Scan barcode
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The pre-relationship banter and the helicoptering big brothers were honestly the best parts of this book. Otherwise, big meh from me. Goes from “hey, let’s do this fake dating scheme” to “oh we’re in love” very quickly. Plus, the reproductive coercion/marital r*pe was glossed over & forgiven way too quickly. None of the family members & side characters are as multi-dimensional and interesting in this book as they are in the Netflix adaptation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content and Rape
Minor: Death of parent
haleysversion's review against another edition
funny
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: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Vomit, and Infertility
quinn_07's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The two main characters do not communicate with each other, which is sooo frustrating especially when they are about to get married and still do not discuss fundamental things in a marriage which are a deal breaker, like how one person doesn't want kids while the other person has dreamed of having kids for years . Also, I absolutely hated Daphne taking advantage of and raping Simon when he was vulnerable, and afterwards, STILL not understanding why what she did was wrong . Sorry, these two characters were so upsetting that they ruined the romance for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
selene_nyxly's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
2.25
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: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
grace33's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage and Violence
chaotically_katie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical content, Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Vomit, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Excrement, Infertility, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Blood
erinoco's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Ableism
jackiebee's review against another edition
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia
jencolumb0's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
As an enthusiastic fan of Shondaland’s Season One of Bridgerton, I am happy that I did not read this first, because I’m not sure that Regé-Jean Page could have convinced me to give a TV adaptation of that nonsense a go. Blessedly, Shondaland was only exceptionally loosely inspired by the source material and redid it in such a tremendously better way. The original work just barely squeaks into the arena of something *vaguely* tolerable, in a second-wave white-lady feminist, “look at the plucky white lady getting away with doing not thoroughly feminine things while perpetuating an exclusionary world order” kind of way, not in the (preferable) third-wave, “imagine we all learned and did better” kind of way (where the Shondaland version seems to exist).
And I will never get over Daphne attempting to garner sympathy from herself and others after raping Simon. That was thoroughly not okay. I get why it is a plot line that even made it into the Shondaland version but it’s gross and at least Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne seemed to grasp more firmly that she was wrong.
Given that the Shondaland team had trouble breathing life into Anthony’s story and they improved so thoroughly on the source material, here, I’m not sure I’ll bother with reading the rest of the series. I have better things to do than spite-read until Season Three drops, like catch up on all of Alexis Hall’s releases . . . or watching Regé-Jean Page breathe life into Dungeons & Dragons.
Suffice it to say that I am even more impressed with the Shondaland team’s ability to succeed as they have with the adaptation after reading this.
And I will never get over Daphne
Given that the Shondaland team had trouble breathing life into Anthony’s story and they improved so thoroughly on the source material, here, I’m not sure I’ll bother with reading the rest of the series. I have better things to do than spite-read until Season Three drops, like catch up on all of Alexis Hall’s releases . . . or watching Regé-Jean Page breathe life into Dungeons & Dragons.
Suffice it to say that I am even more impressed with the Shondaland team’s ability to succeed as they have with the adaptation after reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Abandonment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
isabellediggle's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
sad
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
2.5
This may be a rare occurrence where the TV adaptation is better than the original book. Daphne was a fun heroine, headstrong and a little violent whilst her protective brood were easy to love. The Regency setting was enjoyable, as were the inclusions of Lady Whistledown. However, the lack of consent and the way Daphne took little accountability made for a less enjoyable reading experience and a lower rating. However, I will persist with Quinn and continue listening (!) to the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Colonisation