Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - El duque y yo

I really enjoyed this. I haven’t read much classic “genre” historical romance and while I still think I like the nitty gritty and ambiguity of romantic historical fiction—I think I’ve found a new series to return to often.

I’ve put off watching the show until I read the book, while I love the additions and wider scope of the show, this book was so endearing. I laughed out loud and truly enjoyed the dialogue especially.

I saw parts of myself in Daphne and Simon that I have never come across in any other novels. It’s a little frightening, honestly.

I’m not surprised that there’s controversy around one specific part of their marriage (if you know, you know). But I do respect stories where good people make wrong decisions and have to crawl their way back from it. It makes for good fiction, and does not surprise me within the context of the story.

There’s definitely sexual content (less than the show but still present), and murky consent within marriage. It doesn’t have sexual assault in the context of a stranger or some unwanted man brutalizing a woman (like Outlander), but tread carefully if you think that might upset you.

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maakbooks's review against another edition

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2.0

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aliiloue's review against another edition

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funny 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

3.0

fast paced with a lot of fun banter back and forth. there's not a lot of world building for it being a historical setting which was disappointing and not a lot of descriptions of anything outside of character feelings tbh.

characters are fine. rounded enough to be enjoyable but not super deep. i liked daphne well enough to start even if the book went out it's way to make sure you knew she wasn't like other girls because of you know she has four brothers right? she wasn't the most compelling heroine but she was fine. then a lot of that good faith went out the window with what she does to Simon in the third act. there was no real remorse for what she does and everything is put on Simon. yes he lied, acted out of trauma and was emotionally constipated but i think there was a way to handle this storyline that wasn't that. just left a bad taste in my mouth especially after i'd found the first half of the book so fun.

also was really obvious that daphne didn't have any friends? nor was there any mention of real friends? at least not by name. just really stuck out to me. girl could have used a pal.

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