Book Review: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (Bridgerton #4) by Julia Quinn

“I love you with everything I am, everything I've been, and everything I hope to be. I love you with my past, and I love you for my future. I love you for the children we'll have and for the years we'll have together. I love you for every one of my smiles and even more, for every one of your smiles.”

― Julia quinn, Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Author Julia Quinn's immensely successful series of Regency historicals depicting the Bridgerton family continues with Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. Everything in the book lives up to what we've come to anticipate from Quinn: clever drafting, funny conversation, a flawless Regency setting, and skilled characterisation. Quinn's subtly nuanced treatment of the hero and the heroine's psychological development, which is aided by their blossoming love, may be the book's most endearing feature. The link between these two powerful people makes them even more so. 

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for . . . well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret . . . and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone’s preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip aboard he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same—especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide . . . is she his biggest threat—or his promise of a happy ending?

My reaction to this novel...

The fourth Bridgerton novel is an unmitigated delight as we at finally see the gorgeous Penelope Featherington, who had sprouted up in every one of the preceding stories as somewhat of a wallflower. We soon meet an introverted woman with a temperament who was ultimately spotted by Colin Bridgerton. This is a touching love tale that will brighten your day.

Colin had previously been a charming, astute rake. He is the third sibling who, beneath that enticing façade, struggles with his identity in everyday life. As a result, he’s spent years traveling throughout the world in order to avoid facing the futility of his existence. It was incredibly heartwarming to watch Penelope finally catch the heart of Colin-when he finally realizes that the person he has continuously regarded as a friend is in fact much more than that. In this way, Colin also gets Penelope to recognize how truly amazing she is.

Penelope is one of literature’s most heroic female heroines. Her progression from the very first book to her own book is astounding. Penelope is a really intriguing character in the novel since I believe her flaws are something that all women deal with at some time in their life. She also gains confidence in her ability to sustain herself. As a result, we as readers must back her. In addition, she meets the perfect man. So there’s also a metamorphosis from the odd one out to the swan narrative going on here. The ending of this novel is particularly amazing and tumultuous, as the persona of Lady Whistledown, the enigmatic social tattle whose witty insights have been given in several works, is finally revealed. Actually, if you recall, Lady Whistledown was revealed in the TV series during season 1, so I don't think it will surprise other readers who have already seen it as much as it did me because I watched the TV series first before deciding to read the book series.

I really can’t stop myself from giggling while reading this novel, so I think, for me, I will definitely recommend it to all the readers out there.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)

“There are moments in a woman's life when her heart flips in her chest, when the world suddenly seems uncommonly pink and perfect, when a symphony can be heard in the tinkle of a doorbell.”

I assumed this was how all girls felt. When they fell in love, they hoped that someone else would share their feelings. Waiting for someone to ask them. It actually is awash in hues, like the flowers that bloom in love. And I really believe that girls actually did feel that way. 

Where to buy this book...