Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

94 reviews

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

mabellene's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Abandonment

Moderate: Pregnancy and Infertility

joyfulfoodie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.75

I have really enjoyed the two tv shows based on this group, so I decided to check out the books. 
Usually I am hands down “the book was better” but I feel like they are both delightful in their own way. I thought it was fascinating that Charlotte isn’t in the book at all - with the new prequel series she has almost become my favorite character so it’s interesting that (so far) she is a Shonda Rhimes creation. 
The same event that was so uncomfortable in season one is featured here, so if you really struggled with that in the show it got its origins here and you won’t dodge it the second time. I won’t say it is easier here, but the mental state of all parties is better explored. Doesn’t make it permissible just gives better insight. The timeline of events after that is different, but worked well in each medium. 

This was probably a 4.75 for me, but rounding up for goodreads. Read a good chunk of it at the beach and I’m almost never able to pay attention to my book consistently enough to make progress while at the beach. 😂😊😎

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual content

Moderate: Pregnancy, Bullying, Violence, Miscarriage, Sexism, Infertility, Abandonment, and Ableism

its_thekla's review against another edition

1.0

I'll preface this with knowing next to nothing about the series going in. Needed a light, fluffy book to come out of the trend I've been in recently and, being a human in possession of a Netflix account, was aware of this series and seemed to fit the bill. Picked it up from my local library and went to work.

The first bit was super formulaic, but fun and light and cheesey and everything I was looking for. The whole Bridgerton clan was super fun and I enjoyed them quite a bit. We get to MMC's hang ups, and cool, ok, whatever man, makes sense. It's a regency romance, not a Pulitzer Prize winner. The whole pacing of this book was like it was sthe byproduct of rote memorization. No real substance, but fun.

THEN

Well, I'm sure most people know by this point but what the heck???? How are people ok with that??

Say it with me:  rape is rape is rape IS RAPE. what was the author thinking?? And then to treat it with such caviler attitude like it's part of their love story? No ma'am. </Spoiler> Sure, yes, suspension of belief, you can't modern scope historical ideologies/events/whatever but come on. COME ON. It was wrong then, it's wrong now. To add insult to injury and actively romanticize it? I have several choice profanities for that. 

So yeah. That kind of settled it for me. Kept reading because, well, there has to be SOMETHING right? Nope. Nothing. Nada. 

Won't read any of the others. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent and Miscarriage

lizgriffinwords's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

The pre-relationship banter and the helicoptering big brothers were honestly the best parts of this book. Otherwise, big meh from me. Goes from “hey, let’s do this fake dating scheme” to “oh we’re in love” very quickly. Plus, the reproductive coercion/marital r*pe was glossed over & forgiven way too quickly. None of the family members & side characters are as multi-dimensional and interesting in this book as they are in the Netflix adaptation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content and Rape

Minor: Death of parent

haleysversion's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Vomit, and Infertility

quinn_07's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted tense slow-paced

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

1.0

The two main characters do not communicate with each other, which is sooo frustrating especially when

they are about to get married and still do not discuss fundamental things in a marriage which are a deal breaker, like how one person doesn't want kids while the other person has dreamed of having kids for years

. Also, I absolutely hated

Daphne taking advantage of and raping Simon when he was vulnerable, and afterwards, STILL not understanding why what she did was wrong

. Sorry, these two characters were so upsetting that they ruined the romance for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual content

Moderate: Abandonment

selene_nyxly's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

2.25

I really loved this story. The characters were fun, and the plot was easy to follow. However, I did have a major issue with this book.

  TW: RAPE

Daphne literally rapes Simon. They try to play it off as if he also wanted what was happening since he vocally encouraged her. However, literally moments before, he had been passed out drunk. He could not consent in the moment and had specifically stated that he did not want to have even the slightest chance of getting her pregnant. The entire thing ruined the book for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent

grace33's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Miscarriage and Violence

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