Bridgerton’s best books: read them in order after watching Netflix’s success

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One of the biggest surprises of the 2020-21 streaming season was Bridgerton, the Regency era series that was in parts equal to the scandalous drama of Shondaland, since it was a love letter for the whole genre of ripper fiction.

Based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling series of historical novels, the first season of the Netflix show produced by Shonda Rhimes covered the first book, The duke and me, who follows the fast courtship of upper class socialites Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page). The show was an immediate success with both real viewers and drama fans, bringing the cast to rising star status, while also bringing the series of original books to the top of the bestseller list.

What are the best Bridgerton Books in order?

Although Netflix has announced that it will renew Bridgerton for a second season, it may take a while before another batch of episodes worth passing out is available. However, if you have devoured the first episodes as delicious tea and are hungry for more, look no further. Quinn Original Bridgerton The series has eight novels that follow trials and tribulations and, of course, the romantic life of the other Bridgerton brothers. With high tension, swirling romances and hot scenes (sometimes much more pornographic than what’s on the TV show), they’re great for people who think that Austen’s gentle caresses of work are very harmless.

As you look forward to the second season, here’s our guide to catch up on the eight Bridgerton novels and how to read them in order. Buy them in paperback, for your Kindle, or listen to audiobooks for free with a free 30-day trial of Audible here.

1. The duke and me (Bridgerton)

The source material for the Netflix series, The duke and me focuses on the classic fake dating, they will not fight, but it is done very well. During the high society dating season, the Bridgertons’ eldest daughter, Daphne, agrees to fake a date with the mysterious Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. They plan their elaborate charade both to keep the prying eyes of meddling mothers turned to the wedding away from the Duke, and to make Daphne a hot commodity with the other eligible singles. Their plan begins to fall apart, however, when Daphne falls in love with Simon for real – you can tell where this is going, but the passionate journey is worth it.

2. The viscount who loved me

While the first book focuses on Daphne and Simon’s journey to marriage, the second involves the elusive single and libertine certified by Lady Whistledown, Anthony, the Bridgertons’ eldest son. After getting tired of his reputation, Anthony decides to settle down and marry Edwina, exactly the honorable young woman he thinks he needs. Too bad her sister, Kate Sheffield, is interrupting her efforts at every step, determined to prevent her younger sister from marrying someone like Anthony. But through her witty games and battle of wills, Kate finds out that she may want the viscount just for herself. Not everyone can be immune to the Regency bad boy charm.

3. An offer from a gentleman

Who doesn’t love a good Cinderella story? Benedict Bridgerton, the clan’s second eldest son, plays Prince Charming while spending the night of his life at a masquerade dancing with a mysterious woman. This woman turned out to be Sophie Beckett, the daughter of an earl, but who lives her days working as a maid, as she was forced into office by her cruel stepmother. Benedict is attracted to a familiar-looking maid while looking for the mysterious woman of his dream. But the novel explores the effects of their class difference, as Sophie knows they can never be together.

4. Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Fans of the Netflix adaptation will appreciate this continuation of the unrequited romance between Colin, the third Bridgerton brother, and Penelope, Featherington’s youngest daughter. After spending a lot of time abroad and getting tired of his libertine ways (does it look familiar?), Colin returns to the city and runs into Penelope again. She’s not exactly the flower on the wall that she was before, but she still maintains a flame for him, even after all the years apart. As they dance around each other, Penelope has a secret that can threaten everything if Colin finds out (whoever watched the show can probably deduce what that secret is).

5. To Sir Phillip, With Love

Eloise Bridgerton, a fast-thinking fan favorite who had no interest in marriage in the first season, is now a spinster when we find her in the fifth book. While she maintains correspondence with the husband of her deceased cousin, Sir Philip Crane, he proposes that she move in with him, as his children need a new mother. Then Eloise moves to the field and is left with her new and imperfect pair. But despite doubting him and his false marriage scheme, they slowly learn to accept and love each other’s faults.

6. When he was mean

This book changes its perspective again to see the Bridgerton family from the outside, featuring the main love interest (and another notorious libertine), Michael Stirling. He has a deep passion for Francesca Bridgerton after the first time he laid eyes on her – coincidentally, days before his marriage to his cousin. But when unfortunate circumstances lead Michael to assume the title of his cousin, and Francesca is left alone, Michael tries to make her see that he can be more than just her trusted confidant.

7. It’s in Your Kiss

After Bridgerton’s youngest daughter, Hyacinth, meets Gareth St. Clair in the musical Smythe-Smith, a temporary spark blooms. When Gareth reveals that he needs help translating an old Italian-written diary to save his heritage, Hyacinth agrees to help. The more time they spend together, working towards their single goal, the closer they are to finding the answers that were before them all the time (spoiler: the answer is love).

8. On the way to marriage

With the final version of the Bridgerton saga, we follow the only non-libertine Bridgerton brother, Gregory. He is sentimental and believes in love at first sight when he sees Hermione Watson. However, she is in love with another man, someone who is her best friend, Lady Lucinda Abernathy. While Lucinda graciously agrees to help Gregory win Hermione’s hand, they discover the true love between the two. But double twist! Lucy is already engaged to a man of her uncle’s choice, and he is not very interested in letting her give up so easily.

How are the books? Bridgerton?

although Bridgerton’s the stories are admittedly strange, their real counterparts in real life have had their share of sordid tales. Here are some books on the real Regency era, if you want a historical glimpse behind your favorite Bridgerton soap operas.

1. Jane Austen’s England

Jane Austen’s novels remain one of the greatest inspirations for the way we view the Regency period in modern times. However, no one can deny that his lens was directly focused on the way the other half lived, mainly, the issues of money and class (romance too) that preoccupied a very small part of English society. Authors Roy and Lesley Adkins take a culturally and socially rich plunge into England in the days of Austen’s novels, and the way events such as war and unrest have affected the gentry and commoners. This is an essential read for history fans and Janeites alike.

2. Crazy and bad

“The popular image of the Regency continues to be mitigated by the hundreds of novels set in the period, which focus almost exclusively on wealthy, white and Christian members of the upper classes,” says the description of the book by author Bea Koch. Taking a more intersectional feminist look in the popular era, Koch tells the stories of real women who have lived historical lives, in addition to the limited scope of this popular genre. She examines the stories of LGBTQ and Jewish women in the regency, women of color and women who were in fields such as astronomy and paleontology.

3. The years of conduct

The Regency Years it looks like a novel recounting historical events – that’s exactly why we recommend it. Author Robert Morrison argues here that it was actually the Regency that planted the seeds for the modern era, rather than all the credit that the Victorians usually receive. The chapters cover a wide range of topics, covering economics, social reforms, arts and entertainment, war and more. You can meet the main players of the time (the Shelleys, Byron, Austen, etc.), but do you know everyone else who was making history in the background? Morrison’s dynamic style, as well as quotes from letters and diaries, will teach you all about how that period shaped the world we know today.