Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the DRC of While the Duke was Sleeping! All opinions in this review are my own.

I love the movie While You Were Sleeping, so I was excited to read a historical romance retelling of it! I am happy to say that While the Duke was Sleeping is a delight from start to finish! If possible, I am even more excited for the next book in the series which is based on You've Got Mail!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is book one in the England's Sweethearts series. The story is a retelling of the movie While You Were Sleeping- which I never saw, so I can not comment on how true to that it is. I will say that this book wasn't really for me. The banter was great, Adelaide was well written, and I enjoyed Cordelia and Rhett's sisters. However, I found it implausible that Peter would be so creepy as to assume he can engage himself to Cordelia and announce it whether she or her father (because of the time period) agrees. Then after he awakens, he is mature and understanding, giving up his aggressive pursuit of Cordelia and offering for Adelaide should she agree. I mean, did he really get hit hard enough in the head to change personalities like that? It made no sense. I also had difficulty with Rhett's maturity level. I don't think the book was badly written overall and I may have enjoyed it more if I'd seen the movie it was based on, but as is, it's just not my cup of tea.

This book swept me off my feet from the very start. A delightful blend of intrigue, mistaken identity, and irresistible chemistry, this novel delivers all the charm and sizzle you’d expect from a regency romance—with a heroine who has absolutely no intention of playing by the rules.

Adelaide Rosebourne is a wonderful historical romance lead: clever, morally flexible, and completely out of her depth in the most entertaining way. Posing as her mistress while the real fiancée’s duke lies in a coma? Delightfully absurd. Yet the author makes it work by giving Adelaide enough grit and vulnerability to keep her grounded, even when the plot thickens.

Enter Rhett Montgomery—reluctant heir, loyal brother, and the kind of suspiciously charming rake who can undo a lie with a single smirk. Their banter crackles, their chemistry leaps off the page, and while the plot leans heavily on familiar tropes (fake identity, brother of the fiancé, forbidden romance), the execution feels fresh and snappy.

There’s something delicious about watching two people try not to fall in love when the circumstances all but guarantee disaster. The stakes are personal and emotional rather than grand or political, which keeps the story tight and character-driven. Plus, the slow burn is chef’s kiss—with enough heat to keep you turning pages late into the night.
If you love a historical romance with secret identities, scandalous kisses, and just the right amount of emotional angst, this one’s for you.

Looking forward to the next installment!

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

If you're familiar with the movie While You Were Sleeping, you're familiar with the gist of the plot of this historical romance. The similarity between the titles is no coincidence. There's a man in a coma (the titular duke), a woman pretending to be his fiance, and the duke's brother, who is very attracted to the "fiance" but also highly suspicious about her true identity. It has humor, and the two main characters are likeable. But somewhere, somehow it fell a bit flat for me and I'm not sure I can pin down why. It might have been a matter of my mood when I read it, sometimes if my mood is off it can skew my opinion and that may well have been the case here. And I long ago determined that I shouldn't judge a series by the first book in the series. There was enough here that I did like that I'll try some of Samara Parish's other books, as well as the next book in this planned series.
My thanks to Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

Review 4.25⭐️
This historical romance was such a fun retelling of While You Were Sleeping. It had some references to the movie, primarily being confused for Peter’s fiancé while he’s in a coma. It also had its own aspects that differentiate itself from the movie, my favorite being that Adelaide meets her love interest before the mistaken identity. The romance between Adelaide and Rhett was great. Their barter was good, and a little spicy. However, I was a little disappointed that we only got half a romance scene and then it was over 😒 Overall, I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next in the series!

Cordelia is a Duke’s daughter who flees her wedding with her maid Adelaide. Cordelia and Adelaide swap identities and hide out in a cottage owned by a Duke named Peter. When Peter stops by, he falls and hits his head and…bring on the coma! Peter’s brother Rhett is in charge while Peter is in the coma and he falls for the heroine, Adelaide.

It should become clear by the description above, this is a historical romance retelling of While You Were Sleeping. The book is steamy and wacky, with a likable central couple. Some elements feel far-fetched, and a few minor historical details seem inaccurate. The large cast makes it hard to fully develop every character, though Peter and Rhett’s sisters are intriguing and hopefully feature in future books. The Duke’s unconscious brother, Peter, adds a fun bit of wackiness to the story.

If you are a While You Were Sleeping fan or enjoy quirky, steamy historical romances, give this book a try.


3.5

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

There wasn't anything wrong with this one, I just wasn't interested in the main characters. Cordelia was awful, Rhett was a womanizer and I didn't like how he spoke about women, and Della had potential but I couldn't get past my inattention. While I loved the Sandra Bullock movie, it wasn't enough to keep me reading.

Overall, this was a cute read. I struggled in the beginning because despite the novel being set in the 1890s, some of the locales mentioned and societal quirks aligned much more with Regency England and weren't even around anymore by the late Victorian Era. (I'm looking at you, Almack's reference. 👀)

But once the action of the novel moved from London to the country, it was a much more contained story. I liked Della and Rhett as main characters; and I really felt the natural connection between them. They actually felt like kindred spirits. The comedy of the situations they sometimes end up in (trying to wake the duke, miming, dildos, etc.) also had me laughing out loud several times.

I'm a sucker for a 90s Rom-Com retelling, like Amalie Howard's ongoing The Taming of the Dukes series, so the While You Were Sleeping aspects of this book were great. And no spoilers, but I loved how all the characters handled the ending. I look forward to seeing where Parish takes this series and if there will be more 90s Rom-Com retellings in store.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Cordelia ends up with a fiancé she doesn’t want and who is now in a coma, she convinces her lady’s maid, Adelaide to impersonate her for a few days until he wakes and convince him to retract the proposal and in turn she’ll get a handsome reward. When the fiancé ends up being the brother of a rakish bachelor who Adelaide has already had a steamy run in with, things get even more complicated. Especially as they starts falling for each other…

This book was so CUTE and FUN and CHARMING. I found myself laughing out loud and kicking my feet so many times. Della is such a fun and unique character and Rhett is just the perfect troubled, but charming rake. Some of the events are just downright silly and hilarious but I couldn’t put it down! I was a LITTLE disappointed there wasn’t more steam as there were so many instances that indicated we’d get there but I still think the story was so good

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Forever publishing and Samara Parish for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions in my review are honest, voluntary and my own.

Adelaide currently works as maid for Lady Cordelia, and looks very much like her. On the day of Lady Cordelia’s wedding she helps her mistress escape London and runs away to a small town not even on a map.
On the way she meets Everett Montgomery, brother to the duke and a flame is sparked.
Upon arriving in the small town, Lady Cordelia accidentally causes the duke to fall into a coma of sorts and forces Adelaide to impersonate her to get out of a second betrothal.
Through twists and turns Della falls in love with Rhett and his family.

One note: I wish Uncle Frank had some sort of retribution for his part in the story and Lady Cordelia in a way too.


"I know you crave a place to belong," he said,
"and heavy blasted furniture. You want roots. I can't promise all of that. I do not come with bookcases, but I promise that you can put your roots down in me. I will be the place that you belong. I will be your home."

⭐️ found family
⭐️ forbidden romance
⭐️ rake bachelor
⭐️ rom com historical romance

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC of this book for my honest opinion in return.

If you loved the movie Whike you were sleeping that this histrom with identity mixups is the book for you. It’s charming and entertaining from start to finish.

Impersonating her mistress and escaping a wedding was not what Adelaide expected when she returned to London determined to set roots. Adelaide also did not expect to almost drown in the Thames after colliding with a handsome stranger on the docks. Rhett can’t help but think about the self-assured woman from the Thames but expects never to see her again. When Rhett returns home his brother is in a coma and Adelaide ends up being his brother’s fiancé. Adelaide agrees to impersonate her mistress until the Duke wakes and their impending marriage can be resolved. But the more time Rhett and Adelaide spend together the more they can’t deny the true feelings between them. Will the Duke wake and marry Adelaide or will the truth come out at last?

A reimagining of a beloved 90’s rom com, this historical romance is wrapped in humor, comfort and familial love is a must read!

As a big fan of both historical romance and rom-coms, I was excited to dive into *While the Duke Was Sleeping* by Samara Parish, and it didn’t disappoint! This book is inspired by *While You Were Sleeping*, a classic 90s rom-com that’s long been one of my favorites. For anyone who adores the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman, this book captures that same magic. There are a few differences from the movie, but the story stays true to the film’s spirit, including the playful, slightly naughty comedy. Parish did an excellent job adapting the most iconic scenes, keeping the heart of the original while making it her own.

The book’s language and humor lean more modern, with a light historical touch, so don’t expect a deep dive into historical accuracy. Instead, it has the same fun, movie-inspired vibe you’d expect from a rom-com. The romance develops slowly, which was a bit surprising given the amount of innuendo throughout, but it works. The romance isn't completely closed-door, more like a door slightly ajar. It’s a nod to the playful tone of 90s rom-coms, which often relied on witty banter and a few passionate kisses, rather than full-on steam.

If you're a fan of old-school rom-coms and looking for a light-hearted historical romance, this is a perfect pick. It’s fun, charming, and full of heart—I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I am a major fan of the film While You Were Sleeping, so it was fun seeing the little Easter eggs to that throughout the story, specifically the man in the coma being named Peter and his sister Jacqueline going by Jack.

I found Cordelia UNBEARABLE. Obviously she was needed for the fiancee mix-up to be plausible, but I thiught she was super annoying the entire time. Adelaide was fine, if not a little foul-mouthed for her station.

