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sarabrogan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
eggbread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Some developments happened too fast, and the pacing felt off, but I enjoyed this nonetheless. I was pleasantly surprised by how emotional and serious the book got at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail
turidt's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcohol
hecticglow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
t3ssygirl16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Alcohol
sauvageloup's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
2.5
Maybe the star rating is harsh but I found this so misogynistic and Antony's actions completely loathsome in places.
pros:
- Quinn does write with aplomb, the book rolls along and meets the romance and emotional beats, with Antony and Kate's personal fears and baggage being dealt with.
- and she is creative in assigning their reasons for not getting together/being in love/past traumas, it's not the usual love triangle or a misunderstanding they could just talk through, they do have deep seated reasons to hold back.
- we saw a bit more of side characters, in Edwina and Mary, but not much.
cons:
- my main issue is Antony's actions and how the story validates them. He refuses Kate her 'reprieve' when she's terrified of having sex for the first time and is so beastly in his "desire" for her that he's basically willing to rape her. Rape fantasy is common, but it's the way this is set in an otherwise cutesy and romantic story, as if pushing a scared virgin woman, who he has total power over as her husband (which he reminds her of with the "marriage debt"!!), is a normal and okay thing to do. Its gross.
- Kate is also supposed to be this spunky, defiant woman who defends her sister and stands up for herself, but she's often quiet and 'hesitant' around Antony, because he's a brute with anger issues. I couldnt stand him, and Kate's inner narrative basically blames herself for whatever he does, which was uncomfortable.
- also the narrative repeatedly says how 'good and kind and strong' he is (hes not) and how she brings out the best in him. where does he bring out the best in her? why does she have to "improve" and fix him of his anger issues whereas her only issue is believing she's not pretty.
- the spice scenes feel pretty bland and flowery.
- unlike the show, the cast of characters is very restricted, which brings it down.
overall, Antony's actions made him thoroughly unlikeable and, like the first book, the author waves it away as romantic because the characters cant act with respect as they're so driven by love that they cant think straight or ask consent, apparently. anyway, I wont be reading any more Bridgerton books.
pros:
- Quinn does write with aplomb, the book rolls along and meets the romance and emotional beats, with Antony and Kate's personal fears and baggage being dealt with.
- and she is creative in assigning their reasons for not getting together/being in love/past traumas, it's not the usual love triangle or a misunderstanding they could just talk through, they do have deep seated reasons to hold back.
- we saw a bit more of side characters, in Edwina and Mary, but not much.
cons:
- my main issue is Antony's actions and how the story validates them.
- Kate is also supposed to be this spunky, defiant woman who defends her sister and stands up for herself, but she's often quiet and 'hesitant' around Antony, because he's a brute with anger issues. I couldnt stand him, and Kate's inner narrative basically blames herself for whatever he does, which was uncomfortable.
- also the narrative repeatedly says how 'good and kind and strong' he is (hes not) and how she brings out the best in him. where does he bring out the best in her? why does she have to "improve" and fix him of his anger issues whereas her only issue is believing she's not pretty.
- the spice scenes feel pretty bland and flowery.
- unlike the show, the cast of characters is very restricted, which brings it down.
overall, Antony's actions made him thoroughly unlikeable and, like the first book, the author waves it away as romantic because the characters cant act with respect as they're so driven by love that they cant think straight or ask consent, apparently. anyway, I wont be reading any more Bridgerton books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness and Death
car accident is a carriage accident.babudarabu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Body horror, Car accident, and Alcohol
grimmbleton's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Alcohol
fromthefoxhole's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I DID IT! I FINISHED THE SERIES! i’m freeeeeeee!!
um this was….fine! i guess? idk at this point, honestly. 2.5, rounded down.
As always, the base archetype is that the rake doesn’t want to be in love (this time because Anthony is 100% sure he’s going to die young like his father, which….okay but also bruh) plus the virginal, always overlooked beauty (but this time, she’s the older sister of the girl the rake first has eyes for). The general idea is that they hate each other - Kate hates Anthony exclusively due to his reputation, and Anthony hates Kate because she isn’t falling all over herself in his presence. And this continues for ages. There’s physical violence between the two of them, hate-lust, and so many arguments about the same things that my vision blurred.
Then, the infamous bee scene hits and they’re engaged because a man can’t put his mouth on a woman to suck out venom without it compromising the woman, i guess.
Anthony’s worst scene yet occurs right after the wedding, when Kate asks for a few days to get her bearings wrt being married and having sex, to which he replies “no.” And then proceeds to be a massive dick about his rights and how she doesn’t have a good enough reason (in his mind) to deny them.
There is more drama (as usual), she falls first (as usual), and then they have happily ever after.
i’m so glad to be done with this series, i cannot articulate this enough. i’m blaming my 2am brain for eyeing the smythe-smith series with anything other than resentment.
um this was….fine! i guess? idk at this point, honestly. 2.5, rounded down.
As always, the base archetype is that the rake doesn’t want to be in love (this time because Anthony is 100% sure he’s going to die young like his father, which….okay but also bruh) plus the virginal, always overlooked beauty (but this time, she’s the older sister of the girl the rake first has eyes for). The general idea is that they hate each other - Kate hates Anthony exclusively due to his reputation, and Anthony hates Kate because she isn’t falling all over herself in his presence. And this continues for ages. There’s physical violence between the two of them, hate-lust, and so many arguments about the same things that my vision blurred.
Then, the infamous bee scene hits and they’re engaged because a man can’t put his mouth on a woman to suck out venom without it compromising the woman, i guess.
Anthony’s worst scene yet occurs right after the wedding, when Kate asks for a few days to get her bearings wrt being married and having sex, to which he replies “no.” And then proceeds to be a massive dick about his rights and how she doesn’t have a good enough reason (in his mind) to deny them.
There is more drama (as usual), she falls first (as usual), and then they have happily ever after.
i’m so glad to be done with this series, i cannot articulate this enough. i’m blaming my 2am brain for eyeing the smythe-smith series with anything other than resentment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
theasi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail