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grace33's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage and Violence
chaotically_katie's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
myinvinciblesummer's review against another edition
- 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
I am the one person left who hasn’t seen the show. So this book is my absolute first introduction to the series, except for some still photos of what look to be beautiful costumes in the show. I had no idea what the storyline was beyond the blurb on the back of the book.
This book started off interesting enough. A basic but interesting enough romance story. Was enjoying the book, the pace was both rushed and slow but I was enjoying it well enough. But then(I am now going to discuss TW: Rape)
Then we get to the scene where Daphne rapes the Duke. Absolutely not ok. ABSOLUTELY NOT. And then she dares to be presented as the character that deserves empathy and should be excused because she really wants a kid? Has a tantrum when it’s turns out she’s not pregnant and makes him feel guilty saying why would you care to him? That’s purely manipulative.
The Duke said he didn’t want kids, he was inebriated, but she did it anyways knowing he couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to say no.
The rest of the book, after that deplorable scene, trudges on slowly and is so boring. Daphne is sad. The Duke needs therapy. Daphne’s brothers are all up in her business. Oh but wait suddenly they are ok she raped him. Fine whatever.
The two stars instead of one is because at least the beginning was interesting.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
jackiedressedincobras's review against another edition
1.0
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia
jencolumb0's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Pregnancy and Abandonment
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
camillarossi's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Murder, and Sexual harassment
mhairi_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spice: 🌶️
Tropes: Fake dating
POV: Third person
Daphne Bridgerton is the oldest daughter of the Bridgerton bunch and all she wants is to find a husband who she can settle down with and have her own children. But it’s not that easy. Everybody in society loves her but in a friendly way with the only gentleman caller being someone she most definitely does not want to enter into marriage with.
Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings and well known rake, has retuned to England. He, unlike Daphne wants nothing to do with English society. Mothers forcing their daughters on him and so on. He has vowed to never marry nor does he want children and nothing is going to change his mind.
Or is it?
Daphne and Simon cross paths and devise a plan that suits them both. If they are seen to be a couple Daphne will become more sought after and receive more gentleman callers and Simon will be seen to be off limits to the ladies and their desperate mothers. It’s a win-win. They agree to show an interest in each other and everything starts to fall into place.
But what happens when the interest is no longer just a ploy?
I genuinely enjoyed this book, however I watched the Netflix series first and adored it so I’m not sure if that has swayed my interest in these characters. I loved the wittiness of Daphne and Simon. The banter between the two of them had me genuinely smiling on numerous occasions.
⚠️ Content Warnings: Miscarriage, stillbirth, abandonment, child neglect, death of parent, death during childbirth, dubious consent, misogyny
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
maaham_51's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
thienly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Rape and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
emmaisanerd's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent and Pregnancy