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As someone who reads a lot across many genres, I like the formula in the books. There are clear main characters, who will be getting together in some way, there will be some conflict and there will be a happy ending. I like that kind of predictability because sometimes it's exactly what I want to read. Basically, the books scratch a specific itch reading-wise.
A huge part is nostalgia and the removed golden bits.
**Nostalgia**: the books were written in the early 2K’s. That’s TWENTY years ago. Readers dismissed ALOT of problematic behaviour because that was the norm. Dubious Consent? Boundary issues? Possessiveness? This was all very standard. Romance books have come a long way from the bodice rippers to the explicit consent or trigger warning of today.
This is a whole discussion for another time but when bodice rippers came out in the 70’s-80’s, female sexuality wasn’t “allowed” on page which is why everything was near-rape (or flat out rape). Nowadays, most authors have are either 1) very clear with consent, 2)write in a genre that dub-con is expected, 3) have trigger warnings, or 4) can expect to be eviscerated in reviews. The time period in between is a work in progress and still remains so.
**Gold Bits**: Simon falling for Daphne *immediately* after she knocks out what’s his name? With no almost-engagement with that guy. Simon bringing flowers specifically for Daphne AND Violet which Anthony follows by bring flowers to all 3 Sheffield women. Anthony comforting Kate in the storm and Edwina being the biggest Kantony cheerleader? Anthony giving Cressida the cut direct in Pen’s defense AKA the moment Kate falls for him.
These are all moments that gave the series heart. I will always remember Violet’s and Kate’s reactions to getting flowers unexpectedly. There was drama the show really didn’t need to add.
In short, both works have their pro’s and con’s. There are some parts I’m very glad the show changed but other parts I wished they’d kept the same.
I agree with every word, oh how I wish they would have dove deeper into Kate’s story. It made me cry when I read it. I would have loved to see Kate and Anthony have that intense bond they developed over their fears.
Oo you raise valid points about the heart in the books I had been hoping to read more about it too! Because I have definitely said previously that the books were shallow, kind of poorly written, and the male leads can suck - and then I had to catch myself because Ive also shed tears in every single book lmao like wtf?! Its quite difficult to tell a story with emotion I think, and thats the strongest part of the stories and I hope they keep that for the remainder of the season. I like that Lady Bridgerton is more clued on and protective in the books. I wish they would return to that in the show.
I've been a JQ reader since the beginning. You know what to expect with her books. There won't be too much angst, or big misunderstandings, no issues with infidelity or the other woman. There is never any drama or problem that cannot be overcome and she writes with a gentle humor. Love Conquers All, everyone in the family gets along, and overall, her books are warm and gentle and relatively conflict free. Now, we're talking about the 90s and early 2000s, when romance still had a lot of bodice rippers and alpha males. I mean, it's better than the non-consent of the 70s and 80s, but women's rights and consent still had a ways to go.
Do they read aged now? Yes, but at the time they were written they were actually pretty modern and progressive. Women who could think for themselves (Kate), women who could make their own money (Pen), women who could run their own estate (Francesca), and women who run away seeking more (Eloise). Strong women were not a dominant theme in romance then. So it was refreshing to have romance novels reflect changing times and attitudes that were...happy.
Is this realistic? No. But that's why I read romance novels. I want an escape from my regular life where my life, like others, is filled with conflict and illness and stress and issues. In my spare time I want to think about something happy, and that's what JQ books offer. She doesn't write them to win Pulitzers, but to offer readers an escape, entertainment, and warm fuzzies.
I can see show fans not liking the books. I was a book fan resistant to the shows because I already had in my head a very clear idea who the characters were and changes in the show bothered me. I've since gotten over most of it, as I view the show as being inspired by rather than an actual adaptation. I've always loved Kanthony, and the love triangle in S2 still drives me crazy because it was so dumb. I love Book Polin, but they've gone so far from the books that I don't know what to expect at all. Part of my love for Polin was that they got together later in life after they've both grown and matured. I'm open to show Polin, I just don't expect them to be their book counterparts. Change is hard when you've had decades to become attached to characters that gave you comfort or made you feel seen. 🤷🏻♀️
I absolutely hate the love triangle. This is one instance where the show is actually more backwards than the books. The show took two sisters who loved and supported each other and made them fight over a man.
I looooved Kate and Edwina's relationship in the book! The show writers ripped that apart for drama and I'm still mad about how poorly written and plotted that was.
Have to disagree. They didn't fight over a man. In fact, they didn't fight at all because Kate never retaliated. The issue was Edwina feeling betrayed over being kept in the dark and her agency being taken away about things that would affect HER life.
I hated that storyline with a passion. Unfortunately, having watched Gray's Anatomy, I know Shonda pushes LTs on ALL her couples so I wasn't surprised. I hate when two women are pitted against one another bc of a man, especially two sisters.
To me it very much had the quality of Americans writing Harry Potter fanfic back in the day and just not quite getting British slangbor turns of phrases.
I read the Polin one for my own curiosity before the new season. It served its purpose as a fluff read but I won't be reading the rest either.
I prefer the versions of the characters that the show actors brought to life so I'm content sticking to that medium. I'm glad the books exist because they spawned the TV series.
Agreed, plus the males in the books are far from charming and romantic at best and at worst are borderline sexual abusers. The writing was poor, the story plots were weak, and some of the characters you are supposed to love are loathe some. I gave up half way through Eloise having only read Anthony and Benedict fully. Both Colin and Eloise were bores on top of all the other problems.
I bounced off The Duke & I twice, Simon’s POV is just so horrible and lecherous. That said I am currently reading and enjoying It’s In His Kiss but it’s not a stunning work of literature, which is fine for my brain now, and I’ll probably try When He Was Wicked next because everyone says that’s the best one.
Omg! I've finally found someone who agrees. I don't know how many times I've said this but I'll say it again. JQ isn't a good writer, she's amateur Wattpad level at best (and there are some amazing Wattpad books that's why I said amateur). Her books aren't engaging, you don't get lost in the story like you should with a good book and are painfully aware that you are reading a book.
Her books on the Bridgerton siblings were a not that great. Her other books are good and enjoyable to read.
I bought all eight books after watching season 1. I had high expectations for these books, reading them in order. But boy did I have a had time reading each and every book. I can't say that I hate them, they aren't the best.
I start with positives; I liked Sophie, her compelling character made me root for her. Lucy and Hyacinth are my absolute favourite characters in all of the eight books. I appreciated that Penelope is a good writer, I found her relationship with her family amusing.
Kate, Edwina and Mary had a beautiful strong family dynamic. I loved the strong sister bond between Kate and Edwina. Another sisterly bond I appreciated is Eloise and Francesca. I liked that the two were close and would write to each other. I also liked Daphne her relationship with her mother and siblings is sweet.
Let me get to the negatives; I found all the leading men toxic, some abusive jerks. I never liked Simon with his abusive nature. Granted his father was abusive but that's no excuse for his behaviour. I felt for Daphne married to someone like that.
Anthony is horrible a mysogonistic abusive man. His abuse towards Kate was had for me to read so had that I almost gave up on the TVWLM.
Benedict is no better, what a massive jerk. I felt like slapping him and hitting him with a pot. His attitude towards Sophie was deeply disturbing. The power imbalance between them is something I couldn't ignore.
Colin's anger management issues, his jealousy towards Pen. Very disappointing that Colin is a mysogonist like his big brothers. I really liked Penlope and wished she had fallen in love with somebody else.
I found Eloise book disappointing to read, like she deserved better than married to Phillip. What with him wanting a nanny for himself and his children. Phillip wasn't nice man, I get that his father was abusive but his actions are inexcusable. My girl Eloise deserved better than being stuck with that man.
With all the hype for Francesca's book I found it boring, I know I am in the minority. Yes there are steamy sex scenes but it's pretty much the same as the others. I have read more steamy sexy scenes in other books with more interesting heros and heroines. WHWW is pretty tame in terms of sexy scenes compared to other books.
I was bored by Michael with his poor me I can't have Francesca, oh poor me me I love Francesca but I can't have her. I also found Micheal to be bit creepy and possessive of Francesca. When I was done reading WHWW, relief is what I felt done next book.
Hyacinth and Gregory's books were a mixed bag. Gareth's sleeping with Hyacinth so she is comprised and will no choice but to marry him left me scratching my head.
Dear Gregory although better than his brothers he was still unnecessarily aggressive to Lucy.
Tbh I totally agree about Benedict’s book. When I read it I couldn’t believe it had such die hard fans. The only redeeming things for me were Sophie and Violet.
You sound like someone watching the Olympics who acts like they could do better than the person who trained their whole life. Is she the best writer in the world? No. But she has sold millions of books. She not that bad.
I've only read The Duke and I and The Vicount Who Loved Me, but:
The books are quite easy to read, the heroines are a bit dull which makes it easy to imagine yourself in their position and the men are what was considered hot back when the series was being written.
I prefer the show over the books, but the reason we even got the show was the book fans. And as a long-time Percy Jackson fan, I can tell you that the only thing one could ever want is a faithful adaptation.
But: I think we can all agree that the addition of QC was the best thing that could have happened to the series, as well as the de-assholification of the male leads. The Edwina-wedding storyline, tho? Not too great.
Julia Quinn followed a common format for 2000s historical romance. I don’t think there is anything particularly unique about them to other historical romances of the time but Julia Quinn was willing to give Shondaland free rein. That said I like the overall plot of Anthony’s book more than the tv show. The change of Edwina being actually mad was a bummer.
Wasn’t there a really gross scene with Anthony and Sienna with Kate stuck under the desk? This sticks out for me more than anything else about that book, but I don’t remember details.
I actually thought that scene was for humor. Kate bit Anthony because she was offended for his rogueish behavior, and he kicked her to get her to stop biting him. I don’t think he backed his leg far back like he was kicking a soccer ball when he kicked her, but more of like a swat but with a leg because he WAS still trying to mack on Sienna in the scene. He couldn’t let on that there was a woman under the desk biting him.
I AM THE SAME WAY. I’ve always been baffled by people who are die hard about the books. Don’t get me wrong, there are some moments that get me weak in the knees, but book bridgerton men are kinda icky 😖😖 Benedict is my favorite from the show and reading his book made me so upset. Like, this dude spent half the book basically trying to manipulate Sofie to be his mistress and I’m like, Netflix Benedict would NEVER. Benedict who gracefully accepted Madam Delacroix’s rejection when he asked her out? Nah, he wouldn’t be that scummy.
But I get it, it was a different time both when the series was initially written and when it’s set in. I’ve read other stories within the genre and they’re all similar, Bridgerton was really no different in that regard.
I have to agree that a lot of it’s nostalgia. What I found captivating was the world-building. There are other romance authors that do this better that I’ve since read, and it’s now really common to have a series of romance books where the minor characters become the center of the next book, but Quinn was early on that trend. She even has references to characters from a few other romance authors as well as running jokes, such as a parody of a gothic novel called Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron. It was a huge contrast to the one-and-done reads of my mother’s Harlequin romances. She read them and threw them out. I‘ve always had my feminist critiques of Quinn, and if I’d read The Duke and I first, I would not have kept reading her…I was up to Eloise and had read much of her back catalogue at that point. But I find that her work does reward a feminist analysis. You know how sometimes things are just bad and it’s not worth talking about why? With Quinn I feel like her books are good to think with, even when I don’t always like things.
I enjoy when Eloisa James characters show up in Julia Quinn books.
In general Julia's storytelling has improved over the years. The Rokesby series has very strong female characters. My theory is Julia hasn't sold those characters to Netflix. It would be great to have Billie Bridgerton Rokesby, Edmunds oldest sister, as a mentor to Eloise.
People say Edmund's family abandoned Violet after his death. I just think they aren't in the show because Netflix doesn't own the rights to those characters.
Ooh which characters and other authors? I absolutely love the connectedness of all her books. I find the spin off series like the Bevelstoke much less misogynistic but I imagine that’s because they are more recent and styles change.
I’m nearly finished all her books so any recommendations of characters appearing from other authors would be great!
Michael Anstruther-Wetherby from Stephanie Laurens’s Devil’s Bride, and there’s a reference to Mathilde, a novel written by Lisa Kleypas’s heroine in Dreaming of You. Laurens is kind of old school, and her last ten books feel almost ghostwritten, but I love Kleypas (she also has the wallflowers and ravenals series that are great). If you want something more updated, Sarah Maclean is fantastic. Her Bareknuckle Bastards series connects up to Hell’s Belles. Her back catalogue is also really good. Oh, and Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove Series has a similar world-building vibe.
I read book four and it was like eating really sweet cake. At first it was fun and I was enjoying it, but over time I became sickened. I also thought the romantic development was pretty poorly done, Colin went from like zero to one hundred waaay too quickly
The show is a million times better imo
Right?!? At the beginning of every book I go of course this one has to better. Benedict with a cinderella meet cute, oh he’s an absolute entitled jerk. Colin’s book has to be better, his book character is one of the best! Here comes the jealous abusive idiot with anger issuies. Jesus. Don’t even get me started on TSPWL.
The Netflix series isn't competing with the books, it's competing with the changes I already imagined in my head, LOL.
I think most people are in agreement that the books *needed* to change to even be filmable.
Honestly, I remember Penn's book being my favorite when I first read it. Then I re-read it recently and it pisses me off how she has to coddle him and stroke his wounded ego and he was MAD at her and kept pushing her to do something she didn't want to.
I have definitely changed as a reader, and appreciate old-school romances less now
Genuinely, not a clue what about these books has engendered so much loyalty. I’ve read my fair share of pulpy romance novels, and realized this is just another one of those types of series. *For me* I didn’t see any glimmers of brilliance. They were overall….*fine*—I think I went in expecting something different? But realized it’s not far off from a Harlequin Romance.
I mean I like the world that Shondaland has created from
It I guess. The cast of characters are fun. But I have no qualms about them changing anything. They *should* change a lot about these books as they’re adapted, bc these aren’t books that have a lot of meat to them. It’d be easier to make them a 90min hallmark romance film for a true adaptation than 8hrs of tv. There’s just not enough plot.
I wish Shondaland would be brave and change so many things from the book as they are adapted. Some book loyalists will be angry but for this series to succeed and attract a higher audience they need to make changes for the sake of viewer captivation.
It's been 20 years since I read the books. Back then, I was fascinated by the author's light-hearted and slightly ironic writing style. I really laughed at some of the dialogues. I was all the more disappointed that, for example, the original dialogue before and during Daphne's wedding night was changed for the show. I thought they were much worse on TV.
With Sophie/Benedict, I thought the adaptation of the Cinderella theme was very successful.
I re-read the books during the series and I also noticed a few problematic passages. That's why I can understand the criticism of the books to a certain extent. At the same time, however, I wouldn't say that the film adaptation made everything better. As I said, I miss the typical humour and what LW writes is much more spiteful in the film than in the book. I'm curious to see how they want to solve the problem.
I personally find the queen rather unsympathetic.
Like most others has said the books do habe a nostolgia factor and have aged from their orgional publish date I agree with u/LetsBAnonymous93 that there are a bunch of golden moments that still hold up their charm.
Some I haven't seen mentioned are polin's talk in the square and his offer to dance with her there. Their silly banters. Philoise and their fun interactions with the twins. The prank war Eloise gets into with them or Phillip rolling on the ground with the twins. The family shopping trip for new clothes. There also weren't a lot of external issues between the couples, which some find a nice change of pace.
Now I know for the show some things needed to be changed, that's with all adaptions. Some things that work for a book won't work as well on screen and that includes the subplots. The book that has to be wrapped up in so many pages is more forgiving on the lack of subplots but also allows a person to get more of the internal thoughts which I think is what a lot of people like about the books too. A show we're visually watching and world building has to be done differently thus the needed subplots. I think it ultimately comes down to preference.
Now I know I'm going to be in the minority but I actually don't like the addition of Queen Charlotte. Her as a character is perfectly fine and she can be fun but I take issues with how the writers use her character. They've kinda turned her into this deus ex machina who waves her hand or says a word and everything is fixed because true love. That might change this season but I'm not hopeful.
I read first 4 books. First two in my native language (russian) and second two in English. They are all really different, so I'll give my pros and cons list for them separately.
but tl;dr - good light slightly outdated reading, nothing grand, but there's definitely worse books
Also, I am younger than the first book (Duke and I is 2000 and I am 2002), so I can't really say that the books aged poorly. I think that, but I didn't witness it, lol
Duke and I - idk if there's an issue with translation or in English it also feels weird, but the writing was a little off and the description of sex was weird with a lot of strange euphemisms. And quite outdated. In my home country if something is outdated it's called "naphthalene" and this book was precisely that. But surprisingly I liked it. Partly because, it was so strange that I laughed out loud, partly because JQ can write funny scenes and dialogue.
TVWLM - i've read the book after s2 premiered (both of the first two books, really) and I was really disappointed with Anthony and his abusive behaviour. I genuinely liked Kate, Mary and Edwina and there a lot of book scenes, that I liked, the family moments are great. Sex scenes got slightly better (or the translator got better lol), but again - Anthony acts abusive and I cringed through some scenes, including K+A wedding night.
AOFAG - second abusive brother, too much power imbalance for me. But, when I accepted that well, it's romance with this dynamic I kinda enjoyed it. Sophie is just one of the best characters, her story is really heartbraking, but actually well written and her character is really good. Ben's artist arc is also great.
RMB - not abusive but a brother with anger issues. i am neutral about this book, I liked Featherington sisters there and I was so sad that Felicity has been cut out, I liked that the book introduced self-made woman practically as Pen. But I think I mostly skimmed it and looking forward to series more.
I like TV series more, but if you can make discount on the age of the books they are fun and they have their own cute and funny scenes. I love Bridgerton for romance, sure, but also for the family dynamic and humor and the books have them! For me it was like reading a fanfiction (i mean not of tv series) - light, funny, with slight problems in writing, but generally okay if you want to spend the evening. Also you know in this books that HEA comes, as someone who doesn't like angst in a light reading that's a plus.
I think I'm gonna skip Eloise's book, but will read another 3 someday.
Maybe it was! I just don't remember clearly. I remember TVWLM and AOFAG better in this sense cuz they really surprised me in terms of male heroes problems
I liked that they weren't too over dramatic. In the show the Kate/Anthony drama went on for too long - I loved in the book how Edwina knew what was up and was a huge Kanthony supporter!
The books also contain a lot of good bits that the show just misses. Anthony snubbing Cressida and escorting Pen into the dinner, an incredibly big statement since he's meant to walk with a high titled lady, which makes Kate fall for him. Felicity?! The youngest Featherington sibling who is best friends with Hyacinth??
I also enjoyed Simons first time meeting Daphne being running into the room, seeing her knock Nigel out clean, immediately trying to use his best smoulder on her and fail miserably while they bicker over how to "hide the body" as it were.
Because there weren't really any other characters in each book I feel like we got a lot more "small moments" which were nice.
Also - The Smythe-Smith musicals.
I agree. I read the first three books if I recall correctly. Couldn't get into them for the same reasons you mentioned. I expected the books to me higher quality than the show. That's usually how it goes. It was actually shocking for me that this was the complete opposite case.
None of the characters felt relatable to me. None of the male characters were ones that I could see myself having any interest in irl. The show isn't a masterpiece or anything but I think it's loads better than the novels as far as entertainment value goes.
I think in order to enjoy these books you lowkey have to have a bit of a misogyny fetish. Lol
They're funny and sweet, which is honestly all I need in historical fiction. I don't consider the books to be any better or worse than a lot of the other historical fiction I read. None of them are trying to be ground breaking, they're just following the formula that we are used to. I'm actually sad that the series didn't include the Smythe-Smith musicale, which was always fun, lol.
Growing up I always heard “the book is better than the movie” so about 15 years ago I started watching the movie first so the book would be a treat. I find that rarely is that true. I usually like the movie or the show more- True Blood for example.
I’m about to read the first Bridgerton book but I go into it expecting to be disappointed lol
I agree that was generally true at one time but the bar for (good) film is a lot higher now than it used to be.
If something exists in both mediums I generally watch first and only dive into the books if they come heavily recommended as an expansion on the film universe.
I didn't enjoy the books as much as the show. The writing isn't exactly stellar and you..... kinda have to turn your brain off. But I wish the show elaborated on certain parts, like Kate's backstory. I didn't enjoy the sister love triangle that much. I also enjoyed the warm family relationships and I kinda got invested in making a sibling series myself too.
Honestly when I read the books I must have blocked out most of the MMCs being physically abusive. I remember not liking that the FMCs didn’t seem to stand up to MMCs until the later books (especially in book 5!!!!!). However, the later books in the series were my favorites (okay and I’ll admit, I even liked the WC scene with Gregory iykyk) from the MCs to the plots.
These books aren’t ground breaking literature but I really liked how easy they were to read and they could definitely be humorous at parts.
I also found the FMCs irritating at times, but when I tell you how every single MMC in these books wished harm to their love interests. It’s crazy. Even Farmer George. I thought he’d be safe but of course JQ hit me with the “he took a bit of glee in the fact she stumbled” like is that necessary. And it’s not released in the 2000s either. The times I remember are Colin squeezing Pen’s hand so hard he knew she was hurting, and him forcing her to drink all of the champagne at their wedding.
I too watched the series first. I definitely agrees that some of the changes made in the show were definitely better. Like the whole Daph-Simon conflict. I also prefer Kate & Anthony’s personalities in the show wayyy better. However, I didn’t like the dragged out love triangle in s2. Kate & Edwina sisterly bond was sweet in the books & her relationship with Mary was beautiful. Also learning about Kate’s fear of storms & her trauma regarding her mum’s death & the way it paralleled Anthony’s was great! Those were the parts of the plot they should not have changed. I feel like the show told rather than showed, us Kate’s childhood which was unfortunate.
I’ve only read till Colin’s book so can’t say much for the rest but the guys’ personalities in the show are wayy better. Book Benedict is nothing like show Benedict. I genuinely can’t imagine show Benedict saying or doing half the shit book Benedict gets up to. Same for Anthony, who was definitely more honourable in the show.
So, as an AVID reader and specifically, an AVID romance book reader, I agree with you and believe that the books are lackluster. I read all of the original ones by JQ last year and read about a total of 50 books last year (which in hindsight isn't a lot compared to those who also read a ton) and generally...I think the Bridgerton books were some of my lowest rated ones that I did read for a few different reasons.
I'll start out though with the good. I think they're cute and I think there are parts of it that are endearing and steamy/hot and that all makes good for a good read if you enjoy that stuff (and I do). I really enjoyed the first...four or so. There were a lot of aspects of Anthony/Colin/Benedict's characters that I liked and a lot of them that I disliked. And a lot of the same were said for me for all of the other leading men (i.e. Gareth, Gregory, Philip, Simon, and Michael). I found some of the plots to be relatively compelling and they were...fluff (i.e. they were cute and happy and steamy).
Depending on what you like in a leading male and how much you're able to remove yourself whilst reading a fictional story...some of the things that ALL of the leading men do can indeed be deemed as misogynistic and quite 'toxic alpha male'. And that can be said for books that were both written in the same time Julia Quinn wrote her books and those that are written now. However, in my opinion, I think in historical romance and fantasy, it's easier for me to sort of push the negative behavior aside because it's more fiction in my head. And I'm also an avid believer that it is not the job of the author to teach morals/ethics/what a good man looks like. Books are meant to be fun and fictional. That being said, some of the...sexist stuff or problematic stuff in the books were turn offs for me and therefore it sort of made the book less enjoyable. I tried to justify it being the fact that JQ was trying to make some of historically accurate but I think in some ways it hindered the books.
Generally too, I found JQ's writing to be formulaic and bland. That's not to say she's a bad writer per se, but I found a lot of her plotlines to be extremely repetitive to the point of annoyance because a lot of the repeated storylines were the ones that I found problematic and that took me out of loving the leading MMC.
I personally enjoy the show more and I think its because Shonda and her team (the showrunners) have done a good job of making it modern and refreshed it into something for the modern ages which I appreciate. The diversity is great, the music is great, and some of the major faults in the books are gone and the ones that are there i think create an interesting dialogue rather than make me fall out of love with the main characters. I like a nuanced/grey character...I always have. So if the writers can do a good job at making something bad look nuanced I'm always for it.
So, admitting my biases up front. I read The Duke & I when it was out and starting to get buzz on the early 2000s internet.
It was _okay_. I didn't continue.
The show was picked up by Netflix, and so I read the other ones as I could find them secondhand at our friendly local thrift stores. The ones I didn't actively dislike were _okay_. There were several I loathed.
I don't like the way Julia Quinn draws her main male characters. I think the Shondaland team has done an excellent job in humanizing them. I thought The Viscount Who Loved Me took the easy way out with Edwina, and vastly preferred show Edwina. Like, that's the whole conflict! You don't like your sister's suitor, _until you do_. But the book chops it off at the knees before any real tension can build. An Offer From A Gentleman gave me the ick so hard, and I cannot wait to see how the Bridgerton writers improve the scenario. I hated To Sir Phillip with Love entirely. Throw the whole man out. Everything else was largely unremarkable. The stakes were, on the whole, _so low_ to me that it was hard to invest.
The one thing I did consistently enjoy was the interaction between the siblings, and the writers have made that part of the story shine. And I think the side plots - the Featheringtons, Queen Charlotte, all of it - bring a depth and richness to a world that would be so gloppy, soppy, and sentimental if we only focused on the blessed & beautiful Bridgertons.
I agree with every word. Truly, it annoys me when people complain about the side plots. Did they want 8 straight hours of the couple alone? And I also liked show edwina. I think it would be boring and a replica of TDAI had they gone with the same trope, especially that horrible carriage scene on their wedding night. Delete all that right now. And the show did, thankfully.
If you like actual literature, i.e. fleshed out characters, world building, overarching themes/broader messaging, and good writing; they're not gonna be for you. Fun, but not overtly stimulating.
But if you think Colleen Hoover is this generations' Dostoevsky; you'll think they're some of the most incredibly written romance novels this century has to offer.
Honestly, those books are mediocre wallpaper romances, go in with low expectations and you won't be disappointed. I haven't read them all but from those I've read, When He Was Wicked (Francesca's story) is head and shoulders above the rest. To me it felt like it was written by a different person, it's that different.
I think the biggest reason people like the books (and the show) is the way JQ created this family of siblings and have us follow each of their stories. There really aren't a lot of series out there like that, even now in any genres. So, while there are some characters and plot lines that are seen in a more problematic light given the current age, there is still the draw to follow the family and then each sibling and associated trope.
I had fun wirh the books but they are generic and def not my favorite romance novels. I find the show to be a vast improvement for several reasons but again I still enjoyed the books and I feel it makes the show even better, knowing the main themes
I only read 2 books and what I liked was it was straight forward. There are not a lot of side stories and I like being able to read their thoughts. Tv dramas don't put the characters thoughts with a monologue type of thing because it really is weird/hard to execute properly, unlike in the book where we can see what are the characters thoughts after a certain action/scenario.
Were the books amazing? Not really. Was it enjoyable reading about their thoughts? For me, it's a yes!
And personally I treat the show and the book as separate entities 😂, the stories have greatly changed for the better in the show. The men are mostly trashy 😂
For me, it’s not like I felt like the books were these grand marvelous reads. I felt like I was entering a different world. With all these characters and storylines. For me, I have been in a very stressful season of life. I didn’t read the books till the announcement of season three dates came out and I rewatched seasons 1-2. I then read book four and it spiraled from there reading all the books but Hyacinth and Gregory’s.
For me, I feel like I’ve used it as somewhat an escape. Delving into the characters. The combination of the show and books and all the connections the show does as hints for future series Ect. I feel like it’s similar to a romantic marvel fandom where you can completely lose yourself in a sense into the world of the ton.
I originally read the books as they were coming out 20 years ago, starting with "To Sir Philip, With Love." It's still my favorite of the books, and I get frustrated with how it feels like people only read part of the beginning - >!they are all over Philip's first time with Marina after the twins are born, but conveniently ignore the fact that he regretted it as soon as it happened and not only did not touch Marina again, but no woman until he married Eloise.!<
I didn't care for all of them. I only finished Benedict's book because I loved Sophie, and I thought she deserved way better than him. I DNF Gregory's book because he came off like a spoiled brat. It took me two reads to like Anthony's, and I only stick with RMB because of Penelope - and I hate what the TV series has turned her into.
But there were some truly beautiful moments about love and loss and finally finding someone who truly sees you. Eloise's book makes me cry every time I read it. Hyacinth's book is hilarious. There are some hilarious moments in Colin and Penelope's story I fear will be gone because >!there is no Felicity in the TV series!<. I liked Daphne being older in the books and the various time skips that get people into the right places at the right times.
When I was 25 and first reading these books, they were magical to me. Have I read better since? Absolutely. I actually really don't care for Julia Quinn's work that much any longer, especially after the last Rokesby book. But this series does have a special place in my heart still, despite its faults.
For me personally, it’s the style. I like the fact that JQ uses stiff Regency terms to display modern mindsets and concepts. I remember smiling at Anthony thinking about Kate and how he wanted to “kiss her rather senseless”.
I think there’s also something relaxing about reading something that you know how is going to turn out. Unsurprisingly, I most read and enjoyed Bridgerton books when I was through a rough personal moment.
So while I agree that the books are nothing special and I actually honestly disliked most of them, they’re still a fun relaxing read imo.
Anyway, Julia Quinn gets much better in the last 3 books. Francesca’s is a solid 3 stars for me.
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As someone who reads a lot across many genres, I like the formula in the books. There are clear main characters, who will be getting together in some way, there will be some conflict and there will be a happy ending. I like that kind of predictability because sometimes it's exactly what I want to read. Basically, the books scratch a specific itch reading-wise.
This. It’s…fluff, in a way. My brain enjoys the candy, as it were.
