Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

17 reviews

himpersonal's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved that the main character was trans, especially in a time when it was illegal (this is not a spoiler - it's revealed very early on in the book). We need more books like this (especially now) where trans characters are seen as normal, even in a time when it was criminalized. They have always been part of every population, and they always will be. They also deserve to be loved like all people do.

The story unraveled at a good pace and the romance developed organically. It was perfect. So often, romances are rushed to get to the sex scenes, or they are sappy and unappealing. This one was well done. Also really liked the relationship between Justin and his sister.

Book was effective at gathering all the trauma that took place before the characters were even introduced and helping them work through their personal tragedies, bringing them to closure, and helping them move beyond the healing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

meat_muffin's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Deadnaming, Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, Abandonment, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Transphobia

orangewitchling's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed the trans perspective on the Victorian romance setting. I think because the Victorian romance plot is so predictable, it was easier to focus on the characters point of view since it was all from a non-heteronormative perspective. Even though, I empathize with the LGBTQ community, I don’t have a grasp on all their struggles, so it was very refreshing to get the trans perspective in a relatable way. on a different note, it was a slow book because and there was a lot of angst at the beginning with plenty of feeling exploration. However, I think that it worked in favor of the character growth and the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Classism

shinypurplepants's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Lovely mix of yearning and romance 🥰 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Transphobia

mobymaize's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It was really nice to read a regency era romance novel, a genre I don’t typically consume, with a trans woman protagonist, a person just like me :) 

ALSO HOLY FUCK THERE IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLE & HOT ABOUT FALLING IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHERS WORDS. also HOLY SHIT THE SEX SCENE!!!!!!!!!! absolutely magnificent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence

persychan's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5/5 stars

 I was giggling and reciting various dialogues aloud, so yeah, I really liked it. 
Is it a realistic story about a trans woman in the Regency era? No, but no modern Regency romance is even trying to be historical so yeah, I'm here for the dramatic declaration and the longing and this book has both.

And a couple of unexpected (but well-written and meaningful for the plot) sexy moments towards the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Infertility, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse and Deadnaming

lisacanteven's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is really more of a 3.5 read without rounding up, but I think because of the wonderful representation in a genre like this it deserves rounding up to a 4.

Here's where it didn't work for me: Almost 400 pages were telling a beautiful story with lovely writing and great character development. Then it took a hard left turn somewhere just south of page 400, and we were taken on a totally different ride on a trip I did not sign up for. It wasn't a bad trip, but it wasn't the one I wanted to be on. Maybe another time I would have enjoyed the trip, but I was ready for the trip I already had to be finished. Ya getting me?

Then for a few pages just north of page 400 the story got a little patriarchal outta nowhere. I didn't really expect that one person to just excuse the other person's behavior like they used the wrong fork at fancy dinner. If you read it, think about it. How did they just get away with it, but that is kinda how it usually happens because patriarchy.

Just as I was building my case against the villain's terrible redemption arc, the ending came together in a way that did satisfy me. I mean no one took down patriarchy in this book, but maybe that wasn't the point.

Here's what did work for me: The trans representation was really nice and sweet. I thought it was the perfect blend of trans joy and trans realness. You do have to suspend your disbelief and let yourself enjoy the relationship, but experiencing the trans joy through the story is worth it. For that alone this book was worth the read despite its flaws.

TL;DR- The first 400 pages will seem very laborious, but the last 50 pages will flash before your eyes like you're fast forwarding a movie. Both these parts of the story are enjoyable in their own right, but when put together they make a confusing tale. The queer, specifically trans, representation only gave the story more depth and attachment. For that achievement this story has earned its place among must-read romance books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

sproutedpages's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and War

Moderate: Body shaming and Blood

lignjahal's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

4.0/5

It’s a cute little queer historical romance that will keep you engaged with solid writing and good characters.
My only cons are the length being just a bit too long and the writing sometimes being a bit too modern for the period, but these are only minor complaints.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Gore, Sexism, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

erica_reads_things's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This book was the perfect, cute, period romance. What an absolute joy to read. Alexis wrote in such a way that I couldn't help but highlight passages and often had to put the book down to just breathe and think about the beauty of what I had just read. So well done, so thoughtful, and so beautiful! 

I would have given it 5 stars, however

the last fourth of the book with the Mira kidnapping plot was, while cute and entertaining, a bit out of left field and felt like filler for more content and just for something to happen. It was enjoyable, but in the context of the entire book, felt a bit random.

Overall, this was a beautiful, enchanting, inclusive read and I would recommend it to anyone!!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Grief, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent