I will have to say that I am beyond glad that I decided to read the series. I absolutely love the Bridgertons and everyone who recommends this series for a reason. The family is large and boisterous and loving. The banter between the siblings is off the wall leading me to laugh throughout. Even if I didn’t love all of the romances in this series, I fell head over heels in love with the family. So here are the reviews for all eight of the books in the Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn!
Avon
Source: Library
Let me backup a little bit. From the very beginning I really felt for Simon. From a young age that you find out through the prologue of the story, he has had to deal with so much emotional abuse. It’s made him a very stoic and gruff man. He doesn’t want to ever marry or ever have children Which is incredibly hard to do considering that he is a duke. Well there were moments where I felt that he needed to ask for help with his feelings instead of just hiding them, I ended up just feeling a lot for him.
I can’t even speak about Daphne Bridgerton without mentioning how much I fell in love with all of the Bridgertons in the story. They are such a fun and boisterous bunch and were amazing to read about. All of their banter was so hilarious and really just left a huge smile on my face. Daphne is the oldest daughter and child number four of the set. Raised with three older brothers, she is not easily intimidated and can really take care of herself which she demonstrates early on in the story. But she really lost some of my respect because of a decision she made near the end of the story.
So, in the end, my foray into the Bridgertons was a roller coaster. I had to take some time to decide if I would continue on with the rest of the series. As you can tell, I did decide to read the rest but I was slightly wary. I wanted to love Simon and Daphne’s love story wholeheartedly but I couldn’t. I hope the rest of the series fare better. I also want to add that I really love Lady Whisteldown. This character that we don’t ever meet really adds a touch of hilarity. I’m hoping we get to see more of her in the series.
I want to be absolutely clear in admitting that I don’t always dislike alpha male characters. I think that this characterization can be done well in a way that doesn’t leave the reader feeling creeped out or taken advantage of. I could tell from the very beginning that Anthony was going to be an alpha male and I really hoped that he would be what I would like. However, I really didn’t like how he would often overstep Kates boundaries. A lot of the events left an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
Kate also wasn’t the best character and I couldn’t really get a feel for her sister. She disliked Anthony so much based on a gossip column and rumors which I didn’t think was all that fair. So much of her character resolved around protecting Edwina from marrying Anthony which didn’t leave room for more about her to be revealed.
As someone who usually likes seeing characters overcome the issues they have surrounding their parents, I didn’t think it was well done in this story. So much of the conflict resolved around the two main characters not speaking to each other which didn’t work in any endearing way.
I do want to say that once again I love the budget and family. The banter that all of the siblings and mother have with each other so well written and hilarious. I really fell in love with this family and I cannot wait for more from them. However, I haven’t been as big of a fan of the romances that have come forth in the series thus far but I’m hopeful that they’ll improve.
Can there be any greater challenge to London’s Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?My journey with reading all eight of the Bridgerton novels Ended up leaving me with a lot of emotions I couldn’t process. The Duke and I was everything that I could want from a romance novel and more. But there was a certain scene near the end of the Duke and I that really tarnished my immense love for this book.
—Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1813
By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend’s sister, the lovely—and almost-on-the-shelf—Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth—it’s all an elaborate plan to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.
But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it’s hard to remember that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it’s his devilish smile, certainly it’s the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her… but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke… for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love…
Let me backup a little bit. From the very beginning I really felt for Simon. From a young age that you find out through the prologue of the story, he has had to deal with so much emotional abuse. It’s made him a very stoic and gruff man. He doesn’t want to ever marry or ever have children Which is incredibly hard to do considering that he is a duke. Well there were moments where I felt that he needed to ask for help with his feelings instead of just hiding them, I ended up just feeling a lot for him.
I can’t even speak about Daphne Bridgerton without mentioning how much I fell in love with all of the Bridgertons in the story. They are such a fun and boisterous bunch and were amazing to read about. All of their banter was so hilarious and really just left a huge smile on my face. Daphne is the oldest daughter and child number four of the set. Raised with three older brothers, she is not easily intimidated and can really take care of herself which she demonstrates early on in the story. But she really lost some of my respect because of a decision she made near the end of the story.
SPOILERS FOR THE STORY! (highlight to read!)
Simon, like I mentioned, did not want to have children and this was the fact that he had said several times. One night he gets drunk and Daphne begins to have sex with him. He consents to having sex with her and they’re having a really good time until she gets on top of him. As he gets close to releases, he asks Daphne to stop. Up until this point, every time they’d had sex he wouldn’t cum in her so they couldn’t have children. At this moment Daphne decides to not honor his request and makes him cum in her. This is after he has verbally said no and that he wants to stop. This is rape. This scene shouldn’t have happened. In the end, this scene left me feeling incredibly angry.
END OF SPOILERS
So, in the end, my foray into the Bridgertons was a roller coaster. I had to take some time to decide if I would continue on with the rest of the series. As you can tell, I did decide to read the rest but I was slightly wary. I wanted to love Simon and Daphne’s love story wholeheartedly but I couldn’t. I hope the rest of the series fare better. I also want to add that I really love Lady Whisteldown. This character that we don’t ever meet really adds a touch of hilarity. I’m hoping we get to see more of her in the series.
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1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elsuive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.I was really looking forward to the Viscount Who Loved Me After not really enjoying the ending of the Duke and I. I desperately wanted to love all of the Bridgeton siblings and their love stories but alas the Viscount who loved me also didn’t measure up. I found both of the leading characters rather insufferable and there wasn’t enough to redeem either of them. I didn’t hate them but I didn’t love them completely.
And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better…
—Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814
But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry—he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…
Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself…
I want to be absolutely clear in admitting that I don’t always dislike alpha male characters. I think that this characterization can be done well in a way that doesn’t leave the reader feeling creeped out or taken advantage of. I could tell from the very beginning that Anthony was going to be an alpha male and I really hoped that he would be what I would like. However, I really didn’t like how he would often overstep Kates boundaries. A lot of the events left an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
Kate also wasn’t the best character and I couldn’t really get a feel for her sister. She disliked Anthony so much based on a gossip column and rumors which I didn’t think was all that fair. So much of her character resolved around protecting Edwina from marrying Anthony which didn’t leave room for more about her to be revealed.
As someone who usually likes seeing characters overcome the issues they have surrounding their parents, I didn’t think it was well done in this story. So much of the conflict resolved around the two main characters not speaking to each other which didn’t work in any endearing way.
I do want to say that once again I love the budget and family. The banter that all of the siblings and mother have with each other so well written and hilarious. I really fell in love with this family and I cannot wait for more from them. However, I haven’t been as big of a fan of the romances that have come forth in the series thus far but I’m hopeful that they’ll improve.
The Bridgertons Series
Book 1: The Duke and I
Book 2: The Viscount Who Loved Me
Book 3: An Offer From a Gentleman
Book 4: Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Book 5: To Sir Phillip With Love
Book 6: When He Was Wicked
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