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Life is funny I’ve been gripping the past couple months that there wasn’t anything to watch on TV because all my shows are on hiatus and everything else seems to be reruns. But then on Netflix which I let lapse the other dad had the Bridgerton’s on it and when I saw The Girl with the Make-Believe Husbands press release I thought man this might be a book I would enjoy and a new Author to check out.
Now, I have a question for you. Did you know there were Bridgertons before the eight alphabetically named siblings. And apparently, I’ve discovered an entire new-to-me author and a whole sleigh full of books I want to read! Lord, help us all I can hear Charlie saying as he ask his dad where are we going to put more books and that’s a fair question because I’m not sure but I will find a place somehow someway.
When I picked up The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn, I had a question before I even started reading: Did I need to read the other Bridgerton books first? The answer is no — and that made me very happy! Because this is the second book in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton prequel/Rokesby series, following Because of Miss Bridgerton.
While reading the books in order can give you more background on the family, I was able to pick this one up by itself and follow the story just fine. And now? Well, let’s just say I may have found another author to add to my Christmas wish list which isn’t something Charlie and David are going to want to hear.
In the book we meet Cecilia Harcourt who is in a terrible situation. Her brother Thomas has been injured while serving in the colonies, and Cecilia travels across the Atlantic determined to find him and nurse him back to health. But after searching for her brother, she doesn’t find Thomas.
Instead, she finds his best friend, Edward Rokesby, unconscious and desperately in need of care. Cecilia makes a decision that changes everything. She tells everyone that she is Edward’s wife. Ummm… UH-OH! I kept wondering how on earth she was going to get herself out of that one and you will too.
And then Edward wakes up. Except Edward has a problem of his own. A blow to his head has erased three months of his memory. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is, but he doesn’t remember marrying her. Yet everyone around him insists that she is his wife. So what is a girl supposed to do when the man she loves wakes up believing the lie she told to save him? Well… you keep reading! Or at least I do.
This is definitely a romance, but it isn’t just romance. There is drama, suspense, humor, history, family, war, secrets and plenty of questions about what is going to happen next. I liked that the story could be funny one minute and serious the next. There were moments that made me smile, but there were also moments when I was genuinely concerned about what was going to happen to these characters.
And somewhere along the way, I became invested in Cecilia and Edward. I wanted to know how their story was going to turn out. That is always a good sign when I’m reading a book! Okay, don’t tell anybody. I have a confession. Anyone who knows me knows that sometimes I read the last page first.
I know! But I like to know whether I’m going to be happy with the ending before I invest all those hours into a book. So yes, I may have peeked. But I’m not telling you what I saw! You’ll have to read it yourself and you do not have to start at the last page just because I did.
I have to admit that the cover is beautiful. It actually reminded me a little bit of Pride and Prejudice. The woman on the cover has beautiful brown hair, pretty lipstick, a white pearl necklace and what looks like a ribbon tied around her hair. Her pink dress is absolutely gorgeous, and I love the lush green trees and foliage behind her.
It gives the book that romantic historical feeling before you even open it. And when I saw that the book mentions Bridgerton, a Netflix original series created by Shondaland, I had one of those moments where I thought: Oh! So THAT is where I know Bridgerton from! I’ve never watched the show, although I’ve thought about it. Now I’m definitely curious.
This is a full-length chapter book with 393 pages and 22 chapters, so there is plenty of story here. And I really appreciated the historical elements woven into the romance. There are references to the war and life in the colonies, and those details gave me something to think about beyond the romance between Cecilia and Edward.
I actually learned things while I was reading, which is something I always appreciate. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy historical fiction and historical romance. I can be entertained while picking up pieces of history along the way. I’m not sure David is going to sit down and read this one with me, though. It’s definitely a romance. Although, knowing David, he might surprise me!
This is where things got dangerous. Because tucked inside the back of the book is a list of Julia Quinn’s other books. And I started looking at the list thinking: Oh Lord, Santa Claus, as you’re loading up the sleigh, I think I found a whole new author for me to read!
Here’s what I discovered: The Bridgerton Series
- The Duke and I
- The Viscount Who Loved Me
- An Offer from a Gentleman
- Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
- To Sir Philip, With Love
- When He Was Wicked
- It’s in His Kiss
- On the Way to the Wedding
- Happily Ever After
The Bridgerton Preequals
- Because of Miss Bridgerton
- The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
- The Other Miss Bridgerton
- First Comes Scandal
And then there are the Lady Whistledown books and the Smythe-Smith Quartet:
- Just Like Heaven
- A Night Like This
- The Sum of All Kisses
- The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
That’s a LOT of books. And I’m already thinking about which ones I want Santa to put in the sleigh. As I help Santa load the sleigh, I’ll be loading copies for my best friend Debbie, my sister and Lisa Marie Bird, too. And if you’d like a copy… Well, let me know if you’ve been good, naughty or nice, and maybe I can ask Santa to bring you one, too! Because after reading The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband, I definitely want to hear more of these characters’ stories.
Before you ask if I would recommend this book the answer is yes. I enjoyed The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband because the story drew me in. It could be funny at times, serious at times, dramatic and suspenseful — sometimes all in the same book. I also loved that I didn’t have to stop and go back to another book to understand what was happening.
If you’re someone like me who doesn’t always read books in the “correct” order, that’s a big plus. I would absolutely read another Julia Quinn book. In fact, I think I’ve found myself a new author. And now I have another problem… I want to watch Bridgerton! Which means I may have to get another streaming service. I just canceled Netflix. Lord, I should have known to ask questions before I did that!
The book has definitely made me curious about the television series. If you’ve watched Bridgerton, I’d love to know what you thought about it. Did you enjoy the show? Do you think I would like it? And knowing me, do you think I’d be better off sticking with Julia Quinn’s books? Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!
Julia Quinn is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into numerous languages and are beloved by readers around the world. She is also a graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe colleges and a member of the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame.
Her books include the bestselling Bridgerton novels, the Rokesby/Bridgerton prequels, the Smythe-Smith series and other historical romances. Find Julia Quinn on social media and learn more about her books through her official author channels.
Sometimes you pick up a book because the cover catches your eye. Sometimes you pick it up because you’ve heard the name of the author. And sometimes you pick one up and discover that you’ve accidentally opened the door to an entire library of books you now want to read. That’s what happened to me with The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband.
**I came for one book. I’m leaving with a Julia Quinn reading list.** And honestly? I’m not complaining.
Happy Reading!
Greatful Moments
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
