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reclusivebookslug 's review for:

Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase
3.0
funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Pros:
  • nursing her back to health trope
  • independent, strong-willed, and interesting FMC
  • MMC with a profession (as opposed to an aristocrat who I guess runs estates and manages investments, but they never seen to do much)
  • interesting theme of the intersection of gender and class, especially relating to the wealthy and titled but condescended to and controlled FMC feeling stifled and useless
Cons:
  • misogynistic MMC (although this is sometimes playful/joking and I guess there was some attempt at character growth on this, he habitually categorizes women as unintelligent and less useful than men; sometimes this is in direct insult to FMC and other times it is in praise of her in a " you're not like the other girls" fashion)
  • MCs constantly bickering and insulting each other; this becomes a sort of love language, but I just don't care for it regardless
  • MMC fails to adequately assuage FMC's fears/insecurity over being useless/purposeless