Author: Julia Quinn,
Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
Personal Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5 stars)
We are now at the third installment of Bridgerton – a series that focuses on the Bridgerton siblings’ quest for marriage, ideally with love, set in the Regency era and I think I found my favorite book of them all.
This time we’re following Benedict’s story, the second eldest among the 8 Bridgerton siblings. At first, I thought I was going to get really bored of this as it started out as your regular Cinderella trope. Our damsel in distress, Sophie, is working as a servant in her stepfamily’s estate after her father passed away. She’s so kind that when the Bridgertons threw a masquerade ball the other servants in the house provided her a dress but instructed her to be back by midnight so her stepmother doesn’t notice she’s been away. You probably know what happens next. Of course, she gets to the party, she meets Benedict but doesn’t disclose her identity, she leaves a piece of clothing behind, and Benedict spends some time looking for her.
I kept rolling my eyes and sighing at the first few pages because of how predictable the plot was until Sophie’s stepmother caught her so early in the book. Her prince, Benedict, can’t possibly save her because he hasn’t found her yet. What was supposed to happen? Well, that’s where the real story began and it just got more exciting from there.
I’m moving away from the plot to list the things I observed, and most loved (not gonna lie).
First, I have so much more love and respect for Violet Bridgerton, the mother of the eight Bridgerton siblings. She has always been witty and caring but the way she backed up Benedict and treated Sophie strengthened the thought that she was a strong woman who raised eight beloved characters and proved that her reputation among the ton was very well earned.
Second, Sophie did not remain a damsel in distress. She was a realist and stuck to her perspective that the party was just temporary happiness so when she got caught she picked herself up and found a job. She stuck so much to her principles that even when she felt something for Benedict she refused to be his mistress no matter how comfortable she might live. She respected herself enough to refuse multiple times.
Third, Benedict’s character has so much depth. He was shown as honorable, and artistic, but also flawed. We discover his pain as being the second son, the feeling of just fleeting in the world. His heart and his realism clashed when it came to Sophie. I winced every time he asked Sophie to be his mistress but we’re so with him in his thoughts that it was forgivable. The author was able to let us understand that this was because Benedict wanted to follow his heart so bad but the marriage situation of that time was against it.
In the end, of course, we get our happy ending. But I was so caught up with all of it that even I didn’t know how they can be together given the circumstances. I was really worried that they won’t get their happy ending! But again, well done to the author, the ending made sense and it was a really neat resolution for all of their problems.
Fourth, and I feel like I’ll keep saying this in every book of the series, but I really love the Bridgerton siblings bantering with each other. The younger girls and boys had more exposure in the books now and I really like that. They liked Sophie before they even knew Benedict loved her. That was a really nice touch.
Fifth, and as embarrassed as I am to admit, but it looks like Bridgerton just hooked me to spicy reads because I loved every steamy encounter. Sophie’s innocence made some funny incidents and their steamy scene in the lake is now my top favorite steamy scene of any book I’ve read so far.
I cannot express how pissed I would’ve been if they didn’t end up together. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
Favorite Quote(s):
“Benedict?” she whispered, forgetting that she still called him Mr. Bridgerton.
― Sophie and Benedict, An Offer from a Gentleman
He smiled. It was a small, knowing sort of smile, one that sent chills right down her spine to another area altogether. “I like when you say my name,” he said.
“I didn’t mean to,” she admitted.
He touched a finger to his lips. “Shhh,” he admonished. “Don’t tell me that.” …
“I can live with you hating me,” he said to the closed door. “I just can’t live without you.”
― Benedict Bridgerton, An Offer from a Gentleman
“Between him and his brother, I don’t know which one of them will kill me first,” Lady Bridgerton muttered.
― Violet Bridgerton and Sophie, An Offer from a Gentleman
“Which brother?” Sophie asked.
“Either. Both. All three. Scoundrels, the lot of them.”
But they were scoundrels she clearled loved.
“You will stay right here, and you will keep smiling. Because it breaks my heart to see any other expression on your face.”
― Benedict Bridgerton, An Offer from a Gentleman
“They say that a smart person learns from her mistakes,” she interrupted, her voice forcefully ending his protest. “But a truly smart person learns from other people’s mistakes.” She pulled away, then turned to face him. “I’d like to think I’m a truly smart person. Please don’t take that away from me.”
― Sophie, An Offer from a Gentleman
“But one of the things I love best,” he continued, “is the fact that you know yourself. You know who you are, and what you value. You have principles, Sophie, and you stick by them.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “That is so rare.”
― Benedict Bridgerton, An Offer from a Gentleman
The Stray Reader 
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