Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

One cannot be a romance reader without knowing the Bridgertons. With its popular TV show, to the book series by Julia Quinn that started it all, this spicy historical romance series that focuses on the Bridgerton family is a romance reader favourite.

This fourth installment of the series focuses on Colin Bridgerton and the childhood friend of his sister Eloise. Penelope Featherington is an introverted wallflower who is bullied by her mother and overlooked by the Ton who considers her too plump, not fashionable and totally forgettable. I love Penelope (especially played by Irish actress Nicola Coughlan in the TV series). In this book we see Penelope's quiet strength bloom, a secret revealed and it was lovely to see Penelope's childhood crush on Colin come to fruition and their bond blossom. She has become one of my favourite Bridgerton characters, second only to her BFF, snarky Eloise Bridgerton.

As for Colin, he's smart, charming, well-travelled and rich. But I liked him more before reading this book (same went for his brother Anthony). Despite the repeated reminders to readers that 'Colin never loses his temper', he sure does get angry with Penelope a lot. His insecurity is also shown by a lot of whining because he can't find direction in life when everyone else seems to know theirs! Oh, boo hoo, Mr. Third Son of a Viscount!

This was an entertaining listen that was skillfully narrated by Rosalyn Landor. Fans of the TV show will already know the big twist, but this was an entertaining sweet with (surprisingly less) heat story with a childhood family friends to lovers trope that made me smile (but not quite swoon) that centres around a couple that I'm glad finally found their way to each other. 

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: Bridgertons 4

Type and Source: eAudiobook from public library

Narrator: Rosalyn Landor

Run Time: 13 hrs, 17 min

Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.

First Published: July 1, 2002

Read: Feb 18-24, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for...well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret...and fears she doesn't know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide...is she his biggest threat - or his promise of a happy ending?