The Viscount Who Loved Me: Bridgerton (Bridgertons, #2)

by Julia Quinn

ANTHONY’S STORY

This time the gossip columnists have it wrong. London’s most elusive bachelor 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’s 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...

• ISBN10: 0063279460
• ISBN13: 9780063279469
• Publish Date: 24 May 2022 (first published 1 April 2003)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 576
• Language: English

Reviews

[pamela]

The Viscount Who Loved Me was exactly the same book as The Duke and I, but slightly better.

A heroine who is a naive virgin? Check.
Hero with daddy issues? Check.
Toxic relationship? Check.
Shotgun wedding? Check.

While The Viscount Who Loved Me was a much more fun read that the first book of the series, and its toxicity a lot less damaging and more relatable, it was still rather boring with insipid characterisation.

The real tragedy, however, is that this book contains one of the most boring sex scenes ever put to page. I pity the sex life of anyone who finds the vanilla missionary sex of The Viscount Who Loved Me even slightly titillating. I've seen hilariously shaped vegetables with more sex appeal that the "erotic romance" contained in this book.

I'm going to give book three a try because I definitely saw an improvement in this book from the first, but if it follows the same formula then I'll be bowing out. There's only so many forced marriages that come good in the end that any reader should have to take.

[kimbacaffeinate]

First, before reading the prologue, I recommend having a glass of wine or a few truffles at the ready. It made me cry! Second, the rest of the book had me laughing out loud, swooning, and wanting to knock a certain Viscount on the back of the head until he came to his senses. All of this made for an addictive listen!

Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest son of the Bridgerton clan, has reached the age of twenty-nine and decided to settle down and produce an heir. After his father's passing Anthony believes he will not live to see his children fully grown and decides to wed a good woman to raise his child. He has only one rule. It's simply really he will NOT marry for love.

Kate Sheffield is soon to be twenty-one and will be having her first season along with her half-sister, seventeen-year-old, Edwina. Kate is tall and ordinary while Edwina is considered beautiful. Finances have made them share a season, but Kate adores her little sister and plans to see her happily married. When that Bridgerton Rake sets his eyes on Edwina, Kate is determined to thwart his efforts.

There is nothing I love more than a bickering, snarky haters to lovers romance and Quinn delivered in spades. The Viscount has this plan, a selfish one to protect his heart, and while Edwina will suit perfectly as his wife, he has no feelings for her, but her sister Kate is driving him absolutely mad! I loved their chemistry, the debacle at the park and oh lord who knew lawn croquet could be so much fun!

At the beginning of each chapter, we get an excerpt from the notorious Lady Whistledown's Society Paper. This woman knows all, and I delighted on her reportings.

The Bridgerton family is utterly delightful from the brotherly shenanigans to the rivalries. You just want to spend time with them, and Quinn rewarded readers with a house party at their estate.

The romance was filled with wicked banter and a smidgen of angst as Anthony had to come to his senses. I loved how Kate exasperated Anthony and the way he eventually wormed his way into her heart. Their story felt genuine, and I rooted for them.

Rosalyn Landor continues to narrate this series, and while I am not one hundred percent on board with her male voices, she did capture the tone of the story. Her pacing allowed me to slip in and become caught up in the tale. I thought she did a splendid job with the banter and chemistry between Anthony and Kate. I enjoyed her accent as well.

THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVES ME was a delightful story and left me eager for the next Bridgerton romance.

The audio also contains, THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVES ME: The Epilogue II (Bridgertons #2.5) It gives us a follow up to Kate and Anthony's story some fifteen years into the future and had me laughing and smiling.

Audio provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Angie]

The Viscount Who Loved Me was very sweet, although not quite as lovable as the first book. This time we're following the eldest of the Bridgerton siblings, Anthony. He's rumored to be a rake and rogue, but this is the year that he's going to be married. Not that Anthony is looking for love, but he needs to have an heir before he dies in approximately nine years (it's all in his head, obviously). He has his sights set on this Season's beauty, Edwina, but he has to go through her sister Kate first. Too bad Kate is adamant about not letting him anywhere near her baby sister.

The beginning of The Viscount Who Loved Me was a bit slow for me. It seemed a bit random for Anthony to latch onto Edwina like that, but I guess he just needed a bride and any beautiful young girl would do. I really liked his interactions with Kate though. She insisted that she hated him, but she was constantly surprised by his behavior. It felt a bit repetitive. Anthony would find some way to be with Edwina alone, only to wind up back with Kate and shows her a new side to him, so she reevaluates her opinion on him. Obviously, they're going to end up together, but I suppose I wanted a bit more tension there at first.

Around the halfway mark, The Viscount Who Loved Me picked up and I found myself adoring it! I absolutely loved that scene which forced Kate and Anthony to get married. It was hilarious but also kind of heartbreaking, and completely far-fetched but unique. Immediately after that, the tension also picks up. Anthony had been harboring lustful thoughts about Kate and he lets them loose as soon as they're pronounced engaged! Of course, there has to be a bit of drama to separate them for a little while, but it didn't last long at all. I did want to smack Anthony though.

In the end, I really enjoyed The Viscount Who Loved Me. I didn't love Anthony and Kate as much as Daphne and Simon, but they were still a great couple. I especially loved any scene where there was more than one Bridgerton, like them playing Pall Mall. It was also fun to see the Featheringtons again!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Amanda]

February 2016 reread: Upping this rating to 4 stars because the antics of the Bridgertons cannot be denied, and apparently I'm not quite as annoyed with this particular romance trope quite as much as I once was... or the third reread is a charm.

---

I spent the last bit of my Christmas gift card (in May as I write this) to buy The Viscount Who Loved Me after realizing my county library system didn't have it. Never let it be said I am not devoted to the Bridgertons.

That said, The Viscount Who Loved Me wasn't my favorite book. Maybe because the fun antics of the Bridgertons didn't make much of an appearance. But I did laugh out loud plenty, and that is certainly the mark of a Julia Quinn novel.

Like the bee sting.

So... I've never really been the fan of "interested in someone other than the MC, but is clearly meant for MC" tropes. And while I enjoyed certain aspects of Anthony and Kate's romance, I didn't particularly enjoy that. (Hence it wasn't a favorite.)

But. It's the Bridgertons and Julia Quinn, and I found myself satisfied nonetheless and looking forward to book 3.

[mitabird]

4.5 stars

[rakesandrogues]

I loved the banter between Kate and Anthony. It's not my favorite romance novel, but it was very entertaining. I wish Colin and/or Edwina would have meddled just a little bit to make things more interesting.