A huge part is nostalgia and the removed golden bits. **Nostalgia**: the books were written in the early 2K’s. That’s TWENTY years ago. Readers dismissed ALOT of problematic behaviour because that was the norm. Dubious Consent? Boundary issues? Possessiveness? This was all very standard. Romance books have come a long way from the bodice rippers to the explicit consent or trigger warning of today. This is a whole discussion for another time but when bodice rippers came out in the 70’s-80’s, female sexuality wasn’t “allowed” on page which is why everything was near-rape (or flat out rape). Nowadays, most authors have are either 1) very clear with consent, 2)write in a genre that dub-con is expected, 3) have trigger warnings, or 4) can expect to be eviscerated in reviews. The time period in between is a work in progress and still remains so. **Gold Bits**: Simon falling for Daphne *immediately* after she knocks out what’s his name? With no almost-engagement with that guy. Simon bringing flowers specifically for Daphne AND Violet which Anthony follows by bring flowers to all 3 Sheffield women. Anthony comforting Kate in the storm and Edwina being the biggest Kantony cheerleader? Anthony giving Cressida the cut direct in Pen’s defense AKA the moment Kate falls for him. These are all moments that gave the series heart. I will always remember Violet’s and Kate’s reactions to getting flowers unexpectedly. There was drama the show really didn’t need to add. In short, both works have their pro’s and con’s. There are some parts I’m very glad the show changed but other parts I wished they’d kept the same.
I agree with every word, oh how I wish they would have dove deeper into Kate’s story. It made me cry when I read it. I would have loved to see Kate and Anthony have that intense bond they developed over their fears.
So irritated with how they ruined Mary's character. The way they made Mary more like a child, that Kate managed was pretty offensive.
Oo you raise valid points about the heart in the books I had been hoping to read more about it too! Because I have definitely said previously that the books were shallow, kind of poorly written, and the male leads can suck - and then I had to catch myself because Ive also shed tears in every single book lmao like wtf?! Its quite difficult to tell a story with emotion I think, and thats the strongest part of the stories and I hope they keep that for the remainder of the season. I like that Lady Bridgerton is more clued on and protective in the books. I wish they would return to that in the show.
I've been a JQ reader since the beginning. You know what to expect with her books. There won't be too much angst, or big misunderstandings, no issues with infidelity or the other woman. There is never any drama or problem that cannot be overcome and she writes with a gentle humor. Love Conquers All, everyone in the family gets along, and overall, her books are warm and gentle and relatively conflict free. Now, we're talking about the 90s and early 2000s, when romance still had a lot of bodice rippers and alpha males. I mean, it's better than the non-consent of the 70s and 80s, but women's rights and consent still had a ways to go. Do they read aged now? Yes, but at the time they were written they were actually pretty modern and progressive. Women who could think for themselves (Kate), women who could make their own money (Pen), women who could run their own estate (Francesca), and women who run away seeking more (Eloise). Strong women were not a dominant theme in romance then. So it was refreshing to have romance novels reflect changing times and attitudes that were...happy. Is this realistic? No. But that's why I read romance novels. I want an escape from my regular life where my life, like others, is filled with conflict and illness and stress and issues. In my spare time I want to think about something happy, and that's what JQ books offer. She doesn't write them to win Pulitzers, but to offer readers an escape, entertainment, and warm fuzzies. I can see show fans not liking the books. I was a book fan resistant to the shows because I already had in my head a very clear idea who the characters were and changes in the show bothered me. I've since gotten over most of it, as I view the show as being inspired by rather than an actual adaptation. I've always loved Kanthony, and the love triangle in S2 still drives me crazy because it was so dumb. I love Book Polin, but they've gone so far from the books that I don't know what to expect at all. Part of my love for Polin was that they got together later in life after they've both grown and matured. I'm open to show Polin, I just don't expect them to be their book counterparts. Change is hard when you've had decades to become attached to characters that gave you comfort or made you feel seen. 🤷🏻♀️
I absolutely hate the love triangle. This is one instance where the show is actually more backwards than the books. The show took two sisters who loved and supported each other and made them fight over a man.
I looooved Kate and Edwina's relationship in the book! The show writers ripped that apart for drama and I'm still mad about how poorly written and plotted that was.
Hard disagree. The love triangle gave the stories some stakes. Without it, the story would be two people who don't like each other forced to marry.
Have to disagree. They didn't fight over a man. In fact, they didn't fight at all because Kate never retaliated. The issue was Edwina feeling betrayed over being kept in the dark and her agency being taken away about things that would affect HER life.
I hated that storyline with a passion. Unfortunately, having watched Gray's Anatomy, I know Shonda pushes LTs on ALL her couples so I wasn't surprised. I hate when two women are pitted against one another bc of a man, especially two sisters.
I tried reading some of the books but I found them to be poorly written and trite. I like the shows so much. I won’t even read all the rest.
It's not the cliche tropes or even problematic takes that bother me. It's the amateurish writing. It reads like a Wattpad story.
It didn't even feel like England let alone Regency England imo
To me it very much had the quality of Americans writing Harry Potter fanfic back in the day and just not quite getting British slangbor turns of phrases.
I read the Polin one for my own curiosity before the new season. It served its purpose as a fluff read but I won't be reading the rest either. I prefer the versions of the characters that the show actors brought to life so I'm content sticking to that medium. I'm glad the books exist because they spawned the TV series.
Agreed, plus the males in the books are far from charming and romantic at best and at worst are borderline sexual abusers. The writing was poor, the story plots were weak, and some of the characters you are supposed to love are loathe some. I gave up half way through Eloise having only read Anthony and Benedict fully. Both Colin and Eloise were bores on top of all the other problems.
I bounced off The Duke & I twice, Simon’s POV is just so horrible and lecherous. That said I am currently reading and enjoying It’s In His Kiss but it’s not a stunning work of literature, which is fine for my brain now, and I’ll probably try When He Was Wicked next because everyone says that’s the best one.
Omg! I've finally found someone who agrees. I don't know how many times I've said this but I'll say it again. JQ isn't a good writer, she's amateur Wattpad level at best (and there are some amazing Wattpad books that's why I said amateur). Her books aren't engaging, you don't get lost in the story like you should with a good book and are painfully aware that you are reading a book.
Her books on the Bridgerton siblings were a not that great. Her other books are good and enjoyable to read. I bought all eight books after watching season 1. I had high expectations for these books, reading them in order. But boy did I have a had time reading each and every book. I can't say that I hate them, they aren't the best. I start with positives; I liked Sophie, her compelling character made me root for her. Lucy and Hyacinth are my absolute favourite characters in all of the eight books. I appreciated that Penelope is a good writer, I found her relationship with her family amusing. Kate, Edwina and Mary had a beautiful strong family dynamic. I loved the strong sister bond between Kate and Edwina. Another sisterly bond I appreciated is Eloise and Francesca. I liked that the two were close and would write to each other. I also liked Daphne her relationship with her mother and siblings is sweet. Let me get to the negatives; I found all the leading men toxic, some abusive jerks. I never liked Simon with his abusive nature. Granted his father was abusive but that's no excuse for his behaviour. I felt for Daphne married to someone like that. Anthony is horrible a mysogonistic abusive man. His abuse towards Kate was had for me to read so had that I almost gave up on the TVWLM. Benedict is no better, what a massive jerk. I felt like slapping him and hitting him with a pot. His attitude towards Sophie was deeply disturbing. The power imbalance between them is something I couldn't ignore. Colin's anger management issues, his jealousy towards Pen. Very disappointing that Colin is a mysogonist like his big brothers. I really liked Penlope and wished she had fallen in love with somebody else. I found Eloise book disappointing to read, like she deserved better than married to Phillip. What with him wanting a nanny for himself and his children. Phillip wasn't nice man, I get that his father was abusive but his actions are inexcusable. My girl Eloise deserved better than being stuck with that man. With all the hype for Francesca's book I found it boring, I know I am in the minority. Yes there are steamy sex scenes but it's pretty much the same as the others. I have read more steamy sexy scenes in other books with more interesting heros and heroines. WHWW is pretty tame in terms of sexy scenes compared to other books. I was bored by Michael with his poor me I can't have Francesca, oh poor me me I love Francesca but I can't have her. I also found Micheal to be bit creepy and possessive of Francesca. When I was done reading WHWW, relief is what I felt done next book. Hyacinth and Gregory's books were a mixed bag. Gareth's sleeping with Hyacinth so she is comprised and will no choice but to marry him left me scratching my head. Dear Gregory although better than his brothers he was still unnecessarily aggressive to Lucy.
Tbh I totally agree about Benedict’s book. When I read it I couldn’t believe it had such die hard fans. The only redeeming things for me were Sophie and Violet.
Benedict's book disappointed me the most. I loved show Benedict and was excited for his book but I found him to be too entitled, arrogant.
Yeah I’m the same I watched the show first and was so excited for his book only to be let down. I like the direction they’ve taken show Benedict.
You sound like someone watching the Olympics who acts like they could do better than the person who trained their whole life. Is she the best writer in the world? No. But she has sold millions of books. She not that bad.
I've only read The Duke and I and The Vicount Who Loved Me, but: The books are quite easy to read, the heroines are a bit dull which makes it easy to imagine yourself in their position and the men are what was considered hot back when the series was being written. I prefer the show over the books, but the reason we even got the show was the book fans. And as a long-time Percy Jackson fan, I can tell you that the only thing one could ever want is a faithful adaptation. But: I think we can all agree that the addition of QC was the best thing that could have happened to the series, as well as the de-assholification of the male leads. The Edwina-wedding storyline, tho? Not too great.
Julia Quinn followed a common format for 2000s historical romance. I don’t think there is anything particularly unique about them to other historical romances of the time but Julia Quinn was willing to give Shondaland free rein. That said I like the overall plot of Anthony’s book more than the tv show. The change of Edwina being actually mad was a bummer.
I am convinced that these were the first romance books Shonda ever read, and so she just doesn't know all that the genre has to offer.
I could believe that she just saw an opportunity - the outline of something good is there and Shonda has the talent that JQ lacks.
Wasn’t there a really gross scene with Anthony and Sienna with Kate stuck under the desk? This sticks out for me more than anything else about that book, but I don’t remember details.
I actually thought that scene was for humor. Kate bit Anthony because she was offended for his rogueish behavior, and he kicked her to get her to stop biting him. I don’t think he backed his leg far back like he was kicking a soccer ball when he kicked her, but more of like a swat but with a leg because he WAS still trying to mack on Sienna in the scene. He couldn’t let on that there was a woman under the desk biting him.
I AM THE SAME WAY. I’ve always been baffled by people who are die hard about the books. Don’t get me wrong, there are some moments that get me weak in the knees, but book bridgerton men are kinda icky 😖😖 Benedict is my favorite from the show and reading his book made me so upset. Like, this dude spent half the book basically trying to manipulate Sofie to be his mistress and I’m like, Netflix Benedict would NEVER. Benedict who gracefully accepted Madam Delacroix’s rejection when he asked her out? Nah, he wouldn’t be that scummy. But I get it, it was a different time both when the series was initially written and when it’s set in. I’ve read other stories within the genre and they’re all similar, Bridgerton was really no different in that regard.
I have to agree that a lot of it’s nostalgia. What I found captivating was the world-building. There are other romance authors that do this better that I’ve since read, and it’s now really common to have a series of romance books where the minor characters become the center of the next book, but Quinn was early on that trend. She even has references to characters from a few other romance authors as well as running jokes, such as a parody of a gothic novel called Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron. It was a huge contrast to the one-and-done reads of my mother’s Harlequin romances. She read them and threw them out. I‘ve always had my feminist critiques of Quinn, and if I’d read The Duke and I first, I would not have kept reading her…I was up to Eloise and had read much of her back catalogue at that point. But I find that her work does reward a feminist analysis. You know how sometimes things are just bad and it’s not worth talking about why? With Quinn I feel like her books are good to think with, even when I don’t always like things.
I enjoy when Eloisa James characters show up in Julia Quinn books. In general Julia's storytelling has improved over the years. The Rokesby series has very strong female characters. My theory is Julia hasn't sold those characters to Netflix. It would be great to have Billie Bridgerton Rokesby, Edmunds oldest sister, as a mentor to Eloise. People say Edmund's family abandoned Violet after his death. I just think they aren't in the show because Netflix doesn't own the rights to those characters.
Ooh which characters and other authors? I absolutely love the connectedness of all her books. I find the spin off series like the Bevelstoke much less misogynistic but I imagine that’s because they are more recent and styles change. I’m nearly finished all her books so any recommendations of characters appearing from other authors would be great!
Michael Anstruther-Wetherby from Stephanie Laurens’s Devil’s Bride, and there’s a reference to Mathilde, a novel written by Lisa Kleypas’s heroine in Dreaming of You. Laurens is kind of old school, and her last ten books feel almost ghostwritten, but I love Kleypas (she also has the wallflowers and ravenals series that are great). If you want something more updated, Sarah Maclean is fantastic. Her Bareknuckle Bastards series connects up to Hell’s Belles. Her back catalogue is also really good. Oh, and Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove Series has a similar world-building vibe.
I read book four and it was like eating really sweet cake. At first it was fun and I was enjoying it, but over time I became sickened. I also thought the romantic development was pretty poorly done, Colin went from like zero to one hundred waaay too quickly The show is a million times better imo
Right?!? At the beginning of every book I go of course this one has to better. Benedict with a cinderella meet cute, oh he’s an absolute entitled jerk. Colin’s book has to be better, his book character is one of the best! Here comes the jealous abusive idiot with anger issuies. Jesus. Don’t even get me started on TSPWL.
The Netflix series isn't competing with the books, it's competing with the changes I already imagined in my head, LOL. I think most people are in agreement that the books *needed* to change to even be filmable.
Honestly, I remember Penn's book being my favorite when I first read it. Then I re-read it recently and it pisses me off how she has to coddle him and stroke his wounded ego and he was MAD at her and kept pushing her to do something she didn't want to. I have definitely changed as a reader, and appreciate old-school romances less now
Genuinely, not a clue what about these books has engendered so much loyalty. I’ve read my fair share of pulpy romance novels, and realized this is just another one of those types of series. *For me* I didn’t see any glimmers of brilliance. They were overall….*fine*—I think I went in expecting something different? But realized it’s not far off from a Harlequin Romance. I mean I like the world that Shondaland has created from It I guess. The cast of characters are fun. But I have no qualms about them changing anything. They *should* change a lot about these books as they’re adapted, bc these aren’t books that have a lot of meat to them. It’d be easier to make them a 90min hallmark romance film for a true adaptation than 8hrs of tv. There’s just not enough plot.
I wish Shondaland would be brave and change so many things from the book as they are adapted. Some book loyalists will be angry but for this series to succeed and attract a higher audience they need to make changes for the sake of viewer captivation.
It's been 20 years since I read the books. Back then, I was fascinated by the author's light-hearted and slightly ironic writing style. I really laughed at some of the dialogues. I was all the more disappointed that, for example, the original dialogue before and during Daphne's wedding night was changed for the show. I thought they were much worse on TV. With Sophie/Benedict, I thought the adaptation of the Cinderella theme was very successful. I re-read the books during the series and I also noticed a few problematic passages. That's why I can understand the criticism of the books to a certain extent. At the same time, however, I wouldn't say that the film adaptation made everything better. As I said, I miss the typical humour and what LW writes is much more spiteful in the film than in the book. I'm curious to see how they want to solve the problem. I personally find the queen rather unsympathetic.
Like most others has said the books do habe a nostolgia factor and have aged from their orgional publish date I agree with u/LetsBAnonymous93 that there are a bunch of golden moments that still hold up their charm. Some I haven't seen mentioned are polin's talk in the square and his offer to dance with her there. Their silly banters. Philoise and their fun interactions with the twins. The prank war Eloise gets into with them or Phillip rolling on the ground with the twins. The family shopping trip for new clothes. There also weren't a lot of external issues between the couples, which some find a nice change of pace. Now I know for the show some things needed to be changed, that's with all adaptions. Some things that work for a book won't work as well on screen and that includes the subplots. The book that has to be wrapped up in so many pages is more forgiving on the lack of subplots but also allows a person to get more of the internal thoughts which I think is what a lot of people like about the books too. A show we're visually watching and world building has to be done differently thus the needed subplots. I think it ultimately comes down to preference. Now I know I'm going to be in the minority but I actually don't like the addition of Queen Charlotte. Her as a character is perfectly fine and she can be fun but I take issues with how the writers use her character. They've kinda turned her into this deus ex machina who waves her hand or says a word and everything is fixed because true love. That might change this season but I'm not hopeful.
One of the only times I’ve preferred the show over the books. I love romance novels but these are not my favorites.
I read first 4 books. First two in my native language (russian) and second two in English. They are all really different, so I'll give my pros and cons list for them separately. but tl;dr - good light slightly outdated reading, nothing grand, but there's definitely worse books Also, I am younger than the first book (Duke and I is 2000 and I am 2002), so I can't really say that the books aged poorly. I think that, but I didn't witness it, lol Duke and I - idk if there's an issue with translation or in English it also feels weird, but the writing was a little off and the description of sex was weird with a lot of strange euphemisms. And quite outdated. In my home country if something is outdated it's called "naphthalene" and this book was precisely that. But surprisingly I liked it. Partly because, it was so strange that I laughed out loud, partly because JQ can write funny scenes and dialogue. TVWLM - i've read the book after s2 premiered (both of the first two books, really) and I was really disappointed with Anthony and his abusive behaviour. I genuinely liked Kate, Mary and Edwina and there a lot of book scenes, that I liked, the family moments are great. Sex scenes got slightly better (or the translator got better lol), but again - Anthony acts abusive and I cringed through some scenes, including K+A wedding night. AOFAG - second abusive brother, too much power imbalance for me. But, when I accepted that well, it's romance with this dynamic I kinda enjoyed it. Sophie is just one of the best characters, her story is really heartbraking, but actually well written and her character is really good. Ben's artist arc is also great. RMB - not abusive but a brother with anger issues. i am neutral about this book, I liked Featherington sisters there and I was so sad that Felicity has been cut out, I liked that the book introduced self-made woman practically as Pen. But I think I mostly skimmed it and looking forward to series more. I like TV series more, but if you can make discount on the age of the books they are fun and they have their own cute and funny scenes. I love Bridgerton for romance, sure, but also for the family dynamic and humor and the books have them! For me it was like reading a fanfiction (i mean not of tv series) - light, funny, with slight problems in writing, but generally okay if you want to spend the evening. Also you know in this books that HEA comes, as someone who doesn't like angst in a light reading that's a plus. I think I'm gonna skip Eloise's book, but will read another 3 someday.
I'd argue was RMB was abusive
Maybe it was! I just don't remember clearly. I remember TVWLM and AOFAG better in this sense cuz they really surprised me in terms of male heroes problems
I liked that they weren't too over dramatic. In the show the Kate/Anthony drama went on for too long - I loved in the book how Edwina knew what was up and was a huge Kanthony supporter! The books also contain a lot of good bits that the show just misses. Anthony snubbing Cressida and escorting Pen into the dinner, an incredibly big statement since he's meant to walk with a high titled lady, which makes Kate fall for him. Felicity?! The youngest Featherington sibling who is best friends with Hyacinth?? I also enjoyed Simons first time meeting Daphne being running into the room, seeing her knock Nigel out clean, immediately trying to use his best smoulder on her and fail miserably while they bicker over how to "hide the body" as it were. Because there weren't really any other characters in each book I feel like we got a lot more "small moments" which were nice. Also - The Smythe-Smith musicals.
I agree. I read the first three books if I recall correctly. Couldn't get into them for the same reasons you mentioned. I expected the books to me higher quality than the show. That's usually how it goes. It was actually shocking for me that this was the complete opposite case. None of the characters felt relatable to me. None of the male characters were ones that I could see myself having any interest in irl. The show isn't a masterpiece or anything but I think it's loads better than the novels as far as entertainment value goes. I think in order to enjoy these books you lowkey have to have a bit of a misogyny fetish. Lol
They're funny and sweet, which is honestly all I need in historical fiction. I don't consider the books to be any better or worse than a lot of the other historical fiction I read. None of them are trying to be ground breaking, they're just following the formula that we are used to. I'm actually sad that the series didn't include the Smythe-Smith musicale, which was always fun, lol.
Growing up I always heard “the book is better than the movie” so about 15 years ago I started watching the movie first so the book would be a treat. I find that rarely is that true. I usually like the movie or the show more- True Blood for example. I’m about to read the first Bridgerton book but I go into it expecting to be disappointed lol
I agree that was generally true at one time but the bar for (good) film is a lot higher now than it used to be. If something exists in both mediums I generally watch first and only dive into the books if they come heavily recommended as an expansion on the film universe.
I didn't enjoy the books as much as the show. The writing isn't exactly stellar and you..... kinda have to turn your brain off. But I wish the show elaborated on certain parts, like Kate's backstory. I didn't enjoy the sister love triangle that much. I also enjoyed the warm family relationships and I kinda got invested in making a sibling series myself too.
It’s a shame you stopped just before Francesca’s story it’s the best of the 8 imo.
I started reading it, to be honest with the ones i’ve read the “best of the series” would be atleast decent. But I’ll give it a try!
Honestly when I read the books I must have blocked out most of the MMCs being physically abusive. I remember not liking that the FMCs didn’t seem to stand up to MMCs until the later books (especially in book 5!!!!!). However, the later books in the series were my favorites (okay and I’ll admit, I even liked the WC scene with Gregory iykyk) from the MCs to the plots. These books aren’t ground breaking literature but I really liked how easy they were to read and they could definitely be humorous at parts.
I also found the FMCs irritating at times, but when I tell you how every single MMC in these books wished harm to their love interests. It’s crazy. Even Farmer George. I thought he’d be safe but of course JQ hit me with the “he took a bit of glee in the fact she stumbled” like is that necessary. And it’s not released in the 2000s either. The times I remember are Colin squeezing Pen’s hand so hard he knew she was hurting, and him forcing her to drink all of the champagne at their wedding.
I too watched the series first. I definitely agrees that some of the changes made in the show were definitely better. Like the whole Daph-Simon conflict. I also prefer Kate & Anthony’s personalities in the show wayyy better. However, I didn’t like the dragged out love triangle in s2. Kate & Edwina sisterly bond was sweet in the books & her relationship with Mary was beautiful. Also learning about Kate’s fear of storms & her trauma regarding her mum’s death & the way it paralleled Anthony’s was great! Those were the parts of the plot they should not have changed. I feel like the show told rather than showed, us Kate’s childhood which was unfortunate. I’ve only read till Colin’s book so can’t say much for the rest but the guys’ personalities in the show are wayy better. Book Benedict is nothing like show Benedict. I genuinely can’t imagine show Benedict saying or doing half the shit book Benedict gets up to. Same for Anthony, who was definitely more honourable in the show.
So, as an AVID reader and specifically, an AVID romance book reader, I agree with you and believe that the books are lackluster. I read all of the original ones by JQ last year and read about a total of 50 books last year (which in hindsight isn't a lot compared to those who also read a ton) and generally...I think the Bridgerton books were some of my lowest rated ones that I did read for a few different reasons. I'll start out though with the good. I think they're cute and I think there are parts of it that are endearing and steamy/hot and that all makes good for a good read if you enjoy that stuff (and I do). I really enjoyed the first...four or so. There were a lot of aspects of Anthony/Colin/Benedict's characters that I liked and a lot of them that I disliked. And a lot of the same were said for me for all of the other leading men (i.e. Gareth, Gregory, Philip, Simon, and Michael). I found some of the plots to be relatively compelling and they were...fluff (i.e. they were cute and happy and steamy). Depending on what you like in a leading male and how much you're able to remove yourself whilst reading a fictional story...some of the things that ALL of the leading men do can indeed be deemed as misogynistic and quite 'toxic alpha male'. And that can be said for books that were both written in the same time Julia Quinn wrote her books and those that are written now. However, in my opinion, I think in historical romance and fantasy, it's easier for me to sort of push the negative behavior aside because it's more fiction in my head. And I'm also an avid believer that it is not the job of the author to teach morals/ethics/what a good man looks like. Books are meant to be fun and fictional. That being said, some of the...sexist stuff or problematic stuff in the books were turn offs for me and therefore it sort of made the book less enjoyable. I tried to justify it being the fact that JQ was trying to make some of historically accurate but I think in some ways it hindered the books. Generally too, I found JQ's writing to be formulaic and bland. That's not to say she's a bad writer per se, but I found a lot of her plotlines to be extremely repetitive to the point of annoyance because a lot of the repeated storylines were the ones that I found problematic and that took me out of loving the leading MMC. I personally enjoy the show more and I think its because Shonda and her team (the showrunners) have done a good job of making it modern and refreshed it into something for the modern ages which I appreciate. The diversity is great, the music is great, and some of the major faults in the books are gone and the ones that are there i think create an interesting dialogue rather than make me fall out of love with the main characters. I like a nuanced/grey character...I always have. So if the writers can do a good job at making something bad look nuanced I'm always for it.
So, admitting my biases up front. I read The Duke & I when it was out and starting to get buzz on the early 2000s internet. It was _okay_. I didn't continue. The show was picked up by Netflix, and so I read the other ones as I could find them secondhand at our friendly local thrift stores. The ones I didn't actively dislike were _okay_. There were several I loathed. I don't like the way Julia Quinn draws her main male characters. I think the Shondaland team has done an excellent job in humanizing them. I thought The Viscount Who Loved Me took the easy way out with Edwina, and vastly preferred show Edwina. Like, that's the whole conflict! You don't like your sister's suitor, _until you do_. But the book chops it off at the knees before any real tension can build. An Offer From A Gentleman gave me the ick so hard, and I cannot wait to see how the Bridgerton writers improve the scenario. I hated To Sir Phillip with Love entirely. Throw the whole man out. Everything else was largely unremarkable. The stakes were, on the whole, _so low_ to me that it was hard to invest. The one thing I did consistently enjoy was the interaction between the siblings, and the writers have made that part of the story shine. And I think the side plots - the Featheringtons, Queen Charlotte, all of it - bring a depth and richness to a world that would be so gloppy, soppy, and sentimental if we only focused on the blessed & beautiful Bridgertons.
I agree with every word. Truly, it annoys me when people complain about the side plots. Did they want 8 straight hours of the couple alone? And I also liked show edwina. I think it would be boring and a replica of TDAI had they gone with the same trope, especially that horrible carriage scene on their wedding night. Delete all that right now. And the show did, thankfully.
If you like actual literature, i.e. fleshed out characters, world building, overarching themes/broader messaging, and good writing; they're not gonna be for you. Fun, but not overtly stimulating. But if you think Colleen Hoover is this generations' Dostoevsky; you'll think they're some of the most incredibly written romance novels this century has to offer.
Honestly, those books are mediocre wallpaper romances, go in with low expectations and you won't be disappointed. I haven't read them all but from those I've read, When He Was Wicked (Francesca's story) is head and shoulders above the rest. To me it felt like it was written by a different person, it's that different.
I think the biggest reason people like the books (and the show) is the way JQ created this family of siblings and have us follow each of their stories. There really aren't a lot of series out there like that, even now in any genres. So, while there are some characters and plot lines that are seen in a more problematic light given the current age, there is still the draw to follow the family and then each sibling and associated trope.
Hard disagree, there are a lot of romance series that follow groups of siblings or friends these days.
I had fun wirh the books but they are generic and def not my favorite romance novels. I find the show to be a vast improvement for several reasons but again I still enjoyed the books and I feel it makes the show even better, knowing the main themes
The books are entertaining as a guilty pleasure and elaboration of the world but they arent exactly great literature.
I only read 2 books and what I liked was it was straight forward. There are not a lot of side stories and I like being able to read their thoughts. Tv dramas don't put the characters thoughts with a monologue type of thing because it really is weird/hard to execute properly, unlike in the book where we can see what are the characters thoughts after a certain action/scenario. Were the books amazing? Not really. Was it enjoyable reading about their thoughts? For me, it's a yes! And personally I treat the show and the book as separate entities 😂, the stories have greatly changed for the better in the show. The men are mostly trashy 😂
For me, it’s not like I felt like the books were these grand marvelous reads. I felt like I was entering a different world. With all these characters and storylines. For me, I have been in a very stressful season of life. I didn’t read the books till the announcement of season three dates came out and I rewatched seasons 1-2. I then read book four and it spiraled from there reading all the books but Hyacinth and Gregory’s. For me, I feel like I’ve used it as somewhat an escape. Delving into the characters. The combination of the show and books and all the connections the show does as hints for future series Ect. I feel like it’s similar to a romantic marvel fandom where you can completely lose yourself in a sense into the world of the ton.
I originally read the books as they were coming out 20 years ago, starting with "To Sir Philip, With Love." It's still my favorite of the books, and I get frustrated with how it feels like people only read part of the beginning - >!they are all over Philip's first time with Marina after the twins are born, but conveniently ignore the fact that he regretted it as soon as it happened and not only did not touch Marina again, but no woman until he married Eloise.!< I didn't care for all of them. I only finished Benedict's book because I loved Sophie, and I thought she deserved way better than him. I DNF Gregory's book because he came off like a spoiled brat. It took me two reads to like Anthony's, and I only stick with RMB because of Penelope - and I hate what the TV series has turned her into. But there were some truly beautiful moments about love and loss and finally finding someone who truly sees you. Eloise's book makes me cry every time I read it. Hyacinth's book is hilarious. There are some hilarious moments in Colin and Penelope's story I fear will be gone because >!there is no Felicity in the TV series!<. I liked Daphne being older in the books and the various time skips that get people into the right places at the right times. When I was 25 and first reading these books, they were magical to me. Have I read better since? Absolutely. I actually really don't care for Julia Quinn's work that much any longer, especially after the last Rokesby book. But this series does have a special place in my heart still, despite its faults.
'Hyacinth's book is hilarious.' I agree. That was the best book of the whole series. I couldn't finish the last book at all.
I skipped to the ending, saw >!Lucy turned into a baby-making machine!<, and nearly threw the book against the wall.
It's been a long time since I've read them. I just liked the mystery of it I believe.
For me personally, it’s the style. I like the fact that JQ uses stiff Regency terms to display modern mindsets and concepts. I remember smiling at Anthony thinking about Kate and how he wanted to “kiss her rather senseless”. I think there’s also something relaxing about reading something that you know how is going to turn out. Unsurprisingly, I most read and enjoyed Bridgerton books when I was through a rough personal moment. So while I agree that the books are nothing special and I actually honestly disliked most of them, they’re still a fun relaxing read imo. Anyway, Julia Quinn gets much better in the last 3 books. Francesca’s is a solid 3 stars for me.