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laerkefugl's reviews
32 reviews
En nat som denne by Julia Quinn
4.5
I was really torn between giving this book a 4.5 or 4.75-star rating. It had everything I was hoping for before opening the book. “Love at first sight” and “Being in love despite a class divide”.
It also went into detail about Daniel Smythe-Smith and his flight from the British Isles. Something I was already curious about during the entire first book of this series. Not to mention, Daniel is easily one of the most likable male leads of any Julia Quinn novel I’ve read. His charm and humor genuinely had it’s effect on me. Great guy.
I also quite enjoyed Anne as a character. Her background was interesting and tragic. It kept me engaged in her story and feud with George Chervil. I also, at times, appreciated witnessing her life as a governess to Harriet, Elizabeth, and Frances. It helped separate her a bit from the past she’s been fleeing. It was sweet to read, though I’ll admit that some of these scenes felt a bit repetitive for me. This, in part, kept me from giving it a full 4.75-star rating.
Anne and Daniel as a couple were quite satisfying for me, as well. Daniel’s clear pining for Anne was endearing, while Anne was held back by her past and her role as a governess to his younger cousins. She had to keep her feelings more guarded. Yet, from their first kiss, there was a lingering attraction between them. I especially enjoyed that Daniel fell so quickly for Anne; it reminded me of An Offer From a Gentleman, another Julia Quinn favorite of mine (which I rated 4.75 stars) that also has that “love at first sight” and class divide dynamic. I think that’s just a trope I really enjoy, I’ve learned.
The plot took me through a rollercoaster of ups and downs. On the whole, it was an entertaining read, but a few slow segments did pull me out of the story. And to be a bit nit-picky, I found it a little hard to believe that Daniel and Anne would randomly bump into each other twice in different stores and towns. I know coincidences are a staple of romance novels, yet it still slightly broke the suspension of disbelief for me.
Despite these minor criticisms, A Night Like This is a book I’d definitely recommend. It’s one of my favorites, even if it doesn’t quite reach re-read status like some of my other Julia Quinn favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
Som i en drøm by Julia Quinn
2.75
I don’t really have much to say about this book, honestly. It wasn’t bad, I just wouldn’t recommend it to someone. Compared to the Bridgerton and Rokesby series, it didn’t bring much to the table that we haven’t already seen. However, that perception of mine, might’ve been slightly influenced by how much Marcus reminded me of Simon from “The Duke and I”.
If you would describe yourself as a person who’s into “The Florence Nightingale Effect”, then 100%, this book is for you. Although, personally, I liked it better in “The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband” from the Rokesby series.
What I truly appreciated about this book, was the insight into the Smythe-Smith family and their musical evenings. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between the girls in the quartet. Their camaraderie and (almost) mutual detest of the annual musical performance, was quite cute. After having read the Bridgerton series, it's pretty nice to look from their perspective. The Smythe-Smith's musical "talents" were definitely mocked quite a bit in the main series. From everybody, pretty much. The leads, the supporting characters, Lady Whistledown, you name it. This sort of feels like a well-deserved redemption for the Smythe-Smiths. And I'm in full support. However, I believe this is most likely the case for the following three books, as well.
All in all, it was a relaxing read. Not one of my favorites from Julia Quinn, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
En uhørt skandale by Julia Quinn
3.0
This book was cute. Not one of my favorites from Julia Quinn, but it’s far from bad. I like the communication between Nicholas and Georgiana. They’re very honest and trust each other. It’s so nice seeing Nicholas and Georgiana treating each other as equals. Who are both just as capable of getting the job done. It’s a pretty healthy relationship in my eyes.
Speaking of healthy, I quite enjoyed the medical aspect of the story. It’s an area Julia Quinn hadn’t really explored until this book. It’s nice and refreshing to see the main characters with different aspirations compared to some of the previous books (Mainly referring to the leads of the Bridgerton series).
For the most part, I liked the cats. I thought they were a cute addition to the plot. It’s not often that pets are actively included in these books. The only other pet that comes to mind is Newton from “The Viscount Who Loved Me”. I must admit, that I do like Newton better than the cats. However, Judyth, Blanche, and Cat-Head were, on the whole, a nice way to add a bit of drama.
Additionally, I can’t ignore mentioning what surprised me the most about this book. The fact that both of the leads have little to no experience with romance and intimacy was very stimulating. For a Julia Quinn novel, this is a rare occurrence. And I appreciate the book for being different in that regard. The dynamic of the “rake male” lead with the “innocent female” lead can get a bit tiring. Especially, after 8-9 books utilising that exact gimmick.
Overall, It’s a cute read. The 2nd best book in the Rokesby series, in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
Miss Bridgertons hemmelighed by Julia Quinn
2.75
Compared to the last book, this one was a bit disappointing. I felt like the first 200 pages lacked a bit everything. The plot was a bit dry and I must admit, I got bored. That’s probably why it took me 3 months the finish reading. The book gets a tad more exciting in the end, but it really wasn’t enough to compensate for the first part. The end just felt rushed. Both in the plot and the romance. This book was kind of like drinking lukewarm- almost cold tea.☕️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
En opdigtet ægtemand by Julia Quinn
4.75
This book is a little "out there" compared to the previous book, and the Bridgerton series. But, I thought it was quite charming and refreshing. This book takes place in New York in 1779. That really did make a big difference for me, considering all the previous books took place in (Mostly southern) England. The new environment (Along with the fact that Edward and Cecilia are "married") also removed a lot of the pressure of the ton, leaving more room for relationship development. I know Cecilia lied to Edward for good reasons, but about halfway through and nearing the end of the book, I thought it became a bit silly to keep up the lying. But, I was really invested in their relationship and the search for Thomas, so I can forgive it. This book was definitely a page turner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Classism