maggies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Oh dear. I really really wanted to like this book. It ticks so many boxes for me and all other Alexis Hall books I've read have been real winners. But it was just so slow and long. Easily could have been 25% shorter. I honestly thought, at the part where , that was the primary conflict, and I was shocked to find that was only about 30% through the book. Everything prior had felt much much longer, likely because nothing happened. Viola and Gracewood's internal monologues became tiresome after repeating the same thoughts and feelings over and over again. And finally, by some combination of the written dialogue and the audiobook narration, most of the women ended up sounding whiny and pathetic to me, and it was very off-putting. Perhaps my experience would have been different if I'd read instead of listened, but I don't believe substantially. Ultimately I pushed through because, like I said, Hall has been reliable for me in the past, but this one didn't work for me.
Spoiler
Viola's "secret" was revealed to Gracewood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, Classism, Deadnaming, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, War, and Ableism
gogglor's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
5.0
Loved it loved it loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, and Kidnapping
Moderate: War, Deadnaming, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
The FMC being trans is handled with phenomenal aplomb, but from the nature of the story there is some non-cruelly-intended deadnaming. There’s a CW at the start of the book that discusses it. MMC does react with hurt when he finds out FMC is his trans former friend, but it’s to do with the lack of trust, not with her living as a woman. MMC has war-induced PTSD and has a flashback in the story. All in all there is a LOT of recovering from trauma and grief in this book, but it ends happily and everything seems to be handled well. I know it’s a lot of trigger warnings but I think it’s still a worthwhile read even if some of your triggers are listed.robin_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
1.0
This is the first book by Alexis Hall I truly neither liked nor enjoyed, which hurts my heart.
It was very long, the pacing was odd and soooo much was happening. The connection between Viola and Gracewood just wasn’t there for me.
I did like the queerness and the historical aspect but that’s about it, unfortunately.
However, the narration of the audiobook wasn’t for me either.
Additional TW/CW: PTSD and flashbacks
It was very long, the pacing was odd and soooo much was happening. The connection between Viola and Gracewood just wasn’t there for me.
I did like the queerness and the historical aspect but that’s about it, unfortunately.
However, the narration of the audiobook wasn’t for me either.
Additional TW/CW: PTSD and flashbacks
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Drug use, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Ableism, Gaslighting, Sexism, and War
Minor: Vomit
missbreathing's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A Lady For A Duke is chunky for a romance novel, but I flew through it. Of course, I’m a notoriously slow reader, so that means I stayed up wayyyy past my bedtime to finish it. I finished at around 4am last night. 😵💫 I’m paying for it today, but it was worth it!
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This was an assigned reading, but I forgot I was meant to be reading it critically. It hooked me from the start and didn’t let go. It was just a delight!
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I really admire how Hall writes about a trans woman in a period piece. It’s hopeful and optimistic and joyful and mournful all at once. We get to see the full complexity of Viola’s experiences and emotions.
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Hall’s characteristic humor shines through, and the dialogue was delightfully witty. I also loved how much of a simp the MMC is. Gracewood is pretty much gone for Viola from the start and is not shy about telling her. Over and over again. He gave us so many sweet and decadently over the top lines! Had me giggling and kicking my feet. 🤭
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This was so much fun!
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This was an assigned reading, but I forgot I was meant to be reading it critically. It hooked me from the start and didn’t let go. It was just a delight!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I really admire how Hall writes about a trans woman in a period piece. It’s hopeful and optimistic and joyful and mournful all at once. We get to see the full complexity of Viola’s experiences and emotions.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Hall’s characteristic humor shines through, and the dialogue was delightfully witty. I also loved how much of a simp the MMC is. Gracewood is pretty much gone for Viola from the start and is not shy about telling her. Over and over again. He gave us so many sweet and decadently over the top lines! Had me giggling and kicking my feet. 🤭
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This was so much fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Deadnaming, and Sexual content
Minor: War
kingcrookback'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I enjoyed this! I appreciate how Hall decided not to make Viola being trans the central conflict and instead focused on gender and gendered expectations. (Although, being the anxious person I am, I spent a lot of time worried that that would happen to Viola. That's entirely on me, though.) The yearning and tension were so good, and I enjoyed both Viola and Gracewood as characters both grappling with the internalized prejudices that they've been steeped in.
This isn't a critique of the book so much as me working out my preferences and how the book aligned with them. I'm still at the beginning of my foray into romance, and while I think some combination of LGBTQ+ and "not contemporary" are more my speed, I don't think I really hit my stride with this one. While I enjoyed the characters' introspection, I think I personally need more plot to keep me fully engaged.
This isn't a critique of the book so much as me working out my preferences and how the book aligned with them. I'm still at the beginning of my foray into romance, and while I think some combination of LGBTQ+ and "not contemporary" are more my speed, I don't think I really hit my stride with this one. While I enjoyed the characters' introspection, I think I personally need more plot to keep me fully engaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Ableism, War, and Deadnaming
Minor: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Transphobia
mngwa's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Kidnapping
Moderate: War and Transphobia
smuttymcbookface's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Gore, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, and Classism
Minor: Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Ableism, and Vomit
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Grief, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Alcoholism, War, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood and Body shaming
sidhe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Drug use, Alcohol, and War
miraileah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.75
4.75. This was adorable and I loved it. The writing was very well done, and there are several sections that I absolutely loved. The book was quite long, but honestly I wasn’t bored at any point, so I wasn’t terribly mad about it. It did feel like their relationship progressed rather fast, especially from Viola’s perspective. But there were a few short time jumps and I did read the second half quickly, so that could be in my head. It honestly felt like a really safe book to read as an LGBTQIA person, all of the triggering content happened prior to the start of the book, so nobody was getting actively traumatized The principal characters were all generally very good to one another, which made it feel much more like them all making it through traumas and troubles together, rather than in spite of one another. That being said though, there is a ton of potentially triggering content in regards to drug abuse and PTSD, so be careful of that. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
Spoiler
One thing I will say, I was truly thrilled that there was no third act breakup!! The issues in their relationship were at no point miscommunication, issues with Viola being trans, or Gracewood’s disability. Thank god for that.Spoiler
(except maybe Mira at the end?)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, War, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Violence and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent