How to read the Bridgerton books in order

The second season of Bridgerton makes its Netflix debut on Friday, with the period drama shining the spotlight on Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and his search for a wife.

This won’t come as a surprise to fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books, who’ll know that season two is based on The Viscount Who Loved Me – the second book in the series.

With seasons 3 and 4 officially greenlit and the stories of Penelope Featherington, Eloise Bridgerton and her brothers Colin and Benedict yet to be wrapped up, there’s plenty of material to get through in the next few years.

If you can’t wait to find out what happens to all the Bridgerton family, then perhaps it’s time to dive into the books.

Whether you want to read them in release order or chronological order, we have your back – scroll down for our guide on how to read the Bridgerton novel series.

Bridgerton books: release order

Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series begins with The Duke and I, published in 2000, and ends with On the Way to the Wedding, published in 2006 about Gregory Bridgerton – although there’s an epilogue, The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After, focussing on Violet Bridgerton.

1. The Duke and I (2000)
2. The Viscount Who Loved Me (2000)
3. An Offer From a Gentleman (2001)
4. Romancing Mister Bridgerton (2002)
5. To Sir Phillip, With Love (2003)
6. When He Was Wicked (2004)
7. It’s In His Kiss (2005)
8. On the Way to the Wedding (2006)
9. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After (2013)

There is also a separate series of Lady Whistledown anthologies, written by Julia Quinn alongside authors Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins and Mia Ryan, focussing on Lady Whistledown’s gossip columns.

1. The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown (2003)
2. Lady Whistledown Strikes Back (2004)

Bridgerton books: chronological order

Each book in the Bridgerton series focuses on the romantic exploits of one of the family’s children – starting with Daphne Bridgerton in the first novel, The Duke and I.

The main Bridgerton series was released in chronological order, however the Lady Whistledown spin-off novellas slot in throughout.

1. The Duke and I (April 1813).
   Covered by season one of the Netflix drama, Book One follows the love story of Daphne Bridgerton and The Duke of Hastings.
2. The Viscount Who Loved Me (1814)
   Book Two looks at the story of Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton sibling, and his romance with Kate Sheffield, the older sister of the woman he was actually planning to marry.
3. The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown (1814)
   Lady Whistledown’s observations in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day 1814.
4. An Offer From a Gentleman (1815)
   Following Benedict Bridgerton, Book Three is a Cinderella-esque story about his crush on Sophie Beckett, an earl’s daughter who is cruelly treated by her stepmother.
5. Lady Whistledown Strikes Back (May 1816)
   Another anthology series, this novella takes a peek at Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers in May 1816.
6. Romancing Mister Bridgerton (1824)
   Book Four tells the long love story of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.
7. To Sir Phillip, With Love (1824)
   We finally get to Eloise Bridgerton, who is expected to marry Sir Phillip Crane – but is it the right choice?
8. When He Was Wicked (1824)
   Now onto the younger Bridgerton siblings, Book Six looks at Francesca Bridgerton and her romance with Michael Stirling.
9. It’s In His Kiss (1825)
   This novel looks at Hyacinth Bridgerton and Gareth St Clair.
10. On the Way to the Wedding (1827)
    The second youngest Bridgerton child finally gets a romance of his own in On the Way to the Wedding.
11. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After
    The final epilogue in the series, focussing on the family’s matriarch Violet Bridgerton.