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britwalsh16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Sexism, and Gun violence
Minor: Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
picaresquedreamer's review against another edition
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
caffinatedslug'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
mari1234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Ableism
viselik'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
1.0
The characters were a good change of pace except one, Daphne, and I found Simon a rather interesting male romance character! He does suffer at first glance from the usual 'stoic, emotionless man' trope, but he quickly sheds that, and by the end of the book, he is a character I want to read more about. I love that he has a stutter and goes mute in certain moments, as I haven't seen that often in HR books from what I've noticed.
I found Daphne was also quite alright UNTIL the sex scenes. Please DO NOT read this book if you are sensitive to the subject of sexual a*sult as Daphne r*pes Simon. I finished the book not realising that, but fuck Daphne. She deserves to be with Nigel from the beginning. She ignored when Simon made it very clear he didn't want this, and she forced it upon him FOR HER WANTS. I do not CARE that it is how she can get pregnant considering that Simon is infertile, HE SAID NO AND WANTED HER OFF OF HIM.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual harassment, Infertility, and Sexual content
stungbythewood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I am genuinely surprised that I found a Bridgerton book that I liked LESS than Romancing Mr. Bridgerton,but alas, here we are.
My first thought when completing this book was “Thank the lord it’s over,” so do with that what you will.
I am quite simply very disappointed in this book. I had watched the first two available seasons of the Bridgerton show on Netflix before reading this and I must say that the show is so much better than this book. So if you’re debating on watching the show before having a chance to read the book just watch the show, I promise there’s no worthwhile context from the book that you’d be missing if you watch the show before reading the book.
Daphne in this book is sometimes simply unbearable and I LIKE Daphne in the show.
It’s slightly irritating and somewhat disheartening to see
the women in this series have next to no confidence in themselves.
There is just so much “time period misogyny” that I truly can’t look past regardless if it’s a historical romance novel. Just because it takes place in a certain time period doesn’t mean we have to uphold all the societal norms from back then.
I don’t know when it became romantic for men to voice such willing violence against you or say things like:
Simon started to shake with rage. “I own this room,” he growled. “I own you.” page: 337
and
He looked up, his eyes haunted. “You’re my wife.”
She said nothing.
“Legally, I own you.”
Daphne just stared at him as she said, “That’s true.”
He closed the space between them in a heartbeat, his hands finding her shoulders. “I can make you want me,” he whispered.
page: 340
I won’t get into details of the rape scene but just know that there is one and it isn’t handled tactfully at all.
There were some minor highs in this book for me, most of which being the moments between the Bridgerton family themselves. I admired how Anthony wasn’t quick to push Daphne to marry Nigel Berbrooke and wanted to let her choose a husband she’d at least like, even if she did not love him.
There was one quote that really stood out to me and it was from page 300
”She died at my birth.”
Daphne nodded. “I’d heard. I’m sorry.”
Simon shrugged. “I didn’t know her.”
“That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a loss.”
All and all this book is painfully just okay at the best of times and varying degrees of irritating at the worst of times with very few sprinkles of hope in between. I truly believe a majority of Daphne and Simon’s conflicts would have been solved in they simply communicated better but then I suppose we would have no story.
The show handles a majority of these issues in a much better light than the book does so if you’re debating on whether to read the book first before the show, just watch the show instead.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual content
kirraleah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
swagboat69's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Rape
gillianisland's review against another edition
2.5
So glad other reviews aren’t ignoring what Daphne does to Simon :) because it’s a character/writing choice that I can’t get over just because the pair end up being happy together. I hate that it is written off as nothing/that Daphne was right for what she did— she 100% wasn’t.
I was shocked by how quickly they get married, but it works in some way? I do wish it would’ve have a bit of a slower burn but I remember enjoying it over all. (I read it months ago now but just got this app!)
Over all I like them as a pair, but I have so many problems with writing choices that were made character wise :( keeping in mind it is a regency book there are certain things “of its time”, but in the same breath this is a work of fiction inspired by the regency era, written in modern times. I also really struggle with the way Daphne is written as a childlike in so many ways, and that being used to write-off things she says/does as well as it being a drive for their relationship… it’s not my thing personally.
Generally, I like that I can shut my brain off when reading it. I enjoy the show for what it is too, and did read the next book after finishing this one. I think it can be a fun read, but it definitely has issues in my opinion
Moderate: Sexual content, Rape, and Misogyny
readyforit's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I enjoyed this book but I enjoyed the show a little more! The show has a diverse cast, more drama, more characters, etc. In the book we don’t get the Queen, Anthony’s storyline, the featheringtons’ storyline, or the boxing storyline. Other than that there are some minor changes. I would suggest reading it if you’re a huge fan of the show. I also listened to the audiobook and I loved the narrator. Probably won’t reread, but will rewatch the show. If the show didn’t exist, I would reread.
Graphic: Ableism and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Infertility, and Rape