The Duke & I - Julia Quinn // Book Review

The Duke & I
Julia Quinn || Publication Date - 05.01.2000

Thank you to Netflix for enlightening me to the formidable regency drama series - Bridgerton.

Romance | Historical

I would like to introduce you to the 1813 summer season. Families are rushing to have their freshly 'come of age' daughters fussed and dressed in the latest fashions ready to promenade around London. Bachelors are sighing as they're attending social events in the hopes that one of these pretty damsels will become their wife and carry on their estates.

One of these women is none other than Daphne Bridgerton. A newfound woman who is intent on finding a good husband and marrying to start a large and boisterous family of her own. Maybe even one to rival that of the one she grew up in.

On the other side of this coin is the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett. A man of contrary nature to our feminine protagonist, he is hell bent on never marrying, never settling down and never EVER having a child of his own. As his boots touch down back in London after a while travelling the world, he is /basically/ forced to attend a ball held by the honourable Lady Danbury in which the events of our novel take fruit and blossom into the romance which captivated audiences 20 years earlier than Netflix.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

While I enjoyed the book for what it is - there were a lot of times I really wanted more. It started off very promising, and I thoroughly enjoyed Daphne and Simon's mannerisms together, especially their back and forth banter towards each other and their surroundings. I was quite disappointed that as the relationship came into fruition, this aspect of their relationship fell away. It was even more disappointing that this happened close to half way through the book.

I do however, enjoy the book from a character development standpoint. I felt all the characters, even the side characters, were very well stationed in the book. They felt like well rounded people and even though some had points which made me dislike them, I appreciated them for who they were.

Overall I felt this book was perfectly within the realm of the story it was trying to tell and the characters it was telling it with. Despite the 2nd half of the book, which to me was the most unenjoyable, it still made me want to read the other books in this series. Other characters are elaborated on and ultimately it is the Bridgerton family that I am invested in and not necessarily who each of them end up with in their respective novels.

Overall Thoughts

Ultimately I believe this book is worth a read if you enjoy historical fiction/romance, if not simply to enjoy the older 3 Bridgerton boys (Anthony, Benedict and Colin) and their constant commentary. If you prefer your romance to have a lot of smutty scenes, this will not be one for you. However, if you enjoy watching two people overcome struggles within their relationship (somewhat controversially to be honest) this would be a good one to add to your TBR pile.