Set between 1813 and 1827, the Bridgerton series is a collection of eight novels by Julia Quinn, each featuring one of the eight children of the late Viscount Bridgerton.

The mysterious Lady Whistledown who comments on the 'Ton describes them: "The Bridgertons are by far the most prolific family in the upper echelons of society. Although one can find only banality in their choice of names for their children. Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth - one would think that intelligent parents would be able to keep their children straight without needing to alphabetise their names."

Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, 28 June 1813

Asking yourself, which order should I read the Bridgerton books in? Then look no further, let us take you through it.

Book 1: The Duke and I

The Story of Daphne.

Meet the irresistible Duke of Hastings (played by the beautiful Regé-Jean Page in the Netflix series), who has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. Will debutante Daphne Bridgerton steal his heart and win over the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever?

Book 2: The Viscount Who Loved Me

The Story of Anthony .

Now it's the turn of London's most eligible and elusive batchelor Anthony Bridgerton to get the town's tongues wagging. Such a rake, can he be reformed and change his ways to worthily win the hand of his betrothed? Let's see if his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield manages to keep him at bay and prevent the match...

Book 3: An Offer From a Gentleman

The Story of Benedict 

In Quinn's Cinderella story, Benedict Bridgerton falls for Sophie Beckett, a woman he meets at Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball. Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her "wicked" stepmother. Will they get their happy ever after?

Book 4: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

The Story of Colin 

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as an empty-headed charmer. But when he returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! But when he discovers that she has secrets of her own, he must decide whether she is a threat or a happy ending.

Book 5: To Sir Phillip, With Love

The Story of Eloise 

Remember the fiercely independent, confident, adventurous spirit that is Eloise Bridgerton? Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife's distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster. Assuming her to be a homely figure, he could not quite believe that she was the beautiful woman on his doorstep - but are they really right for each other? Will Eloise finally settle down?

Book 6: When He Was Wicked

The Story of Francesca

Young widow Francesca is about to be married, it's time for her happily ever after. She's the quiet one, the one you won't remember from the TV series if you have watched it. Except that she meets Michael Stirling, London's most infamous bachelor, and she steals his heart. He falls, hook, line and sinker for Francesca after a lifetime of chasing women, none of them able to get him on the hook. The occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin. Will the forbidden love win out, or will John Stirling's long-time unrequited love finally be sealed?

Book 7: It's in His Kiss

The Story of Hyacinth

Hyacinth Bridgerton has experienced three full seasons yet is still without a husband. Her challenging nature isn't for everyone. Gareth St. Clair is known as such a delectable combination of impropriety and sinful handsomeness that few, if any, match his level of infamous wickedness. His father, who detests him, is determined to ruin the St. Clair family fortunes. Gareth's sole heirloom is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past - and the key to his future. The problem is - it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word. Step in Hyacinth who volunteers to translate the text for him. Si innamoreranno?

Book 8: On the Way to the Wedding

The Story of Gregory

Gregory Bridgerton is a firm believer in true love. Bless him. Can you blame him after the trials and tribulations of his siblings' love lives? He's 26, has waited his whole life for Mrs Right and when she appears in the rather lovely form of Hermione Watson, he's frustrated that she doesn't feel the same way. Understanding he's a catch, her best friend Lady Lucinda Abernathy agrees to aid the match. Will it be worth it, is it a match made in heaven? 

The series of raunchy Regency-era romance books burst into our consciousness when the adaptation of the first book took our TVs by storm in December 2020 when it launched on Netflix. The series was streamed by 82 million households, becoming the most watched show at the time in the UK, France and the US. Series 2 hit our screens in March 2022, and we still can't get enough.

For die-hard Bridgerton fans, there has been big news this week with the announcement that the next Bridgerton instalment will hit the shelves on May 8th. Queen Charlotte is the long-awaited companion novel to the upcoming original series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, created by Shondaland for Netflix, which will begin streaming on May 4th, just days before the book becomes available. Check out the trailer to keep you going until it reaches us in May.

Julia Quinn collaborates with television pioneer Shonda Rhimes on this powerful and romantic novel of Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte and King George III’s great love story and how it sparked a societal shift. Set in 1761, on a sunny day in September, a King and Queen met for the very first time and they were married within hours. Before the Bridgertons were even a twinkle in the eye, this is the "meet-cute to end all meet-cutes" according to Quinn.

If you'd like to check out some of Julia Quinn's other books including The Rokesbys. A generation before the Bridgertons, came the Rokesby Family, dive in.

In the meantime, read the books. They're a little bit cheeky, with a lot of romance and raunch, all in a glorious setting. It's pure escapism at it's best.