Book 22 The Duke and I

 

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn fulfilled the category “Book on my TBR List with the Prettiest Cover” for the PopSugar 2021 Reading Challenge. I’m pretty sure I read this novel a billion years ago, so forgive me for using it for the challenge. But honestly, I had no recollection of the plot. So I’m counting it. Plus, EVERYONE is talking about Bridgerton, so there ya go.

Please don’t hate me for this review.

The Duke and I is a regency romance about a young woman from a large family. She has no good prospects for marriage and wants a love match. Enter the only son of a Duke who has no interest in marriage. The two strike a bargain to create a fake courtship to keep the women away from Simon and undesirables away from Daphne. But of course, it all goes wrong, and they fall for each other, after a series of very fun, very sexy, very poignant scenes. Simon consents to marry Daphne, but he insists they will have no children as an FU to his dead father who was not a good dad. Daphne can’t imagine her life without children with the man she loves. In the end, we have much happiness.

Here’s where you all start hating me and trash my blog. The Duke and I was okay. Why does everyone love this? Because it’s a great story with real love, sexy scenes, and actual conflict weaved together in an interesting fashion. Did I like the story? Yes. Did I love it? Not really. It was good. It was well written. It was sexy and fun. But I feel like I missed something.

I know part of my blah reception of this book is how Daphne tries to get her husband to have children. The novel was written in 2000, but the attempted conception scene seriously bothered me. A lot. I had a similar reaction to one of the ending scenes in the original Outlander. I can’t forgive Claire, and I can’t forgive Daphne. At least Daphne talked with her husband, and they work through it. I finished this book with a better taste in my mouth than Outlander. Perhaps I’m being too sensitive or not allowing for the historical period of the piece (both when they took place and when they were written). But I felt that all Ms. Quinn had built in their relationship and friendship was stained by her act. And I understand Daphne felt the pinch of being a powerless woman in the 1800s and had to do what she had to do. But ugh! Go ahead. Hate me. I’m sorry.

The characters, even Daphne, were wonderful, and I could see myself binging the rest of the series and watching the TV show. I’m going to chalk up my hesitations with the idea that there are just some tropes, storylines, kinks that I don’t care for. And that’s on me.

I give The Duke and I by Julia Quinn Four Bodices Ripped by Shrubberies.