Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

15 reviews

orangewitchling's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

I really enjoyed the trans perspective on the Victorian romance setting. I think because the Victorian romance plot is so predictable, it was easier to focus on the characters point of view since it was all from a non-heteronormative perspective. Even though, I empathize with the LGBTQ community, I don’t have a grasp on all their struggles, so it was very refreshing to get the trans perspective in a relatable way. on a different note, it was a slow book because and there was a lot of angst at the beginning with plenty of feeling exploration. However, I think that it worked in favor of the character growth and the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Grief, Classism, Death, and Drug use

shinypurplepants's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted

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

4.75

Lovely mix of yearning and romance 🥰 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, War, Classism, Deadnaming, Ableism, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Grief, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Transphobia

mobymaize's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

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

5.0

It was really nice to read a regency era romance novel, a genre I don’t typically consume, with a trans woman protagonist, a person just like me :) 

ALSO HOLY FUCK THERE IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLE & HOT ABOUT FALLING IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHERS WORDS. also HOLY SHIT THE SEX SCENE!!!!!!!!!! absolutely magnificent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, War, Classism, Death of parent, Outing, Sexual content, Deadnaming, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Ableism, Body shaming, Alcohol, Addiction, Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Gun violence

persychan's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

5/5 stars

 I was giggling and reciting various dialogues aloud, so yeah, I really liked it. 
Is it a realistic story about a trans woman in the Regency era? No, but no modern Regency romance is even trying to be historical so yeah, I'm here for the dramatic declaration and the longing and this book has both.

And a couple of unexpected (but well-written and meaningful for the plot) sexy moments towards the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Infertility

Minor: Child abuse and Deadnaming

lisacanteven's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This is really more of a 3.5 read without rounding up, but I think because of the wonderful representation in a genre like this it deserves rounding up to a 4.

Here's where it didn't work for me: Almost 400 pages were telling a beautiful story with lovely writing and great character development. Then it took a hard left turn somewhere just south of page 400, and we were taken on a totally different ride on a trip I did not sign up for. It wasn't a bad trip, but it wasn't the one I wanted to be on. Maybe another time I would have enjoyed the trip, but I was ready for the trip I already had to be finished. Ya getting me?

Then for a few pages just north of page 400 the story got a little patriarchal outta nowhere. I didn't really expect that one person to just excuse the other person's behavior like they used the wrong fork at fancy dinner. If you read it, think about it. How did they just get away with it, but that is kinda how it usually happens because patriarchy.

Just as I was building my case against the villain's terrible redemption arc, the ending came together in a way that did satisfy me. I mean no one took down patriarchy in this book, but maybe that wasn't the point.

Here's what did work for me: The trans representation was really nice and sweet. I thought it was the perfect blend of trans joy and trans realness. You do have to suspend your disbelief and let yourself enjoy the relationship, but experiencing the trans joy through the story is worth it. For that alone this book was worth the read despite its flaws.

TL;DR- The first 400 pages will seem very laborious, but the last 50 pages will flash before your eyes like you're fast forwarding a movie. Both these parts of the story are enjoyable in their own right, but when put together they make a confusing tale. The queer, specifically trans, representation only gave the story more depth and attachment. For that achievement this story has earned its place among must-read romance books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Ableism, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Minor: Body shaming, Abandonment, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and War

sproutedpages's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Grief, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Alcoholism, War, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, and Abandonment

Moderate: Blood and Body shaming

lignjahal's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

4.0/5

It’s a cute little queer historical romance that will keep you engaged with solid writing and good characters.
My only cons are the length being just a bit too long and the writing sometimes being a bit too modern for the period, but these are only minor complaints.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Sexism, Ableism, War, Sexual harassment, Classism, Kidnapping, and Drug use

Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, Transphobia, Outing, Sexism, Gore, Addiction, Child abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

erica_reads_things's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.75

This book was the perfect, cute, period romance. What an absolute joy to read. Alexis wrote in such a way that I couldn't help but highlight passages and often had to put the book down to just breathe and think about the beauty of what I had just read. So well done, so thoughtful, and so beautiful! 

I would have given it 5 stars, however

the last fourth of the book with the Mira kidnapping plot was, while cute and entertaining, a bit out of left field and felt like filler for more content and just for something to happen. It was enjoyable, but in the context of the entire book, felt a bit random.

Overall, this was a beautiful, enchanting, inclusive read and I would recommend it to anyone!!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug abuse, War, Grief, Addiction, Kidnapping, Deadnaming, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Violence, and Death of parent

kshertz's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I think the fact that I didn’t stop listening to this book for two days and finished it super quickly speaks for itself. It was so awesome to read about a trans person getting to live the life they wanted back in a different time period. The explanation made so much sense and the characters themselves were very well done. I really loved them and cared about what happened to them. This would be a 5.0 but it took forever to get to the sexiness. Which if you know me I need multiple and  very often.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Deadnaming, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Bullying

novella42's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was a delight and a joy, easily one of my top reads of 2022. As a queer cis person with PTSD and a disability, married to a genderfluid partner, I have often wondered what our lives might have been like in a different time. This story was a refreshing alternative to many of the "gritty" interpretations of queer history. The truth is that we don't know a lot about the queer or trans experience prior to the Twentieth Century—because it was hidden from view—and because we don't know, there is also space to speculate for happiness and acceptance just as there is for the usual tropes that assume all will encounter darkness and hate. 

I felt such a connection to the characters. The struggle with internalized ableism was believable and handled with more nuance than I expected. And just... The identity work in this book, not just about gender but on so many levels. It felt wonderful to witness. To see them work through their fears, their demons, to navigate all the uncertainties (without language for their identities or traumas), and all the ways they connected to heal. I was crying with pure joy at multiple points throughout the book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Mental illness, War, Deadnaming, Blood, Drug use, Dysphoria, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Ableism

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Classism, Outing, and Suicidal thoughts