I picked up 'The First Night with the Duke, Vol. 1' on a whim after seeing a flood of fan art online, and wow, I wasn’t ready for how addictive it would be! The story throws you right into this lush, drama-filled world where the protagonist, Ripley, wakes up in a novel she’s read—but as the villainess. The tension between her and the Duke is electric from the start, with all those misunderstandings and forced proximity tropes that make you squeal into your pillow. The art is gorgeous too—every panel feels like it’s dripping with elegance, especially the Duke’s icy glare that slowly melts as Ripley bulldozes into his life.
What really hooked me, though, is how the story balances humor and heart. Ripley’s panic-driven schemes to avoid her 'doom' are hilarious, but there’s this underlying vulnerability that makes her so relatable. And the Duke? He’s the perfect blend of brooding and bewildered, especially when Ripley starts defying his expectations. If you love stories where the female lead isn’t just waiting to be rescued—but accidentally rescues herself and the male lead’s emotional constipation—this is 100% your jam. I binged the whole volume in one sitting and immediately regretted not having Vol. 2 on hand.