The Girl Next Door Who Was Secretly a Really Cool Person

Book Review: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

If there’s one book that embodies the essence of a charming and captivating romance, it’s Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. I loved reading the entire Bridgerton series a few years ago, and was overjoyed with the multiple seasons we’ve received from Netflix. In preparation for the release of Season 3 on May 16th, I decided to re-read Romancing Mr. Bridgeton.

From the moment I opened its pages, I was transported into a world of wit, charm, and undeniable chemistry. The story of Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton is a tale as old as time, yet Quinn manages to breathe new life into it with her enchanting storytelling. Their story is hilariously charming, and some scenes and lines even made me laugh out loud. You really fall in love with both of the protagonists, and root for them like they’re your two best friends.

Colin decided then and there that the female mind was a strange and incomprehensible organ – one which no man should even attempt to understand. There wasn’t a woman alive who could go from point A to B without stopping at C, D, X, and 12 along the way.

What sets this book apart is Quinn’s ability to create characters that feel like old friends. This is a trait that continues through the entire Bridgerton books and Netflix seasons. In sharp contrast to the average idea of a woman at the time, Penelope is not your typical heroine. She’s intelligent, witty, and fiercely independent, making her a refreshing and relatable protagonist. Colin, on the other hand, is the epitome of a charming gentleman. Together, they form a dynamic duo that is impossible not to root for.

One of the highlights of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is the undeniable chemistry between Penelope and Colin. Quinn masterfully builds their relationship, from childhood friends to something deeper and more meaningful. I love that we get to see their relationship grow in the first four books of the series. And, I love that they have a fairytale ending to their story.

Their banter is witty and charming, and their romance is filled with tender moments that will tug at your heartstrings. It had my giggling into my hands and kicking my feet, and their romantic scenes had me blushing and reading the pages through my hands. On this topic, Nicola Coughlin (Penelope Featherington) and Luke Newton (Colin Featherington) joked in an interview that they had actually broken some furniture while filming one of their romantic scenes. So all I’ll say is enter this book at your own risk.

She’d met Colin on a Monday.
She’d kissed him on a Friday.
Twelve years later.
She sighed. It seemed fairly pathetic.

Another aspect of the book that I absolutely adored is Quinn’s vivid and enchanting writing style. Her descriptions are so vivid that you can almost feel yourself walking the streets of Regency-era London, attending glamorous balls, and falling in love under the starlit sky. Her books, along with Shonda Rhimes’s Netflix adaptation, whisk you away to another era. It’s a testament to Quinn’s skill as a writer that she transports her readers so effortlessly into the world she has created.

My rating for Romancing Mr. Bridgerton: 9/10

Overall, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is a delightful and heartwarming read that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. It’s a book that reminds us of the magic of romance and the joy of falling in love. If you’re looking for a book that will sweep you off your feet, look no further than Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

If you haven’t started on the Bridgerton series yet, start from the very beginning with The Duke and I. Check out my review on it as well!