The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
finnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
For readers who like:
• like attracts like
• witty banter
• "I hate you but I want you"
Moderate: Fatphobia, Death of parent, Body shaming, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
erica_reads_things's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Fatphobia and Misogyny
kelly_e's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgertons #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: December 5, 2000
T H R E E • W O R D S
Readable • Entertaining • Chauvinistic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry—he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...
Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...
💭 T H O U G H T S
Regency era romance isn't a genre I'd typically have an interest in, however, after starting Julia Quinn's hit series, The Bridgertons, in 2022 I was pleasantly surprised and decided to continue with book two.
It's a tad difficult to take these books too seriously. At times they are downright ridiculous, and of course, require the suspension of reality, yet they are highly entertaining. I cannot say I was drawn into Anthony and Kate's story, although I did appreciate Anthony's hesitancy to marriage. There is so much vanity within these pages that eventually it gets redundant. Kate seemed like a likeable enough lady, and I was satisfied with her HEA.
For me, these books are nothing amazing, yet they are highly readable and always provided an entertaining experience. I can definitely understand why the Netflix adaption is so widely loved (even though I've been told it's very different). When I am in need of a quick, lighthearted read I'll likely continue with book three.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the series
• Regency era enthusiasts
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You have to live each hour as if it's your last and each day as if you were immortal."
"You can't shun new challenge or hide yourself from love just because you think you might not be here to carry your dreams to completion. In the end, you'll have just as many regrets as did my father."
"It means that love isn't about being afraid that it will all be snatched away. Love's about finding the one person who makes your heart complete, who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be. It's about looking in the eyes of your wife and knowing, all the way to your bones, that she's simply the best person you've ever known."
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Car accident, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Fatphobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Classism, and Pregnancy
annahamburger's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Blood, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Classism
Minor: Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual assault
kkylezzz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Bullying, Alcohol, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Medical trauma
littlewishling's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death of parent and Bullying
cdoubet's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Grief, and Sexual content
hayleyvem's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Body horror, Death of parent, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Alcohol
hmlongstreet's review against another edition
- 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 found myself connecting a lot more with the characters (mostly Kate), which I find is really important for me when I read something. I wasn't a big fan of the beginning of the book, it was my first reading an enemies to lovers novel and maybe I was just not used to the main leads outright hating one another. Towards the end, I found it rather enjoyable and I liked the romance and the passion between the two characters.
Again there were a lot of aspects of this novel that were distasteful on the author's part but putting those aside I liked the book enough to give it 4 stars.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Adult/minor relationship
percervall's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Fatphobia