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, Death of parent, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Car accident, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Fatphobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Classism, and Pregnancy
phillyhufflepunk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Spoiler
the mentions of desired violence after they first met. Anthony thinks to him how much he wants to hurt her in spite of her being a lady, and Kate thinks about how she's afraid of him, simply for being found in his office.Notes: There were a few weird spelling/grammar mishaps. This edition also had the 2nd epilogue in the back.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Violence
lct'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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
isthenamebookwormtoobasic'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
2.0
Spoiler
anthony takes kate's choice not to sleep with him away from her, even just verbally, but since she ends up agreeing to it bc she WANTS to - EVENTHOUGH THAT DOESN'T MAKE HIS WORDS OR VIEWS IN ANY WAY ACCEPTABLE AND ANY LESS MANIPULATIVE!!! -, what passed between them can't be considered rape, unlike in the duke and i... i still hated every bit of that conversation tho, especially bc kate, who is sold to us as a strong-willed and emancipated woman, ends up feeling bad FOR HIM and there is no indication that we as readers aren't supposed to as well. it makes all their intimacy a moment later seem invasive and like he forced it upon her, even when that clearly wasn't the author's intention. i actually think that fact makes it all the creepier.Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
nsantone's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
avie_j'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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Misogyny
Minor: Sexism
kkylezzz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Spoiler
Kate's mother dying (largely unconnected to the marriage/plot all together) and Violet and Mary's connection was a good reprieve from the disaster of marriage life between Anthony and Kate. I also liked that Kate didn't fall helplessly at Anthony's feet, even after they were married. There was reservation on her part, but also a more realistic transition into love (on Kate's part, not so much Anthony's).Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Bullying, Alcohol, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Medical trauma
linashnewer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
bookaholic_in_wonderland'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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny
refrejarator'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
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault