This was another really solid regency romance from Amalie Howard. I didn't love this one quite as much as I loved the Beast of Beswick and the Rakehell of Roth, but I did really enjoy it, and I read it incredibly quickly, which speaks to its easy readability.

I liked that so much of this conflict in this book hinges on what I would imagine is a difficult issue for men and women in this time period, which is the struggle to discern the difference between the illusion a woman puts on for society and the way societal expectations shape her behavior, and the reality of that woman's personality and what she really wants. I felt for both characters because Vesper is so much more than she appears to most of her peers, but she doesn't always get the chance to show it, while Greydon is clearly affected by his past, but does allow this to impact unrelated things, to his detriment.

This was also somewhat spicy for a regency book, as I would say Howard's other books have been too, which I appreciate. The final showdown was a bit dramatic, but I think that the issues this book touches on are really important, and overall it's a strong romance.

Hold onto your corsets, fellow readers, because this book is like a sidesplitting comedy night that leaves you in stitches and shimmying with glee! It's not just about the author's nose-deep research—no, siree—this gem is a sidesplitting riot that had me chuckling like a mischievous imp and doing the most undignified feet-kicking dance!

Vesper and Greydon, folks, brace yourselves! These two are strutting around with egos the size of zeppelins, yet they're like magnets drawn to each other in a magnetic storm of epic proportions. Cue the confetti cannons because this is the good stuff, folks! The thrill of their electrifying dance is a symphony to my bookish heart, the kind of thing that puts that goofy grin on your face.

But wait, there's more! Tucked within the comedic extravaganza are moments so sweet they could give a candy shop a run for its money. These two aren't just hilariously at odds, they're also vulnerable and passionate, unveiling layers that are as soft as marshmallows under the blazing bonfire.

And oh, Vesper, you gem of a character! She's like a starburst in a room full of static, dazzling with authenticity while parading around in her society-approved façade. Talk about a powerhouse with spunk! She stands tall, holds her ground for all the right causes, and twirls through the narrative with a spirit that’s contagious.

And let's not forget the Duke of the myriad names—Aspen, for brevity's sake. Sparks are igniting left, right, and center with this one! Their repartee could fuel a rocket ship, and their chemistry? It's the sort that'd make chemists blush. Scenes between them sizzle and pop, leaping off the pages like fiery confetti.

So, history buffs and romance aficionados, gather 'round! If you're into frills, thrills, and a dash of scandalous allure, "Never Met a Duke Like You" is the treasure map you've been waiting for. Amalie Howard's tale of love and longing waltzes through Regency England, a world where elegance and intrigue take center stage, and the aristocratic society becomes a playground of complexities. Trust me, dear reader, this quirky escapade is one you won't want to miss.

Vesper and Aspen were childhood friends that through the years unknowingly fell in love with each other. They reconnected after some time. Aspen had been away but returned due to duty. Aspen also had to deal with demons that had resulted from his mother’s actions. Vesper was able to help him through it and realize that she was also afraid to love.

TW: Parental death, unlawful psychiatric commitment, manipulation

Wow, I thought I liked Always Be My Duchess a lot but Never Met a Duke Like You just blew it out of the water! Amalia Howard continue on with her Hellfire Kitties and we get Vesper's love story now. Vesper was admittedly a wild child in her youth, always traipsing around with her neighbor the future Duke of Greydon, Aspen. As their childhood went on and they grew up it was no longer cool for Aspen to be hanging out with a girl but he makes his way back when she debuts and is agog at how stunning she is. He can't form words and she takes that as a cut and their whole relationship turns to bitter enemies until Aspen heads to America to study fossils, where he's been the last seven years until his mother is about to declare him dead. The reuniting of Vesper and Aspen is everything you want it to be!

I really love Vesper, she was fierce and fearless when she needed to be and still managed to appear polished and poised. I love how close she was to her dad and brother, they were such a caring family. And I got Holly Golightly vibes from her naming her cat, Cat. Aspen was the epitome of hot nerd and I loved how Vesper got all hot and bothered over his gold rimmed spectacles lol. I really adored how much Aspen wanted to change the mental health laws, he worked so tirelessly! These two had such explosive chemistry, I didn't want to put the book down at all!

