Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - Queen Charlotte: Before Bridgerton Came an Epic Love Story

This book was so distressing and interesting to read. I had to listen at 2x speed because I felt so sad and I didn't want to stop because I thought I might not finish it. I'm emotionally drained for sure and while I do 100% recommend the book, I don't know that I have the courage to see the show now despite that being the main reason for reading it. I couldn't bear to actually watch the torture that my mind has already imagined into being. Or rather I don't want to watch and find it even worse or more real ig than what my brain could build up based on the written imagery.

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meghanm404's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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r4v3ncl4w_93's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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onefineelephant's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

7/10. I'm glad I read this book because I appreciated some of the parts that we didn't get to see in the show and I liked getting to know the intimate thoughts of the characters (especially Brimsley). However, there were certain (small) parts of the book that differed from the show which really irked me. Also, the book completely erases the whole Lord Ledger plot line which I think completely changes Lady Danbury's character. I was really looking forward to getting to know Lady Danbury's thoughts and feelings about her illicit affair and then there was not even a hint of it in the book which was incredibly disappointing. Overall, I'm glad I read it but I doubt I will read it again and I much prefer the show to the book.

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inkdrinkers's review against another edition

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dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

"The choice is entirely up to her."

The upcoming nuptials of King George have sent the palace ablaze. Princess Charlotte of Germany is... darker than any of the palace expected, leading to The Great Experiment and whether or not the ton can be united as one, regardless of skin color. But despite the social shifting occuring, the new King and Queen are at odds with one another as George struggles to hide his own secrets from his new bride.

Oof. Total honesty - I read up to 50% and skimmed the rest. This just wasn't it for me. The magic of Julia Quinn's other novels just wasn't in this one. I found it really hard to connect to Charlotte as a character because she genuinely felt like she didn't have much of a personality other than being brash and blunt. I would have adored to see the backstory of her leading up to her arrival in London, being told she had to have a marriage of convenience and setting up her and George. The other aspects of the novel just seemed to happen to her, instead of her having an active part in her own story. George was also the kind of love interest I just... didn't like. Coupled with the fact there is so much torture and horrific depictions of mental healthcare via him, it just became too much to read about.

On a technical level this novel is really poorly done. I wish I had understood it's a straight to page adaption from the show (which I've not watched yet - maybe the actors can sell this plot) but Quinn's magic of the Ton and the way London society works is all gone. It's dreadfully bland, with paragraphs and paragraphs of just pure dialogue moving the book forward. It almost reads like a script, which is maybe some of Shonda Rhimes' input, but it felt off. It was all just so bizzare? The sex scenes (that I got to) were also really awkwardly written and I couldn't help but be painfully aware that Charlotte is seventeen in this (unlike Quinn's other heroines who are at least legal). It just missed the mark entirely for me and I feel icky and don't want to waste anymore time on it.

Content warnings: Mental illness (George's mental illness is very present), Physical abuse/Torture (via medical doctor, it's so uncomfortable and graphic), rape/sexual content (via marriage bonds), racism (via skin color descriptions/society)

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