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chronicallybookish's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
If Finding Gene Kelly made Torie Jean an instant favorite author, then Dukes and Dekes cemented that status. I did not think it was possible for me to love this more than her debut, and yet Dukes and Dekes outshone FGK in every possible way.
Told in dual-POV, Dukes and Dekes follows Aulie, who runs a Jane Austen reenactment faire, and Jack, a notorious hockey player. It’s friends to lovers, brothers best friend, he falls first—and oh my gosh Jack is so completely head over heels for Aulie I am completely obsessed with it. Also, there’s a troublemaking goat named Gio who I am completely in love with.
While this is a romance that is sugary sweet and will make you giddy with love, it also delves into harder, emotional topics. Both Aulie and Jack are dealing with grief over the loss(es) of their loved ones (all prior to the start of the book). You can really feel the care and emotion that Torie poured into these portrayals. Jack and Aulie grieve and process their grief in very different ways, but both portrayals are equally and authentically explored.
My favorite part of the book (surprising no one) was the chronic illness/disability representation. Like in Finding Gene Kelly, the FMC of this book has endometriosis. Unlike in FGK, Aulie does not start off the book with a diagnosis. The experience of going through the process of getting a diagnosis, going from undiagnosed to diagnosed is so singular and isolating, and yet it is an aspect of chronic illness that I think is underrepresented in media. I cannot express how powerfully Aulie’s story resonated with me. I don’t have endo, but so many facets of Aulie’s experiences are universal to being a woman (or anyone perceived as such) trying to find answers for chronic pain and chronic illness. When I reached the point of the story where Aulie is finally, finally taken seriously in her pain I quite literally started sobbing. I actually had to set the book down because I couldn’t see the pages. I was wrecked by how seen I felt in that moment and how impactful and healing it was to read. I think a solid 1/3 of that chapter is highlighted in my ARC, and I can’t wait until the book is out so I can start sharing quotes. Torie, through Aulie, so perfectly portrays all of the emotions that you go through in that situation—the relief, the fear, the doubt, the confusion, the anger, and so many more that I couldn’t put a name to if I tried. I found myself so overwhelmingly angry at every doctor who had dismissed Aulie—and every doctor who dismissed me—and every doctor who has dismissed any patient—while simultaneously overcome with how completely seen I felt by Aulie in that moment, and many preceding and after. Chronic illness and chronic pain is often so lonely, but reading books like this one lend a lot of comfort in showing you that you are not alone.
This scene was, of course, not the only place where Aulie’s chronic illness is portrayed. It’s there from the very first chapter to the very last. It touches every aspect of the story and every aspect of Aulie’s character. It’s woven in masterfully and every mention of it, from a single sentence to multiple pages, resonates in a way that is so raw and genuine. This is the kind of representation that you can only get from #ownvoices authors. That said, Torie Jean’s ability to portray the realities of chronic illness is beyond even that. She is one of the—if not the—best authors out there at doing so. And I think that’s because she’s such a skilled and talented writer as a whole. The level of detail in the writing of this book made me feel as if I was right there in every moment with Jack and Aulie. I was falling in love right alongside them. I felt so connected to them as characters and everything they were going through, emotionally, but I also felt as if I was physically there. I could vividly picture their small town in New Hampshire and the faire and Gio the goat. I was transported, and it’s rare for a book to do that to me as completely as Dukes and Dekes did.
I cannot wait until everyone can read this book, because I know it will be a new favorite for so many (as it is for me). I also know that this book and this representation has the potential to change people’s lives. And I can’t wait to see that happen.
Spice level: 1.5/5
CW (as provided by author in the book): heavy discussions of grief and mourning as a central theme; family member whose death was a result of battling cancer; accurate endometriosis rep including chronic pain, on page vomiting, blacking out, on page narcotics use post surgery), medical gaslighting (including a rough pelvic exam); incorrect internal dialogue as a direct result of ableism and gaslighting; emergency surgery; sexual content including two open door sex scenes
Told in dual-POV, Dukes and Dekes follows Aulie, who runs a Jane Austen reenactment faire, and Jack, a notorious hockey player. It’s friends to lovers, brothers best friend, he falls first—and oh my gosh Jack is so completely head over heels for Aulie I am completely obsessed with it. Also, there’s a troublemaking goat named Gio who I am completely in love with.
While this is a romance that is sugary sweet and will make you giddy with love, it also delves into harder, emotional topics. Both Aulie and Jack are dealing with grief over the loss(es) of their loved ones (all prior to the start of the book). You can really feel the care and emotion that Torie poured into these portrayals. Jack and Aulie grieve and process their grief in very different ways, but both portrayals are equally and authentically explored.
My favorite part of the book (surprising no one) was the chronic illness/disability representation. Like in Finding Gene Kelly, the FMC of this book has endometriosis. Unlike in FGK, Aulie does not start off the book with a diagnosis. The experience of going through the process of getting a diagnosis, going from undiagnosed to diagnosed is so singular and isolating, and yet it is an aspect of chronic illness that I think is underrepresented in media. I cannot express how powerfully Aulie’s story resonated with me. I don’t have endo, but so many facets of Aulie’s experiences are universal to being a woman (or anyone perceived as such) trying to find answers for chronic pain and chronic illness. When I reached the point of the story where Aulie is finally, finally taken seriously in her pain I quite literally started sobbing. I actually had to set the book down because I couldn’t see the pages. I was wrecked by how seen I felt in that moment and how impactful and healing it was to read. I think a solid 1/3 of that chapter is highlighted in my ARC, and I can’t wait until the book is out so I can start sharing quotes. Torie, through Aulie, so perfectly portrays all of the emotions that you go through in that situation—the relief, the fear, the doubt, the confusion, the anger, and so many more that I couldn’t put a name to if I tried. I found myself so overwhelmingly angry at every doctor who had dismissed Aulie—and every doctor who dismissed me—and every doctor who has dismissed any patient—while simultaneously overcome with how completely seen I felt by Aulie in that moment, and many preceding and after. Chronic illness and chronic pain is often so lonely, but reading books like this one lend a lot of comfort in showing you that you are not alone.
This scene was, of course, not the only place where Aulie’s chronic illness is portrayed. It’s there from the very first chapter to the very last. It touches every aspect of the story and every aspect of Aulie’s character. It’s woven in masterfully and every mention of it, from a single sentence to multiple pages, resonates in a way that is so raw and genuine. This is the kind of representation that you can only get from #ownvoices authors. That said, Torie Jean’s ability to portray the realities of chronic illness is beyond even that. She is one of the—if not the—best authors out there at doing so. And I think that’s because she’s such a skilled and talented writer as a whole. The level of detail in the writing of this book made me feel as if I was right there in every moment with Jack and Aulie. I was falling in love right alongside them. I felt so connected to them as characters and everything they were going through, emotionally, but I also felt as if I was physically there. I could vividly picture their small town in New Hampshire and the faire and Gio the goat. I was transported, and it’s rare for a book to do that to me as completely as Dukes and Dekes did.
I cannot wait until everyone can read this book, because I know it will be a new favorite for so many (as it is for me). I also know that this book and this representation has the potential to change people’s lives. And I can’t wait to see that happen.
Spice level: 1.5/5
CW (as provided by author in the book): heavy discussions of grief and mourning as a central theme; family member whose death was a result of battling cancer; accurate endometriosis rep including chronic pain, on page vomiting, blacking out, on page narcotics use post surgery), medical gaslighting (including a rough pelvic exam); incorrect internal dialogue as a direct result of ableism and gaslighting; emergency surgery; sexual content including two open door sex scenes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent
turnthepages_nl's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
5.0
The first thing I said about this book was 'It's amazing and full of heart'. And I still stand by that. I cannot put into words how much this book means to me, but I'm going to try.
As I said in my review of Finding Gene Kelly, I don't have an Endometriosis diagnosis (haha that rhymes), but I have a lot of symptoms... and it is for a good part thanks to Torie's books, I can advocate for myself. I have suspected Endo for years, since I was 12 or 13 really. And the more I learn about it, the more it makes sense. And I am so so thankfull for the work Torie does. We, as chronically ill people, learn a lot from our other spoonie friends. Doctors won't school themselves, keep their knowlegde up to date (if they even have the knowlegde to begin with...). So we have to share our knowlegde with each other in order to get the care we need and deserve. And I am SO thankfull for Torie. She is sharing a part of her knowlegde through these books whilest also giving us an escape, a friend, a swoony lovestory and hope.
Last week I had the worst pain of my life. It lasted for a few hours. I was screaming and crying. But knowing what might be happening inside me gave me a sense of peace. I thought about Aulie, the main character in Dukes & Dekes and I felt not alone anymore. It sounds so strange. But knowing someone has these pains, even if it is a fictional character. Helps so so much. (I ofcourse talked to my doctor about it, don't worry!!)
Dukes & Dekes is different from FGK. The writing has improved, it was already great but it somehow got even better! The story has a better flow and the pacing was perfect too. And I am sooo happy with the double POV!!! It's one of my favourite things. Seeing from both perspectives how they fall in love 🥰 and let me tell you something. HE FALLS FIRST (& harder!!).
This book has a lot of tropes. And I loved it. It works really well! We have a grumpy/sunshine dynamic. A 'badboy' ice hockey player who is secretly the biggest softie. A book loving Jane Austen stan (that's probably not a trope, but who cares, it was great!!) A forced proximity situation 😏. AND WE GET THE DARCY HANDFLEX
It ofcourse wouldn't be a Jane Austen tribute without it! And also not a trope but he definetely stole the show: Gio the Goat!!!
Ever since I was a little girl I was obsessed with the movie/serie adaptations of the Austen novels. I said to my mom: 'can we pleaseeee watch the pretty dress movies again???' No clue it was a period drama. I just loved the pretty dresses, the sparkling lights and the looks of love. Oh and the music too! So I had the most fun seeing all the little or big references to Jane Austen characters and scenes. The whole fair was such fun. Getting all dressed up and performing. Aulie is a theather kid, and I absolutely love that. The whole town gets involved and the fair group almost becomes like a little second family. A group of Austen lovers who make something great together 🥰
But the story was not all happy happy happy. Both Jack and Aulie deal with the loss of family members. They are both grieving. Big time. And it added so much depth to these characters and the story. I appreciate how personal and vulnerable Torie Jean got with us. She put a piece of herself in this story and it shows in all the best ways.
Getting back to Aulie. Just like me she has no diagnosis... she has plenty of symptoms but doctors wave them away. They disregard it and her. She hears so often it's in her head she actually believes it. Her friends are great and take care of her. But the mental battle of it is really rough. Doctors say she just should do fun things and the pain will go away. But that doesn't work. She is doubling over in pain. Struggeling to stay on her feet. This story shows the painfull road of undiagnosed to diagnosed. The relief of finally being believed. But the mental work you need to do to unlearn all the bullshit all these previous doctors put in your head. It was all in there. And it was written with such honesty. In the way only an own-voices author could do. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Own-Voices Stories are SO important. They sometimes save literal lives.
This was a super rambly review again. But hey, it's me. And I'm emotional about a book. What else did we expect... but I really hope you want to give this book a chance. Because you have endo or know someone who does. Because you love a good grumpy/sunshine dynamic or you are in your hockey romance era. Because you love Jane Austen. Or just because you want to read diverse, want to read disability stories. And you want to support a lovely indie author who is the kindest human and got real vulnurable with this one. The e-book got published november 6th. It was supposed to release today but Torie gifted it us a day early. The paperback will be released november 27th!
As I said in my review of Finding Gene Kelly, I don't have an Endometriosis diagnosis (haha that rhymes), but I have a lot of symptoms... and it is for a good part thanks to Torie's books, I can advocate for myself. I have suspected Endo for years, since I was 12 or 13 really. And the more I learn about it, the more it makes sense. And I am so so thankfull for the work Torie does. We, as chronically ill people, learn a lot from our other spoonie friends. Doctors won't school themselves, keep their knowlegde up to date (if they even have the knowlegde to begin with...). So we have to share our knowlegde with each other in order to get the care we need and deserve. And I am SO thankfull for Torie. She is sharing a part of her knowlegde through these books whilest also giving us an escape, a friend, a swoony lovestory and hope.
Last week I had the worst pain of my life. It lasted for a few hours. I was screaming and crying. But knowing what might be happening inside me gave me a sense of peace. I thought about Aulie, the main character in Dukes & Dekes and I felt not alone anymore. It sounds so strange. But knowing someone has these pains, even if it is a fictional character. Helps so so much. (I ofcourse talked to my doctor about it, don't worry!!)
Dukes & Dekes is different from FGK. The writing has improved, it was already great but it somehow got even better! The story has a better flow and the pacing was perfect too. And I am sooo happy with the double POV!!! It's one of my favourite things. Seeing from both perspectives how they fall in love 🥰 and let me tell you something. HE FALLS FIRST (& harder!!).
This book has a lot of tropes. And I loved it. It works really well! We have a grumpy/sunshine dynamic. A 'badboy' ice hockey player who is secretly the biggest softie. A book loving Jane Austen stan (that's probably not a trope, but who cares, it was great!!) A forced proximity situation 😏. AND WE GET THE DARCY HANDFLEX
It ofcourse wouldn't be a Jane Austen tribute without it! And also not a trope but he definetely stole the show: Gio the Goat!!!
Ever since I was a little girl I was obsessed with the movie/serie adaptations of the Austen novels. I said to my mom: 'can we pleaseeee watch the pretty dress movies again???' No clue it was a period drama. I just loved the pretty dresses, the sparkling lights and the looks of love. Oh and the music too! So I had the most fun seeing all the little or big references to Jane Austen characters and scenes. The whole fair was such fun. Getting all dressed up and performing. Aulie is a theather kid, and I absolutely love that. The whole town gets involved and the fair group almost becomes like a little second family. A group of Austen lovers who make something great together 🥰
But the story was not all happy happy happy. Both Jack and Aulie deal with the loss of family members. They are both grieving. Big time. And it added so much depth to these characters and the story. I appreciate how personal and vulnerable Torie Jean got with us. She put a piece of herself in this story and it shows in all the best ways.
Getting back to Aulie. Just like me she has no diagnosis... she has plenty of symptoms but doctors wave them away. They disregard it and her. She hears so often it's in her head she actually believes it. Her friends are great and take care of her. But the mental battle of it is really rough. Doctors say she just should do fun things and the pain will go away. But that doesn't work. She is doubling over in pain. Struggeling to stay on her feet. This story shows the painfull road of undiagnosed to diagnosed. The relief of finally being believed. But the mental work you need to do to unlearn all the bullshit all these previous doctors put in your head. It was all in there. And it was written with such honesty. In the way only an own-voices author could do. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Own-Voices Stories are SO important. They sometimes save literal lives.
This was a super rambly review again. But hey, it's me. And I'm emotional about a book. What else did we expect... but I really hope you want to give this book a chance. Because you have endo or know someone who does. Because you love a good grumpy/sunshine dynamic or you are in your hockey romance era. Because you love Jane Austen. Or just because you want to read diverse, want to read disability stories. And you want to support a lovely indie author who is the kindest human and got real vulnurable with this one. The e-book got published november 6th. It was supposed to release today but Torie gifted it us a day early. The paperback will be released november 27th!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Medical content, Sexual content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Ableism
Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, and Death
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness
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