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magnan1mouse's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
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
katiejohns's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
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.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
ojudge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
I truly enjoyed this book - as I do most enemies to lovers reads. I enjoyed this Bridgerton book much more than I did the first. I believe this must be where the author truly found her footing and I am excited to continue my journey through the series. The book seemed to start out a bit slow, but at some point (and I didn’t even recognize at what point exactly) the plot and the characters took off and I found myself unable to put the book down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
cielosiluminado'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
3.5
i loved kate but sometimes anthony drove me mad with his “woe is me” attitude. their banter was incredible though. and a bee is what basically forced them to marry? LMAO so unserious
his sniffing fetish also made me laugh a lot and i hear it’s prominent in the show adaptation so that’s gonna be funny to watch
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Sexism, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kamrynkoble'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
4.0
I have tried my best to behave and read these before I watch season 2. So I have no idea what happens in the show (I say this because it seems like a lot of other reviewers compare this to the show).
Two very important things:
1) The banter/dialogue made me laugh out loud, multiple times
2) I was actually giddy over the early romance
The fact that the above two things are true forgives a lot. I love a romance that can do the above, and it’s so rare to find.
With both this and the first, I feel like it’s wrapped up too quickly. We scarcely get the emotional payoff and it’s straight to the epilogue. I appreciate both Kate and Anthony’s trauma they can work through together, but it still feels like it’s just lacking some meat. I don’t know. Still fun, and I’ll definitely read the next one.
Two very important things:
1) The banter/dialogue made me laugh out loud, multiple times
2) I was actually giddy over the early romance
The fact that the above two things are true forgives a lot. I love a romance that can do the above, and it’s so rare to find.
With both this and the first, I feel like it’s wrapped up too quickly. We scarcely get the emotional payoff and it’s straight to the epilogue. I appreciate both Kate and Anthony’s trauma they can work through together, but it still feels like it’s just lacking some meat. I don’t know. Still fun, and I’ll definitely read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny
britwalsh16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
I love when the book is better! Just so many more details then a tv show or movie. But this book idk if I’d say it’s better or not. There are ALOT more details, & I loved reading them. & the storyline was different then the show, & I still loved the storyline. But what I do not like is Anthony’s personality in the first half of the book. He was very much an asshole. He shows very little respect for any women who he might make his wife, planning to have a mistress & all; I really was not a fan of his personality, I’m glad they died it down in the show, I mean he could be an ass at first, especially to Kate, but he wasn’t an asshole. I’m glad I only have 2 books to compare to the show, hopefully I’ll read the rest of the series before their seasons come out, & I won’t be comparing them to eachother anymore. 🤞🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
picaresquedreamer'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail