How To Read the 'Bridgerton' Books In Order

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Netflix's addictive Regency-era drama Bridgerton swept us all away in 2020, and has kept us watching (and rewatching) in the years since. Now, season three is just around the corner, with part one set to premiere next month. Before the third season premieres, however, if you've yet to read Julia Quinn's wildly successful Bridgerton book series (on which the show is based), this is the perfect opportunity to get caught up.

Quinn's series consists of eight novels—one for each of the Bridgerton siblings. Although it's not yet clear whether the Netflix series will follow the same format as the books, or run for eight seasons, the first season was largely adapted from the first book in the series, The Duke & I, and the second The Viscount Who Loved Me. The third will go out of order, following the fourth book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, to get to Penelope and Colin's romance quicker. The focus for season four (which is in the works) has yet to be announced, but many fans are hoping it will be Benedict.

TV viewers, Quinn told T&C, "are used to a more traditional television series, which follows the same characters and keeps torturing them in new and different ways." But now, she says, "we have to introduce them to how a romance novel series is structured, where you get a new love story every book, or season, within the same world. So you're gonna have different characters rise to the fore each season as the leads, which I'm very excited for viewers who may not be familiar with how romance novel series are structured to see that. And to suddenly realize, this is really cool. We get to go back to the same world, and we get something really new."

If you've already stormed through the entire Bridgerton series, you can also check out Quinn's Rokesby series, which is a prequel of sorts. Set in the 18th century, about a century before the original series, these books follow the aristocratic Rokesby family, who are friends and neighbors of the Bridgertons.

Otherwise, you can scroll through the slides below for a chronological guide to the entire Bridgerton novel series:

The Duke & I

Fans of the Netflix adaptation will already be familiar with the ins and outs of this first novel, which follows the oldest Bridgerton daughter, Daphne. After making her society debut, Daphne enters into a mutually beneficial sham relationship with the mysterious Duke of Hastings—but inevitably, the facade of love soon starts to feel very real.

The Viscount Who Loved Me

The second book focuses on the eldest of the Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, who's engaged to be married. There's just one problem— he can't stop thinking about his bride-to-be's meddlesome older sister, Kate.

An Offer From a Gentleman

This Cinderella-inspired story follows Benedict Bridgerton, who falls for a mysterious young woman at a masquerade ball, and then makes it his mission to find her again. The object of his affections, Sophie, is a humble earl's daughter who's treated like a servant by her cold stepmother.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

The fourth book in the series centers on Colin Bridgerton, who returns to London after years of gallivanting around Europe, and swiftly becomes the most eligible bachelor in town. But he's unexpectedly drawn to Penelope Featherington, whom he's known since his childhood, but has never before seen as anything but a friend.

To Sir Phillip, With Love

Eloise Bridgerton is dubbed a spinster for being single at 28 (the Regency era had its drawbacks), and she's just fine with that. She wants more out of life than to be married—but after her best friend Penelope finds love, she starts to doubt her own choice to stay single. Enter Sir Phillip Crane, a moody widower and single father whose unexpected proposal changes her life overnight.

When He Was Wicked

Michael Stirling falls for Francesca Bridgerton the very first time he meets her. Unfortunately for Michael, he's to late—Francesca is already engaged to his cousin, the Earl of Kilmartin. Resigned to the fact that he can never have Francesca, he settles for being her friend instead. But as any Bridgerton fan knows, things are rarely that simple...

It's In His Kiss

The penultimate novel in the series focuses on Hyacinth Bridgerton, who falls for Lady Danbury's handsome grandson Gareth St Clair, just as he's embroiled in a messy family battle over a disputed inheritance.

On the Way to the Wedding

In Quinn's eighth and final novel in the series, the youngest Bridgerton son, Gregory, falls deeply in love with the unavailable Hermione Watson. When Hermione's best friend Lucy offers to help him win her heart, Gregory soon begins to fall for her instead. Unfortunately Lucy, just like Hermione, is engaged to someone else.

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