A review by helliepad
Bridgerton Collection, Volume One by Julia Quinn

hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Very different from the show and I am of mixed opinion for both. This is a regency romance story written by a white woman published in the early 2000s, so I expected the casual sexism, misogyny, fatphobia, and occassional tone deafness of the text because leading men in romance novels back then was Just Like That. And nobody reads romance for historical accuracies or treatises on social justice, right? Well it's too bad because I didn't stop reading throughout the years and I can say I've been spoiled by romance books that DID incorporate relevant social issues as part of the text— now all the red flags in this text stand out so severely to me. Which sucks because clearly the intent for deeper characterization is there, it's just not explored because it really isn't part of the story Ms. Quinn wanted to tell.

I get the charm of romantic historical fiction. But sometimes it's just not. Good. You know? I'll read the rest of the series still but the only good book in this story was The Viscount Who Loved Me and even then the leading man was an ass.
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