*I received this book from NetGalley for free in exchange
for a review
How
(Not) to Marry a Duke by Felicia Kingsley is not my
usual pick. I normally veer away from trope-filled vomit-inducing romantic
chick-lit. I am happy to admit that this novel exceeded my (admittedly low)
expectations. The original title for this book was A Marriage of Convenience
which describes the plot. Jemma and Ashford come from vastly different social
realms. Ashford is a high and mighty Duke with an extravagant lifestyle and
eccentric friends. Jemma is a hard-working, stubborn woman who has luck (and a
massive inheritance) fall into her lap. Jemma’s strong character and Ashford’s
whiny habits give way to a story where the gender roles are reversed. They are
forced to marry each other to save their own lifestyles, and their opposition
is clear. Jemma is a breath of fresh air in an uppity society, and Ashford
learns how to dial back his excessive life.
To be honest, there was a lot about this
book that bothered me. The novel switches back and forth between Jemma and Ashford.
Although it worked in moments that quickly flipped back and forth between their
thoughts in a tense moment, I originally thought that having an alternative
male voice in the story downgraded Jemma’s strong character. In fact, I believe
that as she sinks deeper and deeper into her duties as a Duchess and learns the
ways of society, she loses some of the strength that I admired from the
beginning. The switch in characters would have been more welcome if there was a
change in tone, but Kingsley writes in the same tone for both. She also gets
wrapped up in a woman versus woman drama that I utterly despise – although it
is relatable.
Despite what I’ve said, I thoroughly
enjoyed this book. It touches on some mental health issues (something I find
very important), and there are some amazing females portrayed in this novel. It
is not entirely predictable, and the tropes that typically exists in chick lit
are not present. I can’t give this book a 4/5 because there are just too many
issues I had with the writing, but this novel is perfect for an easy holiday
read. I give this a 3/5.
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