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britwalsh16's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Book Eloise & TV Show Eloise are very different. I have trouble imagining TV Eloise running away from home for a possible husband. But I do like Book Eloise, she has guts, & she knows what she wants. And watching her grow up throughout the book is inspiring. And stubborn Eloise becomes her mother by the end, I LOVE IT!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: War
swagboat69's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
i'm going to kill sir phillip if it's the last thing i do
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse
guntergirl13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Definitely my favorite. Slow Burn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Toxic relationship
booksalacarte's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
3.75⭐️ 3.25🌶️
Book 5 covers the marriage of convenience/love letters/single father side of romance tropes. I have to say that this is one of the top 3 in the series for me.
Julia Quinn gets some things very right, but also some things very wrong. I didn’t like the snapshot into common Edwardian marriages, but to ignore expectation would be even more unrealistic. And for what it was I think it was handled well.
The trauma on top of trauma that Phillip had to work through was not delt with as well as I would have liked. His character had ostrich tendencies, which needs to be worked through with more than the time that was given.
Elouise’s character was consistent from the first books and great. She is opinionated, brash, and she got a complicated relationship, but anything less wouldn’t have forced her to grow.
Book 5 covers the marriage of convenience/love letters/single father side of romance tropes. I have to say that this is one of the top 3 in the series for me.
Julia Quinn gets some things very right, but also some things very wrong. I didn’t like the snapshot into common Edwardian marriages, but to ignore expectation would be even more unrealistic. And for what it was I think it was handled well.
The trauma on top of trauma that Phillip had to work through was not delt with as well as I would have liked. His character had ostrich tendencies, which needs to be worked through with more than the time that was given.
Elouise’s character was consistent from the first books and great. She is opinionated, brash, and she got a complicated relationship, but anything less wouldn’t have forced her to grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
hmlongstreet's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
2.75
After reading the four Bridgerton books prior to this one, I can say I was really disappointed with this one. The first thing I can point out is how short the book is and that the story felt very rushed with little time given to have the two characters actually get to know each other. We barely get to see any of these twos letters even though we learn they have been corresponding for a whole year. And the parts that were meant to showcase their growing connection seem so detached. The book follows the same "You are compromised, we mush preserve your reputation so you have to marry" which is getting annoying at this point. And there is always that reoccurring theme of a disagreement between the two leads followed by some sexual activity which does not sit well with me. These books are getting really repetitive which I cannot say is a bad thing as most romance novels are in fact the same, I just wish there were more of some things and less of others.
With everything bad out of the way, time to get to the things I liked, Oliver and Amanda were such refreshing characters who warmed my heart and the second epilogue was good too.
With everything bad out of the way, time to get to the things I liked, Oliver and Amanda were such refreshing characters who warmed my heart and the second epilogue was good too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, and Pregnancy
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5 stars. This book was hard to rate because I was drawn into the writing and I got through this book pretty quickly which often inclines me to rate a book higher with the thought 'If I couldn't put it down I <I>must</i> have enjoyed it, right?' Yet when I finished this book my brain immediately listed all the parts I wished were different and there were enough to make me realize it could have been better and I wouldn't be revisiting it. That brought the rating down.
Part of the problem for me is the book has plot points that involve another background character's mental illness & suicide that was simplified to 'She was sad & selfish' and that's all we know about that character. Those are subjects that are important to me & I have my own bias so I find it more irksome when I think they're handled poorly.
I also think part of the problem is that as a fan of the show I was introduced to a slightly different version of Eloise whose motivations are different from the book. Show Eloise doesn't want to get married because she craves her independence & wishes she had more freedom and could reject the role she feels stuck in as a woman. Book Eloise doesn't want to marry because she hasn't found the right man...yet.
I knew they would be different because obviously they would, different mediums and clearly the show would flesh Eloise out a bit more. It didn't bother me too much untilthe Brigderton Brothers showed up to tell her what to do. Book Eloise becomes the sulky but obedient sister at that moment which bugged me. Part of me wants to give it a pass because it's historical fiction and yes, as a woman she would be bossed around by the men in her family yet Eloise has been shown to be strong in her opinions and willing to be rebellious already.
I feel like the author could have given her that space here to push back a little against her brothers to marry Phillip on her own terms. The whole first part of the book is about Eloise making the choice to go see Phillip and discuss his proposal, to seek out her own destiny independent of her family. Instead of getting to follow that choice through it becomes 'Oh my brothers are here and they say we have to marry'. I feel like if any Bridgerton was going to buck the family tradition of 'OMG we have to marry right away to save our reputation' it would be Eloise who has proven in the past reputation isn't a factor in her choice to marry otherwise, she would have taken one of the several proposals she had. I'm disappointed she didn't get to follow that path she wanted to lay for herself.
Also during the guilt trip, the brothers give Eloise for running off there could have easily been a moment where Eloise gets to point out how easily the Bridgerton boys get to come & go without a thought as to how it affects the family. Looking at you there Colin! Yes, she still did something hurtful to her family but again, if any character could point out the double standard it would be Eloise. Just saying.
Part of the problem for me is the book has plot points that involve another background character's mental illness & suicide that was simplified to 'She was sad & selfish' and that's all we know about that character. Those are subjects that are important to me & I have my own bias so I find it more irksome when I think they're handled poorly.
I also think part of the problem is that as a fan of the show I was introduced to a slightly different version of Eloise whose motivations are different from the book. Show Eloise doesn't want to get married because she craves her independence & wishes she had more freedom and could reject the role she feels stuck in as a woman. Book Eloise doesn't want to marry because she hasn't found the right man...yet.
I knew they would be different because obviously they would, different mediums and clearly the show would flesh Eloise out a bit more. It didn't bother me too much until
I feel like the author could have given her that space here to push back a little against her brothers to marry Phillip on her own terms. The whole first part of the book is about Eloise making the choice to go see Phillip and discuss his proposal, to seek out her own destiny independent of her family. Instead of getting to follow that choice through it becomes 'Oh my brothers are here and they say we have to marry'. I feel like if any Bridgerton was going to buck the family tradition of 'OMG we have to marry right away to save our reputation' it would be Eloise who has proven in the past reputation isn't a factor in her choice to marry otherwise, she would have taken one of the several proposals she had. I'm disappointed she didn't get to follow that path she wanted to lay for herself.
Also during the guilt trip, the brothers give Eloise for running off there could have easily been a moment where Eloise gets to point out how easily the Bridgerton boys get to come & go without a thought as to how it affects the family. Looking at you there Colin! Yes, she still did something hurtful to her family but again, if any character could point out the double standard it would be Eloise. Just saying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Medical content