Vintage Romance: The Viscount who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
“She didn’t believe for one second that reformed rakes made the best husbands. She wasn’t even sure that a rake could be properly reformed in the first place.”
The Basics
Title: The Viscount who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2)
Author: Julia Quinn
Published: 2000
Publisher: Avon Books — HarperCollins
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback, mass market
Genres: Fiction — Historical fiction, Regency fiction, Romance, Historical romance, Regency romance, Vintage romance
This book is part of my Vintage Romance Series, in which I review romance books from the 1960s to early 2000s.
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Book Synopsis
London, 1814. Anthony Bridgerton is not only the city’s most eligible bachelor but also its most notorious. A seasoned rake, he has long shunned commitment, but this year, he is intent on marrying – not for love, mind you, but to fulfill his familial obligation and produce an heir. He has set his sights on Edwina Sheffield, the season’s most beautiful debutante, but there is something, or rather someone, standing in his way: Kate Sheffield, Edwina’s older sister. Having heard countless stories about Anthony’s debauched lifestyle, Kate is determined to keep him as far away as possible from her sister. As she spends more time with him, however, she begins to wonder if she might have judged him too hastily, and worse yet, she finds herself falling under his spell. Perhaps it is herself, not her sister, whom she should be worried about.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: Enemies-to-lovers romance? Check. A lavish historical setting? Check. Steamy scenes? Also, check.
It is not often that I prefer a sequel to the original, but such is the case for The Viscount who Loved Me. From the characters and their dialogue to the romance and overall story, nearly every aspect of The Viscount who Loved Me is superior to The Duke and I. It is an engrossing, highly entertaining book that is a must-read for fans of historical romance.
What makes this book shine is the romance between Anthony and Kate; their loathe-to-love story is perfection. Initially adversaries, with each working to undermine the efforts of the other, they gradually form an understanding and type of friendship, and much to their mutual surprise, that amicability starts to transform into something altogether more serious. Along the way, there is no shortage of witty banter and comical encounters as the two of them fight their feelings for one another, the consequence of which being that you will be hard-pressed to not laugh, or at the very least grin, while reading this book. I, for one, found it to be an instant mood booster, for without fail, every time I sat down to read this book, I felt my spirit brighten. Dispositional effects aside, Kate and Anthony’s love story is laudable, because it captures your heart. Not only do they have undeniable chemistry, but they also have a deeper, more emotional connection. They understand one another on an instinctual level, and as is evidenced throughout the book, they care for and bring out the best in each other. You would have to be cold-hearted indeed to not root for them as a couple, and this investment in their relationship, in combination with a pinch of uncertainty concerning its outcome, all but guarantees your continued interest in the book.
Also garnering your attention are the characters, with the star of the show being Kate. She is intelligent, quick-witted, and can hold her own in a spar of words with Anthony. She is independent, and unlike many of her contemporaries, she is neither in a rush to find a husband nor bent on marrying the wealthiest man possible. For the modern-day reader, she is relatable and easy to like. Less likable, at least initially, is Anthony. At the book’s onset, he is overly debonair and notoriously rakish. He shuns love, desirous of finding a wife for whom he could never develop strong feelings. Over the course of the book, the source of this attitude is revealed, and with this knowledge, Anthony comes to be cast in a more sympathetic light. He is no longer a shallow, one-dimensional rake but rather a man who is fettered by the past and compelled by fear to hide his true nature. By the book’s end, you, like Kate, will have fallen in love with him.
While not as bewitching as the protagonists, the secondary characters are still worthy of praise. They are well-penned, having been fleshed out just enough to contribute to the story in a meaningful way without ever stealing the spotlight from the leads; they are proper supporting characters. Some of the secondary characters, most notably Colin, add humor to the story, helping to keep the book entertaining and enjoyable. Then, there is Lady Whistledown, whose quotes at the start of each chapter help to structure the book and set the tone for what is to come. They also promote a sense of continuity with the previous book in the series, The Duke and I, as chapters in that book also open with an excerpt from Lady Whistledown’s paper.
Also fostering continuity is the setting. As with its predecessor, The Viscount who Loved Me is set in Regency England. Lavish balls, country estate parties, carriage rides, and the barbed gossip of the aristocracy: we get to vicariously experience them all. Reading this book is akin to stepping back in time; it sweeps you away from the modern age back to the early 19th century. It is an escapist treat that offers a temporary respite from reality.
Underlying and supporting all of the aforementioned aspects of this book is Quinn’s writing. Her writing is witty, engaging, and well-paced. The narrative never drags, nor does your attention ever drift. When you read this book, you become captivated by Quinn’s words, turning page after page to see what happens next in the story. Quinn also strikes that balance of including just enough steamy scenes to add to the book’s enjoyability without ever treading into gratuitousness or tedium.
The not so good
The Viscount who Loved Me is set in 1814, which is a year after the events of The Duke and I but prior in time to The Duke and I’s first epilogue. This has the potential to generate some confusion among readers, as not all readers may realize that the things described in The Duke and I’s epilogue have not yet come to pass in The Viscount who Loved Me.
Also, while not inherently bad, the ending to The Viscount who Loved Me is fairly predictable. I personally prefer happy endings over sad ones in romances, but I recognize that happily-ever-after endings are not everyone’s cup of tea.
Overall
The Viscount who Loved Me is a delightful, entertaining book that outshines its predecessor. If you are a fan of Regency romances – or really any type of historical romance – you should add this book to your to-read pile.
Have you read The Viscount who Loved Me? If so, let me know what you thought of the book in the comments section below!
