This was a delightfully lusty, hilarious take on the 10 Things I Hate About You, and Amalie Howard somehow made it BETTER by adding in a no-strings affair that our heroine instigates.

Y'all know the premise of 10 Things; Here, younger sister Viola isn't allowed to have a suitor until her socially outcast older sister and heroine Effie lands one, so Viola's douchey beau offers to forgive the hero Gage's debt if he pretends to be Effie's suitor for six weeks. Except a few things become apparent right off the bat: Effie is a tall, wacky animal lover and suffragette who has no filter and makes jokes about cats being dickmatized (sorry, "prick-merized")... and Gage is SUPER into all of that. And the feeling is mutual, leading to a deviation from the original plot: Effie asks Gage to be her lover so she can explore her sexuality because she has no plans to marry (I do think her rationale for this became flimsier as time went on and Gage proved himself to be a good person, despite his initial motives).

I LOVE a romance where both the hero and heroine are unabashed about their desire for one another, especially when the heroine is just as vocal as the hero, and this book does not disappoint. Gage is BIIIIIG and SCOTTISH and a BOXER— and a genuinely nice guy without being a Nice Guy— and Effie isn't shy about letting him know she wants to climb him like a tree (or alternatively, like her cat who does so within seconds of meeting the man). We also get classic romcom girl-gang shenanigans with Effie's friends, the Hellfire Kitties, who aren't shy about egging Effie and Gage on either.

The sex:

This book genuinely has the most well-done mutual virginity-loss scene I've ever read. Effie and Gage are perfect combination of naturally carnal and a little insecure as they sort of roll with the punches (and by punches I mean That Thing a virgin hero is perhaps more liable to do than an experienced one.....). Also, I really appreciate the inclusion of condoms and lube— The latter especially is something we don't see enough in romances, in my opinion, and based on Effie limping around TWO DAYS after being devirginized, the lube feels quite necessary here lol.

And not only are sex toys involved (something else I rarely see in historicals even they absolutely existed then) in a very hot mutual masturbation moment, but there's also a carriage scene!

Overall:

Amalie Howard once again knocked it out of the park with this book: not only does it have that classic romcom feel that had me giggling and kicking my feet, it also brings the heat in a way that's humorous and sex-positive. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a light-hearted historical romp, and I'm looking forward to the inevitable enemies-to-lovers excellence that will be Briar and Lushing's book.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5
Heat Level: 3.75/5
Publication Date: September 24th

I adore this series by Amalie Howard, and The Worst Duke in London may well be my favorite yet! She took a story I dreaded reading in school (The Taming of the Shrew), flipped it on its head, and gave us a delightful and steamy love story for all the hard headed daughters out there. Simply loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc. This book was a lot of fun. Witty banter, a strong FMC, supportive besties. I love the Taming of the Shrew/10 Things I Hate About You retelling. I read this book without reading the previous 2 books in the series. I was still able to follow however I would recommend reading the other 2 previous books first. I think it would have given me a greater understanding of the other characters. Overall, this book was very enjoyable with some more modern language for a historical romance. It interested me enough to goo back and read the previous 2 books in the series.

4.5

another series i’ve just randomly jumped into, but i’m glad i did! i really liked this book. a fun little regency romp with more spice than i expected (NOT COMPLAINING).

i liked how “simple” their falling in love seemed, especially for two people who seemed so against it at the start of the story. it was just something that happened! also i think less conflict than normal, which i did appreciate, although there were some like kind of high-stakes moments. DEFINITELY will be picking up book 4!

#netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!!! i love Amalie Howard and this is easily my favorite of this particular series. I loved the regency take off on ten things I hate about you and the two main characters. A good the duke is a virgin story is always a rare delight and I really appreciated the heroine who basically wanted to have sex and that was it. It was so refreshing. The friend group and extended universe is a delight and so was the B romance. This is more a 4.5 then a a 4!

This was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. I do feel like like some of the language used felt out of place for the time period and made it seem less genuine. Overall is was a good read!

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

📚✨Book Review✨📚
The Worst Duke in London
Author: Amalie Howard

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Notes: This is book 3 in the series and while it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend book 1 because that was also a 5 star read!

I received a copy of this book as advanced reader, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🐶 I’m a sucker for a book with a hot Scot and this one delivered. Scottish endearments, big tall and sexy hunk,
plus he wears a kilt… I’m in!

🐶Effie is such a delight! She is strong and confident in her independence.
I LOVE that she takes control of her life and strikes the bargain with Gage.

🐶If you loved 10 Things I Hate About You then you’ll adore this!

What I Didn’t Like:
🐶 Not much! The only thing I didn’t like is ‼️SPOILER‼️ that we hear about Vesper and Lushing’s father being very sick which alludes to him being gone soon. It just made me a bit sad. I know is he has to go for Lushing to become a Duke, but it’s still tough to read.

Final Thoughts:
🐶 This series has been so much fun to
read! Every book is a delightful mix of historical romance with a focus on more feminist ideals. I’m really looking forward to the next one which I’m assuming will FINALLY be Lushing and Briar!!!!

#bookreview #reviewsneedlovetoo #readforeverpub #unpopularopinion #booktok #bookstagram #bookfriend #books #bookish #booklover #instablog #romancereader #romcom #fantasybooks

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

It's always fun to see just how much impact 10 Things I hate About You/Taming of the Shrew have had on the current crop of romance writers. While the "being paid to court/date the shrewish older sister by the youngest sister's suitor" trope has popped up more frequently in recent years, Amelie Howard's contribution is filled with the joy and wittiness I have come to expect from her books. This was a great addition to her catalog and a lovely read for any historical romance reader.

"The Worst Duke in London" by Amalie Howard is a delightful Regency romance blending enemies-to-lovers and fake courtship tropes. Lady Evangeline Raine, with a penchant for animals over society, reluctantly agrees to a fake courtship with debt-ridden Duke Gage Croft. Their arrangement sparks unexpected passion and challenges as they navigate societal expectations and their growing feelings. Howard's witty dialogue and vibrant characters create a charming tale reminiscent of Bridgerton meets 10 Things I Hate About You. Perfect for historical romance fans seeking a blend of humor, intrigue, and heartfelt romance in the glittering world of Regency London.

"The Worst Duke in London" by Amalie Howard is a delightful Regency romance that cleverly blends the charm of "Bridgerton" with the wit of "10 Things I Hate About You". This book is a fun and spicy enemies-to-lovers story set against the glittering backdrop of London's high society.

Lady Evangeline Raine, a fierce animal advocate with no interest in marriage, is coerced into participating in the London season for her sister Viola’s sake. Enter Gage Croft, the Duke of Vale, who, burdened with debt, agrees to a proposition: win over the impervious Evangeline so Viola can be courted. But Effie has her own terms—she’ll go to London if Gage agrees to be her lover. What starts as a scandalous arrangement soon evolves into genuine, passionate feelings.

"The Worst Duke in London" is a tale of love, redemption, and unexpected passion. If you’re a fan of historical romance with a modern twist, this book is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Evangeline has accepted her fate as a spinster and outcast of the ton, filling her days with rescue animals and her shelter. Unfortunately, her sister Viola wants nothing more than to be a part of the season in London to be courted by Lord Huntington, but her father will not let her go unless Evangeline goes too - something she loathes to do. Huntington offers Gage Croft, the Duke of Vale, release from his debts if he entices Evangeline to London for the season and the Duke grudgingly accepts. Next is a Regency-retelling of 10 Things I Hate About You (aka Taming of the Shrew) with a super spicy twist.

You know, I adored this novel except for the fact that it is all based on the audience knowing one thing and the main character knowing another - which I know is the premise of the original play/movie and it has to exist, but it still makes me uncomfortable - it’s one of my least favorite plot devices. HOWEVER, I liked this book and immediately orderedt more Amalie Howard. Gage and Evangeline had tremendous chemistry and it was way spicer than I thought it would be. It definitely scratched my Bridgerton itch! I know that it wasn’t necessarily what most people think of when they think of a Regency novel, but that was also somewhat of the appeal for me. I did not find the cover particularly enticing; the colors and the artwork were a bit phoned in. All in all, It was a quick, fun read and I enjoyed the cast of characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you Forever for my copy. I absolutely love Amalie Howard's historical romances! Her banter and dialogue make me laugh out loud and I love the swoon and tenderness between her characters. Gage and Effie's love story was a true delight to read and a perfect addition to this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC! All opinions below are my own.

The Worst Duke in London is another in our series Taming of the Duke - and one of the better of the series. I read the first book, but it didn't leave much of an impression if my Goodreads rating is anything to go off. This book is a Taming of the Shrew retelling, maybe more familiar to younger audiences as 10 Things I Hate About You starring Heath Ledger -- and despite adhering to most of the beats of its plot points (a whiny sister, a bet gone wrong), made modern updates that made this book infinitely more readable. For one, the sister, Viola, has redeeming qualities. For another, this book isn't about a makeover of our FMC, a diehard animal lover. The bet itself also has nothing to do with dates or virginity, and thus when the third act betrayal and resolution comes around, feels altogether more reasonable. Evangeline wasn't particularly memorable to me as one of the Hellfire ladies, but I absolutely loved her character in this novel - she is incredibly reasonable, has (perhaps too modern, but idc) a directness about sex and virginity that actually manifests into action, and I also didn't spend half the novel worried that all of their sexcapades would come to light and she'd be ruined and embarrassed forever. I also appreciated that there was an explanation given for our MMC's respect for our FMC, given that it wasn't in-line with Victorian England traditions, though have no sense of its realism. All in all, this was an incredibly enjoyable read that fit perfectly into my historical fiction with some sexual tension sensibilities.

Today I’m reviewing The Worst Duke in London by Amalie Howard. In this historical romance, we follow Lady Evangeline Raine, the eldest daughter of the Raine children, and courageous animal advocate. With her younger sister of age, Evangeline is forced to chaperone her younger sister’s debut into society. Evangeline would rather do anything else, but when a penniless Duke enters her orbit, she’s convinced to give this season a try.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Howard’s Taming of the Dukes series, The Worst Duke in London included. Where she uses pop culture as her framework of her regency era stories, like Pretty Woman, Clueless, and Ten Things I Hate About You. It’s so fun to see a historical romance take a plunge into these loved movies, creating bold strong women who break out of the traditional mold of a “refined acceptable lady of the ton.”

If you enjoy a slow burn romance, rivals-to-lovers, he falls first, Taming of the Shrew feels, animal rescue plus adorable pets, and a grand gesture that will win over any animal lovers, then make sure to add this one to your TBR.

Happy Reading ~ Cece

I'm a sucker for a historical romance that features a strong female lead and lots of great banter, and "The Worst Duke in London" delivers both! This novel is the 3rd installment in Amalie Howard's "Taming of the Dukes" series, but it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed how Lady Evangeline is written as fiercely independent but still empathetic and caring. The Duke of Vale, Gage Croft is a total grumpy sweetheart with a strong sense of duty and morals, but definitely has a wicked side 😉🤭. And that Scottish accent? 🥵🥵 Bonus points for the adorable rescue animals that appear throughout! 😍

I received this ARC from Netgalley to read and leave an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!

I don’t normally go for Taming if the Shrew retelling, but if anyone can change my mind it’s Amalie Howard! This was very funny, very sexy, and very sweet. I loved the hero’s lining, the prickly heroine with a big heart, and the supporting cast of characters. Truly a fun read.

✨ARC Review✨

Everything Amalie Howard writes hits for me. The Worst Duke in London is no different. It’s a fun retelling of a retelling. 10 Things I Hate About You is, of course, a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and this book is another take on this classic story.

Gage, The Duke of Vale, is in dire straits as when he inherits his title, he also inherits his brother’s debts, including an exorbitant one to Huntington. Huntington makes a deal with him to wipe out that debt if he can get Evangeline to take part in the London season. Whither Evangeline goes, so goest her beautiful sister, Viola, and the odious Huntington is determined to wife Viola.

And so it goes. Gage begins to court the prickly Evangeline and starts to see how she’s much warmer and more enticing than he’d been led to believe. How could he not fall in love with a woman who would endanger herself to save a baby raven fallen from its nest? Or who tempts him into a sexual exploration arrangement?

Amalie Howard always imbues her novels with fun, humor, and delicious sexual tension. I honestly cannot recommend her books enough. She’s in my Top Three historical romance authors.

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for a review. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #romancebooks #historicalromance #theworstdukeinlondon #amaliehoward #netgalley #bookstagram

I want to be in Amalie Howard's brain. Her ability to take a familiar story and then flip it on its head is just incredible. I loved Taming of the Shrew and the modern twist feels fresh. Gage was such a great MMC and it was nice to see his story more fleshed out after catching glimpses before.

Do whatever you want to me Amalie Howard because I am just obsessed with everything you do. This book was perfection and I squealed with delight every other page. Preorder this from your local indie bookshop or ask your library to carry it because you do not want to miss it.