The Duke and I

Book: The Duke and I

Series: Bridgertons #1

Author: Julia Quinn

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...-Goodreads

Review: Full disclosure: I watched season 1 of the Netflix show before reading this book. I know, I know-that is not the way to do things but I didn't realize the show was based on this book until I was a few episodes in and at that point, I was hooked! 

I used to read regency romances in high school and college so it was refreshing to go back to "the ton" again. That being said, I couldn't help comparing the book to the show and ultimately found the show to be better. I did find it interesting that book Daphne was not the popular beauty as she was portrayed in the show. 

Cute read and definitely will read the rest of the series. 

Grade: 3/5