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mariskyjy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
This one is up there in my ranking of the Bridgerton books. I personally enjoy the formula of rakish hero with daddy issues, so I am biased. Hyacinth as a character is a lot of fun, and I found her the most relatable heroine yet (yes, I have ADHD. Maybe those two things correlate.). Gareth is fun when he's not brooding (which honestly doesn't happen often!), and I actually understood why he and Hy were a good match. There's a lot of Lady Danbury in this one, which did not disappoint. Also, some cute espionage stuff in which (small spoiler) our heroine gets to wear britches rather than an elaborate dress!
I enjoy that Julia Quinn gives her romantic leads depth and personality; as this series is my first foray into romance novels, it's great to know it's not all "here is my Gary Sue love interest who could be replaced with a cardboard cutout and there'd be more emotional depth".
The only plot point that others have pointed out - Gareth sleeping with Hyacinth to make her unable to dismiss their engagement - seemed a little more nuanced to me. When he kisses her in her house, he clearly says he doesn't want to live without her, so he proposed, and then suddenly it jumps to sexy time a while later, and he has the aforementioned motive. That leap bumps the rating down for me.
An excerpt directly from my own personal romantic yearnings:
“And I know,” [Hyacinth] said, letting out a short, staccato breath, the sort one did when one couldn’t quite believe what one was saying, “that it’s often rather hard work to love me.”
And suddenly Gareth realized that some things did come in a flash. And there were some things one simply knew without being able to explain them. Because as he stood there watching her, all he could think was—No.
No.
It would be rather easy to love Hyacinth Bridgerton.
He didn’t know where the thought had come from, or what strange
corner of his brain had come to that conclusion, because he was quite certain it would be nearly impossible to live with her, but somehow he knew that it wouldn’t be at all difficult to love her.
I enjoy that Julia Quinn gives her romantic leads depth and personality; as this series is my first foray into romance novels, it's great to know it's not all "here is my Gary Sue love interest who could be replaced with a cardboard cutout and there'd be more emotional depth".
An excerpt directly from my own personal romantic yearnings:
And suddenly Gareth realized that some things did come in a flash. And there were some things one simply knew without being able to explain them. Because as he stood there watching her, all he could think was—No.
No.
It would be rather easy to love Hyacinth Bridgerton.
He didn’t know where the thought had come from, or what strange
corner of his brain had come to that conclusion, because he was quite certain it would be nearly impossible to live with her, but somehow he knew that it wouldn’t be at all difficult to love her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Death, Pregnancy, and Grief
fromthefoxhole's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
At this point in the Bridgerton series, i’m starting to think that despite all the surrounding drama, the stories are the exact same.
Virginal girl meets reformed rake with some small temper issues, he does something foolish right when she realizes she could love him, they kiss and make up. rinse and repeat ad nauseam.
Hyacinth is clever and charming, Gareth is suave and sometimes condescending, and Lady Danbury as always stole the show. Julia Quinn does this thing with her men where they are just deplorable for no reason?? Why on earth does Gareth think he has to compromise her to keep her in the marriage instead of communicating like they’ve done the rest of the book? we may never know lmao
Virginal girl meets reformed rake with some small temper issues, he does something foolish right when she realizes she could love him, they kiss and make up. rinse and repeat ad nauseam.
Hyacinth is clever and charming, Gareth is suave and sometimes condescending, and Lady Danbury as always stole the show. Julia Quinn does this thing with her men where they are just deplorable for no reason?? Why on earth does Gareth think he has to compromise her to keep her in the marriage instead of communicating like they’ve done the rest of the book? we may never know lmao
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Infidelity
cielosiluminado's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
gareth and hyacinth were very cute!! their story was really fun and refreshing in the bridgerton series.
my favorite thing was hyacinth never changing herself for a man despite that meaning less marriage prospects for her and despite all the warnings gareth got about her being “too smart” and “difficult to manage”, he still loved her. he loved her quirks, confidence, and brains.
there was just two things that made me not give it a perfect rating: (1) gareth’s glaring daddy issues led him to seduce and compromise her pre-wedding so she wouldn’t back out of the engagement. that was a very questionable action. but i wasn’t that bothered once i read when hyacinth learns that he compromised her on her purpose, she reaffirms that despite being peeved that he resorted to compromising her, she still enjoyed their first time together. and (2) there was also a little lull for me in the story shortly after their engagement.
but i was able to look past those two hiccups because i enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story. the betrothed couple breaking and entering the clair house was so funny to me. i laughed so hard at the imagining hyacinth wearing breeches and cackled when they scaled up the walls to climb into the windows was hilarious to picture. also, the scene between anthony and gareth had me cry laughing because they were both so unserious. i also adored lady danbury and hyacinth’s relationship in this book. it was so heartwarming, especially when lady d had been plotting gareth and hyacinth’s relationship for over a year!
this one is going to be a fun season for netflix to adapt tbh
my favorite thing was hyacinth never changing herself for a man despite that meaning less marriage prospects for her and despite all the warnings gareth got about her being “too smart” and “difficult to manage”, he still loved her. he loved her quirks, confidence, and brains.
there was just two things that made me not give it a perfect rating: (1) gareth’s glaring daddy issues led him to seduce and compromise her pre-wedding so she wouldn’t back out of the engagement. that was a very questionable action. but i wasn’t that bothered once i read when hyacinth learns that he compromised her on her purpose, she reaffirms that despite being peeved that he resorted to compromising her, she still enjoyed their first time together. and (2) there was also a little lull for me in the story shortly after their engagement.
but i was able to look past those two hiccups because i enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story. the betrothed couple breaking and entering the clair house was so funny to me. i laughed so hard at the imagining hyacinth wearing breeches and cackled when they scaled up the walls to climb into the windows was hilarious to picture. also, the scene between anthony and gareth had me cry laughing because they were both so unserious. i also adored lady danbury and hyacinth’s relationship in this book. it was so heartwarming, especially when lady d had been plotting gareth and hyacinth’s relationship for over a year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Grief, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Death, and Death of parent
meghanm404's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
bzliz's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
2.5
Not my favorite. There were some aspects that I enjoyed- the jewel hunt and translating the diary- but the romance aspects felt like recycling previous books and Frankensteining them together. Most of the MMCs are reformed rakes and Gareth is no exception, his father isn’t really his father, he feels the need to trap Hyacinth into a marriage so his cruel father will be proven wrong, etc. I did like Hyacinth though. She has admirable tenacity and doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind. And getting more of Lady Danbury is fantastic. I genuinely think she’s my favorite character from the whole series.
On the other hand, I could have done without the other “engagement”. It’s heavily implied that Mary has some kind of mental disability so Gareth’s evil father trying to trap him into marriage with her to get his hands on her dowry is downright despicable. And just plain stupid. Even if he’s your second son, even if he’s technically an illegitimate child you’ve legitimized, something can always happen to your heir. For someone so obsessed with appearances, it would never make sense to put your family lineage in jeopardy. It feels like a cheap plot point made to show that underneath his exterior, Gareth has a kind heart. There were other ways that could’ve been done.
Unfortunately, the book’s biggest sin is that it feels incomplete without the second epilogue.The jewel search/heist was the most interesting part of the book so to leave it fruitless was deeply unsatisfying. It feels even weirder that in the original epilogue, their daughter finds the jewels almost by accident and doesn’t tell anyone. All I can say to sum it up is that it’s probably good that this is the second to last book in the series.
On the other hand, I could have done without the other “engagement”. It’s heavily implied that Mary has some kind of mental disability so Gareth’s evil father trying to trap him into marriage with her to get his hands on her dowry is downright despicable. And just plain stupid. Even if he’s your second son, even if he’s technically an illegitimate child you’ve legitimized, something can always happen to your heir. For someone so obsessed with appearances, it would never make sense to put your family lineage in jeopardy. It feels like a cheap plot point made to show that underneath his exterior, Gareth has a kind heart. There were other ways that could’ve been done.
Unfortunately, the book’s biggest sin is that it feels incomplete without the second epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Minor: Ableism and Infidelity
abby_can_read's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
October 2023-⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧
This was a light and cute book. It was an enjoyable read, like most of the series. My favorite character was probably Lady Danbury. To be honestly, she's my favorite from the entire series.
March 2022-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📱
This was an adorable book. I enjoyed it. Hyacinth and Gareth were a cute match, though it didn't seem like love love to me. I like the subplot with Garett's father.
🎧
This was a light and cute book. It was an enjoyable read, like most of the series. My favorite character was probably Lady Danbury. To be honestly, she's my favorite from the entire series.
March 2022-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📱
This was an adorable book. I enjoyed it. Hyacinth and Gareth were a cute match, though it didn't seem like love love to me. I like the subplot with Garett's father.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Child abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage
terrywho's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.75
Trust me when I tell you that only reason why I didn’t finish this in one day (like I did the other 4) is because life got in the way.
Anyways, hello Hyacinth bridgerton, move over Benedict and Colin, I have a new favorite sibling!
I truly adored this story, and I loved Hyacinth and Gareth. It was the perfect fun little romance, and the chemistry between these two was palpable for the first first moment and I loved it all so much!!
Gareth as the tortured kind man is a wonderful love interest for the most mischievous and fun loving of the Bridgerton siblings, and I really liked how this time yes the smutty scones were still there, they weren’t the focus of the story, but a spotlight had been placed on the fun of the blossoming love between these two. The only thing that makes this 4.75 instead of 5 is the bit where he decides to trap her into the marriage because he’s scared that she’ll break it off if she learns about his secret, but I can chuck that off to a momentary lapse of judgement driven by true love and fear of rejection so it’s all good.
Ahhhh!!! Anyways, this was too cute and I don’t have a lot of rational thoughts beyond “I loved it”
Anyways, hello Hyacinth bridgerton, move over Benedict and Colin, I have a new favorite sibling!
I truly adored this story, and I loved Hyacinth and Gareth. It was the perfect fun little romance, and the chemistry between these two was palpable for the first first moment and I loved it all so much!!
Gareth as the tortured kind man is a wonderful love interest for the most mischievous and fun loving of the Bridgerton siblings, and I really liked how this time yes the smutty scones were still there, they weren’t the focus of the story, but a spotlight had been placed on the fun of the blossoming love between these two. The only thing that makes this 4.75 instead of 5 is the bit where he decides to trap her into the marriage because he’s scared that she’ll break it off if she learns about his secret, but I can chuck that off to a momentary lapse of judgement driven by true love and fear of rejection so it’s all good.
Ahhhh!!! Anyways, this was too cute and I don’t have a lot of rational thoughts beyond “I loved it”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
rafacolog's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Death of parent
kasialipa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
I wanted to read this book because of the Netflix show that hit on Christmas a few years ago and now Netflix has announced we are getting Polin’s story and I'm hoping we get the full eight seasons for each sibling. I wanted to get ahead and know what is going to happen, so of course I bought all nine books. I enjoyed the first two books in this series, I struggled with Benedict’s and Eloise’s story and didn’t mind Colin’s story and Francesca’s and Hyacinth's story have been adorable.
This novel follows two main characters. The first character is Hyacinth Bridgerton. She is the baby of the family and the eighth child in the Bridgerton household. All of the ton agree, there is no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgeton. She is fiendishly smart, outspoken to some and best in small doses. Her mother and oldest brother are desperate to marry her off, but after four marriage proposal that she has rejected, everyone is slowing giving up. Hyacinth just wants to find a man who doesn’t want to change her and can keep up her outspokenness and her attitude. The second character is Gareth St Clair, he is in London for his grandmother and the one family member that likes him – Lady Danbury, he has no intention getting married as his father is running up debt so that when he dies, the debt goes to his son (who isn’t actually his biological son). Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth’s every word seems a dare, and she offers to help him out with a knotty inheritance problem he’s facing. As they delve into the mysterious St Clair history, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the past but in each other, and that there is nothing as simple or as complicated as a single, perfect kiss.
My favourite things about this book were Julia Quinn’s writing style. It didn’t feel like I was back in time. I mean, obviously they weren’t going on about Snapchat, but it just felt like a modern-day story with a bit of mystery. The only thing that kept me from remembering that it was set in the 1800s was the references of letters and carriages and that they couldn’t Google Translate the diary. The storyline was adorable and funny and heartbreaking, all at the same time. Gareth was a sweetheart and I felt for him for his daddy issues, but also a bit of a dick at the same time. I wanted to smack him for how he was thinking about Hyacinth and the original reason why he wanted to marry her. Hyacinth finally found someone who could deal with her dry humour and then she gets screwed over.
However, that’s not the reason I didn’t rate it five stars. The reason I didn’t rate it five stars was because I miss the Bridgerton gang – in the first four book, they were all together and causing mischief together. Besides Gregory and Anthony playing a small part in this book, they weren’t there. I wanted girl talk and all the sister to spill secrets, I wanted the overprotective brothers who wanted to hunt down Gareth. I just miss the sibling banter and I get that in those days when they got married, they had their own household and children to deal with it, but I just missed them. Also, I think because I've read these books in such a short span of time rather than when they were debut over the years, it was weird to picture little Hyacinth like in the TV show being this elegant and sexy woman and getting laid, it was like reading a young siblings diary.
I cannot wait for Gregory’s story and hopefully it will be all tied together nicely and we see more of the brothers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Miscarriage