Penelope is hands down my favourite heroine! ~ Under the Covers

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Ever read a book that made you rethink everything you thought you knew about its characters? Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn does exactly that. If you’ve ever wondered why Penelope Featherington has such a devoted fan base or how Colin Bridgerton finally becomes more than a charming side character, then this book deserves a spot on your shelf.

What is Romancing Mister Bridgerton about?

This book finally gives Penelope Featherington her moment in the spotlight alongside Colin Bridgerton in a heartfelt friends to lovers story. Beneath the wit and Regency balls lies a romance built on trust, vulnerability, and surprising discoveries. You’ll laugh, you’ll swoon, and you’ll finally understand the Lady Whistledown mystery in a whole new way.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn Book Review

Penelope Featherington has been overlooked her entire life. She’s been told that she’s not pretty enough, too plump, too nervous and too quiet. And yet, Penelope probably has the most personality out of all her heroines in this series. Penelope is hands down my favourite heroine! I love seeing her growth as a character in the previous ones leading up to her own book, Romancing Mr Bridgerton with her long-time crush, Colin.

I wondered how Colin would redeem himself after his flapping mouth exposed too much about how he felt about marrying Penelope in the last book. But even though Penelope was humiliated publicly by Colin’s outcry, she took it in stride, never letting Colin know how much it hurt her.

Colin Bridgerton is the third son of the well-known family and he’s been portrayed as the devil-may-cry character. Colin is known for his easy smiles and his well-placed words, but in this book we discover that Colin has his unfulfilled fantasies and secret desires. Who would have suspected such a thing from Colin, who always seems to enjoy himself in everything?

What I loved about this book is that we learn that there is more to the hero and heroine than we first thought. Quinn presents Penelope and Colin as one way, and in this book, we discover that there is more to these characters than we ever suspected.

If you’ve been wondering who Lady Whistledown is, then rest easy because you do find out who it is in this one! I smacked my head when I found out! OF COURSE! I thought. It makes absolute perfect sense now that I look back. There were so many clues to indicate the true identity of the notorious Society paper queen.

Also, if you’re read Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You, then you may have noticed that Quinn incorporated one of Kleypas’s characters into this book. Penelope reads Mathilda by S.R. Fielding who is actually Sara, the heroine of the book!

And of course, I have to talk about the romance between Penelope and Colin. While the previous book with Benedict was quick and passionate, Penelope and Colin’s romance was much slower and more solid. I love that Quinn makes each book different while still keeping it true to the characters. It makes each subsequent book entertaining to read. sigh I just adore this series!

About the Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn

Romancing Mister Bridgerton is the fourth novel in Julia Quinn’s beloved Bridgerton series, which follows the romances of the eight Bridgerton siblings in Regency era England. Each book focuses on a different sibling’s journey to love, blending sparkling dialogue with emotional depth, and the Netflix adaptation has helped bring this world to an even bigger audience.

If you’re watching Bridgerton Season 3 and wondering how it stacks up against the book, I’ve got thoughts. Since Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn is the source material for Penelope and Colin’s season, I put together a breakdown of what the show nailed, and where it took some big swings. Read my full take on the Bridgerton Netflix adaptation here.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a die hard Bridgerton fan or new to Quinn’s novels, Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn delivers on heart, humor, and satisfying emotional payoffs that keep readers hooked. It’s one of those books that makes you want to reread favorite scenes and immediately pick up the next in the series. So tell me… which moment in this book surprised you the most?

Want to keep exploring the series? Check out our next book review of To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn.

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