Reviews

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

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romance_era's review against another edition

funny lighthearted

4.5

THE INFAMOUS RAKE AND THE ACCIDENTAL GOVERNESS

Prepare to be swept away by Dare's signature humor, sizzling chemistry, and irresistible characters.

I'm reveling in this series! The Governess Game is an absolute delight and had me grinning from ear to ear. This witty and charming romance follows the hilarious escapades of a stoic duke and a spirited governess.

The banter between Alexandra and Chase crackles with electricity, creating a delicious tension.

He searched her gaze. "What month is it?"
"July."
"And what day of the week?"
"Wednesday."
"How many tiny buttons on the back of your frock?"
"I don't know. Who counts such things?"
He shrugged unrepentantly. "I do."

The characters were wonderfully crafted—vibrant and loveable. From Alexandra's quirky wards to her unconventional friends, each character bursts with personality. And Chase, with his gruff exterior and tender heart, perfectly complemented Alexandra's spirited nature.

The plot progressed smoothly, unfolding with a satisfying rhythm that kept me engaged from start to finish. It's a book that I'll definitely want to revisit, making its way onto my reread shelf.

🎙️ The audiobook is a worthy listen. 👍

*First Read: 24 April 2024

nerdydevil's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

triedandtrope's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

sparksofdaisy's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

laurentalevski's review against another edition

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4.0

This was so sweet and I am utterly obsessed. The heroine is amazing, she is so good with kids and treats them with so much respect just as they deserve. It was so good to see her relate with the kids and I was obsessed with their little family at the end.

reeyabeegale's review against another edition

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3.0

I’m so sad. Ever since Girl Meets Duke series have been recommended to me, this is the book I’ve most looked forward to.

At the start, it had everything I love — bookstores, astronomy and Filipino heritage representation.
I had high expectations and I was disappointed. The reason I loved the first book was because of its beautiful prose (except for when Ash curses in Shakespeare), however in this book, I’ve only found beautiful prose by the 80% mark.

I was expecting a lot of fun and entertaining scenes between the children, Alex and Chase. The plot wasn’t as complex, and I found Chase’s actions & decisions giving me a whiplash — not in a good way. I think this book fell short, and it could have been done better. Tessa Dare’s writing is beautiful, and I don’t doubt it, but I wanted more from this book and it pains me to say that it failed. I felt disconnected, like I don’t know any of the characters deeper than surface level.

Also, I have nothing against the book covers of romance books — but really, this bothers me. I loved the girl in the picture, but the guy looks pained and stiff. I wish they chose a different position. Anyway, that’s not exactly a turn-off factor, I just noticed it.

Nonetheless, it’s an okay book. I would still read Tessa Dare’s other books — she’s introduced me to historical romance so well that I know she’d always be an auto-buy author from now on.