Duke and I

Content Warning: Bullying. Skip the prologue if you can't stand scenes of bullying. You won't miss anything vital, as everything it contains is referenced when pertinent.

Content Warning: Sexual assault. And we're supposed to forgive it.

The story starts as a “pretend we're dating” scheme as the blurb describes, but quickly switches to “he's damaged but I can fix him with love.” As Daphne repeatedly points out, she has three older brothers so she's used to the rough ways of men. Aka she's “not like other girls.” Simon doesn't talk much due to a stutter he's mostly conquered, but otherwise he's pretty standard. Daphne's mother is the best character. I'd enjoy a book from her perspective, manipulating her children into marriage.

Oh and the sex scenes are super vanilla.