abuse

Minor: Miscarriage