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elementarymydear 's review for:
The Duke and I
by Julia Quinn
Hmm. The Duke and I. Where to start…
I, like a reported 62,999,999 other households around the world, binge-watched and fell in love with Bridgerton during the Christmas-New Year void. Everything about the television show ticked all my boxes, and I absolutely loved it. The first series is based on The Duke and I, which tells the story of Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter and fourth child out of the eight Bridgerton siblings in Regency England. Due to her over-protective older brothers she is struggling to find a suitable husband when she crosses paths with the rakish Duke of Hastings, her eldest brother’s best friend, who is determined not to marry. They decide to fake a courtship, and we can all imagine what happens next.
Read this and other reviews on my blog!
When I started The Duke and I, I was instantly sucked in. The world was vivid and exciting, the dynamics between the characters were riveting and fascinating, and – at the start, at least – Daphne was a much more enjoyable character to read from than she is to watch from. I couldn’t put it down, staying up every night until I was nodding off over my Kindle and instantly opening it again the next day. Was it particularly well-written? No. Was I completely invested in Daphne and Simon’s romance? Absolutely.
And then…
Once they actually got married, just past halfway through the book, it took a sharp downturn for me. The best part about Daphne and Simon is their scheming, their marginally-forbidden romance, the way they trick the whole of London society into thinking they’re in love when we all know they actually are. Not only was it infinitely more dull to read about the two of them arguing in a castle in the middle of nowhere, with (unlike the show) no side-plots of sibling shenanigans, but it exposed the problems in their relationship that were never really addressed. They both lied and manipulated they other and yet, because they truly love each other, it all worked out?
I was actually quite relieved when it ended, grateful for no more contrived plot lines about toxic relationships, only to find a lengthy second epilogue which added absolutely nothing to the original story. I read it for completion’s sake, although I almost wish I hadn’t.
All of that being said and done, will I watch the next series of Bridgerton? Yes. Will I carry on reading the series? Yes. I enjoyed the world, I enjoyed the premise, and I’m sure that once I can move on from Daphne and Simon I will enjoy the series.
I, like a reported 62,999,999 other households around the world, binge-watched and fell in love with Bridgerton during the Christmas-New Year void. Everything about the television show ticked all my boxes, and I absolutely loved it. The first series is based on The Duke and I, which tells the story of Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter and fourth child out of the eight Bridgerton siblings in Regency England. Due to her over-protective older brothers she is struggling to find a suitable husband when she crosses paths with the rakish Duke of Hastings, her eldest brother’s best friend, who is determined not to marry. They decide to fake a courtship, and we can all imagine what happens next.
Read this and other reviews on my blog!
When I started The Duke and I, I was instantly sucked in. The world was vivid and exciting, the dynamics between the characters were riveting and fascinating, and – at the start, at least – Daphne was a much more enjoyable character to read from than she is to watch from. I couldn’t put it down, staying up every night until I was nodding off over my Kindle and instantly opening it again the next day. Was it particularly well-written? No. Was I completely invested in Daphne and Simon’s romance? Absolutely.
And then…
Once they actually got married, just past halfway through the book, it took a sharp downturn for me. The best part about Daphne and Simon is their scheming, their marginally-forbidden romance, the way they trick the whole of London society into thinking they’re in love when we all know they actually are. Not only was it infinitely more dull to read about the two of them arguing in a castle in the middle of nowhere, with (unlike the show) no side-plots of sibling shenanigans, but it exposed the problems in their relationship that were never really addressed. They both lied and manipulated they other and yet, because they truly love each other, it all worked out?
I was actually quite relieved when it ended, grateful for no more contrived plot lines about toxic relationships, only to find a lengthy second epilogue which added absolutely nothing to the original story. I read it for completion’s sake, although I almost wish I hadn’t.
All of that being said and done, will I watch the next series of Bridgerton? Yes. Will I carry on reading the series? Yes. I enjoyed the world, I enjoyed the premise, and I’m sure that once I can move on from Daphne and Simon I will enjoy the series.