Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - The Viscount Who Loved Me

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. 🤞🏻

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sophes282's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

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llorona's review against another edition

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fast-paced

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

My perspective as a lesbian: as far as romance novels go, this is pretty okay! I enjoyed my time giggling and kicking my fit. A handful of misogynistic moments, as much as you might expect in a novel set in the 19th century with all British people. There was a few too many times where the male protagonist weird behaviors were excused or never addressed. Insulting words or gaslighting in the middle of arguments were never resolved and mostly never apologized for which was kind of annoying. I guess the inner monologue at the time was supposed to let us know he didn’t really mean them I guess? He also got angry so fast! He was kinda toxic not gonna lie and they tried to soften him up throughout the entire book. And he was wayyyyyyy too horny like all the time. And personally it teetered the line of “oh this isn’t right…” more than once.

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.

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annahamburger's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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isthenamebookwormtoobasic's review against another edition

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emotional 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

2.0

season 2 of the show has my whole heart, they are my comfort watch and i've been in love with the couple ever since that first look netflix shared, so i can't really hate the book and i do genuinely believe the author has some potential... but this book has the same problems the rest of the series has - pages and more pages of loud and proud misogyny without holding itself or the characters accountable for it (which is one of the main points in s2), an uncomfortable understanding of consent and absolutely no diversity or originality whatsoever. it's basically a copy & paste of the duke and i, pacing, plot, sex etc., just slightly more intriguing and slightly less offensive. it disgusted me how

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.

aside from those big issues, i often had a hard time taking the book seriously. where they were pining and struggling in the show, they were just kind of... unhinged in the book? the banter was fun at times, but always either too much or too little. most of what made the show so good was missing, including that slowburn chemistry. but to finally give credit where it is due, their characters and their trauma were just as perfectly written for each other and that does pay off in some chapters, especially towards the end. and they're not just well-suited, they're individually well-thought-out as well. i think julia quinn could make better use of what is clearly some sort of strong suit here for more characters... and focus on her descriptions and declarations of love instead of toxic masculinity bc those hold quite some power, which is why they are the only parts of the book's plot that work so well on-screen. i would be lying if i said i didn't enjoy the book at all, but as would i if i didn't acknowledge its many faults. it could be so, so much better and the show proves it - so i'd rather recommend that.

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dianaschmidty's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

Netflix took an adorable, funny, angsty, and emotional marriage of inconvenience and made it into an annoying love triangle. Basically, I’m so happy I read the book!

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aligmich's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

This was such a pleasant read. With similarities to the first one, this enemies-to-lovers tale had enough unique elements to keep this feeling fresh, and entertaining. If you love a cute romance with feisty personalities this is one for you!

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kirbylover16's review

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dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Definitely more problematic and less realistic than the first book. It's kinda weird that Anthony is the bad guy in the first book and this one (his own story) and I don't feel like he earned his redemption. Kate was a piece of work like Daphin and Simon but they never reached Anthony's level. I do love the two epilogues their so wholesome and sweet. Stand out parts for Colin and Newton.

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