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starcrossreverie's review against another edition
- 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 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.
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
krystalreadsstuff's review against another edition
- 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.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Colonisation and Classism
gwenswoons's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
laurawho's review against another edition
- 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? No
2.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
kaylurzz's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Can't believe I'm saying this but the tv show is better. The solo focus of Daphne and Simon gets so boring once the fake dating is done. And that scene.... Horrible in all mediums.
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death and Sexism
itsbaberuthless's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Ableism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infertility, Death of parent, and Classism
emclougher's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism
eva_vva's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and Classism
mels_reading_rook's review against another edition
I was having a wonderful time, enjoying the story and the characters. And then, a little over halfway, it all started to go downhill. Daphne and Simon were caught in a compromising position, and so Simon agreed to a duel to the death with her brother, Anthony. Daphne proceeds to manipulate the situation and guilts Simon into marrying her, where he informs her he can't have children. Yes, his choice of wording was misleading - as it is a won't not can't situation - and when Daphne discovered that discrepency, she had no respect for his boundaries. Yes, she's entitled to be upset by that misdirection, but she should still respect that children was out of the question.
Instead, Daphne does the worst possible thing. She rapes him, and violates all his boundaries.
I am done with this book. I am done with this series.
This review can also be found on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6531894162
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage
beebidon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment