Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Daphné

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

sauvageloup'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? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A solid, pretty gripping read

pros:
- it flows along really well, and the story progresses nicely. there was more chemistry than the show with her feelings being described, and I liked how the brothers were more involved with trying to protect her.
- violet also shines as a great character, except for when she wont tell daphne about sex.
- I did like that the couple had real issues, and it wasnt just that they needed to have one conversation, but did need real resolution

(which could have happened without the rape scene...)

cons:

- unfortunately, as in the show, Daphne rapes Simon, though it's not called that or even really acknowledged in the book. but since she starts touching him when he's asleep, and then deliberately prevents him from pulling away/stopping when he finishes when he tries to, in order to get the child she wants and he doesn't (to the point that he was willing to die earlier in the book), its abhorrent. he's more upset that he stammers afterwards than her actions, but I completely hated her after that, and she doesn't even feel regret.

- the book does also completely focus on the pairing, daphne doesnt have friends involved and there's no bigger cast really at all (such as eloise, Penelope, the queen, etc. in the show).
- also, the descriptions weren't especially vivid beyond the characters and I couldnt visualise much.
- also the blatant fatphobia against Penelope is gross, but I knew to expect that.

overall, pretty well written and compelling, just shame about the lack of morality/issues not being dealt with in the narrative.

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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition

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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

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emkeplinger95's review against another edition

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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

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kumakki's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

3.5

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gitruz's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

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gwenswoons's review against another edition

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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).

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itsbaberuthless's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

3.25

This book was a solid 4 and had me silently screaming at the banter between Daphne and Simon but with 25% left something happened that disgusted me so much I forced myself to finish the book.

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