To Sir Phillip, With Love (Bridgerton Series, Book 5)

by Julia Quinn

Book Overview

ELOISE'S STORYSir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380820854
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Avon
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

My new read…

Can’t wait to read this…been waiting 2wks, just finished #3 (an offer from a gentleman…(FABULOUS)!!! I went outta order, cuz #4 hasn’t gotten here yet!! 😉 So I haven’t read it yet, but I’m sure I’ll love it just as much as the others!!

To Sir Phillip, With Love

I was extremely disappointed with how Eloise's story unfolded. She has been portrayed as strong, confident, witty, and a free thinker throughout the series. To have her story end with a man that withheld such crucial information (children) when asking her to come visit as a potential wife was disheartening. Her story deserved so much more than her falling into, being trapped into, marrying someone that wanted her to fix his life and his children. I feel like Eloise was left to settle. This is my least favorite in the series thus far.

My least favorite in this series

Most of the books in this series are very good - engaging characters, clever narrative and HUMOR! This book does not make the grade for me. Starts out well but deteriorates.the storyline fades and could not hold my attention. Not a keeper.

Wonderful:

I have all 8 books an am finishing the last one now and have to tell you l just love them all.

Insightful observations, sly wit, in a most charming read

Her closest friend has unexpectedly married, and 28-year-old Eloise Bridgerton suddenly feels lost and alone. Impulsively, she decides to accept an invitation to visit from Sir Phillip Crane, such visit to be a precursor to marriage, assuming they suit. Phillip is the widowed husband of a distant cousin of Eloise. Eloise has been secretly corresponding with him since his wife died, but they have never met. It started out at first as a simple letter of condolence, but it has grown over the past year into quite an intimate correspondence. Eloise leaves a cryptic note for her family saying not to worry, but not revealing her destination, and travels to Phillip's estate. She takes him by surprise (having not sent a written reply to his proposal) so there is no chaperone present. However, there are Phillip's twin son and daughter whom he has neglected to mention in any of his letters! She is a little taken aback by the children and by Phillip's somewhat awkward and quiet demeanor, but decides to stay anyway and give it a try. Phillip, whose first wife suffered from severe depression and kept mostly to her room, wants simply to find someone who will be happy and care for his children. He is not prepared for the beguiling Eloise with her own needs, desires and opinions. This story is moving and witty and wise and romantic as Eloise and Phillip - two very different people - learn to adjust to and communicate with one another. The interaction between Eloise and Phillip, and how each one interprets it, is priceless. Eloise needs to talk out every problem; Phillip is blissfully clueless and doesn't even realize when there is a problem. Phillip's character is utterly delightful. His "awakening" is sweet and funny and is the true highlight of the story. This is another well-executed and satisfying story in the Bridgerton series, and is highly recommended.

A deeply emotional and loving romance!!

Like others I did not expect to like this story of Eloise very much at all. In the other Bridgerton stories Eloise came off more annoying than not, but in her own story she emerges as a deeply caring, warm woman who decides to take charge of her life and take a huge risk and run off to the home of Phillip Crane a man she had been writing to for over a year. At 28 Eloise is feeling desperate to find her own life and her own romance could Phillip be the one? Phillip is a male hero of a different sort - deeply damanged inside by an abusive father, left to feel incapable of making his first wife even marginally happy (she killed herself) and believing himself not worthy or capable of being a good father to his twins - Phillip buries himself in his greenhouse where he works as a botonist. He has written to Eloise and suggested perhaps they could marry. In writing he feels a safety because he does not have to reveal all the complicated turmoil of his inner thoughts. However Eloise surprises him with a visit and she is like a tornado in his quiet house. At first they seem totally not to suite but sometimes opposites do attract and since Phillip had been without a woman for 8 years and Eloise a 28 year old virgin - they do become compatible at first through passion. Well that is a good beginning - and enough it would appear for Phillip. He has a mother for his children and finally a willing bed partner what more is there. Eloise not one to be content with mediocrity she wanted more communication, she wanted Phillip to be closer to his children, she wanted love. And this just was a beautiful different kind of love story. This is one story where the most romantic parts of the book and the most emotional come after the wedding!! I would be remiss not to mention the brothers Bridgerton who make a stong appearance in this book - they are such an entertaining group and proudly Phillip holds his own - it is classic Julia Quinn! I loved this book as I have enjoyed all the Bridgerton novels - you will not be disappointed.

A Good Book

Although previous reviews I've read (mainly the ones that may be classified as "Spotlight Reviews") completely bash this book, I've found it touching and entertaining. Perhaps, when compared to previous Julia Quinn novels, this book doesn't leave much of her trademark wit and banter, but it allows Quinn to bring more serious matters to the forefront. Sure we've "experienced" personal problems such as emotional abuse, insecurity, familial loss, but now were confronting postpartum depression (well, let's just label it depression in all), child abuse, and more emotional conflicts thrown in the mix. Quinn's talented writing is effective when it comes to matters such as these, after all, it's a story of dealing with life's problems. And so, it surprises me to read reviews that demand for the characters to "get over it," when in reality we all know that life is rarely ever that easy (and even more importantly, this book would be really short). Granted, regardless of the seriousness of the subject matter, you go through a roller coaster of emotions and to an extent, one could consider that a Julia Quinn trademark. One minute you sympathize with Philip's situation, and the next you're laughing at the farce involving Eloise, Philip, and the four Bridgerton men. The story fits perfectly well for Eloise's personality; it allows us to see her as more than just a clever, witty, snoopy individual (all fine qualities I assure you). We always knew Eloise's playful side, but now we're exposed to her vulnerabilities but retained her strong character. Eloise made the story light in an otherwise dark and delicate text, if it got any "darker," God forbid the kind of reviews and complaints you'd make towards the author! In all, To Sir Philip... did not show any decline in talent on Quinn's part. If you still find yourself disagreeing with me, at least consider the epilogue at the end of the book. The sincere love emanating from the letter is vintage Julia Quinn. Her innate capabilities of writing such a passage without diving into a pool of clichés and cheese should at least restore a bit of your confidence in her as a writer...

Enjoy The Bridgerton Experience!

Miss Eloise Bridgerton at eight and twenty - she wasn't looking for someone perfect - just perfect for her! She didn't think herself beautiful, attractive but she was a Bridgerton after all, but most people liked her because she was nice. She was a wonderful correspondent and spent hours writing letters, birthday greetings, get well notes, etc. On the occasion of hearing of her cousins death she sent along a condolence letter to the bereaved husband, Sir Phillip Crane who in response to that note not only replied with a thank you but sent her a pressed flower in remembrance, and, so began a year long `secret' pen pal correspondence.Sir Phillip, was a quiet man, a botanist - who while not happy - seemed to find some comfort in his work in his greenhouse. He had two children that he needed to find a mother for and knowing that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster and more than likely homely and unassuming he would send a note along inquiring that they meet to see if they might not `suit'. However, he was in no way prepared to find a beautiful young woman, unescorted, in the early morning standing on his doorstep - a woman with cool gray eyes he could have drowned in! As Eloise charged through the next couple of days, she found that Sir Phillip wasn't exactly perfect - he needed a lot of work - but there was something about him that she would find was perfect for her! What Julia Quinn has done, my dear reader, is to draw you in with her exquisite characterizations of this remarkable family so that you cannot help yourself but smile. From the moment you pick up the book to the very end you will find yourself on an emotional roller coaster of feelings as if you were living the story rather than a casual observer. I have followed the Bridgerton family chronicles since the very beginning with THE DUKE AND I, and each individual book has been placed on my keeper shelf where this one is sure to follow along with anything else this extremely gifted and talented author deems to write. While you could pick up any of the series as stand alone books, for pure enjoyment - buy them all and enjoy the Bridgerton loving family experience!

Kept me up late

I've just recently begun reading the Bridgerton stories after a several year hiatus. They're all delightful, but I found this one especially charming. I loved how Sir Phillip characterized their relationship as "heaven on earth." The reasons he gave moved me. So I laughed a bunch and cried a little and stayed up two hours past bedtime to finish.