u/Miserable-Maleficent

Last time I talked about this book here, it was about the criticism to the show I did not agree with. To have a more positive conversation, I’ll tell you what I liked and think will translate beautifully into the show.

This will absolutely contain spoilers.

When Francesca tells Michael she wants to get married again, they are having a conversation in the park. For the first time, she notices he’s attractive. She always knew, but never saw him like that. She gets flustered and kinda runs away from the conversation. She doesn’t realize what she’s feeling. That fits a sapphic story so beautifully.

Eloise and Francesca are really close when she re-enters the marriage mart. I hope they keep that as I think Eloise would be so supportive of Francesca.

Francesca convinces Michael to enter the marriage mart/talk to ladies. She is dead set on helping but doesn’t know why she gets upset every time she sees him talk to other women. Can’t wait to see our Francesca deal with feeling jealous.

When they first kiss, she immediately runs to Scotland. We don’t see a lot of her reasoning but I hope we do in the series.

The sex scenes are honestly pretty good. In the second one, Francesca is a tease and totally a top. She strips with her back to him to tease him. She also ends up being the one to ride him (regency strap here we come).

When she realizes she has feelings for him, she feels extremely guilty about it and feels like she shouldn’t, the most same-sex attraction thing ever.

In the end, John’s mom is really happy they got together so I hope they make her as supportive in the show.

And a bonus of one thing I like in the book but would not like to see adapted. Michael has malaria in the book. While the scenes of them talking about it are nice in the book, O think if they add it to the show it might become overcrowded with conflict. They will have to deal with the guilt of John and fighting for a sapphic relationship, that feels like enough already

There are probably more but these were the ones I noted down while reading. Can’t wait for next season 🫶🏻

Last time I talked about this book here, it was about the criticism to the show I did not agree with. To have a more positive conversation, I’ll tell you what I liked and think will translate beautifully into the show.

This will absolutely contain spoilers.

When Francesca tells Michael she wants to get married again, they are having a conversation in the park. For the first time, she notices he’s attractive. She always knew, but never saw him like that. She gets flustered and kinda runs away from the conversation. She doesn’t realize what she’s feeling. That fits a sapphic story so beautifully.

Eloise and Francesca are really close when she re-enters the marriage mart. I hope they keep that as I think Eloise would be so supportive of Francesca.

Francesca convinces Michael to enter the marriage mart/talk to ladies. She is dead set on helping but doesn’t know why she gets upset every time she sees him talk to other women. Can’t wait to see our Francesca deal with feeling jealous.

When they first kiss, she immediately runs to Scotland. We don’t see a lot of her reasoning but I hope we do in the series.

The sex scenes are honestly pretty good. In the second one, Francesca is a tease and totally a top. She strips with her back to him to tease him. She also ends up being the one to ride him (regency strap here we come).

When she realizes she has feelings for him, she feels extremely guilty about it and feels like she shouldn’t, the most same-sex attraction thing ever.

In the end, John’s mom is really happy they got together so I hope they make her as supportive in the show.

And a bonus of one thing I like in the book but would not like to see adapted. Michael has malaria in the book. While the scenes of them talking about it are nice in the book, I think if they add it to the show it might become overcrowded with conflict. They will have to deal with the guilt of John and fighting for a sapphic relationship, that feels like enough already

There are probably more but these were the ones I noted down while reading. Can’t wait for next season 🫶🏻

I don’t expect the show to explicitly reveal her sexuality on screen. Modern labels were clearly not a thing and it would be out of place.

But you know what I think would be a good way to subtly put the debate to rest? Using the colors of her pride flag in the show somehow as an easter egg.

Imagine she’s a lesbian (which i think she is) and they give her an orange, white and pink bouquet for her wedding, that would be so cute. A girl can dream anyway.

I saw this video (on tiktok) of a girl saying that the line “It looks like as if you’ve seen a ghost” is a reference to Xena and then I realized..

When they have the “i’m causing you distress”, they are wearing red and blue which could be an Arcane reference.

Michaela also drives the carriage herself, maybe a node to Gentleman Jack.

I love it when shows make little references to other related media. Have you seen any other references?

I personally would die if they did a “I love you, I always have. So please, just this once, stay” for Catradora from Shera. What other iconic queer moments/characters would you like so see a reference to?

