Review of Julia Quinn's first 4 Bridgerton books

3/5 Stars

I started reading this because my friend convinced me to watch the show, and I thought I might as well read the books while I am at it. Doing this could have shifted my feelings for the book. The show has a lot of subplots and extra scenes that the book doesn't. This made me think the book is good, but having these other events included in their story made the book a bit boring. Although the book's ending was way better than the show's. The characters talked about their main problem and resolved their issue in the book, while the show became a regency version of After.

It is a cute regency romance with added drama, but not my favorite Bridgerton couple/story.

5/5 Stars

I ate this up! This has become my guilty pleasure romance book, and that comes from a person who isn't a romance reader to begin with.

I was giggling and kicking my feet all throughout this book. The banter between Kate and Anthony is top tier. I think it is because they are both really strong characters, and their stubbornness just makes their interactions 10x better. The longing in this book... the bee scene... The realization and plot twist is chef's kiss.

Newton is probably one of the best parts of this book and series as a whole.

Something I always say when reading romance books is I have to be convinced that the couple should be together and with them the love was radiating off the pages.

2/5 Stars

I came into this book with high expectations because show Benedict is adorable and I want nothing but the best for him... but I was sadly kind of disappointed.

The beginning starts strong with a very heavily influenced Cinderella retelling that was not bad. I felt for Sophie until she got kicked out then she turned into an annoying character who has her flaws, but girl pick a struggle.

I did love Benedict at first for he was the charming gentlemen will all love and know, and until he got horny and became too weird for me. The blackmailing... that's not in Cinderella. Also, why can she not just tell him who she is? The book would have been wrapped up in 200 pages.

There were cute scenes in this book but it just wasn't the same benedict that was in the show.

Not her going to jail... and Violet having her wonderful momma moment to shine.

Also, the 2nd epilogue was nice, but I just wanted more about the couple and not her sister's relationship.

4/5 Stars

They are a cute couple, probably my second favorite couple out of the family.

It is bothersome that Colin says he just now notices Penelope when she has been in his life for a while, but when she dolls herself up, he notices her. I am glad they got their happy ending; it was years in the making.

The whole book is basically Colin being angry and Penelope being upset that he isn't what she dreamed him to be.

The way he proposes, though...

I would have loved the epilogue to be focused on them and their family because we know Colin is a wife guy, but how is he as a dad?