I'm despairing over here.  It seems the days of original ideas for romance novels have ended.  I was SO excited to read Quinn's newest because she's a superb writer and I'm always impressed by the intelligent and wit of her characters.  But her latest is a HUGE flop, in my opinion.  Stop reading if you haven't read it. 

It starts out with the plain-looking heroine in love with her best friend's hunky older brother.  So far, so good.  He starts falling for her, screws her halfway through the book, then leaves her for almost two months while she's pregnant.  This is a romance novel?!

Doesn't sound like anything I'd want to read about.

Sherri

I liked the book. Did you finish it? He wasn't aware she was pregnant when he left and tracked her down as soon as he returned and courted her even when she turned him away and after he found out she was no longer pregnant. Yes he was a jerk at times but aren't a lot of "tortured heroes". I can also think of at least 2 other Julia Quinn books where the couple separates for a month or more and that's after they're married.

Is this a historical or more contemporary? I don't usually like the pregnant then getting dumped stuff but that's slightly better if they reconcile than the didn't tell the guy she was pregnant til he finds out accidentally 5  yrs later...to me that's a big ick...sigh...

I still like Julia Quinn, and I liked this book as well.  However, I miss the books that had the commentary from Lady Whistledown.  That is what made the books really great for me!

I read it, it wasn't bad IMO, but not a keeper at all... I miss Lady Whistledown, too!

I think Eileen hit the nail on the head! The book was good, But I think we are so used to the Bridgertons, that it was weird not to have them and Lady Whistledown in this one. I miss her too! Susanna, these books are historical!

I liked it....it was a bit predictable, but Julia Quinn is still one of my favorite historical romance authors, even if I didn't consider this to be her best book.

I liked the book well enough. The ending was certainly interesting. The only part I'm a little disappointed about was the piece about the gentleman's bookshop owner. I thought there would be a bigger resolution to it. Like he'd stand up for her or something.

I miss the Whistledown commentary as well.

But have any of you gotten off the HarperCollins site the second epilogues? I've read the second epilogue for Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and When He Was Wicked. If you haven't done so, I highly recommend it! The Wicked second epilogue really got me. I liked that one the best though. Well worth the few bucks.

I read it this weekend. It reminded me of some of her earlier ones (Minx, etc).  And, frankly, I didn't care for the last 2 Bridgertons. 

I keep meaning to check out that site but then forget again.  I'll try to do that tonight (my book is at home so I don't know the site address).

This book is actually the first book JQ wrote, and it was just published.  I didn't like it at all, but I have hopes that her upcoming books will be as good as ever because she's got more writing experience under her belt.  Just a little encouragement to those who are dismayed.  :)

Wow, Jane, that's really interesting.  No wonder it reminded me of her older stuff!

It wasn't bad, just okay,  It was one of her first stories - maybe the first? - written years ago and polished up to release now. 

Hmm... interesting!  I did read it and also thought it just OK.  That might indeed explain it.

I just finished most of the Bridgertons and am wondering, what do you think of the rest of Julia Quinn's backlist?  I think I have Splendid and Dancing at Midnight but haven't read them yet.  To the best of my knowledge, I think the others are: How to Marry a Marquis, To Catch an Heiress, Everything and the Moon, Brighter Than the Sun, and Minx.

Thoughts?

I read it a while back, but I wasn't that impressed. I posted it after reading it, but I agree she has written far better novels.

Fedora, I really liked Splendid, which you might try since it's in your TBR.  I've read a number of the others, and I seem to recall disliking Minx in particular.  The others fell in between.  Really, JQ is an entertaining author and if you enjoyed the Bridgerton's you probably ought to try her backlist.

Thanks, Jane--I'll try Splendid first and see.  Interesting that you disliked Minx--do you happen to recall why?  :)

Yeah, Minx was bad.  They build the hero up in the book before (How To Marry a Marquis, I think?) and you totally LOVE him.  And then in Minx he sucks.  But I do generally love her books, especially the first 5 Bridgerton novels.  The last 3 are just...eh.  I kept them only because they're part of a series but if they weren't I probably would've put them on PBS. 

Julia Quinn is such an amazing writer; I'm happy to find out that Cheever was her first novel.  Hopefully her future books will be better.