annaglc 's review for:

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

2.75

emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Before reading this book, I found that there were two camps in the fandom surrounding this entry in the series. Camp 1: People who LOVED Sir Phillip, a shy, awkward, plant dad. Camp 2: People who LOATHE Sir Phillip for reasons that would spoil the plot. I found myself somewhere in the middle. This story reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. A beautiful(ly), intelligent woman ends up bound to a large (emphasis on large because they kept bringing attention to it) brooding, emotionally constipated man. I was hoping at the end there would be more self-reflection on both Eloise’s and Phillip’s part, but ESPECIALLY on Phillip’s part. The couple’s final revelations felt unequal, thus leaving me as a reader, deeply unsatisfied and even irritated. Granted, this book was written in the 2000s in which culture was different than the 2020s, but still… 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt

your feelings are valid but it does not excuse your response/actions. RIP sir Phillip you would’ve benefited deeply from therapy.