A review by cass_lit
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

5.0

*Disclaimer: I am not a trans person, so I am not qualified to speak on the representation. I am just someone who learns from reading, and therefore values and understands the importance of these stories.*

Wow. I loved this. It’s been a long time since reading a book I never wanted to put down, but this was it. It has everything you could ever want in a historical romance: a swoon-worthy romance with a Duke (friends to lovers!!!), a happy ending (the happiest), queer rep not centered around queer trauma, discussions around mental health, ballroom dancing, and an epic sword fight before heading to save the not-so-damsel-in-distress from kidnapping. 

These characters and their love story pulled at my heartstrings every single chapter. I loved Viola and Gracewood so much, and how much they cared for each other no matter what other emotions and issues they were working through. There were tough subjects discussed (primarily addiction and PTSD), but they were dealt with so tenderly that the read was never not heartwarming. And the epilogue? My cynical heart was fully repaired. Sobbing happy tears. 

Beyond the wholesomeness, the book was also just hilarious. This is mostly due to the excellent cast of side characters: Miranda (my favorite!), Lady Marleigh (who was such a great example family allyship, and had a cute slice of romance with Viola’s brother), Little Bartholomew, Lady Lillimere. I found myself laughing out loud so often from one-liners and the over-dramatic situations they’d find themselves in. 

(Again, not trans so take this as a grain of salt, but…) I really enjoyed the trans representation. Apart from Viola’s caution during sex, which was eased immediately by her partner, her transness was never brought up as an issue. She refused to apologize for choosing to live as herself. When she came out (to those that knew her previously, never to people she didn’t need to!), no one judged her experience. That Viola was who she was was never in question. If someone started to use her dead name after, they corrected themselves immediately before even finishing and moved on without making the mistake ever again. And at least once, the person on the receiving end made a comment on how people should not *need* to come out at all. 

The book is long, ~450 pages, but I never once minded. If anything, I still found myself wanting more at the end! I read Boyfriend Material last year and enjoyed it, but haven’t thought much of it since. After this one though… don’t mind me as I go read all of Alexis Hall’s backlog.