A Lady For a Duke: a swoonworthy historical romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material

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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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

There are only a few books in my life that I have reached the end of, closed, and immediately wanted to read again. A Lady For a Duke joins that list, and the second read is just as rich and gorgeous as the first. A swoon-worthy and touching queer romance, this novel is one to be savored. 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. 🥹 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. In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, veteran Viola Carroll is presumed dead and has the chance to openly live her gender identity. Yet with this causes the loss of her dear friend, Justin de Vere. Several years later she visits the home of Duke Gracewood, and helps him cope with his PTSD and drug addiction.Viola and Gracewood used to be best friends. But more than 2 years have passed since that dreadful day on the battlefield in Waterloo, and Viola has accepted that she will never see Gracewood again. How could she? But fate and lady Marleigh's meddling work in mysterious ways. Prompted by a letter sent by Lady Miranda (Gracewood's sister), the journey to second chances begins. 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. A trans heroine. A grieving Duke. Two old friends. A moving and beautiful historical romance. Alexis Hall has outdone himself! Gracewood had already begun to love Viola before learning he already knew her—although he had not yet known her fully. Much of the conflict in this book stems from the tension of Gracewood absolutely wanting everything with Viola, but not feeling good enough for her due to his struggles with his physical disability, PTSD, and drug dependency. Viola loves Gracewood but does not want to marry him, functionally ending the line of De Vere’s. The longing and yearning in this book is incredibly well done. Justin and Viola have loved one another since they were children, and the evolution of their love—and as individuals—makes for an incredibly compelling story. The epigraph is a quote from Twelfth Night, "Do not embrace me till each circumstance,

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.

A Note From the Publisher

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. 🩷🩷 From the bestselling author of Husband Materialcomes a lush, sweeping queer historical romance where sparks fly between childhood friends after a life-changing separation—perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Lisa Kleypas!​ 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.

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. 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. Creating an engaging romance is an art form, requiring an almost supernatural ability to tease and captivate a reader. This is especially true for period romances, which have the additional hurdle of transporting a modern reader into an unrecognizable world. What grounds a historical romance is its characters, who must draw the reader in and give them a foothold into a time gone by. With A Lady For a Duke, Alexis Hall has created a masterpiece that isn’t just good by romance standards. It is easily my favorite book of the year so far across all genres, and the central love story will linger with its audience long after it is over. Let's start this reaction off with some honesty: I am very conflicted about my star rating of this review.

Featured Reviews

There are a lot of very serious themes in this book, and yet every heavy thing is held so kindly, with such compassion and care, that it is not a heavy story. Indeed, it is delightful, full of wit and humor. It evokes beauty at every turn: in the personal empowerment expressed in the detail of an embroidered glove or a pretty pair of shoes; in the strength and courage that it takes to be a better person than you were; in the ways that simple expressions of care can create breathtaking intimacy. 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.) 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. 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.