A review by bzliz
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

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

This is my favorite of the Bridgerton books so far and I’m not surprised by that one bit. I have a soft spot for wallflowers so I’m not exaggerating one bit when I tell you I would die for Penelope. And I don’t think Colin sucks as much as many reviewers seem to think. I see the personal journeys they each took and I’m absolutely willing to forgive his outbursts. I think they were necessary for him to gain the emotional maturity required to be a truly good partner. And his brothers were so much worse that he benefits. 

I also enjoyed this more because it felt like there were real stakes. For the first time I felt the tension of these society members, which seems silly in 2024, but I was upset for Penelope when she was in danger of being found out. 

The downsides are 1) I didn’t get all the groveling I wanted from Colin, 2) Violet takes a big backseat role, and 3) I don’t think Penelope’s mother atoned for overlooking her. And I could have used more Lady Danbury because her dynamic with Penelope was excellent, but that’s just wishful thinking on my part. 
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