DNF at 23% // this isn’t my thing, but also wow get to the point please

A rare two-fer for me: two books in a row that I had seen in film before I read. Julia and I watched the first season of Bridgerton on Netflix recently, and it was very much a fluffy period romance. As it turns out, it is pretty true to the source material (though much more racy in Shonda Rimes’ hands). Much more happens in the show than in this book—the novel is the first in a series in which each volume apparently focuses on each of the eight Bridgerton siblings. This is a straight up romance: a tortured hero and an innocent yet smart and sassy girl meet and fall in love. They endure some bumps along the road (his broody stubbornness, their mutual lust followed by a hasty marriage, some revelations that feel like betrayal, a period of estrangement), but in the end (and it is not a spoiler to say it) love conquers all. It’s been a long time since I read a book like this, and 30 years ago I’m sure my take would have been a lot different. At this juncture, I’m not sorry I read it, but I won’t be in a hurry to read more in the series. ( )

When I needed fluff, I sure got fluff while reading this book. I will fully admit to binging the entire Bridgerton series on Netflix......and the first novel installment was very much the same. I enjoyed the emphasis on Simon and Daphne and look forward to the other characters being explored in future volumes.

A dear friend of mine was right in that these books are so much more FUNNY than the series. Anthony isn't quite so much of a jerk. Simon's dad is even more of a jerk than in Bridgerton....if that is even possible. Yeah, this book was the perfect thing to read during winter break.

Full disclosure, the book is smutty once and a while. NOT as often as the TV show (like we don't get all the down and dirty during their honeymoon). But still if you are looking for clean, this isn't it. ( )

It was enjoyable up until the rape scene. ( )

Yeah, I wonder if this had been published today if some things would be different, because there were definitely some questionable consent things in here.

A little too much sex in here, but otherwise this was an engrossing read. I think there were places where it could have been smarter and asked more of readers. ( )