Every 'Bridgerton' Book, Ranked From Swoonworthy to 'You Occupy My Every Thought'
In honor of season 4, we're picking favorites.
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With season 4 of Bridgerton on Netflix upon us, you're probably ravenous for more swoonworthy historical romance. While you certainly could revisit older seasons after seeing what happens with Benedict and Sophie this season, why not cozy up with Julia Quinn's set of Regency romance novels instead?
SHOP THE BRIDGERTON BOOK SERIES
This eight-book series, which made its royal debut in 2000, follows all eight Bridgerton children on their quest for love in Regency England. While these novels certainly don't skimp on the steamy scenes the binge-worthy show is known for, they're also full of witty banter, romantic declarations, and emotional plot lines that could make even the stiffest of upper lips swoon.
Yes, these books are technically meant to be read in chronological order—many of the siblings make cameos in each other's books, so there are mild spoilers about the status of their relationships—but they can be devoured as standalone novels, too. Craving an enemies-to-lovers tale? Try The Viscount Who Loved Me. If you want to read about a reformed rake falling for his best friend, When He Was Wicked is right up your alley. And if you want to read the story that inspired season 4, you'll want to scoop up An Offer From a Gentleman.
If you're still stumped on where to start, we channeled our inner Lady Whistledown to create a ranking of all eight Bridgerton novels—saving the best for last, of course. While you can't go wrong with any of them, there are a few that are so good, we just know they'd be dubbed this season's Incomparable. To quote the Duke of Hastings, we "burn for you these books."
Although Daphne might be the fourth Bridgerton sibling, she was technically the one that started it all!
In The Duke and I, which served as the basis for season 1 of the Netflix hit, the eldest Bridgerton daughter has always been well-liked by her peers, but not seen as romantically attractive, which proves detrimental when she's expected to find a partner. Meanwhile, Simon, the Duke of Hastings, has returned from abroad, and has no plans of marriage, even though he's one of the most eligible bachelors. After he meets Daphne, they devise a plan: They'll fake date so she can look more desirable and he can avoid all of the mothers trying to set him up with their daughters.
While The Duke and I is beloved for being many people's first exposure to the Bridgerton family, it's not the best in the series. Sure, Daphne and Simon's connection is great fun—their witty banter was perfect for the fake dating plot line—but there's a scene regarding consent that many found questionable. It was ultimately altered for the TV adaptation, though many viewers weren't convinced it was handled much better.
While many of the Bridgerton novels feature unconventional love stories, Eloise's might just be the most unique.
Eloise, who has been dubbed a spinster, and Phillip, a widow, connect in quite an unusual way: She shows up on his doorstep in the middle of the night after he proposes to her via letter, even though they've never met. After her impulsive decision, she must grapple with his intense moods and help care for his children while deciding if she made the right choice.
Although the premise of this had a ton of potential, Phillip was so moody that many reviewers said they had a difficult time buying into their romantic connection. Despite Phillip's shortcomings, Eloise's POV is a ton of fun to read. She's sassy and clever, which shows in not only her interactions with Phillip, but also in the scenes in which she's spending time with the children and her brothers. What's more, she stands up for herself by confronting Phillip about the problems in their marriage, which is refreshing to read in a Regency romance.
Fans of the TV show might forget about Gregory, the youngest Bridgerton brother, but he proves to be one of the most romantic men of them all in his novel, which is the final installment in the series.
Gregory is convinced that he has found The One—Miss Hermione Watson. The issue? She's in love with someone else. When Hermione's best friend, Lucy, catches wind of Gregory's infatuation, she's determined to set them up. After all, she thinks that the man Hermione is after is all wrong for her. As Lucy gets to know Gregory, they spark an unforgettable connection, even though she is engaged.
Whew! The drama in this book is going to be perfect for the screen, although we have a feeling we'll be waiting a long time for Gregory's season. While this is a very fun story, Quinn does spend a long time focusing on Gregory's love for Hermione, so there isn't a ton of time to allow the connection between Gregory and Lucy to fully develop.
Much like Gregory, Hyacinth is one of the characters viewers know the least about, because she's the youngest Bridgerton. While we'll likely get a closer peek at her life in the next few seasons, before it's time for her love story to take center stage, you can't go wrong with diving into her novel in the meantime. Not only is it packed with rom-com elements, but it features a jewel heist subplot that's a fun departure from some of the more serious themes featured in the series' other books.
