Summer Reading: Bridgerton Series Review

As I previously mentioned, I've spent my summer reading (and re-reading) Julia Quinn's Bridgerton Series, eight romance novels about eight siblings in aristocracy of nineteenth century England.  Overall, though not the most mind-bettering activity, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the series.  Sometimes it was a little cliche, sometimes she recycled turns of phrase, and I did find more than a dozen grammar and punctuation errors.  But again, they're romance novels and not Vonnegut or Austen, there are some things you just gotta let slide.  Overall, they're easy, enjoyable reads and that's what I wanted!

A few things I liked  overall:

• Ms. Quinn put a little feminism into her characters.  All of the female "heroines" had a backbone, intelligence, and was a person in her own right.  In that way, it's not very factually accurate to have these women in the assigned time-period, but it was nice as a reader nonetheless.
• She kept the theme of the series, bringing back characters and nuances when it pertained to each story.  But each story could stand alone without the others.
• Who doesn't love a series that culminates in true love, each and every time?

As for the individual books, a few words on each:

• The Duke and I:  The first book I ended up picking up was the first book of the series.  Convenient, that.  This is about the first born daughter and her story falling in love with the Duke of Hastings and their struggles and triumphs within.  My favorite part was the overbearing brothers and the almost duel - because I'm pretty sure my overbearing men in my life would love to shoot someone too. 
• The Viscount Who Loved Me:  This is my second favorite book; at first I didn't like the first-born son (Anthony) because he was too much of a cliche for me.  But after a while, I was able to sink into the story with the help of the heroine, Kate.  
• An Offer From A Gentleman:  This was probably my least favorite and the most cliched.  The storyline was a recycled Cinderella theme from rags to happiness type of stuff.  It's fine in and of itself, but too hard to believe and get into. 
• Romancing Mister Bridgerton:  The overall tying thread of the first four books was Lady Whistledown, in this book you find out the mystery.  The book is the third son (Colin) and his search for love. I liked the heroine a lot better than I liked the hero, because I need a little more grit in my object of love.
• To Sir Phillip, With Love:  My favorite of the eight by far.  I've re-read this in passing or just to kill an hour or two on the weekends.  A very easy read and probably the most feminist bent - but with the love story included.  It all started with a note...
• When He Was Wicked:  I feel like this is the most "romance novel" of the eight with more graphic scenes.  But hey, it was a change in cadence!
• It's In Hiss Kiss: The struggles of the youngest, head strong daughter and her headstrong love interest.  This didn't stand out for me, but like I mentioned it was nice getting hints about the family and knowing the back story!
• On the Way to the Wedding:  Sometimes I feel towards the end of this series, Julia Quinn was straining for ideas.  This was a heroic end, but running to the church?  Hiding in a tree?  I'm not sure, it's not my favorite. 

If you needed more of the Bridgertons, Ms. Quinn is capitalizing on her series and has released "Second Epilogues" telling more details about life after the love story for each child.  Unfortunately for me, this is only on e-books and I only buy paper-and-spine books. So I'll have to wait a couple of months to further the reading.