Repost due to mod request to remove part of it.

I’m a bridgerton fan who absolutely loved seeing Francesca stutter talking to Michaela. I had never read any of the books and I had no idea what Francesca’s story was going to be. I was very sad to see the reaction people had to Michaela’s character. Ever since that moment, criticism towards the show has poured in. I listened to it and hated feeling clueless. So I read the book, I took notes and here’s my opinions/response to some criticism I’ve seen.

Disclaimer: I hope this discussion remains respectful. If you liked the book, I can totally see why. If you disagree with me, I’m happy to hear your opinions as well

‘The show is disrespectful to John and their love’

The book starts with them already being married and planning to celebrate their second anniversary. John drops dead in like 20 pages. Half of those pages are Michael’s inner thoughts. We don’t get to know John at all. We don’t even get a funeral. The show was much kinder to John and actually made him a character, not just a name. The show actually gave them a visible story.

‘Francesca loved John in the books so much and we don’t see that in the show’

We don’t see it in the books either. She says a lot that she loved him after he died but we don’t actually see it. There’s barely any interactions between them and almost no memories told. She also remembers in the book that their first meeting wasn’t filled with love or passion but with the sense that she could be herself. We actually get a lot more of their love shown on the show than on the book.

‘The plot of the pinnacle was unnecessary’

It’s almost completely book accurate. She says she felt desire for michael beyond what she felt for John. She also mentions that “nothing could have prepared her for the explosion that followed” which is referring to an orgasm. You can absolutely interpret from this that she never had an orgasm with John.

‘Her falling for Michaela is emotional cheating’

It’s not, she has no idea what is it that she’s feeling nor does she follow through with those feelings. I’m contrast to that, I think it’s much more inappropriate for married-to-John Francesca in the book to say to Michael “tell me something wicked” hoping to hear about his sexual adventures.

‘The main storyline is the infertility plot and they’re discarding it’

There is no infertility storyline. I’m sorry to anyone going through fertility issues and I can understand that you saw your experiences in Francesca. However, that is not a main plot and it’s barely present. She’s pregnant with John’s baby at the time of his death but looses the baby shortly after. She wonders maybe twice in the whole book if she can even have a baby due to her not getting pregnant for two years and losing the pregnancy once she got pregnant. It’s something that is not elaborated on at all in the book and she doesn’t seem particularly affected by it. She does cry when she gets her period after having sex with Michael but she wonders to herself if it is because it means no baby or it means she wouldn’t have to get married to him. The version I read did not have the second epilogue, where i’m told is actually where the main infertility issues are presented. However, that came years later and the author herself said she hadn’t thought to give them children. All of this is very easily adapted to the lesbian experience of not being able to have children biologically. It might not be the straight experience but it still very much fits the story. She can struggle with the fact she will not ever be able to have biological children with her love.

‘He was the best love interest and Michaela is so different’

And thank all the lords in the heavens above. If he’s the best, i’m scared to know what the others are like. That man is a manipulative creep. He’s incredibly annoying and repetitive. The book feels like it’s mainly from his perspective and so you get a lot of his reasoning and inner dialogue. He’s always angry. He’s also very selfish. He decides to kiss Francesca without knowing if it’s what she wanted, he only thinks that it is his opportunity to do so. He then decides they will get married and he will use logic to convince her. When that doesn’t work, he plans to seduce her so he can “claim her in a way she could not deny” (a direct quote). When having sex still hasn’t convinced her, he plans to have sex with her as much as he can to make her get pregnant because that’s the only way she would accept his marriage proposal. He literally says he wanted her to get pregnant so that he could trap her in marriage.
The “If I want to tie you to the bed, and keep you there until you’re heavy with child, I’ll do it. And you won’t complain” is not out of context. It’s not a threat but it is a statement. He says it after she agrees to marry him to show her who has all the power in their relationship.
He also pressures her to have a shotgun wedding by saying she could already be pregnant and their baby deserved a full 9 months of gestation.

I’m sure there’s more critiques I’m forgetting. For the whole book it comes across as her just feeling passion for him. There’s not a lot of actual romance between them. We barely get to know Francesca.

I’m glad the show made the changes it did with Francheala.

I’m a bridgerton fan who absolutely loved seeing Francesca stutter talking to Michaela. I had never read any of the books and I had no idea what Francesca’s story was going to be. I was very sad to see the reaction people had to Michaela’s character. Ever since that moment, criticism towards the show has poured in. I listened to it and hated feeling clueless. So I read the book, I took notes and here’s my opinions/response to some criticism I’ve seen.

Disclaimer: I hope this discussion remains respectful. If you liked the book, I can totally see why. If you disagree with me, I’m happy to hear your opinions as well

‘The show is disrespectful to John and their love’

The book starts with them already being married and planning to celebrate their second anniversary. John drops dead in like 20 pages. Half of those pages are Michael’s inner thoughts. We don’t get to know John at all. We don’t even get a funeral. The show was much kinder to John and actually made him a character, not just a name. The show actually gave them a visible story.

‘Francesca loved John in the books so much and we don’t see that in the show’

We don’t see it in the books either. She says a lot that she loved him after he died but we don’t actually see it. There’s barely any interactions between them and almost no memories told. She also remembers in the book that their first meeting wasn’t filled with love or passion but with the sense that she could be herself. We actually get a lot more of their love shown on the show than on the book.

‘The plot of the pinnacle was unnecessary’

It’s almost completely book accurate. She says she felt desire for michael beyond what she felt for John. She also mentions that “nothing could have prepared her for the explosion that followed” which is referring to an orgasm. You can absolutely interpret from this that she never had an orgasm with John.

‘Her falling for Michaela is emotional cheating’

It’s not, she has no idea what is it that she’s feeling nor does she follow through with those feelings. I’m contrast to that, I think it’s much more inappropriate for married-to-John Francesca in the book to say to Michael >! “tell me something wicked” hoping to hear about his sexual adventures. !<

‘The main storyline is the infertility plot and they’re discarding it’

There is no infertility storyline. I’m sorry to anyone going through fertility issues and I can understand that you saw your experiences in Francesca. However, that is not a main plot and it’s barely present. She’s pregnant with John’s baby at the time of his death but looses the baby shortly after. She wonders maybe twice in the whole book if she can even have a baby due to her not getting pregnant for two years and losing the pregnancy once she got pregnant. It’s something that is not elaborated on at all in the book and she doesn’t seem particularly affected by it. >! She does cry when she gets her period after having sex with Michael but she wonders to herself if it is because it means no baby or it means she wouldn’t have to get married to him. !<The version I read did not have the second epilogue, where i’m told is actually where the main infertility issues are presented. However, that came years later and the author herself said she hadn’t thought to give them children. All of this is very easily adapted to the lesbian experience of not being able to have children biologically. It might not be the straight experience but it still very much fits the story. She can struggle with the fact she will not ever be able to have biological children with her love.

‘He was the best love interest and Michaela is so different’

And thank all the lords in the heavens above. If he’s the best, i’m scared to know what the others are like. That man is a manipulative creep. He’s incredibly annoying and repetitive. The book feels like it’s mainly from his perspective and so you get a lot of his reasoning and inner dialogue. He’s always angry. He’s also very selfish. He decides to >! kiss Francesca !< without knowing if it’s what she wanted, he only thinks that it is his opportunity to do so. >! He then decides they will get married and he will use logic to convince her. When that doesn’t work, he plans to seduce her so he can “claim her in a way she could not deny” (a direct quote). When having sex still hasn’t convinced her, he plans to have sex with her as much as he can to make her get pregnant because that’s the only way she would accept his marriage proposal. He literally says he wanted her to get pregnant so that he could trap her in marriage. !<
The “If I want to tie you to the bed, and keep you there until you’re heavy with child, I’ll do it. And you won’t complain” is not out of context. It’s not a threat but it is a statement. He says it after >!she agrees to marry him to show her who has all the power in their relationship.
He also pressures her to have a shotgun wedding by saying she could already be pregnant and their baby deserved a full 9 months of gestation. !<

‘The showrunner Jess is just doing a self-insertion fanfic’

And you’re just plain homophobic. Using her queerness against her is disgusting.

I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting but I’m happy to forget. For the whole book it comes across as her just feeling passion for him. There’s not a lot of actual romance between them. We barely get to know Francesca.

I’m glad the show made the changes it did with Francheala.

