Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

85 reviews

jpitts's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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

4.0

Pacing issues aside, this was an incredibly tender, sweet, beautiful romance. This couple had a hold on my damn heart, and I absolutely ate up the flowery proclamations of love. Plus it's got trans and disability rep in our two leads. Good shit.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

gooseturnover's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.75

I loved it the whole way through. :')

Would've been 5 stars but for the pacing in the last third of the novel. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

snipinfool's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Viola Carroll was working as a companion to her sister-in-law, Lady Marleigh. It was not what she how she envisioned spending her life, but it was a life where she was much more happy. When Lady Marleigh received a letter from an old family friend, she became concerned. Miranda wrote that her brother, the Duke of Gracewood still suffered greatly since returning home from Waterloo two years previous. He was taking large doses of laudanum and drinking heavily. Miranda tried to care for her brother as best she could but feared she was losing the battle to save his health and mind. Lady Marleigh felt she and Viola needed to travel to Gracewood's estate to see if they could offer some support for them. Viola was very hesitant. Justin had been her best friend. Her oldest friend. They went to war together. Justin returned wounded. Viola was also wounded, but was thought to have died. Viola was now living life as her true self and had no plans to let anyone outside of her family know she survived the war. 

Gracewood grieved for his losses. His leg was severely wounded and at times, it could not support him. He also relived the war in his dreams, so sleep was limited. His greatest pain was the loss of his best friend, Marleigh. Gracewood looked all over the battlefield in hopes of finding him alive. The medics took him away to see about his wounds before he had a chance to find his friend. When Lady Marleigh and her companion, Viola, arrived, they could see Gracewood was struggling. Viola did not intend to reveal who she was to Gracewood, but she had to do something to help her old friend. Slowly, she found ways to get him to talk. Justin began to enjoy these talks and started to open up about what he was going through. As they talked more, both of them started to develop deeper feelings. Viola wondered if there was a possibility for more. 

I enjoyed how Alexis Hall slowly revealed the characters' stories in the novel. Viola was finally able to live as her authentic self. She gave up much to live that life, but she had no regrets. Justin was distraught over the loss of his closest friend. A friend he thought to always have in his life. When he met Viola, he saw something in her that let him know she was a person who would want the best for him. They both looked beyond what was visible to what each was inside. I loved the ending. It was perfect. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jasmine567's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely fell in love with this book and it set me on a romance kick. The longing and love the characters had for each other was beautiful.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

moomoomeadowss's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

novella42's review against another edition

Go to review page

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! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

astropova's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? Yes

4.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful informative 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

4.5

Absolutely emotional damage, but I think the second half dragged on a bit with the side characters? It wasn’t like I didn’t care it just felt a little more unfocused at points. It’s still absolutely amazing though, the writing is very lyrical and beautiful. I absolutely loved the trans representation in this book. I would check the content warnings before reading since the book does deal with heavier themes and deadnaming occurs in the book. Absolutely loved this!!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

youshouldreadthisif's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

5.0

The best historical romance!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ashlikes's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings