Bridgerton: The Duke and I (Bridgertons Book 1): The Sunday Times bestselling inspiration for the Netflix Original Series Bridgerton (Bridgertons, #1)

by Julia Quinn

The first novel in Julia Quinn's worldwide bestselling Bridgerton novels, now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix. This is the story of Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke: welcome to the ballrooms of Regency London . . .
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Can there be any greater challenge to London's Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke? -Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1813

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend's sister, the lovely - and almost-on-the-shelf - Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth - it's all an elaborate plan to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable . . .

Their ruse works like a charm - at first. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it's hard to remember that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it's his devilish smile, certainly it's the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her. It wasn't the plan, but it seems she's falling for the duke, for real. And amidst the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London's elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule . . .

Find out why readers love Julia Quinn . . .

'A smart, funny touch. . . reminiscent of Helen Fielding' Time Magazine

'Quinn is a master of historical romance' Entertainment Weekly

'Powered by a surfeit of dazzling wit and graced with a cast of unforgettable characters' Booklist

'Two more perfect characters...a quirky, irrepressible heroine...a romance readers will not want to put down...Hooray Julia!' Romance Reviews Today

'Quinn writes delightfully fast-paced, funny, sparkling and bright romance' Romantic Times

'The next best thing to Georgette Heyer' Gloss

'Julia Quinn is one of the best historical romance novelists of our time' Heroes and Heartbreakers

'Quinn excels in writing stories full of joy and delight, where laughter trembles on the edges' Happy Ever After

'Full of wit, charm and smouldering attraction . . . an unputdownable story that I think romance fans will treasure' Harlequin Junkie

'Quinn is incomparable! The latest addition to her beloved Bridgerton series is funny, charming, witty and wildly romantic' RT Book Reviews

'Like an episode of Downtown Abbey mixed with a great rom-com' iBooks Best Books of March

• ISBN10: 0749936576
• ISBN13: 9780749936570
• Publish Date: 8 June 2006 (first published 6 April 2004)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Ashley]

Just read this to get through it. I enjoy the show, but semi-hated season 1 due to the sexual assault, because that's exactly what it was. The book was not different. I absolutely despise how it deals with children. 

Just eager to continue on to the other books, which I'm expecting to enjoy more.

[nora]

lol wtf?

I was only really familiar with this series through the songs written by Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow. So I thought this would be warm and fuzzy with a dash of melodrama, and the romantic build up in the first half of the book fully supported that. And I honestly wish I'd stopped halfway, because the arguing, drunkenness and forcED PROCREATION (yuck) in the second half was just not it, honey! Bye.

[mrs_mander_reads]

This is so good. I usually love Quinn's characters anyway, but Simon and Daphne were so well-rounded, I didn't feel like I was missing any part of their personality. I can't wait to watch the Netflix series, and start the next book.

[FranJessca @ A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog]

The Duke and I is the first book to Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. The first book focuses on Daphne, the fourth of eight siblings in the Bridgerton family, and the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset. Readers will also meet the other Bridgertons’ and other secondary characters that I liked getting to know more than the main characters at times in this book. 

Female Protagonist: Daphne Bridgerton is a beautiful young lady who everyone loves as a friend, but nothing more. I liked her character but did not connect with her. She was sweet at first but turned into something else later on, especially after working with the Duke to have a pretend relationship that grew into something more. She’s determined to get what she wants, and she’ll do anything, even do something that I found unforgivable.

Male Protagonist: Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, has to be my favorite in this book. He’s a handsome young Duke that every woman wants to be with, but he has no desire to be with them unless it’s casual. He has his reasons. He is considered a Rake by many, but he changes once he meets Daphne. He has a past that made me feel for him immediately. I loved everything about him. Yes, I have a thing for flawed heroes. 🙂

Storyline/My Thoughts: My thoughts on The Duke and I are that I enjoyed the book, up until one particular scene, which I mention in my review’s forewarning (below). This is the first book I read by Julia Quinn, so I did enjoy the storyline of how Daphne and Simon met in this book. I also love the trope(s) that were in this book. One, in particular, the Fake/Pretend Relationship. You know it’s never going to continue to be fake. One character or both will eventually fall in love. It’s inevitable. 

Julia Quinn was very descriptive in details with the events the characters went to in the book, making it feel like I was there with them. I’m afraid I could not live back in a day where marriages were arranged, and women were not allowed to do certain things because it was frowned upon back then. There’s also the issue of wearing dresses every day. Nope, not this gal here. I love wearing my t-shirt and jeans, especially living in a rural area with livestock.

There was so much drama in this book that kept me turning the pages. Daphne has three older brothers who are protective of her. What does she think they will let her marry just anyone? Nope!

This book has a Gossip Girl feel to it, with the gossip papers from Lady Whistledown going around. I may know who she is but won’t give it away to readers who have yet read the book/series.

Forewarning: This book does have a scene that I would consider a rape scene. I will not go into details with it because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book or watched the show on Netflix. I was disappointed with this scene, so I gave it 3.5 stars instead of 5 stars.

Standalone or Part of Series: Part of Series.

Steaminess: Some steam towards the end of the book.

HEA: Yes.

Trope: Fake/Pretend Relationship, Friends to Lovers, Shotgun Marriage

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I would recommend it to Historical Romance readers out there if you have read any of Julia Quinn’s other books, too. Again, this was the first book I read from Julia Quinn, and I look forward to diving into the rest of the Bridgerton series this year (2021). I’ll need to read them before the next season comes out on Netflix.

I will say this; this will be my first time I loved the show better than the book. I know it’s due to Shonda Rhimes. She’s amazing! (Although I may be the only person who hasn’t seen Grey’s Anatomy, I plan on changing that soon. I did fall for her show Scandal. I loved that show!!) Shonda Rhimes did a fantastic job with the first season of Bridgerton.

[pamela]

Far too many romance novels glorify toxic relationships - and while everyone in The Duke and I appeared to have a fairytale ending, nothing was really resolved, and people's appalling behaviour was pushed under the rug as "cute" or "fixable."

This is another case where the television adaptation far outstripped its source material. I was expecting something sweet, witty, and self-aware. I was sorely disappointed. While sometimes a simple, straightforward, easy read can be just what the doctor ordered, The Duke and I raised far too many problematic elements to get away with not analysing or discussing them. That, combined with some limited, boring, vanilla sex scenes, one of which was an entirely unnecessary nonconsensual one, made for a rather dull read overall.

[stacey_is_sassy]

Lots of forgiveness needed...

A wee bit spoilery, you know the drill...

Deceit is a tricky thing. Who sets the rules? Who defines whether it's deceitful or not? Do you get to resent YOUR wrong interpretation?

I love The Duke and I but there's a little part of me that finds it hard to accept parts of the storyline in this one. He didn't give full disclosure when he proclaimed that he couldn't have children. She took advantage of his vulnerable position and forced him to give in to her desire.

Of course, it all works out in the end and I'm left with a big goofy smile, but there's this little part of me that can't forget or forgive them for their deceit. Maybe, in this case, two wrongs do make a right.

I can't change my rating on this one because even with the above, I love that Bridgerton family SO HARD. Violet, the mother is AWESOME!! Even when I read this years ago, I aimed to be the kind of mother she is. Loving, sweet, slightly manipulative and so extremely in control that those poor kids thought she had spies, eyes in the back of her head and voodoo powers. The perfect mother.

Rosalyn Landor is the BEST historical romance narrator. The woman can do no wrong in my eyes.

I can't wait to go on and reacquaint myself with all of the Bridgertons.

[wyvernfriend]

Misunderstandings abound with people who should talk about the issues more and trivia less.

[kimbacaffeinate]

An almost on the shelf, strong, confident, and feisty heroine and a damaged Duke form a plan to enjoy the season by faking a courtship. And the game is afoot. I absolutely love this trope and Quinn's version was delightful. I read this tale years and years ago and only had a vague recollection of enjoying it. The tale was narrated by Rosalyn Landor, and she brought these characters to life. I enjoyed the voices she created for each character. She nailed the Bridgerton siblings capturing their back and forth banter and interference. I felt she nailed Daphne from her candid honesty to determination. It is rare that I enjoy a female narrator's male voices, but she brought Simon to life.

So these two are faking a courtship. The momma's of the ton aren't chasing Simon with their unwed daughters in tow, and other men are starting to take notice of Daphne. Only things are getting complicated. Simon is dreaming of kissing his best friend's sister, and Daphne just might be falling for the Duke himself.

Quinn did a fantastic job of introducing us to all of the Bridgerton siblings and their mother. I loved her brothers, and her mother made me gigglesnort more than once. She gave us a strong sense of Daphne and why she hasn't found a match. Simon Basset's story will tear at your heart even as you want to whack him over the head with your fan. Their chemistry felt genuine, even if it shocked them. I loved that Daphne was bold, and Simon scolded himself for his wicked thoughts. It was delivered with a delightful mix of courtship, friendship, laughter, and angst.

While I am not a fan of drama, angst, and miscommunication, Quinn made it realistic and didn't draw it out. She had me experiencing their emotions as she threw in meddling family. This couple went through growing pains and their own personal growth. The tale wrapped up wonderfully and included an epilogue that made me smile.

The audio edition also includes a novella, THE DUKE AND I: THE EPILOGUE II (Bridgertons #1.5) I adored this peak into the future lives of this couple and others. I always imagine what happens to a couple and it was extra sweet having loose ends wrapped up while discovering what is happening in their future. We also get a glimpse into Colin and Penelope's life.

Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Angie]

The Duke and I was so freaking cute! It has fake courting! My favorite! Daphne comes from a huge family and would like to start a family of her own. Unfortunately, the only men offering her marriage, are not ones that she can see herself with, and she doesn't think they see her as more than a friend either. Meanwhile, Simon has sworn off marriage, but being a duke, all of the mothers are throwing their unwed daughters at him. A hilarious, random meeting brings the two together, and they decide that faking a courtship would be beneficial to them both.

I just loved everybody in The Duke and I! Simon has this tragic backstory that made me want to climb into the pages and hug him. He basically does everything to spite his father, who recently died. But he's smart and funny! Daphne has four brothers, so she's a bit more outspoken and bold than your average society miss. She knows how to handle men, and she won't be put off by Simon's rakish persona. And her family is hilarious! She has seven siblings and her mother, and everybody loves everybody and are a little overprotective. There's just so much love oozing off these pages! And banter! Everybody banters!

Daphne and Simon are super cute together! I loved how they spent time together and actually had conversations. There wasn't quite enough of their fake relationship for me at the beginning, but I enjoyed the scenes that were there very much. The tone of The Duke and I does change about midway through when Simon does agree to marry Daphne after a failed duel. Of course, she has to learn about his childhood and how awful his father was to him. Daphne also finds out the real reason Simon won't have children. There is a very troublesome and uncomfortable scene in regards to that. Daphne does realize later that she shouldn't have done it, but it still made me squirm. It's also the reason I didn't give five stars.

Aside from that one questionable scene, I loved The Duke and I! I can't believe that I waited so long to read it! Not only does it use my all-time favorite trope, but it's an amazing start to this series. I found that I really like, or am curious about, all of Daphne's siblings who will be the stars of the following books. I also loved her mother and can't wait to see more of her meddling!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Amanda]

Feb. 2016 reread: Couldn't resist this series during the 8 Weeks of Bridgertons leading up to the latest JQ release, and... of course it didn't disappoint.

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*flails all over you until it’s awkward*

Hi. HI. I love Julia Quinn. Many talk about how much they love the Bridgertons, but I didn’t start my Julia Quinn reads with this series, which is often suggested you do.

(I don’t always follow suggestions.)

Even so, words cannot convey how much I adore this family and how Julia Quinn portrays them. I love the Bridgertons. I could read an entire book devoted to their antics. And because I started with book 7 (who am I?), seeing them at the very beginning was that much better.

I was so excited for the rest of the books that I bought book 2 and requested book 3. Everyone says book 4 is the one to die for. Or that it’s their favorite. Because Colin. I can already see it. And I am excited.

But the duke. And Daphne. This isn’t necessarily my favorite couple. I wasn’t always fond of the duke and his choices. (Sorry, Simon, but Daphne was so right it hurt.) But I couldn’t help getting swept up in their romance. And for me? That’s a win.

Julia Quinn is the ultimate comfort read. And I can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series.