Dearest gentle reader,

From time to time, we all cry out for media that turns our brains into cotton candy mush. One might argue the Bridgerton book series by Julia Quinn is the most efficient tool available for that. The recent Netflix series is a close contender, and it might be the reason why you clicked on this article as you seek more of the same. But for the uninitiated, Bridgerton is a series that chronicles the stories of eight Bridgerton siblings in 19th century England with varying degrees of humor and romance. 

As most English students know, attachment to period romances is incurable and entails side effects such as ending up reading all eight Bridgerton books in a disturbingly short amount of time. If you are on this same path as I was last year, don’t try to fight it. It is futile.

Enjoy this ranking instead.

 

8. Duke And I

It must be disheartening for all Bridgerton novices to see the very first book at the very bottom of the list. Or is it? You can only go up from here – though any mental health specialist or well-meaning friend would recommend just jumping straight to the second book.

The heroine of this novel is Daphne, the eldest Bridgerton daughter who is having a hard time on the marriage mart. She hatches a plan of a pretend courtship with the titular duke, Simon Basset, to jack up gentlemen's interest in her. Unfortunately, this storyline is best enjoyed by fast-forwarding your way through the first season of the Netflix show with a stiff drink in hand. But if you still, for whatever reason, want to read this book, I have a few words of warning: there are approximately two pages worth of fake courtship if that is what you drew you in, and the rest of the book is filled most outrageous melodrama you will ever have the misfortune of witnessing. 

But Emilia, you might say, why do you think I am reading this series? Melodrama is what I am expecting, nay, craving! In that case, you are in luck because Bridgerton has approximately five times more melodrama to every ounce of substance it might contain – but trust me, my friend. This is the bad kind. This is the kind that will make you want to bash your head against the wall until you kill that part of your brain that once learned how to read.

And if consent issues make you uncomfortable… this can of worms might just eat you alive if you open it. Go ahead and skip to the second book. You are welcome. 

 

7. To Sir Phillip, With Love

The fifth book in the series stars the second eldest Bridgerton daughter and self-proclaimed spinster Eloise. After exchanging letters with a certain widowed gentleman called Sir Phillip Crane, she pursues the ingenious plan of running off from her family to meet him in person and discover whether she might have finally found someone worth marrying.

My answer to that is a firm no.

The Bridgerton fanbase is rather divided on this book. I have encountered many a review praising the storyline as the height of romance while others try to will Eloise Bridgerton into existence just so that they can tell her she deserves better. 

I suppose it all depends on how fond you are of curmudgeon male characters. The grouchier the better? Perfect, but would you prefer them actually devoted to the heroine or, like in Sir Phillip’s case, willing to marry anyone with a pair of breasts and a pulse?

What’s even dreamier, her sole purpose in his eyes is to fulfill her womanly duty of taking his kids off his hands so he can pursue his own interests. This story might score some realism points by the depressingly accurate portrayal of a regency gentleman’s wish list, but we are not reading these kinds of books for an authentic simulation of how women were viewed and treated in that era, are we? 

It’s a hard pass for me but do pick up this book if you are able to overlook… a lot in a regency romance love interest. 

 

6. It's in His Kiss

The seventh book features the youngest Bridgerton, Hyacinth, and her beau, Gareth St. Clair who has the covert status of an illegitimate child and daddy issues to recommend himself. Not to disparage him in any way, he is a perfectly acceptable love interest – but perhaps that is the problem. Nothing in this book surpasses the word acceptable.

The plot revolves around their mutual quest to translate some Italian and search for family jewels in libraries. If you are asking yourself is that all that there is to the plot, my answer is A) why are you reading Bridgerton books if it’s plot that you’re after, and B) no, that is not all that there is to the plot. As you will find out throughout your read, there is even less than that. 

It’s all fine and good, however. If you want a simple romance without any bells and whistles, this is the book for you. Though you might get offended by the attempts at plot and intrigue that take page space from assiduous flirting.

 

5. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton 

The fifth novel is all about the third Bridgerton brother, Colin, and the family friend Penelope Featherington, a perpetual wallflower who has been harboring a crush on him as long as she can remember. The only problem seems to be that Colin considers her as much of a sexual, romanceable being as the potted plant to his right. All that is about to change, however, when a big secret of Penelope’s unravels.

One cannot help but feel bad for Penelope as her love interest is not exactly the brightest nor the most appreciate sort. Then again, she has her own vices which might make the two a perfect match in the end. There are certainly a few delicious moments that make me appreciate this dynamic of two unlikely people coming together. Read this one for some fun love-as-the-best-comeuppance goodness.

Granted, it is not the most eventful book. For some, following along with their slowly growing love is more than enough, but I would love for Colin to eat a bit more of humble pie for me to be completely invested. World doesn’t revolve around you and your problems, my friend, especially when you keep venting about them to a woman with significantly less prospects than you.

Smack in the middle is the best placement for this story.

 

4. An Offer From A Gentleman 

Oh, Benedict Bridgerton, how can I release my heart from your chokehold? This second-eldest Bridgerton brother has the spirit of an artist and a few screws loose, just the way I like them. In the third Bridgerton book, he falls head over heels for a masked stranger who flees from him at midnight, and it’s on from there. But, gasp, the object of his admiration, Sophie, is secretly only a bastard-born lady reduced to the position of a servant. How can they ever make it work?

As you can probably see, this novel is a blatant and shameless Cinderella rip-off. It is strangely delightful that the author makes no attempt of hiding it, so I can simply kick my feet up and relax, wondering what that dastardly stepmother of Sophie’s will do now to throw a wrench into her plans. 

I unfortunately cannot recommend this book to anyone who might be offended by an utterly predictable storyline, bucketfuls of melodrama and a male lead who at times struggles to locate two braincells to rub together. For the rest of you, this book is straight from your wildest dreams. The only warning I will issue that this book poses the biggest threat to the molecular integrity of your brain.

Mine decomposed bit by bit with each page. 

 

3. The Viscount Who Loved Me 

They say that Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest Bridgerton brother and the handsome, titled lead of the second book, is the rakiest of rakes. I am not particularly interested in reading romances about full-blown rakes who have little interest in anything other than chasing skirts and congratulating themselves on their sexual magnetism. But luckily for me, Anthony is a bit more interesting than your standard garden variety rake. Namely, he is pathetic enough to get embroiled in a petty rivalry with Kate Sheffield, the sister of the lady he is most interested in naming as his wife.

For you enemies to lovers aficionados, this is the book for you. I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy at least the first half of the book where Anthony and Kate go to slapstick-lengths to express their hatred for each other. The second half explores some uncharacteristically deeper themes for a Bridgerton book – which is all fine and dandy if you happen to be invested in these characters. 

I would have required maybe just a sprinkle of more build-up to their romance, but in a typical Julia Quinn-fashion, the plot presses fast-forward at a very particular point. Then again, I am not too disappointed as most of the book is so fun and witty. 

Except for one scene.

I shudder just thinking about it.

I will not divulge anything more than that there is bar to how ridiculous a climactic scene can be and this book dives under that bar like a military grade submarine.

 

2. On the Way to the Wedding 

After just complaining about excessively ridiculous scenes, what would be a more interestingly hypocritical move than to place this novel in the second place?

If there is a single crumb of substance in this final Bridgerton book, I have yet to find it. I don’t care. This story is raucous fun from the beginning to the end simply because each scene is more outrageous than the last. During a certain sequence of events near the story’s climax, I could not stop laughing simply because of how incredibly lunatic every single action and thought coming from the hivemind of this poor character pool was. It was amazing.

As for the plot, this novel follows the youngest Bridgerton brother, Gregory, who has set his sights on his dream girl after falling in love with the back of her head. Yes, that is the level of acumen this character exhibits. Then there is Lucy Abernathy who agrees to help him win the lady’s heart in order to shield her friend from far worse suitors. The most predictable thing in the world naturally follows even though Lucy is de facto engaged, and I cannot possibly eat all of it up fast enough.

Opt for this novel if you value hilarity above anything else, even romance – though I must say this story will still send your heart aflutter if you allow yourself to believe in love that is too dumb to live. 

 

1. When He Was Wicked

Is it possible for a Bridgerton book to be… good? Excellent even? Outstanding? I wouldn’t believe it myself if I wasn’t already reading this novel for the third time, savoring each page. 

The often-overlooked Bridgerton sister Francesca finally gets the stage for herself after barely appearing in the earlier books. She is leading her dream life with her lovely husband, frequently meeting up with his cousin and their dear friend Michael who always seems to find a way to make her smile with his stories. What she doesn’t know is that Michael has been desperately in love with her for years, but that secret he is set to take to his grave. But everything changes when a tragedy occurs…

This story delivers on every. Single. Front. If it’s humor that you fancy, you will find yourself grinning ear to ear as the two leads fail in the most spectacular and comical way possible in hiding what they feel. As for romance, your heart will near a cardiac arrest during every other scene. In general, I wouldn’t exactly recommend the Bridgerton series on the merit of its steamier scenes as it is not Quinn’s forte, but for the first time I found myself fanning myself while reading some of the more X-rated bits. 

And if that is still not enough, there is the meat of the story – the emotion. It seems there is a reason for the rest of the series lacking in substance, it was all packed up in here like a hoarder’s secret treasure trove. This book will break your heart in the most exquisite fashion, and you will be glad for it. 

Just thinking about the last page brings a tear to my eye.

If you are willing to read just one Bridgerton book, let it be this one. And Netflix, you know what to do.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I will return to my copy.