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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
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
I loved this book! What made it stand out was how quickly it picked up from the last novel, with Eloise’s frequent letters, writing finally taking center stage. Within just a couple of chapters, we find out she’s been secretly corresponding with Sir Phillip, and then boom he asks her to marry him. While Eloise wanted to meet him out of curiosity, Phillip was looking for a wife, and that contrast in expectations kicks off their story.
What really stuck with me was the emotional depth. Phillip’s past, especially his trauma from trying to save his wife from suicide, adds weight to his character and explains a lot of his guarded behavior. Eloise’s bright and bold personality slowly chips away at his walls. The twins, who’ve clearly endured a lot themselves, were such a well-handled part of the story, too. Watching them bond with Eloise added a lot of warmth. The scene where the Bridgerton brothers stormed in to “rescue” her had me cackling. It was chaotic and classic Bridgerton.
This book blends trauma, healing, romance, and humor in such a satisfying way. It’s one of my favorite Bridgerton novels for sure.
This book blends trauma, healing, romance, and humor in such a satisfying way. It’s one of my favorite Bridgerton novels for sure.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Only Eloise, my good friend Eloise, would do this shit. Five stars specifically for the scene where all of her brothers are beating the shit out of Phillip and then Anthony goes to talk with Eloise and leaves the other three with him. Newly Established Wife-Guy Colin Bridgerton won't stop drinking his wine and saying he misses his wife. Phillip can't stand the tension and begs for his legs to be broken. Masterpiece. Where else are we getting this.
I also thought the portrayal of Phillip as a father was beautiful. He's doing his best with some godawful circumstances and he's still not giving his children what they need. It's his respect for Eloise's opinion and her place as their new mother that finally bridges the gap between himself and his children. I loved it. <3
I also thought the portrayal of Phillip as a father was beautiful. He's doing his best with some godawful circumstances and he's still not giving his children what they need. It's his respect for Eloise's opinion and her place as their new mother that finally bridges the gap between himself and his children. I loved it. <3
1 ⭐️ (📚)
So firstly, lets address the elephant in the room, which is how LONG this book took me to read - over one month of quite frankly the worst piece of literature I have ever had the displeasure of listening to.
Now some may say I'm being overly harsh but this book broke me and broke my girl eloise. Throughout the entire book all we see is Sir Phillip going on and on about wanting a wife - but more importantly wanting a mother for his kids. He appears to be quite fine with any woman who has the capacity to control his children and pursues a proposal to eloise with the set goal of making her the new nanny of his kids so to speak. It continues in this general direction for a while until Phillip realises that Eloise is actually a very attractive, lovely, and kind woman - he now wants to pursue her as more than just the mother to his kids.
This is where we get to the part where I had little problem, the initial banter and development of phillip and eloise's relationship was refreshing, it was fun to follow and listen to and there was a spark. I actually began to look forward to it and wanted to hear more! UNTIL BOOM a kiss less than 29% into the book?! where was the angst, the pining and then we get a complete 360 of Eloise's character.
The loud little bratty (but undeniably loveable, and needed in this world of class) bridgerton sister lost her spark and fire and was just belittled into caregiver for the kids. Not to mention the unbelievable amount of sex scenes including one where all FOUR bridgerton brothers are DOWNSTAIRS, not only that BUT AFTER IT he essentially once again just talks about her looking after the kids but I digress.
Phillip was a constant sexist nagging voice in this book 'the kids need a mother' every two seconds like if you got over your trauma maybe your kids would actually like to hang out with their dad every now and then and not the governess who beats the shit out of them
“She decided to let his description of her as a yapping female pass” UM ELOISE WOULD NOT LET IT PASS - she would stand up for herself. But with phillip it felt like she was reverted back into a shell of a woman who was only to be shaped via childbirth and caregiving
Let me further reiterate that Julia Quinn is still yet to write a sex scene that isn’t incredibly uncomfortable to listen to/ read. I genuinely think she has no idea that women don’t have to be property, idc if it’s a period piece or not
This continues well into the ending - finishing the book off with the lovely, totally not vom inducing quote of "he'd finally found his children the perfect mother". Which i have two issues with;
1. belittles their relationship even until the very end into "mother" rather than something along the lines of "at first it was this, but now" - it just never got to the sincere point
2. their biological mother was depressed and I QUOTE phillip states "she couldn't even kill herself properly" in reference to marina attempting to drown herself
it's just all in all a gross book with lots of misogyny - you can go ahead and tell me that it was of the time but it is a crime to take the powerhouse that is Eloise Bridgerton and have her fate be this; to be with a man that views her as not much more than someone to sleep with and a "perfect mother"
So firstly, lets address the elephant in the room, which is how LONG this book took me to read - over one month of quite frankly the worst piece of literature I have ever had the displeasure of listening to.
Now some may say I'm being overly harsh but this book broke me and broke my girl eloise. Throughout the entire book all we see is Sir Phillip going on and on about wanting a wife - but more importantly wanting a mother for his kids. He appears to be quite fine with any woman who has the capacity to control his children and pursues a proposal to eloise with the set goal of making her the new nanny of his kids so to speak. It continues in this general direction for a while until Phillip realises that Eloise is actually a very attractive, lovely, and kind woman - he now wants to pursue her as more than just the mother to his kids.
This is where we get to the part where I had little problem, the initial banter and development of phillip and eloise's relationship was refreshing, it was fun to follow and listen to and there was a spark. I actually began to look forward to it and wanted to hear more! UNTIL BOOM a kiss less than 29% into the book?! where was the angst, the pining and then we get a complete 360 of Eloise's character.
The loud little bratty (but undeniably loveable, and needed in this world of class) bridgerton sister lost her spark and fire and was just belittled into caregiver for the kids. Not to mention the unbelievable amount of sex scenes including one where all FOUR bridgerton brothers are DOWNSTAIRS, not only that BUT AFTER IT he essentially once again just talks about her looking after the kids but I digress.
Phillip was a constant sexist nagging voice in this book 'the kids need a mother' every two seconds like if you got over your trauma maybe your kids would actually like to hang out with their dad every now and then and not the governess who beats the shit out of them
“She decided to let his description of her as a yapping female pass” UM ELOISE WOULD NOT LET IT PASS - she would stand up for herself. But with phillip it felt like she was reverted back into a shell of a woman who was only to be shaped via childbirth and caregiving
Let me further reiterate that Julia Quinn is still yet to write a sex scene that isn’t incredibly uncomfortable to listen to/ read. I genuinely think she has no idea that women don’t have to be property, idc if it’s a period piece or not
This continues well into the ending - finishing the book off with the lovely, totally not vom inducing quote of "he'd finally found his children the perfect mother". Which i have two issues with;
1. belittles their relationship even until the very end into "mother" rather than something along the lines of "at first it was this, but now" - it just never got to the sincere point
2. their biological mother was depressed and I QUOTE phillip states "she couldn't even kill herself properly" in reference to marina attempting to drown herself
it's just all in all a gross book with lots of misogyny - you can go ahead and tell me that it was of the time but it is a crime to take the powerhouse that is Eloise Bridgerton and have her fate be this; to be with a man that views her as not much more than someone to sleep with and a "perfect mother"
funny
sad
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
emotional
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
emotional
lighthearted
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced