Scan barcode
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I wanted to read this book because of the Netflix series that hit on Christmas Day a few years ago and now Netflix have announced we are getting Polin’s story and I'm hoping we get the full eight seasons for each sibling. I wanted to get ahead and know what is going to happen, so of course I bought all nine books. Overall, I have enjoyed this series and wanted to see what Happily Ever After was about and how the extra epilogue would help or hurt my heart.
This book is based on the Bridgertons, eight brothers and sisters, assorted in-laws, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, an overweight corgi and an irrepressible matriarch who’s a match for any of them. These are the Bridgertons, through the last eight novels, the readers laughed, cried and fell in love, but we’ve wanted more. So what happened next? Does Simon ever read his father’s letters? Do Francesca and Michael become parents? Who would win a Pall Mall grudge match? Does ‘The End’ really have to be the end. This is a collection of Julia Quinn’s funny, heart-warming ‘second epilogues’, which are included at the ends of each novel. This collection also includes a brand new novella about none other than Violet Bridgerton herself.
My favourite things about this book were Julia Quinn’s writing style. It didn’t feel like I was back in time. I mean, obviously they weren’t going on about Snapchat, but it just felt like a modern-day story with a bit of mystery. The only thing that kept me from remembering that it was set in the 1800s was the references of letters and carriages and that they couldn’t text each other to say what was going on without people finding out what is happening. The best one out of the nine short stories were the second epilogue from Anthony and Kate’s book with them pranking themselves with Pall Mall and how the Bridgerton gang are just used to it by now. Also, Violet in Bloom where all the children and grandchildren are together and even though Violet missing Edmund every day, she is very content with everyone around.
Some of these stories, I didn’t want. For example, Benedict and Sophie’s story was to do with Posy, which I appreciate but would have liked it to be about Benedict and Sophie. I would have loved for Hyacinth's daughter to confess that she found the diamonds instead of putting them back for Hyacinth's to find.
I love the Bridgerton, I would love a series in ten to fifteen years with the Bridgerton grandchildren being on the marriage mart and having their own love stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Pregnancy, and Infertility
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: War, Vomit, and Death
cielosiluminado's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Blood
Minor: Death, Grief, War, Death of parent, and Vomit
lct's review against another edition
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Infertility
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
aklovekorn's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Infertility, and Grief
Minor: Medical trauma, Vomit, Blood, and Sexual content
erikalv97's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, and Pregnancy
brownieboo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Infertility, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and War
andmaggie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Blood
now_booking's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 Stars! I had already read the 2nd epilogues in this collection as part of my Bridgerton re-reads but it was worth revisiting my favourites. I loved these second epilogues as much as I did the original novels to which they did such justice! Definitely and compulsorily, I can’t imagine this needing to be said, but just in case, you HAVE TO have read (even if not loved) the books for this to be meaningful in the way it is intended to be. This definitely contains heavier themes that one would expect from an epilogue but they were universally well-executed and absolutely delightful.
That said, the last novella/novelette, Violet In Bloom, featuring family matriarch Violet Bridgerton, mother, grandmother and organizer-in-chief of the 8, is what made me pick up this anthology in the first place. It’s the only one I hadn’t read. This bittersweet novella tells Violet’s story more or less from the age of 8 to the age of 75 and encompasses her childhood, romance, widowhood and her later years. It was a delight to read even if very... not sad, but not particularly happy either. It felt like real life and the way things actually are where romantic happy ending might be feeling at peace rather than resting in your lover’s arms. I would have read this if it had been a full novel as well. But I think it was a very nice ending to a fabulous series. Rereading this series and this ending has reminded me of my love for this author’s writing and I’ll definitely be re-reading more and hopefully discovering new work.
That said, the last novella/novelette, Violet In Bloom, featuring family matriarch Violet Bridgerton, mother, grandmother and organizer-in-chief of the 8, is what made me pick up this anthology in the first place. It’s the only one I hadn’t read. This bittersweet novella tells Violet’s story more or less from the age of 8 to the age of 75 and encompasses her childhood, romance, widowhood and her later years. It was a delight to read even if very... not sad, but not particularly happy either. It felt like real life and the way things actually are where romantic happy ending might be feeling at peace rather than resting in your lover’s arms. I would have read this if it had been a full novel as well. But I think it was a very nice ending to a fabulous series. Rereading this series and this ending has reminded me of my love for this author’s writing and I’ll definitely be re-reading more and hopefully discovering new work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, Infertility, Grief, and Death
More...