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bookedinsideout's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve both loved liked and hated my journey of reading these books. Liked because after finishing the second season of Bridgerton, I just wanted to watch the next, and since that wasn’t possible, I’ve enjoyed spending my evenings keeping up with the Bridgertons in print. Hated because there are some things I just have to try to ignore, and some so misogynistic and egregious that I can’t.
For example, after an attempted sexual assault, a man “squeaks” after having his head slammed into a tree. “Rather like a girl, Francesca thought dispassionately. She’d known he wouldn’t make a good husband, but that clinched it.” Yes, taking advantage of a woman isn’t great, but forget about his desirability altogether if he’s going to “squeak like a girl.” In this same scene, it’s lightly suggested that it wouldn’t have happened in Francesca didn’t go alone with him into the garden in the first place. Good grief.
But I was glad that they addressed one of my lighter concerns: that these heroes hardly ever ask for their heroine’s hand in marriage — they either assume after they’ve essentially “ruined” her or tell her that’s what’s happening.
For example, after an attempted sexual assault, a man “squeaks” after having his head slammed into a tree. “Rather like a girl, Francesca thought dispassionately. She’d known he wouldn’t make a good husband, but that clinched it.” Yes, taking advantage of a woman isn’t great, but forget about his desirability altogether if he’s going to “squeak like a girl.” In this same scene, it’s lightly suggested that it wouldn’t have happened in Francesca didn’t go alone with him into the garden in the first place. Good grief.
But I was glad that they addressed one of my lighter concerns: that these heroes hardly ever ask for their heroine’s hand in marriage — they either assume after they’ve essentially “ruined” her or tell her that’s what’s happening.
“’You never did answer my question last night.’
She didn’t turn. ‘What question was that?’
‘I believe I asked you to marry me.’
‘No, you didn’t,’ she replied, her voice quite calm, ‘you informed me that you believed we should be married and then proceeded to explain why.’”
So it still wasn’t a perfect romance for me, but it was still by far my favourite book yet.
A love story for someone who’s lost their partner can be great if it’s done right, but often it saddens me to see the current partner being compared to the one who’s died, and of course the current one has to be better and we have to point out the previous partner’s flaws and how this one makes up for them. I was pretty impressed because really neither man was pitted against the other. Both Francisca and Michael mourned John, and it was never about one man taking the other’s place or having to be the same kind of partner or a better one. It was a story of grief and guilt and she didn’t come to a conclusion easily, but she was able to love them both at the same time and not put either of them down.
In the vein of being able to hold two things as special at the same time without weighing them, one thing I did like from Eloise’s book was both her and her family’s (especially Violet’s) whole-hearted acceptance of Eloise’s new step-children as her children. They immediately became part of the family and that was that. In the epilogue where there is talk of children and whether they are biological or not, Eloise says:
“Before I had Penelope, and even when I was carrying her, I thought it would be different. It is different. But it’s not less. It’s not a question of levels or amounts, or even…really…the nature of it… I can’t explain it.”
I usually cringe at
Though the Bridgertons are mostly always one big happy family, I have appreciated seeing how a big family (probably any family) can sometimes make you feel lonely in your differences. Eloise, a proud spinster, suddenly feeling alone and a little insecure after all her siblings are marrying off and then her best friend, her partner in spinsterhood, does too. And Francisca feeling separated from her family by distance, by her isolating grief, and then both happy and sad at the same time watching them so easily conceive.
After feeling fed up with the men of Bridgerton in the last book, Michael Stirling was not perfect, but a welcome surprise. He gives massages, he’s not threatened by a woman taking charge, and he’s not opposed to period sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Death, and Infertility
Moderate: Chronic illness and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
georgiaisreading's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I quite enjoyed this book and that was a little bit more serious than it’s predecessors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Miscarriage
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, and Infertility
Minor: Cursing and Pregnancy
kyeruhh'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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
embla_v's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
4.25
Detta är den sjätte Brigerton boken, skriven av Julia Quinn. Det är en fantastisk historisk romans som jag rekommenderar starkt.
Francesca, det sjätte Brigerton syskonet, blir tragiskt änka men efter fyra år bestämmer hon sig för att hitta en ny make. Michael har varit kär i henne sen första gången han såg henne. Problemet var bara att första gången han såg henne var hon på väg att gifta sig med hans kusin. Men nu är hon änka, fast Michael kan inte svika sin kusin eller skulle det vara ett svek?
Som sagt rekommenderar starkt att läsa denna fantastiska bok. Läs böckerna i rätt ordning.
Francesca, det sjätte Brigerton syskonet, blir tragiskt änka men efter fyra år bestämmer hon sig för att hitta en ny make. Michael har varit kär i henne sen första gången han såg henne. Problemet var bara att första gången han såg henne var hon på väg att gifta sig med hans kusin. Men nu är hon änka, fast Michael kan inte svika sin kusin eller skulle det vara ett svek?
Som sagt rekommenderar starkt att läsa denna fantastiska bok. Läs böckerna i rätt ordning.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
quasinaut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
Now we're at Francesca's story. This one touches on loss and grief more than some of the others in the series, and I felt it was handled well. The relationship did feel a little imbalanced to me -- I didn't quite see Francesca connect to Michael the same way he loved her.
Also, I don't like that every Bridgerton book has at least one scene where a man decides he knows best what a woman wants/needs/should do, which makes me wonder how differently these books would be written today... Still, the Bridgerton books continue to be fun, quick reads.
Also, I don't like that every Bridgerton book has at least one scene where a man decides he knows best what a woman wants/needs/should do, which makes me wonder how differently these books would be written today... Still, the Bridgerton books continue to be fun, quick reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
readwithde's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I devoured this book in less than 12 hours. I appreciated how streamlined and direct the romance was; it felt really natural and grounded.
I knew that John would die, that Francesca was a widow, but I wasn't prepared for the miscarriage and infertility issues. It was handled quickly and non-graphically, and the story had an overall feeling of hope and rebuilding instead of pain.
Even though it was a bit of a slow burn, it was definitely steamy, one of the steamiest Bridgerton books I've read. There was a lot of female empowerment during these scenes, which had been somewhat lacking in the previous books.
Even though it was a bit of a slow burn, it was definitely steamy, one of the steamiest Bridgerton books I've read. There was a lot of female empowerment during these scenes, which had been somewhat lacking in the previous books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
katiefronk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
Graphic: Infertility and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Miscarriage
Minor: Pregnancy
urreadtome's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Infertility, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
ashesmann's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Some spoiler-ish things ahead. I knew it was unlikely I would enjoy this book. The thought of my husband dying suddenly strikes terror to my heart and I could never recover enough to find love again. I don't judge those who can, I just can't connect with that. So it was going to be a challenge anyway. But that was just the start of it.
It was sad enough when John died, but when Francesca also lost her baby it was so frustrating. Especially because for almost the entire rest of the book the child is hardly mentioned. I was disgusted by Michael's complete inability to comfort the woman he claimed to love. There is no right thing to say in that situation, but showing up is important. He not only didn't show, he ran. I don't think I ever forgave him for that. It's beyond cruel. If I was to tell the story I would have had Francesca not lose the baby, but for it to be a girl. So the Earldom did pass to Michael, but he'd stay and help with the child.
I also found Michael to be quite cruel in other ways. He grabs her shoulders roughly. Moments later Francesca tells herself he'd never hurt her, he'd die for her. I hate when characters behave that way. He did hurt you.
And then Michael chases Francesca all the way to Scotland to tell her there was going to be a wedding in her family, her brother was getting married. Instead of going back to town to assist in preparations Francesca waits. For weeks. And during that time she missed not only her brother's wedding, but also her sister. And she has the nerve to be mad about it.
I also hated how Francesca's acceptance of Michael's proposal came about. He kicks her out of his house. Her home of six years, in the night, while it's raining. He tells her to get out of the house and she does. She goes out into the rain and returns 3 hours later saying she will marry him after all. I guess it was either that or die.
I also found it distasteful how they kept comparing how they were together to her her time with John. It's not a competition, and he's dead besides.
At the the end of it I guess my distaste comes from the fact Michael claims to be in love but he doesn't in any way act like it. I honestly can't think of a single time he truly showed genuine love. Also, this may be the raciest of the series.
It was sad enough when John died, but when Francesca also lost her baby it was so frustrating. Especially because for almost the entire rest of the book the child is hardly mentioned. I was disgusted by Michael's complete inability to comfort the woman he claimed to love. There is no right thing to say in that situation, but showing up is important. He not only didn't show, he ran. I don't think I ever forgave him for that. It's beyond cruel. If I was to tell the story I would have had Francesca not lose the baby, but for it to be a girl. So the Earldom did pass to Michael, but he'd stay and help with the child.
I also found Michael to be quite cruel in other ways. He grabs her shoulders roughly. Moments later Francesca tells herself he'd never hurt her, he'd die for her. I hate when characters behave that way. He did hurt you.
And then Michael chases Francesca all the way to Scotland to tell her there was going to be a wedding in her family, her brother was getting married. Instead of going back to town to assist in preparations Francesca waits. For weeks. And during that time she missed not only her brother's wedding, but also her sister. And she has the nerve to be mad about it.
I also hated how Francesca's acceptance of Michael's proposal came about. He kicks her out of his house. Her home of six years, in the night, while it's raining. He tells her to get out of the house and she does. She goes out into the rain and returns 3 hours later saying she will marry him after all. I guess it was either that or die.
I also found it distasteful how they kept comparing how they were together to her her time with John. It's not a competition, and he's dead besides.
At the the end of it I guess my distaste comes from the fact Michael claims to be in love but he doesn't in any way act like it. I honestly can't think of a single time he truly showed genuine love. Also, this may be the raciest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
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