The plot took a little too long to get going, but it worked out in the end. Honestly, the conflict was probably more believeably resolved than the original film, because there were solutions and societal expectations that better lend themselves to a quick engagement or marriage of convenience. There were conversations about the lack-of-pressures of being a second son, and how surprisingly well-educated a woman could be despite her status. Also Rhett and Adelaide were actually very well suited for each other; they both loved languages and travel (like Florence, maybe?) but are being held back by familial/work expectations. And they’re finally able to be free to travel together.

All in all, fun.

This closed door historical romance inspired by the 90s romcom movie, While You Were Sleeping, is a fun time for folks who are nostalgic for retellings set in historical settings. *however* if historical accuracy is important to you I don’t think this is the title for you. I’m not usually a stickler for that but the heroine constantly swearing really took me out (and I personally love a sweary heroine!) A pleasant time but not sure it was entirely for me

Ahh the yearning and the lusting and the LEANING! It's all here in this historical rom-com reimagining of the movie "While You Were Sleeping." I both read an ARC e-book AND listened to the audiobook via Hoopla. Audiobook narrator was phenomenal. It felt like I was watching a movie, loved it.

Ladies maid Adelaide "Della" has her hands full with the entitled daughter of a duke, Cordelia who has just left her groom at the altar and needs to go into hiding from society. A comedy of errors leads Della to don Cordelia's wedding dress, save the life of Rhett (a charismatic rake), and assume Cordelia's identity after another dukely suitor (Rhett's brother) ends up unconscious in her cottage. Both Della and Rhett are smitten with each other but can't be together until the Duke, Peter, awakes and she can clear up this mess.

The premise is a little complicated with so many dukes/relations etc. and could've probably been simplified. I had to take off one star because I was primed for an open-door love scene on the wedding night and didn't get it. I felt like there should've been another chapter between 31 and 32. Also, why didn't Uncle Frank or spoiled awful Cordelia get any karmic retribution? It was SO CLOSE to a five!

Thank you to Forever for the free book. These opinions are my own.

As you can guess from the title, While the Duke Was Sleeping plays off the movie, While You Were Sleeping. But I found this to improve upon it. And of course, it turned it into a historical rom-com.

This book has a bit of everything: a hilarious meet cute, identity swapping and mistaken identity, amazing family antics, questions about who can be trusted, and best of all, some really strong character arcs.

It was such fun to read, and it makes me quite excited for Samara Parish's next book. This is the first in a series, England's Sweethearts.

I am so in love with this book. Samara Parish is a new-to-me author and I'm hooked. What a talented writer. She took the old rom-com of "While you were sleeping" and gave it a special historical romance twist. So much fun!
Our story takes place after a runaway convinces her maid to change places with her. She was proposed to by the Duke of Strafford. Problem is he is now in a coma. She needs her maid to pretend to be her and sneak in and get a letter that can change everything. Adelaide is a speaks what she thinks kinda gal. Now enter the unconscious Duke's brother, the handsome Brett. As you can imagine things get a little crazy. Adelaide and Brett can't fight their attraction.
You are going to love this story. Parish has created some outstanding characters. I Love the wit, action and the passion, all creating the perfect adventure. A million stars. Enjoy the adventure.

In While the Duke Was Sleeping, Samara Parish starts out a new series. I assume it’s going to be focussed on a Duke’s family of siblings featuring 90s romcom inspiration.

As an Edwardian take on the movie While You Were Sleeping, we are in introduced to Adelaide Rose Bourne, whom after her mistress skips out on her nuptials find herself impersonating her after accidentally her next fiancé unconscious.

This seems all well and good, assuming he will wake up shortly… But that is not the case, and it turns out that the unconscious Duke happens to be the brother of the man Adelaide met and had a flirtation with on their recent escape from the original nuptials!

Now she finds herself impersonating a lady, immersed in the bosom of the Duke’s family as his erstwhile fiancé and trying to resist the attraction and charmed of the irresistible black sheep of the family, Rhett Montgomery!

This book took me a little while to get into because the startup and the premise is so outlandish, but once I did, I really enjoyed the characters in the family dynamic within the Duke’s household. It was definitely a place where I could see Adelaide wanting to become part of, but just with the other guy! I usually don’t love a comedy of errors, but this was so eccentric that I couldn’t help but fall in love with the whole crew.

I hope there are more books in the series because I enjoy Samara‘s writing and I can’t wait to see what kind of hijinks some of these other characters find themselves in!

Thanks to Forever Romance for my review copy.

I might age myself here but I loved the movie "While You Were Sleeping" so I knew I would enjoy this book.
After her mistress fled her wedding, Adelaide Rosebourne is now posing as her as they hide out from her family. But things have gotten complicated. She has a new fiance and he's in a coma.

Now she must wait for him to wake up and hopefully convince him to retract the proposal.

Rhett Montgomery knows two things: He is not prepared to take over the dukedom and the woman who claims to be his brother's fiance is not who she says she is. No debutante swears so fiercely or kisses with such recklessness. As he seeks more information about Della, he'll try his best not to fall for her charms.

Thanks so much to the author and Forever Publishing for this ARC to review.