Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

9 reviews

prashiie's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

3.5

“Can one appreciate perfection when it is a constant in one’s life?”

A 3.5 out of 5 stars mainly because of Penelope!

Penelope has always been a wallflower and this was her moment to shine, to show the world what she was really like. A clever and funny girl. I loved that for her! Too bad that even her own mother couldn’t see how amazing Penelope actually is.

We already knew from an epilogue that Colin and Penelope would end up together. She has been in love with him (well okay, a perfect version of him) for many years now. Their story started off cute where they slowly go from being good friends to being romantically interested in each other. But there were so many red flags along the way. Colin was generally perceived as the perfect gentleman and of course it turns out that he isn’t perfect at all. That’s alright, everyone has some kind of flaw and red flags are not surprising in the Bridgerton series. But I found it difficult to accept that he had anger issues. It gets out of hand when he hurts Penelope, even if it was just by squeezing her arms very hard or yanking her arm. There are better ways to blow off steam so I don’t think that you should accept that from your partner. But that is what Penelope did.

“And if having to endure his anger and disdain at a time like this was to be part of marriage as well, then that would be worth it, too.”

It did get better of course. He does become a better and supportive partner and finds his purpose in life. But I hoped for a simpler story, one where I could still like Colin.

There are also some secrets revealed in this story, but unfortunately it was no surprise to me as I’ve already seen the TV show. IYKYK.

As usual, Eloise has some great remarks which are generally not accepted in that time period and therefore she is one of my favourite characters in this series.

“I hope he asks Felicity as well,” Eloise said. “I’ve often thought it foolish that a man asks a woman’s father for her hand before he asks her. The father doesn’t have to live with him.”

Well said, Eloise! She was acting very suspicious in this story and I suppose we shall find out why in the next book!

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saturnpersonified's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing 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

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plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition

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lighthearted

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

This may be the first time where I prefer the TV series to the books...

I did not like Colin Bridgerton. His behaviour towards Penelope makes me quite uncomfortable as it is similar to that of an abusive partner. Not in that he beats her but he can not control his emotions and

Spoiler

as he got angry in public he literally thinks about how her arm is going to bruise when they get home because he is pressing it so tightly in his hand to not loose his temper at her.

Also his thought process of

Spoiler

"I am going to kill her when I get her alone"

is not cute but because of his previous actions actually triggering.

I understand that his "thing" is being a charmer and a incredibly kind person in the public but actually having quite the temper and not being sweet...and honestly that is a trope I never need to read again.

I gave this book more time because I liked the Penelope in the TV series(her authenticity, intelligence, wit, progressive views and

Spoiler

of course her being Lady W

and so on) but no matter how much I may like Pen as the fMC I did not like Colin in even one single part of the story and therefore I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND this book and wish Shonda Rimes good luck getting me to like him or this relationship.

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felisiyah's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

a TOTAL guilty pleasure. had to bonk myself on the head lol, it’s so trashy it’s good. I basically gobbled it up in 8 hrs.

be aware that toxic masculinity is still strong in this one, got me physically frowning a few times. for the sake of Pen, you know what? i’m turning a blind eye.

Spoiler

about the story: kinda hope Pen got a love triangle situation in the book.

And kinda dislike how Collin acting like Anthony, never apologized for saying he wont be marrying Pen and why is he always hungry??

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avie_j's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

2.75

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atkinsruby's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

1.5

Honestly I love a rom com it's probably my favourite genre. But I cannot stand this book Colin is unironicly abusive the whisledown revail fell falt and the pacing was all over the place. Wish I had never bothered.

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micahstudies's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

This was a pretty cute book and makes me excited to see how the show will adapt this story. However, I felt like Collin was too angry, for instance I really didn’t like the part

Spoiler

at their engagement ball when the Whistledown papers came and he was gripping Penelope’s arm painfully hard and didn’t care that he was hurting her, and thought that Penelope should be afraid of what would happen to her once he was alone with her

. I honestly think that part sounded genuinely abusive and concerned me! But overall this is my favorite Bridgerton book that I’ve read.

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mxreader1's review against another edition

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I hate Colin Bridgerton so much that I can't finish this book and I'm going to do my best to ignore him in the following books.

Spoiler

The scenes of him squeezing Penelope's arm so hard that he's going to leave a bruise is very disturbing. Especially because I suspect the author doesn't see anything wrong with that since he's using physical violence to stop himself from blowing up about his concern for her "self-destructive behavior". A loving sex scene follows a scene with a terrified Penelope that's upset Colin at their engagement party. He hurts her and tells her to smile for their guests as they have their first dance. The air of you're going to get it the moment when we step away made my stomach hurt. And he leads her to a place she knows no one will hear or find them. But instead of following the tension of the scene to its conclusion her thoughts transition over to how much she loves him and is willing to take whatever she must. It's sick and made the sex scene unbearable.

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beautyandthebeanboots's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

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