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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wonder if turning 30 made me desire a need to read Regency-era romance stories when before they were never my thing. However, this was a wonderful book to get things going and I'm looking forward to the rest. I'll admit I watched the Netflix show first, so it's neat to compare page to screen and see what changes they made. I think both are great stories in their own way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy
lighthearted
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
funny
relaxing
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 read this book because of the Historical Romance Society's Discord Server's mascot, the oh-so-lovely Governess, who is absolutely obsessed with this book and will not stop recommending it. I was also just curious about the book, but the Governess was my main reason.
I found it a rather sweet story with a more tolerable third-act breakup which is a thing I hate about romance books. It makes sense, and is fucking deserved because of what Daphne did. I didn't realise this as the sex scene I had skimmed over, but someone had told me what I had missed. I do not feel like Daphne deserves what she got in the end, and I fully believe she deserves to be alone.
The characters were a good change of pace except one, Daphne, and I found Simon a rather interesting male romance character! He does suffer at first glance from the usual 'stoic, emotionless man' trope, but he quickly sheds that, and by the end of the book, he is a character I want to read more about. I love that he has a stutter and goes mute in certain moments, as I haven't seen that often in HR books from what I've noticed.
I found Daphne was also quite alright UNTIL the sex scenes. Please DO NOT read this book if you are sensitive to the subject of sexual a*sult as Daphne r*pes Simon. I finished the book not realising that, but fuck Daphne. She deserves to be with Nigel from the beginning. She ignored when Simon made it very clear he didn't want this, and she forced it upon him FOR HER WANTS. I do not CARE that it is how she can get pregnant considering that Simon is infertile, HE SAID NO AND WANTED HER OFF OF HIM.
The characters were a good change of pace except one, Daphne, and I found Simon a rather interesting male romance character! He does suffer at first glance from the usual 'stoic, emotionless man' trope, but he quickly sheds that, and by the end of the book, he is a character I want to read more about. I love that he has a stutter and goes mute in certain moments, as I haven't seen that often in HR books from what I've noticed.
I found Daphne was also quite alright UNTIL the sex scenes. Please DO NOT read this book if you are sensitive to the subject of sexual a*sult as Daphne r*pes Simon. I finished the book not realising that, but fuck Daphne. She deserves to be with Nigel from the beginning. She ignored when Simon made it very clear he didn't want this, and she forced it upon him FOR HER WANTS. I do not CARE that it is how she can get pregnant considering that Simon is infertile, HE SAID NO AND WANTED HER OFF OF HIM.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Classism
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
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:
No
as someone who has seen the show more times than i will ever admit, i have come to the conclusion that 97% of the changes made by netflix are in fact good changes.
first off, the language honestly didn't really give me the historical romance feel, it felt very modern. i get the appeal of that but i feel like a historical novel should feel.... historical? meanwhile this oozes with early 2000s ideas of masculinity and sexuality - so in a way it's like 2 historical novels for the price of 1.
speaking of... it's quite predatory. i love that we get a bigger insight into simon's insecurities and confidence issues than the show provides, but he's sooo... i just personally don't believe that being angry at your father would cause you to think about your wife all possessive and horny like that??? but what do i know lol. she does rape him. so idk. maybe their dynamic is just supposed to be like that. hm. much to consider here.
at the end of the day i would recommend the show over the books. the show improves the plot and raises the stakes, it elevates the fake relationship trope (it's so minor in the book rip), it makes violet bridgerton likeable (julia quinn does NOT like her) and it promotes lady danbury and queen charlotte to main character status (i really missed them in this). i was also shocked that lady whistledown, basically the cause for any and all plot in the show, is barely in the book?? and doesn't have much impact outside of a few excerpts from her paper and a couple mentions?? wild. and generally quinn's writing simply cannot compete with the drama and visuals of the show
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this story. The characters were fun, and the plot was easy to follow. However, I did have a major issue with this book.
TW: RAPE Daphne literally rapes Simon. They try to play it off as if he also wanted what was happening since he vocally encouraged her. However, literally moments before, he had been passed out drunk. He could not consent in the moment and had specifically stated that he did not want to have even the slightest chance of getting her pregnant. The entire thing ruined the book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Sexual harassment