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lerl_'s review against another edition
slow-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
2.0
i think i can fairly say that reading this means i've also read men are from mars, women are from venus.
eloise deserved so much better than a man that sexually assaulted his suicidal wife and then neglects his children after her death.
eloise deserved so much better than a man that sexually assaulted his suicidal wife and then neglects his children after her death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
ntanash's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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: Suicide attempt, Death, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
fenkje's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3,75⭐
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. The previous Bridgerton books spoke more to me than this one did. Don't get me wrong: it wasn't bad at all, but it was just not completely what I expected. Eloise is one of my favourite Bridgerton siblings, so my expectations were a lot higher. I loved the beginning of the book, but I found it a bit boring after a while. The end made up for it in some way, but it wasn't enough for me.
Also: the s*x-scenes were so unrealistic, reading this as woman. Women don't 'explode', as described by Quinn, as easy or at all in the way the couple made love. I would have loved a more realistic representation.
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. The previous Bridgerton books spoke more to me than this one did. Don't get me wrong: it wasn't bad at all, but it was just not completely what I expected. Eloise is one of my favourite Bridgerton siblings, so my expectations were a lot higher. I loved the beginning of the book, but I found it a bit boring after a while. The end made up for it in some way, but it wasn't enough for me.
Also: the s*x-scenes were so unrealistic, reading this as woman. Women don't 'explode', as described by Quinn, as easy or at all in the way the couple made love. I would have loved a more realistic representation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Rape, Sexual content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
bzliz's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have some mixed feelings about this one and I think most of them come from my 2024 eyes looking at 1800s sensibilities. It’s impossible to not feel icky from how Marina’s mental health is dealt with. She didn’t need a husband, she needed a therapist. As for Sir Phillip, he had his moments of charm and delight but it was challenging to warm up to a father who pushes his children away when they’re being mistreated and begging for closeness. Plus there’s a matter I have mentioned in the content warnings.
On the other hand, I adored Eloise. She felt so human to me. She constantly spoke her mind and took action. Her ability to handle Oliver and Amanda was certainly due to growing up in a big, loving family, but I think her growth mirrors that of the children. All three are in desperate need to attention and Phillip has to grow himself to give that to them. They also support each other; Eloise is a parental presence that the twins desperately needed, who was firm but understanding as needed, and the twins give her a challenge and the adoration that children give their heroes. The second epilogue cements that for me as Amanda so wonderfully illustrates Eloise’s devotion to their family, pulling it all together and bringing light and life to a sad group that had previously been crumbling.
On the other hand, I adored Eloise. She felt so human to me. She constantly spoke her mind and took action. Her ability to handle Oliver and Amanda was certainly due to growing up in a big, loving family, but I think her growth mirrors that of the children. All three are in desperate need to attention and Phillip has to grow himself to give that to them. They also support each other; Eloise is a parental presence that the twins desperately needed, who was firm but understanding as needed, and the twins give her a challenge and the adoration that children give their heroes. The second epilogue cements that for me as Amanda so wonderfully illustrates Eloise’s devotion to their family, pulling it all together and bringing light and life to a sad group that had previously been crumbling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual assault
Though it doesn’t occur on page, I have tagged sexual assault becauseboundbyemily's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“This—us—is heaven. And I can’t bear to hear you say otherwise.”
I understand what Quinn was trying to do, but the execution was not there. There were good moments, but overall it dragged and just fell incredibly flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
readyforit's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
2.0
2⭐️1.5🌶️(open door, not very descriptive)
I’ve really been enjoying the series up until Eloise’s story. This book missed the mark for several reasons for me, mostly because I just think the whole premise of Eloise running away to marry a man she’s never met doesn’t sound like her at all. In the book, marina is a bridgerton cousin, still married to sir Phillip crane instead of his brother George who died in the war. She dies young and Eloise writes to Phillip, and they begin a year of correspondence before Phillip asks her to visit to see if they would be a good match for marriage. He only seems concerned with having her be a mother to his two unruly (and neglected and abused) children, and not as having her as a wife or partner. You expect some misogyny with historical fiction books but this one was especially bad, and I never found myself rooting for Phillip. In fact, I’d say he’s the villain of this story. Eloise deserves better and so do his kids. I am curious about how they will incorporate this book into the show. Before reading any of the books I had hoped they would allow Eloise to remain unmarried and maybe she would pursue writing or something, and after reading her story I can say I do NOT want it in the show without SIGNIFICANT changes to Phillip’s personality, the kids’ storyline, and how they insulted marina for having depression. I won’t be rereading this book and this was unfortunately the first in the series that I didn’t enjoy.
