gabby_hammer 's review for:

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn
3.5
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I loved the chemistry between Elouise and Phillip, but I was lukewarm about Phillip until the end of the book. My main issues were his intense fear of his role as a parent, and his inability to show compassion for his deceased wife. 

I understand that the relationship between him and his children was part of his character development, but it also hinged a lot on Elouise’s presence. In his perspective, he often calls Elouise the family’s savior. Although she played a major role as a prospective mother, I thought that it was also his increased confidence that allowed him to step into his role as a father.

My other issue was his attitude towards Marina. For most of the book, he calls her melancholy and refers to her as a burden. It’s not until the end of the book that he opens up about trying so hard to make her happy and comfortable, but continuously failing. I wish his efforts had been made clearer in the beginning, rather than seemingly dismissing his obviously depressed wife.

I just tried to ignore these 2 red flags and enjoy the book. I was mostly successful. 3.5 stars

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