Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

120 reviews

escsmith's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I read this because of the show, and without the show I wouldn't be tempted to pick up another. 
Daphne and Simon needed more scenes together building the relationship and chemistry before their marriage. It felt like they barely met and they were already wed. I know that weddings were quick in the time period, but this is a romance and it needed more romance.

I hated the scene where Simon is drunk and Daphne takes advantage of him. It soured the whole book for me. I felt like the author brushed over it and this is harmful to male victims.

Simon's use of phrases like 'mine', 'belong to me' and 'own you' totally pulled out of the story and was another reason I didn't really connect with this story. 
I wanted so much more Whistledown, she really is the best part of the book.
If I choose to continue the series, I'll be viewing it through the lens of the show, because I feel this left a lot to be desired. So many of the characters were flat and I didn't connect with any of them on the page. The descriptions of people and settings were so vague, and did not spark my imagination. 
It had potential, but fell far short.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexism

theasi's review against another edition

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Vomit

Minor: Pregnancy

ghostmomxoxo's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual content, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

britwalsh16's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I usually prefer reading the book before the movie or tv show adaptation, but with this series I fell in love with the show first & then decided to read the book, & usually I struggle to get through it, but overall I usually like the book more. This series is different. I definitely enjoyed the book, & I love all the little details we didn’t get in the tv show; but I miss all the side characters. Though season 1 focuses on Daphne & The Duke, you get to see all the side characters & learn a bit about everyone. In the book, you only learn about the other characters if they are interacting with Daphne or Simon. So I just really struggled to get through this book because of that. That being said, I’m definitely going to read the other books, just maybe not in order, I’ll come back to the Viscount since I know his story already. Lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Sexism, and Gun violence

Minor: Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

siglerbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.75

After watching Bridgerton I was sure I would like the book, but never would have guessed how completely I enjoyed it start to finish. 

I don't think a book has ever made me laugh as much as The Duke and I. I adored every character we got a chance to know. I was surprised how little a part Lady Whistledown played in the book. Many of the conflicts in the book were far more satisfying than the show, feeling much more realistic and believable.

I would definitely suggest checking trigger warnings. Even with the show I wasn't expecting so much talk on a few heartbreaking subjects that could be sensitive.

All in all I'm very excited to start the next book even though Ibwas hesitant before having not really enjoyed Anthony's season of the show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Ableism, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Bullying, Alcohol, Classism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Pregnancy loss

baearles's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual content

Minor: Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Cursing

juliaaaaaa's review against another edition

3.5

“No,” he groaned, pulling her closer. “I want to be in your heart. I want—” His entire body shuddered when their skin touched. “I want to be in your soul.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Gun violence

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Blood

maddysoup's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Infertility, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

pantslint's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted tense 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

1.0

As much as I love the Bridgerton universe, I just can't reconcile with

Daphne sexually assaulting Simon. It was set up as like, a female empowerment kind of thing but really... it's rape. Marital rape. He was drunk. She had full, clear knowledge that he didn't want a child—it wasn't consensual. It's unnecessary trauma inflicted as a means to introduce or emphasize the conflict of the marriage. Like, y'all couldn't blow up and argue and scream and cry like a couple would do? Without the rape? Idk. If his problem was that she reduced him to a stuttering mess, with him having "lost control," she could have opened those letters instead and read them to him against his will. SOMETHING ELSE. Not rape!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Abandonment and Emotional abuse

drewdelidou's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Pregnancy