Out May 24, 2022 [Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 5/5 stars

A LADY FOR A DUKE is a friends-to-lovers romance set in Regency-era England and featuring a trans heroine. I could say more, but really you should just read it.

I have been fortunate to be on a 5-star reading streak lately, and this book *still* managed to catapult to the top of a stacked list to become one of my favorites of the year (and maybe ever). I went into this for the trans representation in a historical romance and definitely got that, but also got so much more, including disability rep, a gorgeous friends-to-lovers story, absolutely hilarious banter, incredibly thoughtful and poignant reflections on gender/identity/ableism and more, plus a new favorite book boyfriend in Gracewood.

Without giving away too much of the plot, I also adored that the third act tension was largely external (I wish this were the case in more romances) and the epilogue was the pitch perfect amount of closure while still leaving room for a sequel/spin-off (PLEASE, I need Miranda’s story!) I was also thoroughly entertained from beginning to end, and actively wished the book would just keep going so I didn’t have to leave this world and these characters. In short, this was my first Alexis Hall read but it *definitely* will not be my last.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: diverse representation in historical romance; friends-to-lovers; dynamic supporting characters.

CW: Ableism; deadnaming; mental illness/addiction/PTSD; grief; physical disability/war injury; mentions of child abuse; kidnapping.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Forever Publishing for the opportunity to do so!

Summary
After nearly dying in the Battle of Waterloo, Viola is given a chance to let who she was die and emerge anew as her true self. However, she finds that her oldest and dearest friend has fallen into the pitfalls of grief thinking that she is dead. Through friendship and love, the two find their way through society and back to one another.

Review (Light spoilers, so be warned)
Overall, I really liked this book. I've rarely come across a romance-never mind a regency era/period piece romance-with a transgender character that doesn't center their trans identity as the main conflict of the story. Viola being a trans woman is a portion of this story, yes, but it is by no means the focal point of the plot or the only defining characteristic she has. I think Hall did an amazing job executing this. Gracewood, Viola's friend and love interest (and other main character), also has an amazing character arc that sings true to the struggles of grief and PTSD. While it does take until the 50-60% mark to begin their relationship, the two of them are absolutely adorable together. All of the main supporting characters are amazing as well, and there is plenty of funny banter to go around.

My only complaint about this book is that it is very slow-paced, and the language tends to drag on from time to time. However, I cannot stress enough that this is merely personal preference-this is very typical for a regency-era romance, and those who are well versed in the genre will likely not bat an eye at it. Nevertheless, I like my romances slightly faster-paced, but that is just me!

Conclusion
I give this book 4/5 stars - the transfeminine representation is absolutely outstanding and unlike anything I have read before. While I do like them from time to time, I've grown weary of reading stories of queer characters being persecuted for or otherwise struggling with their identity. It's so refreshing to have a story where the representation is there but is not a major point of conflict. I want happy LGBTQ+ characters!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes regency-era romances and/or anyone who is looking for a good queer romance. For the latter, be aware that it is a bit slow/has flowery, period-typical language, but is overall an amazing story!

Heat Factor: A little bit of feisty bedroom action in an otherwise very gentle book
Character Chemistry: So. Much. Angst.
Plot: How to buck oppressive expectations + Interrogating gendered expectations
Overall: I expected this book to make me cry, and it totally did not.

This book is absolutely perfect for a book club. I cannot tell you how much I want to discuss the themes of this book with a group of people who would also be interested in meaningfully discussing them. I want to talk about all of the questions in the book club discussion section at the end of the book. I am very annoyed that I read this book by myself because now I don’t have that.

Did I like the book? Well, that’s an entirely different question, isn’t it?

Before I get started, please just don’t with any “it’s not realistic” because all that’s doing is demonstrating a serious lack of historical understanding, as well as a lack of understanding of how fiction works.

As I was reading this book, I was texting my fellow Smut Reporters for little check-ins because, for one, Ingrid is really good at psychology and for two, Holly read Something Fabulous with me and could understand some of the parallels I was drawing, and finally, we have been discussing gentle romance and emotional responsibility amongst ourselves A LOT lately. This book is throwing a ton of stuff at the reader, so if you’re already interrogating emotional responsibility and gendered expectations in your personal life, you might a) really feel connected to this story or b) really feel like it’s a lot on top of everything else. The fact that I already wanted to discuss some of these things as I was reading is, to me, a great indicator that this would be an excellent discussion book, and honestly, so does the fact that I had big enough feelings while reading to have rationality check-ins with the Smut Reporters. But I also didn’t connect with the book emotionally in a swoony or heart-eyes way because I was very busy having my brain process all the arguments being thrown at me.

I usually devour an Alexis Hall book, but this one was slower-paced and a slow read for me. In the first third or so, we’re focused on Viola hiding her identity from Gracewood, who has been depressed and suffering from PTSD since Waterloo and the loss of his best friend there. This section was too much for me. The level of “I have no right to ask this of you, but still I want to” was exceptionally frustrating, and I wanted to yell, “JFC, just own your damn feelings already, not everything needs to be an emotional burden!” For example, the following conversation might not be at all objectionable on its own, but what if nearly every conversation the protagonists had up to this point had almost all the same emotional beats?

“I would have said I was proud of you too, but it seemed presumptuous.”
“And now I feel I fished for your praise.”
“Not at all— I wanted to tell you how... how I admire what you’re doing. I just couldn’t find the words.”

In fairness to the characters, Viola is struggling with keeping secret the fact that she has a whole history with Gracewood as her former identity, and Gracewood is struggling with his perceived weakness in showing his emotional hurts to Viola. It makes sense that they’re dancing around each other a little bit, but also, it’s kind of like being on the Twitter TL where someone is clearly trying to put every imaginable caveat out up front so they don’t get pilloried for making a simple statement. Which is exhausting.

In the second third of the book, we’ve got the fallout from Gracewood’s discovery of the entirety of Viola’s identity. I found this section to be extremely engaging, not least because Viola and Gracewood finally stopped dancing around each other and just started talking to each other. After having a big fight. I read Gracewood’s side of that argument differently than Hall envisioned it (and I believe this because of the way the argument pans out, and who takes responsibility for what, and who is expected to take responsibility for what), which caused a whole other conversation with the Smut Reporters about emotional responsibility and how we should or shouldn’t take ownership of emotional hurts. But the characters were able to move forward, so I did, too, and the way they negotiated a new relationship had me on the edge of my seat.

Then came the final third of the book, and, you know, characters had been introduced, and I knew that something was coming, but what actually came was something of a surprise. A little bit bananas, but then it’s Alexis Hall, so why shouldn’t it be a little bananas? The resolution of Gracewood’s and Viola’s relationship was also really lovely. (With the added benefit of not belaboring and angsting over their options or lack thereof in the latter half of the book.) And Hall actually included an epilogue, which is very unusual for him, but which I really appreciated in view of all of the hopes these two had for their future in a space where achieving those hopes was not necessarily assured, even as we could see the possibilities before us.

If you want to read a deliberately progressive historical romance novel, I think I really would recommend reading this one. I still have very mixed feelings about the book for myself, but I absolutely do not regret reading it, and I only wish I had read it with friends so I could hash out all my thoughts and process all these ideas running through my head.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

I have to give a big round of applause to author Alexis Hall. What Casey McQuiston did for Red, White and Blue in providing an updated take on the fairytale romance, Hall has replicated with our heroine and her love interest in A Lady For A Duke. After having recently watched Heartstopper, all I can say is yes yes yes to positive trans representation where the focus isn't on the struggle of the transition itself but on the life after.

After reading Something Marvellous- a Regency era rainbow rompery- I thought I was in for some more Bridgerton-esque fun with this similarly timed novel. What I got instead was so much deeper and emotional, with a tone befitting the topic and the material. The love and acceptance in this book was so pure and beautiful. In one scene, Gracewood, looking for someone, refuses to bring Viola into a brothel. 'You have taken me to a brothel before', Viola counters. Gracewood replies: 'Yes but that was before I knew you were a lady' (sigh, sob).

