Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase
Avon, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐(.5)
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke is Loretta Chase’s take on The Taming of the Shrew and it is brimming with her trademark wit and her superhuman talent to elicit BIG FEELINGS with just a few brilliantly chosen words.
If you’ve ever listened to the Fated Mates podcast they talk often about the role romance novels play in symbolically dismantling the Patriarchy. This book does this explicitly, in my opinion. You’ve got Lucius, a spoiled, gorgeous, entitled duke who has frolicked and brawled through his life, basking in privilege he doesn’t even recognize. He’s never been told no. But Cassandra…tells him no. And instead of pouting he endeavors to become a better man. To earn her love and respect. Imagine that! How’s that for an HEA…bringing down “The Patriarchy ” and reforming it into something worthy and capable of authentic relationship.
My one gripe about this book is that it seemed to take a while to get this couple together on the page for a prolonged scenes. But once they were I was very, very pleased.
Thank you @avonbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.