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nightstitch96's review against another edition
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
2.5
I was enjoying this UNTIL the part where Daphne rapes Simon by not letting him pull out. He literally says no and she refuses to stop. That is NOT okay and the book never acknowledged how messed up that was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
jj7twin's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
kkylezzz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a good read. I thought the humor and banter and character back-n-forth in general was great. The first half was really good, I enjoyed the length of scenes and the dedication to detail and consistency with the characters and descriptions. There was tons of dialogue which I love. I really enjoyed the how the first half too felt them growing together. Obviously in our timeline, "dating" for more than a couple weeks is conventional before even becoming a real couple let alone considering marriage, but for translatable purposes, this felt well told in that regard. The second half was enjoyable too, but more so for the pitiable, dramatic love story elements. I was alright with the separation and then pregnancy scare and the heart-to-hearts getting more in depth each time it was brought up. The last couple of chapters and Epilogue(s) was (were) redeeming, I enjoyed them. I liked that it ended on a positive note, the extended pregnancy brining in extra drama, and the possibility of Geogie being afflicted with Simon's same drama without actually confirming that. The sex scenes weren't too terribly bad either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Passive suicidal ideation/intention briefly alluded tocertifiedplayerhater's review against another edition
funny
tense
fast-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
0.5
take a shot every time simon murmurs.
In all seriousness, the story is a perfectly passable romance from 2000. The story is focuses purely on the romance between Simon and Daphne, which isn’t an inherent flaw but it means every other character is relegated to a single characteristic (ex. The three Bridgerton brothers are overbearing, Violet is motherly, etc.). Daphne and Simon were likeable enough characters and their developing relationship was fun to watch.
However, everything changed with Daphne sexually assaulting Simon. There’s no repercussions for that action and the author frames it as an act of passion as opposed to the horror that it was. Which is interesting considering the author spends just as much time highlighting how badly this affected Simon, like him regressing back into the worst stutter he’s had in years. It felt like a slap in the face to hear how Simon had been abused by his father only for his lover to turn around and exert the a level power and abuse over him. I can’t in good faith speak positively about anything that happens afterwards because there’s no consequences to the action.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
lesslinette's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
chaotically_katie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
alishampat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault
camillarossi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Murder, and Sexual harassment
mhairi_reads's review against another edition
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
4.0
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Tropes: Fake dating
POV: Third person
Daphne Bridgerton is the oldest daughter of the Bridgerton bunch and all she wants is to find a husband who she can settle down with and have her own children. But it’s not that easy. Everybody in society loves her but in a friendly way with the only gentleman caller being someone she most definitely does not want to enter into marriage with.
Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings and well known rake, has retuned to England. He, unlike Daphne wants nothing to do with English society. Mothers forcing their daughters on him and so on. He has vowed to never marry nor does he want children and nothing is going to change his mind.
Or is it?
Daphne and Simon cross paths and devise a plan that suits them both. If they are seen to be a couple Daphne will become more sought after and receive more gentleman callers and Simon will be seen to be off limits to the ladies and their desperate mothers. It’s a win-win. They agree to show an interest in each other and everything starts to fall into place.
But what happens when the interest is no longer just a ploy?
I genuinely enjoyed this book, however I watched the Netflix series first and adored it so I’m not sure if that has swayed my interest in these characters. I loved the wittiness of Daphne and Simon. The banter between the two of them had me genuinely smiling on numerous occasions.
⚠️ Content Warnings: Miscarriage, stillbirth, abandonment, child neglect, death of parent, death during childbirth, dubious consent, misogyny
Spice: 🌶️
Tropes: Fake dating
POV: Third person
Daphne Bridgerton is the oldest daughter of the Bridgerton bunch and all she wants is to find a husband who she can settle down with and have her own children. But it’s not that easy. Everybody in society loves her but in a friendly way with the only gentleman caller being someone she most definitely does not want to enter into marriage with.
Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings and well known rake, has retuned to England. He, unlike Daphne wants nothing to do with English society. Mothers forcing their daughters on him and so on. He has vowed to never marry nor does he want children and nothing is going to change his mind.
Or is it?
Daphne and Simon cross paths and devise a plan that suits them both. If they are seen to be a couple Daphne will become more sought after and receive more gentleman callers and Simon will be seen to be off limits to the ladies and their desperate mothers. It’s a win-win. They agree to show an interest in each other and everything starts to fall into place.
But what happens when the interest is no longer just a ploy?
I genuinely enjoyed this book, however I watched the Netflix series first and adored it so I’m not sure if that has swayed my interest in these characters. I loved the wittiness of Daphne and Simon. The banter between the two of them had me genuinely smiling on numerous occasions.
⚠️ Content Warnings: Miscarriage, stillbirth, abandonment, child neglect, death of parent, death during childbirth, dubious consent, misogyny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
mssmurphy24's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse