Here’s How to Navigate Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton Book Universe

Who’s the focus? Queen Charlotte and King George III.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? The spin-off series Queen Charlotte.

What can readers expect? Although written and published years after Quinn’s other Bridgerton books, chronologically Queen Charlotte is the series prequel, and a book tie-in for the Netflix spin-off that grew so popular in 2023. Loosely inspired by the relationship between real-life Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and King George III, Queen Charlotte follows the young German princess as she enters an arranged marriage with the king, only to discover there’s a deeply personal secret he’s been keeping from his kingdom—and from her.

Who’s the focus? Daphne Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Season 1.

What can readers expect? The Duke & I brings readers to Regency-Era London, where girls like Daphne Bridgerton “debut” at marrying age, presenting themselves for wanting suitors. As the eldest daughter of the eight well-liked Bridgerton children, Daphne has never had a hard time making friends—but catching a bachelor’s eye is a different challenge altogether.

Enter Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings, a stubborn man with an emotional past who’s since sworn off marriage. Upon their meeting, Simon and Daphne formulate a plan: The two of them will fake a relationship. In the process, Daphne will win admirers—if she’s good enough to win over the duke, surely she’s worthy of any man in London—and Simon will sail through the season happily unavailable. Their no-strings-attached plan seems to be foolproof. That is, until both Daphne and Simon realize their feelings go well beyond friendship.

Who’s the focus? Anthony Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Season 2.

What can readers expect? The second novel in the series stars Anthony Bridgerton, Daphne’s brother and the oldest of their siblings. (The Bridgerton children are named alphabetically, in order of age: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth.) With the help of Lady Whistledown’s notorious gossip column, Anthony has acquired quite the reputation as London’s most eligible (and rakish) bachelor. But contrary to all the chatter, Anthony seems ready to settle down with Edwina Sheffield (Sharma in the TV series) and start the next chapter of his life as viscount.

Edwina’s older sister, however, has different plans. Thanks to Lady Whistledown’s words, Kate is convinced that Anthony isn’t the man for Edwina. But as she grows increasingly involved in Edwina and Anthony’s courtship, so too does she realize that her own feelings for Anthony might not be entirely reproving...or innocent.

Who’s the focus? Benedict Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Not yet.

What can readers expect? Quinn draws a page (or two) from Cinderella in An Offer from a Gentleman, in which Benedict takes center stage. Each year, Lady Bridgerton—Benedict’s mother—hosts her famous masquerade ball, and it’s during one such sparkling celebration that Benedict first encounters Sophie Beckett. Problem is, he doesn’t know it’s Sophie Beckett.

Sophie grew up the daughter of an earl, but after her father’s death, she was left under the care of her stepmother and two stepsisters, for whom she works as a maid. On the night of the ball, she sneaks into the party and winds up dancing with Benedict, only to slip out at midnight. Benedict, mesmerized by the masked maiden, is determined to track her down and learn her identity. He swears he won’t stop searching until he finds her.

But then he meets a house servant and finds himself immediately drawn to her. Unbeknownst to Benedict, the masked dancer and this young maid are one and the same. Sophie is terrified to reveal the truth; meanwhile, Benedict must decide if he should continue his hunt for the mystery woman, or succumb to his true feelings and fall in love with Sophie.

Who’s the focus? Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Season 3.

What can readers expect? Penelope Featherington has been best friends with Eloise Bridgerton since childhood. For as long as she could remember, she’s also had a secret crush on Eloise’s older brother, Colin.

Now, in Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Colin has returned home to London after a long trip away, and he discovers Penelope isn’t the shy girl he remembers. Perhaps he’s even...interested in more than friendship? But Penelope has her own worries to deal with as the queen’s search to uncover Lady Whistledown’s identity reaches a turning point. If Colin were to find out Penelope’s truest self, might he still love her the same? Would he love her at all?

Who’s the focus? Eloise Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Not yet.

What can readers expect? In To Sir Phillip, With Love, a single letter changes everything. After Sir Phillip Crane’s wife passes away, he sends a message to Eloise Bridgerton—now officially designated a “spinster”—and asks for her hand in marriage. With such limited options available to her, perhaps the second-eldest Bridgerton sister will say yes. But Eloise can’t see herself marrying a man she doesn’t know, let alone one she’s never even met. When she and Phillip finally have the chance to get to know each other, Eloise discovers he’s nothing like the gentleman she’d imagined for herself—and maybe he’s all the more perfect for it.

Who’s the focus? Francesca Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Part of Francesca’s love story plays out in season 3, but a chapter focused solely on her romance has yet to be announced.

What can readers expect? Michael Stirling, the romantic lead of When He Was Wicked, knows how to handle courtships. Before he met Francesca Bridgerton, he always had a lady on one arm and never stuck around long enough to catch feelings. Yet when he saw Francesca for the first time, well...he knew to call it what it was: love at first sight. The downside? Francesca was mere hours away from marrying Michael’s cousin, John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin.

Years later, John has died, and Michael has taken over as earl. He’s careful never to overstep with the grieving Francesca, but as she begins to lean on him for comfort, he realizes putting his feelings aside won’t be easy—or even possible.

Who’s the focus? Hyacinth Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Not yet.

What can readers expect? At the beginning of It’s In His Kiss, Gareth St. Clair is next in line to receive his family’s estate and inheritance. But as long as his father has his way, Gareth won’t see a single penny. The solution to his problem just might reside in his late grandmother’s diary. Unfortunately for Gareth, the diary’s written entirely in Italian, a language he doesn’t speak or understand. And so he turns to the intelligent, loquacious Hyacinth Bridgerton, who’s already in her fourth season on the marriage market. But she loves a good challenge—and thus agrees to help translate the diary with her limited Italian. As Gareth and Hyacinth draw deeper into the diary’s family secrets, so too do they draw closer together—and realize their partnership might be more than transactional.

Who’s the focus? Gregory Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Not yet.

What can readers expect? Gregory Bridgerton, star of On the Way to the Wedding, is a hopeless romantic. (How could he not be, hailing from the Bridgerton family?) He’s certain he’s meant to be with Hermione Watson, who—unfortunately—is already in love with someone else. But Hermione’s friend, Lucinda Abernathy, believes Hermione deserves someone better: someone, perhaps, like Gregory. Together, Lucy and Gregory conspire to win Hermione over. But somewhere along the way, Lucy discovers herself falling for Gregory, and he soon realizes the feelings are mutual. The only catch? Lucy is already engaged. But as Lucy makes her way to the altar, Gregory isn’t willing to let her go without a fight.

Who’s the focus? The entire Bridgerton family, but particularly Violet Bridgerton.

Is there an accompanying Bridgerton season? Not yet.

What can readers expect? In Happily Ever After, Quinn offers eight short stories—or “second epilogues”—reintroducing each Bridgerton couple in the midst of their marriages. But the ninth and final story switches focus to matriarch Violet Bridgerton’s own romance with Edmund Bridgerton in the years surrounding their courtship, marriage, and his eventual death. This heartwarming novella is the ideal capstone to the beloved Bridgerton series.