"Dearest reader, I’m going to attempt my best Whistledown impression as you prepare for the newest Bridgerton season. I dove into Julia Quinn’s books after watching the first Bridgerton season and recommend that everyone who loves the show do the same. Not only does reading the book give insight into the characters Netflix couldn’t possibly achieve in just a handful of episodes, but the books are just plain good in their own right. Between Twilight, The Hunger Games, and even the uninspiring Divergent Series (I said what I said), I always love seeing how my favorite stories tackle different mediums.
For those who somehow aren’t as familiar, the series follows the alphabetically named Bridgerton siblings. First published in 2000, Quinn created a world of high-stakes romance that follows a family entering 19th-century high society. Years after the books became wildly popular, the Shonda Rhimes adaptation on Netflix took the pandemic by storm. I personally haven’t been the same since I saw Phoebe Dynevor grace our screens as Daphne. The show created a ton of buzz and brought female-centered romance to the main stage. As an avid romance reader, I love historical romance for the type of depth it gives different time periods. The show is romantic and steamy and utterly dramatic (everything I prefer in a show TBH), but the source material has so much more story to tell. Bridgerton is on its way back to Netflix, but to be the most informed, I recommend checking out the books that started it all. You get to dive deeper into the family dynamics, personality, and heart of the world Quinn has created. And in my opinion, it will only enhance your viewing experience.
But not all of the books are created equal. As a self-proclaimed Bridgerton expert, I have some opinions on our favorite siblings. Here’s how I believe the Bridgerton siblings and their books stack up. Not sure you agree? Pick up the series for yourself to compare your takes to mine. Happy reading!
8. To Sir Phillip With Love (Book 5)
Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, so when he proposed, he assumed she would be homely and a little desperate. But Eloise is anything but desperate, and unsure whether this imperfect man could be perfect for her.
Rating: 2.5/5
Oh, Eloise. Unfortunately, her story was not my favorite. Eloise and Phillip didn’t seem to have much chemistry, but that’s also because they have yet to meet by the time this book comes up in the series. Eloise is a really fun character in the first few books, and I was excited to see where her story would go. You may be disappointed if you’re expecting the Eloise of the show (where my hang-ups with this book come in), but the slow burn of her and Phillip’s relationship does pay off. Eloise brings joy into Phillip’s life after the loss of his wife and dedicates herself to building up this family that needs her (and vice versa). This dynamic really rounds out her story. You also get swoony love letters and a chance to see the parts of Eloise we all love: her wit and excitement for adventure. You also get a few fun moments from all the other family members we’ve grown to love.
7. The Duke and I (Book 1)
Everyone likes Daphne Bridgerton for her kindness and wit, but it seems like no one truly desires her. Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, tends to shun marriage… but love ignores every rule.
Rating: 2.5/5
Daphne and Simon launched the ship that sailed a thousand memes during the pandemic. You might be wondering how they ended up down here when they’re the first couple. Well, their story didn’t play out exactly like what we saw on screen (which makes sense, of course). Daphne is the star of the London season but wants to cut through the nonsense of being courted. Simon gets her to agree to a fake courtship so she can find the right match while he keeps the mothers away from his doorstep. He’s our perfect broody man who doesn’t want marriage or his father’s legacy. Despite his efforts to stay away, Daphne proves to be all too alluring.
Throughout their courting, they end up learning to understand each other: Daphne’s dream to have a family and the reasons Simon doesn’t. However, it didn’t pluck at my heartstrings as much as some of the other books in the series. I ended up not being a fan of Daphne by the middle because she makes some questionable—at best—choices. Fans of the show will enjoy seeing the additional little moments that were left on the cutting room floor, which do help give these two more depth. It’s your typical historical romance, and if you’re new to the sub-genre, I think it sets the stage for you to really get into the rest of the series.
6. On the Way to the Wedding (Book 8)
Unlike most young men, Gregory Bridgerton really believes in true love. When Lady Lucinda Abernathy promises to help him win the hand of his best friend, Gregory is shocked to realize that it is actually the engaged Lucy who he loves.
Rating: 2.5/5
Poor young Gregory, he kind of gets left behind because, by the time you get to his story, you’re still so invested in his older siblings! However, he is a lover boy through and through. He’s one of the only historical romance heroes I’ve read that believes in true love. However, the story gets a little wacky with the way he ends up trying to win over “the one”—like tying Lucy up and hiding her in a bathroom. Some of those moments took me out of the story. However, they really do bind the couple together in the end. I suppose a good shenanigan can really help romance bloom. The story is enjoyable but also suffers from youngest child energy (if you know, you know).
5. When He Was Wicked (Book 6)
Michael Stirling’s life changed forever when he first laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton. Unfortunately for Michael, Francesca was engaged to his cousin, and thinks of him as nothing more than a friend—for now.
Rating: 3/5
Our girl Francesca really goes through it in this book. Michael falls head over heels for her at first sight, but she’s already promised to his cousin. Love triangles are usually fun but this one felt sort of lopsided. We see Michael’s insta-love the entire time but for Francesca, she really only sees him as a friend for a while. He’s way more into her (which I actually do love) than she is him, and it takes longer for her to realize that she might have bigger feelings. We haven’t seen a ton of Francesca in the show yet, but in the book, the characters deal with a lot of grief and loss and it’s written very beautifully. Michael and Francesca are a sweet couple and the pining and love that grows between them makes for a good, if not great, read.
4. An Offer from a Gentleman (Book 3)
Sophie Beckett never dreamed that she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s masquerade ball, or that she would swoon over Benedict Bridgerton. After that one night, Benedict has been able to think of nothing else besides this mysterious young woman.
Rating: 3.5/5
Where do I even begin with those two? We haven’t gotten too much of Benedict in the last two seasons but in the books, he is a real mess! Benedict’s story is a Cinderella retelling that I really enjoyed. The heroine, Sophie, sticks to her morals even with her low social status, while Benedict fumbles around for a while fretting over being the second son. Sophie steals Benedict’s heart, and he does a lot of growing up throughout the book. While it’s not super high on my list, please do not skip this one. The ending is sweet, and if you like some drama in your romance, this one is for you.
3. Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Book 4)
Penelope Featherington has adored Colin Bridgerton for what feels like forever. That is, until she stumbles across his biggest secret, and fears she might not know him at all.
Rating: 4.5/5
The stars of season 3! I understand adaptations have to take artistic license and give us a well-rounded story, but Colin and Penelope are so cute in the book that it’s going to be hard for me to not miss all of my favorite scenes. A minor warning that there is a Princess Diaries-esque storyline in this book where Penelope’s appearance changes pretty drastically and that’s what helps Colin’s change of heart (in addition to the fact that Penelope was always a great friend to him!). That aside, there’s the added drama of Whistledown’s reveal and how Colin and Penelope work through their personal issues. I still love them, and you will, too.
2. It’s In His Kiss (Book 7)
When fiendishly smart Hyacinth Bridgerton offers to help Gareth St. Clair translate an old family diary written in Italian, neither of them expects for the diary to reveal Gareth’s darkest family secrets… or their feelings for each other.
Rating: 4.5/5
Hyacinth is a strong-willed, outspoken young woman who is just living life. Gareth realizes he needs her to accept his inheritance and assume his title. Eventually, the pair realizes that they actually just want to be around each other. Joining forces to unweave a family mystery is the perfect way to fall in love, after all.
This book has the added bonus of featuring a lot of our favorite society matron, Lady Danbury. She really takes Hyacinth under her wing and helps her try to find Gareth’s family jewels. There are also a ton of scenes of them bonding like grandmother and granddaughter (so cute!). Because Hyacinth is the youngest sister, the book explores her relationship with her mom and the father she lost right after she was born. But even in the midst of the drama, I truly just loved how much Gareth was exasperated by Hyacinth but also found her charming and cute. Their chemistry felt incredibly real and normal, and in a world that’s a bit absurd, it’s nice to read a romance where the couple just… gets along. Plus, we get a really sweet epilogue where they’re living very happily ever after. Who knew it was that simple?
1. The Viscount Who Loved Me (Book 2)
Elusive bachelor Anthony Bridgerton has chosen a wife! The only obstacle is her older sister, Kate Sheffield, who is obnoxiously meddlesome until suddenly she’s the one haunting Anthony’s dreams.
Rating: 5/5
If it’s not obvious by the ranking, Anthony and Kate are the loves of my life. The show does such a great job building up the tension, and, obviously, we love Jonathan Bailey as the ever-stoic, unlovable Anthony, but Kate really is the star of the book. She is the perfect meddling older sister, and she isn’t quick to believe that love will solve all of her problems. I love that Kate is protective and loud about the fact that no one will ever be good enough for her little sister.
Anthony and Kate have such good banter because, while they’re not true enemies to lovers, Kate holds no punches when she’s around Anthony. Anthony fires right back even though he needs Kate on his side to marry Edwina. The Pall Mall scene with the different mallets is one that I hoped would make it to the show because it begins to show us the couple can actually have fun together despite constantly trading insults.
The book also does a great job of explaining Anthony’s role in the family, one he takes incredibly seriously, and his devotion to his late father. We see him being more of a father figure than just an older brother to his siblings and the toll it takes on him. And even though he’s abrasive in the beginning, you start to see that he needs the challenge that Kate presents because he so often shuts himself down. The scene that sealed the deal for me was the big thunderstorm. Kate and Anthony begin to open up and comfort each other, and it’s a time when you see them actually debate whether they’re making the right decision. They are both protectors within their families and try to do the right thing despite their growing feelings. They ultimately learn to trust their feelings because, in the end, true love always wins. This story is really the creme de la creme in the Bridgerton world, and I know you’ll feel the same once you read it (if season 2 didn’t convince you already, that is).
