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barbiedreamlibrary's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wish that Eloise had a happier ending, I wasn’t fond of Phillip. She has such a dynamic personality, I wish Phillip wasn’t such a boar of a man. He came across as a chauvinistic sex fiend. I felt horrible for his poor children and Marina. I think that Violet and the 2nd epilogue were the best parts of the book. I’m giving this two stars because it was nice to see the other characters in the Bridgerton universe. Hopefully the rest of the series picks up because this was a total flop for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Suicide
annahamburger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Blood
anyashadows's review against another edition
sad
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexism, Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
kasialipa's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Child abuse
booksalacarte's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
3.75⭐️ 3.25🌶️
Book 5 covers the marriage of convenience/love letters/single father side of romance tropes. I have to say that this is one of the top 3 in the series for me.
Julia Quinn gets some things very right, but also some things very wrong. I didn’t like the snapshot into common Edwardian marriages, but to ignore expectation would be even more unrealistic. And for what it was I think it was handled well.
The trauma on top of trauma that Phillip had to work through was not delt with as well as I would have liked. His character had ostrich tendencies, which needs to be worked through with more than the time that was given.
Elouise’s character was consistent from the first books and great. She is opinionated, brash, and she got a complicated relationship, but anything less wouldn’t have forced her to grow.
Book 5 covers the marriage of convenience/love letters/single father side of romance tropes. I have to say that this is one of the top 3 in the series for me.
Julia Quinn gets some things very right, but also some things very wrong. I didn’t like the snapshot into common Edwardian marriages, but to ignore expectation would be even more unrealistic. And for what it was I think it was handled well.
The trauma on top of trauma that Phillip had to work through was not delt with as well as I would have liked. His character had ostrich tendencies, which needs to be worked through with more than the time that was given.
Elouise’s character was consistent from the first books and great. She is opinionated, brash, and she got a complicated relationship, but anything less wouldn’t have forced her to grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
saeruh's review against another edition
1.5
Hey bridgerton readers, you remember the guy who tried to rape our heroine in the third book? Well now he’s back and he’s mean, inattentive father with strong anger AND daddy issues. I think I know just what to do with this character. Let’s pair him with one of the beloved bridgerton sisters!
In all honestly, I think phillip crane should die in a horrible, gruesome death and then maybe his character would actually have some purpose. There is absolutely nothing romantic about this story, it’s referenced several times that the only reason he feels the need to get married again is to 1) have a mother for his children since he can’t be bothered to actually be a father 2) have a wife that he can have sex with whenever he wants so he can get his rocks off. Everything about the relationship in this story is gross. I felt so bad for Eloise, she actually had a good character but this book just butchered any chance at making me want to think again about her story.
I get that this book came out twenty years ago but the way Quinn treats mental illness is so disgusting. It’s clear that Marina was suffering from postpartum depression and then a generalized depression disorder but all of the story is focused on how much of a burden she was and how much Phillip blamed all of his problems on her. It was so toxic and honestly triggering to read as someone who suffers from depression. I guess the meaning Quinn was trying to say was that if you’re sad at all, you’re a constant burden on those you love.
There is also much misogyny in this book that it hurts my head. It’s referenced to several times that women are confusing creatures that men will never understand/that the two sexes are just so wildly different that they could never understand each other. Again I guess that’s a factor of both of this book being a historical romance that’s semi accurate and also being written twenty years ago but it just isn’t good to read now.
This book gets a 1.5 instead of just a 1 star because I did think the plot was sort of interesting, I liked the runaway plot and then the brothers storming in the house in the middle of dinner. I also thought that using Eloise’s letters as chapter openers was a good way to transition from the absence of lady whistledown’s commentary.
Will I be continuing this stupid book series? Yes I will. Because I want to hate review the rest of them and see if miss Julia Quinn can get any lower than she already has in my opinion.
In all honestly, I think phillip crane should die in a horrible, gruesome death and then maybe his character would actually have some purpose. There is absolutely nothing romantic about this story, it’s referenced several times that the only reason he feels the need to get married again is to 1) have a mother for his children since he can’t be bothered to actually be a father 2) have a wife that he can have sex with whenever he wants so he can get his rocks off. Everything about the relationship in this story is gross. I felt so bad for Eloise, she actually had a good character but this book just butchered any chance at making me want to think again about her story.
I get that this book came out twenty years ago but the way Quinn treats mental illness is so disgusting. It’s clear that Marina was suffering from postpartum depression and then a generalized depression disorder but all of the story is focused on how much of a burden she was and how much Phillip blamed all of his problems on her. It was so toxic and honestly triggering to read as someone who suffers from depression. I guess the meaning Quinn was trying to say was that if you’re sad at all, you’re a constant burden on those you love.
There is also much misogyny in this book that it hurts my head. It’s referenced to several times that women are confusing creatures that men will never understand/that the two sexes are just so wildly different that they could never understand each other. Again I guess that’s a factor of both of this book being a historical romance that’s semi accurate and also being written twenty years ago but it just isn’t good to read now.
This book gets a 1.5 instead of just a 1 star because I did think the plot was sort of interesting, I liked the runaway plot and then the brothers storming in the house in the middle of dinner. I also thought that using Eloise’s letters as chapter openers was a good way to transition from the absence of lady whistledown’s commentary.
Will I be continuing this stupid book series? Yes I will. Because I want to hate review the rest of them and see if miss Julia Quinn can get any lower than she already has in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Child abuse
delliomellidom's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Misogyny, and Child abuse
aoifemaybe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Eloise and her relationships with her family, the kids, and Philip. The snippets of the Bridgerton Clan are amazing, particularly 4 protective idiots on a rescue mission. Very different from her Netflix persona but I think the characterisation works with the rest of the books.
The worst part about this book is how they discuss Marina’s mental illness. I know it’s set in 1820, but it was written recently and referring to her as a burden and generally showing a lack of empathy for her experience is appalling.
Philip was generally quite good for a man in this universe. He hated his anger and when it was pointed out to him, was able to acknowledge that the people in his life deserved more. I wish him dealing with his anger and parenting struggles was elaborated on, him being ‘fixed’ happened very suddenly. Using Marina’s depression as a reason that Eloise should “never” complain or be anything but happy was disgusting. The way he thought about sex (and historical lack there of) made me wish he’d just had an affair, honestly it’d be more tolerable. Also some weird possessive (having your hair loose would make me fight any man who saw you??) stuff going on, that I’m trying to ignore so that I can support this couple.
The worst part about this book is how they discuss Marina’s mental illness. I know it’s set in 1820, but it was written recently and referring to her as a burden and generally showing a lack of empathy for her experience is appalling.
Philip was generally quite good for a man in this universe. He hated his anger and when it was pointed out to him, was able to acknowledge that the people in his life deserved more. I wish him dealing with his anger and parenting struggles was elaborated on, him being ‘fixed’ happened very suddenly. Using Marina’s depression as a reason that Eloise should “never” complain or be anything but happy was disgusting. The way he thought about sex (and historical lack there of) made me wish he’d just had an affair, honestly it’d be more tolerable. Also some weird possessive (having your hair loose would make me fight any man who saw you??) stuff going on, that I’m trying to ignore so that I can support this couple.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Suicide
lunep's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, and Mental illness
Minor: Pregnancy and War
haley49's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a quick read and a good edition to the Bridgerton series. It had a lot if good tropes and I enjoyed the characters but it was easily my least favorite book in the series that I’ve read. I found that Sir Phillip didn’t really work out any of the issues they had throughout the book and he didn’t understand Eloise even when she spelled out her needs to him. Same applies to his children. We were told he was so great as a father, husband, etc. But I didn’t see enough of it so when they fell in I didn’t believe it. In my opinion, not believing two characters in love by the end of a romance is the saddest thing. Maybe I got the show and book characterization of Eloise confused, but I wanted more for her book. The only reason it isn’t a solid 3 is because of the lovely cameos from the Bridgertons, particularly when they stormed Phillip’s house Special shoutout to Sophie and Colin! (I’m slightly biased to them but they just brighten any scene)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Misogyny