It's almost hard to rate this book because of how important it is. While a little slow at times, the friends to lovers relationship between Viola and Gracewood was magic. I do want to note that I am not a transgender woman and that these are the voices that should carry the most weight in reviewing this novel. For me, however, the message is that love is love, everyone is deserving of it and I hope soon everyone can see themselves represented in romance stories. We all deserve a fairytale

The banter. The heat. The reluctant laughs from a Duke trapped in his own misery. I am so in love with this book- such a beautiful story that left me shook!!

Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an advance copy of A Lady for a Duke. I was nervous to start the book because I was hearing all sorts of buzz. I am here to report that the book does in fact live up to all the hype and then some.

Every character in this book was written perfectly, even the villains. Viola and Gracewood had chemistry from their initial meeting which may have been the first time Gracewood met Viola as her true self but they were childhood BFFs and Viola was presumed dead for at least two years prior to the start of the book. Finally living as the person she always wanted to be, she's a paid companion to her brother's wife. When a letter arrives causing Lady Marleigh (her sister in law/boss) to want to make an emergency trip to Gracewood, Viola comes along not knowing what to expect.

Here we see Justin (the Duke of Gracewood) as a shell of the man he used to be and it throws Viola for a loop. But the two have an immediate connection and Viola's internal struggles start quickly. We see a man with such PTSD that he is taking massive amounts of laudanum and shooting at ghosts.

While in residence at Gracewood, Viola and Justin begin to get to know each other and Justin starts falling in love with her. Of course, complications ensue and the trouble starts. BUT and I cannot stress this enough, it is handled so well. When Justin figures out who Viola was, he's mad but he's mad because she lied and hid, not because she's trans. In fact, the fact that Viola is trans was not a big thing really at all in the book and I loved it. The people who knew loved Viola because she's Viola and supported her no matter what. That was when I first started crying.

Then as the story progresses and we get more into Miranda (Justin's sister) and her sub plot, we see more of Justin coming out of his shell and actually living. We also have Miranda just trying to find her place and fit in and haven't we all been there? Wanting to fit in but not knowing how? That's when I cried again.

I cannot say enough good things about the book and I don't want to give anything away. I will say that Justin very clearly has PTSD which is dealt with later in the book in an incredibly thoughtful way. This book is nothing but thoughtful and emotional and I loved every single second of it.

Please pre-order this one if you at all love historical romance and strong heroines. I promise you won't be disappointed. A Lady for A Duke releases on May 24.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an area of Victorian history that is not well-known or often written about in romance novels (to my knowledge). This novel honestly sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole searching for information about LGBTQ in the Victorian era. I have read other historical romance novels that have briefly touched on homosexuality in the Victorian era as it pertains to a side character. However, no novel tells the story or experience of the LGBT community in Victorian times that I’ve come across. It is usually referred to like: “oh you don’t have to worry about such and such character because they are not interested in [insert opposite gender]”. It is literally used as a GBF side character role. If I am mistaken I hope someone lets me know because I have yet to come across another novel (other than this one) that speaks to transgender or LGBTQ community that is set in the Victorian era.

That being said I think this novel was done brilliantly. I honestly want to see more of Lady Lillimere. I think Mira should wind up with Lady Lillimere. I loved Lady Marleigh she was great and her son Bartholomew. He was so funny and adorable I just wanted to hug him through the book! I highlighted a lot of dialogue from Lady Marleigh and Bartholomew because it made me laugh out loud. This book is a great read!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (5 Stars)
Steam: 🌶🌶🌶/5 (open door scenes with description)

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

No Spoiler Review 👇🏻

This book was amazing! I’m such a fan of historical romance. I loved that this was a historical romance with a trans heroine! I am so glad we got this representation in a genre that I love so much. Also I love Alexis Hall's books so I knew this one was going to be great!!

Viola is a trans woman. She faked her own death in the army to become who she truly is. In her past life she was supposed to inherit the title of her family but now that she is out, she can’t as woman cannot inherit. She gave up everything to become herself. Her best friend The Duke of Gracewood thinks she’s dead. Her friend is struggling so much with grief so Viola and her sister in law come to his estate to help him. He does not know his friend is who she truly is now. Gracewood uses a cane so this book also has a disability rep! It also has a mental health rep showing Gracewood’s PTSD and Depression after being at war. I also liked that Viola being a trans woman was not the main source of conflict for this book.

This is a slow burn, friends to lovers historical romance with ALL THE MUTUAL PINING!. It’s written so well and I loved Violas and Gracewoods relationship. It made me smile so much. I also loved Lady Marleigh, her tenacity and friendship with Viola! This book had some heavy moments but it was also so cute, heartfelt, with funny movements and steamy scenes! I highly recommend this book.

** Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. **

I struggled with this one. I desperately wanted to love "A Lady for a Duke", however, I found it hard to lose myself in the world. Being a mood reader, maybe I just wasn't craving a historical romance or maybe I was looking for something a little lighter. While I wasn't able to love this book this time around, it's one that I will definitely try again.

*I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Oh. My. God. I read a lot of historical romance, and after awhile they start to blur together, but THIS BOOK is going to stand out in my mind for a VERY long time! This book is incredible.

Alexis Hall is such an excellent writer, and this may be their best book yet. The writing was flawless, and the story itself is so well thought out. I was immersed in this world from the beginning, and felt every emotion from every character. The romance was the perfect blend of serious and flirty, and is by far my favourite portrayal of friends-to-lovers. In particular, I loved the discussions around sex, sexuality, pleasure, intimacy, and all of the forms that can take.

This was also as much about romance as it was about family, which was so wonderful. Every character was vibrant and whole, and no one felt like a secondary character. I'm hoping some of them get their own book someday (fingers crossed!)

This book adds something really fresh and unique to the historical fiction genre, and should be a must-read for every romance reader's TBR.

*ARC provided by Forever through NetGalley for an honest review*

Alexis Hall always delivers! I am absolutely obsessed with this book. I rarely ever go for historical romance, but if Alexis Hall wrote it I will be reading it. And let me tell you, A Lady for a Duke did not disappoint.

Viola and Gracewood are both such deep characters, dealing with grief, trauma, and navigating society in their unique roles, changed after coming back from war. We get a trans main character where her being trans is not The Issue nor is Viola a tragic heroine - she just is.

A Lady for a Duke is also so smart and so funny. I found myself laughing (and crying, honestly) with these characters. I love this book with my entire heart. 5/5 stars.

Requesting this book on Netgalley was a no-brainer (I feel like I say that a lot, but it's true): one, it's a historical romance novel with a trans female heroine - which I have never before read in my life! - and two, it's Alexis Hall. I will read literally anything Hall writes, because he is THAT good.

So it was no surprise to me that this book blew me away, and then some. The story follows Viola Carroll, who, being presumed dead at Waterloo, decided to live as her true self. The decision cost her her wealth, title, and closest friend, the Duke of Gracewood. Years later, when she is living as a lady's companion, determined to be content with the fact that she will never have love, she is reconnected with Gracewood. The supposed loss of his friend has changed the Duke into someone barely recognizable as the man that she once cherished and admired, and she vows to never hurt him like that again.

But as they grow closer and the Duke opens up to her, she begins feeling for him in ways she never expected, and she has to decide what she can bear: a friendship with the Duke as Viola, an old maid who he feels a kinship to; or as Viola, his dearest, oldest friend ... and possible lover?

This book has all I could want in a historical romance: pining, questioning, long walks, dances and walks in gardens, confessions of love, friendship, lots of tea, cravats, and some *ahem* very delightful sex scenes (seriously, I was surprised at how they were navigated, but phew!).

All in all, a beautiful, heartfelt, entirely engrossing story by Hall, with a beautiful tied-up ending (and the potential for more stories within this particular universe?).

I was hooked from the second I started and devoured this in one sitting. I honestly don’t think there’s a book Alexis writes that I won’t love. Regency era isn’t something I gravitate forwards, but this all consuming, against all-odds, friends to lovers romance was absolutely everything.

“A Lady for a Duke” was such a beautiful book and I really enjoyed it. It starts off with Viola having adjusted to living life the way she’s always wanted to after being presumed dead at Waterloo. But in living life as herself, she had to give up her closest companion from childhood Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood.

While Viola has been finding herself, Justin has been wrecked with guilt thinking he killed his friend by going into the military and being Waterloo. Justin is doing so badly that he has been drinking and using opium enough to cause his sister worry which prompts Viola and her sister in law to visit Justin for the first time since Waterloo.

I absolutely loved this queer historical romance. This is the representation we need to see in the historical romance genre. Queer romance has existed in history and trans people have always existed with or without surgery.

I loved that Viola had a supportive family that helped with her transition and that Justin and his sister were also supportive of Viola. Having supportive friends and family are absolutely essential to people who are transitioning.

P.S. The epilogue was absolutely cute and lovely. I loved seeing that Vida and Justin were living their best lives together and with their children.

Note: there is some deadnaming in the book. But it’s done in a way that I think makes sense for the time period…I’m not saying it’s excusable, but Viola had a title before transitioning, so it’s mostly in referring to her title before.

4.5/5 ⭐️

This book was lovely in every sense of the word. It has amazing representation, mental health issues, grieving and addiction issues that were all handled in a beautiful way. The writing was good and I enjoyed the historical aspects of it was well as the more societal scenes. Unfortunately for me this books was just too long for the story it was trying to tell. I found myself getting my bored quite often. And having a hard time bridging the gap to the more interesting parts.

When I saw 'historical romance with a trans heroine', I knew I had to read this. It does not disappoint in the slightest. A Lady for a Duke touches on a lot of serious/difficult topics but does so with care and compassion for its characters. Every library should buy this book.

A Lady for a Duke is thoughtful, steamy, and reflective. As a trans reader, this made me feel so seen and affirmed, and I loved every second. The pacing was immaculate and I loved the way this hit the same spot as many tropes without actually fulfilling them - this friends to lovers romance read like a second chance and an amnesia romance wrapped up in one. Amazing.

Though I am not much of a regency romance reader I found this book incredibly enjoyable. I truly thought this book would contain at least some transphobia as the MC is a trans woman and it is set in a period of time where those matters were not accepted. However this lovely piece of fiction does not have Viola (the MC) deal with those issues and it is quite refreshing. Instead the drama is found in other places, like Viola feeling very stuck as she visits the people she knew before becoming her true self. For me this book lagged a bit in the middle as the focus was more on the ton and all I really cared about was Viola. However, the ending was so worth the read and makes it something I definitely want to reread in the future.

Thank you Net Galley and Forever for providing me with the arc of this wonderful book.

Alexis Hall has done it again. With his beautiful prose and visualizations, he’s created a romantic love story, set in 19th century England, with a transgendered woman and a Duke as the MCs.

We meet out main characters two years after the battle at Waterloo. Viola Caroll has let her old self (Lord Marleigh), die and re-emerges as who she was truly meant to be. Justin de Vere, believing his best friend dead, has been in drowning in his grief ever since.

Viola has been living with - and wholly accepted by - her brother, sister-in-law and nephew. Circumstances arose that cause her and Lady Marleigh to visit Gracewood and his sister, Miranda.

When Viola and Gracewood meet at this time, the chemistry is palpable, even with Gracewood not knowing who she truly is to him. And this begins a beautiful journey and love story.

In many ways, this is a utopian view of what acceptance might have looked like a couple centuries ago in England. However, that does not detract in any way from the beauty of this novel. This is a journey of self acceptance, as well as being able to really see what’s always been right in front of you. And it’s done so charmingly well by Alexis Hall.

There is trans rep, queer rep and mental health rep - all done with empathy and grace. The same can be said for so many of the lovely side characters, with their wit, eccentricities and kindness. Yes, there are a couple villainous characters, but nothing too dark to distract from the beauty of the love story. Oh, and don’t forget the pining 😝 There’s lots of that too.

A heartfelt romance that gets off to a rocky start, evens out in the middle, and then overstays its welcome with nearly 500 pages of scant plot and overtaxed slow burn. What plot there is is tedious, centering around the hero's naive little sister, and the author doesn't seem to understand that a truly effective slow burn needs much more plot to carry the main story while it heats up. Props to Hall for not using Viola's gender as the source of conflict, but surely he could have done better than this tired cliché, too. Viola and Gracewood are lovely, their friends hilarious (Louise would fit right in with the women of my family — I would like to adopt her, please), and they all deserve better than cartoon villains and kidnapped heiresses.

My thanks to NetGalley and Forever for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.