#like!!!! the fact that benedict and francesca were already my favorite characters and i already saw so much of myself in francesca

[markantonys]

bridgerton setting up for s4 like "okay the straights have had their time in the sun, now it's the bisexuals' turn" god bless

[thekatebridgerton]

Anthony liking Penelope more than colin is my favorite thing to talk about also I need more moments of Anthony with his younger siblings like Gregory and Hyacinth

Look that's cannon okay. Penelope has no brothers and she's been glued to the hip with Eloise since childhood. of course Anthony likes her more than Colin.

Anthony gives off such strong Dad brother vibes that he can't help but adopt little sisters as he goes along because if they don't have a dad or a big brother he's like ' look I'm here if you need anything, I protec, I atac I got ur bac' kind of thing.

Penelope is Eloise friend, so he adopted her, Felicity is glued at the hip with Hyacinth so might as well adopt her too. Sophie and Posy, no big brothers? okay they got one now. Edwina comes in a package with Kate, great, just let him get a dowry set up for her, she can marry whoever she wants, he will walk her down the aisle. Lucy's brother is sort of an idiot, that's okay, Anthony will take Lucy into account too.

Especially with Penelope, you gotta understand Anthony has raised his siblings since he was 18, he's the only father figure Hyacinth and Gregory have. And he's probably made a habit out of parenting the younger generation whenever a new friend of theirs show up.

But Penelope is a special case because Anthony probably could tell since way way long ago that Colin would eventually marry Penelope. So he's basically been watching over her since she was little waiting for when Colin makes Penelope an official Bridgeton. He totally likes her more than Colin, she's smart, adorable and witty, Penelope is Anthony's sister same as Eloise, he might not have raised Penelope with as much care as he raised Eloise because she lived next door and not under his roof but make no mistake Anthony thinks Penelope is his sister. (Penelope got away with LW stuff only because she didn't live under the same roof as the Bridgertons)

The one time Anthony tried to pressure Colin into getting a move on and proposing already, it backfired, because Colin was an idiot. But Anthony was always clear that Penelope and Colin were endgame and treated Penelope with the consideration he owed a sister by marriage. And he treated Colin with the consideration he owed to a brother who kept his future wife waiting for a proposal during eight years... (You ever wonder why Colin felt more comfortable talking about his Penelope feelings with Daphne? He probably could tell that Anthony was going to take Penelope's side and drag him to the nearest church, no questions asked!) In fact when Colin does go to Anthony, it's exactly for Penelope's benefit, not his own.

Because yes, Anthony likes Penelope more than Colin.

About the second part of your question. What people (the show) sometimes forget about Anthony's character, especially while pointing out his flaws is that, he became newborn Hyacinth's father at 18, and Gregory was a toddler, Anthony was literally a teen dad, it's hinted that Violet had post partum depression for a while after Edmund died and Anthony had to be "The Viscount" and had his whole Rake phase. Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Francesca and Eloise at least remember Edmund to some extent, But when it comes to his younger siblings, all they know is Anthony. Gregory and Hyacinth never had a frame of reference for what a father was, except what Anthony showed them.

I think that scenes between Anthony and G and H in the show really help to see that in a mental picture of how much more tender Anthony is to Hyacinth and Gregory than he is to the rest of his siblings. Because in his mid, he's more their dad than their brother, So he's more lenient and lets them get away with more things. Just Anthony being wholesome with his two younger siblings and being incapable of getting angry at them (even if Hyacinth would try the patience of a saint) works into that. And it's not until they both get married that they realize that Anthony was actually going way beyond the job description. I just love that about Anthony.

[love-little-lotte]

Ranking the Bridgerton Books

I know I should write this in my book blog, but frankly, I have no idea how to make another section for it, and I'm too lazy to research. So, I'm writing here. Please bear with me.

Recently, I read the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn. You might be familiar with the first book since it was adapted into a popular Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes. I binge-watched it back in December, and I have to say... not a fan. I guess I just find it too cheesy and annoying. Plus, the actors who portrayed Daphne and Simon had no romantic chemistry whatsoever.

But I'm not here to talk about the TV show. I'm here to talk about the novels! This is actually not my first time reading the books. Well, not exactly. I've read six out of the eight novels when I was in high school, I believe. I found the books when I was in high school as it was in the library (please don't ask me why my high school library has smutty novels in it, I have no idea who's in charge - they had Fifty Shades of Grey for a week but they eventually removed it from the catalog when they learned what's it about, but I digress). As a fifteen-year-old girl, the series hooked me.

If you're not familiar with the books or the Netflix series, here's a short synopsis: Set in the Regency era, the Bridgertons are one of the most influential families of the ton. The books follow the love stories of the eight Bridgerton siblings, alphabetically named Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth.

I didn't read it in chronological order back then, though. I just borrowed any available Bridgerton book in the library if there's one. You might think I was too young to read a romantic novel like that, but I guess I was mature enough to understand it.

Rereading it now that I'm twenty-two (cue Taylor Swift!), my heart's not in the same place. I was more skeptical with the writing, the story, and, most especially, the characters. But, really, I'm not that heartless, so I will cut the author some slack. Quinn wrote this at a different time for a different audience. It's not that long ago, but you'd be surprised how fast things change.

However, even though I have major criticisms, I cannot stop reading them. There's something about the novels that put me in a chokehold. Despite everything, I was able to enjoy it overall. This series is the definition of "guilty pleasure."

Anyway, here's my ranking of the Bridgerton books! I only read the eight main ones, which means I didn't include novellas of any kind. Also, as a fair warning, I might discuss spoilers and whatnot, so please beware. And do keep in mind that I'm writing my opinion, so if you don't agree, well... tough. I'd like to hear your comments, though, if you have any.

#8 - An Offer From A Gentleman (Book 3)

Honestly, this was probably one of my favorite Bridgerton books when I was younger. A Cinderella retelling? Come on! As someone who loves fairytales and forbidden romances, this was supposed to be heaven. However... it was not.

Benedict may be my least favorite Bridgerton brother. No, scratch that - he is my least favorite Bridgerton out of all of them. He's whiny and creepy and I was plainly annoyed with how he keeps asking Sophie to be his mistress in the novel. This was not the gentleman I imagined when I was younger. I might have liked him more in the first few parts, but as the story progressed, he became too childish and obsessive. Sophie, on the other hand, was all right. She's definitely one of my favorite Bridgerton heroines. She was tough but kind in her own way. I wish she had a better partner than Benedict, but I guess they suit each other in the end.

I just detest the climax and the ending of this book. It was too comical - and not in a hilarious way. I guess the same could be said for the entire novel. This was so, so different from the rest, to be honest.

Overall Rating: 3/10

#7 - On The Way To The Wedding (Book 8)

Fun fact: this is the first Bridgerton novel I read. And even then, I wasn't a huge fan of it. Just like An Offer From A Gentleman, the climax was a bit silly but more in a soap opera level than comical.

The biggest factor why I didn't like this was the characters. They were all so bland. Especially our hero and heroine. Gregory is the least featured Bridgerton in the novel, so I don't really know what to make of him at the beginning of the novel. In his book, I learned that he was a good guy - and that's all. Maybe he's too young and naive when it comes to romance (which is endearing, I have to admit), but he has no interesting personality whatsoever. Lucy, the heroine in this novel, was the same. She was described as pragmatic and sensible, which perfectly sums her up. Also, she's a great friend to Hermione (whose last name is Watson, by the way, and you can't tell me otherwise that this isn't a Harry Potter reference - Hermione Granger and Emma Watson? If that's not a reference, well, that's a very crazy coincidence, but I digress again). Gregory and Lucy's story was average - not bad, not good, just so incredibly dull.

The fun parts started way too early. It was difficult to find intrigue in the middle and end bits. The second main conflict, which happened near the end of the book, was truthfully not that good and was just obviously a ploy to keep things longer. You'd think that the Bridgerton novels would end the series with a bang. Alas, it did not.

Overall Rating: 4/10

#6 - To Sir Phillip, With Love (Book 5)

Eloise finally gets her turn in her own love story. She used to be one of my favorite Bridgertons, but when she got her own story, she was reduced into a plain girl. Gone was the feisty and outspoken Eloise we knew from the previous books.

Maybe it's because she's paired up with one of the most insufferable Bridgerton heroes, Sir Phillip. Just an inch away from Benedict, Sir Phillip maybe my next least favorite character. And it annoys me so much that Eloise gets to fall in love with someone like him.

It actually started pretty well. Before the events in the book started, Eloise and Phillip had already been corresponding for a year through letters. Phillip was on the lookout for - not a wife - but a mother for his two unruly children, and he thought Eloise was perfect for the role. He's a terrible father, but the book tries to convince us that it's not his fault because he had a bad upbringing by his own father (a recurring theme in the Bridgerton books - four heroes are plagued with different daddy issues). Eloise tried her best to turn things around, and of course, she eventually did, but I just really hate Phillip's initial intentions for seeking out a wife. He gets better in the end, sure, but I still really don't like him. At least the book wasn't short of excitement, else it would've been rated a bit lower.

Obviously, my favorite part in this book was when the Bridgerton brothers stormed into Phillip's house. He got what he deserved, truly.

Overall Rating: 4/10

#5 - The Duke and I (Book 1)

Now, this is the most well-known story in the Bridgerton literary universe, thanks to the Netflix series. I know I've said that I wasn't a fan of the series, but really, the Netflix writers and producers deserve all the gold in the world because they managed to transform this novel into something exciting.

Daphne and Simon had their moments, that's for sure, but as a couple, they were just so... meh. I liked their relationship at the start when they were still pretending to be courting. But as soon as they got married, everything interesting about the two of them sizzled out. And please don't get me started with how Daphne "took advantage" of drunk Simon. Thank God the show fixed that.

Despite my mixed feelings, this was a decent start to the Bridgerton books. There's really nothing majorly wrong about this novel (except for the aforementioned "taking advantage.") It laid out the future characters well. Lady Whistledown was also great. Thinking about her made me miss her because she wasn't featured in the later novels (you'll soon find out why).

Overall Rating: 5/10

#4 - It's In His Kiss (Book 7)

Since Eloise was stripped away from her feistiness when she got her own love story, I was obviously worried for Hyacinth. Thankfully, she didn't change! She was still the same tactless girl in the previous books. And for that, she gets to be my champion as my favorite Bridgerton.

This is the first time I've read this book, and oh, I'm surprised with how exciting it was. Hyacinth's hero, Gareth, perfectly suited her. Gareth was able to tame her impulsiveness, while also proving to be a good romantic partner for her. I loved that he could match her intellectually, too. It was never a bore whenever they have one of their silly banters. Lady Danbury was also featured more in this novel. She's one of my favorite side characters. As Gareth's grandmother, she was determined to bring him and Hyacinth together.

Maybe the only criticism I have in this novel is Gareth's issues with his father. I find it really weird that most of the heroes' problems are with their fathers. It just seemed lazy writing, in my opinion. But oh well, Gareth was interesting in his own way and that's perfectly fine.

Overall Rating: 6/10

#3 - Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Book 4)

I have a feeling that this is Quinn's favorite Bridgerton book. In this book, it's Colin's turn to find love. Colin is featured in several of his siblings' stories - in fact, in almost all of the books, he had an important role to play.

I love Colin and Penelope's story. Long before this book, they already knew each other. Penelope was Eloise's best friend, and she's almost always in the Bridgerton household. Colin has been forced by his mother for God knows how long to dance with Penelope every time there's a party. But it was only now that they became closer. Unbeknownst to Colin, Penelope had been in love with him for half her life, even though he didn't particularly care for her. Penelope speaks for all of us who know about unrequited love all too well.

Furthermore, this is the novel where they finally reveal who was behind the Lady Whistledown column. Yes, viewers of the Netflix series who are not familiar with the books. This is the part - and not in the first book! I'm so mad that they revealed Penelope as Lady Whistledown in the first season of the series, when in fact it's much later than that.

However, that's also one of the lowest points of this novel for me. Lady Whistledown's identity reveal was a bit anti-climactic. A little bit laughable, even. Also, also, also: I hated Colin's reaction to Penelope's secret. He didn't have to be angry and jealous of her, but ah well, whatever makes for conflict. Nevertheless, I love both Colin and Penelope because they had so much character and depth. Quinn was certainly biased when she wrote this.

Overall Rating: 8/10

#2 - The Viscount Who Loved Me (Book 2)

Remember earlier when I said that I cannot stop reading the books because even though I knew it wasn't that good, it was still highly enjoyable? Well, I'm really talking more about this book, to be specific. I think I've read it in less than 24 hours because of how much I love it. And yes, Anthony and Kate had their obvious flaws, but oh God, they were so perfect together. I can't help but imagine Jonathan Bailey from the Netflix series as Anthony when I was reading it. I swoon, all the time.

This used to be my favorite Bridgerton novel, but that's only because I haven't read my new favorite until recently. Anthony and Kate's story was just oh-so good and intimate and romantic. Kate's also my favorite heroine in the entire Bridgerton literary universe. She was headstrong and loving. She's unafraid to put the happiness of her family first.

In so many ways, Anthony was the same. He assumed the role of Viscount Bridgerton when he was only eighteen when his father unexpectedly died. Since then, he overlooks the family's estates and well-being. Yes, this is one of those "daddy issues" stories I mentioned earlier, but this one was kind of done tastefully. He didn't wish to fall in love but everything changed when he encountered Kate. He didn't mean to be attracted to her, but here we are.

Anthony and Kate had so much understanding between them. I agree Anthony was a bit of a dick when Kate asked if they could have one week to get to know each other before consummating the marriage (worse things have been said by Benedict and Phillip, though), but in the end, I can't deny that I truly love them together.

Overall Rating: 8/10

#1 - When He Was Wicked (Book 6)

*blushing furiously* So what if I put the smuttiest and steamiest novel as my top choice?! What about it? Oh, but really, though, I can't stop reading this. Francesca is one of the least known Bridgertons in the books, just like Gregory. I didn't know anything about her, except that she's quieter than most of her siblings. It was also first mentioned in Romancing Mister Bridgerton that she had already married but was sadly widowed after two years.

Michael was Francesca's late husband's cousin and best friend, which makes him her best friend, too. He has been secretly in love with Francesca since the first moment he laid eyes on her but was unable to pursue her because she's with his cousin John. In addition, I'd like to say that Michael is my favorite hero in the Bridgerton books. He's very charming and wicked, and really, my knees buckle at the thought of him.

Long after John passed away, Francesca and Michael reunited. Francesca was looking for a new husband because she desperately wants a family, while Michael... well, Michael was still in love with her. There was undeniable passion and intimacy between them, and it was hard to stay away from each other. I seriously have a thing for men secretly pining over women they love. That's got to be one of my favorite tropes.

However, the book itself was a bit longer than necessary. While I understand Francesca's hesitations in marrying Michael, it could've been shortened because it felt draggy by the end. Her constant changing of minds was a bit annoying, and yeah, it was probably a ploy to lengthen the novel.

Additionally, I was a bit skeptical at first of how they're going to treat their relationship, especially since Francesca was truly in love with her first husband. But it was done so nicely. Francesca and Michael never forget about John, even in the end. I loved what John's mother said to Michael in a letter at the end, "Thank you, Michael, for letting my son love her first."

I guess I love their story more than the other couples because both were already mature and experienced. Just like everyone else in this romantic series, Francesca and Michael belonged together. The entirety of Chapter 19 is proof of that.

Overall Rating: 9/10

***

Overall, the Bridgerton books are quite entertaining, despite being a cheesy and sappy series. I admit that I feel quite lonely and bored now that I've finished all eight of them. Ah well, there's always the possibility of rereading them!

[ramblingromance]

Thoughts on Bridgerton: From a Book-reader’s perspective

I thought I was prepared for this adaption to be different from the novels, but apparently I was not as prepared as I thought I had been. The tone is different from the series of books, which this being a shondaland production, it was one of the main things I was expecting. The drama has to be upped, and once I did finally come to terms with the show being as different as it was, and completely separating it from the books in my mind, I really got to truly enjoy it. Be prepared, there is lots of unorganized rambling below as well as spoilers. 

Some exact scenes were kept from the novel, and there were plenty of nods to fans. There were so many bees, and also hints to season two. Anthony will be looking for his Viscountess, and there is even mention of his favorite Pall Mall mallet at Aubrey Hall. 

As someone who doesn’t really care for The Duke and I to begin with, it’s ranked pretty low out of all the books in the series on my personal list, I still found myself excited for this adaption, and enjoying it as well. As a production goes, this series is gorgeous. There are so many sweeping shots, and the cinematography as well as camera play in some shots are just *chef’s kiss*. This thing had so much money thrown at it, and you can tell. I was a fan of all the new storylines, because it brought something fresh to the table for book-readers, and I like how certain characters that don’t come in to play until later in the book series were already introduced. 

While there may be some differences, this series still played out like a romance novel. Couple meets, couple goes on a journey to fall in love, drama occurs, then gets resolved, and the couple is in love in the end with a promise of happily ever after. I think some people thought the happy ending was the way for the show to resolve in case netflix doesn’t pick up a second season, but this is just how romance novels are. Simon and Daphne’s story has now been told, and now it’s on the next sibling (Anthony) to find love, even if unwittingly. Simon and Daphne will definitely make appearances in the next season, but they will no longer be considered the main characters. 

As far as pacing goes, which was one of my main issues with the show, I think I came to terms with that too. There are so many characters in this show, kind of like in GOT, so it makes sense that it would hop from scene to scene in order to keep track of what everyone is up to. I did like that aspect in GOT, even if they had a terrible ending, and I think I finally started to like it here. 

Okay, now on to things they added that I loved. We get to see so much more Benedict than in the book series, and I am really enjoying his character. Luke Thompson brings this loveable, goofiness to the character that I’m really enjoying. I also love the fact that he and Eloise are so close. It’s nice getting these new aspects to the siblings’ relationships with one another. I also loved how fleshed out Eloise already is, as well as her friendship with Penelope of course. The Queen was a new character I wasn’t sure about, but she definitely brings and extraness and drama to the show that I ended up enjoying, and lord my heart went out to her too during that scene with the king.

As for Marina and Sienna, my heart goes out to them, though especially for Marina. She felt she was forced into a corner, and was doing what she thought was her only option. And for a woman in her situation in that time period, she really would be without very many options. I just hate that it’s clear she is on her downward spiral, and I hate that they are going to use her eventual death as more drama for Penelope’s character. As for Penelope, they have made Whistledown a little darker, but I can understand why she would pull a move like she did. She’s 17, hurt and angry, and lashing out. She felt backed into a corner too, even if it was to a lesser extent than Marina was. Also, I loved that they revealed to the audience who Lady Whistledown is. I think this will provide some interesting drama going forward, especially since Queen Charlotte is trying desperately to unmask her. 

I love that Lord Featherington was killed off, and I’m interested to see who is in line to take his place. The Featheringtons didn’t get much time in the books, so their storylines have definitely been interesting to see in the the show. 

It was pointed out to me that the siblings all refer to one another as “brother” and “sister” quite a lot, and now I can’t not notice it. I’m not sure if this is so it can be hammered into the audiences’ brain who is related to who, or maybe they just thought people never referred to one another by name back then. I’m not sure. I’m also not sure why Francesca was used so little as well. It’s true that she is not in the books very often either, and even in her own story it’s revealed that she is more of the blacksheep of the family. She’s introverted, and a little more quiet than her boisterous siblings. She loves her family, but she also loves being off doing her own thing. Knowing all this, I’m not sure if this is the writer’s attempt to try and establish this in her character, or if they simply weren’t sure what to do with her all season, so off to Bath she was sent. 

Is this netflix series perfect? No. It has it’s issues. For one, I’m not sure why they kept That Scene in. I’m so glad it was as short as it was, because I think the show honestly made it worse. In a novel written almost over twenty years ago, I can understand why it’s there, especially when the scene in question comes across as more of a dubious consent situation considering how ignorant Daphne is about sex. The show makes it seem much more planned out, and then afterwards it’s just kind of glossed over? This show kind of tends to do that with other issues too. Like racism and feminism. Regardless, this show still makes the racists mad, and I’m always here for that. 

If you’re wanting a glitzy, rompy, true love prevailing period drama to take your mind off our current reality, check out Bridgerton, and piss a racist off in the process.