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starcrossreverie's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I DNF'ed this book at 77%.
The rape scene was worse than I thought it would be. I've legit seen people defend Daphne in the book making it seem like Simon was the one who initiated the sex, so I thought Simon would be drunk and awake but NO he was asleep with morning wood. It's literally written that she felt a rush of power in the situation, of how happy she was to be in control, and how she felt nothing but pleasure when he tried to get her off of him the moment he realized she was forcing him to cum inside her.
I waited for this book on Libby for a month, probably longer, and told myself to finish the book for that reason but one chapter after the rape scene I realized that finishing the book means I'll have to read Daphne get her happily ever after and that Simon would have to push aside his feelings in order to make HER happy. That is beyond fucked up.
And it wasn't just the rape scene that made me give this book a 1 star.
It's bland and boring. With a fake dating trope, it NEEDS drama. It needs more than just one scene where one becomes jealous at the romantic attention the other is getting, and that scene in Daphne's calling room was not it due to how soon into the fake dating it happened.
Daphne tells Simon that the fake dating wouldn't work on the Mamas as they'll continue pushing their single daughters at him but we don't get a scene like that! Even if it was just Daphne's self consciousness letting her say that, we still don't get to experience Daphne getting jealous of the attention he's getting.
They fall in love too quickly, which goes against the fake dating trope. They're supposed to have that realization that makes them go into denial over their feelings, only to realize that they can't escape how they feel, and then there's supposed to be a moment where they wonder how on earth are they going to turn this from fake dating into real dating, wondering if the other person even feels the same way about them.
The fake dating trope is supposed to come with drama and angst, but everything goes perfectly without any bumps in the road. I wouldn't even call the duel a bump because it was so dumb.
I knew she was going to rape him before I started reading but I liked her siblings and Lady Whistledown from the show a lot, so I read it for them and figured I'll push past this book to get to the other ones. Wasn't worth it, plus I've since learned that her brothers are trash to women.
My curiosity to see how bad the men in these books are makes me want to try reading the other books. I don't see myself finishing them either.
Overall, Daphne is a POS. I hate this book. And to the defenders who say "this is what happened in the 1800s.", this book wasn't written in the 1800s, and y'all aren't reading it in the 1800s. I would not be surprised if fans of these book also love Haunting Adeline. I am legit mad that the book fans talked about this dark romance series as if everything was sweet and wholesome, y'all really have people thinking these books are normal romances.
I waited for this book on Libby for a month, probably longer, and told myself to finish the book for that reason but one chapter after the rape scene I realized that finishing the book means I'll have to read Daphne get her happily ever after and that Simon would have to push aside his feelings in order to make HER happy. That is beyond fucked up.
And it wasn't just the rape scene that made me give this book a 1 star.
It's bland and boring. With a fake dating trope, it NEEDS drama. It needs more than just one scene where one becomes jealous at the romantic attention the other is getting, and that scene in Daphne's calling room was not it due to how soon into the fake dating it happened.
Daphne tells Simon that the fake dating wouldn't work on the Mamas as they'll continue pushing their single daughters at him but we don't get a scene like that! Even if it was just Daphne's self consciousness letting her say that, we still don't get to experience Daphne getting jealous of the attention he's getting.
They fall in love too quickly, which goes against the fake dating trope. They're supposed to have that realization that makes them go into denial over their feelings, only to realize that they can't escape how they feel, and then there's supposed to be a moment where they wonder how on earth are they going to turn this from fake dating into real dating, wondering if the other person even feels the same way about them.
The fake dating trope is supposed to come with drama and angst, but everything goes perfectly without any bumps in the road. I wouldn't even call the duel a bump because it was so dumb.
I knew she was going to rape him before I started reading but I liked her siblings and Lady Whistledown from the show a lot, so I read it for them and figured I'll push past this book to get to the other ones. Wasn't worth it, plus I've since learned that her brothers are trash to women.
My curiosity to see how bad the men in these books are makes me want to try reading the other books. I don't see myself finishing them either.
Overall, Daphne is a POS. I hate this book. And to the defenders who say "this is what happened in the 1800s.", this book wasn't written in the 1800s, and y'all aren't reading it in the 1800s. I would not be surprised if fans of these book also love Haunting Adeline. I am legit mad that the book fans talked about this dark romance series as if everything was sweet and wholesome, y'all really have people thinking these books are normal romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Rape
nitsabean's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
krystalreadsstuff's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my second attempt at reading this book; I decided to give the audiobook a try while waiting for the second half of season 4 to be released, and I actually quite enjoyed it!
Simon's character arc was charming and Daphne's growing understanding of the world was well-written and funny at times. There were definitely some gray areas concerning consent in this story, but I think it was done well and in as realistic a fashion as the rest of the book. I was a bit surprised at how Whistledown was portrayed, mostly just through short blurbs at the beginning of chapters and in character dialogue, because she is rather pervasive in the show.
Overall, I rather enjoyed this book, but am unsure if I will continue on with the series, as Regency-era Romance is not in my typical wheelhouse.
This was my second attempt at reading this book; I decided to give the audiobook a try while waiting for the second half of season 4 to be released, and I actually quite enjoyed it!
Simon's character arc was charming and Daphne's growing understanding of the world was well-written and funny at times. There were definitely some gray areas concerning consent in this story, but I think it was done well and in as realistic a fashion as the rest of the book. I was a bit surprised at how Whistledown was portrayed, mostly just through short blurbs at the beginning of chapters and in character dialogue, because she is rather pervasive in the show.
Overall, I rather enjoyed this book, but am unsure if I will continue on with the series, as Regency-era Romance is not in my typical wheelhouse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism and Colonisation
pau0704's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Infertility
Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual content
garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Ableism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Classism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Violence
emkeplinger95's review against another edition
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
fromthefoxhole's review against another edition
challenging
tense
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
2.0
Ugh I don't know, okay. I am reading them out of order because I didn't like the Daphne assaults Simon storyline in the show and guess what! Shonda was true to the text for that, for some freaking reason. As someone who is childfree by choice, the idea that marriage would be enough for my spouse to decide otherwise makes me want to run into the woods never to be seen again.
I do think Simon's motivations sucked, but there is quite literally nothing that he could have done that would excuse Daphne's behaviors.
I did like Daphne's relationship to her siblings and the banter was fun, but god. I just can't get over how territorial every single man in these books is, and that they are constantly dick measuring about something. That with a literal spousal rape???? Count me OUT.
I'm finishing the series but only because I feel like I have to at this point.
I do think Simon's motivations sucked, but there is quite literally nothing that he could have done that would excuse Daphne's behaviors.
I did like Daphne's relationship to her siblings and the banter was fun, but god. I just can't get over how territorial every single man in these books is, and that they are constantly dick measuring about something. That with a literal spousal rape???? Count me OUT.
I'm finishing the series but only because I feel like I have to at this point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
kbio's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment, Rape, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol
gwenswoons's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was thoroughly unimpressed by this. I am that person who is actually offended by great books being adapted for screen. This book is not great by any stretch of the imagination, and the TV adaptation is so wildly more layered and nuanced in the storytelling (not to mention…the writing is simply better: less hackneyed, less repetitive, less trite and gender-stereotyped and overall gross).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual content, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
emclougher's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.0
Started off strong but got really icky really fast. Not sure Julia Quinn knows what consent is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Classism, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship