Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

27 reviews

lucyselim's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

I, like many others, read this book after enjoying the TV show. I had heard very mixed reviews about this book, but I figured I would give it a go, and I was pleasantly surprised with the first half. It seemed like it was going to be a fluffy romcom. The friendship between Daphne and Simon seemed natural and was enjoyable to read. He was kinder and more infatuated than his TV counterpart and she was wittier and smarter. They seemed like a genuinely good match. 
And then they got married and ruined it. Even without mentioning 'that' scene, the plot was, in my opinion, ridiculous. I did not love those episodes of the TV  show either, but as I was reading it I couldn't help but just laugh at the ridiculousness of some of it. It was difficult to keep up with their constant mood swings and comings and goings.
Putting the plot to one side, the writing was honestly just meh. It was very jarring to find modern day slang and colloquialisms with regency-era settings. I assume Quinn was trying to make a period piece seem modern and more approachable for younger audiences, but using simple English would have sufficed. I am glad they managed to get a better balance in the TV show.
Another thing I did not like was the stark contrast between Quinn trying to write strong modern women in one moment, and then having them reduced to needing a man the next. 'Then he was completely within her, and she thought she would die from the pleasure. Never had she felt so full, nor so completely a woman,' in particular made me throw up in my mouth a little.
Despite this, I am going to read the next one (because I hate myself) but because I have heard it to be many people's favourites. Mostly, however, because I borrowed the first three books in a compendium from the library and I still have time left before needing to return it. Overall this book really wasn't that great for me, but I can understand the appeal and I hope the next one provides me with better luck.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Classism, Infertility, Cursing, and Gun violence

hsmorgan's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, Ableism, Confinement, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, and Death of parent

summerslittlelibrary's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Infertility

Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Sexism, Body shaming, Cursing, Misogyny, and Fatphobia

lunep's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Abandonment, Cursing, Rape, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Infertility, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pregnancy, Blood, Sexism, Misogyny, and Fatphobia

Minor: Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Grief

stupidforcupid's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

3.75

I liked it a lot, BUT there were some moments I didn't love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Grief

Moderate: Vomit, Pregnancy, Classism, Cursing, Sexism, Misogyny, Infertility, Violence, Miscarriage, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.5

I finally got around to reading this after bingeing the show in January, and honestly, I’m glad I didn’t rush to read it. The story was pretty different from the show—I assume they included plotlines from some of Quinn’s other Bridgerton novels—and I could see why the show chose to make some of the changes it did. Most importantly, the show left out Simon referring to Daphne as his property (not once but…many times). I know the story is set in the early 1800s, but we’ve suspended disbelief for a lot of other things, and I definitely could have done without that misogyny. Though Daphne and Simon’s romance was by far my favorite plotline in the show, the book felt a little flat without all the other characters and their adventures. Maybe I’d feel differently if I’d read the book first? One thing I liked better in the book, however, was Daphne’s relationship with Colin. In the show, his storyline is mostly tied up with Penelope and Marina, so I liked getting to see him with his family.

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe):

Happy! And far less dramatic than the show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

02062000's review against another edition

fast-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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship