The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After – Book Review
Choosing this book for review, I was only first aware of its author, Julia Quinn, and not that it was a compilation of short tales about the Bridgerton family. I put off reading it because I thought it was a book, but upon further inspection realized it was actually comprised of eight “second epilogues” and a novella centered on matriarch Violet Bridgerton.
I regret not reading this book sooner, but I’m also happy I waited. In this set of novels, I did, in fact, reserve the best for last.
If you haven’t read the first seven novels in the Bridgerton series, I suggest waiting until you are ready to dive into this one. Anyone who enjoyed meeting the many Bridgertons and reading about their happy endings will like this book.
The protagonists of Quinn’s The Duke and I, Simon and Daphne Bridgerton Basset, are featured in the opening chapter. In the following chapter, we are reunited with Anthony and Kate Bridgerton, and in the following chapter, we meet Sophie’s stepsister, Posy Reiling.
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More information on Lady Whistledown and the other characters from Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is provided in Chapter Four, and in the next chapter, Amanda Crane (Eloise’s stepdaughter from To Sir Phillip, With Love) is shown to be an adult and to be enjoying an adventure of her own.
While I enjoyed all of the aforementioned tales, it was Chapter 6 of When He Was Wicked, written by Francesca and Michael Stirling, that brought me to tears (I’m just happy my husband wasn’t home at the time). If I had cried in front of him, he would have laughed at me.
It usually takes a lot to get me emotional when reading a book, but this chapter really hit home for me. Two more of Julia Quinn’s pieces made me weep, much to my dismay. A fitting conclusion to a fantastic series by a remarkable writer, the novella about Violet Bridgerton was.
There were just two subpar tales among the bunch. Only Amanda Crane’s narrative is given from a first-person perspective, while the others are told from a third-person perspective.
This was helpful for understanding her perspective, but also hindered the creation of her romantic desire. It was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t measure up to the quality of the other nine. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton’s second epilogue was solid but not fantastic.
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The revelation of a major series secret was the focus of this tale. If this anthology were a fashion show, reviewers may say that this particular outfit/story was well-made and attractive, but did not go with the rest of the collection.
The Bridgertons Happily Ever After was like seeing old friends and family after reading all of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels. In my opinion, it must be more challenging to create a short narrative since you have to include all the necessary elements while using as little words as possible.
This book is one of Julia Quinn’s greatest achievements. Even though I knew what was going to happen in each of these “second epilogues,” this book blew my expectations out of the water and made me want to reread all of her Bridgerton novels.
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About the Author
Emma Thompson is a passionate bookworm with a deep appreciation for literature across various genres. With a degree in English Literature, she has a keen eye for analyzing and dissecting the intricacies of a book’s themes and writing style.
Emma has been an active reviewer for over five years, sharing her insights and recommendations with fellow readers.
