“For once she was going to stop thinking about everyone else. She wasn’t going to take what she was given and make the best of it. She was going to reach for her own happiness, make her own destiny.”

You go girl! Lucy’s character development is amazing. She has always been a rational and practical girl whose heart was governed by her head, but unexpectedly, meeting Gregory was all it took for her to discover that her heart had enough to say as well.
This is undoubtedly my favourite Bridgerton book! I was so invested. What I liked most about this book is the evolution of Gregory and Lucy’s love story. It’s definitely not love at first sight as Gregory initially falls head over heels for Lucy’s friend. Lucy’s matchmaking efforts lead to her friendship with Gregory which eventually blossoms into love. But, here comes the biggest hurdle… Lucy is engaged, soon to be married to another man! All the planning in the world couldn’t have prepared Gregory for the biggest challenge of his life. For someone who has never had to work hard to get things in life, the persistence and courage he shows to realise a future with Lucy is truly remarkable. He never gives up on her—isn’t that adorable?!

Another thing this book depicts well is the relationship between siblings. For all the bickering between Gregory and Hyacinth, at one point it becomes clear how much Hyacinth loves Gregory. She is there for him with unwavering support and stands up for him when he gets treated badly.

And at last, let’s not forget the character with a villain arc, shocking but not surprising. I loved how Gregory dealt with them.
“You,” he bit off, “may shut up. Immediately.”
 
Throughout the story, a lot of great advice can be found. For example, this moment between Lucy and Hermione:
“There is nothing wrong with doubting yourself, Hermione. Marriage is an enormous undertaking. The biggest choice you will ever make in your life. There is never any good reason to rush into marriage.”
I would rather say marriage is ONE OF the biggest choices you will ever make in your life, but I strongly agree that it should never be rushed.

i liked it because it was a sweet story in the end. and i believe this book has the most “i love you’s” out of all the books.

i would’ve given this a higher rating if gregory didn’t believe himself to be in love with another woman (hermione aka the fmc’s best friend) for 40% of the story. but then when gregory did realize his feelings for lucy, it was so sweet. a complete 360 and he was all in. he quickly realized that what he felt for hermione was just loving the idea of her, and the idea of love; but with lucy, it was more. he was ready to begin his life with her!

neither main character was perfect. gregory and lucy were both flawed in their own ways and they both acknowledged that about themselves, which i commend. they’re self-aware enough to realize their faults and were willing to work on them to improve themselves when they’re apart and together. gregory knew he was a hopeless romantic to a fault and lucy knew she was too pragmatic, too managing.

the way my jaw dropped during the wedding part was crazy!! THE DRAMA!!! THE SCANDAL!!!!! IT WAS INSANE!!!! i admired how devoted gregory was to making lucy his wife and he was not letting anyone get in his way, not even lucy herself.

the “big secret” that was preventing the couple from being together was predictable that it was just lowkey disappointing to see the series end that way. it really felt like author ran out of steam but it makes sense because this was the last book of a series of 8.

the epilogue was shocking and hilarious to me, despite how ridiculous i found it. truly, why did no one get him off of her!?! 9 CHILDREN?!?

i hope and pray we will see his season on netflix one day, like the tree scene and the church scene alone can be their own episodes

On the Way to the Wedding- 3.5⭐️ 2.75🌶️

A funny thing happened ...

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except ...

She wasn't the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory Except ...

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar ...
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✨My Opinion✨
I finished this book just in time for the Julia Quinn author event in Columbus today! 

When there are 8 books in a regency romance series, sometimes plots and tropes get reused. This book was the last in the series and set up entirely different from the rest of the series. The prologue captured my attention right away. 

The book features falling for the wrong girl first, blackmail, treason, scandal… 

Gregory didn’t have the temper issues his older brothers did. I appreciated that, but where he was decent, Lucy’s uncle made up in misogyny. 

I actually really enjoyed Lucy and her make no waves practicality. Her response to everything was so realistic and time period appropriate. 

The last half of the book was drama filled and I lived for the messiness. 

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