I decided to read this series based off the recommendations of many, many people, and because it is slated to become a TV show on Netflix.

**Spoilers Ahead!!!**

Simon Basset, recently returned to London after the death of his hateful father, is immediately and completely unwillingly plunged into the marriage market.

After a horrific childhood, Simon has no intent to marry and is completely fine with having his dukedom be lost upon his death. Everything Simon has done since finally overcoming his stammer has been to spite his father, and this would be the ultimate way to ensure Simon wins.

Daphne Bridgerton is almost a spinster. She's lovely, but just too nice. She's always the friend and never the coy temptress men seem to want, which is a shame because all Daphne has ever wanted is a big family to call her own.

When she is introduced to Simon, her brother's best friend, she concocts a scheme. Why not make everyone think she and Simon are courting? This will save him from being introduced to ever more women and will in turn spur the interests of those men who never would have looked at her twice.

Well, their plan works swimmingly, but for one thing. Daphne falls in love with the darned Duke, and decides she must have him, even if he has told her he cannot have children and she must give up her dream. Love will be enough right?

Well, what started as a lighthearted fake dating romance turns a bit more sinister as Daphne and Simon each figure out the others deceptions. There is some yucky sex scenes where Daphne finds out why Simon is pulling out all the time and one where she takes advantage of his drunken state and basically forces him to come inside of her...despite him having clearly told her he does not want children.

For all the things I didn't enjoy, I did certainly like the world Julia Quinn built and enjoyed her writing style. Simon was just not a hero I personally enjoyed, way to many daddy issues, and I really had an up and down relationship with Daphne. I liked her at first, but some of her actions were truly terrible. Also, the whole "You definitely want children you just don't realize it yet" trope is really not for me either. Um, dude's mother died from his birth, he had a horrible childhood, and while he is a prat, tricking him isn't really a great (or forgivable) solution.

I will read other books in the series to see if I like them better.