The Duke and I: Bridgerton

I’ve just finished reading this book and have to say, I found it an amazing storyline. I loved the characters, as I really felt that you got to know each one. I especially liked Simons character, as he wasn’t portrayed as this perfect male lead - but rather the opposite. That’s rare to see. The story conveyed honesty, brutality and truth, where Simon had experienced a tough upbringing and it made me aware of his reactions to Daphne and why he sometimes acted the way he did in the beginning/throughout the book. I haven’t been able to pick up a novel in a while, but I’m so glad that I gave this one a chance. I couldn’t put it down and I cannot wait to read more of Julia Quinn’s books in future 🙌🏻❤️

3.5 - 4 stars but rounding up because I started it in a book slump but finished in a better position, so I think I would have 4 starred normally.Yes, end of 2019 and I have started yet ANOTHER series but the mood wants what the mood wants. For me it was a rather slow start but once I got to 30%, it really picked up pace in terms of storyline and I grew to love the dynamic between Daphne and Simon. The fake relationship was just the right kind of length and prominence without becoming irritating and the slow burn to real feelings floated my boat.I think this family is going to be fun to read about especially these older brothers who I imagine will get their own books, guess I better ready myself to invest in this series (and the netflix series).

“There were rules among friends, commandments, really, and the most important one was Thou Shalt Not Lust After Thy Friend's Sister.”Dear Gentle Reader, one finds herself surprised by how much she enjoyed this book. I feel like because I did enjoy the tv show so much that I when we picked this book for our buddy read I went in with low expectations. But that’s ok, because in this instance it paid off!..Loved the following:🎩How easy it was to read🎩The Regency Setting🎩The sass. It was just my kind of humour🎩All of the Brigertons - especially Violet🎩Most of the plot🎩The character building for Simon🎩The easy switch between Simon & Daphne’s perspectives..Dislikes:🎩THAT scene...There were so many ways the story could have got to the desired end point without including that scene🎩Long chapters - I prefer shorter ones but i did adjust the more I got into it..What I wanted more of:🎩Lady Whistledown Snippets🎩Character building for Daphne - I wanted her to be a little more complex..This reader will certainly be reading the next book in the series 💕

Having binged both series of Bridgerton over 6 days I purchased the first book expecting a deeper dive into its alternative reality regency world..the edition pictured has the actors on the front after all. I wanted background on the central and more minor characters, context and history, how that richly painted universe came to be .. nope. Basically it's a pretty mundane 'period' romance, so vaguely sketched historically that I found, to amuse myself as I struggled onwards, able picture Daphne and Simon inhabiting different eras, '20's flappers or 50's high school worked just as well in my imagination. Initially I presumed the author had cribbed her setting from Georgette Heyer and BBC productions, however I actually doubt she did that much historical research..and it shows. The two romanic leads are the only characters we get any insight into, and that is minimal. There's no development or slow reveal of motivations.The one star I'm giving this book is for the fact that to get the bad taste from my mouth I went straight to my mother's tattered Georgette Heyer collection and dived into the exquisite world building and knowledge she effortlessly imparts.

OK this book is bad, really bad. I read the negative reviews but thought I'd give it a chance because I loved the Bridgerton Netflix series. The trouble is, the people who wrote the Netflix series clearly thought the book was boring too and added more interesting stuff to the series. Half the stuff that happens in the tv series, doesn't happen in the book.The scenes in the book go on and on...To give you some context, 1 conversation is about 10 pages. And honestly, I can't exaggerate how badly written it is. The author feels the need to write "She said sarcastically" after speech that is very obviously sarcastic. After this is done repeatedly it starts to get quite jarring.I found myself skim reading it. The contrived scenes are cringey, they made me laugh they were so unbelievable. But if you are after some easy reading then this book is for you. You could read it in an afternoon, but you won't remember it the next day.