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purplepoodleinc's review against another edition
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
4.0
The Duke and I is exactly what you want if you’re looking for a fast and fun regency romance. I’m new to the genre, but this definitely has me hooked on the series.
I absolutely adore the “Lady Whistledown” element, she gives the story a Gossip Girl-vibe. Seriously, who is Lady Whistledown and who are her sources?!
You can’t help but to love the Bridgerton family, they exude charm and warm heartedness.
Don’t let the number of children, or novels, in the Bridgerton series intimidate you. If you’re a fan of the show, want to dip your toes in the genre, or maybe you’re even a seasoned regency romance lover, pick up this book and sip some “tea” with the Bridgertons.
I absolutely adore the “Lady Whistledown” element, she gives the story a Gossip Girl-vibe. Seriously, who is Lady Whistledown and who are her sources?!
You can’t help but to love the Bridgerton family, they exude charm and warm heartedness.
Don’t let the number of children, or novels, in the Bridgerton series intimidate you. If you’re a fan of the show, want to dip your toes in the genre, or maybe you’re even a seasoned regency romance lover, pick up this book and sip some “tea” with the Bridgertons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infertility, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse
viselik's review against another edition
funny
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
1.0
I read this book because of the Historical Romance Society's Discord Server's mascot, the oh-so-lovely Governess, who is absolutely obsessed with this book and will not stop recommending it. I was also just curious about the book, but the Governess was my main reason.
I found it a rather sweet story with a more tolerable third-act breakup which is a thing I hate about romance books. It makes sense, and is fucking deserved because of what Daphne did. I didn't realise this as the sex scene I had skimmed over, but someone had told me what I had missed. I do not feel like Daphne deserves what she got in the end, and I fully believe she deserves to be alone.
The characters were a good change of pace except one, Daphne, and I found Simon a rather interesting male romance character! He does suffer at first glance from the usual 'stoic, emotionless man' trope, but he quickly sheds that, and by the end of the book, he is a character I want to read more about. I love that he has a stutter and goes mute in certain moments, as I haven't seen that often in HR books from what I've noticed.
I found Daphne was also quite alright UNTIL the sex scenes. Please DO NOT read this book if you are sensitive to the subject of sexual a*sult as Daphne r*pes Simon. I finished the book not realising that, but fuck Daphne. She deserves to be with Nigel from the beginning. She ignored when Simon made it very clear he didn't want this, and she forced it upon him FOR HER WANTS. I do not CARE that it is how she can get pregnant considering that Simon is infertile, HE SAID NO AND WANTED HER OFF OF HIM.
The characters were a good change of pace except one, Daphne, and I found Simon a rather interesting male romance character! He does suffer at first glance from the usual 'stoic, emotionless man' trope, but he quickly sheds that, and by the end of the book, he is a character I want to read more about. I love that he has a stutter and goes mute in certain moments, as I haven't seen that often in HR books from what I've noticed.
I found Daphne was also quite alright UNTIL the sex scenes. Please DO NOT read this book if you are sensitive to the subject of sexual a*sult as Daphne r*pes Simon. I finished the book not realising that, but fuck Daphne. She deserves to be with Nigel from the beginning. She ignored when Simon made it very clear he didn't want this, and she forced it upon him FOR HER WANTS. I do not CARE that it is how she can get pregnant considering that Simon is infertile, HE SAID NO AND WANTED HER OFF OF HIM.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual harassment, Infertility, and Sexual content
tjdewald's review
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
2.25
Paints reproductive coercion in a positive light and highlights it as the moral high ground in the scenario in the book. Felt icky to read. Made me had the main character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Child abuse
maddysoup's review
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
3.75
low key noncon scene that i wasn’t expecting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Infertility, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
mgcalder's review against another edition
funny
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
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility
readyforit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4⭐️1.5🌶️(open door, not very descriptive)
I enjoyed this book but I enjoyed the show a little more! The show has a diverse cast, more drama, more characters, etc. In the book we don’t get the Queen, Anthony’s storyline, the featheringtons’ storyline, or the boxing storyline. Other than that there are some minor changes. I would suggest reading it if you’re a huge fan of the show. I also listened to the audiobook and I loved the narrator. Probably won’t reread, but will rewatch the show. If the show didn’t exist, I would reread.
I enjoyed this book but I enjoyed the show a little more! The show has a diverse cast, more drama, more characters, etc. In the book we don’t get the Queen, Anthony’s storyline, the featheringtons’ storyline, or the boxing storyline. Other than that there are some minor changes. I would suggest reading it if you’re a huge fan of the show. I also listened to the audiobook and I loved the narrator. Probably won’t reread, but will rewatch the show. If the show didn’t exist, I would reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Infertility, and Rape
el_thegoblinwitch's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I dont even know what to say about this one 😅 I knew going into it that it was going to be ridiculous, and at the start it was in a good way. But as Daphne and Simon's relationship progress I spotted so many red flags that I almost DNFed it.
*some spoilers below*
I get that Simon's upbringing wasn't great, and he's obviously got trauma, but wow I hated him. His anger was often justified, but the way he kept threatening to kill/strangle people (including Daphne) was so not a good vibe. The sex scenes were so possessive and at times definitely not consensual, which obviously was very uncomfortable to read.
I honestly struggled to see the romance in their relationship at all and found myself struggling to root for them. I understand that the 1800s was a very different era, but as a modern book, I thought this series would at least be a little more progressive than classic regency novels.
The whole thing was just so problematic and uncomfortable that I don't think I'll be continuing the series 😬
*some spoilers below*
I get that Simon's upbringing wasn't great, and he's obviously got trauma, but wow I hated him. His anger was often justified, but the way he kept threatening to kill/strangle people (including Daphne) was so not a good vibe. The sex scenes were so possessive and at times definitely not consensual, which obviously was very uncomfortable to read.
I honestly struggled to see the romance in their relationship at all and found myself struggling to root for them. I understand that the 1800s was a very different era, but as a modern book, I thought this series would at least be a little more progressive than classic regency novels.
The whole thing was just so problematic and uncomfortable that I don't think I'll be continuing the series 😬
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
kylie_lam's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Infertility
colloreda's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Gun violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Infertility
erica_reads_things's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
This was an entertaining enough read! Was not a fan of the borderline sexual assault at all, though. I feel like that did not have to have a place here and could have lead to the conflict in another less violating way. If it weren't for that aspect, this probably would have been more above a 4⭐ for me. I enjoyed how it was different from the show, though I still pictured the shows characters the whole time which also made it more interesting for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Vomit, Infertility, and Injury/Injury detail