Reviews with content warning for Ableism - The Duke and I

I have really enjoyed the two tv shows based on this group, so I decided to check out the books.
Usually I am hands down “the book was better” but I feel like they are both delightful in their own way. I thought it was fascinating that Charlotte isn’t in the book at all - with the new prequel series she has almost become my favorite character so it’s interesting that (so far) she is a Shonda Rhimes creation.
The same event that was so uncomfortable in season one is featured here, so if you really struggled with that in the show it got its origins here and you won’t dodge it the second time. I won’t say it is easier here, but the mental state of all parties is better explored. Doesn’t make it permissible just gives better insight. The timeline of events after that is different, but worked well in each medium.

This was probably a 4.75 for me, but rounding up for goodreads. Read a good chunk of it at the beach and I’m almost never able to pay attention to my book consistently enough to make progress while at the beach. 😂😊😎

Content Warnings

emolr's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

ejoymiller11's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

I love how the quirkiness and whimsical world reads just like the show. This book made me laugh out loud, root for the main characters, but it didn’t feel like a stereotypical romance novel.

Unpopular opinion/spoiler ahead:

the one thing I didn’t like was the narrative surrounding not wanting children. I do think this book encourages the idea that people who don’t want kids feel that way because of trauma or another unhealthy reason. Just because someone doesn’t want kids, that doesn’t mean they are broken. Also… let’s call what Daphne did what it is. Sexual assault. She manipulated Simon into doing something sexually he did not feel comfortable doing. She knew this and did it anyway. Had the gender roles been reversed, I think this part of the book would have been perceived very differently.

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selene_nyxly's review

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challenging emotional medium-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

2.25

I really loved this story. The characters were fun, and the plot was easy to follow. However, I did have a major issue with this book.

TW: RAPE

Daphne literally rapes Simon. They try to play it off as if he also wanted what was happening since he vocally encouraged her. However, literally moments before, he had been passed out drunk. He could not consent in the moment and had specifically stated that he did not want to have even the slightest chance of getting her pregnant. The entire thing ruined the book for me.

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chaotically_katie's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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? Yes

4.5

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erinoco's review

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emotional 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

3.0

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