Lord Lysander happens upon the beautiful ballerina Nève in dire straits. Blacklisted from the ballet after an interaction with an odious patron, Nève is desperate. Lysander requires someone to be his fake fiancée in order to seal a land deal. While Nève is initially skeptical, her desire to send money to her injured sister prevails. As Nève and Lysander get to know each other, what happens when their feelings become real? 

Always Be My Duchess is a charming and witty romance. Nève is a fantastic heroine; she has an extremely strong backbone and is unwilling to allow rank to dictate her actions. I also loved the inclusion of the Hell’s Kitties, a group of women that befriend Nève who I’m sure we will see in future books. Nève and Lysander are a delightful couple, bringing out each other’s true personalities that hide behind society masks. This was a fast-paced, fun romance and I’m looking forward to seeing what Amalie Howard writes next. 

Always Be My Duchess would be a great book for those who love the Bridgertons, the twisted world of ballet, and fierce heroines. Thank you to Amalie Howard, Forever, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.