#bridgerton novels

[thorin-is-a-cuddler]

You must know that Benedict is hilarious in the books!

[noahsbookhoard]

⚜️The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn⚜️

Some times ago I wrote a review for the Duke and I (which I called "Victorian" at some point, my apologies, the series takes place in the Regency era) while I was halfway through the Gregory book. Now that I finished the 8 books (I am not planning on reading the sequels and spinoffs) I thought it would be easier to review the while series at once.

In case you never heard of the series, this is the story of an upper-class family in England during the 1810's, the Bridgerton. More specifically the story of how the eight children (conveniently named in alphabetical order at birth, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth) found their respective spouse.

To sum up my review of The Duke and I, it was fun, I liked the Bridgerton family and Daphne in particular. I liked the faked daring, the twists, Simon's story, but I was less thrilled by the story post wedding when their lack of communication becomes tiresome. Overall I had liked the show best but this romance was well adapted.

I was more surprised by The Viscount Who Loved Me because the plot was nothing like the show. Maybe it was a little too close to The Duke and I (the girl is compromised so they are forced to marry and they learn post wedding that they actually love each other.) so it was twitched a little. Nonetheless I liked it and enjoyed seeing Kate and Anthony again in the following books.

Now, my frustration with the serie really started with An Offer from a Gentleman. When I saw a where the plot was heading I thought "Cinderella! Cool! I like fairy tale retelling" and I do, they might not be the height of originality but with enough creativity you can make something pretty nice. An Offer from a Gentleman was not nice.

Book Benedict is probably the one sibling that disappointed me the most, because I love Show Benedict so much: he is caring to Eloise, he is passionate about his craft, he is bi, he is polyamourous... And I can't see how they got that character from the man who seduced a servant girl, ruined her reputation, installed her as his mistress and took his sweet time proposing while she was in fucking jail! So yes, this is Cinderella if her Prince was an absolute asshole. This was NOT a gentleman and he didn't have much to offer anyway.

Hopefully for me, Romancing Mister Bridgerton was actually cute. The legwork of installing Penelope's huge crush on Colin in my mind was made by the show but I was genuinely excited to see how (this was not a matter of if, just when) she would get Colin. It was my favorite because it was the one that felt the most meant to be to me.

When He Was Wicked too was nice, it had been established pretty early on in the serie that Francesca was widowed after just a few years so it was comforting to have her move on and fall in love again. Michael's tearing himself between loyalty to his brother's memory and his feelings for Francesca was touching. Also since he felt like she was still mourning John, the beloathed possessive behaviour was dialed to a minimum, thank god!

Oh, I forgot To Sir Philip, With Love! But honestly it might be the one that left me the most indifferent. Eloise had always appeared as the most levelheaded of the 8 siblings so her doing something as stupidely impulsive as to go alone to another man's house univited felt out of character. There was something so Mary Poppins about the setup for the romance, I was less invested in Philip and Eloise getting together than in Philip's children finally getting their dad's attention.

It's In His Kiss was a bit wierd to me, because I was once again more interested in the mystery of the italian diary and the Hyacinth/Lady Danbury duo that the love story with Gareth. Even his relationship with his father and the revelation of his origins held some suspense which didn't exist in the romance part of the romance novels: I know they will get married, could they get on with it so they can find out where the diamonds are? In the end even that was disappointing, I though the clue pretty clear but it flew over the characters and I didn't like how it was solved in the epilogue.

Overall I think I established that romance isn't my cup of tea. I don't seem to like what other people find appealing in the genre, and some of those aspects I actively despise. I'll try my hand at another author maybe later (Queer romance also? I might find it more to my taste? Idk).

But so far, and with the other example of Fourth Wing that I read in February or March, I like romance in novels but I get bored when romance is the central point of the book. Either because it gets predictable (of course there will be a clandestine meetings in libraries and staircases, balls, a stollen kiss, long introspections before realising their feelings, entire essays on the shade of everybody's eyes and hair and a wedding at the end) or because I always expect more actions and less staring in each other’s eyes. Which I shouldn't, this one is on me entirely.

I also got pretty tired of so called "gentlemen" jumping on the girl like famished dogs at the first sight of a low neckline or whatever made 18th century men horny. Something like half of them had sex with the lady before marriage or even proposing (basically "ruining" her if the marriage didn't go through) or where found in a compromising position with her. I don't know how frequent this was at the time but that might be statistically a bit too much. I know you don't read those books for historically accuracy but paired with the possessiveness trope that comes out in almost all of them I didn't find the men really attractive in this series...

Here's my Old Chaperone list of how improperly the couple behaved:

Daphne-Simon : compromised her

Anthony-Kate : compromised her

Benedict-Sophia : don't get me fucking started

Colin-Penelope : proposal is 0/10 but at least he proposed first

Eloise-Philip : compromised herSELF like a girlboss 💅

Francesca-Michael : widowed so that actually works out alright propriety-wise

Hyacinth-Gareth : he uttered the sentence "she would be good in bed" when he hadn't so much as declared his feelings and that irked me but hey, he proposed BEFORE compromising her (with his grandmother's blessing)

Gregory-Lucy : had sex with her on the night before her wedding TO ANOTHER MAN, crashed the ceremony and left her tied up in a bathroom on the wedding night. Edmund would be so proud. /s

[giulslivr]

Summary:

When the Medici family, Duchess Marie and her twin daughters, Caterina and Teresa, leave their serene Italian estate for the glittering chaos of London, they are thrust into the heart of British high society.

Named the Diamonds of the Season by the Queen at their very first ball, the sisters are immediately thrust into the whirlwind of high society’s glittering world. But beneath the surface of this dazzling debut lies Caterina’s true intent: she's searching for a wealthy suitor, not romance. Her heart bears the weight of past heartbreak and scandal. Haunted by the memories, she struggles with guilt and distrust in matters of the heart.

Enter Benedict Bridgerton, a man who defies Caterina’s expectations. Charming and passionate, Benedict finds himself irresistibly drawn to Caterina. Their first encounter is a serendipitous clash of worlds, setting the stage for a connection neither anticipated. But as their lives entwine, their shared passion becomes both a bridge and a barrier.

Amidst the glittering balls and whispered gossip of the ton, can Caterina and Benedict overcome their personal barriers and embrace the bonds they’ve forged? Or will their pasts keep them apart?

[bitchypuppystarlight]

As she was dying, this jackass’ only thought was “who is going to take care of my kids?”

[annafromuni]

My Issues With Julia Quinn's Bridgerton Novel The Duke and I

I haven’t watched the Netflix adaptations of the Bridgerton novels yet. I want to read the series first (books do tend to be better than their screen adaptations). I gave Julia Quinn’s The Duke and I a quick squizz before adding it to the family library returns pile – in other words, the stack of books on my little bookcase step ladder – and I have very mixed feelings about it, unfortunately…

[thatonekimgirl]

Colin exemplifying the phrase "His eyes darkened."

[bitchcakegreen]

Thank you Nicola Coughlan for that scene. To finally see someone with the same body type as me in a scene of love like that, was moving and important. Bridgerton

[carry-the-sky]

okay help i'm still stuck on a feeling that is like torture, but one which i cannot, will not, do not want to give up. he is straight up telling her that his feelings for her are killing him but if that's the price of loving her than so be it. like in the context of this scene colin has no clue that she reciprocates and in fact felt this way long before he did. other people have said this far more eloquently but he is putting literally everything on the line and opening himself up to the potential devastation of losing not only the love of his life but also his best friend. but he's saying you know what that's fine!! yeah i might lose you yeah i might have to watch you marry someone else yeah i might feel like dying every day for the rest of my life knowing i can't have you but none of that matters because it's you!! i'd rather love you and be miserable than not love you and be normal!!!! it's like how violet told anthony last season that she'd do it all again with edmund knowing she'd lose him because real love is worth it.

[inthedreamatorium1]

When Colin and Pen shake hands at the end of ep1, is it their first time touching skin-to-skin like that? Every time they held hands prior to that, she was always wearing gloves and I can’t think of a scene where they would have touched without a barrier (her dress, her gloves, his jacket, etc).

If it is truly their first touching in that way, then my GOD it explains his face when her hand slides against his. That boy felt something.

Look at his face when they touch! He had just been vulnerable with her so his heart wasn’t surrounded by his armor. Which means that the softness and heat radiating off her skin and the electric current running through their hands went straight into his heart. He felt it.

And thus begins his spiral.

[tullipsink]

“The Duke and I”, Bridgerton

[crinolinedream]

Reading is fundamental.

[edwinadaily]

EDWINA & FRIEDRICH X NORTHANGER ABBEY

For @mrmalcolmslist

[noahsbookhoard]

📚April 2024 Book Review (Part 3/3)📚

April final part! I am still slightly overwhelmed by the work ahead but we are getting somewhere!

Nona the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #3) by Tamsyn Muir

In a world shattering, Nona is trying her best to help: she works at the school, she helps her family, but that's not easy when you woke six months ago in a strange body without any memories and when each night you have strange dreams of a man named John and a woman with skull face paint.

In which once again, Tamsyn Muir plays her favorite game: messing with poor Harrowark's memory!

I have to admit this one was really wierd and I think I missed some stuff along the way because I am still not sure I understand what happened to Harrow. Nona being confused about everything including herself makes her point of view just as unsettling.

Nonetheless I loved watching Nona make friends and try to grasp from Pyrrha, Camilla and everyone around her what is happening to her city. The kids are really fun and makes a good balance to the adults who try not to say too much because that's how you get into trouble, which is reasonable in this setting. They really sound like elementary schoolers or early middle school kids, even when they try to act more grown up than they are (looking at you, Hot Sauce)

The dreams with John were what really ties the series wolrdbuilding together; and it is as chaotic as could be expected. I had read memes on tumblr about a wall of cow and had refused to believe it until is stared at me black on white (the print not the cows). The immense gap between where we started and where we are now is dizzying.

Once again a pointed lack of Gideon (I'm still mad about Kiriona) but Camilla and Palamedes made me really emotional. The Lyctorhood ritual always manages to screw up in the most dramatic manners because Pyrrha's story is just so sad too. Paul had better be there in Alecto the Ninth. Also what is it with SciFi characters being named Paul? This is a genuine question.

I was a bit disappointed by the pacing, but I want to put it on account of the novel being cut into two (the final installment being the long awaited Alecto the Ninth). It had what I find generally as the flaw of the second books of trilogies: it doesn't introduce much because it has been done before and it doesn't resolves much either because that's the third book job. I am really looking forward to Alecto (or at least a release date, do you hear me? I am dying out here!)

Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa

The Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, are State Alchemists. They are among the most talented of their generation but they have a secret: years ago they tried a forbidden ritual to bring back their mother from the dead; it cost Edward an arm and a leg and Alphonse, his entire body. Now their goal is to find the Philosopher Stone so they can restore their bodies but in their quest they will uncover much deeper and secrets.

I had a manga phase in middle school and high school but lost interest (and the free time to binge animes) in the years after. It took me some times but I'm trying to catch back on series I found cool but never had the time to read or watch: I am almost caught up in One Piece and can finally say I read FullMetal Alchemist!

The setting and magic system is really nice, I love the steampunk elements. The lore is deep and full of details, the politics, religion and the history of this country with its neighbours are more contemporary than ever.

Character-wise it's really good too! Edward and Alphonse are top notch: siblings in the most siblings of way, bickering but caring about each other so much. They struggle with their loyalty and morality, they struggle with their bodies, they are so mad at their father (rightfully so). I loved the facial expressions, the funny oversimplified one especially.

Winry, Roy Mustang and the two Armstrong are also a favorite of mine, the all have really good backstories that tie in with the lore and makes them feel really alive and pop out in the universe. The two last volume, which comes back further in time really set the notion that the Elric brothers and Winry are kids who haven't seen the worst of it, yet they are dragged in whether they like it or not, or even and totally aware of that.

I'm sorry to have put it away for so long, I really enjoyed it! There's so many more classics ai haven't crossed out yet so don't hesitate to send recs!

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune

Linus Baker is a social worker with DICOMY, specifically he controls the foster homes for magical children. He is devoted to his job, certain that what he is doing is right; after all he is protecting the children! But when he is sent on a two week mission to the seaside, in one foster home more peculiar than the others, his certainty will be shaken.

TJ Klune is one of those author I wish I had discovered sooner. I have read two of his books (mostly because I am rationing myself but In the Lives of Puppets is calling me...) and they are both comfort books and went straight into the reread pile!

This novel deals with childhood, fostercare, accepting that everyone is different and that different doesn't mean dangerous, these theme could make it grave or grim but it never is: this novel is bright, joyful most of the time and hopeful when it isn't.

The characters, especially the children, are adorable. They are magical beings and very creative: a blob of slime which dreams of being a hotel groom, a were-pomeranian, a female gnome with an attitude... They have their struggles but they are full of hopes and dreams and just like Linus I wanted nothing more than preserving it. Arthur to loves them and cares for them so much, and that shows in his kindness, hi playfulness, the comfort he brings.

The love story is really cute, I love the mutual pining, love the way Arthur put the children first, always, love how Linus' veneer of professional righteousness cracks and fall of day by day. The pacing is not slow but let's you appreciate the moments, the adventures as well as the characters moment of growth especially Linus'.

This was an instant favorite and a new comfort book. It is soft, fluffy, tender and sad but never tragic and with the biggest brightest Happy Ending because, dammit, it deserved no less.

As of drafting this post (september 14th) the sequel Somewhere Beyond the Sea has been released for 4 days and I can't wait to read it!

The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1) by Julia Quinn

Daphne Bridgerton is the oldest daughter of the numerous Bridgerton family. She is nice, everyone likes her, but that's the problem; in 3 years out in society she hasn't has any marriage proposal. When the Duke of Hasting - a former schoolfriend of his brother - comes to London for the season pointedly not looking for a wife, they strike a deal: they will pretend to be courting, making Daphne look desirable and the Duke already taken. But how long will the pretends hold?

Since the first season of the Netflix show Bridgerton my mother wanted to read the books, and I thought it would be a good way to keep in touch with her by reading along. Hence me, reading romance novel, which is absolutely not my comfort zone. I read a few, I enjoy romance in novels where romance happens but I am rarely looking out for the genre. But I liked the show, I like period books, so let's give it a try!

This is something that will come a lot in my opinion of the Bridgerton novel: I vastly prefers the show to the books. I hate possessiveness in romance and this seems to be a recurring trope in this series, which isn't as strong in the TV adaptation. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The plot is catching for the first part (before the wedding, is it spoiler to say that the protagonists of a romance novel get married at the end? I think that's sort of expected) it's fun, the Bridgerton family is endearing even though we don't see them much. Simon and Daphne are sweet and the contrast between their life and especially their childhood and relationship to their family makes their dynamic interesting. The drama is over the top but I liked it that way, I love a good old pistol duel, I am not difficult to please.

However I was kinda incomfortable with the plot past their wedding: Simon refusing to conceive and letting Daphne believe "I can't have children" means "unable to" instead of "won't". Daphne forcing her way. Their extremely mature response to the whole mess... I know there wouldn't be a plot if the characters were not repressed victorians unable to talk about their feelings but at some point you have to communicate with your spouse!

Overall fun but not a crush, even though I read the whole series because I love my mom. I am thinking of doing a long review of the 8 books in one post instead of month by months but I an still not set about that. I'll have to finish the final book anyway before that.

[dhaaruni]

If you liked Bridgerton, here are other historical romances with the same tropes:

Virgin-Meets-Rake (Season 1, Simon and Daphne):

When the Duke was Wicked by Lorraine Heath: She's a witty debutante who's the jewel of the season, he's a seasoned rake mourning the death of his wife and child with excessive hedonism, and she recruits him to teach her how to attract a husband

The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe: She's a shy heiress and master chef who struggles to talk to men, he's an irreverent scoundrel and would-be restaurant owner she recruits to teach her lessons to catch a husband

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas: The villain in It Happened One Autumn enters a marriage-of-convenience with an heiress with a stutter (whose best friend he kidnapped, whoops) and at one point he goes, "I’m Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent. I can’t be celibate. Everyone knows that," and isn't being ironic.

Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean: She's on-the-shelf and deeply bored, he's a rake who's suddenly been given custody of his irreverent and wild teenage half-sister, she recruits him to help her be rebellious

Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran: He's a (seemingly) silly dandy, she's impossible to charm, and he shatters her facade

Enemies-To-Lovers** (Season 2, Anthony and Kate):

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean: She loves causing trouble, he totally hates getting her out of it, she's wild, he's starchy, and they fall madly in love

The Notorious Lord Knightly by Lorraine Heath: She's the viperous writer who's publishing explosive smut starring him, her former fiancé that jilted her at the alter, and they find each other again

The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe: She's a free-spirited heiress whose reputation was ruined ages ago, he's a broke Duke looking for a wife to fill his coffers and fix his estate, they see each other for who they truly are

It Happened One Autumn (and its precursor Then Came You) by Lisa Kleypas: two iterations of the classic, "free spirited woman meets buttoned-up man who loathes her and is kind of a freak in the sheets" trope in the best way possible. Also, Alex buys Lily a bear in Then Came You, which obviously made me cry

All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue by Sophie Jordan: His best friend is her brother, and they really want to fuck but hate it

Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt: She's engaged to his brother, they meet when she walks in on him fucking another woman, HATES her for being perfect, she hates him for being a degenerate loser, and infidelity ensues.

** These are true enemies-to-lovers books, not that hella lame rivals-to-lovers shit that's all over contemporary romances of late

Friends-To-Lovers (Season 3, Colin and Penelope):

The Lady Hellion by Joanna Shupe: Sophia is trying to solve a mystery (and dresses up as a man in the process), and recruits her friend (and one-time kissing buddy) Lord Quint to teach her how to shoot. She's exasperating, he's charmed and there's a puppy involved.

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan: She's a genius botanist but can't share her research since she's a woman, and he's her public face but refuses to continue anymore. He's always been in love with her, she's as oblivious as they come.

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh: She's a scientist, he's an anthropologist, they're longtime friends and she recruits him to help her make a visiting naturalist jealous but ends up falling for him herself

Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas: They're in a marriage of convenience, but end up becoming real friends in the process before they realize they're in love

The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath: He's a Duke looking to get married, she's his secretary and most trusted friend, he recruits her to find him a wife and they fall madly in love in the process

Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston: He's her brother's friend who is recruited to help her manage her estate when her husband dies. She flits around constantly in anxiety and never sits still, and he likes it.

This should get you started!

[maddie-grove]

In my opinion, here are the two best ways to adapt most historical romance novels:

Low-budget stand-alone movies (somewhere between 90-120 minutes on average) with Wishbone-level production values, pumped out at a relatively high volume. Costumes are reused shamelessly, to the point that it results in memes (“it’s the Fuck-Off Victorian Christmas Ballgown! Again!”), and action sequences are not impressive.

Pick a romance novel series with a strong non-romance throughline (like a mystery or fairly high-octane family drama or political intrigue based on historical events). Write it like any other historical drama series, except with more focus on romance. I know they tried to do this with Bridgerton, but that is a series where the unifying concept is just “this family is Big and Nice.” You need to kick things off with a cataclysmic family scandal or a spy organization or a Jacobite uprising of some sort.

[triviareads]

Francesca Wanted Michael to Get Her Pregnant

can't believe I'm back at it but after reading this recently published Screen Rant article rank Bridgerton spouses and rank Michael/Michaela Stirling fifth because, and I quote from the article—

Michael Stirling even threatens to impregnate Francesca Bridgerton if she refuses to marry him, which is not a good perception of his best side.

Like.... no. That is not what happened at all. Full stop. After having CONSENSUAL sex for the first time with Michael, Francesca is conflicted about "betraying" John her late husband, and isn't sure about her feelings towards Michael, but she's also aware of the practicalities of having sex, and having sex out of wedlock as far as reputation goes, so this is what SHE tells Michael:

And then, without even looking at him, she said, “I will consider it.” He quirked a brow, waiting for her to elaborate. “Marrying you,” she clarified, still keeping her eyes on the fire. “But I won’t give you an answer now.” “You might be carrying my child,” he said softly. “I am very much aware of that.” She wrapped her arms around her bent knees and hugged. “I will give you an answer once I have that answer.” —When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn, chapter 18

So she tells him to wait, has sex with him again, and at this point, Michael believes she wouldn't have sex with him twice if she didn't feel something for him, so he reiterates his marriage proposal:

“Will you marry me?” he repeated, and this time the words were hard, with more of an edge to them. “I don’t know,” she finally answered. “I need more time.” "Time for what?“ he snapped. ”For me to try a little harder to get you pregnant?“ She flinched as if struck. He advanced upon her. “Because I’ll do it,” he warned. “I’ll take you right now, and then again tonight, and then three times tomorrow if that’s what is required.” “Michael, stop…” she whispered. “I have lain with you,” he said, his words stark and yet strangely urgent. "Twice. You are no innocent. You know what that means.“ And it was because she was no innocent—and no one would ever expect her to be—that she was able to say, “I know. But that doesn’t matter. Not if I don’t conceive.” —When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn, chapter 20

Is it the nicest of proposals? No, and Michael is pissy that she isn't capitulating just because there's a *chance* she might be pregnant. That being said, he's NOT forcing her to get pregnant, and Francesca is 100% fine with continuing to have sex with Michael on the off-chance she could get pregnant, and if she does, only then will she make a decision about marrying him because at this moment in time, she is still unsure of her feelings for Michael and still feels like she's betraying John. But Michael is neither coercing her to have sex with him, nor is he attempting to get her pregnant against her will. And shortly after this dialogue, he storms off because he thinks convincing her further is futile and he's feeling tragic and *used* by her lol.

And ultimately, Francesca is INTO the idea of getting pregnant, or hell, trying to get pregnant with him.... a breeding kink if you will. There's a VERY telling passage after she says she'll marry him despite not being pregnant but having had sex with him multiple times over three weeks:

He rose slowly to his feet. “There will be no backing out. No cold feet. No changed minds.” “No,” she said. “I promise.” And that was when he finally let himself believe her. Francesca did not give promises lightly. And she never broke her vows. He was across the room in an instant, his hands at her back, his arms around her, his mouth raining desperate kisses on her face. “You will be mine,” he said. “This is it. Do you understand?” She nodded, arching her neck as his lips slid down the long column to her shoulder. “If I want to tie you to the bed, and keep you there until you’re heavy with child, I’ll do it,” he vowed. “Yes,” she gasped. “And you won’t complain.” She shook her head. His fingers tugged at her gown. It fell to the floor with stunning speed. “And you’ll like it,” he growled. “Yes. Oh, yes.” —When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn, chapter 21

Come on.... the "yes oh yes?" What do we think that is if not enthusiastic consent?