Reviews with content warning for Violence - To Sir Phillip, With Love

Hey bridgerton readers, you remember the guy who tried to rape our heroine in the third book? Well now he’s back and he’s mean, inattentive father with strong anger AND daddy issues. I think I know just what to do with this character. Let’s pair him with one of the beloved bridgerton sisters!
In all honestly, I think phillip crane should die in a horrible, gruesome death and then maybe his character would actually have some purpose. There is absolutely nothing romantic about this story, it’s referenced several times that the only reason he feels the need to get married again is to 1) have a mother for his children since he can’t be bothered to actually be a father 2) have a wife that he can have sex with whenever he wants so he can get his rocks off. Everything about the relationship in this story is gross. I felt so bad for Eloise, she actually had a good character but this book just butchered any chance at making me want to think again about her story.
I get that this book came out twenty years ago but the way Quinn treats mental illness is so disgusting. It’s clear that Marina was suffering from postpartum depression and then a generalized depression disorder but all of the story is focused on how much of a burden she was and how much Phillip blamed all of his problems on her. It was so toxic and honestly triggering to read as someone who suffers from depression. I guess the meaning Quinn was trying to say was that if you’re sad at all, you’re a constant burden on those you love.
There is also much misogyny in this book that it hurts my head. It’s referenced to several times that women are confusing creatures that men will never understand/that the two sexes are just so wildly different that they could never understand each other. Again I guess that’s a factor of both of this book being a historical romance that’s semi accurate and also being written twenty years ago but it just isn’t good to read now.
This book gets a 1.5 instead of just a 1 star because I did think the plot was sort of interesting, I liked the runaway plot and then the brothers storming in the house in the middle of dinner. I also thought that using Eloise’s letters as chapter openers was a good way to transition from the absence of lady whistledown’s commentary.
Will I be continuing this stupid book series? Yes I will. Because I want to hate review the rest of them and see if miss Julia Quinn can get any lower than she already has in my opinion.

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catorureads's review against another edition

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3.0

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lunep's review against another edition

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dark 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

1.0

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writtenbydnicole's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

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readwithde's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.5

I wasn't expecting this book, but I think it was worth the read.

First, Phillip spends the majority of the book dealing with undue weight of responsibility on him -- things he neither expected or wanted, but dealt with as needed.

Primarily his brother's death leading to his marriage to Marina and her attempted suicide, which leads to her death.

Eloise is obviously an escape for him -- both a chance to be seen and heard, but more practically someone to ease his load and shoulder some responsibility for his home and children. And Eloise does not appreciate the seeming bait-and-switch effect this causes.

The primary conflict stems from this: Phillip has no example of a good father and no practice being a good husband. He is lonely, desperate, and traumatized. Eloise doesn't automatically fix everything, but her ability to listen, love, and take charge give him just enough breathing room to manage his own issues, though other events help him along.

There's quite a lot of kissing and passion, more so than the other books, as Phillip uses that to avoid emotions and words. It is honestly more Phillip's story than Eloise's, as her undergoes the most changes and self-discovery.

Emotional, but good story; would have loved more of Eloise's spunk, as her character was often drown out due to others' needs.

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