I have to mention I really love the way the author always includes factual events in her stories, especially this one with the Lunacy Act and the information about the children's charity. Amalia also includes mental health representation, not just in the laws that are mentioned but also in Vesper being ADHD and she includes a little bit of LGBTQ rep as well.

I'm definitely going to be continuing the story as I find them so entertaining and a great escape when I'm feeling loaded down by the fantasy genre. Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending me an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Howard’s book was cheeky and charming and kept my interest from page one all the way until the end! In fact, I think I read this in 24 hours… it definitely filled in my Bridgerton void. Loved the spice, tension and characters. Easy read and I enjoyed her writing style! This was my first of hers, and it most definitely won’t be my last!

Never Met a Duke Like You is a captivating follow-up to Always Be My Duchess, the first book in the Taming of the Dukes series. This novel follows Lady Verper Lyndhurst, as her former childhood friend and first infatuation, Aspen, Duke of Greydon, returns to the ton after a six-year absence.

The chemistry between Vesper and Aspen was 10/10. Every interaction heightened the tension and left me wanting more. Their bickering and banter were also very entertaining and made their vulnerable moments that much more heartfelt. Despite it not actually being a slow burn, it felt like a sloooow burn. As the reader I felt their longing, I longed along with them, the tension between them was so intense at some points that I had to put the book down and relax myself.

I appreciate Howard's effort to subvert the classic HR formula and introduce relatively modern neurodevelopmental disorders into the context of a historical romance. I also really like that more complex issues relevant to the time period are addressed - in this case, Aspen's efforts to revamp the Lunacy Act and implement more regulations surrounding the treatment of mentally ill patients.

I'm also loving how each book in the series is a retelling of a classic 90s chick flick, though, I did have a more difficult time identifying how this book paralleled Clueless in comparison to Always Be My Duchess and Pretty Woman. Regardless I am fond of the mesh between historical romance and contemporary girl movies.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series and other works by Amalie Howard.

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 2.5/5

What to expect
- Historical romance
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Banter
- Frenemies to lovers
- Mutual pining
- Jealousy
- Tension

does amalie howard ever miss? i dont think so. Never Met a Duke Like You was so wonderfully fun to read that i nearly forgot i was supposed to be working. Greyson/Aspen/Lord Ass was everything i think ive ever wanted in a hero and vesper/viper was a strong and well written heroine in control of her own destiny. the friend/family dynamics of this story truly shine despite vitorias efforts to bring greydon to heel. i cant wait for the next book!

This book was giving so many Bridgerton vibes, I loved it! Thank you so much Net Galley & Amalie Howard for this ARC. This book had the perfect amount of spicy romance that kept you wanting more, but didn’t make you uncomfortable. The friends to enemies vibes were throughly enjoyed and make the book perfect

Content warnings: torture (mentioned), being committed to a mental facility while sane

Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is a charming, exemplary duke's daughter that other young ladies in society can look up to. She wears her perfection as a mask to keep outsiders from getting too close. When she was shunned in romance by her childhood best friend, she decided to never marry. But when the handsome Aspen, Duke Greydon returns to his estate, she will come face to face with her past.

The female friend group Vesper tries to call the "Hellfire Kitties" return in this novel, each with her own causes and decidedly unhistorical feminist mindset.

Filled with witty banter and steamy romance, this enemies-to-lovers novel will thrill fans of historical romances like the Bridgerton series.

It's no secret that I've loved Amalie Howard's adult and YA novels, and she's become one of my favorite new authors. This outing delivers as much fun as the first entry in the series and is recommended for readers of historical romance.

Representation: neurodivergent main character

I think I’m giving this a 2.5, maybe 3???
I really did like this story but it wasn’t my favorite historical romance by any means.

It took me so long to get into this book (could’ve been bc it was a digital read) but I only started to like it at about the halfway point.

Plot: overall really cute and ending was great. There were too many side stories in my opinion. Took too long to get to the solid story/plot. The clueless connection was cute. Just not my favorite plot

Writing: way too modern lol .. does Amalie only write historical ? Bc she would be great at regular romances too! The writing was good though. Spicy scenes were written well

I covered this along with other historical romances on my YouTube page - michellephiferoli

Thank you NetGalley, Amalie Howard and Grand Central publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Excellent banter, ADHD rep, childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity and more make up this delightful sequel to Always be my Duchess.

This Emma/Clueless inspired tale had me so invested from the jump and I delighted in watching Vesper’s matchmaking schemes. Vesper and Aspen’s chemistry jumped off the page and had me hooked earlier then I did for Neve and Stone in Always be my Duchess. This book is making me want to reach Always be my Duchess again to be introduced to Vesper again. To be honest, she didn’t seem particularly memorable in Always so I was surprise and happy to see her character shine through in her own story.

The spice was next level y’all. I didn’t expect it to be that spicy and I was pleasantly surprised.

I really enjoyed this book. As usual, I didn’t know it was the second in a series, and now I want to go back and read the first one. I may have had an easier time keeping everyone straight in my mind. As it was, I got a bit overwhelmed and confused at times with all the different side characters and interchangeable names for the same person.

I loved Vesper. She gave off such a genuine spirit while presenting her best mask to society. She also wasn’t a pushover. She stood firm for the causes she believed in and for maintaining her own autonomy. Enter the Duke of a dozen names—I’ll be sticking with Aspen for this review—and all her fire burned bright. The banter and chemistry between them was top notch. Their scenes jumped off the page and I couldn’t get enough.

Aspen’s individual storyline in getting justice for his father brought the vibe down a bit, though it was educational of how mental health was manipulated and treated in those times. His mother was a horrible woman, and I admired his dedication to taking her down.

Overall, this was a great read. I’ll be adding the first book to my TBR and looking forward to future books set in this world.

This book was everything I wanted and so much more. The banter is perfection, tension is immaculate, spice is spicing, characters are entertaining, cat is ADORABLE the ending spectacular.
5 stars and wholehearted recommend to go check this book out when it comes out

This book was a lovely read! I enjoy historical romance and I really love the trend of historical romances with the fun cartoon cover. It’s just as engaging as the story itself—fun, light, and the perfect balance of plot and romance. A great read!

This was my first historical royal romance and I loved it! I loved the main characters. Their chemistry and banter was so cute and sexy. There was a little bit of spice that was 5/5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

Lady Lyndhurst and the Duke of Greydon’s reacquaintance does not go smoothly, but a forced get-together does spark some interest, but will it be enough to bring them closer together or drive them further apart?
The lady and the duke's favorite pastime is arguing with one another, and it leans too heavily on this premise to make a connection. The characters do not come across as entirely likable in the beginning, and any chemistry is tepid at best. However, events slowly build as Greydon’s family drama evolves. His character development is one of note, and his vulnerability brings him to life. Lady Vesper has greater character reveal at the outset, but the difference between her public and private self is so vast that it is hard to see them as the same character.
The reason to stick with the story lies in the family dynamic. However, it soon takes a back seat to Vesper and Greydon’s relationship, which is a delight. The ending is tidy and conveniently, if unbelievably, resolved. The secondary character references and unneeded animal appearances do little to further the story. Still, for fans of this series, it is a worthwhile read.

I really like the world that Amalie Howard has created in her Taming of the Dukes series. Although I didn't like Never Met a Duke Like You as much as Always Be My Duchess, it's still a not-objectionable historical romance, so it gets major props for that. I loved Aspen and Vesper's enemies to lovers vibe, and from the start, it's clear that the tension is ~ sizzling ~ between the two of them. That said, the enemies piece of their relationship feels contrived, which is maybe because it's not really revealed until later in the book (and they are more dramatic about it than seems necessary). Plus, there's so much hemming and hawing between the two of them, saying they don't want each other but then they do anyway and they push one another's buttons and go back and forth between saying they don't want each other and acting on their desires multiple times over the course of the book -- a little too much whiplash for my taste.

There were other things I really liked about this one. For starters, snarky nicknames as a love language -- Viper and Lord Ass are just hysterical. I also really like the Hellfire Kitties (I'm not entirely sure that the nickname for Genevieve and Vesper and their other lady friends fits for the time period, but honestly I don't care) and their presence throughout the whole novel. And points for neurodivergent rep!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for providing me with an eARC of Never Met a Duke Like You in exchange for my honest review.

I’m now a dedicated fan of the “Taming of the Dukes” series!! The main characters have been unique, sympathetic and fun to read about. I really loved Greydon and Vesper as a pair.

Summary:

Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is committed to charitable pursuits. In her free time she loves to matchmake — but she herself wants to avoid marriage. Vesper is dedicated to societal norms, except when with her besties. The book opens on Vesper lowkey trespassing in the neighbor’s gardens when a rainstorm shows up. The kitchen staff of the neighbor’s estate usher her inside. Vesper agrees, unaware that its owner, the Duke of Greydon, finally returned to England. Vesper decides to explore her neighbor’s home (she used to hang there) when she suddenly becomes trapped in the attic — with the Duke. The two have a complicated past – a childhood friendship ruined after Greydon snubbed Vesper’s society debut. The two immediately hit it off, but Greydon’s family is meddlesome.

Review:

Vesper is such a strong narrator. She undergoes a deep character growth. The author also clearly put research into the political subplots. I am also partial to any Historical Romance that includes a pet cat haha.

I appreciated the TW at the beginning — as this book gets dark when it comes to England’s treatment of the mentally ill in the 1800s.

I slightly wan't big on how this is the second book in the "Taming of the Dukes" series to have an older woman be an antagonist. It felt a tiny bit repetitive.

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review

i LOVED this one. i’m a huge fan of all things Emma and Clueless, and this was a fantastic twist of the story. Vesper and Aspen had such great chemistry, and childhood friends to enemies to lovers? Chefs kiss.

I can see the modern slang not being for everyone but it was established in the prior book so it’s cool with me. I think Amalie Howard creates really awesome female relationships throughout these stories while balancing the tension of the main protagonists.

A fantastic follow-up to Always Be My Duchess, honestly I think I like this one even more!

Ok- this book was BY FAR my most anticipated release of the year. I had read Always Be My Duchess last year and fell completely in love with the world Amalie had created for this crazy cool group of women (sorry Vesper, I can’t get there with Hellfire Kitties- but the effort is appreciated). ABMD was a Pretty Woman retelling so when I found out the next would be an Emma/Clueless retelling my little heart gave an extra little flutter.

Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is a match-making meddlesome sweetheart who just wants everyone else to be happy. She nudges her friends towards love, donates her time and money to the needy, but then ignores everything she needs for herself.

Aspen Drake, Duke of Greydon is a bespeckled duke/archeologist who just came back to London from the US to get his scheming mother off his back. The two are long time childhood frenemies and the chemistry and tension happen immediately and it was an absolute delight.

This book is def more Clueless and less Emma. Now how can that be? Clueless is based on Emma! Wellllll… Vesper is closer to Cher than Emma. Emma Woodhouse is naive but she also has a little bit of a mean streak. Cher Horowitz, while also naive is also just plain CLUELESS (ha!). Aspen on the other hand is more Josh than Mr. Knightly. Both are rather sanctimonious but Knightly is more preachy while Josh is just going through his “post-adolescent idealistic phase.” Totally different.

If the audiobook is half as good as Mary Jane Wells’s narration of Always Be My Duchess I will be a very very happy girl. I will absolutely be snagging that and my physical trophy copy for my bookcase.

5 Stars!!!

Thank you Amalie Howard and Grand Central for this ARC e-book in exchange for my honest review. The opinions you see are just mine