I really enjoyed this book…maybe event favorite of the series so far.

I enjoyed Stella actually being a wallflower (plumper, bugger boobs, spectacles, not great fashion). She was also assertive but kind and book smart. Just loved her! Sylvester, while being nice and accepting Stella as a friend, really needs to rethink things personally because he spends the whole book thinking he’s in love with another lady and then is like psych I love you Stella. The side characters especially Stella’s BFF and the dukes mother were amazing! So many laugh out loud moments.

Overall this was a great historical romance and if you love that genre you should read it. 4.5 but rounded up!

What happens when you take 1 perfectionist, Sylvester, and 1 awkward and insecure wallflower, Stella, and put them together? You get misunderstanding and fun with them truly finding themselves and each other. This was a fun and quirky story and I couldn't put it down!

Not That Duke by Eloisa James is an outstanding regency romance that will leave readers genuinely sad to see it end. I have been in a bit of a reading slump, and Not That Duke snapped me right out of it!

In a genre where heroines often fit a certain mold with their flawless appearance, Lady Stella Corsham stands out as a true wallflower. With her imperfections, including not having perfect skin, a slim figure, or perfect vision, Stella is a relatable and realistic protagonist. Her relatability adds a touch of authenticity to the story, making her a refreshing heroine.

On the other hand, we have the seemingly perfect hero, Silvester Parnell, Duke of Huntington. Silvester's infatuation with Lady Yasmin, rather than our heroine Stella, adds an unexpected twist to the narrative. Eloisa expertly weaves a beautiful love story, proving that love can blossom unexpectedly and in the most surprising packages.

Throughout Not That Duke, Eloisa skillfully navigates the complexities of romance, capturing the essence of unexpected love. The emotional journey of the characters keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

Regency Romance…Is it 2nd chance at love when your chosen loves pick you after his choice runs off with someone else? Lady Stella is round, smart, wears glasses and loves the Duke of Huntington, Silverster. However, everyone in the tons watches as he makes a fool out of himself in his “love” for the beautiful Yasmin. But Stella suitor runs off with Yasmin. Silvester decides he really loves Stella and convinces her to marry him. I like this book but felt aggravated that Silverster was wishy washy about his feelings. The rest of the story is about examining feelings. I did like some of the cast of family and friends but felt this book has a lot of bullying which the author presented Stella as a strong woman. Yet so much she let slide. This book brings out so many emotions. I did like this story and can be read as a stand-alone. It was enjoyable. I am looking forward to following these books in this series.
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*I received this book from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was compelled by the "second choice" trope. It's not something I really see a lot. Silvester is really set on Yasmin (the protagonist of the previous book in the series). It's not serious, but he does pursue her, because she's the glamorous it girl. When that doesn't work out, he turns to his long-time friend, Stella.

Stella has crushed on Silvester for ages, but when he choses her, she's suspicious. It feels too good to be true. She keeps denying him, disbelieving that he could finally care for her in a serious way.

I wasn't completely sold at Silvester's about face. It happened rather suddenly.

I did love all the pining and Stella that was such an adorable, interesting character.

There isn’t a thing wrong with the romance. It is perfectly paced, the H and h perfectly paired, and the plot perfectly charming and unique.

I love when authors find clever ways to develop relationships without the constraints of the ton. And the heroine winning over the hero by beating him in a duel so that he hires her as his personal secretary was such fun.

The heroine is the type of character you would want as a friend. Smart, sweet, cunning, humorous, a tad eccentric, brave, loyal, and adventurous. The hero is an alluring alpha male who is also brilliant. They are the best.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. My one disappointment is how the heroine’s backstory is revealed and resolved.

This is a contemporary fiction with an interesting blend of different emotions in it. The book focuses on the lead characters, Duke of Huntington and Stella. Both the characters are contrasting to eachother yet they are entangled into eachother's life. The author has written down the an very interesting enemies-to-lovers romance with amazing characters and scenarios involved in it. The narration of the book is so smooth and easy that the readers are able to enjoy the spirit of the book. Each character shines throughout the book as the author has well potraited each and every character. The book is being layered nicely with the situation and incidents that were quite interesting to read. The characters in the plot kept me hooked till the end. Each has been given sufficient scope to contribute to the plot. The language used is lucid. It is definitely a good read for all the readers.

I greatly enjoyed this title. I've read a couple of books by this author and they're always enjoyable. The chemistry was great with the two and their banter. It's always fun to see "enemies" falling for each other. It was really a story about accepting yourself when you're "different" from those you deem the popular ones.

The story sparkles and brings alive the regency period which has become such a rave at the moment with the success of Bridgerton.  Stella with her glasses, her red hair and freckles is as far from the conventional definition of a diamond of the first water as it is possible to be. Silvester has worked hard at becoming a role model and perfect pattern card for social norms. Stella will just not do and anyway he craves the beautiful Yasmin.
When Stella and Silvester end up married, and Silvester finds himself falling in love with his wife, how can he prove successfully that he truly enjoys her differences and would cherish any children he will have with her. Ms. James brings alive the scheming mamas, the mean girls who want the highest title at all costs and the societal norms of the times that scorn anything different. 
I have been struggling a bit with my reading lately, but these types of novels drive home the fact that I do enjoy a nice variety of genres and writing styles and can still find a way to escape into make believe worlds brought to life through the imagination of some of my favorite authors. For lovers of all things regency and romance, a definite must read.

It felt like this author really nailed it when it came to the rigidness of the society of those times. And what society thought about just about everything. Also what they deemed what was was outside of their mold of what was acceptable. Stella fit in to none of those So many times she is made to feel like less, a second choice at best, if even chosen at all. She was definitely an "original". A intelligent woman, with a kind heart. I really liked her and even more when she was gutsy.
The friendly arguing between Stella and Silvester made for some fun times. He is highly competitive which we get to see bites him in the butt. Stella had been secretly attracted to Silvester but she also knew most of the women of the ton were too. At least she had a friendship with him. That is until she learned of a careless comment that he made when he joined in others laughing about her. That was like cold water in her face, and she began to see him more of his actual flaws. I did like Silvester, except for that shortcoming. But I also began to like him better when he began to grow up more when criticized. He's beloved by just about everybody so the only people to really call him on any behavior is Stella and his mother.
Let's talk about Silvester's mother. What a straight-forward woman. Okay she was blunt. I really enjoyed her unique personality and what others considered her wacky ways. She was smart as a whip though and not just about inventions but also people.
There were plenty of emotions in the story without being mushy. A entitled woman whose mouth knows no end of insults and had no restraint. New friendships are also formed with Silvester's mother also being firmly in Stella's corner. It was good that his mother did love him even though when he was growing up, there was some lack in her mothering.
For me, the thing I liked best was all of the different people and their interactions. And how Stella beat them all and got her H.E.A. It had a good ending and an even better Epilogue.

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

I didn't read The Reluctant Countess and from what I gather I think I would've enjoyed this more if I did, but its supposed to be a standalone. I think the banter between Stella and Silvester was fun. Not sure I like Silvester pining for someone else almost first half of the book. I also love this cover even though it doesn't match the character. Just not my favorite.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This one was definitely better than book 2 in the series(which had me fuming last year😤) but at the same time I miss the feeling that the older EJ books gave me!⁣
Lady Stella is a freckled, redheaded bluestocking with spectacles(essential wallflower characteristics) who has quite a bit of a dowry but not many prospects and she feels that men won't love someone who's quirky like her(why girl?). Silvester, the Duke of Huntington is the golden boy in the eyes of the society and though his eccentric mother might think that Stella is a good match for him, he wants love(ohh?) and not another eccentric duchess in his family. But what will happen when the unlikeliest circumstances bring these two together?⁣
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Firstly, idk why the blurb says enemies to lovers because this was more of a friends->lovers. Stella was amazing with her wit, intelligence and tenacity. She was also very direct and honest with her feelings. So, this is perhaps why I felt like the hero didn't deserve her(seems to be a running theme in this series for me🤔). He's not as bad as Giles but this man thinks that he adores another woman for 50% of this book and later realizes that he actually loves Stella. But it honestly made Stella(and me) feel like she was a consolation prize. And my girl doesn't deserve that😒 So, this could've been handled better(EJ has done it before) and we didn't get a grovel either😮‍💨 I could understand the reason behind his behavior but I wasn't happy with it. The rest of the characters(& the 😺) were pretty amazing and there's the trademark EJ humor+steam, so I enjoyed most of it. It was the angsty parts that distracted me. So, eh, idk how to rate this one - because I enjoyed it but I wasn't completely satisfied in the end(kinda like eating something but still feeling a bit hungry?😂). This comes out on 7/25 and you might enjoy it if you're looking for an enjoyable HR read with some drama!

Well this was definitely an Eloisa James romance 😅 Stella doesn’t fit in with the regency crowd and that does lead to some awkwardness with suitors.

Silvester (wins for worst name for a MMC ever 🤢) basically strings her along as he does a whole ‘does he love her, does he not love her’ dance with the beautiful, but less brainy Yasmin.

The only thing I didn’t like was how much everyone continued to put down Stella. So much so that she internalized so much of that and it made it hard to see her end up with him in the end because of how he and others had treated her.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a tricky one. Although I love Eloisa James overall, this series has not been my favorite. I found the last book quite frustrating due to the prominence of a secondary character, and the same plot featured heavily in this book.
Another big pet peeve in romances for me in general is when someone is refusing to either express or accept feelings--which occurred here for the entirety of the book until essentially the last 10 pages.
It's well written because Eloisa James is that good, but I couldn't get past these plot points.

I wanted to like this book, but it was really hard to get on board with the constant insecurity of the main female character being "second choice". The vocabulary was also a little over my head, I had to look up so many words that I was starting to question my intelligence level! I liked a lot of the story and was really hoping for the couple in the end. I think this is the first historical romance I've read where the main male character purposely compromises the main female character to trap her into marriage. Usually, it's just accidental!

I really enjoyed this book. It just gripped me and would not let me go. I think the main reason I enjoyed this book so much was the chemistry between our leads. Like, they were on fire. I just loved their easy banter with each other, the clear fascination they had with each other. Just every scene that both of them were in had me hooked. I also quite liked the set up of this book. I don't think I've read many books with a set up like this, and I think it's quite interesting. Especially in the moments were Stella was convinced Silvester wasn't into her, so she started to let her guard down, but in reality Silvester was falling head over heals. It caused for such an amazing dynamic throughout the book. I do think that once these two get together this book gets a bit boring, which is why I docked a star, and the third act conflict came in WAY too late and made it feel stupid because of that. Besides the romance I also really liked our cast of side characters. They were all larger than life and it was so much fun to read. I'm really excited to read the other books in the series now.

FINAL DECISION: Very enjoyable story. Two decent people who get things mixed up, which causes difficulties in their relationship. Stella's insecurities and Silvester's desire to appear perfect create difficulties for this couple, who are so obviously perfect for one another from the start.

THE STORY: Lady Stella Corsham knows that Silvester Parnell, Duke of Huntington, is not for her -- even as she can't keep her eyes away from him. Stella knows that Silvester is in love with the beautiful Yasmin, and Stella, who is freckled, a redhead, wears glasses, and has a curvy figure that is not fashionable, doesn't believe she can compare. Silvester likes Stella, who is eccentric and intellectual, but is determined to win the hand of Yasmin, even against his friend Giles, but cannot stop thinking about Stella and wonder what she will do or say next.

OPINION: I generally don't like romance triangles, but I never felt that Silvester "loved" Yasmin. He was always more engaged with Stella, even as he kept insisting that he was going to win Yasmin's hand. He was more intellectually and physically attracted to Stella. Their interactions were sweet and funny.

Indeed, they are so obviously perfect for one another that the conflict comes from the fact that Silvester pursued Yasmin first. The first half of the book sets up that conflict with readers seeing how Stella's insecurities are based on her experience and how much she is devastated by Silverster choosing Yasmin.

Stella's distress in this book about all the ways she is "not" is sometimes hard to read. Her pain was intensely real and understandable. I did love that other women in her life were determined to show Stella that she had value even if she didn't fit in with the shallow societal standards.

I do love a good "married couple needs to build a relationship" book. The book so clearly demonstrates that mere desire is not enough, and Silvester and Stella learn to communicate their needs and weaknesses with one another. I thought their connection was wonderful as they really see one another's needs, strengths, and weaknesses.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book is broken into two parts. In the first part, Silvester is pursuing Yasmin. After the transition, Yasmin and Giles are married, and Silvester's attention finally turns to Stella one hundred percent.

CONNECTED BOOKS: NOT THAT DUKE is the third book in the Would-Be-Wallflowers series. This book overlaps with the events in the prior book THE RELUCTANT COUNTESS, and therefore there are spoilers for that book. It is not necessary to read that book first, but this book is so much better if you have read it.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE; I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

This book was a pure delight. I absolutely adored Stella and I felt a deep kinship with her. Silvester, if I'm honest was sometimes a challenge, especially in the beginning but as you dig deeper and learn more, he truly becomes much more likable. I really liked these two as a couple. Maybe it was simply my foolish romantic heart that still endlessly yearns for that girl who just doesn't fit societal norms to not only capture the hot guy's eye but win his heart. It's been that way since I first watched Sixteen Candles years ago and I guess I'm never going to change.

A great friends-to-lovers regency romance by Eloisa James! The third installment in the Would-Be-Wallflower series but readable as a stand-alone novel as well.

Stella Corsham is your typical wallflower whose red hair, short stature and witty personality set her firmly into the bluestocking category. With the hefty dowry attached to her name however she attracts her fair share of gentlemen who seek her for her fortune. Meanwhile, Silvester Parnell, the Duke of Huntington is a well-respected, handsome member of the ton who is after then season's diamond. After an unlikely friendship develops between the two, a love triangle soon follows and Stella and Silvester's tumultuous love story commences.

Full of humor, heartache, and second-chances, this romantic comedy is sure to keep readers entertained!

I’ve been lucky enough to have received ARCs through NetGalley for both the second and third books in this series, and they have easily become some of my favorites. One of the best compliments I can give a book is when I ignore all the other books I’m reading to focus solely on it. Not That Duke had me reading well past when I should have gone to bed and pulling it out whenever I had a minute free, and I didn’t get restless the way I do with most books where I need to switch it up every couple of chapters. (Thanks ADHD.) This book drew me in from page one and kept me invested til the very end.
Duke is the third book in the series, and while it’s not strictly necessary to read A Reluctant Countess prior, it definitely helps because large portions of the third book take place during the second book, just from a different perspective.
Countess was so admirable in that it delved into slut shaming and its mirrors in today’s society, even through a Recency lens. Duke, however, shifted gears and followed a main character quite the opposite of the first- where Yasmin is what society idolizes (and paradoxically of course shames) in the form of female beauty, Stella is short, plump, bespectacled, freckled, and a bit of a know it all. Society is no kinder to her than it was to Yasmin, but in different ways. Eloisa James did an excellent job with both books showing how exhausting it can be trying to navigate the world as a woman, whether you are stereotypically beautiful or not.
What I loved about Stella’s character especially was how she was smart enough to see through all of it, understood that Yasmin wasn’t evil just because men desired her, yet still put a name to the fact that she couldn’t help but feel jealous at times, and still knew that her jealousy shouldn’t and didn’t change her own intrinsic worth or Yasmin’s. Stella stayed kind throughout the book. She had boundaries in regards to others, and she kept many people at a remove so they weren’t in a position to hurt her, but she never resorted to cruelty even when it might have been warranted. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character handled the way Stella was, and it felt very fresh and yet still believable.
The way both books dealt with intimacy and sex was also very different, but just as important. Countess showed that not all women are instantly at ease with their body and their partner (and that there is no shame in that!) Duke, however, showed the opposite, that women can delight in their bodies and their sexuality and it doesn’t make them shameful. I also loved that the woman who society deemed “not enough” never apologized for herself or her body. She trusted in herself and in her partner, and it was so beautiful and added depth to the sex scenes that not all spicy books are able to accomplish.
Both books pull some inspiration from Pride and Prejudice, and one of the most interesting characters (that I wish had been dealt with more) was Stella’s aunt. In the beginning of the book her aunt resembles Mrs Bennet- focused on making Stella attractive enough, in whatever way she could, to get married, and also a little over the top with her “nerves.” It wasn’t until later on that we find out there is a reason for the way she acts, particularly in how she views men, and I found her story, especially viewed in the lens of Mrs Bennet, to be very interesting. I would have liked to have gotten more of her story, but what we did get was enough to provide depth to a character that is usually laughed off as ridiculous.
Overall, this book was 10/10. I have loved Eloisa James for a long time, but this “Would-be Wallflowers” series is quickly becoming one of my favorites in the regency romance genre! The story, the romance, and especially the beautiful feminist messages are all so well done. Women in this series are treated as three-dimensional, even ones that initially come off as “token” characters. I genuinely can’t wait for what she releases next!