Julia Quinn

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breath-taking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous bachelor, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing.

Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer - the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin . . .

When He Was Wicked

Aimee Maldonado

“There were a lot of things in life to be afraid of, but strangeness ought not to be among them.” 

vinny<3

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.

He knelt before her, his eyes aglow. "Let's do it, Frannie. Let's be mad, bad, and rash."

"Who are you talking to?" Hyacinth demanded.

"God," Francesca said baldly. "And I do believe I have been given divine leave to murder you."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "No one ever really changes, Francesca."

She smiled wistfully. "We had such fun, the three of us, didn't we?"

And besides, he'd never seduced a virgin, and he'd never slept with a married woman. Oh very well, one ought to remain true to oneself, even while living a lie—he'd slept with married women, plenty of them, but only the ones whose husbands were rotters, and even then, not unless she'd already produced two male offspring; three, if one of the boys seemed a little sickly.

valentina

This book talked about grief and unrequited love and I'm here for it. Pretty spicy for this series. I liked it. I appreciated that Francesca had lived a little more prior to this book. 

jamie

Anna Oeltjenbruns

Linta

I think this might just be my fav bridgerton book

Marcy Pursell 

Something about Francesca's story just spoke to me, and it's by far my favorite Bridgerton book so far.

Allie Johnson

Okay this one was definitely one of the better ones. My new second fave? There was actual build up, and it was unique that the romantic interest was the realistic character and the Bridgerton was the one that was too perfect.

I really liked this one. I love how Francesca really is doing her own thing. I honestly so here for it. I also love Michael and in result their journey too. This was also in my opinion the spiciest one in the series so far. I was really enjoying this one and can’t believe it ended as quickly as it did. 

Priscilla Stanfield

marta caravaggio

No tenía muchas expectativas pero me ha encantado! Me ha hecho reponerme de la decepción del libro de Eloise

Another great book in this series. It's great seeing all of the Bridgerton siblings find their true match. This one was really amazing too. I hated how long it finally took for Francesca to finally understand that they were meant for each other. I did really enjoy how they felt like John would have approved. Great book and cute story but it hasn't been my favorite in the series. 

Maggie Hotmer

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breath-taking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous bachelor, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton. After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer - the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

Inspiration for the Netflix Original Series Bridgerton

this one was really interesting! i liked how the circumstances of francesca finding a husband is different from the rest of the books. the banter was fun as well. the plot development was good as well. the ended was so cute too!

Hannah Williams

A cute story. Felt like some aspects could have been investigated further but the characters were well-developed and I enjoyed the fact that we got both the povs

Iva Tsenova

Francesca G

Not bad just... Not really my cup of tea unfortunately

love but i did miss the rest of the family having cameos like in the other books

Perfectly smutty and cheesy. The best type of romance 

Macy M

Found myself losing interest from time to time. Didn’t love this Bridgerton sibling as much as the others. 

Julia LaRosa

Marta Costa 🐰

I didn’t like this one… I know these books are not the definition of feminism and women’s empowerment but ughhhhhhhh, I was really annoyed by most situations. I’ll keep reading them because they are my favorite guilty pleasure, but really how little I liked this one.

Maybe it was the holidays, maybe a reading slump, maybe even a potato episode of not wanting to do anything; who knows. 

Even though this one took me longer than expected to finish I still enjoyed the story. I love this series and so happy to see it come to life (thanks Netflix 😊), and cannot wait to see how the story transpires onto screen. 

Francesca (being 6 out of 8 Bridgertons) has captured the eye of Michael Sterling. London's most infamous rake. After a lifetime of chasing women, and smiling saying when they chase him, he finally allowed his heart to be captured. Unfortunately Francesca is married to his cousin. 

That was then...now Michael is Earl. Francesca widowed. Michael dares not to speak to her of his love... until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets. 

Shanelle M.

Maybe it was the holidays, maybe a reading slump, maybe even a potato episode of not wanting to do anything; who knows. 

Even though this one took me longer than expected to finish I still enjoyed the story. I love this series and so happy to see it come to life (thanks Netflix 😊), and cannot wait to see how the story transpires onto screen. 

Francesca (being 6 out of 8 Bridgertons) has captured the eye of Michael Sterling. London's most infamous rake. After a lifetime of chasing women, and smiling saying when they chase him, he finally allowed his heart to be captured. Unfortunately Francesca is married to his cousin. 

That was then...now Michael is Earl. Francesca widowed. Michael dares not to speak to her of his love... until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets. 

In every life there is a turning point . . . A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton. A fter a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin. But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets . . .

Molly Morgan

I really enjoyed this! The spice was really good and the build up was 10/10. Very drama. Very romance. Very good.

Ariel Correa

indy roozendal

It is quite funny, if I ought to say so myself.
I never had an opinion on Francesca, because she wasn’t as present as the others. She even said it herself that unlike her siblings, she didn’t quite feel like a Bridgerton.

And yet it is one of my favorite books. Perhaps it was due to Colin, but truly who am I to fool?

I am a sucker for friends to lovers as well as to the boy obsessed trope. This book, it was surprisingly perfect. And I truly enjoyed every page of it, unlike Eloise’s book where Phillip had me fuming every other chapter.

This was a really great book from beginning to end! Francesca and Michael's story was so cute and felt so genuine. Comparatively, this was one of my favs from this series. I think it has a great plot and characters. There is a shit ton of steamy scenes, just as an fyi.

Paige Leitner

Connor 

3.5. I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did--the summary seemed rather off-putting, and thus I dragged my feet in starting it--but it turned out to be much lovelier and better handled than I'd expected, and there was more space between John's death and Michael's appearance on the ~romantic scene~ which honestly made it about 5000x better and the relief alone makes it worth the extra star to the half.

But let's be real, we all know the real reason I bumped it to 4 for a 3.5 is because there was so much more Colin Bridgerton in it than expected, so.

cris 🫀

** spoiler alert **
           3.5
—
Tengo tantas cosas que decir de este libro, que no sé por dónde empezar.

Francesca; una mujer a la que admiro porque se enfrentó no solo a una pérdida, si no a dos. Su esposo y su bebé.

Michael; un hombre excepcional que supo respetar todo a sus seres queridos, que supo luchar por lo que quería y que supo perseverar.

Tenía muchas expectativas de este libro, no todas se cumplieron pero no por ello significa que fue malo o no me gustó.

Comenzando por el hecho que jamás me ha gustado el trope de qué la pareja de la/el protagonista muere y después se enamora de otra persona. Tengo mucho conflicto con eso, principalmente porque me gusta pensar que cuando alguien encuentra al amor de su vida en un libro le es fiel hasta después de la muerte.

Por lo tanto fue un poco difícil leer como Francesca se enamoraba del primo de su esposo. Algo que me gustó mucho definitivamente fue que Michael respetó la relación de su primo; John, y de Francesca, antes y después de la muerte. Dándole tiempo a ella y a él mismo para vivir su luto.

Me estresó muchísimo el hecho de que la mitad del libro tratara de Michael resistiendo al hecho de pedir la mano de Francesca (que es entendible, pero no menos estresante), la mitad de la segunda parte fue de Francesca negando sus sentimientos por Michael y la segunda mitad fue de Francesca resistiendo a casarse con él.

Repito, es entendible los conflictos de los personajes sobre todo porque creían que faltaban al respeto a la memoria de John, y en serio lo entiendo, pero no hace que me produzca menos estrés.

Fue estresante porque venía de leer libros de los hermanos Bridgerton en donde había muchas escenas de ambas parejas juntas, pasando momentos lindos, etc. Y de repente está este libro, en donde todo es conflicto personal, y más de Francesca.

Me faltaron escenas domésticas de ambos, escenas para conocer su dinámica mejor. Ese es mi principal problema, porque no estuvieron juntos hasta el final LITERALMENTE. 

Ambos personajes me encantaron, aunque me fue difícil conectar con Francesca, creo que principalmente porque en los demás libros no tenemos interacción con ella, solo menciones.

El epílogo me gustó, me hizo derramar lágrimas al leer la carta de Janet a Michael.
“Y espero que no me consideres tonta porque también te doy las gracias. Gracias, Michael, por permitir que mi hijo la amara primero”.

Michael y Francesca son tremenda pareja, pero sinceramente este libro no les hace justicia. Porque nos robaron momentos de ambos juntos. Ojalá en el epílogo extendido pueda encontrar esas escenas lindas y domesticas juntos.

Tate

Rating 4.5

Why I read this book:
Broken-hearted rake
Love after loss
This book inspired me to:
	Reflect on what it means to love after loss
Favorite Quote:
	“Thank you, Michael, for letting my son love her first”
Favorite Moment
(view spoiler)[ Violet and Francesca talk about why Violet had never remarried and the differences between her and Violet’s circumstances  (hide spoiler)]

Summary: Michael Stirling has been in love with Francesca Bridgerton since he first met her - at a party celebrating her engagement to his cousin. After Francesca is unexpectedly widowed two years into her marriage, can the two find love with each other after tragically losing the person that they both loved most? 

Review: Michael Stirling, known to the ton as the ‘merry rake’ would be more accurately described as ‘the broken-hearted rake’. His seemingly hopeless love for Francesca will surely endear him to any true romance reader. Francesca Bridgerton has not been prominently featured in her preceding sibling's stories. She is definitely the most independent and introverted of the Bridgertons. After the sudden death of her dear husband John, Francesca spends many years mourning ( and Michael spends many years traveling in India, running away from love, his grief, and his new status as Earl of Kilmore). When finally she makes the difficult decision to remarry, not for love but because she longs for children. This is when Francesca and Michael reunite. What is unique about this Bridgerton installment is that Francesca is not a virginal debutante but a widow! This really affects the sexual tension between Francesca and Michael, and the actual love scenes have a different dynamic. This story is definitely the most passionate of the Bridgertons, to say the least. Francesca and Michael’s love story is one of passion and longing, as well as grief. Moving past John’s ghost is difficult for both Francesca and Michael; they had the shared grief that in one way brought them together but also kept them apart because of the guilt of moving past John and finding each other. I loved Violet and Francesca’s connection in this book; they are both widows and are uniquely able to understand that experience. Francesca’s bond with the ‘mothers’ was another addition that I feel enhanced the story; the grieving mothers helped Francesca to move on. Michael was a wonderful love interest; certainly flawed but also devoted, romantic, and charming. I loved Francesca as a leading lady. She is quiet but content and confident with herself. I do feel that perhaps the conflict over the guilt of being together while John is gone was resolved quite suddenly after Michael’s talk with Colin, but the overall pacing of the story was nice though.

When He Was Wicked

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