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mels_reading_rook's review against another edition
I am flabbergasted.
I was having a wonderful time, enjoying the story and the characters. And then, a little over halfway, it all started to go downhill. Daphne and Simon were caught in a compromising position, and so Simon agreed to a duel to the death with her brother, Anthony. Daphne proceeds to manipulate the situation and guilts Simon into marrying her, where he informs her he can't have children. Yes, his choice of wording was misleading - as it is a won't not can't situation - and when Daphne discovered that discrepency, she had no respect for his boundaries. Yes, she's entitled to be upset by that misdirection, but she should still respect that children was out of the question.
Instead, Daphne does the worst possible thing. She rapes him, and violates all his boundaries.
I am done with this book. I am done with this series.
This review can also be found on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6531894162
I was having a wonderful time, enjoying the story and the characters. And then, a little over halfway, it all started to go downhill. Daphne and Simon were caught in a compromising position, and so Simon agreed to a duel to the death with her brother, Anthony. Daphne proceeds to manipulate the situation and guilts Simon into marrying her, where he informs her he can't have children. Yes, his choice of wording was misleading - as it is a won't not can't situation - and when Daphne discovered that discrepency, she had no respect for his boundaries. Yes, she's entitled to be upset by that misdirection, but she should still respect that children was out of the question.
Instead, Daphne does the worst possible thing. She rapes him, and violates all his boundaries.
I am done with this book. I am done with this series.
This review can also be found on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6531894162
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Classism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexism
Minor: Miscarriage
beebidon's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
I wonder if turning 30 made me desire a need to read Regency-era romance stories when before they were never my thing. However, this was a wonderful book to get things going and I'm looking forward to the rest. I'll admit I watched the Netflix show first, so it's neat to compare page to screen and see what changes they made. I think both are great stories in their own way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual assault, Infertility, and Sexual harassment
britty555673's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
fanboyriot's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
Dearest Gentle Reader, this book wasn’t what I was expecting. While it did bring to life the characters and their stories, I feel as though it fell rather flat compared to the show. I did enjoy the epilogues and the audiobook was narrated rather nicely, I don’t think I will be continuing this book series as of now. It was entertaining just not really worth it to me, perhaps I’ll revisit this series later though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Classism, Rape, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Moderate: Gaslighting, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, and Racism
Minor: Fatphobia, Blood, Alcohol, Body shaming, Vomit, Violence, and Cursing
atlaslan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism and Injury/Injury detail
adorationandprose's review
medium-paced
1.5
One of the most unhealthy couples I’ve ever read about
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny
kassoug's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
2.25
Pas fou assez cliché et la scène de viol qui n’est par la suite jamais adressée… je n’ai pas été emballée
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
odetolocksmith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
deardisdain's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
While I adored the book and the dynamic I don't think I'll ever like Daphne for what she did to Simon. And I while I'm unsure if it's the era or just the way it's handled in this novel, his treatment wasn't considered as bad as it should have in my honest opinion. That being said, I love the way Julia writes? I expected to hate this book but I felt addicted by the end of it and immediately went into the next one.
side comment: started off listening to the audio book and MAJOR props to the narrator they did so so good.
side comment: started off listening to the audio book and MAJOR props to the narrator they did so so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage
idyllicendure's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
As someone who has only watched the series I quite enjoyed this book. There are definetely things that have aged poorly and I have a huge problem with the book that practically takes all possibility of it being anything higher than a 3.5 away from the book, but given what I had heard about the books and how little I enjoy romance books, this book could have gone so much worse.
Now let's talk spoilers. Simon's and Daphne's relationship is very different from the one in the series. They are never "enemies" in the book and Simon is a lot nicer and sweeter than he is in the tv show. I must say the relationship in the books is a lot better than in the movie. Now, the sexual assault. I truly don't understand why Quinn decided to make Daphne sexually assault Simon in a book where she is suppossed to be a character we root for. I truly feel bad for the man. And the fact that he ended up forgiving her. I could never. Although I knew it was going to happen I was really enjoying the book until that point. It just leaves a bad taste on my mouth. They are still cute. Can't wait to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism