Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Reputation

This book is terribly written. I'm not referring to the content here, but to the style of it all. With a better editor, this book could have been okay at least. I can't even begin to get upset at the plot, because it's all just so superficial. You can't even begin to start caring about the characters. There is simply not enough to hold onto to either love nor hate them. They've got character traits, sure, but they're not characters. We are being told so much through the narration that could (and should!) have been shown. It's quite impressive that a book can be 400 pages long and have so little to say.

The acknowledgements claim that the author is trying to show a multicultural Britain: she is doing this by having one (1) mixed Black character and one (1) mixed character of Indian descent. Their origins are adressed exactly once each, in a manner so half-hearted that it would have been better if the author hadn't bothered at all. Instead, you are left with glimpses in what could have been interesting stories, but the moment passes within half a page.

The only redeeming feature is that the bare bones are good, which is also the most galling of it all. I had hoped it would end up with something to say, which is the sole reason I finished it, but no.

tl;dr: the author was trying to write Regency Mean Girls without understanding what made Mean Girls good and fun.

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debussy's review

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emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

amberinpieces's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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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isabeldotml's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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builtoutofbooks's review

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emotional slow-paced

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

2.75

I really wanted to love this book because of 5 star reviews from those I follow. Sadly it fell a bit flat. I’m not normally a regency period reader and I have mixed feelings on Bridgeton. It took a long while for anything to actually happen and I nearly DNF’d a few times. I didn’t connect with the characters and the plot was slow. The main thing that kept me going was the Queer characters and the wonderful narrator! Wouldn’t read again but might pick up Lex’s 2nd novel when released.

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