I’ve really been enjoying the series up until Eloise’s story. This book missed the mark for several reasons for me, mostly because I just think the whole premise of Eloise running away to marry a man she’s never met doesn’t sound like her at all. In the book, marina is a bridgerton cousin, still married to sir Phillip crane instead of his brother George who died in the war. She dies young and Eloise writes to Phillip, and they begin a year of correspondence before Phillip asks her to visit to see if they would be a good match for marriage. He only seems concerned with having her be a mother to his two unruly (and neglected and abused) children, and not as having her as a wife or partner. You expect some misogyny with historical fiction books but this one was especially bad, and I never found myself rooting for Phillip. In fact, I’d say he’s the villain of this story. Eloise deserves better and so do his kids. I am curious about how they will incorporate this book into the show. Before reading any of the books I had hoped they would allow Eloise to remain unmarried and maybe she would pursue writing or something, and after reading her story I can say I do NOT want it in the show without SIGNIFICANT changes to Phillip’s personality, the kids’ storyline, and how they insulted marina for having depression. I won’t be rereading this book and this was unfortunately the first in the series that I didn’t enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy
allison87's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I feel like if Netflix Eloise read this book she would promptly throw it into the fire and scream.
Phillip is a piece of work. Anger issues, SA of his late wife while she was suffering from post pardom depression, absent fathering, asking for a wife for the express purpose of getting a homemaker/nanny/warm body but withheld that fact for an entire year of courting.
Once they are together and married, consent is hazy. He's not interested in her as a person but as a body. To the point where he hardly lets her speak/avoids her all day prior to bed time. (When Eloise has a major concern about the children's care, instead of pause his pursuit of her body to listen to her, he throws a tantrum and leaves.) So, yeah, it's extremely romantic?
I get that these were issues that were/still are common. But that doesn't make it conducive to a love story. It's more horror than anything. Even if this were written in the 1800s it would still come off extremely bleak and hardly romantic.
Shondaland has a ton of work ahead to turn this story into anything good. Personally I would scrap most of it.
Phillip is a piece of work. Anger issues, SA of his late wife while she was suffering from post pardom depression, absent fathering, asking for a wife for the express purpose of getting a homemaker/nanny/warm body but withheld that fact for an entire year of courting.
Once they are together and married, consent is hazy. He's not interested in her as a person but as a body. To the point where he hardly lets her speak/avoids her all day prior to bed time. (When Eloise has a major concern about the children's care, instead of pause his pursuit of her body to listen to her, he throws a tantrum and leaves.) So, yeah, it's extremely romantic?
I get that these were issues that were/still are common. But that doesn't make it conducive to a love story. It's more horror than anything. Even if this were written in the 1800s it would still come off extremely bleak and hardly romantic.
Shondaland has a ton of work ahead to turn this story into anything good. Personally I would scrap most of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Ableism, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
barbiedreamlibrary's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wish that Eloise had a happier ending, I wasn’t fond of Phillip. She has such a dynamic personality, I wish Phillip wasn’t such a boar of a man. He came across as a chauvinistic sex fiend. I felt horrible for his poor children and Marina. I think that Violet and the 2nd epilogue were the best parts of the book. I’m giving this two stars because it was nice to see the other characters in the Bridgerton universe. Hopefully the rest of the series picks up because this was a total flop for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Suicide
annahamburger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Blood