Gareth St. Clair is tasked with saving his family's fortune from his cruel father. Although he has a family diary packed with secrets that he believes will help him with the cause, it's written in Italian, a language he does not speak. Enter Hyacinth Bridgerton. When the acquaintances cross paths at an event, she decides to help him translate the diary, leading them on a quest to rescue his family's jewels that turns romantic.
If you're a Lady Danbury fan, you're in luck! Gareth is her grandson, so she makes several appearances in this novel.
Regency romance fans have surely heard the term "rake" before in reference to a playboy-esque character, but the male lead in When He Was Wicked truly takes it to a new level.
When Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, meets Francesca Bridgerton, she is just hours away from marrying his cousin. Despite the impending nuptials, Michael falls hard and fast for the bride-to-be, but he ultimately has to settle for being friends with the woman he loves. After the untimely death of Francesca's husband, Michael wonders if it's his chance to woo her, even though he worries about fracturing their friendship.
Bridgerton fans often say that When He Was Wicked is the spiciest book of the entire series. Seriously steamy scenes aside, Francesca's novel feels more emotionally mature than her siblings', as it explores themes like grief and guilt over the loss of a loved one. Bottom line: Don't let Michael's rakish reputation fool you—this novel packs an emotional punch.
Many Bridgerton fans thought that Benedict's book was going to be the story explored in season 3, as his is the third book in the series, so we're delighted to finally get to see this Cinderella retelling play out on screen in season 4!
Although Sophie's father is an earl, she's been relegated to the role of servant by her evil stepmother. When she gets the chance to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's masquerade ball, she seizes it and dances the night away with Benedict Bridgerton, even though she knows she must leave at midnight. Years later, they meet again. Although Benedict knows he can't marry a servant, he can't stay away from Sophie, leading to an illicit affair.
If you love an angst-filled romance, An Offer From A Gentleman needs to be your next read. This novel explores the idea of class and rank in relationships, and you'll be rooting for Sophie and Benedict to overcome societal pressures. In fact, Sophie might just be one of the best non-Bridgerton characters in this entire series.
Who doesn't love an enemies-to-lovers story? If you fell for Kate and Anthony's story in season 2 of Bridgerton, it's about time you read the novel that inspired their incredible connection.
The eldest Bridgerton has finally decided to settle down and has chosen Edwina Sheffield to be his intended. What he doesn't expect is that her older sister, Kate, is vehemently opposed to their marriage and will do whatever she can to sabotage their relationship. Despite Anthony's protests that he is truly a reformed rake, Kate might have a point: He's only marrying to fulfill his duties as Viscount. As Kate and Anthony find themselves in each other's orbit, they realize they have a connection that can't be denied.
There's so much to love about this book, from the marriage-of- (in)convenience trope to the hilarious banter between Kate and Anthony. Many fans have proclaimed The Viscount Who Loved Me the funniest book in the series, so read it when you're in the mood for a laugh.
No, this one didn't win the top slot in our ranking because we were absolutely entranced by the way Colin and Penelope's love story played out in season 3 of the Netflix hit. The book is simply that good.
Penelope Featherington has always loved her best friend's brother, Colin Bridgerton. After years of watching him from afar, she believes she knows everything there is to know about the charming bachelor. When Colin returns from a trip abroad, he's surprised that he can't get Penelope out of his head. But when they each discover surprising secrets about the other, it might become too much for their budding relationship to bear.
We can't decide what we love most about this book. Sure, it might be Penelope's growth into a confident woman who believes she deserves to be loved. Maybe it's Colin realizing his true love has been there all along. Or it could be the Lady Whistledown plot from the first three books coming full circle. Ultimately, we're pretty sure we love this one so much for its sweet ending. Warning: You might need a handsome Bridgerton to catch you after you swoon.
Madison McGee is a shopping editor at Hearst Magazines, primarily reporting on home, tech, fashion, and books across titles like Cosmopolitan, Esquire, House Beautiful, Country Living, ELLE, Town & Country, and more. Prior to joining Hearst, she covered pop culture and trending news at BuzzFeed and worked in book publishing. Madison is a graduate of both the University of Mississippi and New York University, where she received her Master’s in book publishing and magazine media. When she’s not writing gift guides, product reviews, and sales and deals content, she’s probably exploring New York City’s independent bookstores or cheering on the Baltimore Ravens.
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