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A review by luhsoona
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
2.0
CW: death of a loved one, dubious consent, alcohol
I was going to rate this 3.5 until the latter half of this book came about. I'm thinking 3 or 2 now.
I was just starting to lose interest once they became married, I had no patience for Simon's angst whatsoever. However, I did like their romance overall, I just don't think his angst over his father was something I had any patience for. That's my main gripe with this book, there are some other things that bother me such as Daphne being led to be complete naive on her wedding night. However, I understood for the story to make sense and for the conflict to make sense that wasn't unnecessary just annoying. Obviously there is also that scene that's been talked to death. There are people more elegant than me, and if you're reading this review you are probably reading others or are aware of the Netflix show. I will say that it didn't feel out of place, it didn't take me out because I was expecting it, and I did finish the book.
However, I think the show handles it the best it could without removing it entirely and I completely understand people who can't finish or read the book with it's inclusion. I say make your own judgement on it, because to me it did feel brushed away pretty quickly despite the scale of what happened. I also think if the genders were reversed this book wouldn’t be sitting at 3.9 average on Goodreads.
The pros is the family dynamic, the banter between family and in the romance itself made me laugh. I really liked Daphne too. This made me laugh a handful of times and was an entertaining read overall, plus I finished some picross on my switch. I get the appeals of reading historical over audio now. It's an okay introduction to the genre, but didn't wow me, but I do get the appeal overall, I just didn't like Simon as much as I wanted to. Maybe I'll watch the show so I can picture him in my mind better, ha!
I'm surprised how much I liked the non romantic parts of this book actually, like the romance was good and I believed in it, I just wish Simon would get over himself. I know he had reason to be traumatized, but I could not be as patient as Daphne is. However, I do see how other readers would have sympathized with him more, just definitely not my thing or maybe the angst was dragged out too long? Eeeeh.
3 stars for now. Maybe 2.5? I read it so quickly and appreciated the parts I did appreciate it feels like a 3 star but the more I sit on it the more I want to make it a 2. Hm, I liked the audiobook a lot and I think it’s very good honestly. I think that heightened my enjoyment, so I’ll keep it 2.5 and rounded up to 3.
Edit 3/19/20: I've changed it to 2 because I can't ignore how problematic the ending is to me, and despite my enjoyment it feels like that's the rating it deserves especially after liking the second book significantly more.
I was going to rate this 3.5 until the latter half of this book came about. I'm thinking 3 or 2 now.
I was just starting to lose interest once they became married, I had no patience for Simon's angst whatsoever. However, I did like their romance overall, I just don't think his angst over his father was something I had any patience for. That's my main gripe with this book, there are some other things that bother me such as Daphne being led to be complete naive on her wedding night. However, I understood for the story to make sense and for the conflict to make sense that wasn't unnecessary just annoying. Obviously there is also that scene that's been talked to death. There are people more elegant than me, and if you're reading this review you are probably reading others or are aware of the Netflix show. I will say that it didn't feel out of place, it didn't take me out because I was expecting it, and I did finish the book.
However, I think the show handles it the best it could without removing it entirely and I completely understand people who can't finish or read the book with it's inclusion. I say make your own judgement on it, because to me it did feel brushed away pretty quickly despite the scale of what happened. I also think if the genders were reversed this book wouldn’t be sitting at 3.9 average on Goodreads.
The pros is the family dynamic, the banter between family and in the romance itself made me laugh. I really liked Daphne too. This made me laugh a handful of times and was an entertaining read overall, plus I finished some picross on my switch. I get the appeals of reading historical over audio now. It's an okay introduction to the genre, but didn't wow me, but I do get the appeal overall, I just didn't like Simon as much as I wanted to. Maybe I'll watch the show so I can picture him in my mind better, ha!
I'm surprised how much I liked the non romantic parts of this book actually, like the romance was good and I believed in it, I just wish Simon would get over himself. I know he had reason to be traumatized, but I could not be as patient as Daphne is. However, I do see how other readers would have sympathized with him more, just definitely not my thing or maybe the angst was dragged out too long? Eeeeh.
3 stars for now. Maybe 2.5? I read it so quickly and appreciated the parts I did appreciate it feels like a 3 star but the more I sit on it the more I want to make it a 2. Hm, I liked the audiobook a lot and I think it’s very good honestly. I think that heightened my enjoyment, so I’ll keep it 2.5 and rounded up to 3.
Edit 3/19/20: I've changed it to 2 because I can't ignore how problematic the ending is to me, and despite my enjoyment it feels like that's the rating it deserves especially after liking the second book significantly more.