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shanasourish's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
ginamiya's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Grief
sararose_cozy's review against another edition
3.0
Ahh this is the first book in the series I didn’t love
dawneelisabeth's review against another edition
Phillip is THE WORST. There is no redeeming qualities to him. He is a small man who only thinks of himself. Only wants to marry Eloise so his kids have a mother. Plus he is a real piece of work as a dad. I DNFd on their wedding night even. Since he decided his needs are so much greater than hers.
This book needs therapy, parenting classes, marriage counseling and sex education.
This book needs therapy, parenting classes, marriage counseling and sex education.
tia_leona's review
lighthearted
reflective
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
2.0
selamski's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
hkeeley's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
relaxing
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
3.0
Solid! Everything Julia Quinn does - solid. Very lovely. Love Eloise as a character, enjoyed the level of conflict (not too much).
lucywera's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book was plainer than bread. But it helped me get out of my reading slump so I may thank it for that. The characters felt flat and I was disappointed in Eloise as a character as she does a 180 and turns into a way to agreeable housewife who loves children. Why couldn’t conflicts last longer than 20 pages ? The book was slow paced but then in the same breath glossed over huge parts of relational development (reference to the children). Point being that the book left much to be desired in particular my vested interest.
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Fifth in the Bridgerton Family historical romance series set in post-Regency England. The couple focus is on Eloise Bridgerton and Sir Phillip.
My Take
It's certainly an original premise with Eloise flitting off on her own. I have no idea what she could have been thinking to take off like this. Quinn doesn't even provide a reasonable scenario to explain why Eloise thinks she can behave so outlandishly. It's one thing to be a comfortable woman almost on the shelf for this time period, but to run off without a maid? It's not like the family can't afford one. No, Quinn simply hasn't thought this one through.
Although it is a good thing for those poor kids. Their reaction to their mother's death is...so depressing, and their father's reaction to it all is, well, typical for the time. So they're lucky that the indomitable Eloise appears in their lives and takes charge. She can take it and she can dish it out as well, LOL.
I do like that Eloise is thrown by Phillip's reaction to her arrival. Serves the idiot right. Just because her own family is used to her, doesn't mean the rest of the world is ready for her. She's certainly old enough to know better.
This must be the most introspective courtship with most of it occurring within their own minds as Eloise and Phillip trying to understand each other, themselves, and marriage while trying to get close to the children. Children whom Phillip is shocked to discover have all sorts of skills and interests of which he is unaware. It's not the only aspect of life in which he's clueless. He reckons without his bride accepting his selfish conduct. A behavior he's adapted to protect his children.
Oh, I do love that even in this situation, Colin stays true to himself and is tucking in like a starving man.
The Story
It's Pen's marriage to Colin that sets Eloise off on her own adventure, a need to escape, as she's depressed. She had always thought Penelope would be there in the background, that she would never marry. Now she'll take advantage of a clandestine correspondence which began over her cousin's death, and escape during Daphne's grand ball.
Eloise may have missed Colin's big announcement, but she's handling much tricker affairs down in Gloucestershire when Sir Phillip's children try to kill her. It's only her own experiences with her nephews and nieces that enable her to switch up and take a completely unexpected tack with the twins.
It's quite fun for Eloise to play house, at least until her brothers find her.
The Characters
Eloise Bridgerton is a character who can't stop talking and doesn't exactly think her own actions through. She has turned down every request for her hand, secure in her self and knowing that Penelope would always be there for her. Now she can't turn to anyone else in this fresh bewilderment, for all her siblings are too bloody happy. Or widowed.
Sir Phillip Crane, a second son who should never have inherited, has suffered for eight years with his depressed wife, Marina. Until the day she affects a major change. He takes refuge in the greenhouse, pursuing his botanical interests, avoiding his children. Miles Carter is his very short-lived secretary. It was Nurse Millsby who watched over the children when Marina was still alive. Now it's Nurse Edwards who cares for the eight-year-old twins: Oliver and Amanda. An extremely rude and tricksy pair. Mrs. Hurley is the housekeeper; Gunning is the very competent butler. Thomas Crane was Sir Phillip's brutal father.
