Never Met a Duke Like You is a much anticipated sequel (for me personally) that follows Lady Vesper and her childhood best friend turned somewhat enemy, Duke Aspen Greydon. After being spurned by Aspen previously, Vesper is determined to have nothing to do with him when they accidentally find themselves shoved together once again. However, the Duke has other plans as he enlists Vesper and her matchmaking skills to help him arrange the perfect engagement for his ward, Judith.

I really enjoyed Never Met a Duke Like You! Vesper and Aspen had fantastic chemistry from the start and it was so satisfying to watch their relationship unfold. I thought that they complemented each other so well and really enjoyed the back and forth between them! I do wish that there had been a bit less miscommunication (or lack of communication) between the two of them, however, it only enhanced the tension!

I also really appreciated that this novel wove in frank discussions of mental health and its treatment in this particular moment in history.

Overall, I’m happy I picked this one up and am excited to see where Amalie Howard takes the series next!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for this ARC!

- Okay while there were some issues I had with this one, it's getting 5 stars because of how much fun I had reading it!! Amalie Howard knows how to write tension!! And angst!!
- The hot and cold worked so well, especially knowing that this is an Emma/Clueless retelling. That does mean that there's a bit of miscommunication, so if that frustrates you this may be one to skip. That being said, there is nothing better than a dual POV romance where both MCs can't tell if they're furious or in love!
- I love the way Howard brings representation into the Regency time period. Her research and attention to detail is clear, especially in the notes at the end of her book! As someone with ADHD, Vesper was such a fantastic example of what it can look like.
- The tension! The banter! The arguments! "Show me the stars"! I'm screaming!!

Highly recommend if you like a comedic and steamy regency romance! Lady Vesper is a Duke’s daughter, a gorgeous socialite on the surface with a passion for helping children and the poor on the inside. Her childhood nemesis the Duke of Greydon is forced to reconcile his image of her first as an annoyance, then a shallow lady of the ton, before he finally sees she is perfect for him… but is he too late? There’s tons of scheming, steam, and shenanigans. I loved it! This is my first Amalie Howard book so I can confidently say it stands alone! But now I’ve got some backlist to add to my tbr.

This was a fantastic historical romance. I liked the plot and the characters were a lot of fun. Very much recommend this book.

This was the best brothers best friend I have ever read. I loved that it was organic and not something they had to hide. It’s also friends to lovers as they were childhood friends. The growth of the both characters was so entertaining to read as they both learned how much they assumed of the other. Just an incredible read. Amalie is one of the greatest writers in the historical romance genre in my opinion and this book proves it

This wasn’t my favorite but it’s certainly a story I’ll remember. I really disliked the villain and they were too obvious in my opinion that it was a distraction from the romance part. Also, there was very little angst.

Clueless meets Bridgerton in this historical romance about matchmaker Vesper, who finds herself in an agreement to help her childhood friend turned nemesis Greydon find a match for his ward, Judith. Only things don’t go according to plan…

After loving Always Be My Dutchess, I was so excited to read the next book in the series, and it did not disappoint! This was such a fun read that featured strong, independent female characters and also touched on important topics involving mental health.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever Pub for sending me an ARC! Who doesn’t love friends-to-enemies-to lovers?! 💘

True rating: 3.25
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As soon as I read Jodi Picoult's blurb ("Clueless meets Bridgerton in this spicy, opposites attract Regency romance...") I knew I had to read this book.  This was my first Amalie Howard and I enjoyed it.  Historical romance is not my favorite genre, so I don't read it very often, but this one came highly recommended. 

I am almost never a fan of plot devices that seem to only exist to keep a couple apart, but I know some readers find the tension absolutely delicious.  Those readers will love this story.  The romance was solid and the steamy scenes were very well done.  While this book was just middle of the road for me specifically, I will definitely recommend it to readers who love historical romance along with the enemies to lovers/opposites attract trope.  

Very grateful for the opportunity to read an advance copy.  All opinions are my own.

