A collection of second epilogues of the previous Bridgerton books and an extra chapter dedicated to Violet. As I already had read a few epilogues, I only focused on the ones that were new for me. Gregory and Lucy’s story was very emotional. The horror of not knowing if your spouse will make it seems unbearable. It makes me realise how much the practice of medicine has improved and how lucky we actually are! 

I’m also very happy to read Violet’s special chapter as she is one of my favourite characters of this series. Her story was a fresh breath of air. 

A wrap up to the Bridgerton series with a second epilogue of what happened next for each of the Bridgerton siblings, plus a story about Violet and her love for Edmund so you really need to have read the books first with only Violets story being able to be read as a stand alone. As a selection of short stories go this was a really engaging and cute collection. Historical romance at its finest

I wanted to read this book because of the Netflix series that hit on Christmas Day a few years ago and now Netflix have announced we are getting Polin’s story and I'm hoping we get the full eight seasons for each sibling. I wanted to get ahead and know what is going to happen, so of course I bought all nine books. Overall, I have enjoyed this series and wanted to see what Happily Ever After was about and how the extra epilogue would help or hurt my heart.  

This book is based on the Bridgertons, eight brothers and sisters, assorted in-laws, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, an overweight corgi and an irrepressible matriarch who’s a match for any of them. These are the Bridgertons, through the last eight novels, the readers laughed, cried and fell in love, but we’ve wanted more. So what happened next? Does Simon ever read his father’s letters? Do Francesca and Michael become parents? Who would win a Pall Mall grudge match? Does ‘The End’ really have to be the end. This is a collection of Julia Quinn’s funny, heart-warming ‘second epilogues’, which are included at the ends of each novel. This collection also includes a brand new novella about none other than Violet Bridgerton herself.  

My favourite things about this book were Julia Quinn’s writing style. It didn’t feel like I was back in time. I mean, obviously they weren’t going on about Snapchat, but it just felt like a modern-day story with a bit of mystery. The only thing that kept me from remembering that it was set in the 1800s was the references of letters and carriages and that they couldn’t text each other to say what was going on without people finding out what is happening. The best one out of the nine short stories were the second epilogue from Anthony and Kate’s book with them pranking themselves with Pall Mall and how the Bridgerton gang are just used to it by now. Also, Violet in Bloom where all the children and grandchildren are together and even though Violet missing Edmund every day, she is very content with everyone around.  

Some of these stories, I didn’t want. For example, Benedict and Sophie’s story was to do with Posy, which I appreciate but would have liked it to be about Benedict and Sophie. I would have loved for Hyacinth's daughter to confess that she found the diamonds instead of putting them back for Hyacinth's to find.  

I love the Bridgerton, I would love a series in ten to fifteen years with the Bridgerton grandchildren being on the marriage mart and having their own love stories.  

the 2nd epilogues were sweet and funny, well, most of them. one gave me major anxiety for a second but then it became heartwarming.

my favorite one has got to be francesca and michael’s second epilogue. i just love them both so much and seeing them even more happier was so special.

daphne and simon’s was okayish, but unmemorable as i forgot about it shortly after; kate and anthony’s was hilarious because of all the bridgertons pall mall shenanigans; benedict and sophie’s was cute and funny; penelope and colin deserved a better second epilogue like theirs was so uninteresting like i wanted something different but i can’t complain completely because i love pen and eloise’s friendship, which is what it focused on more; eloise and phillip’s made me like phillip a tiny bit more compared to when i read their book; hyacinth and gareth’s was funny; and lastly, lucy and gregory’s was traumatizing but heartwarming in the end.

violet’s novella wasn’t what i was expecting. i wanted… more? seeing her and edmund as children was so fucking cute and the early days of their courtship marriage was serene. but knowing they don’t have a happily ever after together guts me. like i know, violet found contentment in being a mother and grandmother, but i honestly think it would’ve been so much more meaningful if she found someone else to love and be loved. violet knew what love was and how much it meant because she had it previously so she refused to settle for less if it came to a second time, but i am of the opinion that she deserved more. the loneliness must’ve been hard, especially in her later years. it truly would’ve been so impactful for her to be loved again.

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final ratings after i read the 2nd epilogues:
♡ the duke and i (1 ★)
♡ the viscount who loved me (3.5 ★)
♡ an offer from a gentleman (2.5 ★)
♡ romancing mister bridgerton (2 ★)
♡ to sir phillip, with love (1.5 ★)
♡ when he was wicked (4 ★)
♡ it’s in his kiss (3.5 ★)
♡ on the way to the wedding (3 ★)
♡ violet in bloom: a novella (3 ★)

3.5⭐️0.5🌶️
This book is comprised of 2nd epilogues for the 8 main bridgerton books and an additional violet novella. I had already read the 2nd epilogues at the end of the each of the books since they are now included in at least the ebooks/audiobooks. They are mostly a nice wrap up to the characters’ stories and if I recall correctly, a few of them have some spicy scenes, but nothing crazy. I enjoyed the violet novella, which is what I borrowed this book from my library for. It takes you through her childhood, falling in love with Edmund when she is out for her first season, her marriage night (nothing graphic, it’s closed door), the death of her husband and birth of her last baby, and it wraps up with a scene between her and Daphne discussing her many grand and great grandchildren. It’s not necessary to understand the plot of any of the other books but it is nice to have some backstory for her. I don’t think I’ll be rereading. My only complaint is I wish they’d kept the original narrator rosalyn landor, she is perfect for this series!