Duke, Actually: A Novel

Written by Jenny Holiday

Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez

USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday follows A Princess for Christmas with another delightful contemporary Christmas romance between a playboy baron and a woman who has said goodbye to love.

“[A] master of witty banter.”—Entertainment Weekly

There’s a royal wedding on, and things are about to get interesting.

Meet the man of honor

Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is not having a merry Christmas. He’s been dumped by a princess, he’s unemployed, and his domineering father has sent him to New York to meet a prospective bride he has no interest in. In the city, he meets Dani Martinez, a smart (and gorgeous) professor he’s determined to befriend before their best friends marry in the Eldovian wedding of the century.

Meet the best woman

Newly single, no-nonsense New Yorker Dani is done with love—she even has a list entitled “Things I Will Never Again Do for a Man”—which is why she hits it off with notorious rake Max. He’s the perfect partner for snow angels in Central Park and deep conversations about the futility of love.

It’s all fun and games until their friendship deepens into attraction and, oops…

Falling in love was never part of the plan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Nov 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9780062952103

Jenny Holiday

Jenny Holiday is a USA Today-bestselling author whose books have been featured in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and The Washington Post, and on Buzzfeed. She grew up in Minnesota and started writing when her fourth-grade teacher gave her a notebook to fill with stories. When she's not working on her next book, she likes to hike, throw theme parties, and watch other people sing karaoke. Jenny lives in London, Ontario, Canada. > > 

Reviews for Duke, Actually

[jakresva · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A charming story with excellent narration. So much better than the first book in this series.

[Karrie Prescott · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a like any funny story. Relatable and easy to be drawn in with these characters.

[Angela Matt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was adorable! I loved their friendship and all the banter leading up to them finally realizing that they were in love with each other. The perfect holiday love story!

[Rhyan Green · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

AMAZING!!!! ???♥️♥️♥️ it was such an amazing book with awesome character backstories!! Gave me Princess Diary Adult vibes!

[lizelsaurus · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is such a charming story! With the perfect hint of holidays without be overwhelmingly Christmas. Swoon!

[Andrea Author · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Now that her professor husband has left her for a former student, Dani is done with men. Serving as Best Woman in her friend's wedding isn't enough to reawaken her romantic side. Neither is the handsome and charming Man of Honor, even if he is heir to a dukedom.

Instead, over the course of the months leading up to the ceremony, she and Max become close friends. But she lives in New York, and he lives in Europe. There's no way the two of them could have a future together, even if they did make the mistake of falling in love. Is there?

This book is utterly adorable. It's funny and steamy and smart. The friends-to-lovers story is a long, slow burn, which I appreciated. Insta-love has its place, but it was satisfying to see the characters get to know each other deeply before taking the plunge.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Candice - Books Bacon Glitter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was so freaking cute! I’ve been a fan of Jenny Holiday since her Bridesmaids series, so I was super excited to pick up this series. As usual, Jenny writes complex yet relatable characters who are funny, smart, and have amazing banter. This book is a slow burn but it doesn’t feel like it because Dani and Max are truly given the time to evolve and it’s fun to join them along the way. Definitely one of my new favorite romances!

[elle · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book could have been good if the author had stuck to the romance instead of inserting simplistic, so called ‘social justice’ issues. It sounds as though she’s reciting propaganda and yet is truly ignorant about how the world works. Sadly, that’s not uncommon but I bet she felt fantastic about herself after putting a few simplistic lines in her book, virtue signalling to all who read that she really cares about the latest, hottest, trendy issue. And the masses will fall for it. Skip this if you’ve got two brain cells to rub together and actually know a single thing about the real world.

[Kayla Pratt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Max is so likeable

Literally both of them. I actually found myself tearing up at his pain and enjoying his wins. And Dani is great too. They were great together. Think I liked them more than Leo and Marie if that is even possible!

5 stars

[Franka · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good, funny story about frienship and love. Narrator was great!