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prashiie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting story and different from the other Bridgerton books. I don’t think I will read this again, mainly because of the red flags. Acknowledging the fact that everyone is flawed coud enhance the reading experience.
The main characters are Francesca Bridgerton and Michael Stirling.
Francesca was married to John, Earl of Kilmartin, and after only two years of marriage she was left a widow. She has always loved John a lot and griefs him deeply. She would not even think of remarrying if she didn’t have an immense desire to have a baby. So marriage is now on the table and she is determined to find someone to marry even if she has to settle for a marriage without love. Because in her opinion, a woman would not simply find love like that twice in a lifetime.
On the other hand we have Michael, John’s cousin. He has loved Francesca since the moment he laid eyes on her. Incidentally, this was just a few days before she got married to John. Michael would never hurt or betray his cousin, so his love for Francesca remained hidden and instead a great friendship flourished between Francesca and Michael.
This story is woven with threads of grief and guilt. They both loved John very much and dealt with his loss in their own ways. For Michael inheriting the earldom and everything that came with it felt like he was taking over John’s life. He could not possibly also have Francesca. Michael put up such a great facade, that Francesca does not believe him to be a suitable husband. Once a rake, always a rake. Little does she know that he puts on this facade to momentarily escape from his feelings for her.
I had trouble understanding Michael’s change of heart. At first he is reluctant to even consider marrying Francesca as it felt like he was dishonouring his cousin. Then he was determined to get her no matter what, almost like he flipped a switch within himself. Too abrupt for my liking. Not to mention his approach… uhmmmm… excuse me!! I don’t want to spoil it but you can find it in the list below.
Now for the red flags:
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When Francesca miscarries her baby with John and she tells Michael that the baby was to have been his in a way too. WHAT?! That’s such a weird thing to say. Granted, she does not know about his feelings for her and in the historical context of this book it makes sense since women were mostly dependent on men. But still… It felt very manipulative and off-putting when reading this in modern times. -
Michael’s approach to get Francesca to marry him. His intentions and love for Francesca are pure, but despair makes one do stupid things. If he can’t sway her into marriage using logic, then he would do so by using passion. He decides to compromise her and get her pregnant so that she has no other option than to marry him. In the end, the passion that they both share is what unites them and they realise that they’re perfect for each other. The final destination is great, but the journey itself had me rolling my eyes. -
Francesca is hurt and feels invisible and neglected when her siblings have gotten married or are getting married without her presence. Michael uses this to convince her to get married immediately.
The mothers in this story on the other hand were green flags! It’s no surprise that Violet is a good mother who gives Francesca great advice and support. But it’s a blessing to have a great mother-in-law! Janet understands Francesca and wishes her the very best.
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Death, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent
mrsmishler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infertility, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Death of parent
haleysversion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Infertility, and War
hmlongstreet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My negatives are the reoccurring themes, scenarios and character traits from previous Bridgerton books. It seems to be a common issue with this series but I can't really blame Julia Quinn, it's hard to be original sometimes! However I can say this one stood out to me as being much different than the previous five, especially when it comes to Francesca as an overall character. Michael was literally a mix of Anthony and Colin with the ability to realize that they are in love.
In conclusion I like this one!
Graphic: Grief, Death, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood, War, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
erikawynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Death and Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent
haley49's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Medical content, and Infertility
Minor: Alcoholism, War, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Classism
Spousal death, unexpected death, and illness (malaria)bookedinsideout's review against another edition
4.0
For example, after an attempted sexual assault, a man “squeaks” after having his head slammed into a tree. “Rather like a girl, Francesca thought dispassionately. She’d known he wouldn’t make a good husband, but that clinched it.” Yes, taking advantage of a woman isn’t great, but forget about his desirability altogether if he’s going to “squeak like a girl.” In this same scene, it’s lightly suggested that it wouldn’t have happened in Francesca didn’t go alone with him into the garden in the first place. Good grief.
But I was glad that they addressed one of my lighter concerns: that these heroes hardly ever ask for their heroine’s hand in marriage — they either assume after they’ve essentially “ruined” her or tell her that’s what’s happening.
“’You never did answer my question last night.’
She didn’t turn. ‘What question was that?’
‘I believe I asked you to marry me.’
‘No, you didn’t,’ she replied, her voice quite calm, ‘you informed me that you believed we should be married and then proceeded to explain why.’”
So it still wasn’t a perfect romance for me, but it was still by far my favourite book yet.
A love story for someone who’s lost their partner can be great if it’s done right, but often it saddens me to see the current partner being compared to the one who’s died, and of course the current one has to be better and we have to point out the previous partner’s flaws and how this one makes up for them. I was pretty impressed because really neither man was pitted against the other. Both Francisca and Michael mourned John, and it was never about one man taking the other’s place or having to be the same kind of partner or a better one. It was a story of grief and guilt and she didn’t come to a conclusion easily, but she was able to love them both at the same time and not put either of them down.
In the vein of being able to hold two things as special at the same time without weighing them, one thing I did like from Eloise’s book was both her and her family’s (especially Violet’s) whole-hearted acceptance of Eloise’s new step-children as her children. They immediately became part of the family and that was that. In the epilogue where there is talk of children and whether they are biological or not, Eloise says:
“Before I had Penelope, and even when I was carrying her, I thought it would be different. It is different. But it’s not less. It’s not a question of levels or amounts, or even…really…the nature of it… I can’t explain it.”
I usually cringe at
Though the Bridgertons are mostly always one big happy family, I have appreciated seeing how a big family (probably any family) can sometimes make you feel lonely in your differences. Eloise, a proud spinster, suddenly feeling alone and a little insecure after all her siblings are marrying off and then her best friend, her partner in spinsterhood, does too. And Francisca feeling separated from her family by distance, by her isolating grief, and then both happy and sad at the same time watching them so easily conceive.
After feeling fed up with the men of Bridgerton in the last book, Michael Stirling was not perfect, but a welcome surprise. He gives massages, he’s not threatened by a woman taking charge, and he’s not opposed to period sex.
Graphic: Miscarriage, Death, and Infertility
Moderate: Chronic illness and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
quasinaut's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Also, I don't like that every Bridgerton book has at least one scene where a man decides he knows best what a woman wants/needs/should do, which makes me wonder how differently these books would be written today... Still, the Bridgerton books continue to be fun, quick reads.
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
readwithchar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, and Death
Minor: Death of parent