The Weekend Binge: The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Happy Saturday y’all! I devoured The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn a few months ago in audiobook form and then spent a weekend binging season 2 of Bridgerton on Netflix. Today I thought I’d share my thoughts on the book and how season 2 compares to the novel. If you’d read or watched, I’d love to know your opinions. Share them in the comment section below

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
Series: Bridgertons #2
Published by Avon, Recorded Books on 2016-10-17
Length: 12 hours and 23 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook from My Book Shelf
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2022 Audiobook Challenge, 2022 Backlist Reader Challenge, 2022 Beat the Backlist, 2022 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

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 all 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's 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 was hesitant starting this one. I didn’t think I would like Anthony as much as Simon, but I do. In fact, I think I love him more! The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn is the second book in her series about the Bridgertons. This one is about the eldest as he comes to the realization that it is past time to fulfill his duty to his family. That means marriage and producing an heir. As with the first, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments with an emotionally driven romance. Rosalyn Landor’s narration is fantastic. The book comes to life on the pages as if you were reading a society paper, and I couldn’t help but love her.

Anthony Bridgerton is not an easy man to like. He’s bullheaded and the very definition of a rogue. However, with the POV chapters we are given by the author, I fell in love with him quite thoroughly. Losing his father at the cusp of becoming a man and having to step into a role he believed he wouldn’t fulfill for years broke something in him. That grief and anger became its own force. As a result, Anthony believes he is destined to die young like his father, and with the clock rapidly ticking away, he’s decided it is time to wed. His choice is the diamond of the season, but only one thing stands in his way: the girl’s older sister.

Kate Sheffield is determined to help her sister find a suitable husband this season. It is the only season they can afford to be in town, attending lavish balls. I love Kate. She is shrewd in her outlook and has a large, caring heart. Despite being the eldest sister, Kate has no intentions of marrying. With the death of her father, they do not have much money for a dowry and what they do have she wants saved for her sister. Kate is content to be a governess or teacher and not a wife. At least that is the lie she continues to tell her self.

I love how these two wind up in each other’s paths over and over again. Anthony is determined to get Kate to like him so that he can marry her sister, yet sparks fly between them. This is very much an enemies-to-lovers trope as the two cannot stand each other. But you know what they say, there’s a thin line between love and hate.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Viscount Who Loved Me. I liked it even more than the first book. This one is focused on two opposites, forced to marry who fall in love. It was so easy to root for Anthony and Kate, even when I wanted to reach through the pages and slap sense into one or both of them. If you are a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend it.

How does season 2 compare to the book?

I loved season 2 of Bridgerton. However there wasn’t much in common between the show and book this time. While season 1 stayed pretty true to the book, season 2 turned away from it. I understand that it was because of time constraints and to produce more drama, but I was disappointed in a pivotal scene in particular: the garden scene after the bee sting. I won’t say more because spoilers, just that I didn’t care for how the story played out from there.

Johnathan Bailey is an amazing Anthony though. He captured the Anthony from the book very well and brought him to life. I loved Simone Ashley as Kate. She was fantastic, I couldn’t imagine anyone else in the role.

My favorite episode of season 2 was episode three: A Bee in Your Bonnet. This episode featured one of my favorite scenes from the book: the pall mall game.

Your Turn! Have you watched the new season of Bridgerton yet? Are you a fan of the book series? Share your thoughts below

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