3.5 stars. Usually I love Eloisa James books, but this one wasn't my favorite. The plot is kind of messy, and I was frustrated with both main characters. Stella is cluelessly hurtful and Silvester takes way too long to figure out what he really wants.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This book is about a plump, 20 year old woman in her First Season. She is an orphan, with her parents passing away when she was 8. Her aunt, who had married down, raised her. Her aunt was childless and her husband lived in the country, breeding gourds. The heroine is red haired, plump with spectacles.
The hero is a young Duke, who is looking for a wife. His mother has suggested the heroine as an option, but he feels nothing but friendship for her. He does have a woman that he admires, as most of the eligible men do. The woman the hero admires leaves London and the hero takes that time to go to his estate without telling anyone, so Society thinks he ran off with the woman. When he gets backs, his best friend had married the woman because the loved each other. The hero conti used to visit the heroine. They met most mornings to play chess, but one morning before he left, he kissed the heroine. While everyone thought he was after one woman, his heart was slowly being drawn to the heroine.
The heroine had never felt that she was anyone he's first choice and that is what she told the heroine when he proposed the first time.
This was a good story, with a well paced story line. The characters all made sense and supported the story. I would give this book 5 stars.

Written on the same timeline as the Reluctant Countess, Stella is an academic bluestocking with a large dowry pining after Silvester…who is pining after Yasmin (of book 1). They get paired up to scavenger hunt together, during which Silvester loves talking to Stella and is so kind to her, but he’s delulu and thinks he’s not in love. Beyond the love story, this had the friendship of “odd” women sticking together and a character who looks like me, which is always fun. Stella has freckles, red hair, and spectacles, which singles her out every time she enters a room. It was super interesting to read about what it might have really been like for a woman without the classic English characteristics to be on the marriage mart. She calls herself, “The thimble, awkward and short” and I simply love that.

First of all, yes--of course I loved it. Eloisa James put a lot of herself into this one and I've never felt more connected to one of her characters. Short? Check. Curvy? Check. Freckled and bespeckled? Check. Super bookish? I have a book blog. Not sure who would argue with that one, so check. ...Secretly lusty? It's possible.

Second - the publisher's synopsis leaves so much out. This was such a great, spicy book. Yes, there's sort of an enemies to lovers situation going on, but it's more of an enemies to friends to lovers situation.

Stella has been made to feel like a sore thumb of the ton since her debut. With her freckles and spectacles, only her dowry seems to be attracting anyone. However, she'd honestly rather be by herself living next to a bookstore than married to a man who doesn't care for her in some way as a person. Especially Silvester Harwood, the most eligible bachelor in Britain - and a duke. But she knows that wouldn't pan out as he seems to be in love with Yasmin, a gorgeous French debutante with easy, infectious smiles.

Silvester is very fond of Yasmin, even though his eccentric mother has set her cap on him marrying the sharp witted and also somewhat eccentric Stella. He truly does not have designs for her, though he does find her to be quite intelligent and good for a conversation. However, when they go for a picnic and Stella falls in the water trying to get help his mother out Silvester is met with Stella's unexpected curves that have been hidden behind what has previously been deemed fashionable but didn't even hint at the luscious creature in front of him. This is all completely unbeknownst to Stella.

Silvester and Stella soon become friends with the help of her kitten, Specs, and neither knows the depth of lust they feel for one another. And secretly, Silvester's thoughts of Stella are less chaste than anyone might expect.

This book gets pretty spicy at times. I gave it four chilis because the scenes were written very well and the fact that Silvester was basically reduced to a primal being in his lust for Stella. This also got me in my chest a few times. I really felt the feelings Stella had regarding not being first for Silvester. Everyone wants to be somebody's someone, and just because she wasn't conventional didn't make her any less deserving of feeling beautiful and loved. She felt inadequate, but she had no idea how untrue that was.

Thanks to Netgalley, Eloisa James, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

This has been a good series, and I liked Stella's character. I always admire it when we have characters that aren't our usual society misses. The addition of the kitten in this one was also delightful!

I enjoyed Stella and Silvester's story although I would have liked more of "their" story rather than a basic rehashing of book 2 for the first half of their story. I did love that Stella wasn't your typical, historical romance more like an average girl that I just loved.

This one had its up and downs. The beginning was very slow as the hero (Silvester) was actively courting another woman, Yasmin, but I had high hopes once he realized his mistake and came back to win over Stella. But alas, SO MUCH of the book and the couple’s relationship centered around her. By the end I was so over it, and I feel like Silvester didn’t do a good job of convincing Stella, and the reader, that he was over Yasmin and loved Stella.

BUT credit where credit is due: the tension and the steamy scenes were very well done. I love how everyone thinks Stella is this awkward, curvy, freckled bookworm with glasses but everything the ton dislikes about her Silvester LOVES. Their chemistry was great!

Ugh such an amazing addition to this series! I love reading this author. It was such an easy breezy read. I literally laid in a sunny spot of my home and read this book in one sitting. Ugh cant wait to read more!

I adore Eloisa James’ historical romance novels, and Not That Duke was a treat! I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers story featuring Stella and Silvester. There is witty banter, memorable characters, and a sincerely convincing romance. Recommend to fans of Julia Quinn or Tessa Dare! Thank you to Avon and Eloisa James for the advance copy.

I love you Eloisa, but my feelings are so complicated.

Ok. Eloisa James is one of my very favorite authors. But this book just had so many things that aren’t for me. I really dislike time jumps, which this had. I usually prefer the hero’s POV, and I felt there wasn’t enough of that here.
The writing, of course, is phenomenal. The bones of great characters are there but you don’t get to see them shine in the framework of the plot. When it ended I honestly felt a little let down.
However, of course I recommend it, because it’s Eloisa James and even her meh books are better than most anything else!

Star Rating: 3/5
Tropes: Wallflower, curvy heroine

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Always a fantastic read penned by Eloisa James. I enjoyed tagging along on Silvester and Stella’s story.

I have been reading and enjoying Eloisa James's books for many, many years and can't think of one that I didn't love. They remain on my book shelves every time I have had to cull the volume and are read over and over again. The characters she creates are marvelous. The heroines are feisty and a bit "different". No wilting flowers here. And the heroes have their own issues that they need to overcome, making them a bit dense, before they realize that they love the heroine.

This book runs concurrently to the previous one. Silvester Parnell, Duke of Huntington's parents were free spirits, not caring at all about what the members of the ton thought of them, after all they were inventors. But they also neglected their children. At eight years old, Silvester decide that he would make himself into the ultimate charmer and he did. When Yasmine (from the previous book) comes on the scene, he decides to pursue her, partly just to provide competition for his friend Giles Renwick, the Earl of Lilford. His mother is pushing for him to pursue Lady Stella Corsham, a smart red headed freckled orphan, who only wants to be loved for her self, to be someone's first choice. If she can't find that, she would rather live alone next to a bookstore. Mother knows best, but he is too stubborn to listen to her. So while he appears to be wooing Yasmine to the ton, he really prefers to spend time verbally sparing with Stella. She has not made friends with the other debutantes, who all seem to be mean girls. And she lets them get into her head, so when Silvester finally realizes that she is the one he wants, she doesn't believe him and despite their chemistry she still believes that he loves Yasmine. For a charmer, Stella gets him all tongue tied so he can't say the words that she needs to hear and he resorts to blackmail.

I would say that Eloisa James writes historic RomComs. The dialogue is full of lively banter, and the characters very well developed. Once the series is done, I will re-read binging all the books, back to back. I read an ARC which I received from the publisher via NetGAlley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

4.4 🌟's

so good omg!! im a sucker for heroines like stella who think they can't be loved and hero's that just love them regardless -- so swoony! the cast of characters (specs and all) was so lively and fun and i had such a wonderful time reading this book <3 stella deserves the world!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC via Netgalley!

Not That Duke is another great read from Eloisa James. Lady Stella is forced into marriage with the WRONG Duke, but is he really the wrong duke? Read Not That Duke and find out for yourself.

You know when you KNOW a couple is perfect but must go through the agony of watching them dance around each other- well, you'll get that here, but it does give the couple time to get to know each other and build a relationship based on friendship and honesty first. Stella and Silvester show each other what they don't to others, and feel things for the other they don't feel for any other (no matter how popular or beautiful others may be).

The first half of the novel does correspond with the previous book in the series, so it was interesting to see what went through Silvester's mind and what else was happening. The second half we see Silvester and Stella really take center stage as he finally truly fights for what he wants.

The characters were very human in their faults of competitiveness, lying (to get what you want), and fear of sharing their feelings. It could be frustrating to read, but kept you engaged in the story and I couldn't put it down. Silvester especially learns the error of his ways...

Overall, an enjoyable read with lots of pining because they are so so infatuated with each other from the beginning.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

feat: pining, possessive hero, friends to lovers, arguing as foreplay, only open to you <3

3.5 stars
2.5 spice

Always a big fan of eloisa james and we will definitely be getting this book for our collection here at the library. Loving this series and would recommend it

🙅🏻‍♀️ Book Review 🙅🏻‍♀️

There's a reason Eloisa James is an autobuy author for me. Her books always deliver an elite level of swoony romance: a perfect mix of longing and pining, making mistakes, groveling, forgiveness, character growth, and ultimately figuring out love and happiness. Not that Duke delivered on all of that.

✔️ Crushing on the Wrong Person
✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ Opposites Attract

Not that Duke is the third book in her Would-Be Wallflowers series but you can dive in as a standalone - I did, though I will read the others at some point!

This book is about Stella who isn't exactly what you'd call a Diamond of the season. Her hair is red and wild, she has freckles and glasses - things that the beautiful ladies make fun of her for. The Duke of Huntington has been pursuing someone else even though his mother thinks Stella would be perfect for him. She thinks he's hot, but she does not even consider him since he is obviously in love with someone else. However the more time they spend together as friends, the more he is attracted to her, making things complicated.

Ok, some of you might be like - this sounds like there can be a lot of miscommunication here. And sort of? But it's more about the assumptions we make about ourselves and other people. Stella guesses at his feelings based on her observations and even when he says hey that's not true, she thinks he's just being nice. So even when he tries to communicate, it doesn't feel true to her.

I also loved the many funny bits here where Stella and the Duke are just having fun together, from playing chess to playing with her friend's kids at a party.

The end was probably my favorite part where Stella is the most vulnerable and articulates her feelings about being his second choice and then reading what is going on in his head as he finally hears her and understands how she was perceiving his actions. It made my heart hurt a little. But of course it healed with the swoony section right after. 5⭐️!

Steam 🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

Was eagerly waiting for this book. One will never go wrong reading an authentic historical novel. Every page was so much fun to read. There is humor, a little angst, even the upper crust of the tin face issues was drawn out well. Love the side of the clever women Dewan to science and engineering during the period amazing touch. I can go on and on, loved every single page. Grab the book.
There is friendship, romance, strong men and stronger women. I always waiting for Ms James’ next book.

The audiobook is equally smashing.

I love Ms. Eloisa James, so I will gladly read any of her novels. Sadly, I haven't been enjoying her current "Would-Be Wallflowers" series. I really like the heroine and side characters, but I haven't fell for the romances. I think the males are a little shallow so I am not very invested in the romance. BUT, I adore the dowager so I am so happy we got to see more of her here. Thank you Eloisa James and Netgalley for an arc.

"Or otherwise indicate that in demanding her son marry a version of herself— a short, opinionated woman, albeit with spectacles rather than a monocle— his mother had lost her mind. “

“Men like to be listened to, and they all think they have something worth saying.” She tossed Stella’s robe onto a chair and dropped a billow of sweet-smelling silk over her head. “They want to be charmed,” Merry said, unsurprisingly. “The easiest way to do that is to convince them that they are charming."

“As a young lady, I have no responsibilities other than to be charming enough to attract a husband,” Stella said, in the spirit of fairness. “It’s not fair of me to criticize you. Sometimes I feel my entire life is bounded by a tea tray.”

Not That Duke is a fun enemies to lovers historical romance that had me turning pages. I loved the wallflower Stella and even Silvester grew on me. He’d be perfect if he did a bit of groveling.