Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn

9 reviews

readyforit's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

3.75

3.75⭐️1.5🌶️
This book had a bit of a mystery/treasure hunt plot to it, which was fun! I enjoyed all the sneaking around and scheming. I think hyacinth has a really funny personality and she has great banter with Gareth. I loved the friendship between lady Danbury and hyacinth as well! This wasn’t my favorite in the series though, I liked some of the other books a bit more. I noticed the author reused the exact plot line from Simon in book 1 where Daphne points out

he is living his life to spite his father, and not making choices that are really about himself.

Could she not think of anything else? I liked gareth but I think I liked Michael in Francesca’s story more. It seemed like Gareth was meant to be another handsome, witty rake. It’s the same story recycled again. Something different that happened was that hyacinth chose to have

sex before marriage, knowing what that would mean for her reputation.

Other than that there’s not a whole lot of spice in this one! Whenever hyacinth’s season gets made on Netflix I hope they leave out the bit about Gareth

being forcibly engaged to who sounds like a mentally disabled woman bc she has a large dowry.

I could do without the ableism for “plot.” I probably won’t reread and will opt to watch the Netflix show instead, but I might reread in a few years whenever hyacinth’s season comes!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Ableism

Minor: Pregnancy

hecksbecks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

Its in His Kiss gives us a little angst, quick wit and enough Lady Danbury to soothe the soul. Hyacinth’s inclusion to the Bridgerton franchise is a fun read, a little slow to get into but once we truly meet Mr. Gareth St. Clair we are ALL asking “Gareth more.” It could just be me but

I saw the true identity of Gareth's father from a mile away, it could have been teased a bit better but no matter.

These books are fun to read in a binge-it-all-in-the-bath sort of way. I believe I enjoyed it as much as Hy and Lady Danbury enjoyed their Buttersworth adventures. Highly recommend these books. :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity

booksalacarte's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-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

It’s in his kiss- 4⭐️ 3.25🌶️

This is the mystery to solve book with the absolutely reckless heroine.

This is my favorite of the Bridgerton Books. It’s definitely the funniest. Lady Danbury is one of my favorite side characters in the whole series, and her being featured in this makes it so much better.

Hyacinth is one of the best girls in the family. Her wit and unabashed nature is great to read in a regency romance full of demure debutants.

Gareth was a great pairing, a rake with a great sense of humor who doesn’t take himself too seriously. He had his moments with his father that made me want to smack him upside the head, but overall he’s a likable guy.

And the second epilogue is adorable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

brownieboo's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and War

embla_v's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted

4.0

Detta är en fantastisk historisk romans i Brigerton serien, som jag rekommenderar varmt, skriven av Julia Quinn. 

Boken handlar om Hyacinth, yngst av Brigerton syskonen, och om Gareth, som får en gammal dagbok som tillhörde hans farmor. Det finns dock ett problem dagboken är skriven på italienska, ett språk som Gareth inte förstår. Men en ung dam vid namn Hyacinth Brigerton, en kär vän till Gareths mormor, översätter den gärna åt honom. 

Rekommenderar verkligen att läsa Brigerton serien. Skulle dock vilja säga att det är bra att läsa böckerna i rätt ordning. Men oerhört underhållande läsning. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

beatriks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.0

This is the second last sibling and I still enjoy it, even if things get slightly repetitive. It’s  Julia Quinn’s accomplishment that the characters differ from each other. Hyacinth comes to life quite quickly and her character is interesting and nuanced. 

That is the main reason I love the books. For this part of the series, I do appreciate a twisted parental relationship and family secrets. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Death, and Toxic relationship

katiefronk's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.25

After reading earlier Bridgerton books, I was not looking forward to reading Hyacinth's, as she is often very annoying without much context to absolve her. I was pleasantly surprised that she is much less irritating in her own book, though still headstrong and opinionated. 

As with Eloise's story, the narrative felt focused on the male MC's issues while the female was along for the ride to help him. Hyacinth has a bit more backbone than Eloise, but it still read like Gareth's story, not hers.

I liked Gareth for most of the book, but

I can't condone that he set out to seduce Hyacinth to ensure she had to stay in the engagement and marry him.

Although he adequately apologized, and although it didn't matter much in the long run, I don't think it's that easily excusable. 

The plotline involving them searching for the jewels was very promising, but

it fizzled out, being replaced by emotions, some steam, and a few arguments. I wanted them to find the diamonds, and it disappointed me too have the book end without Hyacinth's victory.

Overall, it was a bit slow for the first half, followed by lots of steam, fights, and distraction, then ending without warning. Worth the read, but not the best Bridgerton book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Infidelity

andmaggie's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship

While Hyacinth enthusiastically consents to sex with open eyes about the societal ramifications, she is not aware that Gareth initiated it for the purpose of making sure she couldn't back out of marriage. This is abhorrent and skirts the line of coercion even though she would have consented if she had all the information. But he views it as coercion and that reveal poisons the encounter for her as well.