P.S.: i’m sorry if the spoiler are over censored as I didn’t know what could be considered spoilers. Better to be safe.

Here are the song I wish got put in season 5 and my explanations.

Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan- the obvious choice. The theme of comphet just fits Francesca perfectly. The way it sounds played by a string quartet is beyond. I know Hannah Dodd is championing for us.

Picture You by Chappell Roan- such a perfect song for them. It’s a song about wondering if the other person feels the same way that you do and it’s just so beautiful.

Daylight or Love Story by Taylor Swift- we got to keep the tradition of having a song of hers in the season. I personally hope for something like Dayligjt as it just screams lesbian to me but I know they go for the more popular songs.

Fantastic by King Princess- let’s steal from Arcane. I just personally love that song.

Lunch by Billie Eilish- does this one really need an explanation?

Shameless by Camila Cabello- I heard this song on a wlw (Catradora for those familiar) edit and have been obsessed ever since.

We can’t be friends by Ariana Grande- absolutely no logical reason, I just randomly thought it would sound beautiful on strings.

Sailor Song by Gigi Perez- they usually pick a popular song and I think this could be a good fit.

All The Things She Said by tatu- a beautiful overthinking song, which they both do so much of.

Honorable mentions: Haunted by Beyoncé, party 4 u by charlie xcx, Maroon by Taylor Swift, girls by girl in red

There’s probably so many more I’m forgetting now. I’d love to know what your picks are 🥰

Here are the song I wish got put in season 5 and my explanations.

Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan- the obvious choice. The theme of comphet just fits Francesca perfectly. The way it sounds played by a string quartet is beyond. I know Hannah Dodd is championing for us.

Picture You by Chappell Roan- such a perfect song for them. It’s a song about wondering if the other person feels the same way that you do and it’s just so beautiful.

Daylight or Love Story by Taylor Swift- we got to keep the tradition of having a song of hers in the season. I personally hope for something like Dayligjt as it just screams lesbian to me but I know they go for the more popular songs.

Fantastic by King Princess- let’s steal from Arcane. I just personally love that song.

Lunch by Billie Eilish- does this one really need an explanation?

Shameless by Camila Cabello- I heard this song on a wlw (Catradora for those familiar) edit and have been obsessed ever since.

We can’t be friends by Ariana Grande- absolutely no logical reason, I just randomly thought it would sound beautiful on strings.

Sailor Song by Gigi Perez- they usually pick a popular song and I think this could be a good fit.

All The Things She Said by tatu- a beautiful overthinking song, which they both do so much of.

Honorable mentions: Haunted by Beyoncé, party 4 u by charlie xcx, Maroon by Taylor Swift, girls by girl in red

There’s probably so many more I’m forgetting now. I’d love to know what your picks are 🥰

Once in a while I remember we are gonna get Francesca and Michaela and I get so happy. The lesbian yearning will be beautiful. I love that Jess made the change and I couldn’t be happier to know it’s next.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for different opinions on a situation that’s been happening. I (26F) am part of a friend group of 5 people my age and we have all been friends for 13 years. This is about one specific friend, let’s call him Adam. For full transparency, Adam and I briefly dated (6 months) when we were fifteen but turns out i’m a lesbian and Adam’s gay. Adam has been dating a guy (22M) for two years. However, none of our friend group has met him. We all live in the same city and the boyfriend lives 2 hours away. Our schedules rarely line up between us all so i think all of this explains why we haven’t met him yet. However, we were trying to get together for pride.

Now on with the actual situation. Last week, Adam’s boyfriend reposted on insta a video shaming fat people. I was absolutely shocked. All of our friends saw it and had the same reaction of shock. We are a very like-minded group and none of us tolerate any kind of hate, including Adam. We were all so excited to meet him this month but now I don’t even want to be around him. Plus, I’m a bit chubby myself, I will definitely be judged by him.

I don’t think it’s my place to ask Adam for a justification for what his bf did. At the same time, I question how he can be with someone who thinks like that. Is it possible Adam missed it?

I know the answer to meeting the bf is probably just grin and bear it. But what truly bothers me is wondering if Adam is okay with what the bf did or if he missed it. How do I handle this situation? How would you?

TLDR my friends boyfriend is kinda of an asshole and i no longer wish to meet him