Title: The Viscount Who Loved Me
Author: Julia Quinn
Genre: Romance/History
Format: ebook
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Blurb (from Goodreads):
1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.
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…
So, following on from my review of The Duke and I, yesterday I managed to read the sequel in a single sitting. Book Two follows Anthony Bridgerton (the eldest of the siblings) in his attempts to settle down and secure a marriage.
Oh Good God.
The first book was funny. This book was hysterical.
I cannot count the number of times I burst out laughing at some quip (Kate, Anthony and Colin were the usual offenders) or ridiculous scenario that occured. And I cannot wait to see this adapted for the next season of Bridgerton.
Kate Sheffield is, quite frankly, one of my favourite female leads. She is not afraid to sass Anthony (something he is in dire need of, let’s be real), she’s an outdoorsy person, and she just feels…well, real. She feels far more grounded than other female leads I might mention (*cough*Daphne*cough*), but despite that she’s not intimidated by Anthony’s titles.
Also, I REALLY loved Kate’s relationship with both Mary (her step-mother) and Edwina (step-sister). This book is ALL about family, and how important they are to both Kate and Anthony, and it’s nice to be reminded that a family is what we make it. Not necessarily a mother, father, and brood of children, but sometimes a single parent with daughters, both of whom she loves equally. Sometimes a family doesn’t have to be related by blood at all.
The Pall Mall scene killed me to read, it’s the perfect combination of competitive Bridgertons (although, where was my boy Benedict?) and a competitive Kate, and GOD there are so many moments that I adored in this book, but Kate looking Anthony dead in the eye like ‘fuck you’ and hitting his ball into the lake was ICONIC.
On a more serious note, I feel like, having read this book, I could go back and rewatch Bridgerton understanding Anthony a thousand times better. Man is terrified of falling in love, not for any of the ridiculous reasons about manliness or commitment issues, but because he’s scared of leaving people behind when he dies. He just presumes that he won’t outlive his father, and wants as few people to be hurt as possible, and honestly I get it. Everything he does – yes, I’m aware it’s at least a little irrational, but his reasoning does make sense.
Both of them have scenes where their absolute worst fears come true, and holy shit the scenes were electric, lightning storm pun not intended. That moment in the library, where Anthony finds Kate under the table in the middle of the storm, and at the end – the carriage scene, if you’ve read it you’ll know the one – I cried. A lot. This wasn’t a book I expected to make me have feelings, but alas I did, and alas my glasses got all smudged.
I realise I’ve just rambled happily about this for thirty minutes, so I should explain the rating. I’m dropping half a star because Anthony is pushy in places and I’m… not about that. I get it, he’s a man, and he’s dominating etc etc, but ugh please. He’s better than Simon, but there were a few moments I questioned.
Besides that, however, I am so glad I gave this one a shot. It’s everything I want in a romance book – and by everything, I mean ‘witty banter and accidentally catching feelings’.
tl;dr: The Viscount Who Loved Me is superior to The Duke and I in every way. Just skip the first one and watch Season 1 of Bridgerton to catch yourself up, and start here.
Lots of love,
Chronicles of Tick Tock 