I won't lie: the wild premise is what made me pick this one up. And while the full story doesn't *quite* live up to that eyebrow-raising kickoff to the plot, it's still an overall fun read that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. I did enjoy the mysterious flavoring re: the hunt for the missing Effie, and Lucy is a likable heroine, while Anthony's determination to distance himself from the crappy family legacy is admirable. I've been able to handsell this one pretty easily to folks riding the Bridgerton train.

The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell is a captivating Victorian historical romance that is a perfect fit for readers who adore lighthearted, emotional, and passionate stories with a strong focus on romance, art, and self-discovery, set against the rich backdrop of 19th-century London.

I wanted to try to get back into Historical Romance, but realized it's truly not my jam. While it was something I used to devour, this genre no longer holds any interest for me..

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I'm sorry I can't provide a review.

DNF @ multiple percentages.

Rating 1 star because NetGalley makes us leave a rating, this is not a reflection on the book itself.

A painting of a naked stranger and his real identity will bring worlds crashing down. I found the story a bit slow and difficult to read. I wanted to enjoy this but had a difficult time. I'm sure there are readers who will enjoy this and find it most exciting to read.

I was able to snag the audiobook from Libby and I am so glad I did! I don't pick up this genre very often and usually they fall flat for me but the audio was so well done! I really enjoyed it. While I won't remember it tomorrow, it was a great distraction the last 2 days and it wasn't a waste of my time.

This is a difficult book to review. Looking at the cover you would think it was a light romp or mystery. Its not... It's a strange story of a second son who becomes a Duke after his brother dies living a life of true debauchery. Lucy is the main character and is wonderfully written. She has everything from talent, wisdom and hard work to being a quirky beauty. Anthony is the Duke, he is smart with a learning disability and an alcoholic. Parts of the story I really enjoyed. Other parts left me thinking that is too good to be true. The plot is about duplicity and control. The secondary characters do not add as much to the story other than the villain. It is not your standard romance so I rate it 3.5* and would enjoy reading more by this author.

The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell was my first time reading this author. This one was not for me but thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review!

A different sort of romance, with a cross-class pairing and a hero with some serious personal issues. I do wish those issues had been dealt with more seriously, rather than appearing when the plot needed drama or conflict.

Simply fabulous fun wrapped up in a compelling romance that unfolds during a period of time when women are still struggling for equal footing in the Victorian era.

Was not able to read the entirety of the book and cannot give an accurate or overall rating/review . As a librarian for a big library system, we most likely have a copy of this item. I will look forward to reading it in future since I am sure I will.

I didn't enjoy it as much because I was expecting a light period piece romp like something by Evie Dunmore. It actually cares some hefty emotional weight to it. It's the story of Anthony, a man who came into a dukedom after the death of his brother. He's not prepared for the responsibility of the role because he's been drinking and hoing it up all his life.
Lucy, the protagonist is delightful. She's a seamstress in dire straights because she faces eviction. She sold a nude painting she made of Anthony after she discovered him drunk and naked in an alley. Anthony finds Lucy, and confronts her and from there, the relationship develops.
Dark themes like alcoholism, emotional abuse, PTSD, poverty, and suicide are all mixed in like a melodramatic soup with a few too many ingredients.

I am a huge fan of historical romance and I was very excited to give the Duke Undone a try. The concept of the story sounded fantastic and I loved the potential humor/drama the synopsis hinted at. Unfortunately the writing style the author used was very distracting.

I understood the idea behind it was to make the story feel more authentic and true to the times but it didn’t work for me. It wasn’t consistent and kept drawing me out of the story. The humor and characters were fun but overall this book didn’t work for me.

Art student Lucy Coover has found her muse, a nude man passed out drunk in an alley. She paints his likeness as Endymion in her first masterpiece. Anthony Philby becomes the new Duke of Weston when his elder brother unexpectedly dies, but his inheritance depends on his staying sober and respectable. When he discovers Lucy’s painting of him naked and drunk, he confiscates it to avoid a scandal that would cost him the dukedom. Rather than return the painting, Anthony agrees to use his position to stop the destruction of Lucy’s impoverished neighborhood, while Lucy agrees to find Anthony’s long-lost sister. Working together to salvage Lucy’s home before it’s too late, they lose their hearts to each other, but Anthony’s addiction and an unjust system may be their undoing.

VERDICT Impeccably researched, Lowell’s latest emphasizes justice. This love story tackles weighty issues but remains suspenseful and spellbinding.

starred LJ review

A fun Regency romance that I'd recommend to any fan of Bridgerton! The narrative was unique, the plot had some really fun elements/moments (hello, asylum), and the story was well-researched — I felt like I learned a lot about female artists in London in the late 1800s. More importantly, the romance between Lucy and Anthony was chef's kiss . Romance + political intrigue + strong female lead = love.

I really enjoyed this title. It was such a refreshing take on the historical romance. Love matches form different parts of society is heartwarming and brings some new to a genre that is steeped in old.

Ooof, I’m really struggling with how to rate this one! As several folks have mentioned, she’s a very strong writer- truly some of the best prose in HR in my humble opinion- but something just didn’t click for me?
I think it’s just more angst than I usually care for in my romances, and Anthony’s battle with addiction was almost too raw for me. This is obviously a matter of preference, and if you like higher angst reads, this one is going to slap for you. But it unfortunately just caused me a lot of hurt. I just wanted them to be enough for each other and it killed me to see Lucy want Anthony to heal and Anthony’s struggle out of the dark.
It was a deeply touching story that delved into alcoholism and the mistreatment of the mentally ill in a time when it wasn’t understood, and that lends itself to a fairly bleak read at times. It of course had a well earned HEA, but I just didn’t expect it to be so hard earned.
Lucy was wonderful and hardworking and easy to root for. Anthony made me want to shake him, but eventually grew on me even when he struggled. I appreciate the refusal to pull punches with his character, even if it’s not my particular cup of tea.
I look forward to the other books in this series and have high hopes they’ll wow me!
Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC!

unfortunately this book dragged on so much I couldn't ever get into it. I kept waiting for the romance to pick up and get exciting, but it took way too long for my liking and wasn't super engaging.

This delightful historical romance was equal parts humorous and romantic! I loved reading as Lucy and Anthony's relationship develops (and the passion that naturally ensues). They were such fun characters and the story was an overall page-turner. I can't wait for Joanna Lowell's next book!

This story had an interesting premise and lots of historical detail. The characters were quite unique compared to other historical romances that I've read, with the heroine being a painter and the hero an alcoholic (even if he doesn't want to admit it).

A fun read! Not necessarily my favorite romance, but it was a solid historical romance and I'll be on the lookout for the next book from Lowell.