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torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
nicole_zx's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Fatphobia
samspur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia
delicatepointofview's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia and Misogyny
blueskyreview's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Did not appreciate the kicking or the entitlement. When someone asks if you can wait a week to sleep together and your response is: "You would deny me my right as your husband?" 🚩No thank you sir
Still prefer the show over the book, but I did like how the book handled the whole Kate, Edwina, Anthony triangle.
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia
llorona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I did enjoy both main characters backstories and the overarching theme of overcoming your demons and accepting that which you cannot control. Read it after watching the Netflix season and can’t say if one is a better story than the other but if I pieced bits from both I’d create something much better. Though, the diversity in the show made for a much richer story and they cut out a lot of the terrible bits of the main male lead.
Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault
There’s one line aboutfinnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
For readers who like:
• like attracts like
• witty banter
• "I hate you but I want you"
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
erica_reads_things's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia and Misogyny
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgertons #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: December 5, 2000
T H R E E • W O R D S
Readable • Entertaining • Chauvinistic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry—he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...
Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...
💭 T H O U G H T S
Regency era romance isn't a genre I'd typically have an interest in, however, after starting Julia Quinn's hit series, The Bridgertons, in 2022 I was pleasantly surprised and decided to continue with book two.
It's a tad difficult to take these books too seriously. At times they are downright ridiculous, and of course, require the suspension of reality, yet they are highly entertaining. I cannot say I was drawn into Anthony and Kate's story, although I did appreciate Anthony's hesitancy to marriage. There is so much vanity within these pages that eventually it gets redundant. Kate seemed like a likeable enough lady, and I was satisfied with her HEA.
For me, these books are nothing amazing, yet they are highly readable and always provided an entertaining experience. I can definitely understand why the Netflix adaption is so widely loved (even though I've been told it's very different). When I am in need of a quick, lighthearted read I'll likely continue with book three.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the series
• Regency era enthusiasts
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You have to live each hour as if it's your last and each day as if you were immortal."
"You can't shun new challenge or hide yourself from love just because you think you might not be here to carry your dreams to completion. In the end, you'll have just as many regrets as did my father."
"It means that love isn't about being afraid that it will all be snatched away. Love's about finding the one person who makes your heart complete, who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be. It's about looking in the eyes of your wife and knowing, all the way to your bones, that she's simply the best person you've ever known."
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Classism
annahamburger's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting