The viscount who loved me Bridgerton series – Julia Quinn

As the new season of Bridgerton is closely upon us, it is time for me to write about a book I have read at least two times. Today, I want to talk to you about my opinions on the second book in the Bridgerton series, where we follow our Lord Bridgerton himself, Anthony.

What is this story about? 
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 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…
Read more here.

What did I think?
Here is the thing, I am unsure if I want to watch this season. When I watched the first season of Bridgerton I hadn’t read the book and when I did afterward I loved the casting. The changes were a bit annoying especially because they didn’t make the story flow the way the book did. And even though Simon did not have those piercing blue eyes as he did in the book. He didn’t have to have those, the eyes were a way of storytelling to give off this specific look, which the actor did give in the series. Daphne in the book wasn’t the most confident girl and certainly not the most seen. But she was gorgeous, so although I didn’t value the changes as good or necessary. I didn’t feel as strong as I do with this book, it was annoying but understandable in a sense because it is tv. TV still seems to think that we want the diamond to end up with the male equivalent of a diamond. But that is a story for a different day.

I have never in my almost twenty-five years identified so much with a character as I did with Kate and to some extent Anthony in this book. And I truly feel that it is going to hurt my heart when the series doesn’t give me the feeling the book did, but it won’t because it cannot. To me, this story has so many interesting layers. Before I go into the story I must say that Julia Quinn can truly pull at my heartstrings when writing her books.

In this book, we meet the Bridgertons once again, with Anthony at the helm. He is the Viscount and we all know what Viscounts need, an heir. In a proper family, you get by your wife, to which you are married. And nothing would be better for our Anthony than the diamond of the season. The problem for Anthony is that he wants to wed a wife he doesn’t love and will never love. Now the diamond this season is just the girl for him. The gorgeous Edwina Sheffield.. does not want to marry anyone her big sister does not approve of.

We meet Kate and she is just a bit too tall, just a bit too blunt, and just a bit well too old. She isn’t old really but should have come out a few years earlier. But if there is only enough money for one season… You do what you have to. Kate just doesn’t think anyone will like her, she doesn’t think people are going to want to marry her. Especially if she stands next to her sister who is so beautiful, so full of grace and so very lovely. I feel so connected to this character as she feels a bit out of step. The way she and others describe her as being just a bit too tall, I felt that in my very bones. The thing is I had this with Daphne as well. It is never the brunette, is it? It’s never the girl who is a bit too tall. It is never the girl that is just nice and a great friend. It is never that girl… And for girls that are all of those things, it is sometimes hard to identify with a story where the guy looks at the love interest and is smitten right away. It feels so far out of the realm of possibilities that it sort of gets you out of the story. So I admit I love Kate and what she represents.

Her narration is also so spot on. I love that she doesn’t think she is awful or ugly or stupid. She is very matter-of-fact, her sister is gorgeous and lovely and she is in her shadow, and to Kate that is no bad place to be. She feels so responsible in a way that Anthony also feels. This pressure of always having to take care of others. Where you hardly even know what you want yourself. I loved that throughout the book we could tell that they truly liked each other but didn’t want to admit that they had this attraction. Not only physically but also mentally. I loved how people kept telling them how very much they reminded them of the other person.

Anthony and Kate challenge each other throughout the book, they make each other feel safe. They make each other feel important, feel loved. They both have been through incredible heartbreak losing a parent (or in Kate’s case two). Feeling this need very deep into their soul to protect their family. The way that they can talk and enjoy each other’s company but also get real with what they think of the other person. They fall in love most beautifully, not all at once but slowly. Like a pot of water, it always had the potential to boil it just needed time and the right amount of pressure. Sigh… I love this book. It truly is one of my favorites and I think that this is one of those books you have to read if you love the series. I did make my mind up when writing, I will watch and you and I will see if it in any way comes close to the book. And maybe it does, or maybe it will make us fall in love in a completely different way.

The book is available in bookshops and audible. I loved the narrator of the audiobook, a total recommendation. For my other book reviews, click here. Or maybe you want to read something completely different, click here. Follow me on my socials on Instagram ] and TikTok.

Lots of love,
Melissa