I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. The cover was absolutely stunning— one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen. I love the Bridgertons, both the book series and the TV series. I had really high hopes for this book but was disappointed.

Some of it was definitely me. I really hate first person narration in historical romances, and I absolutely despise it when the narration shifts. Given that this book had shifting first person narrators, it was going to be a bumpy ride for me, no matter how great the book was otherwise. I fully own that this is my issue.

But some of it wasn’t me. I found the tone of the book to be inconsistent. Her father‘s actions during the proposal scene were one of the most clear examples of the tone rapidly switching. This book seem to veer from a romance, to a sitcom, to a family drama, to a thriller. It was just too much. They were also some small details that were incorrect that really bothered me. Forms of address were off; a Duke isn’t referred to as a lord. There’s a reference to Aphrodite saying no to someone who asked for a dance, and her mother says she must dance with the next person who asks. But at the time, if you turned down a partner, you couldn’t dance with anyone the rest of the night! I know these are picky details, but I read a lot of historical romance, so these things really stick out like a sore thumb.

What I did like: Aphrodite’s family, especially her sisters. Aphrodite herself was a wonderful character. I loved the diversity of the characters. I read romance for fun; it’s a fantasy. I like reading about a world where dukes and duchesses are Black.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC.

2.75 (???)

I'm sorry I just can't read about women who continue to love men even after they mess up and leave them because I, man-hater #1, cannot relate. Y'all stay safe though.
That being said I really appreciate that Aphrodite (fave Goddess) is not only beautiful but knows it, because it can get really tiring when romance books expect you to think the leading lady is ugly.

I read McAvoy's previous book, Black Rainbow, but unfortunately, I wasn't impressed with this particular book.

I struggled to finish it because neither of the main characters gripped my attention, and the writing was unevenly paced and plotting was haphazard.

I hope that McAvoy returns to writing contemporary romance soon, because their first historical attempt was lacking.

A fun and sexy historical romance that I finished in one sitting. J.J. McAvoy always sucks me into her world and it’s impossible for me to put her books down after I stop. She has a way of writing that really makes you feel like you’re in the book with these characters. Excellent scene setting and character development. Definitely a must read for any Bridgerton fans.

While I have your attention, go read Black Rainbow by J.J. McAvoy if you like professor/law student books with a How To Get Away With Murder vibe.

THANK YOU for letting me review this book.

I don’t normally read many historical romance books but this one was an exception! If you’re A fan of Bridgerton I really think you’ll enjoy this. I liked how the main character is a woman of color and it was normal!! I will say some things in this book could be triggering to read so definitely check that first!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review Aphrodite & The Duke.

Historical fiction has become a new favorite genre for me. I find it fascinating. This book will give you friends to enemies to friends to lovers… vibes. Main characters aren’t usually my favorites but, Aphrodite takes the cake. She is level minded throughout the entire book. I got mad a the duke more times than I did with Aphrodite.

Aphrodite and the duke is a story about a misunderstanding between two parties, a betrayal, shitty family members, and pushy mothers who is always right. With this book being set in the regency era with POC characters, it gives me life. It’s beautiful written and it’s a novel I would recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction. I can’t wait to see the physical copy of the book in stores and hear what others have to say about it.

This review will be posted to goodreads.

Wow!
What a great read,I don't usually read historical books but I am glad I did. I loved the storyline and the main two characters. If you loved Bridgerton then you will love this book.

Aphrodite and the Duke
J.J. McAvoy

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballentine for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

After seeing this captivating cover and knowing that it’s written by JJ McAvoy I knew I hadddd to pick this one up! And what an enjoyable read it turned out to be!

I’m a total sucker for second chance romance, that whole ‘love is not enough’ bit is always so beautifully angsty! And this book is no different!

Aphrodite and the Duke, follows the story of the incomparable, Aphrodite, a diamond of first water and her return to the season after being brutally jilted by her first love in her debut season.

The course of true love doesn’t run smooth as they say but Aphrodite and her first love reached near star crossed levels of unluckiness.

Nevertheless she’s put that all behind her (total lie) and is determined to ignore him for the rest of her life.

Except fate — and love is not done with them yet!

As much as I did enjoy this one, my enjoyment was dimmed because the hallmark of second chance romance: the flashbacks of them falling in love the first time around were woefully lacking. (Heartbreak!) Instead of that, we got a very close look at all her family, a big beautiful teasing household filled with fun and light and laughter! I reallllyyyy hope we get to have their stories. We also get to see a bit of what comes after the HEA, sometimes things aren’t so settled and we got all the little details of the life of a new bride in the regency -era and we got to see Aphrodite grow up a bit and lots of other excitement!

Very enjoyable! Would 100% read again!
Would love to see this become a series!

I’m so happy to have received this arc. JJ McAvoy is an author who means a lot to me but this review is honest.

This book started off quite slow and was focused too much of Aphrodites family members. Each family member could have had their own book where it focused solely on them. I would have enjoyed this so much more if it showed us Aphrodite and Evanders past and flipped back and forth in the timeline. The first 50% was quite slow to the point where I felt like it should have ended there. BUT from then on, the paces picked up and I was hooked. I normally don’t care if my books have a plot but oh my the plot of this was engrossing. I tried so hard many times to not skim through the book, I was telling myself to take my time because I wanted so badly to know what was next. Skimming as in, trying to read way too fast to see what happens instead of skimming due to boredom😂😂

Be mindful of the trigger warnings, there’s actually quite a lot of trigger warnings. But even though it had its dark moments, it’s quite insightful for the time period and made the story more than just a romance. It shows how society viewed woman, how a cheating husband destroyed a family and a sibling relationship, how/why an abuse victim will return to their abusive spouse, how rumors can be false and harmful, and more.

Tw: death of a parent, cheating, child neglect, child abuse from a step parent, attempted suicide (not graphic), sibling rivalry, death.

While this isn't normally my genre, I will admit that I enjoyed the social drama of the period with the balls and gallantries. The book is fast-paced but I was a little bored towards the middle, it picks back up quick and was resolved quickly however.

There's nothing wrong with this story, I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Evander leaves much to be desired - he often teases Aphrodite for her naivetie and doesn't include her in his world for most of the book. I get that it's the plot but I would have loved to see more character growth between the two. I get that they desired one another physically but I didn't quite get the emotional side of their relationship.

Not a bad read if you're into these kinds of stories but not enough for me to keep my interest for long.

Going into this I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew I loved the cover and I was up for reading a second chance romance. I did expect this to be as angst filled and dramatic as it was. I really did like this romance by J.J McAcoy.

This book is about Aphrodite and Evander’s second chance romance. They where childhood sweethearts and everyone expected them to marry. But after her debut everyone was shock to see Evander marry another especially Aphrodite. So much so she left London heartbroken. Now she is back in London when her sister is about to debut and Evander is a widower. Will they be able to get there second chance or what came them apart before come back to haunt them all over again? And will Evander be honest with Aphrodite about not only what came them apart but the secrets he long kept from her.

This book was separated into two different parts in more ways than one. The London season and rekindling of Evander and Aphrodite was a lot of the first part. With the second part being more the with Aphrodite becoming a duchess and Evander’s family issues. I enjoyed the first part as I loved Aphrodite and her family so much. They brought the comedy relief and a calm before the storm. While I also liked the second part I will say it took me awhile to like Evander in this book. Also took me awhile to get into the family war Evander was facing. Once I did the dramatics of that war I did enjoy. Also I don’t think Evander was fleshed out well in the beginning. I didn’t realize he was a single father until the 30% mark into the book.

What I enjoyed most in this was the Aphrodite character and her family. As well as the characters of Verity and Dr. Darrington (can’t wait for that book). Plus little Emmeline. I like the more comedic side to this book. Again it took time for me to get into the angst but once I did I was fully invested into it. The romance of this I enjoyed and would probably liked more if I warmed up to Evander sooner. You could see these to loved each other. I love how Aphrodite fought for their/her happiness once she realized what she wanted. I just wish for more honesty from Evander. I know he thought he was protecting her but after what drove them apart in the first place I felt he should have known honesty was for the best. Overall I very much enjoyed this. Would recommend for anyone want both a historical romance with a second chance and someone that likes both comedy and high angst into their romance.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing for this arc.

Content Warning for childhood abuse (side character), domestic abuse (side character), attempted suicide (side character), parental negligence,

Let me start this with a little about what I read. I read dark and I mean dark with all the triggers, if it is taboo or needs a warring to read it, I will read it. I would read a greeting card if Author JJ McAvoy wrote it. I went into this thinking I would love the writing and just be bored because it was "not my norm." I WAS WRONG, I really really loved this story, the characters, and the drama. Do not get me wrong this is a story that is light and airy. You can visualize the beauty of high society, the ball gowns, and the opulence perfectly laid out in stellar writing.
You also get a not-so-perfect Duke with secrets that are hindering him from being with his one true love. Our leading lady with the name of a goddess is heartbroken and dejected by her one true love, her only option leave London and try to heal her heart.
The push and pull between Odite and Evander is felt right from the first glace as the season is among them in the ton.
Is a second chance worth the risk of getting your heart ripped to shreds again? Is the man who broke you worth everything? How far will you go to protect the man you love?
All of these questions are answered in this fantastic story that has opened my dark loving eyes to something new and that is very exciting! It must be said, I read this book in a day, that is how much I enjoyed it.

This is a world I wished I lived in. Where everyone can be everything can be everything. I still like how she keep the societal rules of the non fiction time.
Hasn’t every black little girl dreamt of being an English duchess or princess. We need more books like this for POC. History wasn’t kind to us but this lets us reimagine history!

Loved McAvoy's first foray into Regency Romance. Aphrodite was so sweet, smart and flawed. As was Evander. The story was great. McAvoy set the scenes beautifully, the pacing was great making this very hard to put down, the cast of characters was outstanding. The bickering amongst the sisters was spot on and I loved it. I really enjoyed it and would love to maybe see the sister's love stories in the future???

I want to start off this review by saying that I loved the Bridgerton books, so I’m all for the historical romance novels. This book got my interest due to it being a black woman or at least a woman of color being the main character in a historical setting and that her color didn’t hinder her “beauty”. As the story continued I found myself getting bored, I loved getting to see her relationship with her family but it seemed a bit excessive. Also that it was highly predictable except one part but the unpredictability made it a bit boring.

The relationship between the two main characters were just so adorable and I loved that the story didn’t just end at the wedding. The author gave us an insight to their married life and how the fated couple dealt with trials and tribulations in their marriage. I don’t know about anyone but I felt like I could vividly see how much love the duke has for Aphrodite, which just had me squealing every encounter.

This book was actually pretty good and had amazing chemistry even though they did frustrate me but that’s okay since they’re together at the end,

I haven't seen Bridgerton but reading this made me love the Regency setting and I really enjoyed this book! And I love the cast of characters in this too. Plus the romance as well.

I must admit - I’ve read all of the Bridgerton books, but have never watched the series and don’t really have a desire to. So - one may ask - why did I request “Aphrodite and the Duke” by JJ McAvoy? Well, first - the cover suckered me in. Regency era - yep, that a bit too. Second chance romance - sometimes up my alley, if written well. So, I was very pleased to get an advance copy of this book.

In very many ways, I enjoyed this book. I liked the second chance romance aspect. I enjoyed reading about the society rules of the time. The story kept me engaged and I found the two main characters well written. Sometimes the pacing was a bit too slow for me, especially in the beginning when setting up the dynamics. While I found the antics and interactions of Aphrodite’s family amusing and entertaining, because they were mainly absent in the second half, it felt a bit confusing as to why so much time had been devoted about them. I’m not a fan of miscommunication (or lack of communication), but due to some of the restrictions of the time, I let some of it not bother me. I did like how Aphrodite questioned the society she was in, yet also dealt with it with smarts within those restraints. I also really enjoyed the fact that Aphrodite’s family being Black was just accepted and not the focal point of the story (wonderfully refreshing).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballentine for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded 5 Stars)
Publication Date: 8/23/22
Number of Pages: 384

Well, well…not having read anything by J.J. McAvoy, I was totally impressed with this story and her writing. I was more impressed to read my second historical romance novel that featured the heroine as a person of color…the cover and description that drew to wanting the opportunity to read “Aphrodite and the Duke”.

Thus, the story of Aphrodite “Odite” Du Bell who was considered “a Diamond” during her first season, and is still viewed as very beautiful among the ton. Her name is synonymous with being a goddess of beauty…something she finds hard living up to the name. She is summoned to her family’s home in London to assist her sister in her first season after four years of mending her heart that was broken by her first love, Evander Eagleman, the Duke of Everley.

The trope is of second chance love and begins again with Odite having her second season to find a husband, and Evander, now a widower wants to rekindle his love with her and needs to be that husband she is looking to marry. This is one sweet book with likeable characters. I found Evander to be loving and caring and it showed in his pursuit again for Aphrodite…even risking his life for her. I loved Odite’s character as well and she knew what she wanted and was tired of everyone telling her what to do. She was wise in her decisions and for both, sometimes doing everything one way in the eyes of others, does not make it right for the people involved.

Although the story started off slow in the beginning, by midway through the book it was just a wonderful breath of fresh air and introduced the conflict surrounding why Evander circumstances caused the breakup of the H/h. There was some angst but not overdone which I liked for this story. As the H/h reconstructed their relationship, I did expect more of a steamy and heated romance between the two as she was very naïve in the way of lovemaking and after four years of pining for each other. In addition, I so loved the sub-characters (Odite’s family) that brought banter, love and a humorous side to the book. The family dynamics were well-written that at times it drew me into the middle of the family.

Such a delightful and enjoyable story and I am so looking for this first to continue as a series (especially of Damon and Silva). Thank you J.J. McAvoy…I look forward to reading more from you. Highly recommend the read.

This is a fabulous book. I loved the interactions of the main characters. If you love a certain book series that’s on Netflix, then you will love this one. I love to read a book with POC representation, that is not filled with trauma. I would highly recommend this book. I received an ARC for my honest review.

When Aphrodite Du Bell was sixteen her mother's godson - Evander the Duke of Everley - promised to marry her. And in doing so promised to give her the freedom to be who she wanted to be, Two years later after her debut her family eagerly awaits the start of the courtship. However, they receive an invitation to the Duke's wedding.

Four years later, Aphrodite's heart is mended and her mother is determined to get her married by the end of the social season. At the same time Evander had returned, widowed, and determined to marry the woman he has wanted all along. But first he is going to have to be honest with her, her family, and himself.

Perfect for fans of Netflix's Bridgerton or anyone who wants multicultural representation. As an African - American myself, I was drawn to the cover. A Black woman in a gorgeous dress with ebony curls. It's nice to have myself presented in a historical novel not facing trauma.

That isn't to say this book doesn't have drama because it does. However, when Black characters are featured the drama is distressing to the point of being unrealistic. So readers get annoyed and never finish it. That does not happen here. Aphrodite and the Duke holds its own as a historical novel with an appropriate amount of entertaining and realistic drama.