Can there be any greater challenge to London's Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?
--- Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1813
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reviews
Aug 02, 2011
Kelly
rated it: 
Dear Ms. Quinn,
I am about to unload a bit of a vomit here, and I just wanted to say that I’m aware that none of it is your fault. I’m using this particular space to do it because I just recently read two of your novels, and taken together they were the catalyst for this whole thing. I’m sure it could have been one of the many other ridiculous excuses for a romance paint-by-the-numbers novel that could’ve triggered it. But it wasn’t. It was this one. And this one. You have many other More...
I am about to unload a bit of a vomit here, and I just wanted to say that I’m aware that none of it is your fault. I’m using this particular space to do it because I just recently read two of your novels, and taken together they were the catalyst for this whole thing. I’m sure it could have been one of the many other ridiculous excuses for a romance paint-by-the-numbers novel that could’ve triggered it. But it wasn’t. It was this one. And this one. You have many other More...
136 comments
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(66 people liked it)
Oct 08, 2010
Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress"
rated it: 
When I read a book, I want to become involved emotionally. A book that does that is more likely to be highly rated. Such was the case with The Duke and I.
I have a sickness, an infatuation for tortured, dark, conflicted heroes. The happy-go-lucky guys don't capture my imagination nearly so much as their darker counterparts. Fortunately, Simon was tortured enough to keep me happy.
The beginning of this book was brilliantly done. I was already captivated with Simon, the More...
I have a sickness, an infatuation for tortured, dark, conflicted heroes. The happy-go-lucky guys don't capture my imagination nearly so much as their darker counterparts. Fortunately, Simon was tortured enough to keep me happy.
The beginning of this book was brilliantly done. I was already captivated with Simon, the More...
43 comments
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(24 people liked it)
Sep 11, 2011
Rane
rated it:
Ah my Gentle Reader, this Reviewer is pleased to report, that one cannot argue against; I loved this book.
It was fun to read about Simon and Daphne finding each other through angry brothers, duels, crazy marriage mind mamas and a few misunderstandings along the way. The banter between the was laugh out loud funny as were some of the arguments .
Simon was a great hero, dealing with his past and the treatment his father dealt him at such an early age, making it his More...
It was fun to read about Simon and Daphne finding each other through angry brothers, duels, crazy marriage mind mamas and a few misunderstandings along the way. The banter between the was laugh out loud funny as were some of the arguments .
Simon was a great hero, dealing with his past and the treatment his father dealt him at such an early age, making it his More...
6 comments
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(14 people liked it)
Dec 02, 2011
Laura the Highland Hussy
rated it: 
2.5
A lot of my gr buddies love this book, and a few have recommended it to me. So I ordered it, and up until a certain part in the end, I really was enjoying it.
I won't feel bad about the spoilers in here, because this is an older book, and a ton of people have read it.
I liked Daphne, and I really liked Daphne and Simon's interactions, witty reparte, banter. all of the above. Obviously they were meant for each other, and not in the sickeningly sweet sort of way. They were fun to More...
A lot of my gr buddies love this book, and a few have recommended it to me. So I ordered it, and up until a certain part in the end, I really was enjoying it.
I won't feel bad about the spoilers in here, because this is an older book, and a ton of people have read it.
I liked Daphne, and I really liked Daphne and Simon's interactions, witty reparte, banter. all of the above. Obviously they were meant for each other, and not in the sickeningly sweet sort of way. They were fun to More...
24 comments
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(12 people liked it)
Sep 10, 2010
Shawna
rated it: 
5 stars – Historical/Regency Romance
My introduction to author Julia Quinn was with the books The Lost Duke of Wyndham and Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, and I wasn’t at all impressed and found them really boring. Several GR friends told me they aren’t her best books or indicative of her other works and that I should give her popular Bridgertons series a chance. I’ve had several of JQ’s books on my TBR shelf for quite a while now, and after mourning the end of two of my favorite HR serie More...
My introduction to author Julia Quinn was with the books The Lost Duke of Wyndham and Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, and I wasn’t at all impressed and found them really boring. Several GR friends told me they aren’t her best books or indicative of her other works and that I should give her popular Bridgertons series a chance. I’ve had several of JQ’s books on my TBR shelf for quite a while now, and after mourning the end of two of my favorite HR serie More...
22 comments
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(23 people liked it)
Aug 19, 2008
Eastofoz
rated it:
This is a really good 4.5 star read. It doesn’t make 5 stars because it’s missing just a little bit in the steam department I thought. It’s one of those books that has you smiling from beginning to end—so don’t read it in public unless you don’t mind having a dorky smile plastered on your face and people no doubt staring at you like you’re a bit weird ;-)
It’s well written, funny and you just can’t help but love the Bridgerton family but it’s not in the least bit hokey. You really More...
It’s well written, funny and you just can’t help but love the Bridgerton family but it’s not in the least bit hokey. You really More...
12 comments
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(11 people liked it)
Feb 07, 2012
Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust*
rated it:
Posted on Under the Covers
I have been ruined by Lisa Kleypas and all her wonderful historical that until now, I couldn’t find an author who could live up to the Kleypas craze. Julia Quinn is the answer.
THE DUKE AND I is such a charming story of Daphne and Simon! The story captured me with its prologue. It starts off with a story of a vulnerable young boy and his prideful father who wished to have the perfect heir. When he learns that his son has a speech impediment, he de More...
I have been ruined by Lisa Kleypas and all her wonderful historical that until now, I couldn’t find an author who could live up to the Kleypas craze. Julia Quinn is the answer.
THE DUKE AND I is such a charming story of Daphne and Simon! The story captured me with its prologue. It starts off with a story of a vulnerable young boy and his prideful father who wished to have the perfect heir. When he learns that his son has a speech impediment, he de More...
28 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Sep 10, 2010
LibraryLass
rated it:
Fantastic book! I read this one years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it but for some strange reason I never kept up with the series (I think I read 1 or 2). My library was recommended the series (they don't buy too many HR) and I remembered the Duke and I and decided to buy the series for myself. Of course me being me, I had to wait to get the whole series before starting to read it. Well worth the wait.
Quinn takes an old tired plotline and makes it literally sparkle. She uses wit to get More...
Quinn takes an old tired plotline and makes it literally sparkle. She uses wit to get More...
6 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Jun 28, 2010
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~*
rated it:
My Review:
This was an entertaining read. I loved Simon, the ‘tortured from childhood’ soul, and Daphne Bridgerton, the one woman who could rescue him from his bitter, angry existence, and give him a future filled with happiness, family and the love he never dreamed he could have.
The family interactions were highly amusing in the way Daphne’s siblings protected her honor even when she didn’t want it protected. Another fun side to this book was the inclusion of More...
22 comments
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(12 people liked it)
Feb 08, 2010
Julie (Mom2lnb)
rated it:
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Up until I was about 150 pages into The Duke and I, I was beginning to think I had started my second much-lauded romance series in a row, only to be sorely disappointed with it, but somehow Julia Quinn managed to pull out all the stops during the second half of the book and make me forget most of my frustrations from the first half. The two halves almost seemed like they were written in completely different styles. The beginning of the book was More...
"4.5 stars" Up until I was about 150 pages into The Duke and I, I was beginning to think I had started my second much-lauded romance series in a row, only to be sorely disappointed with it, but somehow Julia Quinn managed to pull out all the stops during the second half of the book and make me forget most of my frustrations from the first half. The two halves almost seemed like they were written in completely different styles. The beginning of the book was More...
7 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Jun 18, 2010
Martha
rated it:
I loved this book! I read it several years ago, but I've read so many comments recently here on Goodreads about Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series that I just had to re-read them all.
This is Daphne's story. Daphne is the fourth of the eight Bridgerton siblings. As the oldest daughter, she is being pressured by her mother to choose a husband and get married. (The mother, Violet, is a wonderful character -- I absolutely love her!) Enter Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, who is a friend of More...
This is Daphne's story. Daphne is the fourth of the eight Bridgerton siblings. As the oldest daughter, she is being pressured by her mother to choose a husband and get married. (The mother, Violet, is a wonderful character -- I absolutely love her!) Enter Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, who is a friend of More...
3 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 07, 2012
Erika
rated it:
The Bridgertons are by far the most prolific family in the upper echelons of society. Such industriousness on the part of the viscountess and the late viscount is commendable, although one can find only banality in their choice of names for their children. Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth— orderliness is, of course, beneficial in all things, but one would think that intelligent parents would be able to keep their children straight without needing to alphMore...
3 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2011
Jessica B
rated it:
What a great story! It captured my attention right from the prologue and I had a very hard time stopping once I got started. It was one of those effortless love stories that keeps you up all night because you just want one page more.
Simon is a duke, of course. Who had a particularly bad childhood because he had a stammer and his father treated him as if he was dead. Daphne is the 4th child of the Bridgertons. Three older brothers, three younger sisters and one younger brother all ha More...
Simon is a duke, of course. Who had a particularly bad childhood because he had a stammer and his father treated him as if he was dead. Daphne is the 4th child of the Bridgertons. Three older brothers, three younger sisters and one younger brother all ha More...
Jul 21, 2011
Nisha
rated it:
**Audiobook Review below original review**
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This is another book that I decided I needed to reread to finally write a review. I'm glad I did because during the first time through, I must have had scrambled eggs for brains, because I thought that it was merely mediocre. In hindsight, I was young and naive, with only a few HR novels under my belt.
Daphne Bridgerton is nice, but hardly garnered the attention fro More...
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This is another book that I decided I needed to reread to finally write a review. I'm glad I did because during the first time through, I must have had scrambled eggs for brains, because I thought that it was merely mediocre. In hindsight, I was young and naive, with only a few HR novels under my belt.
Daphne Bridgerton is nice, but hardly garnered the attention fro More...
0 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Sep 05, 2010
Sara ♥
rated it:
April 1, 2007
(#1 in the Bridgerton Series)
Another fine example of Julia Quinn's amazing prologues. This one was about Simon (another of Lady Danbury's nephews), who has a BIG ISSUE with his father. (His mother died during childbirth, so wasn't around to mediate.) You see, Simon didn't speak until he was four (although he could already write) and when he DID, he stuttered REALLY BADLY, and his father, who had been soooo excited to have an heir (after two stillbirths and More...
(#1 in the Bridgerton Series)
Another fine example of Julia Quinn's amazing prologues. This one was about Simon (another of Lady Danbury's nephews), who has a BIG ISSUE with his father. (His mother died during childbirth, so wasn't around to mediate.) You see, Simon didn't speak until he was four (although he could already write) and when he DID, he stuttered REALLY BADLY, and his father, who had been soooo excited to have an heir (after two stillbirths and More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Apr 10, 2011
Kinga
rated it: 
'The Duke And I' relies on all romance and romantic comedies authors favourite premise - a pretend relationship. Somehow two people find themselves having to pretend they are in love with each other and inevitably, and to their own embarrassment, end up falling in love for real. Sadly this never happens in real life. Well, the falling in love for real part doesn't happen. Pretend relationships do. And they usually involve a significant sum of money and a passport.
[here be the spoile More...
[here be the spoile More...
6 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Dec 13, 2011
Jess
rated it:
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Talk about starting off a book and a series by making me love a young Simon immediately as we get a few snippets of his childhood told during the prologue. His mother died during child birth and all his father wanted was an heir; a perfect mini-me version of himself. He got Simon, a sweet young boy who didn’t speak until he was 4 years old, and struggled to overcome stammering. His father, mortified that his heir wasn’t perfect, called him eve More...
Talk about starting off a book and a series by making me love a young Simon immediately as we get a few snippets of his childhood told during the prologue. His mother died during child birth and all his father wanted was an heir; a perfect mini-me version of himself. He got Simon, a sweet young boy who didn’t speak until he was 4 years old, and struggled to overcome stammering. His father, mortified that his heir wasn’t perfect, called him eve More...
3 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jul 07, 2010
Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~
rated it:
The Bridgertons are a large loving family, containing eight children: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth, and their widowed mother Violet. As each approaches marriageable, Violet becomes the terror of the ton a matchmaking mama. First up is Daphne.
This is one of my favourite series, although it offers nothing new up in terms of plot, I find I am always drawn to the chaotic warmth of the Bridgerton family. What I find unique about this series is More...
This is one of my favourite series, although it offers nothing new up in terms of plot, I find I am always drawn to the chaotic warmth of the Bridgerton family. What I find unique about this series is More...
4 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Feb 08, 2008
Tammy
rated it:
Julia Quinn has the ability to write some of the funniest and most realistic dialogue. I've really enjoyed her Bridgerton series and the "Duke and I" is (so far) one of my favorites.
I really like the fact that Julia Quinn can take a predictable, over-used plot and put a spin on it, claiming it as her own. Simon Basset at first appears to be your typical cliched', tortured hero. Denied the love and affection of his father because of a childhood stutter, Simon eventually ove More...
I really like the fact that Julia Quinn can take a predictable, over-used plot and put a spin on it, claiming it as her own. Simon Basset at first appears to be your typical cliched', tortured hero. Denied the love and affection of his father because of a childhood stutter, Simon eventually ove More...
3 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Dec 28, 2009
Rude Chick
rated it:
(Bridgertons,#1) I love the Bridgerton family! Daphne and Simon have great chemistry. Anthony’s head-of-the-house protector role was overdone. And, let’s be honest, did Daphne really deserve what Simon did to her? I like the mystery behind Lady Whistledown.
