A lush, sweeping queer historical romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material—perfect for fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Manda Collins!
When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood.
Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.
As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
the synopsis should switch the description "sweeping" for "long as fuck"
but this was delightful in spite of the length. loved our soft spoken but strong trans heroine. and our mega soft boy disabled hero. there was a conflict that was unexpected and a little frustrating, but it resolved itself quickly enough that i wasn't too bothered.
this is one of those books that has a certain magic to it. perfect mix of angst/tension and also slice of life moments. the sex scenes were very intimate and sexy. and it was refreshing seeing a relationship so accepting, honest, and egalitarian... especially in a historical setting. definitely buy the hype.
Delightful trans historical romance, written very specifically to not centre the conflict on the heroine's transness. It starts off quite angsty anyway as the hero is deeply traumatised by his war experiences as well as his bereavement, and there's a meaty clash between Gracewood's entirely justified anger that he was let believe his only friend was dead, and Viola's equally justified reasons for restarting her life. (I really appreciate romances that face head on that sometimes there isn't a single right course of action, and that people's rights and needs sometimes come into direct conflict.)
That hump passed, this becomes a delightfully fluffy and light-hearted romp that actively chooses to handwave potential Serious Issues. (Anyone who objects to this course needs to make a written commitment never again to read a romance where the Duke marries a governess/thief/courtesan/seamstress etc, because either everyone gets handwaving or nobody does.) Gracewood and Viola are a charming pair, and the secondary cast is, as always with this author, a joy.
My feelings on this book are a bit mixed, but ultimately a transwoman getting her unequivocal HEA in a well-written historical romance book deserves to be celebrated.
I started off absolutely loving this book. I mean. THE EMOTIONS. I was near tears and thought I would give this story 5-stars for sure. I'm not usually a fan of stories where there is an off-page, prior to the story emotional connection between the MCs, but I really understood it here. The grief and the depth of the emotions between the MCs was absolutely overwhelming. However, my enthusiasm started petering out in the middle portion of the story.
I think my only issue, significant as it was, with this story is that the pacing fell way off the map in the middle of the book. The whole plot felt drawn out and muddled, and I missed the feelings I had in the beginning of the book. I feel like the initial plotline only stretched so far, and then side plots were brought in to flesh it out and then things felt watered down, if that makes sense. I wanted that emotional intensity back.
I greatly enjoyed that Alexis Hall gave us on page sex (YES!!!). On page sex in books with trans characters is so important to me because I love when authors treat these books with the same heat and sexual tension as any other pairing. I thought Alexis did an amazing job here with that aspect of the story. I also adored the HEA and epilogue. *dreamy sigh*
Best part of the story is the fact that we had a happy transwoman living her best life in historical romance because, realistically, there WERE transwomen doing just that in all eras of existence, whether people knew it or not. I really enjoyed the side characters as well (Alexis always gets those right). Of course, I could have used more humor but I think I just love Alexis Hall when he does funny so much that I craved it here also.
Overall, I celebrate every aspect of this story, even if I wanted slightly more from parts of it. Thank you, Alexis Hall, for delivering such a successful book.
A trans heroine. A grieving Duke. Two old friends. A moving and beautiful historical romance. Alexis Hall has outdone himself!
Longing for the sequel of Boyfriend Material? Wanting to be back with Luc and Oliver? STOP! Husband Material can wait. First, pick up this moving and beautiful story! In my opinion, A Lady for a Duke is Alexis’ best so far.
After reading the first sentence of this book, I knew this would be a five-star read. This book! OMG! This book is LOVE! Two beautiful people, grieving in different ways. Viola, who decided to leave her old life behind, choosing herself first to finally be who she wanted to be, who she really was. Gracewood, who thought his oldest friend died and searched for comfort in alcohol and opium use. From the moment those two people met again, the love splashed off the pages and found a place in my heart—the tenderness, the grief, the intimacy, the craving, the heartbreaking moments, all so vivid and palpable, imbued with Alexis’ humor, and again love, so much love.
Despite its tough topics, A Lady for a Duke is a comfort read, and I haven’t even mentioned the gorgeous side characters yet, especially Lady Marleigh, Miranda, and Lady Lillimere. And how Alexis brings historical queer characters to life and lets people back then accept queer family and friends so easily. Our current world (think of Florida and Texas) could learn so much from this book. Because it keeps coming back to that one word: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
I received an ARC from Forever through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think the concepts, representation, and emotional journeys were all top tier. I laughed out loud a lot and absolutely loved the side characters with all of my soul. But I must say, the actual plot and pacing were dull by comparison.
Representation: all of the stars Plot/Pacing: ★★ Characters: ★★★★ Enjoyment: ★★★
Viola Carroll is finally living the the life she's always wanted. When Waterloo and the war gives her the perfect opportunity to disappear for good and start a new, true life for herself as Viola, she runs with it and never looks back.
But Viola's past has not fully escaped her, and one of the people from her past haunts her still. Her childhood best friend, Justin Gracewood, needs help.
The Duke of Gracewood is in mourning for his lost best friend. He blames himself for the loss, the war, and for his disability returning from the warfront. Gracewood is slipping into an opium dependency and a depression with no light in sight. Things are dire.
When Viola learns of Gracewood's distress, she and her sister-in-law, the Lady Marleigh, decide to intervene. Viola knows she's playing with fire—how long can she hide her very-much-alive presence from her oldest friend?—but the choice is a done deal. She is going to help Gracewood no matter the cost.
But Viola's new ability to explore life as her true womanly self has opened up yet another wrinkle when it comes to Gracewood: she can no longer ignore the fact that her feelings for him are considerably more than friendly.
Will these two old friends see past themselves and achieve an ideal form of happiness?
Quaint, happy, and filled with heart, A Lady for a Duke is a shining example of a new type of inclusive historical romance.
My thoughts: Let's start this reaction off with some honesty: I am very conflicted about my star rating of this review.
On the one hand, I want to support this title and showcase how happy I am to see it exist, see it hold such a positive and happy storyline, and see it receive a wide readership. Squeals all around, this was adorable and wonderful and I felt all of the feelings.
On the other hand, I have to discuss the significant flaws in this novel's pacing, plot construction, and overall sense of boringness due to its drawn out pacing and lackluster scenes.
This novel is almost 500 pages long... and it feels like it. Cute scenes of emotional honesty between Viola and Justin were awesome and I loved them, but after the 200 page mark it became painfully obvious that we as readers were going to basically experience the same variant of the same type of emotional scene over and over again. Viola and Justin have barely any drama—which was good for the health of their relationship—but it did lead to a lack of opportunity for newness in their dialogue and interactions. Justin reassures Viola about X, Viola reassures Justin about Y....wash and repeat. So many of their scenes could have been remixed into any spot in the plot and been completely fine, that's how identical in tone and importance they were.
The only spot of freshness in this story did not come from the main characters at all—it came from the side characters, Lady Marleigh (sister-in-law to Viola) and Lady Gracewood (Justin's younger sister). They were doing fresh things in this story, thank goodness, and Justin and Viola got to semi-react to those events throughout the novel. But that did make for awkward reading in a romance subniche that tends to rely on its main characters to provide the agency in a story.
Definitely a conflict, and frankly a good one to have as again, the fact that this book is here at all on the bookshelves in the store is a wonderful thing. I'm glad this book exists and that I can quibble over its issues—but as a reviewer I do still need to highlight them.
Eagerly looking forward to more fresh stories in the historical romance canon to join this one on the shelves.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC to review.
A Lady for A Duke is a rollercoaster. There was one scene in particular where I think I felt every possible emotion.
This book has an incredible premise, with interested characters, great representation (both with LGBTQ+ characters and disabled characters), hilarious dialogue, and beautiful writing. There were so many lines I noticed that were so quotable.
However, my only issue is that this book is long, and feels it. At some points, the beautiful writing did seem a little too much, and it dragged down the pace. Luckily, I loved the characters and plot more so it didn't bother me that much, but I can see it being an issue for people who aren't typically historical romance readers jumping into this for the first time.
Viola Caroll was presumed dead at the battle of Waterloo and took the opportunity to restart her life and live as her truest self. When she gets word that her closest friend, the Duke of Gracewood, has retreated into grief years after the death of his best friend. Viola works hard to bring life back to her best friend, but feelings she never had before surface for the Duke but she can’t help but feel nothing can ever come of it.
I was really excited to read this book, I’ve never read a historical romance with a trans main character. And while the concept and the characters in the book were wonderful, the actual plot and pacing of the book was a total snoozefest. I listened to the audiobook and while I normally love reading in that format, I was choosing to listen to music on my commute instead of the book because it was so boring. I’m actually genuinely upset that you can have a premise so interesting with the friends to lovers trope and just make it uninteresting.
Like I said before I loved the characters, main and side, but this book struggled to hold my interest for long periods of time. And I think it could have been a lot shorter than it was.
I received an ALC from libro.fm as a part of their librarian ALC program
This was beautifully character driven and achingly romantic. The earnest, tentative way each part of the couple approached each other hoping for acceptance and love for who they are in this moment and seeing them not only accepted, but adored, was so beautiful it moved me to tears.
Also this epilogue is one of my FAVORITE epilogues in a romance novel EVER.
I will say at times this did feel a bit too long. The middle can feel drawn out, but the emotional power of several scenes made it so I did not care a bit and I would gladly read every single page.
The third act tried to play with me, but overall it was a very lovely and charming romance. It was just a bit too long but I can get over that. Also SOBBING. I am SOBBING!!! I’m gonna go run through a wall 🫶 and hopefully behind that wall is a cliff 🫶 I’m fighting for my life out here. I’m a warrior.
*Spoilers below*
The epilogue!!! Good fucking God!! Jackscallion!! Hearing that actually added ten years onto my lifespan. (Which makes up for that endless scene in that brothel that took about 5 off.)
Also YAY adoption!! I rarely see that in historical romance!
Also me whenever the narrator opened her mouth to speak for Justin:
What phenomenal narration, sweet lord.
Thanks to libro.fm for an ALC. All opinions (and moans) are my own.
The emotional interiority of this book is flawless. The bravery and vulnerability of these two characters—the beautifully nuanced acknowledgment that necessary choices can bring relief but also loss (but also hope, and new opportunities)—I cried so much while reading that my mask became utterly saturated and probably lost structural integrity. No regrets!!
Five gold stars, Two thumbs up, a third thing! This was absolutely beautiful, and I loved every word on every page. Stellar in just about every way! I’ll admit, I tear up more at happy moments than sad, so this was a regular tear-jerker for me.
You know, I’m growing a bit tired of stories that are steeped in irony and a “wink-and-nod” type humor, where every moment of sincerity is undercut by a joke. It was such a relief to come by a book that isn’t afraid to be unapologetically itself. Also, I’ve never read an epilogue that actually improved the book until this one, just absolute perfection.
This book was earnest, heartfelt, and just all around lovely. It’d be so easy to make most of the conflict centered around bigotry. And being historical fiction, I’ll admit I was a little worried. What’s a “brave lgbt+ story” without trauma and hatred imbedded in its fabric, right? As if queer stories can only exist or be interesting based on how much abuse is endured within them. “A Lady for a Duke” is a story that understands that when it comes to queer folk, just… being is plenty brave enough.
“—that this is no mere fancy. What we began at Morgencald only grows in truth and strength the longer I am with you.”
“Whatever it is,” she told him, her head turned away, her expression cast in shadow by the fall of her hair, “there is no place for it in the world.”
If he allowed himself to think beyond the moment, beyond her closeness, and their entwined fingers, he would have known she was right. But he had no wish to think.
“May we not at least try to make one?”
Trust me, those are happy tears, but I am still mentally kicking myself for not reading A Lady for a Duke earlier, because it was so good - SO GOOD! So romantic, so emotional, so touching, so moving, so very perfect The words seeped into my heart - the love coursed through my veins - I was so so in love with Viola and Gracewood's story, this was just an absolute delight! Alexis Hall wrote a story that speaks to the heart, tugs at the core and leaves you hoping for more!
There were so many parts I highlighted, so many moments that had me holding my breath at the tender displays of affections that both of them were experiencing and expressing for each other. The gentle way in which they gravitated from friends to acquaintances to re-acquainting and then lovers - it was too breathtakingly gorgeously and so gut-wrenching soft, that I was both swooning at their open affection and internally biting into my pillow at the level of softness that they both just felt. 💕💕💕
“She was Viola Carroll. She had always been Viola Carroll. And some part of her had always known it. There was only one thing she hadn’t known. One truth that, locked in pursuit of her own, she hadn’t grasped.
It was simply this: That love—that her love for Gracewood and his love for his friend—had not died with her.”
Viola Carroll was a wonderful heroine - there was so much compassion in her heart, so much hope to be accepted - to be seen as she was - a transgender in a time that it was not widely accepted or acknowledged. When she met Gracewood again, she was so overwhelmed with grief and guilt at what her disappearance had afflicted him so, that it pained her to even think that she was worthy of his love. 💔💔 But, then to see how she gained confidence in herself, how she learned to accept herself as she was, and to feel loved in Gracewood's eyes and her companions, it was exquisitely done that it moved me so.
He had, after all, touched her often enough before, in play and affection, or comfort for some youthful setback. So she was expecting that it would be familiar. Except it was wholly different too: his fingers closing around hers in delicate possession, making her feel not fragile, precisely, but worthy of care. Even, perhaps, a little beautiful.”
Justin de Vere, Duke of Gracewood, was overwrought with guilt over losing his best friend, 'the joy of his life'. Returning from war a cripple who suffers from bouts of PTSD and the overwhelming dependency of laudanum and completely ignoring his state of affairs and his sister, his life is unexpectedly turned by the graceful presence of Viola. 😢 He was charmed by her, swayed by her gentle tendencies, he fell in love with her - so utterly smitten with her and how she is able to bring out the side in him he had lost and long forgotten. And then to have the sudden realization that the one who he had held so dear was the same as the one who he wanted to have were one and the same - it made his love for her even stronger, his conviction to make her see that he loved her as she was. 🥰🥰
“Ours.” The word tasted like a kiss, like the heat of her mouth under his.”
The writing was too romantic, uff, I was blushing so so much - just so sensual with even the briefest of affections of a beautiful slow-burn romance that was fighting between want and need and warring with itself against society norms and Viola's fear and reluctance was so very true and honest. Gracewood's candor was so precious, that basically said 'damn the world, damn what people think, it's you I want - as you are'. 🥲
He said it with such conviction, such hope, that it moved me that in a world where it was improbable, their love could make it possible. 🥺🥺 And it was agonizingly painful to see how long Viola fought his advances and the subtle hints of flirtations in their courtship only to be squashed under the plea of friendship, but when suddenly it could no longer be fought off anymore - they just fit together so perfectly, like it was inevitable - like it had always been meant to be. 🩷🩷
“What do you want to hear? That I’ve imagined it? Countless times? You beneath me, with your legs around me, wearing nothing but your pretty shoes?”
His hands settled on her hips, as if they belonged there.
“Oh?”
“Yes.” His face was serious, but there was a smile too, sweet upon the curve of his mouth.
“I need to tell you I love you, Viola. Not only that I do but how I do.”
The heat level wasn't on a very spicy level, but good God, when they eventually got together, it was so incredibly romantic - so affectionate and open and kind, but still so passionate. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 I only wish there could have been more, but Alexis Hall made it up with so many lines of such utter devotion and absolute love that they had- I was inwardly crying at how heartfelt and endearing every sentiment was between the two of them. 🥹
“You look debauched already,” Viola said, a world of satisfaction in her voice.
He felt it—his hair disordered from her fingers, his cravat partially undone, the blossom of warmth upon his throat from the most savage of her kisses. “I will debauch you back.”
“I should hope so.”
“Upon every piece of furniture in the house.”
Her eyes widened. “You own a lot of furniture.”
“Then it will take me a while. Probably a lifetime.”
I adored the side characters - they were hilariously refreshing, effortlessly charming, simply delightful parts of Viola and Gracewood's lives that just added such life to their moments. Lady Marleigh, especially, she was such a lovable companion to Viola, a wonderful sister-in-law, with an equally adorable son, Little Lord Bartholomew, who innocently stole the show every time he appeared! I will have to say that at times, the dialogue became a little too wordy for my liking. AH hinted that his characters were derived from Shakespearean plays, but to me, the biting conversations and quick repartee had more of the air of Oscar Wilde's plays like Lady Windermere's Fan and The Importance of Being Ernest.
And yes, I did feel that the story regarding Gracewood's sister and her coming out into society took more of a precedent to the actual romance of the story. But, after reading the author's note, I can understand why Alexis Hall chose to write it as such; there was definitely potential for further stories for each of the characters, and I'm curious to see which one he will settle on. Amberglass - he was definitely...something. 😠
“She was laughing again and it felt like a second release. One of the heart or the soul or the self. As necessary as tears could be sometimes. As powerful as anger. Except this was nothing but love. Love and the triumph of joy.”
And that epilogue was just 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 - too adorable, too sweet - and a most satisfying ending to have ever ended. There is so much love in that one scene alone that I was 🫠🫠🫠. This is a beautiful and unique take at a second chance slow-burn romance that ended on such a high note that just your heart sighing in happiness.
It may not have been a perfect read, but boy, did I have a perfectly good time reading it. It was unlike anything I had ever read, but everything that I was so happy to read. Reacquainting myself with Alexis Hall's writing paid off in flying colors - maybe, it's time I reconsider my hesitation to finally read Husband Material, as well... 🤔🤔
“I love you. I have, in some form, for as long as I’ve known you. You are my joy and my truth and my heart and my dreams. You are the best of me.”
At this she could only smile. ���You’ve always been wrong about that, Gracewood.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “We are the best of each other.”
Alexis Hall is giving us a historical romance with a trans heroine??? If god hates the gays WHY DO WE KEEP WINNING
Update: I read it!
“…fuck the world. I will change it for you if I have to.”
I’m a bit speechless in the face of what Hall has accomplished with this queer historical romance novel. A LADY FOR A DUKE is one of the most compelling love stories I’ve ever read, about two childhood best friends who thought they were irrevocably lost from each other, only to find one another again, both changed and the same, and fall in love - or perhaps, to finally name the love that has always existed between them.
Viola Caroll, presumed dead when she went missing during battle, takes the opportunity to free herself from the strictures of the identity assigned to her at birth and finally live as herself. But the cost is heavy: her childhood friend, with whom she was as close as family, thinks she is lost. Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood, has not been the same since returning from the war: his injuries are physically limiting and cause him chronic pain, he’s tortured by memories of battle, and he has come to lean on alcohol and laudanum to cope. He’s also never stopped grieving the loss of his greatest friend. When Viola and Gracewood are reunited by their families, they are faced with rediscovering each other, figuring out how they fit together after so much has shifted within and between them, and overcoming the barriers that would seek to part them once more.
Almost every single page of this novel set my heart racing, aching for Viola and Gracewood as individuals and as a couple. Hall has crafted a story that centers Viola as a trans woman in the most beautiful, affirming, and empowering way. There are heavier aspects - the looming possibility of social rejection, the difficulties of gender dysphoria that Viola carries - and Viola always has family and friends on her side throughout. While part of the plot initially involves keeping her identity a secret from Gracewood, he quickly loves her as she truly is and always has been, and fiercely supports the actions she needed to take to be herself. I love how Hall navigates their shared past when Viola could not live as herself, carrying the affection and positive memories from that time and integrating it into their romance. Gracewood’s development as a character is incredibly powerful: healing from his father’s harsh parenting, changing his relationship to the lineage of power he descends from, and relearning how to be a man outside of the strict gender roles he was taught. As a couple they have both scorching chemistry and beautiful intimacy; I loved their banter, as Viola’s fierce will collided with Gracewood’s stubborn determination. The side characters are an absolute delight, and the ending is everything I could have wished for Viola and Gracewood as a couple.
This story is going to stay with me for a long time, and I want many more books like this, with fearless trans protagonists getting the happily ever afters they so deserve. Thanks Forever Books for the review copy! This book is out 5/24 and I can’t wait for everyone else to fall in love with Viola, Gracewood, and their epic romance.
Content warnings: chronic pain, nightmares and other trauma responses, substance dependence, gender dysphoria, some dead-naming/misgendering, kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, fighting/violence
A Lady for a Duke is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful and deeply romantic M/F historical romance, featuring a transgender heroine and the emotionally damaged Duke that owns her heart.
Heroine Viola Caroll is one for the ages. Strong, intelligent, profoundly kind and impressively astute, Viola courageously changed her life course forever, giving up title, wealth and security, when she seized an opportunity to live as her authentic self after almost dying at Waterloo.
Although this was the right and only choice for Viola, the consequences deeply affected her oldest and dearest friend, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood, who believed his beloved friend dead after he returned from war a shell-shocked and damaged version of himself.
When family insist that Viola journey to Morgancald, the homestead of the Gracewoods, to help the Duke regain his footing in life and to assist his younger sister with engaging in the next London season for debuting debutantes, Viola must muster the courage to face her oldest friend for the first time as her true self, ready for any and all consequences should he recognise who she once was.
The beginning of this story was bursting with emotional depth and exquisite character complexities. Every scene between Viola and the Duke was powerful and touching. Their feelings were heavy but so beautifully drawn. They both felt guilt and heavy loss over their past experiences and the choices they made during the war, but back in one another’s company they find an instant calm and a renewed sense of self. They really were two halves of a whole.
I worried that Viola’s past identity would play a negative, possibly prolonged role between her renewed relationship with the Duke, but readers must rest assured that the Duke’s awareness comes early and his feelings only grow stronger and more devoted with the realisation of what Viola’s life experiences have been, before and after the war.
Viola was such a wonderful and inspiring heroine. The fact that she was transgender in such a time (I believe the early 1800s) was astounding and damn courageous, and I adored her family and the support and unwavering acceptance given by every character that knew and loved her.
Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood, might just be the dreamiest dream to ever dream. He is undoubtedly top tier book boyfriend material and I couldn’t get over how impassioned and sincere his love for Viola was as they fell more in love, lives indelibly entwined, over the course of the story. Justin was a wreck of a man at the onset, but his determination to be better and do better, for his Dukedom and younger his sister, with the inspiration and endless love and guidance given by Viola’s renewed presence, made for a great character arc and a memorable romance hero.
I found myself profoundly moved by the relationship between these two characters, which will come as no surprise at this point to anyone reading this. Their relationship felt inevitable, with a quality of kismet that made them read like the most perfect of soulmates. The relationship between Viola and Justin truly is one of the most romantic love stories I’ve read in a long while, and I relished every single second of their friendship and courtship, loving the way they carved a HEA for themselves in a world that would generally not permit such.
And that epilogue?!? Hands down the best, most satisfying epilogue I’ve read in years. My heart was full to bursting by the time I set my kindle down, and now I’m just wondering when is too soon to pick this story back up for another round of epic romance?!
After being presumed dead at Waterloo, Lady Viola Caroll decided to let the world go on thinking that and begin to live for herself. Sundering the past, Viola does not regret much. The loss of her wealth and title are trivial against the greater loss of her friend and closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. For several years, Viola has kept her distance, believing that grief has given way to peace of some kind, yet when their families reconnect again she finds that it is actually the opposite. Gracewood is a shadow of the man she once knew, withdrawn so far into his grief that he is completely unrecognizable. Striving to somehow bring him back to his former self, Viola is drawn closer to her former friend, and desires she could never name before are brought to the surface. Denial is useless, and as Viola and Gracewood grow closer these feelings become harder to ignore, prompting a necessary reconciliation against loss and the impossibility of the future.
A Lady for a Duke could not have come at a more perfect time for me, fresh off the historical romance binge and having just watched the latest season of Bridgerton. Looking for a romance teeming with emotion, this novel gave me everything I needed and then some. In his altogether masterful historical romance, Alexis Hall draws together a complex past between his main leads, with an evocative center of loss, memory, and intimacy driving the story forward. Our main heroine Viola is one of the more well-written queer characters in historical romance that I have read recently, giving voice to dysphoria and the trans experience in a way unforeseen previously by me in the genre. As for the other main lead, Justin De Vere, he provided quite the emotional conversation surrounding grief and the lingering trauma arising from war. Even with all of this tense subject matter, the entire story overflows with longing and an underlying comfort that disperses throughout every aspect of the novel. This is definitely not a tragic story, yes we have a trans heroine and a disabled hero living in this time period, but it doesn't bear the narrative down into tragedy like I’ve seen other period pieces do. Instead, what emerges is a tender second chance romance about two people defined by their circumstances finding love against the odds. I would also be remiss not to mention the wonderful side characters in this novel, who radiate just as much as the two main leads. With a mix of queer and playful characters, Hall really creates a wholesome cast of supporting characters for the novel. The side plots intervening in the central storyline had the most fabulous banter and made me fall even more in love with the story overall. A Lady for a Duke is honestly one of the most beautiful and exemplary historical romances I have read in quite a long time. The epilogue especially, really brought the emotion to the surface, exemplifying love found and a future once deemed unlikely.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was so sweet and incredibly touching, but there were a lot of really weird subplots that seemed unnecessary. Because of that, this became more of a 2.5-3 for me, but it could have been a 3-3.5 if it just stuck to the main themes.
The writing also threw me off for a bit and made it hard for me to connect with the characters, but this was my first non-fantasy historical romance, so maybe I just wasn’t used to it!
I don’t think I’ll be doing a full review on this one, but I might come back to add some of my favorite quotes bc there were a lot of really great ones here. 😊
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall Historical queer romance. Viola is assumed dead at Waterloo and takes the opportunity to reinvent and restart her life the way she wants to live. When she encounters the Duke of Gracewood years later she’d shocked at his depression and overall hiding from life. Voila helps Gracewood heal.
Emotional and heavy with powerful society hazards and facing is down. Viola is so confident in her lifestyle, and even when she’s not, she has the full support and backing of family. Her transition and life is simply accepted. It’s wonderful. A detailed epilogue adds depth and hope for the future. Overall great if longer than an average historical romance which was my main complaint. There were at least a couple of threads that seemed to go off on a tangent before circling back.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook which was Narrated by Kay Eluvian. What a wonderful performance. From depression to joy and every emotion in-between, plus young children to adults, the vocalizing is clear, gripping and engulfing. I did speed this up to 1.5 for conversational comfort. 4.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.
“I love you as a man loves a woman, but we both know that love is not bound by such narrow terms. So instead let me simply tell you that I love you."
Reading this book was like devouring my favourite cheese cake. Every moment was a treat; every second - sweet and delightful. "A Lady for A Duke" is ultimately a comfort read but still manages to make you shed some tears. At least, I CRIED.
A best friends to lovers queer romance featuring a trans heroine and a grieving self destructive hero. This book is about self discovery and finding love when you aren't even expecting to!
"A Lady for A Duke" isn't very different from any other good historical romances out there. Lush setting, polished prose, noble society, friends, families, conspiracies, humor etc etc. But Alexis Hall adds an exceptional TWIST to the mixture. This book features a trans heroine. I didn't about it when the book first came out. So I didn't pay much attention to it. But when I found out that "A Lady for A Duke" casts a trans woman as the main character, I was absolutely mind blown. This is the first historical romance I have come across to where queer poeple are not only recognised but also are treated with utmost respect. I have read a lot of books featuring trans man. It might come as a surprise but I had never read a book with a trans woman as the main character before this one. And, I never thought I would find my perfect, desired scenario in a historical romance. I am mind blown will be a understatement to be honest.
I loved the cast of characters. The characters in A Lady For a Duke are all beautifully drawn. The main two characters, as well as, the supporting characters are amazing. Viola is the strongest, fiercest and loveliest heroines I have read about, in a long time. I loved her so much. I loved her strength, her intelligence, her determination and most of all her blunt nature. Viola had to give up everything she knew, in order to be her authentic self. Hall doesn’t just blatantly have Viola say how hard living her new life has been, but instead shows the reader through Viola’s actions and interactions with both friends from her old life as well as her new. I really enjoyed the transgender representation. Alexis Hall handles the topic with care and caution. The book community has made a lot of progress during the last few years. Wonderful trans rep is not anything new tbh. But Hall takes it to another level. I can't really explain it. So, I am gonna let it be with saying, I loved it!
Though I loved Viola, the the Duke of Gracewood was my favourite character in this book. He's the most caring, supportive and understanding hero I have ever met. He never let Viola feel "fake" or "unwanted". From the moment, he finds out that his former best friend wasn't a man but a woman, he starts referring her as "She". It made me so happy. I was crying happy tears after witnessing that such amazing men exist; might have existed even centuries ago...Loved Justin's character. He isn't perfect by any means. He is ill-tempered, grumpy and self destructive. But he's also become one of my favourite characters of all time. The portraiture of his grief and PTSD was (once again) perfect.
Now let's talk about the ROMANCE. God! How gorgeous the romantic relationship is! Their banter, their communication, mutual respect, understanding, love - everything were absolutely breath taking. "A Lady for A Duke" is a sweeping historical romance that is equally fluffy and emotional. From pet names to lovely monologues confessing deeply hidden feelings, Hall knows how to write an emotionally fulfilling main couple. The only word to describe it is beautiful, and yet that word is inadequate for how Viola and Gracewood’s unfolding love story will make you feel.
I loved Hall's prose in this book. Of course, it was different from the author's usual rom-com books. It did felt a little stiff at time but I rarely noticed because I was busy in swooning over the main couple. Basically, what I mean is, even if you aren't a regular historical reader, you'll still enjoy the heck out this book.
The pacing was a bit messy. That's the only complain I have with this book.
"A Lady for A Duke" isn't just a romance book, it's an artful masterpiece. One of the best queer romances out there. I would highly recommend everyone to read it.
CWs: descriptions of PTSD and chronic pain; instances of deadnaming/misgendering (in the past tense); some references to dysphoria; brief mentions of suicide ideation; some exploration of drug addiction; references to past abuse; some misogyny; and explicit sexual content
Rep: Viola is a trans woman who passes in society; and Gracewood is a former soldier disabled by the war who uses a mobility aid, experiences chronic pain, and is contending with both PTSD and related drug dependency
The perfect historical romance does exist, and Alexis Hall has not only proven that but achieved that with flying colors in this truly unforgettable book.
This book ruined me. It absolutely eviscerated my emotions and left a permanent mark on my soul, which will be forever changed just by knowing that this book exists. At the time of writing this review, I read this over a month ago, and just the thought of it will still stop me in my tracks and make my heart clench in the best/worst possible way.
This historical romance gave me joy, gave my life, gave me purpose. It is an incredibly tender, slow-burn romance that is the absolute *epitome* of queer yearning, and it is the ultimate second chance romance. There *is* no greater second chance than essentially coming back from the dead to win over your best friend and first love.
I think what makes this romance so incredibly striking is the fact that being together allows both Gracewood and Viola to process their grief, and they’re both grieving completely different things. Viola is grieving both the person she was wrongfully raised to be along with the womanhood she was never fully invited into or allowed to embrace. Gracewood, on the other hand, is not only coming to terms with the fact that he was grieving someone who was never actually lost, but he’s also grieving the past version of himself that was stronger, more independent, and more able-bodied—because that's how he's been taught to define his masculinity and because the world has conditioned him to place value in those things.
In many ways, both of these characters are haunted by those past versions of themselves and they’re still learning how to accept themselves for who they are *now*, even if those new versions of themselves come with obstacles or hardships. Through healing together and being with one another, they are slowly learning that the people they are now are fully capable and worthy of love.
On the subject of representation, there is so much care and nuance put into how the other characters process and hold space for Viola's transness. To be explicitly clear, that doesn't mean that everyone reacts "the right way," or that every character easily and automatically understands or accepts Viola's transness, but it *does* mean that Viola is given ample opportunity to express herself, her feelings, and her needs in a way that’s very thoughtful and direct.
I also really appreciate how this historical romance doesn’t shy away from the fact that Viola’s womanhood inherently changes the dynamic of her friendship with Gracewood, specifically in how they carry themselves in society and have to take different rules of propriety into account. As a woman, Viola cannot occupy those same spaces that she and Gracewood used to frequent in their youth. She can’t go into gentleman’s clubs, or bars, they can’t go riding or hunting together, and it could even be taboo for them to associate in public without a chaperone. There’s all these societal rules for how they conduct themselves as people of two different genders, which is not inherently a “bad thing,” but it is new and different.
The story is also very mindful of how Viola is still learning how to navigate those new spaces, how she still doesn’t really know what she should wear, how she should conduct herself, what’s "polite" for a woman to say, or even how to take up "womanly" activities like arts, tea service, or being a hostess. Again, there's no judgment value placed on these new endeavors that Viola has to take on, but simply an acknowledgement that this shift in priorities and expectations placed upon her is very much a real thing she has to learn how to balance.
What’s more, the banter and the dialogue in this story is just top notch. Alexis Hall was born to write regency-era banter, and he knows exactly the right words for his romantic leads to say that will absolutely tear your heart *asunder.* There is such an earnestness and lack of pretense between Viola and Gracewood that makes space for so many tender, heart-wrenching interactions and exchanges that will just leave the reader breathless with their clarity and urgency. The amount of quotes in this book that sent me reeling are just beyond measure, and the level of devotion the characters are constantly expressing to each other is simply unfair to every other romance book in existence.
Additionally, that aspect of Gracewood unknowingly grieving with the very same person who unintentionally caused that grief in the first place is a romantic dynamic that I never knew I needed in my life. But it is *so* incredibly good. It is so good and so cathartic to see these characters find their way back to each other and heal each other in a way that is so incredibly earnest and powerful.
If I have not sold you on this book with all that I've said so far, then frankly I never will. If you want to feel something deep in the dredges of your heart, you have to get yourself to a copy of this book by any means necessary as soon as humanly possible. As cliché as it may be to say, this is one of those stories that will make you believe in love and give you a reason to hope. I truly cherished every single second that I got to spend with this incredible story. It is one of my all-time favorite books now, and if any part of this review connects with you, I'm sure it will also become one of yours in no time at all.
For those who were fans of Boyfriend Material, it's worth noting that A Lady for a Duke is tonally quite different. While this does have some funny moments, it's not a comedy and is much more serious in tone. That said, I thought it was a really beautiful love story crafted with care, featuring a trans heroine and her childhood best friend who thought she had died in the war.
I've never read a historical romance quite like this but we know trans people existed throughout history. While there could have been major pitfalls writing this kind of story, Alexis Hall seems to have navigated it with grace. Viola and Gracewood's relationship has this sweetness and depth to it and I was fully rooting for them by the end of the book. The fact that they have so much history together, and yet are in some ways getting to know each other for the first time really worked. Close to the end there are a couple of sex scenes that manage to be both steamy and emotionally resonant without feeling lurid or voyeuristic.
This book also has disability representation as Gracewood has a leg injury from the war that affects his day to day life, but he doesn't want to be pitied or defined by his disability even if it has changed him in certain ways.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this but I ended up loving it. It's clear the author put a lot of thought and care into crafting this love story. I'm not trans myself so do check out own voices reviewers to hear their thoughts but I was definitely a fan. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and an audio review copy from Libro.FM. All opinions are my own.
The author has content warnings at the start of the book and audiobook, but it's worth noting that this book does include some misgendering and deadnaming when referring to Viola in a past context, but it's not done maliciously.
Viola Caroll is presumed dead, but she decided to fake it and live as a trans and be free. She worries about Duke Gracewood who is her best friend and has gone off the rails after presuming she is dead and so she decides to go back to him in her new best self.
A story of drama, self-worth, doubt and love brings you this very beautifully written historical romance. It shows courage and dedication to overcome all obstacles and leaves you all warm and fuzzy with an ending to make you smile from ear to ear.
The character building was so well-developed that you felt you knew each character. The narration was good and at first had my doubts for a male voice narrator, but it was superb.
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC.
A beautifully articulated queer romance that's completely worthy of its length, A Lady for a Duke feels like an old-school historical romance in the best way possible, with its lyrical writing, the near-obsessed dedication to capture every single emotional nuances, and the sense of sweeping scope and place.
I don't think I've read any new HR release that devotes this much page count in decoding an evolving relationship dynamic, as well as the psychological impact on the parties involved (the only comparable one I can think of is Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale); the commitment wholeheartedly pays off as I was left wanting more after the epilogue wrapped up (which by the way was extremely joyful and poignant).
A Lady for a Duke takes the best of old and new: classically crafted in scope with a progressive premise and ideology; yes, one can argue it's a little bloated plot-wise surrounding its secondary characters, but nothing can be categorized as a meaningless filler. This feels like a 'director cut' of an already epic story with all the trimmings—do not rush through it and enjoy the journey.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
This is a well-written and heartfelt story, as far as I read it, but I could not suspend my disbelieve, because it is not written as a farce or an alternate universe.
My head kept nagging throughout the story that 1, two hundred years ago people needed explanation of trans and did not effortlessly do everything right by standards far in the future. 2, when you have known and loved a man from childhood on and meet him after 2 years of absence in female form, you think at least once how she resembles the lost friend.
Because of this I am not enjoying the story. The narration is marvelous.
"I cannot meet him as a stranger. But he has never known me as myself."
I loved this so much I wish I could just drop everything I'm doing right now, including writing this review, and read it again. I honestly haven't stopped thinking about it since July, and it is now November.
I would need to re-read anyway to write a review that does it justice, with like, quotes and shit. As of right now, I'm thinking this review is just going to be me going: eVeRyOnE jUsT rEaD tHiS oK???
The basic plot here is that Viola went away to the Napoleonic Wars with her best friend Justin de Vere (the eldest son of a duke) and then took the opportunity to essentially kill off her old self (where she was living as a man) and live as her true self for the first time. She needed to do this for her own sanity and wellbeing, but she very much regrets that in the process, she left Justin to think that she had died. But now, years later, she has learned that Justin is not doing well, at all. He is in a very bad place emotionally, and her sister-in-law persuades her to go and see him, to let him know she is alive, something Viola is understandably wary of doing (Viola is living with her brother, his wife, and their son, and they all know who she is).
Justin meanwhile is living in his cold castle with only his poor, lonely sister as company, when she should be out in society, not shut away playing nursemaid. So when the lovely Viola shows up, dragging him up out of his misery and grief, he feels better than he has since he came back from the war.
The whole time you're just waiting for him to find out who she is and when it finally happens it's DELICIOUS but also even before he finds out, their chemistry is outrageous. This book made me feel so many feelings. I swooned. I was sad. I laughed (Alexis Hall is always funny). I fell in love with the characters. This is pretty long for a historical romance novel, but it deserves every page. He wrote this book with the challenge that the conflict here would not be that Viola is trans, and it isn't, and it's beautiful and perfect and I love it so much. The End.
Alexis Hall produces the most unique and thought provoking relationships in his novels, and he’s just completely elevated the bar with A Lady for a Duke. Way more than simply a beautiful friends-to-lovers romance, Mr. Hall delivers a profound look at gender roles, and explores how physical perception affects the relationship between these two characters.
Reuniting several years after the Battle of Waterloo, Viola and Justin are two very different people. Justin returns home, emotionally and physically scarred, to assume his family duty as Duke of Gracewood. And Viola is presented with an opportunity to discover herself. As a result, we as the reader uncover many of the details of Viola’s story gradually. But as Alexis Hall states in the afterward, he doesn’t mean for Viola’s transgender status to be the main focus of the story.
Since it’s left up to us, I entertained various versions of Viola���s experience as she dragged herself from the battlefield, and all the steps she must have taken to become who she is at the start of A Lady for a Duke; putting her past behind her, and crafting an existence for herself in nineteenth century England. I love when authors leave us this bit of freedom!
Suffering from debilitating battle wounds and PTSD, Justin is openly scorned as a coward and a failure by his peers. Sequestered in his family home, Justin has reached rock bottom when Viola re-enters his life. Knowing her as only a friendly, kind-hearted stranger, he gradually opens up to Viola. They forge a powerful connection, and Justin’s walls finally crumble. It is during this stunning scene, through the sincerity of their exchange, that Justin finally recognizes his old friend.
Justin’s journey in understanding Viola, is just as important as Viola’s understanding of herself. My hat is off to Alexis Hall with his handling of the physical romance scenes. It’s incredibly moving to witness the depth of Justin’s care for Viola, processing his own reactions to Viola’s body, and the sensations of what they can do together. Plus, Viola’s dysphoria is incorporated into the story in a simply masterful and sensitive manner.
With Viola’s current position as a lady’s companion, the issue of class distinction is always at the forefront, and makes her union with the Duke of Gracewood (as anything more than just his mistress) impossible. Alexis Hall also weaves in some entrancing family drama, several marvelous scenes of the ton behaving badly, and fills the pages with the clever banter which is the hallmark of Alexis Hall’s writing.
Any of the issues facing Viola and Justin would make a great novel, but placing them in nineteenth century England adds a unique twist. I hope we’ll see much more from this world, and that some of the supporting characters from A Lady for a Duke might get their own novels. Or possibly, we could at least get Viola’s story. I think that would be fascinating indeed!
I read a review on here that said they wished that Viola's family had been more transphobic towards her and that Viola was too secure about her body and identity to be a believable trans-person. And to that I say, no one owes you an insecure heroine. Nobody owes you homophobia or transphobia in their books. If Hall wanted to draw angst and drama from other areas outside of the heroine's self-identity then I say kudos to him. (This bugs me along the same lines as authors who only write plus-sized characters who have constant internal dialogue about how much they hate their bodies).
This book was quite brilliant. If I'm being honest I will admit that I don't think it's one for the reread shelves, but that's got nothing to do with the writing or the characters or the plot and more to do with the fact that it's very...long and historicals aren't my favorite.
I read this immediately following Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall and I think I received some massive whiplash going from a book with Hall's trademark humor and banter paired with ridiculous, over-the-top characters to something more serious than anything else I've read from him. This was a somewhat tragic, but ultimately heart-warming tale. A little mistaken identity trope (this doesn't seem like quite the right name for what happened here since Viola was merely living as her true self and not intentionally hiding her identity from anyone, but it will appeal to people who enjoy that trope) and some friends to lovers action although it goes more from friends to strangers to friends to lovers...or something.
I don't want to give away too much but I absolutely loved that Viola never regretted her decision to do what was best for her, to finally live her true self, even if it hurt other people. She was never sorry for doing it, even if she was sorry for the pain it caused. Truly the strongest of heroines.
Also, I don't know how Hall does it but I love when his characters interact with children. Some of the funniest dialogue I've ever read.
This book is going to touch a lot of people. It's going to make you feel all sorts of feelings and keep you on the edge of your seat with just the right amount of action. Maybe it's a little long, but weirdly I don't think I felt like it was dragging. It just felt like I was getting more story than romance novels tend to show us. Like every little bit of their lives and relationship were on display just for me to take in and enjoy. Yeah, something special here.