Review | The Duke and I

Title: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Date Published: January 5, 2000 (though the version I read had extra tidbits in it that was published on December 30, 2019)

Dates Read: April 5-8, 2021

Current Goodreads Rating: 3.88/5

Ok, no need for shame here - raise your hand if you binge watched all of Bridgerton in three days or less when it originally came out on Netflix? Everyone's hands are up? That's what I thought.

Since devouring the series on Netflix I did what I normally do after finding out it was based off a popular book series. I requested it at my local library. As you can imagine, I wasn't the only person who had the idea so it's taken a little bit for me to finally get my hands on the first book in the eight book series. Yes, you heard me right, each Bridgerton sibling gets to have their own story that I'm sure will steal my heart just as quickly as The Duke and I did.

Ok, so what happens? I mean we've already established that you've watched the show so you already know what happens. Daphne Bridgerton is entering her second season in London and she still hasn't found a suitable man to marry. She claims its because all of the men in town see her more as a friend and less as a potential wife, but isn't it always the exceedingly modest women who turn out to be the most beautiful?

Enter the new Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset. He's back in town after five years abroad and he is adamant that everyone knows he does not want to ever be married. No wife, no kids, no future inheritance of the Hastings dukedom. When he happens upon Daphne in a compromising position at the first ball of the season they quickly hatch a plan to help Daphne find a suitable partner and keep the Ambitious Mothers off Simon's back. But will their blossoming friendship grow to be something more?

The best Bridgerton Boys.

Ok, what did I think? Oh man, I devoured this thing. There were definitely some changes between the book and the Netflix series, but I had expected that to begin with. Though we don't really learn much about Anthony, Benedict, or Colin like we do in the tv series, Quinn does a great job creating the world around the Bridgerton family.

To be honest, I was sucked in from the prologue. Even though I already knew Simon's tragic backstory, Quinn's writing really pulled me in and kept me hooked. I think I probably read about 150 pages in the first night alone and it was a struggle to force myself to close the book and go to bed. I don't think I've ever read a romance novel that had such realistic dialogue like The Duke and I. Each one of Daphne's smart remarks and Simon's cynical witticisms were incredibly believable and I could practically see them flirting in my living room as I read. Also, though I don't have siblings, there was no doubt in my mind that Daphne had grown up surrounded by her seven other siblings. It was obvious that she was closest to Anthony, Benedict, and Colin because they were the oldest four siblings. Their relationship was so believable - equal parts poking fun at each other and threatening to maim or even kill anyone who would threaten their sibling.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room. (Spoilers Ahead) If you've watched the tv show you know of the scene I'm talking about. After learning that Simon can have babies, he just chooses not to because of daddy issues, Daphne coerces him into bed and forces him to - uh - finish inside of her. It is very obviously marital rape and it sets a darker tone for the rest of that episode and at least one more while they deal with the repercussions of Daphne's actions.

In the book it is 1000 times worse. Not only does Daphne take advantage of Simon, but she takes advantage of him while he's asleep and drunk. It is incredibly obvious in the scene that he is practically incoherent and, once he is aware of what has happened, he is so overwhelmed that he is literally unable to speak. Decades of hard work eliminating his debilitating stutter is shattered as he struggles to put together the words to express the emotions he's feeling. The scene ends with Simon leaving the room and then putting as much distance between himself and Daphne.

Though the book does end happy - they come back together, work out their differences, and live happily ever after - they never actually really address what had happened. In one slightly concerning paragraph, Simon muses that he had been kind of encouraging her in the moment. Along the same lines, Daphne never really seems to come to terms with the fact that she's done something wrong. Whenever she does begin questioning her actions she immediately reminds herself that Simon was the one who lied to her first as though that cancels everything out. It is a very disappointing section of an otherwise amazing book.

Long Story Short:

• MARITAL RAPE IS NEVER OK.

• Strangers to friends to lovers is *chef's kiss*

• This is a rare occurrence where the tv show is equally as good (and slightly problematic) as the book.

My Rating: 4/5