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A review by garbage_mcsmutly
Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
I always love a Mary Jane Wells reading, and this was no exception! The voices and accents and tones were solid.
The plot was enjoyable, although the conclusion felt rushed and weirdly paced. Tbh I never saw the movie Pretty Woman, so I can't speak to how closely it followed the movie's beats. (In this book the FMC was an out of work ballerina, and was not a sex worker.)
It was unclear to me whether the MMC was meant to be neurodiverse. There were definitely some hints in that direction, but I'm unsure if this should be counted as a diverse representation. (If you ever want a great historical romance with clear neurodiversity, I cannot recommend The Madness of Lord Ian McKenzie enough!)
There was some cultural and racial diversity in the supporting cast of characters, but not in the main couple.
There were a handful of good spicy scenes.
The plot was enjoyable, although the conclusion felt rushed and weirdly paced. Tbh I never saw the movie Pretty Woman, so I can't speak to how closely it followed the movie's beats. (In this book the FMC was an out of work ballerina, and was not a sex worker.)
It was unclear to me whether the MMC was meant to be neurodiverse. There were definitely some hints in that direction, but I'm unsure if this should be counted as a diverse representation. (If you ever want a great historical romance with clear neurodiversity, I cannot recommend The Madness of Lord Ian McKenzie enough!)
There was some cultural and racial diversity in the supporting cast of characters, but not in the main couple.
There were a handful of good spicy scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy