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spootilious's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Read: May 22, 2024
Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Author: Julia Quinn
Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgerton #4
Genre: Period Romance
Rating: 2/5
Review:
Review:
I will be completely forth coming in admitting that I have not read the first three books in this series and that I read this book after the first half of season 3 came out on Netflix. That being said, I read a few reviews prior to me reading this book and went into it with the mindset that these are not the characters I am familiar with and the storyline will be completely different and that I should treat this as a completely stand alone book unrelated, in its entirely, to the Netflix series.
For any reader planning to get into the book I recommend doing the same. The only thing these characters have in common with the characters in the show is name.
All that being said here are my thoughts:
I cannot tell you how much I hated this book. I have no words. Over the last five years I have only read a single book that I hated more than this one for entirely different reasons.
All that being said here are my thoughts:
I cannot tell you how much I hated this book. I have no words. Over the last five years I have only read a single book that I hated more than this one for entirely different reasons.
So why the two stars? Well, despite my feeling about this novel I have to admit that Quinn is very talented with the pen. The way she writes and captures the beauty of a scene is stunning in and of itself. I would gladly pick up another book in her style and cadence if it were on another subject or plot.
Which brings me to what’s wrong with the novel. Let’s start with the elephant in the room… Colin Bridgerton… The reviews I read prior to the novel were that this book changed Colin and that his temper was outrageous and childish. I tend to take these perspectives with a grain of salt. A character will always change (or rather should change) when an author shifts from an outside perspective to an inside one. I chalked it up to the readers having been stuck on his personality in previous books and did not expect to have the same problem… I was completely wrong.
Colin and Pen’s relationship is toxic through and through, from bruises to emotional manipulation and general (and societal abuse and gaslighting). It honestly makes me a bit sick. In fact, there was a point, at a specific party (which I will not name but I am sure everyone is aware of), that it was completely out of hand. I believe the worst part of it all is that portrayal of Pen suffered because of it. Not in the sense that I thought less of her but simply that she was built up as a strong independent and clever woman in the first half of the novel just to turn into the ‘he’s going to kill me but it’s okay cuz it means that he loves me,’ type of woman by the end. And I understand that this could be because of some of her own trauma but if that was the case it, if it were depicted as such then perhaps I wouldn’t hate it as much, instead she’s just as empty headed as everyone else (there is not ‘cleverness’ about her). Perhaps this is harsh, but I feel it needs to be said.
So, despite Quinn’s poetic talent, her characters are inconsistent and one dimensional. The plot leaves something to be desired and the spicy scenes (at least in this particular novel) are more toxic that alluring.
Still, I will admit I loved every scene with Lady D. Her and Pen’s friendship was a saving grace in this novel. And Daphne’s explanation (and Colin’s realization) of love was refreshingly relatable, especially as a woman’ who has been married to the love of her life for twelve years (not to show my age).
“And that was when he realized that Daphne had been right. His love hadn't been a thunderbolt from the sky. It had started with a smile, a word, a teasing glance. Every second he had spent in her presence it had grown, until he'd reached this moment, and he suddenly knew. He loved her.”
“And that was when he realized that Daphne had been right. His love hadn't been a thunderbolt from the sky. It had started with a smile, a word, a teasing glance. Every second he had spent in her presence it had grown, until he'd reached this moment, and he suddenly knew. He loved her.”
That is perhaps the most realistic portrayal of falling in love that I have ever read (though there is a particular episode of Doctor Who in which Amelia Pond talks about how people’s faces become their personality, and how beautiful they are… which is neither here nor there but is just as true and what I was reminded of when reading this section).
All of these things considered, I couldn’t give the novel more than two stars and the two that I gave it was more for talent and 2 specific characters than anything else in this novel.
QUOTES:
“And that was when he realized that Daphne had been right. His love hadn't been a thunderbolt from the sky. It had started with a smile, a word, a teasing glance. Every second he had spent in her presence it had grown, until he'd reached this moment, and he suddenly knew. He loved her.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Minor: Body shaming and Physical abuse
book_gremlin42's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Sexual content
alxisrae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.75
Now I have tried 2 other times to read this book and at 75% I wanted to DNF it for a 3rd time.
Now it isn’t cause it’s a bad story. It’s not. It’s a cute, entertaining historical romance….EOD I’m glad I stuck through
(Slight spoilers, but also not really)
…BUT there was something that I just couldn’t seem to enjoy this as much as Kate and Anthony’s or Sophie and Benedict’s. And I think my problem is Colin? This ongoing quip of being a constantly hungry and quickly angered man wasn’t a good taste in my mouth. It didn’t take much for Colin’s temper to come out - so much so that we’re reminded constantly as a reader that this “isn’t the Colin that Penelope knew…”. His temper gave me the ick - ESPECIALLY when he seemed to take it out on Penelope the most.
Now I love Eloise and Pens friendship in this book than I do on the show. Eloise on the show can be a little annoying and frustrating at times. This book let me see and appreciate their friendship.
The spicy moments in this book were only a couple of scenes but you were able to feel how feral Colin was for Penelope. I will say once that man saw her, and really saw her, he fell and he fell hard and fast. The man couldn’t control himself. The relationship of Colin and Pen improved with each chapter once Colin was able to get past his jealousy/ego. The ending really redeemed Colin as he stood by his wife. It was lovely.
Now it isn’t cause it’s a bad story. It’s not. It’s a cute, entertaining historical romance….EOD I’m glad I stuck through
(Slight spoilers, but also not really)
…BUT there was something that I just couldn’t seem to enjoy this as much as Kate and Anthony’s or Sophie and Benedict’s. And I think my problem is Colin? This ongoing quip of being a constantly hungry and quickly angered man wasn’t a good taste in my mouth. It didn’t take much for Colin’s temper to come out - so much so that we’re reminded constantly as a reader that this “isn’t the Colin that Penelope knew…”. His temper gave me the ick - ESPECIALLY when he seemed to take it out on Penelope the most.
Now I love Eloise and Pens friendship in this book than I do on the show. Eloise on the show can be a little annoying and frustrating at times. This book let me see and appreciate their friendship.
The spicy moments in this book were only a couple of scenes but you were able to feel how feral Colin was for Penelope. I will say once that man saw her, and really saw her, he fell and he fell hard and fast. The man couldn’t control himself. The relationship of Colin and Pen improved with each chapter once Colin was able to get past his jealousy/ego. The ending really redeemed Colin as he stood by his wife. It was lovely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming
mangofraiche's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Sexual content, Bullying, and Body shaming
sadiesadiesadie'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
2.5
I needed to fill the season 3 who as I wait until May 16th. This is the only Bridgerton book I’ve read and I’ll probably just wait for each season from now on. Overall, I didn’t like the writing. It felt too rushed in some chapters and too drawn out in majority. I have to say, I’m glad the show is going with a different plot line. The characters were… something. I was thrown for a loop when a certain character acted very different from the lovable character that’s portrayed in the show. I understand that the book can’t be compared to the show but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping that it would be written like the show. Read if you want but don’t have too high expectations if you are coming from only knowing and watching the show.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, and Blood
Minor: Infidelity, Murder, Death, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Incest, and War
cicireadsinthedark's review against another edition
funny
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Physical abuse and Body shaming
nightstitch96's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Pregnancy
britwalsh16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
I was super excited for this book! & with the new season coming out of the show following them I wanted to read it beforehand & give me something to tide me over until then. There was a lot I loved, & a lot of scenes I can’t wait to play out in the show.
But I’m not going to lie & say Colin’s temper didn’t really bug me. I understand him getting angry, especially when he finds out about the Lady Whistledown secret or when she’s caught reading his journal. But what I don’t like is the physical abuse that goes along with it, & yes I know it’s nothing giant, he doesn’t hit her or anything that horrible, but the little things can be bad too. Like the scene at their engagement ball with him holding on to her to hurt her instead of letting his temper blow up to the whole room, that is not an okay reaction & I have loved Colin so much throughout the show & the books too, but reactions like that piss me off & Penelope doesn’t know that it’s not okay. What’s going to happen when they have kids & the kids make him angry, will the violence get worse through the years? It’s such a little thing, but it really gets me, & I hope they rewrote that for the show, I’d hate to lose my love for Polin in the show too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Bullying, Sexual content, Cursing, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Stalking
ginamassie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Impatient from waiting for the new season, I picked this up and by god am I happy I did. Love, love, love these two and can’t wait to see them on screen to get more of them! Ok so the plot and writing wasn’t necessarily great sometimes, with Colin not being portrayed as the kind, sensitive man I’ve come to love from the show. Instead I got grumpy Colin, annoyed Colin, crazy angry Colin and lost Colin. It’s was a bit of a shock to the system at first but the book has loads of Penelope to make up for it. She’s a superstar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming