I mostly enjoyed this book! It was a bit slow for me at the beginning but I enjoyed the tension between the main characters. I’ve added this one to my lists of fun period romances. I loved the wit and sass some characters had. It was a fun book over all!

Clueless meets Emma/Breakfast At Tiffany's in this historical romance novel. I originally didn't know this was based on Clueless, but I picked out some Emma and Breakfast At Tiffany's references that I thought were really fun! I loved the cat named Cat and the MCs having to go out in the rain to find it. <3

ANYWAY, this is a childhood friends to dislike to lovers. Aspen was giving me big nerd boy energy. I loved how much Vesper talked about his glasses. It did irk me that he was still portrayed as a ladies man who could get whoever he wanted. I think it would've made sense for his character to not be promiscuous. I know it's a trope in hisrom, but I don't love it. Vesper was a very strong, fun character and I liked her matchmaking.

Their romance felt real but also went back and forth a lot. I wish it was more linear because their thoughts didn't always match up with their actions.

The spicy was SPICYYYYY. Like... outside, guys. OUTSIDE.

This was the first adult romance book I have read from Howard and I can't wait to go back and read the first book in this series! There were a lot of side characters in this story that confused me, but I don't think I would have been as confused if I had read the first book first. XD

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I've been pondering on my review for a little while. It's not my first Amalie Howard book and certainly not my last, but this wasn't my favorite by her. I felt the chemistry between the characters, but I struggled to connect with the characters to the point where I ended up DNFing it a little over halfway through. The writing was good and I love Amalie's humor, so it may have been a personal preference or the mood I was in at the time, but I just couldn't get through it!

Excited for the next one, though!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in return for my honest review.
I unfortunately had a lot of trouble recalling the first book of this series (which I had read last year), but that did not deter from my enjoyment of this book. It was witty and funny. Good level of spice too. I am looking forward to more books- there are two more unwed ladies in the Hellfire Kitties, and I hope to read about both of them!

This was a fun and quick historical romance. I really enjoyed following the Duke of Greydon and Lady Vesper's journey to happily ever after. I really do wish there had been a few more areas the author had wrapped up with a bow but overall a good read. I look forward to reading more from Amalie Howard in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This “enemies to lovers” had a touch too much immature bickering for my taste. I didn’t really feel it was necessary. I would have preferred this to be friends to lovers or brothers friends as more the focus as those tropes felt more natural in the story. This also didn’t give Clueless vibes at all. I actually caught the nod to Breakfast at Tiffany’s when the MCs are out in the rain looking for her cat named Cat.

I love second chance stories. This historical has groveling, and unique characters. This is Lady Vesper Lyndhurst, known as "Cupidella" who as given up on love for herself but loves helping others find the true love. She matches wits with Aspen Drake, Duke of Greydon who has returned to England after spending years as a paleontologist in America. They grew up together as they were neighbors in the country. Each of them has grown since her coming out and find themselves thrown together because of family. Each has a task ahead of them and are hiding secrets from others.

Aspen is back when he hears his mother is planning on declaring him dead and setting up his cousin Eustice as the new Duke. He knows she's after control the dukedom's purse strings and regaining control of the ton. She's been exiled to Bath by her son but is back in London for her ward Judith's coming out. Aspen returns to stop his mother's manipulations and to be there for Judith and her coming out. He also is determined to find the doctors who lied to help his mother have her father committed to an asylum. He asks Vesper as her role of matchmaker, to aid in finding a husband for Judith. But first he has to mend fences with Vesper as he believes he gave her the "cut direct" when she came out. It truth he was tongue tied and couldn't talk to her.

Vesper Lyndhurst is 23 and almost "on the shelf" being still single. She is poised, polished and perfect in society. When she's alone, she riddled with doubt and fights to respond to people appropriately. She's cultivated a persona that covers her insecurities. She and Aspen have history. She punched him in the nose when there were children and have been estranged ever since. Aspen is her brother-in-law's best friend so they rub shoulders now that he's returned to town. When he approaches her about aiding in finding a match for his ward Judith, she agrees. As they interact they begin to see the hidden secrets and grow to understand and rekindle romantic feelings.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amalie Howard's retellings of classic or popular media are always so much fun to pick up. Often, I find they can be a hit or a miss in terms of the development of the characters, particularly in the final third of the book. As usual, this one took me a bit to get into, but the concept of Emma / Clueless meets Bridgerton is just so much fun. Is it just me or does the mmc on the cover look a bit like Anthony Bridgerton?

Anyways, Emma is one of my favourite classics and I was so excited to pick this one up. However, as usual, I don't think I liked anyone apart from the main character? The mmc just wasn't serving the swoony romantic hero the way I expected. One thing it has just like Emma is longing and banter in spades which is always a winning factor for me! The mains have so much pride but also find themselves unable to stay away from each other. I love that tension and the drama of "when will they?".

The author always seems to do really extensive research on the historical period and does a great job writing witty dialogue! I'll be making sure to go back and read 'Always Be My Duchess".

This was another good historical romance novel from Amalie Howard!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

✨Never Met A Duke Like You by Amalie Howard✨

Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Series: Taming of the Dukes, Book 2

📚Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is beautiful, clever, and popular. Afforded every luxury as a duke’s daughter, she fills her days with friends, intrigues, and a self-professed knack for matchmaking. She may have sworn off love for herself, but she is rather excellent at arranging it.

