Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn

7 reviews

jelkebooks's review against another edition

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medium-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

1.0

Honestly, this book started fine enough. I feel like it started on the same level as the rest of the books in the series for me. They all have felt extremely mid to me. This was just like that for the most part. I immediately fell in love with Iris, but Richard's inner monologue constantly hinting towards him doing something bad that we don't know about kept me from fully getting invested in him. I also think the romance was extremely underdeveloped. I truly think these two barely spend any time together on page, quite a lot of it is also spend fighting, so I truly do not know why they even like each other let alone LOVE each other. I feel like this whole series lacks a bit of depth, but this couple I truly did not understand at all.
However, then we get into the second half of this book, and Richard became a piece of shit. He treated Iris so horribly, and even though he has his reasons I hated how absolutely insecure he made her feel. Reading from her POV and seeing him go from hot to cold for seemingly no reason just was extremely painful. Then we get the reveal of what Richard has been keeping from both Iris as well as the reader, and I probably even hated him even more. What he was asking of her was absolutely abysmal, but could still be forgiveable. However, how he treats both of his sisters and Iris during all of this really isn't. He is such an ass, that truly treats the women in his life like puppets to be manipulated. It was absolutely vile to read about. The only reason he even comes around is because he "loves" Iris and therefore feels bad about hurting her. You know, after Iris got them out of this bullshit already. Yeah, that's right he does absolutely NOTHING to redeem himself in this book. Fuck him! Truly. Like I understand a romance needs to have a happily ever after but sometimes the couple ending up together isn't a happy ending. Iris deserved so much better. So yeah, this book is trash. 

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lct's review against another edition

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lapon's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The book is easy to read and flips by but I'm finding it hard to forgive the hero's behaviour
it's extremely manipulative, verging on gaslighting, and he does not nearly grovel enough to make up for it

Also I missed the family shenanigans that I associated with this series. I also hoped that since Iris is described as an actually talented musician she would like music, but that doesn't take place.

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kjbranton's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

2.75


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cepbreed's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Kind of infuriating, majorly full of tension, and I loved every second! For some reason I'm enjoying these spinoff books wayyy more than the stories from the original Bridgerton series. I guess after the show the characters aren't as fun when you know them. All these spinoff characters are mysterious, and super messy.I eat up every second of drama.  I'm glad it wasn't revealed what Richard was hiding until the moment Iris finds out  because I had literally no idea and was so shocked. He is really despicable honestly and poor Iris was so overlooked at home she didn't deserve to just be another pawn in someone else's game. 

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embla_v's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted

4.0

Den sista boken i Smythe-Smith-kvartetten serien och den här gången följer vi Richard och Iris. 

Iris hamnar ofta lite i bakgrunden på tillställningar men efter den årliga konserten börjar Sir Richard uppvakta henne. Detta gör att Iris anar att något inte står rätt till och hon blir än mer misstänksam efter ett hastigt frieri från Richard. 

Richard är i akut behov av en brud och efter den årliga Smythe-Smith-kvartettens uppträdande inser han att Iris kanske är allt han behöver. 

Oerhört underhållande bok och måste läsning för alla Julia Quinn fans. Rekommenderar starkt. 

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urreadtome's review against another edition

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mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

2.75


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