Well, this wasn't my favorite by Amalie Howard. I love her writing style and her books are usually a lot of fun for me to read. This one, I just didn't connect with as much. I love both Emma and Clueless and enjoy the author’s writing so I was looking forward to trying this one. Sadly, this one just didn’t work very well for me because I thought the hero and heroine’s relationship was dragged out too long with them not admitting their love for one another until a lot later in the story.

The author's note at the beginning of the book explains Vesper has what in now known as ADHD. She has trouble controlling her thoughts and staying focused. She delights in playing matchmaker for her friends but not herself. Maybe because of the boy next door? She and Aspen were the best of childhood friends but grew apart as they grew older. When he turned his back on her at her come-out ball she was devastated. Archeologist Aspen is back in town to do his Ducal duty and to find his ward a husband. Another big reason he returned is to uncover the plot his villainous mother used to have his father committed to a lunatic asylum where he died. They meet again when they are unexpectedly locked together in an attic. I enjoyed Vespers character. She learned to show a serene face to the world while inside she is full of self-doubt and insecurity. Aspen has a lot of the same issues. He must never show too much emotion or his mother could use it against him and have him committed like his father. There are some steamy scenes, one involving a dinosaur! It was a very enjoyable book.

Read if you like: enemies to lovers, childhood friends to lovers
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Vesper and Aspen meet again when Aspen returns to England too look after his estate. Childhood friends turned enemies, Vesper is vexed to see him again. When they work together to help his ward with her coming out, the two can't deny their attraction for each other.
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I loved that the book was inspired by Clueless and I thought the plot was fun! The romance was also super cute and I loved Aspen and Vesper together.

A solid romance. I personally wasn't a big fan of the plot device that kept the two apart, but I know patrons will enjoy it. The sex scenes were very well written.
I will recommend this to patrons who enjoy historical romances and rom-coms.

I think 3.5 stars is my true rating for Never Met a Duke Like You. A cute historical romance with a light amount of angst that really serves up a delicious amount of snark and snipes between Vesper and Aspen. Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Howard sneaks in a former friend edition and I was incredibly excited! A bit of forced proximity in an attic? Yes, please. Aspen is intense and he was so much fun to follow even when he was putting his foot in his mouth. I enjoyed the romance but I did struggle with Vesper.

Vesper was a complicated character and I struggled to really connect with her. I disliked the intentional miscommunication on her behalf throughout the book. I know that one of her biggest flaws was her tendency to regress and bicker with Aspen like they were children again but it is one of my least favorite tropes.

I love when the MMC and FMC have atypical hobbies so I was really disappointed that the matchmaking angle was abandoned so quickly along with Aspen's interest in archeology. It just never pops up again beyond a visit to a museum.

Ultimately, this was a cute friends to enemies to lovers historical. I thoroughly enjoyed the bickering and Aspen's struggle to come to terms with his true feelings for Vesper. Also, Cat's antics were so much fun! Also, a quick note on steam: there are three scenes (two full) and I'm pretty sure I'm not including the epilogue.

I'm going to circle back and read the first in the series because I've loved Howard's work before and I know I'll find another to make me swoon again!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Vesper and Aspen were childhood friends but then fell apart over time. The Duke went to America to study paleontology and get away from this evil mother and I mean evil. He has to come back to take over the Dukedom. This one feel flat for me it's very dark with asylums and blackmail along with non-stop bickering and fighting between Vesper and Aspen. It was normal with enemies to love but then didn’t stop and just got old, you want to see more love towards the end. I wanted to like this one more but it was just a bit much in a couple of areas- some will love this one. Vesper and Aspen are fun characters I wanted to like more.
Regency
Paleontologist
childhood friends
enemies to lovers
Cat the cat


3.5/5 stars
⅗ steam
⅕ lol
⅕ badass FMC

Those looking for a light read in the vein of (an updated) Georgette Heyer may well enjoy this Regency romance

The protagonists are named Vesper and Aspen (fairly unusual names for protagonists). She is a Lady while he is a Duke. Each is ‘in’ society and the two have known one another for years. She is a matchmaker who has sworn off love. He is impoverished and needs a good match. Will this matchmaker match with this Duke? Those who’ve read Pride and Prejudice will know that bad weather can impact relationships as it does here when these two are sheltering in the same place.  There are also ways in which this book is a modernization of Emma. 

Readers will hope for a happy ending as they turn the pages of this sparkling story with a bit of heft to it (There are some mental health/asylum issues in these pages). Credit to the author for researching some of the social issues of the time period.

Many thanks to Forever-Grand Central Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Note that this is the second in a series though it can be read on its own.

I love Amalie Howard but unfortunately, this book wasn’t my favorite. Maybe it’s because I hadn’t read the first book. That being said, I don’t feel like I missed out on too much not having read it as the author does a good job of recapping the previous story in this one. There’s a wild villain and spurned lovers-ish, some public shenanigans, and a childhood friends to enemies to lovers thing going on. While nothing new or groundbreaking, this is still a good read.

i'm fan of Howard and liked the first in the series and this book didn't disappoint, great characters, good banter and good romance.

Thank you @readforeverpub for the #gifted eARC of NEVER MET A DUKE LIKE YOU!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and was looking forward to reading Lady Vesper’s love story. This one was based off of Clueless which is a 90s classic for a very good reason!
Unfortunately I really struggled to get into this one. It didn’t pull me in right away like the first one did. While I like a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers plot, the majority of the two MCs issues were due to miscommunication which y’all know I can’t stand!

It also really bothered me that the villain didn’t get punished for some truly heinous acts (ie: involuntary commitment of a family member in an asylum leading to their death) and I had hoped for some catharsis but it wasn’t meant to be.

While this wasn’t my favorite, I do plan to continue to read the series as I enjoy the female MCs and their strong friendships with each other.

NEVER MET A DUKE LIKE YOU is out now!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6078392725
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This was cute. There were a few times I felt like I was watching the movie Clueless in my head but in a Duke like way? If that makes sense.

It started off really fun to read and slowed down some for me, but it still was cute.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such a fun read! Like the first book in the series, Never Met a Duke Like You by Amalie Howard is loosely based on a 90’s rom-com – this time Clueless though I’d say it leans more heavily into its source material, Austen’s Emma, than the movie did – and set during the Regency era of England. Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is a popular heiress, the center of her social circle, and though she may have sworn off love, her reputation for finding matches for her friends proceeds her. When the Duke of Greydon, Vesper’s former childhood friend turned nemesis, returns to settle his family’s estate, the two find themselves trapped together in an attic and forced to admit the attraction that’s always been there is explosive.

At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about either character. On the surface, Lady Vesper seems highly spoiled by London society and obsessed more with looks than anything else. However, as we read more from her perspective, she has a heart of gold and a touch of ADHD, possibly on the autism spectrum though that isn’t what she calls it. She calls herself prone to flights of fancy, some of which would land her in an institution, which is why she has sworn off marriage.

The Duke of Greydon is in a similar, albeit more sinister, situation. His father was committed when he was younger by his mother, and he has spent his life with her threatening to do the same to him. So rather than pursue the things, and people, he wanted, he left. He’s an amateur archaeologist, traveling the globe, and only home now because his estate is near bankrupt. With Lady Vesper’s help, he is determined to find the cause and settle his ward into a good marriage.

The romance is steamy and the chemistry is on fire when the two are first thrown together. Then the story backs up and allows their relationship to slowly build over the course of the book. I really enjoyed that aspect. I thought it was cleverly done, and this is the part that reminded me most of Austen’s Emma than Clueless.

Overall, I really enjoyed Never Met a Duke Like You. It may not be the most historically accurate historical romance I’ve read, but it is a fun read with great characters to root for. The dual POV helps to connect the reader to both main characters and to understand their motives. If you enjoy historical romance, I highly recommend it.