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staceyinthesticks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Classism
hecticglow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
reka111's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
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.
Honestly, I have a kind of hate-love relationship with this book, and I still loved every minute of it. I didn't start because the series or crowd worship pulled me in, but because I just needed a good enemies to lovers/hate to love book and I had this at hand.
Kate was arguably my favorite in the book, I really liked that there was so much fire in her, and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind, she was confident and courageous. Her trauma is just so sad, I wanted to hug her every time and tell her everything is alright, it is just a storm.
Anthony often annoyed me with his...well, let's say interesting, utterances, even though I thought I would bow down to him. However he developed during the book and did him a lot of good, by the end I began to see in him the light and the balance he really needed.
I loved the others very much; Edwina was all cheerful and kind, Colin always made me laugh and I'm infinitely grateful to him, I haven't smiled so much in a long time. Violet and Mary are so perfect as mothers, I love their dynamic with their kids, it just looks like they could jump into a volcano if that means they can protected them.
I wouldn't necessarily label a love story as enemies to lovers, but rather hate to love. However it was, I really liked the relationship between them, as the burning dislike eventually turns into desire and passion. Both have lost an awful lot and deserve happiness and peace in the embrace of a loving family. I loved their little sweet moments together.
The plot flowed nicely, the scenes matched well, were understandable and easy to follow, there were some strange moments (for example, the behavior of the animals - Newton (my heart) - is terribly far from reality) that I couldn't really absorb. The time jumps were not distracting and the pace was adequate. The ending was nicely closed (I'm especially glad we got some confirmation at the end, and it may seem terribly small, but to me that tiny sentence meant the world)
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism and Pregnancy
readyforit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book is so different from season 2 of bridgerton! I definitely like the show more, especially because they had a diverse cast. Kate’s character is more or less the same, but I like how in the book Edwina knows that Anthony and Kate like each other and she kind of pushes them together. In the show they let Anthony/edwina’s relationship go on for a long time for the drama. I don’t love how in the book Anthony and Kate are
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy
finnickdeservedbetter'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
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
ameydireads'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
"Nothing that big can stay a secret forever."
And after reading the epilogue, it was funny to see that The Author's identity is still a secret after so many years. Hopefully we will know more about it in later books!
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Car accident, and Pregnancy
thehollyking'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
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Car accident, and Pregnancy
pookiee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I love the parallels between Kate and Anthony, and seeing them realize that they are not alone in their feelings. Also I am a complete sucker for the responsible types learning that they can do something for themselves, like...fall in love.
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Death of parent/Grief:lunep'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: Cursing, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Pregnancy