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A review by bzliz
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
emotional
funny
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
3.5
This is a vast improvement to Daphne and Simon’s story. Kate and Anthony are more likable in general and they both have personal arcs independent of the other- Kate’s phobia and trauma around storms & Anthony’s preoccupation with his mortality- and they support each other during that growth.
My main gripes come from the genre itself, plus the book was written 20 years ago and society has evolved since then. I find entirely virginal FMCs paired with very experienced MMCs to be boring. I know it’s “historical” for men to be “superior” but they just suck so hard sometimes. Women to this day are always the ones who pay the price for men’s inability to control themselves and it’s exhausting. Possessive statements like “you’re mine” and “I own you” will never feel okay to me. The underlying threat of sexual assault is not cute or romantic and it’s always hypocritical. These men treat their wives like this but are horrified at the thought of someone treating their sisters like that. Make it make sense!
Anthony’s logic about not falling in love doesn’t track for me. If you’re convinced you’re going to die young, wouldn’t you want to spend your life with someone who values you deeply? Why would you want to die forgettable? Other than that, I enjoyed most of the dynamic between Kate and Anthony. Kate charmed the hell out of me as an oldest sibling. The Pall Mall scene was a delight and made me wish for more interactions with side characters. I want to see them really embed themselves in the other’s life.
My main gripes come from the genre itself, plus the book was written 20 years ago and society has evolved since then. I find entirely virginal FMCs paired with very experienced MMCs to be boring. I know it’s “historical” for men to be “superior” but they just suck so hard sometimes. Women to this day are always the ones who pay the price for men’s inability to control themselves and it’s exhausting. Possessive statements like “you’re mine” and “I own you” will never feel okay to me. The underlying threat of sexual assault is not cute or romantic and it’s always hypocritical. These men treat their wives like this but are horrified at the thought of someone treating their sisters like that. Make it make sense!
Anthony’s logic about not falling in love doesn’t track for me. If you’re convinced you’re going to die young, wouldn’t you want to spend your life with someone who values you deeply? Why would you want to die forgettable? Other than that, I enjoyed most of the dynamic between Kate and Anthony. Kate charmed the hell out of me as an oldest sibling. The Pall Mall scene was a delight and made me wish for more interactions with side characters. I want to see them really embed themselves in the other’s life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism