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A review by jpaulthunders77
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
5.0
Julia Quinn does it again! I rarely give five stars. Usually when I really enjoyed a book, I would only give 4 stars, but when I felt something unexplainable, I know that's the time to bump the rating up. This book really worked for me, and I really enjoyed the dynamics of the romance.
Quick summary: Anthony Bridgerton thinks that he'll die at a young age, specifically around 38 years old because that's when his father died. He never takes life too seriously, he's the definition of YOLO, so he has this reputation of a rake or a playboy. Marriage, as daunting as it seems, is something that he aspires to acquire in his life. He wants to marry BUT to someone whom he won't love. Then enter Ms. Kate Sheffield, a woman of decent social status but 'not that pretty'. She wants to marry, too but unfortunately, she thinks that men do not consider her as marriage material because they are all too focused on her younger half-sister, Edwina who is the definition of pretty, hot, and young. One day, Anthony decides to court Edwina, to be his wife but Kate stands along the way because she believes that a rake won't be a good husband for her beloved sister.
Okay, there you have it! From reading the synopsis, this is an enemies to lovers romance. In my opinion, this trope is executed properly. When they were enemies, they really were enemies! Sure, there were moments where one notices the physical attributes of the other, but the writing made it a bit acceptable and classy. One of my gripes in enemies to lovers romance is when the potential couple is supposed to be hating each other at a certain plot point, but all you see is the two of them being blatantly thirsty of each other (like, bitch, do you really hate each other or do you wanna bone each other? I'm confused here. haha).
Another thing that I liked in this book is the progression of their relationship from enemies to being friends. After being enemies for a couple of pages, there seemed to be attraction to them because in a strange twist of fate, they were always being brought together. I really appreciated Anthony's action when he said that he's not a terrible person, he apologized to her for being a jerk, that he understood why Kate was against him courting her sister. I thought that was adorable. This was the time that I appreciated the sexual tension. Okay, now we're on this stage, you can now be thirsty with each other. Then after a couple of pages, they became friends because of this scene
When they become friends, the romance blossomed, and they were forced to marry because of this scene.
The Bridgerton family, as usual, was adorable and supportive of Anthony. Kate's family too was a gem. Her stepmother treated her like she was her real daughter, and I really adored her relationship with Edwina. She was a bit jealous of her because of her looks, but she also wanted the best for her. How realistic! I, too, am jealous of my handsome brother, but I really want all the best for him. Kate's flaws resonated to me that I thought, for a brief period of my reading time, that she was the female version of me.
In terms of the romance, it was hot, steamy, but not problematic unlike the first one. Anthony and Kate craved for each other, they wanted each other's skin and flesh but they knew something deeper was forming within. There was resistance because Anthony didn't want to fall in love because he was afraid that it would be futile since he was afraid of dying young. I know some people are annoyed of his reasoning. I respect that, but for me as an eldest son like him, I think his fears are realistic. I could actually relate to him at that part because when you are the eldest son, your father is your model person. If he's successful, you want to be successful, too. If he's too flawed, you'll have this sense of doubt in yourself that maybe you would have the same fate as his, too. What more if it's death? But then the good thing about this story is that Anthony fell in love (wow, spoiler haha just look at the title lol) with Kate.. Then they lived happy ever after!!!
Huhu I don't know what it is but I really find it harder to write a review if I really enjoyed the book. So please forgive me for those messy thoughts.
Quick summary: Anthony Bridgerton thinks that he'll die at a young age, specifically around 38 years old because that's when his father died. He never takes life too seriously, he's the definition of YOLO, so he has this reputation of a rake or a playboy. Marriage, as daunting as it seems, is something that he aspires to acquire in his life. He wants to marry BUT to someone whom he won't love. Then enter Ms. Kate Sheffield, a woman of decent social status but 'not that pretty'. She wants to marry, too but unfortunately, she thinks that men do not consider her as marriage material because they are all too focused on her younger half-sister, Edwina who is the definition of pretty, hot, and young. One day, Anthony decides to court Edwina, to be his wife but Kate stands along the way because she believes that a rake won't be a good husband for her beloved sister.
Okay, there you have it! From reading the synopsis, this is an enemies to lovers romance. In my opinion, this trope is executed properly. When they were enemies, they really were enemies! Sure, there were moments where one notices the physical attributes of the other, but the writing made it a bit acceptable and classy. One of my gripes in enemies to lovers romance is when the potential couple is supposed to be hating each other at a certain plot point, but all you see is the two of them being blatantly thirsty of each other (like, bitch, do you really hate each other or do you wanna bone each other? I'm confused here. haha).
Another thing that I liked in this book is the progression of their relationship from enemies to being friends. After being enemies for a couple of pages, there seemed to be attraction to them because in a strange twist of fate, they were always being brought together. I really appreciated Anthony's action when he said that he's not a terrible person, he apologized to her for being a jerk, that he understood why Kate was against him courting her sister. I thought that was adorable. This was the time that I appreciated the sexual tension. Okay, now we're on this stage, you can now be thirsty with each other. Then after a couple of pages, they became friends because of this scene
Spoiler
WAAHH! I really liked that scene in the library where Kate was afraid of the storm and Anthony comforted her. I was a soft bitch because 1.) I'm afraid of storms, too. 2.) I want my own Anthony to be with me when I'm afraid of the lightning.When they become friends, the romance blossomed, and they were forced to marry because of this scene
Spoiler
The motherfucking bee stung Kate on the chest, and Anthony—too hysterical to suck the poison out from her bosom because his father died from a bee sting—insisted that he wouldn't stop unless the poison was out. Then his mother, Kate's stepmom, and another lady whose name I forgot insisted that they should marry because Lady Whistledown might be around and that they should avoid the impending gossips.The Bridgerton family, as usual, was adorable and supportive of Anthony. Kate's family too was a gem. Her stepmother treated her like she was her real daughter, and I really adored her relationship with Edwina. She was a bit jealous of her because of her looks, but she also wanted the best for her. How realistic! I, too, am jealous of my handsome brother, but I really want all the best for him. Kate's flaws resonated to me that I thought, for a brief period of my reading time, that she was the female version of me.
In terms of the romance, it was hot, steamy, but not problematic unlike the first one. Anthony and Kate craved for each other, they wanted each other's skin and flesh but they knew something deeper was forming within. There was resistance because Anthony didn't want to fall in love because he was afraid that it would be futile since he was afraid of dying young. I know some people are annoyed of his reasoning. I respect that, but for me as an eldest son like him, I think his fears are realistic. I could actually relate to him at that part because when you are the eldest son, your father is your model person. If he's successful, you want to be successful, too. If he's too flawed, you'll have this sense of doubt in yourself that maybe you would have the same fate as his, too. What more if it's death? But then the good thing about this story is that Anthony fell in love (wow, spoiler haha just look at the title lol) with Kate.
Spoiler
when Kate's storm nightmare recurs, they went to Mary to ask the reason why Kate was having these nightmares. Mary explained that it's because when Kate's birth mother died, it was storming and she saw everything. Anthony remained on her side all through out and supported her. MY GOODNESS!!!! I want that, too. huhuHuhu I don't know what it is but I really find it harder to write a review if I really enjoyed the book. So please forgive me for those messy thoughts.