Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

43 reviews

marygg3's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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

4.0

I spent barely two days on this book, I literally couldn't put it down. I'd read in bed, at work, while eating, I just couldn't stop.
There's a reason retellings work. A hundred year old formula, it still has its kick.
I adored Sophie, I loved Benedict, their story was beautiful and I ate it up.
Also, the plot was thicker than I expected, which I quite enjoyed.
The epilogues might be the best to date too, Posy deserves everything good in this world.
And on to the next we go, I'm dying to see how Colin fixes his major screw-up now.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment and Classism

nightstitch96's review against another edition

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent

bittersquirrel's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

1.5

Benedict is an ASS. This is not it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

cdoubet's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, and Cursing

Minor: Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Death, Rape, Death of parent, Confinement, Torture, Slavery, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

erica_reads_things's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Why...was this literally Cinderella for the entire first third of the book? And then a collection of an insufferable, unhealthy man trying to force a woman to be his f*ck buddy for the rest until the last like 30 pages. I did not enjoy this Bridgerton novel at all. Sophie was a really great character, Benedict was not. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about his character until the very end of the book - and for what? The conflict could have been so much more interesting and less misogynistic than him trying to convince her to be his mistress. Just utter buffoonery and sexism, even for that time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, Classism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Body shaming and Gaslighting

Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

annahamburger's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Sexual content, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Body shaming

Minor: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Rape, Alcohol, Violence, and Pregnancy

lexnicole's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Classism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

cleotheo'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

1.0

"Sie hören sich an, wie die Heldin aus einem sehr schlechten Roman." Das war sicher von der Autorin nicht so beabsichtigt, aber es stimmt leider weitestgehend.
Ich habe dieses Buch gelesen, nachdem ich die Netflix Serie gesehen habe. Die Figur des Benedict ist nicht wiederzuerkennen. Die Dynamik der Figuren in der Familie Bridgerton ist vergleichbar: unterhaltsam. Leider hat dieses Buch aber Hauptfiguren.
Es handelt sich hier um eine Aschenputtel Geschichte. Das Machtungleichgewicht zwischen "Aschenputtel" und dem "Prinz" ist sehr prominent, allerdings wird sich nicht kritisch damit ausseinandergesetzt. Wem das in romantischen Beziehungen gefällt, wird hier sicher auf seine Kosten kommen. Andernfalls wird man wohl, wie ich, hoffen, dass "Aschenputtel" den "Prinzen" sitzen lässt und weit, weit wegrennt. Zusätzlich wären Konsequenzen für die Handlungen unseres "Prinzen" sehr willkommen. Aber das wäre wohl der Stoff für ein besseres Buch.
Am Schreibstil besonders störend fand ich die ständigen Wiederholungen, nichts wird nur angedeutet. Der Leser selbst muss keinerlei Verbindungen herstellen, man muss sich nichts merken, alles wird wiedergekäut.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Cursing, Classism, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual content, Death, Medical content, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Rape, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Excrement

Minor: Deportation

prashiie's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

“It was strange, to find a woman who could make him happy just with her mere presence. He didn't even have to see her, or hear her voice, or even smell her scent. He just had to know that she was there. If that wasn't love, he didn't know what was.”

Very much like Cinderella, Sophie grows up with her stepmother and stepsisters who treat her very badly. Luckily, she gets the chance to go to a masked ball and takes it. This is where she meets Benedict and they fall in love. While she knew exactly who Benedict was, he didn’t know who the masked lady was who stole his heart. Years fly by and unexpectedly they meet again but under different circumstances. 

Unlike the lords and ladies, servants have no freedom to do as they please. This story shows how badly they get treated by some people. From rape to becoming a gentleman’s mistress. It’s not easy, especially if you’re a woman on your own.

I loved Benedict and Sophie’s story! Even though Sophie experienced many hardships in life, her heart remains pure and I was so happy that she met some good people through Benedict. Again Violet was such a pleasant character. The way she loves her children and supports them is amazing. Also Eloise is a lovely character. She stands up for herself and demands to be treated equally.

“Just because we of the female gender are not allowed to study at places like Eton and Cambridge doesn't mean our educations are any less precious,” Eloise ranted, completely ignoring her brother's weak “I know.”

“I am of the opinion that the reason we are not allowed access is that if we were, we would trounce you men in all subjects!”

Overall, an easy read. There were moments where Julia Quinn’s writing puts me off, for example when she writes: “He seized the moment, tasting her, drinking her, breathing her.” Okay, calm down…

I did enjoy the last part of the story where Benedict and Violet get Sophie out of jail. Violet goes against Araminta and the entire time I was cheering her on! Don’t mess with Violet Bridgerton. Then Sophie and Posy stand united against Araminta, ugh so wholesome. I do think Araminta got off too easy. I could never understand how one can be so cruel towards children. Araminta does explain why she hated Sophie so much, but I didn’t find that a satisfying reason.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Classism, Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Misogyny, Bullying, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol and Rape

meliemelo's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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

3.25

 A very fun overall, once you leave aside all the ways Benedict can be infuriating (hopefully that'll be smoothed over in the adaptation) and that whole "you've known each other for FIVE MINUTES" debacle at the end of the first act. It does help that I'm a sucker for the Cinderella trope. Also Violet Bridgerton deserves her own spin-off (and her intervention is definitely the one thing I hope to see in the adaptation). Finally, having never read any other Bridgerton book, I really enjoyed the way Lady Whistledown's publications frame the story, giving it context we couldn't get from the main characters' points of view alone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Abandonment