2 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Oct 23, 2008
♡KarLynP♡
rated it:
A sweet, romantic historical. I've read this series completely out of order, but they all work as a stand alone. This is one of the best in the series (Viscount Who Loved Me is another big fav)
5 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Nov 11, 2010
Caty
rated it:
This was my first time with Julia Quinn. To say I was pleasently surprised would be an understatement.
What an amazing, romantic, funny, tender story this was.
Simon Bennet, the reluctant brand new duke of Hastings, is back in London. The ton season (a.k.a the husband hunting season) is on full force but he couldn’t care less about it. But he’s rich, handsome and has a title to offer, so logically, he instantly becomes England’s most eligible bachelor, and all the mothers w More...
What an amazing, romantic, funny, tender story this was.
Simon Bennet, the reluctant brand new duke of Hastings, is back in London. The ton season (a.k.a the husband hunting season) is on full force but he couldn’t care less about it. But he’s rich, handsome and has a title to offer, so logically, he instantly becomes England’s most eligible bachelor, and all the mothers w More...
2 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Sep 01, 2011
Carla
rated it:
Aww, this was such a cute book. I read it in one day - couldn’t put it down because I was having SO MUCH FUN with the Bridgertons (I don’t think I even ate properly during those 24 hours xD). Albeit the last part made me roll my eyes a couple of times, but pregnancy and baby drama usually makes that part of my anatomy behave in such manner - and there’s nothing I can do about it.
This was my first Julia Quinn novel and I was very impressed by her writing. I can’t explain exactly why, but I More...
This was my first Julia Quinn novel and I was very impressed by her writing. I can’t explain exactly why, but I More...
2 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 24, 2008
Kathrynn
rated it:
I enjoyed the entire Bridgerton Series and re-read this book thinking I would start re-reading the series, too. The whole series is wonderful, funny, well written--strictly romance. Nice stories.
Some authors write books, but a few WRITE BOOKS. Ms. Quinn has a knack for building up the plot, writing well rounded characters, nice climax and ending. Nice! All very well written.
I enjoyed all the characters in this book, including Mrs. Bridgerton--Violet--what a hoot; all More...
Some authors write books, but a few WRITE BOOKS. Ms. Quinn has a knack for building up the plot, writing well rounded characters, nice climax and ending. Nice! All very well written.
I enjoyed all the characters in this book, including Mrs. Bridgerton--Violet--what a hoot; all More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Jan 30, 2012
Jan
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 19, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
First book I read by Julia Quinn and I loved it! This is the story about Daphne, eldest daughter of the Bridgerton family, and Simon the Duke of Hastings. Simon is determined to never marry or have children because of the hate he carries for his deceased father. He does not want to produce an heir so that the Hasting name will die with him. Once he meets Daphne everything changes, she captures his heart and Simon learns to let go of the anger he holds inside. I love the chemistry between Simon a
More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 30, 2011
Janusz
rated it:
A strong opening, a predictable development, then a cliched and improbable ending.
A meet-cute encounter in a back corridor during a high-society ball results in Simon and Daphne deciding to fake a courtship: he to dissuade the legions of wannabe duchesses and their determined matrons; she to raise her profile and attract more suitors. The concept was sweetened by some excellent characterisation and witty dialogue, but soured by the implausible reactions of Daphne's brothers, some of More...
A meet-cute encounter in a back corridor during a high-society ball results in Simon and Daphne deciding to fake a courtship: he to dissuade the legions of wannabe duchesses and their determined matrons; she to raise her profile and attract more suitors. The concept was sweetened by some excellent characterisation and witty dialogue, but soured by the implausible reactions of Daphne's brothers, some of More...
Dec 05, 2011
Nina
rated it:
I hate when I'm stuck outside of the story and not as involved as I'd like to be, and that kind of happened here. It was like all the points are there, everything I would expect in a fun, witty, charming and sexy historical, and yet...and yet...I don't know. Every time I started to believe them and get into it I'd hit a wall. A wall of, "If one them says the word rake one more time I'm gonna chuck this thing at the wall."
See? I get it. He's a rake. You don't have to remind More...
See? I get it. He's a rake. You don't have to remind More...
Oct 25, 2011
Mermer
rated it:
I really love reading historical romances especially involving married couples. I found this book interesting and funny. Honestly, I laughed at some parts because well, I couldn’t help. Besides, this book has gossip column attached to it. It’s like the slight version of Gossip Girl only with historical essence in it.
The book involves two main characters – Daphne Bridgertons and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. The duo has agreed to help each other by being seen together as Daphne want More...
The book involves two main characters – Daphne Bridgertons and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. The duo has agreed to help each other by being seen together as Daphne want More...
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