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A review by niamhreviews
Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy
5.0
I was very kindly given an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley and Quercus Books.
Okay, so we're getting a multi-season TV show and sequels, right? RIGHT?!
Ladies and gentlemen who have been missing Bridgerton - may I introduce you to 'Aphrodite and the Duke', your newest historical romance obsession. I read this book in 48 hours, something I have not done in a very long time, and it's a tribute to how immensely entertaining and delicious this novel is.
A second-chance romance between Aphrodite and her childhood love Evander, the novel is a tale of two halves. The first, centred around the London season and the rekindling of the romance between these jilted lovers. The second, of Aphrodite learning to become a duchess and getting entangled in the mad family drama of Evander's extended clan.
Let's quickly discuss the Daphne-shaped elephant in the room - yes, there are a lot of similarities to the first season of Bridgerton. The Duke's family drama, the steamy scenes, the accidentally catching people getting dirty in the gardens - it's packed with very familiar tropes. I can't comment on how much of an influence it was on this book because I don't know when it was written/redrafted, but it's easily looked past for something this fun. And that's the best way to describe this book. It's just so much fun. It's swoon-worthy, it's juicy, it's packed with those Regency-era details that made millions of us go mad for the aforementioned show.
The family dynamics of Aphrodite's side were funny and charming - hopefully giving more space for greater expansion in this world - and McAvoy did an incredible job building the world and the atmosphere of Regency England, right down to tiny details in the prose. This book provided such escapist joy for the whole time I was reading it and scratched an itch that a lot of regency romances haven't been able to for me.
The last 10% of this book is CRAZY. Like, ridiculously crazy. If I were to take a more critical eye to it, I would suggest it might be a little too crazy, but ultimately, it all pays off to a satisfying conclusion that leads the door open for sequels (please god let there be sequels I want Verity to be happy). But that's my central criticism. This book pays homage to the regency romance that has come before it - but does something different. This book will capture you like reality TV and keep a vice grip until you've hit the last page. What. A. Joy.
'Aphrodite and the Duke' will be available from August 23rd.
Okay, so we're getting a multi-season TV show and sequels, right? RIGHT?!
Ladies and gentlemen who have been missing Bridgerton - may I introduce you to 'Aphrodite and the Duke', your newest historical romance obsession. I read this book in 48 hours, something I have not done in a very long time, and it's a tribute to how immensely entertaining and delicious this novel is.
A second-chance romance between Aphrodite and her childhood love Evander, the novel is a tale of two halves. The first, centred around the London season and the rekindling of the romance between these jilted lovers. The second, of Aphrodite learning to become a duchess and getting entangled in the mad family drama of Evander's extended clan.
Let's quickly discuss the Daphne-shaped elephant in the room - yes, there are a lot of similarities to the first season of Bridgerton. The Duke's family drama, the steamy scenes, the accidentally catching people getting dirty in the gardens - it's packed with very familiar tropes. I can't comment on how much of an influence it was on this book because I don't know when it was written/redrafted, but it's easily looked past for something this fun. And that's the best way to describe this book. It's just so much fun. It's swoon-worthy, it's juicy, it's packed with those Regency-era details that made millions of us go mad for the aforementioned show.
The family dynamics of Aphrodite's side were funny and charming - hopefully giving more space for greater expansion in this world - and McAvoy did an incredible job building the world and the atmosphere of Regency England, right down to tiny details in the prose. This book provided such escapist joy for the whole time I was reading it and scratched an itch that a lot of regency romances haven't been able to for me.
The last 10% of this book is CRAZY. Like, ridiculously crazy. If I were to take a more critical eye to it, I would suggest it might be a little too crazy, but ultimately, it all pays off to a satisfying conclusion that leads the door open for sequels (please god let there be sequels I want Verity to be happy). But that's my central criticism. This book pays homage to the regency romance that has come before it - but does something different. This book will capture you like reality TV and keep a vice grip until you've hit the last page. What. A. Joy.
'Aphrodite and the Duke' will be available from August 23rd.