I was really torn between giving this book a 4.5 or 4.75-star rating. It had everything I was hoping for before opening the book. “Love at first sight” and “Being in love despite a class divide”.

It also went into detail about Daniel Smythe-Smith and his flight from the British Isles. Something I was already curious about during the entire first book of this series. Not to mention, Daniel is easily one of the most likable male leads of any Julia Quinn novel I’ve read. His charm and humor genuinely had it’s effect on me. Great guy.

I also quite enjoyed Anne as a character. Her background was interesting and tragic. It kept me engaged in her story and feud with George Chervil. I also, at times, appreciated witnessing her life as a governess to Harriet, Elizabeth, and Frances. It helped separate her a bit from the past she’s been fleeing. It was sweet to read, though I’ll admit that some of these scenes felt a bit repetitive for me. This, in part, kept me from giving it a full 4.75-star rating.

Anne and Daniel as a couple were quite satisfying for me, as well. Daniel’s clear pining for Anne was endearing, while Anne was held back by her past and her role as a governess to his younger cousins. She had to keep her feelings more guarded. Yet, from their first kiss, there was a lingering attraction between them. I especially enjoyed that Daniel fell so quickly for Anne; it reminded me of An Offer From a Gentleman, another Julia Quinn favorite of mine (which I rated 4.75 stars) that also has that “love at first sight” and class divide dynamic. I think that’s just a trope I really enjoy, I’ve learned.

The plot took me through a rollercoaster of ups and downs. On the whole, it was an entertaining read, but a few slow segments did pull me out of the story. And to be a bit nit-picky, I found it a little hard to believe that Daniel and Anne would randomly bump into each other twice in different stores and towns. I know coincidences are a staple of romance novels, yet it still slightly broke the suspension of disbelief for me.

Despite these minor criticisms, A Night Like This is a book I’d definitely recommend. It’s one of my favorites, even if it doesn’t quite reach re-read status like some of my other Julia Quinn favorites.