The rest of the Bridgerton family includes:
Anthony Bridgerton is the oldest, Viscount Bridgerton, married Kate in the Viscount Who Loved Me, 2; they have a two-year-old, Charlotte. Benedict Bridgerton married Sophie in An Offer From a Gentleman, 3, and has pursued his art; they have a five-and-a-half-year-old son, Charles who's dying. Graves is their butler. Penelope Featherington has married Colin Bridgerton (see Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, 4). Daphne was the first to marry when she and Simon Bassett fell in love in Duke and I, 1; they have three children now: Amelia, Belinda, and Caroline. Somehow Francesca got married without any of Quinn's readers being aware of it; she's now widowed. Violet, Lady Bridgerton is their mother and quite relentless about getting her children married off. Gregory and Hyacinth are the remaining unmarried children.
The Cover
The cover is like looking at an old photograph, the kind that gets that blue haze over it. In this case, it's a lovely, self-effacing, country cottage, Romney Hall, as only the gentry can build.
The title is a clever play on how Eloise and Sir Phillip "meet" over letters: To Sir Phillip, With Love.
My Take
It's certainly an original premise with Eloise flitting off on her own. I have no idea what she could have been thinking to take off like this. Quinn doesn't even provide a reasonable scenario to explain why Eloise thinks she can behave so outlandishly. It's one thing to be a comfortable woman almost on the shelf for this time period, but to run off without a maid? It's not like the family can't afford one. No, Quinn simply hasn't thought this one through.
Although it is a good thing for those poor kids. Their reaction to their mother's death is...so depressing, and their father's reaction to it all is, well, typical for the time. So they're lucky that the indomitable Eloise appears in their lives and takes charge. She can take it and she can dish it out as well, LOL.
I do like that Eloise is thrown by Phillip's reaction to her arrival. Serves the idiot right. Just because her own family is used to her, doesn't mean the rest of the world is ready for her. She's certainly old enough to know better.
This must be the most introspective courtship with most of it occurring within their own minds as Eloise and Phillip trying to understand each other, themselves, and marriage while trying to get close to the children. Children whom Phillip is shocked to discover have all sorts of skills and interests of which he is unaware. It's not the only aspect of life in which he's clueless. He reckons without his bride accepting his selfish conduct. A behavior he's adapted to protect his children.
Oh, I do love that even in this situation, Colin stays true to himself and is tucking in like a starving man.
The Story
It's Pen's marriage to Colin that sets Eloise off on her own adventure, a need to escape, as she's depressed. She had always thought Penelope would be there in the background, that she would never marry. Now she'll take advantage of a clandestine correspondence which began over her cousin's death, and escape during Daphne's grand ball.
Eloise may have missed Colin's big announcement, but she's handling much tricker affairs down in Gloucestershire when Sir Phillip's children try to kill her. It's only her own experiences with her nephews and nieces that enable her to switch up and take a completely unexpected tack with the twins.
It's quite fun for Eloise to play house, at least until her brothers find her.
The Characters
Eloise Bridgerton is a character who can't stop talking and doesn't exactly think her own actions through. She has turned down every request for her hand, secure in her self and knowing that Penelope would always be there for her. Now she can't turn to anyone else in this fresh bewilderment, for all her siblings are too bloody happy. Or widowed.
Sir Phillip Crane, a second son who should never have inherited, has suffered for eight years with his depressed wife, Marina. Until the day she affects a major change. He takes refuge in the greenhouse, pursuing his botanical interests, avoiding his children. Miles Carter is his very short-lived secretary. It was Nurse Millsby who watched over the children when Marina was still alive. Now it's Nurse Edwards who cares for the eight-year-old twins: Oliver and Amanda. An extremely rude and tricksy pair. Mrs. Hurley is the housekeeper; Gunning is the very competent butler. Thomas Crane was Sir Phillip's brutal father.
The rest of the Bridgerton family includes:
Anthony Bridgerton is the oldest, Viscount Bridgerton, married Kate in the Viscount Who Loved Me, 2; they have a two-year-old, Charlotte. Benedict Bridgerton married Sophie in An Offer From a Gentleman, 3, and has pursued his art; they have a five-and-a-half-year-old son, Charles who's dying. Graves is their butler. Penelope Featherington has married Colin Bridgerton (see Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, 4). Daphne was the first to marry when she and Simon Bassett fell in love in Duke and I, 1; they have three children now: Amelia, Belinda, and Caroline. Somehow Francesca got married without any of Quinn's readers being aware of it; she's now widowed. Violet, Lady Bridgerton is their mother and quite relentless about getting her children married off. Gregory and Hyacinth are the remaining unmarried children.
The Cover
The cover is like looking at an old photograph, the kind that gets that blue haze over it. In this case, it's a lovely, self-effacing, country cottage, Romney Hall, as only the gentry can build.
The title is a clever play on how Eloise and Sir Phillip "meet" over letters: To Sir Phillip, With Love.