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julie2525's review against another edition
3.0
From what I could tell, of the Bridgerton kids, Eloise is the most like me (i.e. chatty, intelligent, efficient, feminine, loves correspondence), and her running off to another part of the country to do her own thing definitely tracks with my personal experience. But...
For a book about the character who hates women’s restrictions in life, this book is *highly gendered.*
I couldn’t imagine Phillip as someone I’d be interested in. For a big, burly man who doesn’t like to talk much and doesn’t have a lot of emotions, a lot of pages are dedicated to his raw, needy emotions. (I support emotions. The presumption that he shouldn’t have them is the problem.)
Most of the book is pleasant and enjoyable with enough adventures to keep the pages turning. I took issue with the above.
Trigger Warning: Suicide, Child Abuse
For a book about the character who hates women’s restrictions in life, this book is *highly gendered.*
Spoiler
Sure, Eloise is an extremely competent woman who enjoys picking up other people’s slack, but when a man proposes because he wants someone—anyone— to be his wife and do the wife things he’s not comfortable doing like mother his children for him yet NEVER TELLS HER HE HAS KIDS, I can’t.He’d found everything he’d ever wanted in a marriage. Eloise ran his life to perfection by day and warmed his bed with the skill of a courtesan by night. She fulfilled his every desire so well that he hadn’t noticed that she’d done something more. She’d found his heart. She’d touched it, changed it. Changed him.
I couldn’t imagine Phillip as someone I’d be interested in. For a big, burly man who doesn’t like to talk much and doesn’t have a lot of emotions, a lot of pages are dedicated to his raw, needy emotions. (I support emotions. The presumption that he shouldn’t have them is the problem.)
Most of the book is pleasant and enjoyable with enough adventures to keep the pages turning. I took issue with the above.
Trigger Warning: Suicide, Child Abuse
mcharlotten's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.0
mrsmcrib's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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
alexian14's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.0
bailey1214's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book. Phillip and Eloise were puzzle pieces for each other but I like that it took them awhile to figure that out. I love seeing the romances progress after marriage. I really enjoyed the scenes with Amanda and Oliver. “If you don’t know what you want, be patient. It will come to you.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicide attempt
Minor: Child abuse
knippen's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
bee__'s review against another edition
1.0
I absolutely despised Phillip and Eloise deserved so much better than him. I’m glad she was there for Amanda and Oliver but damn she held out on a husband all these years only to end up with him???? So sad. The lack of compassion and empathy for marina was also devastating. I know it takes place in the 1800s when mental health wasn’t a thing but still really sad to read about how much of a burden she was bc she was depressed and it was made worse by some kind of postpartum trauma
hamillherself's review against another edition
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
3.5
jen_palk_reads's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 rounded up. Not my fav. Philip was annoying.
mertice's review against another edition
4.0
One thing that I think Julia Quinn does really well, is that she matches her characters with people who are well suited to them instead of just the 'perfect' husband or wife. This book is no different, and Eloise is matched with a kind and caring man, who is also emotionally constipated, has daddy issues and is at times impatient. Julia Quinn also explores Eloise's flaws and shows how the two characters come together.
TLDR: Was surprised at the type of man Eloise 'picked'. But I think the book does a good job of exploring people's flaws and how they come together to accept each other regardless.
I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. But if I could I would rate it a 3.8/5 and not 4. The middle of the book really dipped for me, and I found myself frustrated with Phillip for the way he treated Eloise (not badly, he just kind of ignored her) and Eloise kind of allowed it. It was also annoying that Phillip expected Eloise to suddenly fall in his life and solve everything. I think I hoped Eloise might have been the catalyst to Philip deciding to take control of HIS life, instead of Eloise seeming to be the complete solution. It was weird that Eloise, as an independent discerning woman, would accept the position of "housekeeper" to Philip's life. Perhaps, I just expected Eloise to want a man that has some control over his life and would want to be an equal partner with her when dealing with matters of the home.
That being said. I recognise that 1) characters cannot and should not be perfect 2) this is the regency era.
TLDR: Was surprised at the type of man Eloise 'picked'. But I think the book does a good job of exploring people's flaws and how they come together to accept each other regardless.
I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. But if I could I would rate it a 3.8/5 and not 4. The middle of the book really dipped for me, and I found myself frustrated with Phillip for the way he treated Eloise (not badly, he just kind of ignored her) and Eloise kind of allowed it. It was also annoying that Phillip expected Eloise to suddenly fall in his life and solve everything. I think I hoped Eloise might have been the catalyst to Philip deciding to take control of HIS life, instead of Eloise seeming to be the complete solution. It was weird that Eloise, as an independent discerning woman, would accept the position of "housekeeper" to Philip's life. Perhaps, I just expected Eloise to want a man that has some control over his life and would want to be an equal partner with her when dealing with matters of the home.
That being said. I recognise that 1) characters cannot and should not be perfect 2) this is the regency era.