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A review by savvyrosereads
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Out May 24, 2022 [Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 5/5 stars
A Lady For A Duke is a friends-to-lovers romance set in Regency-era England and featuring a trans heroine. I could say more, but really you should just read it.
I have been fortunate to be on a 5-star reading streak lately, and this book *still* managed to catapult to the top of a stacked list to become one of my favorites of the year (and maybe ever). I went into this for the trans representation in a historical romance and definitely got that, but also got so much more, including disability rep, a gorgeous friends-to-lovers story, absolutely hilarious banter, incredibly thoughtful and poignant reflections on gender/identity/ableism and more, plus a new favorite book boyfriend in Gracewood.
Without giving away too much of the plot, I also adored that the third act tension was largely external (I wish this were the case in more romances) and the epilogue was the pitch perfect amount of closure while still leaving room for a sequel/spin-off (PLEASE, I need Miranda’s story!) I was also thoroughly entertained from beginning to end, and actively wished the book would just keep going so I didn’t have to leave this world and these characters. In short, this was my first Alexis Hall read but it *definitely* will not be my last.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: diverse representation in historical romance; friends-to-lovers; dynamic supporting characters.
CW: Ableism; deadnaming; mental illness/addiction/PTSD; grief; physical disability/war injury; mentions of child abuse; kidnapping.
Rating: 5/5 stars
A Lady For A Duke is a friends-to-lovers romance set in Regency-era England and featuring a trans heroine. I could say more, but really you should just read it.
I have been fortunate to be on a 5-star reading streak lately, and this book *still* managed to catapult to the top of a stacked list to become one of my favorites of the year (and maybe ever). I went into this for the trans representation in a historical romance and definitely got that, but also got so much more, including disability rep, a gorgeous friends-to-lovers story, absolutely hilarious banter, incredibly thoughtful and poignant reflections on gender/identity/ableism and more, plus a new favorite book boyfriend in Gracewood.
Without giving away too much of the plot, I also adored that the third act tension was largely external (I wish this were the case in more romances) and the epilogue was the pitch perfect amount of closure while still leaving room for a sequel/spin-off (PLEASE, I need Miranda’s story!) I was also thoroughly entertained from beginning to end, and actively wished the book would just keep going so I didn’t have to leave this world and these characters. In short, this was my first Alexis Hall read but it *definitely* will not be my last.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: diverse representation in historical romance; friends-to-lovers; dynamic supporting characters.
CW: Ableism; deadnaming; mental illness/addiction/PTSD; grief; physical disability/war injury; mentions of child abuse; kidnapping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, and Drug use
Moderate: Ableism, Deadnaming, Grief, War, Abandonment, Transphobia, and Classism