Review: The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1)
The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1)
By Julia Quinn
Published By: Avon
Publication Date: June 27, 2006
Date Read: April 4, 2023
Genre: Adult – Historical Romance
Source: Bought
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 464
From Goodreads:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the story of Daphne Bridgerton, in the first of her beloved Regency-set novels featuring the charming, powerful Bridgerton family, now a series created by Shondaland for Netflix.In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.
Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.
Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.
The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule…
“A duel, a duel, a duel. Is there anything more exciting, more romantic … or more utterly moronic?”
If you had asked me a few years ago that I would be sat here writing a review for a historical romance book, I probably would have laughed at you. I never used to read romance, never mind historical romance. But after my absolute love of the Bridgerton TV series, I just needed to read the source material and experience it, in it’s original medium. I am so glad that I did as I really enjoyed this book.
The Duke and I follows the story of Daphne, a member of the prestigious Bridgerton family, as she navigates high society looking to find a husband. I actually really loved Daphne in this book. I know I will be viewing things very differently due to having watched the TV show first, but Daphne is so much more head strong and snarky than she is in the show and I adored that. She is so fast with her quick witted comebacks and I was often laughing out loud at them. She is such a fantastic and hilarious character to follow through this story.
The plot of this book is not much different from the TV show, if like me you have watched the show first. They stuck pretty close to the book, so there was nothing in here that was a surprise to me. However, one think I loved is all the additional glimpses of the family. You see Daphne’s relationships with the brothers and sisters so much more in the book and those were the scenes I absolutely loved. So if you are sat there thinking that you have seen the TV show, so don’t need to read the books… I urge you to read the books as this really did bring so much more hilarity and emotion to the characters that I had already fallen in love with from the adaptation.
The Duke and I was a fast read (or listen for me) and I really recommend the audiobook for those who enjoy listening to their books. The narrator did a great job and the spicy scenes didn’t come off as gross or laughable as I often find with spicy books on audio. I really enjoyed The Duke and I and while historical romance will never be my favourite genre, I will definitely be checking more of this genre out in the future. I highly recommend picking up this series.
“I want to be in your heart. I want- … I want to be in your soul.”
K-Books
I’m Kayleigh, a teacher and blogger who is obsessed with all things bookish. I love reading YA books of all genres and I am happiest when sharing my love and passion for books.