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racheleanne06's review against another edition
challenging
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
I feel very conflicted about this book. I enjoyed the first half a lot, the Bridgerton family are vibrant and interesting. And I really liked the relationship that formed between Daphne and Simon.
But I found the second half of the book toxic, I knew what to expect after seeing the TV show but it was no less easier to experience. I understand this is a historical romance and times were different but I just wish their actions had had more consequences rather than just being brushed under a rug…
I am still looking forward to reading the rest of the series though, especially since I enjoyed season two of the TV show a lot more than I did season one (and I am hoping this is the same for the book too!)
But I found the second half of the book toxic, I knew what to expect after seeing the TV show but it was no less easier to experience. I understand this is a historical romance and times were different but I just wish their actions had had more consequences rather than just being brushed under a rug…
I am still looking forward to reading the rest of the series though, especially since I enjoyed season two of the TV show a lot more than I did season one (and I am hoping this is the same for the book too!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent and Miscarriage
kayleejanes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Violence
kkylezzz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a good read. I thought the humor and banter and character back-n-forth in general was great. The first half was really good, I enjoyed the length of scenes and the dedication to detail and consistency with the characters and descriptions. There was tons of dialogue which I love. I really enjoyed the how the first half too felt them growing together. Obviously in our timeline, "dating" for more than a couple weeks is conventional before even becoming a real couple let alone considering marriage, but for translatable purposes, this felt well told in that regard. The second half was enjoyable too, but more so for the pitiable, dramatic love story elements. I was alright with the separation and then pregnancy scare and the heart-to-hearts getting more in depth each time it was brought up. The last couple of chapters and Epilogue(s) was (were) redeeming, I enjoyed them. I liked that it ended on a positive note, the extended pregnancy brining in extra drama, and the possibility of Geogie being afflicted with Simon's same drama without actually confirming that. The sex scenes weren't too terribly bad either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Passive suicidal ideation/intention briefly alluded tomoriahleigh's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Rape, Child abuse, and Violence
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
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
sophia_irene's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.0
Okay so here’s the thing.
The Duke and I (and Bridgerton in general) is sold to you as a sappy, fluffy romance that will make you happy and giggly… and yeah. The inside is literally what is on the package. The Duke and I is basically a good ol’ historical romance.
Julia Quinn is (unexpectedly?) a really good storyteller! Her dialogues are very well crafted, the relationships and personalities of her characters take form just from their speech. It’s incredible and a skill like only 5 other writers have.
An overall 4 ⭐️ but I deduced one for the LITERAL CRIME that was committed and never addressed.
The Duke and I (and Bridgerton in general) is sold to you as a sappy, fluffy romance that will make you happy and giggly… and yeah. The inside is literally what is on the package. The Duke and I is basically a good ol’ historical romance.
Julia Quinn is (unexpectedly?) a really good storyteller! Her dialogues are very well crafted, the relationships and personalities of her characters take form just from their speech. It’s incredible and a skill like only 5 other writers have.
An overall 4 ⭐️ but I deduced one for the LITERAL CRIME that was committed and never addressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny and Violence
Minor: Racism
livbugg's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
wow Netflix made a book better, that’s shocking
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Child abuse, Cursing, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
mattiedancer's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Bridgerton: The Duke & I by Julia Quinn
Writing: 3.5⭐️/5
The writing is manageable and succinct, but nothing outstanding.
Characters: 3⭐️/5
I think the characters fell short for me. I wanted much more from each of the characters. Several characters felt flat during the course of the book when I feel like small moments could have been used to draw out various characters’ personalities. This might be a result of comparing to the show too much, but I felt like a lot of the characters didn’t have any personality that was deep and meaningful.
Plot: 3.5⭐️/5
While the plot was fun to read, parts of it were a bit less fleshed out than I would have hoped. It reads nicely and smoothly, but certain scenes could have been more detailed and thought out. In particular, I would have loved for the plot to explore Daphne and Simon’s connections.
Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5
Fun read. Easy read. Cute.
Who Should Read This?
- Readers looking for a fun, fluffy read
- People who love romance novels
- Those looking for a fake-dating, period novel
CW: Misogyny, emotional abuse, violence, domestic abuse, pregnancy, sexual assault, rape
Final Rating: 3.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, and Child abuse
Minor: Blood, Violence, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Grief, and Abandonment
sophluvs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, and Ableism
Minor: Violence