Faced with an insolvent estate, the Duke of Greydon has no choice but to return to England in a final attempt to revive his family’s fortunes. He’s been gone for years, happy to have escaped his mother and the petty circles of the ton. To his dismay, not much has changed, including the beautiful and vexing heiress next door.

But when an accident of fate traps the friends-turned-enemies in an attic together, the explosive attraction between them becomes impossible to ignore and even harder to resist. They are total opposites and their lives don’t align in the slightest, but fate, the ultimate matchmaker, appears to have other plans . . .

📝This is the second book I’ve read by Amalie Howard and I’ve enjoyed them both. Our MCs, Aspen and Vesper, had great chemistry and snarky banter. The trope is enemies to lovers - my favorite - and there was definitely some spice!

This book also highlights mental health: Vesper has ADHD.

💫Thank you @netgalley and @readforeverpub for my egalley💫

Non-stop bickering between the two main characters and a plethora of unenjoyable events in this book have led me to rate it 2 stars.
I tried so hard to be invested in this storyline but I just couldn’t get with it. It is cute if you’re into historical romance / clueless vibes with argumentative bickering and asylums. Also a villain who does not get justice whatsoever.

Thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review 🎉

Excellent story with sympathetic characters. I loved that the duke had an interesting job you don't often (or ever) see in Historical Romance.
The idea of women in history maneuvering within the confines of the time is really shown well here. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

I always THINK I'm a historical romance fan because of my love of the Bridgerton TV show but unfortunately, that never seems to be the case. I didn't hate this book by any means and i think for fans of HR it is a great one but it just did not work for me... TY for the gifted copy!

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Amalie Howard

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

I really liked the way that Vesper and Aspen’s backstory and current re-meeting interacted to make the audience understand the history behind their relationship, and I really liked how each of their perceptions of the past coloured how they viewed the present. I also liked their interactions and the banter that was present between them, but I didn’t enjoy how Aspen repeatedly made the same judgements and assumptions about Vesper when he was aware that she was putting on her public performance. Other than that, I enjoyed the interactions between all of the characters and the way that Aspen and Vesper relearned each other (and the nicknames were amazing).

I LOVE clueless and I was so excited for this retelling in the regency setting. Unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. There were moments that just didn’t hit the same as Clueless does. And when you make sure to promote this book with a nod to Clueless I’m going to 100% compare the two. I think this could’ve had a little more oomph or something that would’ve made me enjoy this book a little more

If you're in the mood for a passionate Regency romance that defies conventions, this story awaits you. Never Met a Duke Like You by Amalie Howard blends the charm of Clueless with the allure of Bridgerton.

Meet the Duke of Greydon. A palaeontologist (so cool). He is faced with an insolvent estate, so he reluctantly returns to England after years abroad. His escape is short-lived when he discovers that not much has changed. This includes the beautiful and vexing heiress next door.

Meet Lady Vesper. A neurodivergent matchmaker. Despite her self-imposed vow to avoid love, she excels at arranging it for others. When fate traps them together in an attic, their explosive attraction becomes…

Howard tells a tale of opposites attracting and readers will root for their love to conquer societal norms and personal insecurities. The Regency setting comes alive, complete with ballrooms, secrets, and scandalous encounters.

We can’t end the review without talking about the characters. They’re complex, flawed, and utterly endearing. Vesper's determination and Aspen's vulnerability create a perfect balance. Howard's prose captures the essence of longing and desire, making this a page-turner for historical romance enthusiasts like myself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! I haven't been in as much of a historical romance phase, so this was my first of the year, and it was a fabulous one to start with. Now all I want to do is go read more!

Howard played so brilliantly with the setting, all of the galas and balls and parties were so much fun. I love her talent for describing clothes and capturing an environment, it's decadent. As for the heroines, I loved them as well. I'd really enjoyed Always Be My Duchess, but to be honest, I'd forgotten almost everything about it. I just remembered enjoying the writing style and the characters. And Never Met A Duke Like You had many of the same charms. I loved Vesper's girl group, and I can't wait to continue reading about them in the rest of the series. (Especially the friend and Lushing!)

But I think the real star of this was the romance. Friends to lovers is a trope I often avoid, but enemies to lovers has become so oversaturated recently. So, I think this book walked a very fine line between the two, and I loved it for that. Vesper and Greydon had so much chemistry and tension, I really enjoyed watching them slowly draw together. I found the conclusion of their relationship satisfying, and I really hope we see them make cameos in the rest of the series. After all that, I really enjoyed Never Met A Duke Like You and I'd certainly recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was just okay for me. I really love regency romances but I just didn’t love the writing style of this one. Unfortunately I didn’t like the main characters much either. However, I did like the side characters so I may still read the future books depending on who they are about. This is the second book in the series and I haven’t read the first but they can be read as standalone with some minor spoilers for previous couples. I think I might go and read the first book at some point as I liked those two characters a bit more. However, I mainly loved Briar and Lushing/Jasper so I’ll 100% be reading their book in the future.

Overall, the plot was okay. It was definitely a slow burn and very slow at that. I also didn’t realize that this was an adult book so there was a lot of spice I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t really form a connection with the mmc or fmc unfortunately.

So not the best but not the worst either. Still recommend if you like romances and historical romances at that! It really just came down to the writing and some of the characters that made me not love it.

Also thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book. So sorry it took me so long to get to it!

This is a fun friends to enemies to lovers romance . I really liked Vesper and Greyson as characters and their love story was sweet and steamy at the same time . I do enjoy their friend group and hoping we get at least one or two more stories
I didn’t love the villain and there is a lot of miscommunication , but overall I really enjoyed this one