Reviews

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

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ironskin's review against another edition

2.5

I enjoy how mild a Julia Quinn novel usually is and this was more stressful than I prefer, but it did introduce us to Hugh, who is great.

whateverjeans23's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

brokenrecord's review against another edition

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4.0

I liked this, but I didn't love it like I really loved the first book in this series, and I had expected to like this book even more than that one (based mostly on other people's reviews). And this isn't really the books fault, actually; it's really a "It's not you, it's me," kind of thing. In the first book, the falling for your brother's best friend set-up was something that I'm super into, so at least part of my enjoyment of the book was because of that element. But in this book, Daniel sees Anne and instantly wants to kiss her and then does kiss her in their very first interaction, and like... he's basically just into her the entire book. Which I know would not be an issue for some people, but it was way too close for instalove for me to really get into. Part of my enjoyment of romances is seeing every single change of feelings and the development of a relationship (I am into slow-burn romance more than anything), so if I don't get that, then I'm just less invested in the romance. And that's not this book's fault, it's totally my own issue/preference/whatever, but it did prevent me from completely falling in love with the book. And I did enjoy it! I have come to really love the Smythe-Smiths very quickly, and I loved the Pleinsworth sisters, especially Harriet and her plays, and I would love for her to get a book someday.

I also think I would have enjoy this more if I had read it before I read the first one, only because I had expected to like this one more than that one, but then I kept comparing this book unfavorably to the first book. I liked Daniel and Anne and their relationship, but I liked Honoria and Marcus (both as individuals and as a couple) more, and I was also frustrated by

Spoiler

the ending stuff with Anne's life being put in danger. I think I had even mentioned in my review of the first book that one thing I liked was that Honoria got to help save Marcus's life because I had been reading too many romances where the female lead's life was put in danger and the male lead would rescue her, and... well, here's another one of those. And maybe if I hadn't been reading so many romance novels where that was the case, it wouldn't have bothered me as much here.

Anyways, this is probably too negative because I did really enjoy the book overall, and I am definitely planning on reading the 3rd book in the series fairly soon.