Name: farah farooq's review of The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn
Item: The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
Rating: 4
Author: farah farooq

Julia Quinn

RETURN TO THE WORLD OF THE BRIDGERTONS . . . ________________________________________ Go back to where it all began with the second book in Sunday Times bestselling author Julia Quinn's dazzlingly witty Bridgerton prequel series. A generation before the Bridgertons, there were the Rokesbys . . . While you were sleeping . . . With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie . . . I told everyone I was your wife When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is - even if he does not recall her face - and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true . . . Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself - completely - to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs Rokesby. _______________ Find out why readers love Julia Quinn . . . "Quinn writes delightfully fast-paced, funny, sparkling and bright romance' Romantic Times 'The next best thing to Georgette Heyer' Gloss 'A smart, funny touch. . . reminiscent of Helen Fielding' Time Magazine 'Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books take all of the classic tropes we know and love... and gives them a thoroughly modern twist...they're hot, crazy, and full of feisty women relishing in the carnal delights that come from bedding rakish aristocrats... I can't focus on anything else.' - Stylist 'Powered by a surfeit of dazzling wit and graced with a cast of unforgettable characters' Booklist 'Quinn is incomparable! The latest addition to her beloved Bridgerton series is funny, charming, witty and wildly romantic' RT Book Reviews 'Like an episode of Downtown Abbey mixed with a great rom-com' iBooks Best Books of March 'Julia Quinn is one of the best historical romance novelists of our time' Heroes and Heartbreakers 'Quinn excels in writing stories full of joy and delight, where laughter trembles on the edges' Happy Ever After 'Quinn is a master of historical romance' Entertainment Weekly 'Full of wit, charm and smouldering attraction . . . an unputdownable story that I think romance fans will treasure' Harlequin Junkie 'This book was an utter delight . . . I just loved it' Love in a time of Feminism

A Bridgerton Prequel

The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband

Paige Leitner

But Edward was already shaking his head. They were wrong, all of them. They didn't- 

"What is wrong?" Cecelia cried. Edward's last sight before squeezing his eyes shut was her looking frantically toward the doctor. "What is happening to him?"

"My head," Edward gasped. He must have shaken it too quickly. It felt as if his brain were slamming into his skull. 

"Are you remembering something?" Colonel Stubbs asked. 

"No, you bloody-" Edward cut himself off before he called him something unforgivable. "It just 

"That's enough," Cecelia declared. "I will not permit you to question him any further."

me?" Colonel Stubbs countered. "I am his commanding officer."

It was a pity that Edward could not bring himself to open his eyes, because he would really have liked to have seen the colonel's face when Cecelia said, "You are not 

There were Bridgertons before the eight alphabetically named siblings. In this second of a new prequel series, following Because of Miss Bridgerton, we go back to where it all began. . . from New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn. While you were sleeping... With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie... I told everyone I was your wife When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out three months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true... Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

A Bridgertons Prequel

The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband

Emma Hak-Kovacs

farah farooq

I liked this book! Not my favorite Bridgerton book but I like the premise. There are definitely some questionable moments, but it's cute.

azliana aziz

I did looked forward to reading Edward's centric book right after I closed on Rokesby's no 1. 
well well, I am disappointed once again by JQ.

this book made Because of Miss Bridgerton read like an A+ book. 
I loathe the heroine and partly was because of the conning plot I admit that, BUT JQ really did almost close to zero effort in justifying her heroine's actions and sadly this book was all about that. 
Edward got sidelined so much and his subplot spy story with Cecilia's brother was supposed to be heartbreaking but it was too flimsily written I felt nothing. 

the romance was okay i guess. Cecilia and Edward did have some chemistry and I can't help but got thinking of what wonders they can be if they were written by someone else. *sigh*

the ending. I don't think they earned that ending. 

also I must add that this book could be better if it's a bit longer. and if JQ know what she wanted to do with her characters.

While you were sleeping... With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie... I told everyone I was your wife When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out three months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true... Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

It’s easy to read at least, and while the lead characters get together under misinformation and a bit of lying, it doesn’t feel gross consent-wise. (I’ve noted that the Rokesby books, since they’re newer, have less dubious consent than, say, Bridgerton #1, or How To Marry A Marquis.)

That being said, this is so skippable. If you want to read this series, book #1 (Because of Miss Bridgerton) and book #3 (The Other Miss Bridgerton) are entirely more entertaining. And they don’t have the absolutely bizarre and weird premise of British nationalists in America during the Revolutionary War.

To boot, there is one mention of Black people (a character explains that there are freed slaves who have sought refuge in New York, Cecilia is like “wow”) and then they are never mentioned again. Yeesh.

I spent the whole book wondering if there was going to be a twist that they were spying for the revolution the whole time. But, no … just British nationalist, lmao.

Just, like, don’t set it during the Revolutionary War if you’re not going to do anything with it. And — spoilers — her brother ends up being dead the entire time, anyway. That was a big disappointment. It felt pointless and hollow.

Alongside that, the side characters are empty and irrelevant. Like the Dutch baker’s wife — she’s the only female character Cecilia makes a connection with, and she doesn’t even say goodbye to her? Not really a friendship. They could’ve been penpals or something … It was annoying to read about Cecilia not even trying to pronounce any of the Dutch words, or the woman’s last name. Like she’s supposed to be shown as a polite and open-minded character, but she’s actually xenophobic and doesn’t care about other people beside her brother and her love interest.

Also that weird line about how her brother Thomas didn’t care about poor people? (In the context that he wouldn’t care if his leftover possessions were donated.) A really weird line, to make her brother unsympathetic in death.

The best part was the epilogue when Billie (from the first book) has a cameo. She’s a bombastic, spirited character who is wholly entertaining to read. This book made me miss the first and third of the series.

(FWIW, book four is a drag and has an annoying cat who cockblocks the couple in multiple drawn-out scenes. So, yeah. But gosh how I love Billie and Poppy 😂)

Caroline Clutterbuck Kapulkin

Should’ve been British traitors. 😂 

It’s easy to read at least, and while the lead characters get together under misinformation and a bit of lying, it doesn’t feel gross consent-wise. (I’ve noted that the Rokesby books, since they’re newer, have less dubious consent than, say, Bridgerton #1, or How To Marry A Marquis.)

That being said, this is so skippable. If you want to read this series, book #1 (Because of Miss Bridgerton) and book #3 (The Other Miss Bridgerton) are entirely more entertaining. And they don’t have the absolutely bizarre and weird premise of British nationalists in America during the Revolutionary War.

To boot, there is one mention of Black people (a character explains that there are freed slaves who have sought refuge in New York, Cecilia is like “wow”) and then they are never mentioned again. Yeesh.

I spent the whole book wondering if there was going to be a twist that they were spying for the revolution the whole time. But, no … just British nationalist, lmao.

“Are we the baddies ???” 

Just, like, don’t set it during the Revolutionary War if you’re not going to do anything with it. And — spoilers — her brother ends up being dead the entire time, anyway. That was a big disappointment. It felt pointless and hollow.

Alongside that, the side characters are empty and irrelevant. Like the Dutch baker’s wife — she’s the only female character Cecilia makes a connection with, and she doesn’t even say goodbye to her? Not really a friendship. They could’ve been penpals or something … It was annoying to read about Cecilia not even trying to pronounce any of the Dutch words, or the woman’s last name. Like she’s supposed to be shown as a polite and open-minded character, but she’s actually xenophobic and doesn’t care about other people beside her brother and her love interest.

Also that weird line about how her brother Thomas didn’t care about poor people? (In the context that he wouldn’t care if his leftover possessions were donated.) A really weird line, to make her brother unsympathetic in death.

 

The best part was the epilogue when Billie (from the first book) has a cameo. She’s a bombastic, spirited character who is wholly entertaining to read. This book made me miss the first and third of the series.

(FWIW, book four is a drag and has an annoying cat who cockblocks the couple in multiple drawn-out scenes. So, yeah. But gosh how I love Billie and Poppy 😂)

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn presents the second novel of the delightful Bridgerton Prequel series in a stunning new package. There were Bridgertons before the eight alphabetically named siblings, and in this novel, we go back to where it all began. . . While you were sleeping... With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie... I told everyone I was your wife... When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out three months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is--even if he does not recall her face--and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true... Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself--completely--to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

Typical historical romance, the plot of this one actually had me hooked though!

Alissa 

Reese Kuck 

** spoiler alert **
           The best one in the series so far. I screamed when he knocked on the door on the ship. That was so cute and I love him so much. I loved it I love Edward He's so amazing My favorite though was when Billy and George came in at the end and I'm so intrigued to know what is going on with Andrew.

#1 NYT bestselling author Julia Quinn returns to the world of the Bridgertons with a witty, romantic and all-new series While you were sleeping . . . With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie . . . I told everyone I was your wife When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is - even if he does not recall her face - and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true . . . Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself - completely - to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs Rokesby.

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

The Girl with the Make Believe Husband is a story I will admit that I was nervous about, especially since I haven't read the first book in the series. But then I heard some great things about this one, and decided that I really needed to try it out. I will say that I really stuggled with this one pretty much the first half of the book. I just couldn't get interested in the story that much, but then once I hit between the 50-60%, then I was golden. So this rating that I have is really based on the latter half of the book for the most part or it would be a lower rating.

The story sets off when our heroine has come to the Colonies to find her injured brother, but when she learns her brothers closest friend, has been injured, she makes sure that he is alright, but she is forced to lie about who she really is. So she claims him as her husband. And before she realizes it, she keeps telling more lies and she is in too deep and falling in love with her not so real husband. But secrets have a way of catching up to us and burning us, but will Edward fight for her or let her go in the end...

The story begins very slowly in the first half, it isn't until Edward regains his memories from his amnesia, where he starts to figure things out, and realize the real truth. Our Heroine, Cecilia, is not what I wanted for this book but in some ways she did make it work. I will say I wasn't fully satisfied with the ending, not in the ways that I wanted to be. I feel like there is more about her brother that we don't know yet, I just felt a bit off about what happens in this book. The hero though, he was simply wonderful, I love how devoted he is to Cecilia. And he makes some of the most swoon worthy scenes happen, especially toward the end. I do think that this was not what I expected from this author, was the setting. I was completely blown away that she even went out for a Early American Era and was fantastic. It was so refreshing to see this author do something different from the typical regency setting. I will admit that the "secret" wasn't my favorite part of the story. Normally it doesn't bother me so much, but for some reason it kinda grated at me more than I expected it would. I think probably because Cecilia had many opportunities to come clean and didn't.

But Overall this was still a wonderful story here!!! I did have a blast with this setting, a amnesia hero, a reserved but determined heroine, a mystery and spy intrigue, a military dilemma and a love story that will bring tears to your eyes!!


 
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[foogallery id="38649"]

Charlotte Helie 

Arianna M

So, Julia Quinn CAN write a couple with chemistry that you actually root for. I think this novel still had some glaring flaws—i.e. heavy subject, but then it's All Romance All The Time even when the book should've given more space to other feelings, and let more time elapse. Still, I really liked this couple and believed in their romance, so that is lovely!

I loved this book! Yet again I found myself unable to put the thing down until I figured out what happened and how the story ended. 

Shanelle M.

A Bridgerton prequel 

I loved this book! Yet again I found myself unable to put the thing down until I figured out what happened and how the story ended. 

Jaclyn

Becky

I don't know why I had doubts about this. Julia Quinn is a queen and it was always going to be brilliant and I apologise for doubting how she was going to successfully get me to root for a couple when one was lying to the other but she totally did. She's a genius. She perfectly crafted these characters so that even though lies were involved I could understand Cecelia's motivation for lying and I got why Edward cared so much for Cecelia even though they'd never met and I didn't feel too terrible about the lies when she took advantage of his amnesia.

I loved every page of this book and cannot wait for the next one. I have a lot of words to say about how frustrated I am about the last sentence of that book! That being said, this book was fabulous. I may not have fully understood how Cecelia convinced herself that Edward was in love with Billie but that was partially because I've read the last book! Also, he remembered who she was so how could he have forgotten about their agreement to marry and his love for her? But apart from that small plot point I was troubled by I loved it.

Cecelia was such a brilliant character, I instantly felt sympathetic to her plight. I got her motivation for continuing the lie of marriage even after Edward awoke as she tried to find her brother because she loved him so dearly. It was Edward who I truly adored, though. I loved how he was honourable and always trying to do the right thing and not just because he was raised well. He truly was honourable because he was a good person. And he was charming and I loved him. I thought I'd feel terrible for him with the lies and I did want Cecelia to just fess up but I was totally cheering for them to sort their problems and live happily ever after.

I basically loved this book. Definitely a favourite romance of 2017. I don't know how Julia Quinn does it but she is a genius.

Diana

I didn't enjoy this book anywhere near as much as I enjoyed book 1. First and foremost, the lie goes on for WAY too long, which ruined the story for me. While I understand her reasoning for the lie and why she kept it up, the fact that she was lying to him through the entire story prevented me from being able to root for them as a couple or her as a character. I would have much prefered to see her tell Edward the truth earlier so I could watch them fall in love without her lie and the subsequent guilt getting in the way.

Also, the banter that I enjoyed so much in book 1, was non-existent in this book. This had a lot to do with the fact that throughout the entire story, Cecilia is trying to keep track of the lies she is telling and her guilt for both telling them, but also keeping them up for so long. She is constantly thinking about how she should tell Edward the truth and that he deserves better and you know what? He really does. I will say that the very end and the epilogue are much better and gave me what I was missing from the rest of the book.

RETURN TO THE WORLD OF THE BRIDGERTONS . . . ________________________________________ Go back to where it all began with the second book in Sunday Times bestselling author Julia Quinn's dazzlingly witty Bridgerton prequel series. A generation before the Bridgertons, there were the Rokesbys . . . While you were sleeping . . . With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie . . . I told everyone I was your wife When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is - even if he does not recall her face - and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true . . . Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself - completely - to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs Rokesby. Return to the world of the Bridgertons with The Rokesbys, featuring the ancestors of the Bridgerton characters we know and love . . . _______________ Find out why readers love Julia Quinn . . . "Quinn writes delightfully fast-paced, funny, sparkling and bright romance' Romantic Times 'The next best thing to Georgette Heyer' Gloss 'A smart, funny touch. . . reminiscent of Helen Fielding' Time Magazine 'Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books take all of the classic tropes we know and love... and gives them a thoroughly modern twist...they're hot, crazy, and full of feisty women relishing in the carnal delights that come from bedding rakish aristocrats... I can't focus on anything else.' - Stylist 'Powered by a surfeit of dazzling wit and graced with a cast of unforgettable characters' Booklist 'Quinn is incomparable! The latest addition to her beloved Bridgerton series is funny, charming, witty and wildly romantic' RT Book Reviews 'Like an episode of Downtown Abbey mixed with a great rom-com' iBooks Best Books of March 'Julia Quinn is one of the best historical romance novelists of our time' Heroes and Heartbreakers 'Quinn excels in writing stories full of joy and delight, where laughter trembles on the edges' Happy Ever After 'Quinn is a master of historical romance' Entertainment Weekly 'Full of wit, charm and smouldering attraction . . . an unputdownable story that I think romance fans will treasure' Harlequin Junkie 'This book was an utter delight . . . I just loved it' Love in a time of Feminism

Arabella Mai Wallis

** spoiler alert **
           4.5/5

In this book we follow missing Rokesby brother, Edward, as he awakens from a coma to find he is ‘married’ to his best friend Thomas’ sister, Cecelia Harcourt, and the pair spend their time living together in the Devil’s Inn as she finds any way she can to get information on finding her missing brother whilst Edward works to regain a semblance of the memories he has lost from the past few months. Time goes on and no matter how much Cecelia wants to tell Edward the truth she cannot bring herself to do so, not even when they end up sleeping together for the first time. The duo soon find out that the Colonel has been lying to them and that Thomas has been dead, and buried, for a while which leads Cecelia to spiral now knowing she has no one and nothing left for her and she does not want to trap Edward into anything. At the same time, Edward is regaining his memories and now knows that they were never actually engaged and wants to wait for her to tell him which eventually she does. Through a letter. Before she leaves on the Rhiannon boat to Ireland. Too ashamed and probably scared to tell him face to face in fear of what she has done to him, to both of them. Thomas reads the letter and immediately gets a transfer so he can go back home, only just making it onto the ship before it’s departure where the two have an initially harshly tense but soon emotional conversation revolving everything that has happened and how sorry each of them are. Along with how much they both love one another, and have since long before they met. The book ends with the two marrying on the ship back, making it legal and official upon their return to England, where they return to the Rokesby house to learn of Billie’s marriage to George and the cliffhanger of a humorous story revolving Andrew. 

Okay so I devoured this book and I just could not put it down for reasons I honestly can’t explain. I loved both Cecelia and Edward although I wished she had told him the truth sooner and not at the very end of the book as I think it could have taken an interesting step in that direction as well. Other than that I did have fun reading this book (and at the revelation of Thomas’ death I did ball my eyes out, and again when Edward read the letter he had left for him) and the significance of the miniatures the siblings had of one another made my heart truly melt.

Emily C Peterson

Sarah Hayes

I loved Thomas and Cecelia in this book, the story was cute and well written. Especially the dramatic irony. The setting was a nice reprieve from the usual Kent/London.

Ashlee

Oh gosh, I loved the premise and whole situation between the characters in this. Brother’s best friend AND amnesia AND fake marriage?! Like candy for my heart.

farah farooq &
The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn

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