From Household Friends to Forbidden Love: Interview with the Duke Prequel Review!
A Prequel with Real Heart
Interview with the Duke, the Inconvenient Brides prequel by Nina Jarrett, delivers emotional depth in novella form! A struggling author who's lived in a wealthy merchant's home for years shares a quiet, longstanding connection with the merchant's clever daughter. When her father threatens to take her away to secure a "proper" groom, their raw confrontation sparks buried feelings and life-changing growth.
Why This Story Resonates
The slow-simmering tension from years of unspoken connection feels authentic and earned. I loved watching the author pushed toward mending broken family relationships while embracing his writing talent. The daughter's boldness confronting both her father and her heart's true desire creates beautiful conflict.
Jarrett weaves class differences, family expectations, and personal growth into a tight, compelling package that perfectly sets up the Inconvenient Brides series.
The Honest 4-Star Breakdown
This earns 4 stars because the novella format slightly rushes the final emotional payoff, but everything leading up to it—the simmering tension, family reconciliation, and triumphant HEA—works beautifully.
- Years-long connection: Feels real and earned
- Family drama: Adds meaningful stakes
- Character growth: Both find their paths
- Series setup: Perfect prequel hook
Ratings Breakdown
⭐️ 4/5 Stars – Emotional, character-driven prequel magic!
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Emotional Depth | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Character Growth | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Family Drama | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Pacing | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
