On The Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

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Welcome to Series Sunday!

This is the day of the week when I get to celebrate my favorite thing – books written in series! For the last few weeks, I’ve been reviewing Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series in celebration of Ms. Quinn’s new release, A Night Like This, coming in a few weeks. Although the new release isn’t technically a Bridgerton book, it is like a cousin of the Bridgerton series.

Today I’m posting my review for the last book in the Bridgerton series. This book features the youngest male sibling in the family, Gregory, and his potential bride, Lucy.

On The Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
ISBN: 0-06-053125-8
Publisher: Avon Books
Source: I purchased this book to read

Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except…

She wasn’t the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with someone else. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except…

Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar…

This book, On The Way to the Wedding, is the last of the series of 8 Bridgerton books. There are ancillary books that follow the stories of minor characters, but the main character’s stories finish with this book. I must admit that this book is my least favorite of the group. Throughout most of the series, Gregory Bridgerton (the hero of this story) is a child or a young man and not much attention is paid to him. The attention always seems to be on his older siblings. They way this story is told, Gregory doesn’t seem to have many redeeming qualities.
On The Way To The Wedding starts with Gregory spotting Miss Hermione Watson at a house party and believing he has fallen in love. Hermione is very beautiful and is often the center of attention; her best friend Lucy Abernathy stands in her shadow. Lucy feels sorry for Gregory’s failure to win Hermione and decides to help him. Fate steps in and Hermione is caught in a compromising position with Lucy’s brother and is forced to marry. Obviously, Gregory can no longer marry Hermione.

Lucy has been engaged for years to an earl and the time approaches for her to wed. Gregory, who has meanwhile decided that he isn’t in love with Hermione, but with Lucy, tries to get her to break off her engagement with the earl. Lucy doesn’t trust his feelings .(I wouldn’t either, given the speed with which they change)

We find out that Lucy is being blackmailed and of course, that is the main reason behind her not wanting to break her engagement. In true Julia Quinn style, all is settled and we have a happy ending. (not wanting to give away the details of the ending)

I have been impressed with Julia Quinn’s characters and character development throughout all the books of this series. The only character that I couldn’t seem to warm up to was Lucy. She seems quite weak and so undeserving of Gregory; so unlike the inner strength of all of the other characters of the books.

I’ve read alot of reviews of this RITA Winning, and New York Times Bestselling book, and reviewers rave about it. I think I’m one of the only one who isn’t a huge fan of this book. I think that I am so fond of some of the earlier books in this series, and I really don’t want to see this series end, I’m a bit sad.

RT Book Reviews gives On His Way To The Wedding 4 and 1/2 stars and says: “Quinn deftly merges the elements of a Shakespearean comedy with the climax of The Graduate, delivering an utterly delightful love story that will have readers grinning with pleasure the instant the book is opened until the marvelous ending.”

I look forward to the next release in about 2 weeks – stay tuned for my review of A Night Like This!