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jbraden15's review against another edition
emotional
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: Rape
solo_shelf's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
honestly… skipped pretty much the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Pregnancy
evief_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
2.0
just bc she forced him DOES NOT MEAN it wasn't rape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
meaghankmc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such a cute and light read. I love the Bridgertons, and I love Simon Bassett.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Rape, Vomit, Infertility, and Death of parent
sarahreadingstats's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
After having watched Bridgerton I was eager to read the books and I do agree with similar reviews that the two are vastly different from one another. For example, Anthony knowing about the ruse from within not even 24 hours of it being established, Mr Featherington being dead already, no Queen Charlotte or Prince Freidrich involvement and so much more, but i do think all these additionally storylines make the show much more interesting than the book (which is very focused on the relationship and nothing else).
There is of course the r*pe scene which plays out also differently from the show, in the book Daphne has a confrontation with Simon then after understanding the truth, has s*x with him with the intention of having a child -> I understand relevant to the time r*pe was probably not that uncommon but I do think it was glossed over in the book quite a bit, and forgiven very easily, highlights if the gender roles were reversed? The double standard? … you catch my drift.
Simon is also very much a red flag of a man, in their first encounter he threatens to strangle her, he’s overly cocky and sexualises Daphne to the point where their relationship is purely sexual with the foundation of ‘we’re friends because we laugh and make jokes about society’.
The epilogue was a sweet conclusion and seeing Simon accept a son was nice but I have to say the show is much more engaging in terms of the multitude of storylines, the family bonding etc.
+ 0.5 stars for improving my vocabulary, a pro and a con considering every page I was having to google what certain words meant (I now have a Bridgerton glossary in my phone)
There is of course the r*pe scene which plays out also differently from the show, in the book Daphne has a confrontation with Simon then after understanding the truth, has s*x with him with the intention of having a child -> I understand relevant to the time r*pe was probably not that uncommon but I do think it was glossed over in the book quite a bit, and forgiven very easily, highlights if the gender roles were reversed? The double standard? … you catch my drift.
Simon is also very much a red flag of a man, in their first encounter he threatens to strangle her, he’s overly cocky and sexualises Daphne to the point where their relationship is purely sexual with the foundation of ‘we’re friends because we laugh and make jokes about society’.
The epilogue was a sweet conclusion and seeing Simon accept a son was nice but I have to say the show is much more engaging in terms of the multitude of storylines, the family bonding etc.
+ 0.5 stars for improving my vocabulary, a pro and a con considering every page I was having to google what certain words meant (I now have a Bridgerton glossary in my phone)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
arianamanghera's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
yepstillgarbage's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
sauvageloup's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
A solid, pretty gripping read
pros:
- it flows along really well, and the story progresses nicely. there was more chemistry than the show with her feelings being described, and I liked how the brothers were more involved with trying to protect her.
- violet also shines as a great character, except for when she wont tell daphne about sex.
- I did like that the couple had real issues, and it wasnt just that they needed to have one conversation, but did need real resolution(which could have happened without the rape scene...)
cons:
- unfortunately, as in the show, Daphne rapes Simon, though it's not called that or even really acknowledged in the book. but since she starts touching him when he's asleep, and then deliberately prevents him from pulling away/stopping when he finishes when he tries to, in order to get the child she wants and he doesn't (to the point that he was willing to die earlier in the book), its abhorrent. he's more upset that he stammers afterwards than her actions, but I completely hated her after that, and she doesn't even feel regret.
- the book does also completely focus on the pairing, daphne doesnt have friends involved and there's no bigger cast really at all (such as eloise, Penelope, the queen, etc. in the show).
- also, the descriptions weren't especially vivid beyond the characters and I couldnt visualise much.
- also the blatant fatphobia against Penelope is gross, but I knew to expect that.
overall, pretty well written and compelling, just shame about the lack of morality/issues not being dealt with in the narrative.
pros:
- it flows along really well, and the story progresses nicely. there was more chemistry than the show with her feelings being described, and I liked how the brothers were more involved with trying to protect her.
- violet also shines as a great character, except for when she wont tell daphne about sex.
- I did like that the couple had real issues, and it wasnt just that they needed to have one conversation, but did need real resolution
cons:
- the book does also completely focus on the pairing, daphne doesnt have friends involved and there's no bigger cast really at all (such as eloise, Penelope, the queen, etc. in the show).
- also, the descriptions weren't especially vivid beyond the characters and I couldnt visualise much.
- also the blatant fatphobia against Penelope is gross, but I knew to expect that.
overall, pretty well written and compelling, just shame about the lack of morality/issues not being dealt with in the narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Pregnancy
katrina_shinault's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
maithewriter's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Read this because Netflix's Bridgerton is my guilty pleasure. It's an entertaining and quick read, and it did satisfy my cravings for some good old romance, though the writing itself is nothing to write home about.
Just like the show, my interest dwindled as the story progressed; it just went downhill for meafter the forced marriage, both in the book and the show. Too bad because I totally enjoyed the fake courtship . It also didn't help that the problematic parts of the show are magnified in the book (i.e., Daphne's sexual assault on Simon and her disturbing lack of remorse for it) .
I also felt like the central issue was resolved too quickly and not so convincingly. I think Julia Quinn did a great job fleshing out Simon's traumatic backstory -- it really made me feel for the character and understand where he's coming from.That's why I couldn't grasp the concept that Simon was able to just let go of the "incident" after a few weeks because of his ~love~ for Daphne. I get that this is a romance book set in the Regency era, but come on. At least make Daphne realize her mistake and grovel for Simon's forgiveness and have a long talk about it because such deep trauma cannot simply be magically resolved by ~love~.
Anyway, I'd still read the rest of the series. Like I said, it's my guilty pleasure, and I'm not expecting much from it other than feel-good romance and happy endings. But I do hope the rest of the books have better plots and less problematic pairs.
Just like the show, my interest dwindled as the story progressed; it just went downhill for me
I also felt like the central issue was resolved too quickly and not so convincingly. I think Julia Quinn did a great job fleshing out Simon's traumatic backstory -- it really made me feel for the character and understand where he's coming from.
Anyway, I'd still read the rest of the series. Like I said, it's my guilty pleasure, and I'm not expecting much from it other than feel-good romance and happy endings. But I do hope the rest of the books have better plots and less problematic pairs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault