synopsis of bridgerton book 3

TV & Movies

Colin & Penelope’s Bridgerton Story Makes A Shocking Departure From The Book

The friends-to-lovers goodness is still there.

Major spoilers for Bridgerton Season 3 ahead. In a first for the Regency franchise, Bridgerton Season 3 rolls out in two parts, which you might’ve found out the hard way when no “Next Episode” button appeared after that Episode 4 scene.

The second half drops on June 13th, which gives you plenty of time to catch up on Penelope and Colin’s Bridgerton book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. (ICYMI, their book is the fourth in Julia Quinn’s romance series, and the order was switched for the show.)

The show has already diverged from the novel in a few major ways. But if you want a rough idea of what to expect (and why people are getting so hot and bothered about mirrors), here’s the book ending and plot summary of Penelope and Colin’s Bridgerton story.

A #Polin Flashback

Romancing Mister Bridgerton begins with the first time Penelope meets Colin, which is when she falls in love with him, too. (A relatable queen!) Just before turning 16, she was on a walk when her bonnet flew into Colin’s face while he was riding a horse. He fell, but wasn’t bothered or upset, and his good-natured response made Penelope a lifelong fan.

They become friends over the years, but Penelope is hurt when she overhears Colin saying he’d never marry her. They ultimately patch things up, but like in the show, Penelope feels the pain of being seen as a “spinster.” Her mom even floats the idea of Colin marrying Felicity, Penelope’s younger sister who does not appear in Netflix’s Bridgerton.

Colin’s Surprising Discovery

During a birthday ball for Violet Bridgerton, Lady Danbury offers a thousand pounds to anyone who can uncover Lady Whistledown’s identity. Penelope boldly accuses Lady Danbury herself, who’s delighted by the young scribe’s bravery. “Isn’t it nice to discover that we’re not exactly what we thought we were?” she tells Penelope, which helps her lean into a more confident version of herself.

Colin starts to take notice, and one day, Penelope even asks him to kiss her. But when Penelope thanks him for the gesture, he’s embarrassed by the idea that it was merely a pity thing. He leaves in a huff.

Later, he goes to Penelope’s house to apologize but notices she’s getting into a carriage into the city. He follows her into a church and discovers she’s Lady Whistledown. She had previously retired the column, but after Cressida claimed to be the mysterious writer, Penelope didn’t want her to take the credit.

Happily Ever After?

On the way home, Colin and Penelope hook up for the first time in the carriage. Once they arrive at her house, they get engaged.

However, Lady Whistledown proves to be the troublesome third person in their soon-to-be marriage. Colin realizes he’s not only protective of Penelope, but jealous of her career. Though he was able to stop her Cressida column from coming out during their encounter at the church, Penelope ultimately publishes it anyway — and he is not happy.

But after a heated conversation, they sleep together at Colin’s house. This is where Colin says he’d like to do it in front of a mirror. But that fantasy doesn’t actually play out in the book, because they’re simply too far into things by this point.

They have a small, “magical” wedding and Penelope encourages Colin to publish his travel writing. However, their newlywed bliss is interrupted when Cressida correctly figures out that she is Lady Whistledown, piecing it together based on a phrase Penelope used in person and on paper.

Though she tries to blackmail Penelope, Colin ultimately decides he and Penelope should reveal the truth on their own terms, during a ball at Daphne’s house. And it works! Everyone claps for Penelope, and no one is upset — except maybe Cressida, who lost out on a lot of money.

An epilogue reveals that Colin has published a book, An Englishman in Italy, and will be publishing a series of similar titles based on the countries he’s visited. Penelope, too, misses writing, so she resolves to write a semi-autobiographical novel called The Wallflower.

Bridgerton Season 3 Book Summary & Spoilers, Explained

As fans prepare for the release of Bridgerton Season 3, many are prepping by reading the original book.

Following Daphne Bridgerton and the rest of her family, Bridgerton centers on the competitive world of Regency-era London in the early 1800s, putting a heavy emphasis on young marriageable nobility and gentry.

Based on author Julia Quinn's book series of the same name, Season 1 and Season 2 adapted the first two books from the saga, but Season 3 will take a different direction.

[ Full Cast of Bridgerton Season 3 on Netflix - Every Main Character & Actor Confirmed to Appear (Photos) ]

Bridgerton Season 3 Book Spoilers Explained

Bridgerton Season 3 is confirmed to use the fourth book in the Bridgerton series, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton," as inspiration for the story. This means the series will skip over the third book, "An Offer From a Gentleman," in favor of its literary successor.

This book largely centers on Penelope and Colin. It starts with a flashback to their first meeting, as readers learn how a gust of wind sends Penelope's bonnet flying into Colin's face and sends him falling off his horse. She falls for him immediately after he laughs about the entire situation.

Colin is oblivious to Penelope's feelings for him over the years as they become close friends. However, she later hears Colin tell his brothers that he would never marry her, but Penelope pretends this remark does not hurt her even though she is devastated.

Fast-forward a decade, and Penelope is seen as a spinster at 28 years old, while Colin has avoided marriage and traveled the world at 33 years old. 

They cross paths and pick up with their relationship again, although Penelope is shocked when she finds his travel journals. Colin admits to wanting to be recognized as something more than a charming but not exactly bright man.

As Penelope realizes she does not want to be alone forever, she asks Colin to kiss her, sending their emotions into overdrive as they realize their feelings have changed drastically.

The rest of the book highlights the speculation behind Lady Whistledown's true identity, with Colin having his suspicions about who it is after a public challenge is issued to unveil the real person. This comes before Cressida Twombley announces herself to be Whistledown, although not everybody is convinced. Colin then follows Penelope through the city.

Seeing her dropping off an envelope at a church, Colin learns Penelope is actually Whistledown, leaving him furious that she kept this secret for so long and put herself in danger. Eventually, after an argument about that secret, Colin proposes to Penelope, and they get married while Colin reveals the Whistledown secret to everybody.

What Will Happen in Bridgerton Season 3?

The biggest change from the books for Bridgerton Season 3 is the aforementioned Whistledown reveal, with Penelope's alter ego already revealed in Season 1 of the Netflix show.

This reveal came so much earlier in the TV show than it did in the source material, which already changes the dynamic for fans of both properties, although it has not changed the overall feel of the story.

Additionally, star Nicola Coughlan previously noted in an interview for Netflix's Tudum (via TikTok ) that they were filming "a very important scene" for Season 3. She also explained how it features "something that happens in the books" while revealing to fans that they "broke a piece of furniture" during shooting.

Many believe this will be the scene from the drawing room where Penelope and Colin sleep together after their engagement once they get some alone time.

However, nothing further has been revealed, leaving many to wonder what other changes the show will make to the source material when all is brought to light.

The first four episodes of Bridgerton Season 3 will debut on Netflix on Thursday, May 16, and the last four will follow on June 13.

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A Brief Synopsis of All Eight Bridgerton Books

Warning: Possible spoilers ahead.

Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the book series of the same name by American romance author Julia Quinn. Each of the Bridgerton books, written between 2000 and 2006, follows the lives of one of the eight Bridgerton siblings as they find love matches spanning across Regency-era England—from 1811 to 1820—and slightly beyond, under the watchful eye of London’s elite society.

The show takes a lot of liberties with the book characters and plots but generally stays true to the central theme of each book. Beyond the titular series, there are a few more Bridgerton books and short story collections about other Bridgerton relatives, as well as dowager Viscountess Violet’s marriage with the late Edmund Bridgerton, and extra epilogues covering the siblings’ marriages. This summary will just focus on the eight siblings’ initial stories. Because these are romances, everybody will live happily ever after. Read on for hints as to what future seasons of Bridgerton may cover.

Book 1: The Duke and I

Daphne Bridgerton is everybody’s friend but nobody’s girlfriend. Not that there’s anybody interesting in London.

Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, known about town for being aloof and arrogant, is back in town. He witnesses a young lady being harassed by a suitor and is about to intervene when she knocks out the lout with a single punch. Simon is smitten, but then finds out she’s his friend Anthony’s younger sister, Daphne. Game over! However, the two are friendly after this encounter.

Soon, Simon hatches a plan to sidestep all the women vying for his attention as the most eligible bachelor in London, the same plan deployed on the show: He and Daphne will fake an attachment which makes Daphne a catch, and Simon unavailable. Besides which, he enjoys her company. Anthony hates this, even after he learns that it’s all for show.

The two fall in love, and Daphne seduces Simon by luring him out into the garden during a ball. They kiss, but are interrupted by Anthony, who demands Simon marry her now that she is compromised. Simon refuses. Anthony challenges him to a duel. Daphne steps in and persuades the duke to marry her for honor’s sake. Simon agrees but warns her he can’t have children. They marry.

The housekeeper tells her about Simon’s horrible childhood and father. During this talk, Daphne finally understands that Simon is choosing not to have children.

The two fight; Daphne refuses to have sex with him again unless he changes his mind about children. The duke goes out one night to drink his depression away, and he returns home extremely drunk and passes out. Daphne rapes him and forces him to finish inside her. Simon leaves and tells Daphne she is only to contact him if she’s pregnant. Daphne heads back to London. The assault is never discussed again, which is problematic though consistent with the fairy-tale tone of the series.

Two months later, Daphne writes to him: she is pregnant. Simon returns only to find out she’s mistaken and it’s just a delayed period. He misses her, and tells her so. She tells him she knows about his terrible childhood and unloving father and that she would love their child no matter what. They reconcile and have children.

Buy Now: The Duke and I on Bookhop | Amazon

Book 2: The Viscount Who Loved Me

Anthony Bridgerton is ready to get married after gallivanting around London. He believes he is destined to die young like his father, and so refuses to marry for love which would only make things complicated.

Kate Sheffield (called Kate Sharma in the show) has arrived in town with her younger half-sister Edwina and stepmother Mary. She’s enthusiastic about finding Edwina a match, but because she’s in her late twenties and basically a spinster, she doesn’t think that’ll happen for her. She reads that Anthony is a rake in Lady Whistledown’s society papers and when Anthony begins to court Edwina, Kate tries to intervene. Kate does not approve of Anthony’s pursuit and tries to push him off course, but his persistence leads to them butting heads. However, they share some tenderness when Anthony catches Kate cowering during a thunderstorm at Aubrey Hall. They later kiss. Oops!

Anthony and Kate finally start to reconcile after Kate witnesses some good behavior on his part and Kate gives her blessing for him to court Edwina while the two have a tete-a-tete in the garden. A bee stings Kate on her chest and Anthony panics: he takes the stinger out, restrains her, and sucks the venom out. His mother, her stepmother, and the Bridgertons’ neighbor Lady Portia Featherington all walk in to see what appears to be Anthony kissing Kate.

Anthony says he will marry her, and Whistledown (and the rest of society) accepts the idea that Anthony was courting Kate this whole time, not Edwina. Edwina is delighted; unlike the Edwina from the show, book Edwina is not oblivious and realized they had the hots for each other ages ago. Kate and Anthony marry.

The rest of the book handles them struggling with their parental traumas and feelings for each other. After the marriage, when Kate finally tells Anthony she loves him, he freaks out. He eventually realizes he must tell her he loves her, and chases after her while she’s chaperoning an outing between Edwina and her suitor. Anthony watches their carriage crash and fishes Kate out of the wreckage while telling her that he loves her. He dotes on her and her broken leg and they live happily ever after.

Buy Now: The Viscount Who Loved Me on Bookshop | Amazon

Read More: Breaking Down the Bridgerton Family Tree

Book 3: An Offer From A Gentleman

Sophie is the bastard daughter of the Earl of Penwood, though he claims she is just his ward. The earl marries a cruel woman named Araminta with two daughters, and when he dies, Sophie is relegated to the role of a maid. It’s a Cinderella story! 

When Araminta and her daughters head to a masquerade ball at Bridgerton House, the housekeeping staff get Sophie all dolled up in a silver dress and gloves belonging to the earl’s late mother, and tell her to leave the ball at midnight, so she doesn’t get caught. 

Benedict sees her at the ball and is starstruck. They dance, kiss, and at the stroke of midnight she flees, leaving her glove. Benedict notices the crest on the glove and asks his mother about it in the morning. He heads to the Penwood house. 

Araminta makes her daughters lock the beautiful Sophie in the closet. Benedict sees that neither daughter is whom he’s looking for and leaves. Araminta watches him pull a glove out of his pocket as he leaves, and figures out what Sophie did. Sophie is kicked out of the house. 

Three years later, they meet again—but Benedict doesn’t recognize her. She winds up employed at his mother’s house and the two grow closer except they can’t be together because she’s a maid. They eventually get to the altar, evildoers get their comeuppance, and the pair live happily ever after.

Buy Now: An Offer From A Gentleman on Bookshop | Amazon

Book 4: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

Penelope Featherington harbors a childhood crush on Colin Bridgerton, secretly hoping one day he’ll feel the same way too. Until she catches him telling his brothers it’ll never, ever happen. She tells him off, they reconcile, and remain friends.

Ten years later, both of them are still single. At dowager Viscountess Violet Bridgerton’s birthday party, Colin and Penelope chat with Lady Danbury, who is bored this season. Danbury decides to introduce some drama: she’s offering 1,000 pounds to whomever unmasks Whistledown, the pseudonymous purveyor of gossip. 

Later, Penelope is at Bridgerton House to meet with Colin’s sister and her best friend, Eloise. Eloise is delayed so Penelope hangs out and catches a glimpse of Colin’s travel journal. She is hooked, and as she turns the page to read more, Colin walks in. He’s furious. Before Penelope can apologize, he cuts his hand on a letter opener, and Penelope dresses his wound. She tells him his writing is so good she couldn’t help herself. Colin is flattered and realizes how much he values her company.

Colin tells Penelope that he hates that society sees him as nothing but an aimless charmer. Now Penelope is furious—he’s able to do whatever he likes to change his situation whereas she’s a spinster with no real options in the world. She leaves. Colin remembers what he said years ago. 

Colin comes over to see her later and tells her that he thinks Eloise is Whistledown. Penelope plays it off. Penelope randomly asks him if he would kiss her so that she doesn’t have to die without ever being kissed. He does. He realizes she thinks he kissed her out of pity and kind of hates himself for that. 

He leaves, and then accuses Eloise of being Whistledown to her face. She tells him that her fingers are just inkstained because she writes a lot of letters. In her newsletter, Lady Whistledown announces she’s retiring. 

Later at an event, Cressida Twombley (née Cowper) announces that she is Lady Whistledown. Lady Danbury asks Penelope what she thinks. Penelope says she thinks she’s lying and Danbury demands proof. 

Colin heads to the Featherington house the next day to see Penelope but finds her taking a hired carriage somewhere—without supervision. He follows her and discovers she’s been Lady Whistledown this entire time.  

He takes her back to the fancy part of London in his carriage and they fight about why Penelope doesn’t just let Cressida take the credit, her recklessness, and his lack of direction. They end up kissing, and when the carriage stops outside the Featherington house, Colin proposes.

At their engagement ball, a new edition of Whistledown emerges and Colin is furious—he assumed that he and Penelope made an agreement for her to retire from spreading gossip and to let Cressida take the credit. Penelope is upset because she believes Colin is ashamed of her. He insists that he isn’t. They end up having sex, and tell each other that they’re in love. 

The wedding is moved up. Colin reveals to Penelope that he’s actually jealous that she has a life’s work that she was so good at and he doesn’t. He’s also afraid for her, should the secret come out. She says she’d like to support him in publishing his travel journals, and she sets to editing them.

Cressida realizes that Penelope is Whistledown, after matching something she says to what’s in the text, and blackmails her. At a ball held by Daphne and Simon, Colin reveals to the entire party that Penelope is Lady Whistledown (in a good way) to ruin Cressida’s plan, and Lady Danbury leads the crowd into cheering. Yay!

This book overlaps with Eloise’s love story.

Buy Now: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton Bookshop | Amazon

Book 5: To Sir Philip, With Love

Remember Eloise’s ink-stained fingers? She’s struck up a correspondence with the husband of her late cousin Marina. He invites her to come to meet him to see if they’ll be a suitable match for marriage. She accepts and quietly leaves Daphne and Simon’s ball in a hired carraige before Colin’s speech revealing Whistledown’s identity.

She arrives at his place to find that Philip is a brooding, brutish man who cares about one thing only: his plants. He has no idea what to do about his unruly, unparented twins. 

Philip is shocked to find out that she’s beautiful and incredibly opinionated. Eloise slowly starts putting his life—and heart—back together. It’s sort of like Beauty and the Beast. 

Her brothers figure out where she’s been and force the two to wed. They also, somehow, end up happily ever after, and it turns out Eloise is really good at mothering those twins? Who knew?

Buy Now: To Sir Philip, With Love on Bookshop | Amazon

Book 6: When He Was Wicked

Francesca Bridgerton has always been the more reserved one in her gregarious family. She marries John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin, and departs to his home in Scotland. At the wedding, she meets John’s cousin, best friend, and total cad, Michael. Michael falls in love with her immediately and spends years tamping his feelings down. Francesca and John live happily together, unaware of Michael’s feelings.

John, like the Bridgerton patriarch Edmund, dies way too young. Francesca is pregnant. If she has a son, he will be the Earl of Kilmartin. 

But she miscarries and the title passes to Michael, who is horrified not just because he’s taking the title of a man that was like a brother to him, but also because he’s madly in love with his widow—who is turning to him for comfort in her grief. 

The two begin a sexual relationship but Francesca refuses to marry him out of guilt; he declares that if she does end up pregnant, they will wed no matter what. She does, they do, they stop being so hard on themselves and—you guessed it—they live happily ever after. You’ll never guess what they name their son.

Buy Now: When He Was Wicked on Bookshop | Amazon

Book 7: It’s in His Kiss

Gareth St. Clair’s dad hates him and is trying to squander the family fortune to render him penniless. What his father doesn’t know is Gareth has an old family diary with secrets about his life and possibly treasure. The problem? It’s in Italian. The solution? Hyacinth Bridgerton, who conveniently knows Italian and hangs out with Lady Danbury, his maternal grandmother. 

The problem is, he doesn't relish the idea of spending a lot of time with the outspoken, clever, and at times, exhausting Hyacinth. But the two strike up a deal and they’re on the hunt for treasure. Will they ever find it? The ensuing search ends up leading the two of them right to each other.

Buy Now: It’s in His Kiss on Bookshop | Amazon

Book 8: On the Way to the Wedding

Unlike his older brothers, Gregory Bridgeton is a hopeless romantic. He meets Hermione, the girl of his dreams, and enlists the help of her best friend, Lucy, to help him woo her. 

Lucy’s down to help because she believes Hermione’s current object of affection is unsuitable. Lucy’s advice works and Hermione starts to question her feelings. Lucy and Gregory begin to feel something for each other, but Lucy is betrothed to be wed to someone else, in a setup by her cruel.

Eventually Hermoine realizes that she’s in love with Lucy’s brother, and Gregory realizes he actually needs to be with Lucy just before she is about to be wed. Will Gregory get there in time? Obviously.

Buy Now: On the Way to the Wedding on Bookshop | Amazon

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Here's Everything To Know About Book 3 In The Bridgerton Series

It's all about Benedict.

Warning: Mild spoilers for Bridgerton Season 2 — and major spoilers from Bridgerton Book 3 — follow. With Bridgerton Season 2 marrying off Anthony and Daphne off having babies with Simon, the stage is set for the next Bridgerton sibling to find love. Although Shondaland and Netflix have not officially confirmed Season 3 will continue to follow in the footsteps of the series’ source material (author Julia Qunn’s novels about the Bridgerton family), fans assume the next sibling up for marriage is Benedict. After all, his romance makes up the love story of Bridgerton ’s third book. So, here’s what An Offer From A Gentleman is about, in order for fans to get a loose idea of what the show could be doing next season.

As is true of both The Duke and I (Book 1) and The Viscount Who Loved Me (Book 2), An Offer From A Gentleman is a one-on-one romance, this one focused on second son Benedict Bridgerton as the hero and Sophie Beckett as the woman he will eventually marry. Unlike the first two books, this story is more mainstream in that the wedding bells come at the end of the story instead of midway through like most Regency-set stories. That’s because the book is based on a well-known mainstream fairytale: Cinderella .

In the book, Sophie is introduced as the daughter of the Earl of Penwood and his mistress, whose identity the story never reveals. The Earl loves Sophie, but his new wife, Araminta, Countess of Penwood, does not. When the Earl dies, the Countess is forced by his will to keep Sophie under her roof. Araminta does so by turning the girl into a servant for her daughters, Rosemund and Posy, while stealing her inheritance.

As happens to all daughters forced to work as servants by their stepmothers, Sophie gets herself a dress and sneaks off to the Bridgertons’ yearly masquerade ball, where she figures the mask will hide her identity from her stepmother in attendance. Unfortunately, it also hides her from Benedict, whom she meets and falls in love with before having to hightail it out at midnight without ever disclosing her identity.

Doing a full-blown retelling of the fairytale means the story’s structure is also upended from what fans expect. Book 1 of Bridgerton was set in 1813, Book 2 in 1814. Book 3 begins in 1815, but then it does an about-face after the masked Sophie runs away from Benedict at midnight. The story then jumps ahead three years: Benedict is still brooding over the mystery girl from the ball, and then he gets injured while riding and winds up being taken care of by Sophie, who he doesn’t recognize as the very object of his longing.

What ensues is a far more scandalous story than the first two books in the series. Although Bridgerton Season 2 changed up the “marriage halfway through” structure of the typical Regency Romance, both The Duke and I and The Viscount Who Loved Me books follow that structure, with the characters sleeping together after marriage, so as to not “ruin the heroine’s honor” (or whatever). But An Offer From A Gentleman does not do this — it holds marriage until the very end, since Sophie’s status as a servant means Benedict doesn’t have to offer an engagement ring to get in her bed...

Of course, all this could change in Bridgerton Season 3. Heck, it’s not even clear whether the Netflix series will tell this book’s story in the next batch of episodes, or focus on a different Bridgerton sibling entirely .

Both seasons of Bridgerton are now streaming on Netflix. Season 3 is expected in 2023.

This article was originally published on 03.28.22

‘Bridgerton’ Season 3: Penelope & Colin’s Book Ending & Plot Summary

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Major spoilers for Bridgerton Season 3 ahead. In a first for the Regency franchise, Bridgerton Season 3 rolls out in two parts, which you might’ve found out the hard way when no “Next Episode” button appeared after that Episode 4 scene.

The second half drops on June 13th, which gives you plenty of time to catch up on Penelope and Colin’s Bridgerton book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. (ICYMI, their book is the fourth in Julia Quinn’s romance series, and the order was switched for the show.)

The show has already diverged from the novel in a few major ways. But if you want a rough idea of what to expect (and why people are getting so hot and bothered about mirrors), here’s the book ending and plot summary of Penelope and Colin’s Bridgerton story.

A #Polin Flashback

Romancing Mister Bridgerton begins with the first time Penelope meets Colin, which is when she falls in love with him, too. (A relatable queen!) Just before turning 16, she was on a walk when her bonnet flew into Colin’s face while he was riding a horse. He fell, but wasn’t bothered or upset, and his good-natured response made Penelope a lifelong fan.

They become friends over the years, but Penelope is hurt when she overhears Colin saying he’d never marry her. They ultimately patch things up, but like in the show, Penelope feels the pain of being seen as a “spinster.” Her mom even floats the idea of Colin marrying Felicity, Penelope’s younger sister who does not appear in Netflix’s Bridgerton.

Colin’s Surprising Discovery

During a birthday ball for Violet Bridgerton, Lady Danbury offers a thousand pounds to anyone who can uncover Lady Whistledown’s identity. Penelope boldly accuses Lady Danbury herself, who’s delighted by the young scribe’s bravery. “Isn’t it nice to discover that we’re not exactly what we thought we were?” she tells Penelope, which helps her lean into a more confident version of herself.

Colin starts to take notice, and one day, Penelope even asks him to kiss her. But when Penelope thanks him for the gesture, he’s embarrassed by the idea that it was merely a pity thing. He leaves in a huff.

Later, he goes to Penelope’s house to apologize but notices she’s getting into a carriage into the city. He follows her into a church and discovers she’s Lady Whistledown. She had previously retired the column, but after Cressida claimed to be the mysterious writer, Penelope didn’t want her to take the credit.

Happily Ever After?

On the way home, Colin and Penelope hook up for the first time in the carriage. Once they arrive at her house, they get engaged.

However, Lady Whistledown proves to be the troublesome third person in their soon-to-be marriage. Colin realizes he’s not only protective of Penelope, but jealous of her career. Though he was able to stop her Cressida column from coming out during their encounter at the church, Penelope ultimately publishes it anyway — and he is not happy.

But after a heated conversation, they sleep together at Colin’s house. This is where Colin says he’d like to do it in front of a mirror. But that fantasy doesn’t actually play out in the book, because they’re simply too far into things by this point.

They have a small, “magical” wedding and Penelope encourages Colin to publish his travel writing. However, their newlywed bliss is interrupted when Cressida correctly figures out that she is Lady Whistledown, piecing it together based on a phrase Penelope used in person and on paper.

Though she tries to blackmail Penelope, Colin ultimately decides he and Penelope should reveal the truth on their own terms, during a ball at Daphne’s house. And it works! Everyone claps for Penelope, and no one is upset — except maybe Cressida, who lost out on a lot of money.

An epilogue reveals that Colin has published a book, An Englishman in Italy, and will be publishing a series of similar titles based on the countries he’s visited. Penelope, too, misses writing, so she resolves to write a semi-autobiographical novel called The Wallflower.

The post ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3: Penelope & Colin’s Book Ending & Plot Summary appeared first on Bustle .

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The Third Book in the 'Bridgerton' Series Tells Benedict's Cinderella-Esque Love Story

Mar. 31 2022, Published 9:18 a.m. ET

Benedict Bridgerton broods.

Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) is the second-born Bridgerton brother fans of the Netflix series adore. He's unburdened by the weight of being the Bridgerton family patriarch, like Benedict's stubborn elder Bridgerton brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey).

Benedict is also far more mature than his younger brother Colin, and he draws women in like a muscular magnet (see Season 2 of Bridgerton as Exhibit A). The best thing about Benedict however, is his dream of becoming an artist.

He's rather disheartened to learn in Bridgerton Season 2 that it was Anthony who paid for him to be admitted into a prestigious arts college. Benedict appeared to be at his best at the college, crafting portraits that had his fellow students impressed. Above all else, Benedict's main love appears to be art, with women coming second.

However, if the Bridgerton series keeps adapting the books in chronological order, then Benedict's love story is next! What happens?

Anthony and Benedict are brothers, but they couldn't be more different in personality...

Benedict finds his own Cinderella in the third 'Bridgerton' book.

Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for the third Bridgerton book.

After Anthony and Daphne are married off, Benedict is seen as prime-husband material in Julia Quinn's third Bridgerton novel, "An Offer From a Gentleman." Naturally, because this is the Bridgerton -verse, Benedict finds love in the most unexpected place.

Sophie Beckett is the illegitimate daughter of an Earl. The Earl is somewhat kind and takes care of Sophie ... However, Sophie's life goes downhill when the Earl marries a woman named Araminta, who treats Sophie cruelly after the Earl dies.

If you're catching Cinderella vibes from Sophie's story, just wait to see what happens next. She manages to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's masquerade ball, courtesy of a kindly housekeeper who detests how Araminta treats Sophie like Regency trash.

Sophie leaves quite the impression on Benedict. He vows that he will only marry the mysterious, masked woman at the ball, waiting for years to find her. Ironically, Benedict does find his mystery woman a few years later, but doesn't realize it.

Benedict clearly likes Sophie but hesitates because of their class differences.

Araminta kicks Sophie out of the house after she found out Sophie went to the ball, and Benedict ends up rescuing Sophie from her current lascivious employer about two years after the ball. He gets her a job working at the Bridgerton house, where the couple's connection deepens.

However, Benedict is still determined to marry his mystery masked woman, failing to realize she's right there in front of him. He's also hesitant to even think of marrying Sophie because of their class divide.

After a dramatic series of mishaps (we don't want to spoil everything so you can enjoy the book!) Benedict discovers that Sophie was his mystery woman all along. Not only that, but Sophie's father actually left her a dowry! (Araminta the wicked stepmother had kept it to herself, because, of course .)

Thankfully, all's well that ends well for Benedict and Sophie. They get married and have their very own happily-ever-after. Eat your heart out, Cinderella.

Will Benedict's story be told in Bridgerton Season 3 ? We'll just have to wait and see!

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The Ending of Bridgerton Season Three, Explained

What’s next for Lady Whistledown? Do Colin and Penelope make up? And who in the world is Michaela Stirling?

Warning: Major spoilers for Bridgerton season three lie ahead.

The last episode takes place a day after Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s wedding . Instead of post-nuptial bliss, tension fills the newlyweds’ home as the two contend with the Lady Whistledown–size elephant in the room. Elsewhere in the Bridgerton family, Francesca is ready to embark on her own life as a newlywed after marrying John Stirling —but an unforeseen complication is thrown her way. As for single Bridgertons Eloise and Benedict, we can expect both siblings to begin new journeys down paths of self-discovery.

Ahead, gentle reader, we’ve rounded up all the answers to your most burning questions about the season three finale.

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How do colin and penelope reconcile and what happens to lady whistledown.

Colin’s discovery that Penelope is Lady Whistledown in episode six spells trouble for their romance. He decides to commit to marrying Penelope, though, despite feeling betrayed and Pen offering him a way out of their engagement. But although the two share a tender moment dancing together during their wedding breakfast, Colin reverts back to being cold and guarded by the next day.

Still, there’s nothing like a crisis to bring a couple together. Cressida Cowper uncovers Whistledown’s true identity and then insists Pen pay her, threatening to reveal the truth to the entire ton otherwise. Faced with this blackmail scheme, Colin goes into emergency mode. First, he beseeches Cressida to show mercy—though that quickly backfires when she instead doubles the amount she’s asking for. Later, Colin tells Penelope that he intends to ask Benedict to lend him the money to pay off Cressida. Penelope refuses this gesture. She does not want Colin to rescue her, she tells him, but simply desires his love. To this, he replies, “As long as you live with this secret, there will always be something between us.” Pen responds, “I know. Perhaps that is the key.”

Penelope writes a letter to Queen Charlotte, unmasking herself once and for all. She also uses all the money she made selling Lady Whistledown columns to fund her sisters’ spectacular vision for a joint ball. It is at this ball that Penelope comes into the light at last, revealing her alter ego before an audience that includes the queen, the Bridgertons, the Featheringtons, and the rest of the ton. The queen allows Penelope to state her case.

“I wrote about all of you because I was captivated by you, living your lives so out in the open,” Penelope says. “And in writing about all of you, I suddenly felt as if I had a life. I had power. And for anyone in this room who has ever had a taste of that, they should know it can be intoxicating.” She admits to being “careless with that power” and vows to courageously “live a life out in the open” and to “honor one’s weaknesses publicly.” Graciously, the queen grants Pen permission to continue writing as Lady Whistledown “more responsibly.”

Afterward, Colin reconciles Penelope’s voice with Lady Whistledown’s. “In truth, I have been envious of you—of your success, of your bravery,” he tells his new wife. “And now I simply cannot believe that a woman with such bravery loves me. How lucky I am to stand by your side and soak up even a little bit of your light.” Swoon!

Fast-forward a year later, and the two—along with Penelope’s sisters—are reveling in their happily ever after and welcoming their first child. Although Prudence and Philippa presumably had their daughters first, Penelope’s child is the only son—making him the Featherington heir.

What’s the deal with Francesca and Michaela?

Penelope and Colin aren’t the only newlyweds in season three. In the finale, Francesca Bridgerton ties the knot with John Stirling, a union that will take her out of Mayfair and to the Kilmartin family seat in the Scottish Highlands.

Joining them on their journey to Scotland is John’s cousin, Michaela Stirling. Upon meeting her, Francesca looks awestricken and momentarily forgets her own name—a callback to a conversation she had with Violet, who said, “When I first met your father, I could barely speak my own name. I was so taken by him. I stumbled over words most familiar.”

For those who haven’t read the original Julia Quinn novels, the introduction of Michaela’s character is our first look into what to expect from Francesca’s season . In the sixth Bridgerton book, When He Was Wicked , Francesca originally falls in love with John’s cousin Michael after John dies unexpectedly, two years into their marriage. It seems the creative team behind the Netflix series has decided to take a gender-bent approach to Francesca’s story.

It’s currently uncertain how the change in gender will affect Francesca’s storyline. Showrunner Jess Brownell told Netflix’s Tudum , “Part of Francesca’s exploration going forward will be about whether or not there is in fact something missing [in her marriage] … You’ll just have to wait to see, going forward, what we do with the addition of Michaela.”

Where are Kate and Anthony?

Sorry, Kanthony shippers, but it seems we’ll be bidding farewell to our season-two leads for quite some time.

Kate and Anthony actually didn’t appear in episode eight of the third season. At Colin and Penelope’s wedding in the previous episode, the couple decided to temporarily relocate to India, where they plan to welcome their first child. But don’t lose hope for Kanthony cameos in future seasons, as Anthony promises Kate in episode seven: “We will return.”

What’s next for Benedict and Eloise?

The remaining single Bridgerton siblings (besides Hyacinth and Gregory, who are children and, respectfully, should stay unmarried for quite some time) are heading on their own journeys of self-discovery by the end of season season.

After spending the entirety of the season engaging in an affair with the widowed Lady Tilley, Benedict embraces the fluidity of sexuality by having a threesome with her and her friend Paul. The throuple situation works out great for everyone—until it doesn’t. It turns out Tilley is ready to take her relationship with Benedict to the next level, while Benedict only wants to further expand his previously limited conceptions of love and lust. As he tells Tilley, “You’ve opened my world, and I’m not ready to close it again just now.” Ultimately, the two end things on relatively amicable terms.

As for Eloise, she finally mends her friendship with her best friend and now sister-in-law, Penelope. Still, she finds herself restless. “I’ve spent nearly all of my life in either Mayfair or at Aubrey Hall,” she laments during a late-night vent session with Benedict. “If I’m going to attempt to make change in the world, certainly I shall need to see some of it first.” Her solution? Joining newlyweds Francesca and John at their estate in Scotland, where she expects to live “outside our tiny bubble” and “have some adventures.” Cheers to new frontiers!

As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset. 

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The Lit Bitch

Anne Mendez, Book Reviewer

Review: An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3) by Julia Quinn

After binge watching the Netflix series, Bridgerton, I renewed my promise to read all the Bridgerton books immediately! I read The Duke and I when word of the show started circulating. I didn’t love The Duke and I but I liked it enough to consider reading the other books in the series, but I wanted to wait and see how the show was before I went back to reading the Bridgerton books.

Well I swooned for the series and quickly nabbed a copy of The Viscount Who Loved me (Anthony’s story) which was incredible. Anthony Bridgerton will probably reign for a while as as favorite romantic hero of mine. Before I was even done with the second book though, I had downloaded all the rest of the Bridgerton novels and vowed to read them in rapid sucession.

And read them I did! This book is Benedict’s story and while the show depicted him as sexually ambiguous at this point, in the book he is very much a heterosexual man, though probably the least memorable of the Bridgerton clan. But I was looking forward to his story all the same because I love a Cinderella romance too!

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball—or that “Prince Charming” would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.

Who was that extraordinary woman?  Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid’s garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love? ( Summary from Goodreads )

Coming off The Viscount Who Loved Me , I knew that this book simply wouldn’t hold a candle to Anthony’s story. And in truth—it didn’t for me. But it was still a fun and diverting read all the same. Benedict always seemed a little blah for me in the books. He lacked the same charisma and sex appeal that Anthony had, even Colin, the other brother who’s story I am reading next—-had more presence in the novels than Benedict did. So I don’t know that I was chomping at the bit to read his story but I was excited to see how Quinn portrayed him and made the audience love him.

This story is 100% a rags to riches, Cinderella story. If you love Cinderella stories then this is absolutely for you! Sophie played the part of a wronged damsel so well. She was sympathetic, caring, principled, and hard working. I instantly liked her and hoped that she would get her HEA with Benedict tough to be honest, it seemed entirely unlikely for 90% of the book. I had a hard time more with Benedict than I did with Sophie. I liked Sophie and enjoyed watching her overcome her issues and triumph over her evil step mother. But Benedict—didn’t leave a good taste in my mouth.

For most of the book I was like kick his ass to the curb Sophie! A slight spoiler—Benedict spends 90% of the novel begging Sophie to be his mistress instead while he holds out hope that his ‘true love’ mystery women will reappear in his life. I had a hard time with that. It bordered on irritating and insulting to Sophie. I know that in the end, Benedict sees the error of his ways and begs her forgiveness and there was never any doubt that he loved Sophie, but what I had a hard time with was the getting there part.

Asking Sophie to be his mistress was logical and indeed fitting considering her social status, but I still struggled with how he went about it. Benedict just seemed unwilling to take no for an answer and yet couldn’t let go of his mystery women. I had a hard time with Benedict because of this. It wasn’t completely off putting but I was glad when the story was over so I could move on to Colin’s story because I have a feeling that Colin will be just as swoon worthy as Anthony for me. This was still a good read it just wasn’t my favorite in the series so far but it still a fun escape and had it’s high points.

Book Info and Rating

Kindle Edition, 421 pages

Published August 25th 2015 by Avon (first published July 1st 2001)

ASINB00UG8RP2W

Review copy provided by, personal collection. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 3 stars

Genre: historical fiction, historical romance, romance

WHERE TO BUY (AFFILIATE LINKS)

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3 thoughts on “ Review: An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3) by Julia Quinn ”

• Pingback: Review: On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons #8) by Julia Quinn – The Lit Bitch
• Pingback: Reading and Ranking the Bridgerton Novels – The Lit Bitch

I’m sorry but I do not agree with Sophie stealing the show and Benedict being a nuisance. I feel that Sophie was wrong in dragging stuff along by not telling him the truth from the beginning. If she would have told him the truth and he still wanted her as his mistress than I would agree with ur review but not on the principal of a lie that she continued to do especially after finding out that he looked for her for as long as he did. I thought that Sophie was selfish and unreasonable and Benedict was a good guy that didn’t deserve what Sophie put him through. I was so angry at Sophie that I couldn’t finish the book. I was tired of Benedict chasing her and yelling at her to just tell him the truth. I’m trying to finish this book but it’s hard. It’s a good book just annoying and frustrating.

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Read the 'Bridgerton' books to discover all siblings' happily-ever-afters

In 2000, Julia Quinn released her novel “The Duke and I," a Regency romance that focused on the relationship between Simon Basset, a young duke, and Daphne, the eldest daughter of an illustrious London family.

Two decades and one Netflix series later, audiences are still falling in love with Quinn's stories. The second season of "Bridgerton " will be released on March 25, striking a different, but no less swoonworthy, tone than the first for its approach to intimate scenes .

Quinn's novel "The Duke and I" introduced readers to the Bridgerton family, composed of eight alphabetically-named children (from Anthony to Hyacinth). From there came seven more "Bridgerton" novels, each devoted to a different sibling; several spin-off books; and the hit Netflix show "Bridgerton," which first premiered in Dec. 2020.

After season one of the popular series aired, many fans were eager to read the novels that inspired the show. Quinn's first "Bridgerton" novel hit the top of the New York Times bestseller list 21 years after its initial publication. Amid surging demand, book retailers struggled to keep stock in stores , and some individual hardcover copies were selling for more than $700 online . By March 2021, the books had been reprinted with brand-new cover art — and are readily available again.

Season two of the Netflix show is based on the second book in Quinn's series, “The Viscount Who Loved Me." Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton sibling, will meet his match in Kate Sharma, played by Simone Ashley . With the addition of new twists and plot points, the show brings Quinn's enemies-to-lovers meets love-triangle story to the screen.

To read Quinn's original series, and to find out what may be in store for the upcoming seasons of the show, here’s a round-up of all the “Bridgerton” books in order.

Book 1: “The Duke and I”

“The Duke and I”

Ah, the novel that started it all — and inspired season one of "Bridgerton," starring Phoebe Dynevor and Rege-Jean Page.

In "The Duke and I," Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, agree to a fake relationship to further their own agendas. The aim of their elaborate plan is to make Daphne appear more desirable to other suitors, and get marriage-minded mothers off of Simon’s back. But neither accounted for one key variable getting in the way: love.

Set in 1813 London, this book introduces readers to the Bridgerton's high society world, where gossip travels faster than a horse-drawn carriage — and nobody can get enough of Lady Whistledown's columns documenting every delectable tidbit.

The inclusion of Lady Whistledown, the books' hallmark gossip columnist, started as an accident, according to Quinn’s website.

When Quinn first began writing the story, she struggled with how to introduce expository information — facts that were necessary to understanding the Bridgertons' world, but wouldn't naturally occur in dialogue. She came up with the idea of telling her protagonist’s backstory through a gossip column: Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers.

“It turned out to be the most happy accident in my entire career!” Quinn wrote on her website.

Book 2: “The Viscount Who Loved Me”

“The Viscount Who Loved Me”

“The Viscount Who Loved Me” returns to the "the ton" in 1814, a year after "The Duke and I" takes place. Readers follow what happens after Anthony Bridgerton — the eldest Bridgerton sibling, dubbed a "consummate rake" by Lady Whistledown — announces his intentions to marry at last.

Anthony sets his sights on newcomer Edwina Sheffield. The only thing standing in the way of an engagement is Edwina's older sister, Kate Sheffield. Kate, who is of the opinion that “reformed rakes” do not make good husbands, will do everything in her power to keep London’s most notorious one away from her sister.

This book is the inspiration for season two, introduces Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran as Kate and Edwina Sharma, newcomers to the social scene hailing from India. Jonathan Bailey reprises his role from season one as Anthony Bridgerton.

Book 3: “An Offer From a Gentleman”

“An Offer From a Gentleman”

Next up to London's marriage mart is Benedict Bridgerton, brother number two. His book, "An Offer from a Gentleman," is a classic Cinderella story, featuring an orphaned girl, a wicked stepmother, and a love-at-first-sight sequence at a ball.

Sophie Beckett is illegitimate daughter of an earl. After her father dies, Sophie is forced into a servant role by her cruel stepmother. On the evening of a masquerade ball hosted by the Bridgertons, Sophie is able to sneak away from her duties and attend. There, with her face concealed by a mask, she dances with the eligible bachelor Benedict before she has to make a midnight escape, leaving him pining after her.

"An Offer From a Gentleman" expands Benedict's story. In season one of Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” Benedict is depicted as a creative and artistic free spirit, struggling to find a place for himself in the rigid structures of London society. In the book, Benedict wrestles with forging his own identity separate from his large family. Essentially, he wants to be more than a “Bridgerton.”

“Bridgerton” has already been renewed for a season three, so you can expect to see Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson) lock eyes with Sophie in a ballroom at some point in an upcoming season. Sophie has not been cast.

Book 4: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton”

“Romancing Mister Bridgerton”

The fourth book in the "Bridgerton" series puts the spotlight on the cheeky third Bridgerton brother, Colin. His love interest is a character you already know, and likely love: Penelope Featherington, the red-headed, yellow-clad friend of the Bridgertons.

While Eloise Bridgerton is her closest friend, Penelope has always had an unrequited crush on Eloise's older brother, Colin.

Set 10 years after the first novel, Colin finally sees Penelope in a different light — and learns the shy girl next door has secrets he never could have imagined.

Luke Newton, who plays Colin in "Bridgerton," told TODAY about what Colin sees in Penelope. "She gives him a sense of that warm feeling that reminds him of home. When he has a moment alone with Pen, it feels like he’s been really himself," Newton said of the characters' connection.

In "Bridgerton," Penelope's alter ego as Lady Whistledown is revealed at the end of season one (though Easter Eggs pointed to her identity throughout the season). Penelope's secret takes longer to come out in the books, and is part of the plot of "Romancing Mister Bridgerton."

“Bridgerton” has been renewed through a fourth season. Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton have already laid the groundwork for their characters' eventual romance.

Book 5: “To Sir Phillip, With Love”

“To Sir Phillip, With Love”

The next Bridgerton to find love is Eloise — and she embarks on quite a journey.

After maintaining a correspondence with a widower and famous scientist named Sir Phillip Crane, 28-year-old Eloise decides to take a leap of faith and accept his written proposal. She leaves her family home to marry a man she has never met. What more would we expect from the independent, free-spirited Eloise?

"Bridgerton" may already be setting up the events of "To Sir Phillip, With Love." Philip Crane appeared in season one as Marina Thompson's husband. He marries Marina in a bid to protect her honor: She is pregnant with his brother's child, and his brother died on the battlefield.

As of season two, Marina Thompson and Phillip Crane are still married — though by the the time book five opens, Marina has already died. No word on how the "Bridgerton" series will address Marina and Phillip's marriage.

Eloise Bridgerton is played by Claudia Jessie in the Netflix series. Marina Thompson is played by Ruby Barker and Phillip Crane by Chris Fulton.

Book 6: “When He Was Wicked”

“When He Was Wicked”

"When He Was Wicked" offers a change in scenery, swapping out the London ton for a Scottish castle. The book also highlights a character you may not recognize from the show: Francesca Bridgerton, absent for most of season one (she was visiting her aunt in Bath, if you recall).

While her sister Eloise is bold and forthright with her opinions, Francesca is more reserved. But under her cool demeanor, she brings just as much wit.

"When He Was Wicked" introduces readers to two new characters: cousins John Stirling and Michael Stirling. When Michael first sees Francesca, it is love at first sight. The only problem? He meets her at a dinner celebrating her imminent marriage to his cousin, John. So begins a years-long love story.

In the show, Francesca is played by Ruby Stokes.

Book 7: “It’s In His Kiss”

“It’s In His Kiss”

Jumping out of alphabetical order, the seventh book follows the youngest Bridgerton child, Hyacinth.

In this book, Hyacinth — described as “fiendishly smart” and “devilishly outspoken” — crosses paths with Gareth St. Clair, grandson of none other than Lady Danbury. Hyacinth offers to help Gareth translate an old diary written in Italian that may contain information needed to secure his future.

In the show, Hyacinth, who is around 10 years old in season one, is played by Florence Hunt.

Book 8: “On the Way to the Wedding”

“On the Way to the Wedding”

To finish out the series, book eight follows the youngest Bridgerton son, Gregory. And it starts in a sprint, literally. As the title suggests, Gregory finds himself running to the altar to stop a wedding. But whose? To answer that question, the story jumps back in time to two months prior.

Gregory aims to find a true love match, just like his parents had. He sets his sights on Hermione Watson, but unfortunately, she is already in love with someone else. Hermione’s best friend, the engaged Lady Lucinda Abernathy, offers to help him win her over. But soon, Lucy starts falling for Gregory herself.

Gregory Bridgerton is around 12 years old in season one of the Netflix adaptation and is played by Will Tilston.

Here are more books about the Bridgerton family’s adventures.

Following the success of the eight novels in the “Bridgerton” series, Quinn released more stories about the fan-favorite London family, plus an entire prequel series about the Rokesby family , close friends of the Bridgertons.

“The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After”

While each of the eight books tie things up in a neat bow with an epilogue, readers wanted more. So in 2013, Quinn gave fans an updated glimpse into the lives of the eight couples by writing an additional epilogue for each, plus a bonus scene all about the family matriarch, Violet Bridgerton.

“The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton”

Technically, "The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton" is written by Julia Quinn — but Lady Whistledown might call herself the true author.

The 2021 book compiles Lady Whistledown's insights about the book series' characters, and features 13 new Whistledown columns. Each chapter focuses on a different character, opening with an introduction in Whistledown’s classic wink-and-nod style, and highlighting their best quotes and moments.

Quinn told TODAY that the book brings added insight to the characters who many viewers had fallen in love with through the screen.

“The television show, what it gives you that the books can’t, is an incredible visual. You have this ability to really focus on each character at once, I think. But books can bring more of the internal dialogue and the internal thoughts,” Quinn said.

Maddie Ellis is a weekend editor at TODAY Digital.

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What to Expect in Bridgerton Season 3, Based on the Novels

Okay Kate and Anthony, we love you, but it’s time to get the hell out of here! I mean, don’t go too far, but enough to make room for another couple and another Bridgerton to step into the spotlight for season three.

As you must know by now, Netflix’s steamy Regency era romance series Bridgerton is based on a series of novels by Julia Quinn, and each of those books focuses on just one Bridgerton sibling and their great love story. Season one of the show was based on the first novel, The Duke and I , which told the story of Daphne Bridgerton’s successful foray into high society London’s marriage mart in which she gained a whole lot of life lessons — and an affinity for spoons — from the dashing Duke of Hastings. Season two then put the spotlight on eldest Bridgerton, Anthony, who is the main protagonist in the second of Quinn’s novels, The Viscount Who Loved Me , where he has a whole Pride and Prejudice– type deal with Kate, who has excellent taste in both pall mall mallets and corgis.

The TV series is very much an adaptation of the novels and makes changes, or pulls from future novels, as needed, but the powers behind Bridgerton have made clear that they’d like a new sibling to take the lead each season. They’ve yet to announce which Bridgerton will be headlining season three, but if they follow the novels, book three is An Offer From a Gentleman and it’s all about Benedict Bridgerton finding true love. Bridgerton Number Two does seem like a likely suspect for the hot seat after the events of this past season — and I’m not talking about him getting high out of his mind off of spiked tea, but I’m also not not talking about that — but they’ve been a bit coy and withholding about making it official (how very Regency era of them). Perhaps the show will dive a bit deeper into Romancing Mister Bridgerton , the fourth novel, which tells the story of Colin falling for a certain gossip queen. Who knows? Only time and an official press release will tell. Until then, let’s once again talk about a few possibilities of things that could grace our screens in next season based on what we know from the novels.

Is it true? Could it be? Will we get to see how Bridgerton throws a masquerade ball?? We are not worthy.

Masquerade! Paper faces on parade! Okay, that’s from Phantom of the Opera but I don’t care. The mere possibility of getting to see how the team behind Bridgerton would throw the Bridgerton Masquerade Ball that kicks off Benedict’s novel has me hyped . The show is already a spectacle and now there’s going to be costumes?? And not just any costumes, baby. In An Offer From a Gentleman ’s masquerade we get Eloise as Joan of Arc (so on brand!), Penelope as a very sad leprechaun (unfortunately, also on brand), and the other Featheringtons as pieces of fruit (sure, why not!). If that’s the book’s take, you know the show’s will only be bigger and better. And since a masquerade ball seems ripe for the Bridgerton world, what with its excess and hidden identities and unmasking, I can only assume they’ve held off on doing one thus far so that they can do right by Benedict’s big meeting with a mysterious woman. Don’t let us down, Bridgerton , we all need this!!

Benedict Bridgerton will get the fairy-tale treatment.

If season three does put Benedict in the hot seat, you should brush up on your Cinderella . An Offer From a Gentleman is pretty much a Regency era retelling of the classic fairy tale, right down to the evil stepmother and stepsisters. (Okay, one of the stepsisters isn’t so bad.) Benedict’s love interest in the novel is Sophie Beckett, the bastard daughter of an Earl, who ends up taking her in when her mother, a maid, dies. Things are fine until he gets remarried to a woman named Araminta and she and her two daughters, Rosamund and Posy, move in. Araminta hates Sophie from the start and when the Earl dies, she keeps Sophie around but as a servant. As you might have guessed, Sophie ends up at the Bridgerton masquerade, in costume and mask, and Benedict mistakes her for a lady of the ton. They dance and make out and in a little over an hour, Benedict is head over heels for her. And then she’s gone. He searches for years and doesn’t want to marry anyone else lest she show up, but has no luck finding her. He ends up running into Sophie under different circumstances when she’s a servant at a new house and he doesn’t recognize her at all as the woman he loves, but does recognize that he would still like to have sex with this new, other woman. There’s all this stuff about Benedict offering to make Sophie his mistress, which I don’t remember from Cinderella , and hopefully the show makes that whole aspect a little bit more palatable. Anyway, true love reigns!

At the end of season two of Bridgerton , we watch as Benedict, who has just learned that Anthony bought his spot at the Royal Academy rather than Benedict earning it with his own artistic talents, seems to toss aside his dreams of becoming an artist for good. (Like, he literally puts away all of his art tools.) It’s actually a great setup in order for TV Benedict to get into the headspace where we find Book Benedict before he falls for Sophie. In the book, at one point Benedict remarks that he loves Sophie because she is so sure of herself, who she is, and what she does and doesn’t want, whereas Benedict, who has lived so much of his life being “Number Two” and treated accordingly, is insecure about who he is and who he wants to be. He’s scared to go after what he wants (in the books, he keeps his art a secret from his family for a while). So, who knows? Maybe Bridgerton ’s comic relief is ready to seriously fall for someone.

Or will things start to get serious for Colin and Penelope?

Here’s the thing: Season two of Bridgerton also does a nice job of teeing up Colin for his big romantic turn, which in the books, happens in book four, Romancing Mister Bridgerton . In that novel, Colin has just returned from his travels in Greece and Cyprus — and won’t stop talking about it — and feels adrift without any kind of purpose. That’s our Colin, right? Moreover, that devastating scene in the finale in which Penelope overhears Colin saying he’d never marry her? That happens in the books before those two crazy kids finally get together. In the books, Colin actually says that to his brothers in An Offer From a Gentleman and instead of running away, Penelope responds that she never asked him to marry her and it is extremely awkward for everyone involved. Penelope carries that moment of humiliation with her for a while — the entire scene is replayed in Romancing Mister Bridgerton — and uses it as a way to push aside her silly crush (for a while). So really all we’d need now is for Colin to begin to see Penelope in a new light, as more than “just Pen.”

On the flip side, it’s hard to see TV Penelope as ready for her big moment just yet. There’s that heartbreak over the Colin conversation she overheard, of course, and also with how things went down with both Queen Charlotte and Eloise, it seems like Pen is going to have a lot of Whistledown drama to deal with the next time we see her. In the novels, it does take Penelope and Colin over ten years to finally get together, so if the show does want to wait a little longer to pull the trigger, there is precedent.

This one’s for the horndogs: There will probably be more sex.

Benedict’s horny on main, we know this. While the other Bridgertons are out worrying about what is proper and what is not and/or becoming obsessed with opera singers, Benedict is out there living that sort-of bohemian lifestyle (as much as a lord from a distinguished family can). In season one, he was down for a three-way and a casual relationship with Genevieve Delacroix. In season two, he was off to art school where his favorite course was Model Humping 101. While Anthony had repression baked into his character, Benedict does not. So, yeah, Benedict and Sophie have some pretty sweaty scenes together. Are you happy now?

It might be time to formally introduce Francesca Bridgerton.

With two of the eight Bridgerton siblings now officially off the Marriage Mart, it could be time to tag in Bridgerton number six, Francesca, for a more prominent role. In the TV series thus far, she’s the Bridgerton we’ve seen the least: In season one, she’s visiting family in Bath until she appears in the final episode, and in season two, she’s around for the first few episodes before disappearing for the rest of the season (this was apparently due to a scheduling issue with Ruby Stokes ).

Sure, the Francesca-focused novel When He Was Wicked is, like Frannie herself, the sixth in line, but it feels like it’s time to start developing her story for several reasons. For one, it plays out over several years and that’s because technically, Francesca has two love stories. In the novels, she is happily married for two years before her husband tragically dies, and years later she ends up in an interesting entanglement with a somewhat complicated figure (well, I don’t want to give it all away). Because her story covers several years, her book, Colin and Penelope’s book, and Eloise’s all end up intersecting. Obviously, the show doesn’t have to follow suit with any of this, but if it is moving forward with any of those characters’ stories, there’s opportunity to toss Francesca in the mix and at least get the first part of her story going soon. Lastly, Francesca has a different vibe than her siblings. In the books, she’s sort of an outlier in the Bridgertons — she’s more reserved, and though she loves her family, she isn’t one for all the commotion that seems to follow them wherever the Bridgertons go. It would be interesting to see how she interacts with her siblings. The girl’s gotta make her debut sometime, right?

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A Guide to the Bridgerton Books

Kathleen Keenan

Kathleen Keenan is a writer and children's book editor in Toronto. In addition to Book Riot, she has written for Reel Honey, The Billfold, and The Canadian Press. She also edits a monthly newsletter for the indie bookstore A Novel Spot. Kathleen has an MA in English with a focus on nineteenth-century fiction, and there is nothing she loves more than a very long Victorian novel. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @KathleenMKeenan or find her writing even more about books at kathleenmkeenan.com .

View All posts by Kathleen Keenan

The Bridgerton Series

The Bridgerton Netflix show is based on Quinn’s eight novels about the family. There are eight Bridgerton siblings, and each one gets their own book, so season one of the Netflix show is mostly an adaptation of the first book in the series, while season two is the same for the second. We’ve gotten word that the third season will actually portray the events of the fourth book, but will have to wait and see how the show’s creators and writers plan to handle forthcoming seasons—they may blend books together, as some of the storylines happen concurrently even though they’re in different novels. One consistent plot thread through the books is the existence of Lady Whistledown, an anonymous gossip columnist whose risqué columns set off several of the events in each book.

I don’t think these books necessarily have to be read in series order. I started with book 6 and was able to catch up pretty quickly. But the books do follow one another, so here’s a breakdown of the series in order.

The Duke and I

The Duke and I , like season one, is about Daphne, oldest Bridgerton daughter, who enters into a fake courtship with Simon, a duke. The situation is supposed to benefit both of them—Simon will avoid other marriage-minded ladies and Daphne will attract notice from gentlemen who’ve overlooked her. But the more time they spend together, the more real their relationship starts to feel. So now, not only is Daphne falling in love with Simon while pretending to be in love with him, she’ll have to find a way to convince him that they should take their courtship from fake to real.

The Viscount Who Loved Me

The titular viscount here is Anthony, the oldest Bridgerton, who is enjoying bachelor life and has no plans to marry. Or so says Lady Whistledown. Anthony has actually decided it’s time to settle down, and he’s found the perfect ladylike candidate. Unfortunately, her annoying sister, Kate Sheffield, keeps getting in the way. Kate is determined to protect her sister from marriage to a notorious rake, but she finds that she’s not immune to Anthony’s charms after all. As they continue their battle of wits—and wills—they discover that they may be better together than they realize…

You’ll notice a few differences between Bridgerton season two and The Viscount Who Loved Me , including Kate and her sister’s Indian name and heritage, as well as a few plot points. But both are similarly entertaining.

An Offer from a Gentleman

This book is a take on Cinderella. Sophie Beckett has been cursed with a mean stepmother and placed in the role of a servant—even though she’s an earl’s daughter. When she manages to sneak away to a masquerade ball, she has the night of her life, thanks to the “Prince Charming” she encounters there: Benedict Bridgerton. And though Sophie knows they can never be together, Benedict is determined to find his mystery woman. That is, if he didn’t keep getting distracted by a familiar-seeming woman dressed like a housemaid, who he seems to be drawn to against his will. It’s unclear why the folks at Bridgerton decided to jump ahead past this book, but all will reveal itself in time.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

I think this is a favorite book in the series for many Bridgerton fans because the main characters, Colin and Penelope, are so appealing. Colin is the third Bridgerton brother, a notorious charmer who has resisted settling down in favor of spending time abroad. But he’s tired of being thought of as nothing but a rake, and he’s especially tired of Lady Whistledown’s gossip column for implying that’s all he is. Meanwhile, Penelope has been watching Colin from afar for years—and has been in love with him for almost as long. When he returns from abroad, and their paths cross again, Colin finds that Penelope isn’t the same wallflower she used to be. Penelope finds that she’s still in love with him. But she’s been keeping a huge secret that threatens to upend everything she holds dear, especially if Colin finds out.

To Sir Philip, With Love

Eloise Bridgerton is a spinster. She doesn’t have much to occupy her time, aside from her new correspondence with her deceased cousin’s husband, Sir Philip Crane. Philip needs a mother for his children, so he proposes, sight unseen, figuring Eloise is just desperate enough to accept. And though Eloise thinks the scheme is ridiculous, something in her makes her say yes…and then she’s off to the country to meet her match. Unfortunately, Philip turns out to be rugged and rough, not much of a match at all. But he is handsome. And his children need someone. And without the rest of society watching them, maybe they can find a way to connect.

When He Was Wicked

Michael Stirling, noted rake, has a secret. He’s been in love with Francesca Bridgerton since he first saw her. Unfortunately, the first time he saw her was just days before her wedding—to his cousin. Michael loves his cousin, and he grows to cherish Francesca’s friendship, too. But then the unthinkable happens, and Francesca is left alone. Can Michael convince her to see him as more than her trusted friend and confidante?

It’s in His Kiss

If there’s a Bridgerton everyone fears, it’s youngest daughter Hyacinth. She’s smart, outspoken, and fearless. Gareth St. Clair has always found her best in small doses. But now that his father is threatening to ruin his inheritance, and Gareth needs someone to translate an old diary written in Italian to stop him, Hyacinth is the only one who can help. Her Italian isn’t quite perfect, but the more time they spend together, the closer they are to finding the answers they seek.

On the Way to the Wedding

Gregory Bridgerton isn’t like his rakish older brothers. He believes in love at first sight. And when he first sees Hermione Watson, he knows it’s her. Unfortunately, she doesn’t agree—she’s in love with someone else, a man her best friend Lady Lucinda Abernathy has deemed a most improper match. So Lucy agrees to help Gregory win Hermione over. Lucy herself is engaged to a man her uncle chose, so there’s no risk of feelings getting involved…right?

The Bridgerton Prequels

Quinn is also currently writing a Bridgerton prequel series set in the late 18th century. It follows the Rokesby and Bridgerton families, country neighbors and close friends with children of marriageable age. So far, there are four books in this series: Because of Miss Bridgerton , The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband , The Other Miss Bridgerton , and First Comes Scandal . These books share a similar feel to the original Bridgerton books—a close-knit family, amusing shenanigans—but they don’t have quite the same charm as the originals, in my opinion.

The Smythe-Smith Quartet

The unfortunate Smythe-Smith family musicale makes an appearance in several of the original Bridgerton books. In the Smythe-Smith family, it’s tradition for the eldest unmarried daughters to form a quartet and play a concert every year…but they are all awful at music. The Smythe-Smith musicale is mostly an object of amusement in the Bridgerton books, but in this quartet of novels, our main characters are the unlucky musicians themselves. These have a light, not-too-angsty tone and are lots of fun. The four books are Just Like Heaven , A Night Like This , The Sum of All Kisses , and The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy .

Other Julia Quinn Books

Quinn has a number of other trilogies and duos. If you want to read more of her work, The Lost Duke of Wyndham and Mr. Cavendish, I Presume? are good places to start. Her website has a complete list of the rest of her books . And, of course, she’s still writing more.

Once you’ve read all of the Bridgerton books, and Quinn’s other work, you can move on to some of the many other great historical romances out there. You can check out this list of Bridgerton alternatives to try , or do a deep dive into specific authors. Start with the work of Courtney Milan , Beverly Jenkins , Lisa Kleypas , Sherry Thomas, Eloisa James , Tessa Dare , and Jeannie Lin. If the humor and banter of Bridgerton are what you’re after, try Lydia San Andres’s A Summer for Scandal , Evie Dunmore’s Bringing Down the Duke , Minerva Spencer’s Notorious , or Martha Waters’s To Have and to Hoax . And if you’re in the mood to read a whole completed series, here’s a list of recommendations .

You may also want to check out this Book Riot list of historical romance by Black authors and our suggestions for how newbies can get into historical romance . And if the fire that Bridgerton lit just won’t go out, try this list of steamy historical romances . After all, it’ll be a long wait for the next season of Bridgerton —thank goodness we have books to keep us occupied!

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Bridgerton season 3 part 1 summary and ending explained

The first part of Bridgerton Season 3 follows Penelope and Colin’s romance, as well as Francesca’s society debut. The first part of the third season is now streaming on Netflix.

Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers

Plot summary

After spending the summer in the countryside, Penelope returns to London just in time for the season.

Penelope’s older sisters, now married, face pressure from their mother to bear a son as soon as possible because she has forged a document in Jack Featherington’s name. 

According to this document, the estate will go to the Featherington girl who produces an heir first. Eventually, both of Penelope’s sisters get pregnant at the same time.

Lady Featherington has also made up a story about a spinster aunt leaving her fortune to the family to explain their newfound wealth.

Penelope is now determined to find a husband to get away from her mother and sisters, one of whom will soon own the estate. 

She decides to get new clothes of her choice instead of wearing the ones her mother prefers. With these new clothes, Penelope is no longer invisible at balls. 

Just when she attracts the attention of a man named Lord Debling, Cressida embarrasses her, leading to Penelope rushing out.

Colin, who has just returned from his travels across Europe, is more charming than ever and now has the attention of every girl except Penelope. 

When he tries to comfort Penelope, she confronts him about being embarrassed by her, as last season she had overheard him saying that he would never court her.

Penelope finds herself all alone, without friends or family to rely on, now that she is no longer friends with Colin or Eloise, who has surprisingly found a friend in Cressida. 

As Lady Whistledown, an upset and angry Penelope writes a scathing piece about Colin’s changed personality. 

However, she regrets it the next day when Colin comes to apologize to her and tells her how much he appreciates her. In fact, he offers to help her find a husband.

Colin teaches Penelope how to be charming, and under his guidance, she gains confidence and is able to interact with more men at balls.

Eloise tells Cressida about Colin and Penelope’s arrangement, and soon the whole ton finds out about it, as someone overhears their conversation. 

This causes utter embarrassment for Penelope, worsening her chances of finding a husband. Penelope then has to report this as Lady Whistledown because it would be suspicious if she did not.

When Colin comes to comfort her, Penelope, who now fears that she might die a spinster, asks him to kiss her, and he does. 

This interaction changes the way Colin sees Penelope. He realizes that she is not just a friend to him and that he is attracted to her.

Eloise also visits Penelope to apologize for inadvertently spreading the rumor about her and Colin. While she wishes Penelope well in finding a husband, she is still not willing to rekindle their friendship. 

Eloise has changed quite a bit herself. She tries to interact more with women her age and be less radical after what happened last season. 

Furthermore, her friendship with Cressida changes Cressida for the better, making her kinder.

This season is Cressida’s last chance to find a husband before her father marries her off to one of his elderly friends. 

Both Cressida and Penelope set their sights on Lord Debling, a wealthy man who does not fit into society because of his peculiarities. 

Both women get along well with Lord Debling and start competing for his attention. Seeing Penelope with Lord Debling now bothers Colin.

Due to the rumor, Colin is no longer giving Penelope lessons, but thanks to his previous advice, she is able to be herself with Lord Debling. 

Ultimately, it is Penelope who wins Lord Debling’s heart. As Lord Debling starts courting her, Colin realizes that he likes Penelope.

Meanwhile, Lady Danbury’s estranged brother, Marcus, comes to live with her in London. Marcus, a widower, wishes to remarry and finds Lady Violet charming. 

Lady Violet has not yet moved out of the Bridgerton estate because Kate and Anthony, who are happily married, decided to extend their honeymoon.

Then there are the Mondrichs, whose lives change overnight when, after the death of an aunt, their son becomes the Baron of Kent. 

Will soon realizes that there are limits to the freedom of the nobility when he is told that he must give up his club now that he is a member of the ton. 

While Alice accepts her new life and is willing to let go of her old one, Will is reluctant to do so, refusing to give up working at his club even if it means being shunned by society.

Ending explained:

Francesca finds her match.

Francesca Bridgerton makes her debut hoping to find a sensible and practical match. She is not looking for true love, but rather for quiet and peace. 

Despite her best efforts to avoid attention, she impresses Queen Charlotte, who, after initially refraining from choosing a diamond, selects Francesca as the season’s diamond.

Queen Charlotte plans to get her married to Lord Samadani, and Francesca is willing to marry the man chosen for her until she meets John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin. 

Like Francesca, John Stirling does not like attention and prefers silence over unnecessary chatter. He further impresses her by perfecting the music she found flawed. 

While Violet is happy that Francesca has found someone she likes instead of settling for the man chosen by others, it is to be seen how Queen Charlotte will react to another of her matches not working out.

Feelings and hesitations

Now that Colin has feelings for Penelope, he speaks to his mother about her relationship with his father, as they too started off as friends. 

His mother tells him that confessing to the friend one loves is the only way to find out whether their feelings are reciprocated, but Colin is hesitant to do that.

During this time, Lord Debling, who accepts Penelope as she is and supports her passions, makes his intentions to marry her very clear. 

However, he is also upfront about the fact that he will be traveling for years after their wedding, leaving Penelope to take care of his estate. 

This would be very convenient for Penelope, who wants space and privacy after marriage to continue writing as Lady Whistledown.

Although Lord Debling would make a suitable husband, Penelope cannot help but hope for the kind of love she always wanted from Colin.

The proposal Penelope always wanted

Colin cannot stop thinking about Penelope. He no longer enjoys philandering and now seeks something meaningful. 

Lady Violet, noticing his predicament, advises him to stop pleasing others and be honest about his feelings.

Colin finally makes up his mind to confess his feelings and rushes to stop Penelope from accepting Lord Debling’s proposal. 

He interrupts Penelope’s dance with Lord Debling just as Lord Debling is about to propose. Cressida takes this opportunity to talk to Lord Debling.

She implies that Colin and Penelope are more than just friends, and Lord Debling realizes that Penelope is in love with Colin. He then decides against proposing to her. 

Enraged and heartbroken, Penelope leaves the ball, but Colin accompanies her in her carriage and confesses his feelings. 

Penelope reciprocates his feelings and admits that she wants their relationship to be more than just friends. The first part ends with Colin proposing marriage to Penelope.

Also Read: Lord Debling: Bridgerton season 3 character explained

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Can't Wait For Bridgerton Season 3? Here's What Happens in Benedict's Book

With Bridgerton 's renewal for seasons three and four , it's official that we'll be getting a season based on An Offer from a Gentleman , the third book in Julia Quinn's series of novels and the story of Benedict , the second brother, finding his true love. Of course, it's very likely that the TV version of the season will be a little different from the books, with more subplots for supporting characters and more depth to Benedict, since the show doesn't focus quite as exclusively on two characters at a time. Still, if you're curious to find out what to expect in season three, read on for some major spoilers from An Offer from a Gentleman !

Meet Sophie Beckett, The Ton's Cinderella

The heroine of this book is another new character, Sophie Beckett, who is the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Penwood. She's fully aware of her parentage, and the Earl takes her in as his "ward." Unfortunately for Sophie, the Earl marries Araminta, a "wicked stepmother" if ever there was one, who has two awful daughters too. When the Earl dies, his will includes a loophole: Araminta will receive a much larger allowance if she allows Sophie to stay until she turns 20.

We all know how this story goes. Sophie gets to stay, but as a full-fledged Cinderella, forced to become a servant to her stepmother and stepsisters. One night, though, she manages to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famous masquerade ball. There, with her identity hidden, she meets Benedict Bridgerton, and they're instantly smitten with each other. Of course, things aren't as simple as that.

Two Years Later

It's been two years since the ball, and Benedict has sworn he will only marry when he finds his mystery woman from the ball again. Meanwhile, Sophie has been kicked out by her stepmother, who figured out that she attended the ball and gained a Bridgerton's attention. Sophie is forced to work as a maid, and she meets Benedict again when he rescues her from the unwanted advances of her employer's son. He helps get her a different job — working for his mother — and feels a connection with her instantly, but he doesn't realize that she's the woman from the ball.

As the story progresses, Benedict and Sophie find themselves drawn together more and more, as the rest of the Bridgertons grow very fond of Sophie as well. Benedict is absolutely attracted to her, but he can't let go of his vow to only marry the masked woman from the ball. Between wanting to keep that vow and the fact that she's a servant at the time (and thus not a suitable match), Benedict decides to ask Sophie to be his mistress instead. It goes about as well as you'd expect. Being illegitimate herself, Sophie absolutely has no interest in having children who will bear the same stigma, even though her feelings for Benedict are growing even stronger.

How Does An Offer from a Gentleman End?

Disinterested in any of the "suitable" women suggested to him as a bride, Benedict finally admits to himself that, if he could, he'd probably marry Sophie. When he hints at his dilemma to his mother (without directly mentioning Sophie), Violet promises him that she would never be angry at him if he chose to marry someone of a different social class. Still thinking about this conversation, he runs into the rest of his family playing a hide-and-seek game with Sophie. When he sees her blindfolded, he finally realizes that she's the masked woman from the ball, and she confesses her identity and her backstory.

Benedict is angry and Sophie decides to resign and leave the household. As she leaves, though, Sophie's stepmother accosts her, accuses her of being a thief, and has her hauled off to jail. When the Bridgertons find out via a report by Lady Whistledown, they head off to rescue her from jail, where Araminta is there taunting her. Between the Bridgertons' arrival and a surprising moment of support from one of her stepsisters, Posy, Sophie is proven innocent — and Posy even reveals that the earl had left a dowry for Sophie that Araminta has kept for herself instead.

Violet calmly threatens Araminta with ruination unless she agrees not to stand in the way of Sophie and Benedict. She also invites Posy to stay with them as long as she'd like, in order to keep her from Araminta's wrath. Sophie returns home with Benedict, where he has a bath drawn for her and they get a head start on their upcoming wedding night . They get married, and, in the epilogue seven years later, we learn that Sophie is pregnant with their fourth child. And, in the very last moments, Lady Whistledown — still unidentified — thinks to herself that she's tired of being Whistledown and vows to be herself from then on.

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Bridgerton (books)

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Bridgerton is a series of books by Julia Quinn , chronicling the love stories of the eight Bridgerton siblings, named alphabetically from Anthony to Hyacinth .

Synopsis [ ]

Eight siblings, alphabetically named. They bicker, they joke, but they love each other fiercely.

Notes and Trivia [ ]

15 burning questions we still have after watching the season 3 finale of 'Bridgerton'

• Season three of "Bridgerton" wrapped up Colin and Penelope's story, but left fans with even more questions.
• Despite resolving major conflicts, several loose threads remain left to be addressed on season four.
• Business Insider rounded up the biggest burning questions we had after watching the season three finale.

Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for season three of "Bridgerton."

Season three of " Bridgerton " is over, but there's plenty of fresh gossip and drama to come when the show returns for season four .

The latest season of Netflix's hit drama series concluded on June 13, wrapping up Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington's ( Nicola Coughlan ) friends-to-lovers romance and appearing to set up Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) as the next leading man.

Even though part two resolved the biggest conflicts of the season, several loose threads remain to be addressed.

Here are all the burning questions we had after watching the season three finale of "Bridgerton."

Will we see Kanthony in India in season four?

After hearing how much Kate (Simone Ashley) misses India, Anthony ( Jonathan Bailey ) decides that he'd like to visit her home country and wants their future child to grow up knowing their identity as a Sharma. Anthony then suggests that they head to India immediately so that they can arrive in time for the birth of their first baby.

Kanthony doesn't stick around for Francesca Bridgerton ( Hannah Dodd ) and John Sterling 's (Victor Alli) wedding, nor do they get a proper send-off before leaving for India.

Details about season four of "Bridgerton" are sparse, so it's unclear if Bailey and Ashley will return in any capacity next time. However, at a special screening of part two in London, Ashley told reporter Josh Rom that she'll be back for season four.

"Absolutely," she said. "Kate Sharma is here to stay."

Who's going to be head of the Bridgerton house now that Anthony and Kate are moving to India?

It's unlikely that the viscount and viscountess will be able to run the Bridgerton household from India, which means another sibling will have to step up and take on the responsibilities.

Benedict is the most obvious choice, considering that he took care of the estate while Anthony was on his honeymoon and apparently did a good job.

Who did Edwina Sharma marry?

Charithra Chandran doesn't return as Edwina on season three, but the show hints at her whereabouts.

During episode two, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) tells Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), "I hear my choice last year, Miss Edwina, has made a splendid match abroad."

Then during episode seven, Anthony asks Kate about the last letter she received from her younger sister.

"She writes that her new husband is not only a reader but has cultivated in her a love for the outdoors," Kate says. "She's even been riding with him."

Now that Lady Whistledown has been unmasked, what is Queen Charlotte going to be up to during season four?

Most of her storyline so far has revolved around her games with Lady Whistledown and trying to figure out who the writer is. Now that Penelope has come forward and spilled her secret to the town, Queen Charlotte will have to find some other source of entertainment.

Season three of "Bridgerton" is set in 1815 and in real life , Queen Charlotte died in 1818. When it comes to the Netflix version of Queen Charlotte, creative liberties are taken. But fans have been theorizing that perhaps the show may kill off the queen.

Is Cressida Cowper gone for good?

Cressida ( Jessica Madsen ), the town's resident mean girl, is shown to be a complex antagonist that fans could feel sympathy for.

Initially, Cressida comes forward claiming to be Lady Whistledown because she's desperate to avoid being forced into marriage with an old, repugnant man named Lord Greer. However, he rescinds the offer because of her tarnished reputation. As punishment, Cressida's cruel father Lord Cowper says he's going to send her to live in Wales with her Aunt Joanna.

Eventually, Cressida learns that Penelope is Lady Whistledown and attempts to blackmail her so she can use the money to set up a better life for herself abroad. Cressida's plan doesn't work, and instead, she's last seen reluctantly being sent away in a carriage.

It would be strange for "Bridgerton" to write the character off after she played such a pivotal role in this season's events. Perhaps there's hope for Cressida to return to town once the drama and controversy has died down. Showrunner Jess Brownell has said that it's her intention to bring the character back.

Are we going to see Francesca and John's life in Scotland during season four?

When Francesca decides to move to Scotland with John after their wedding, she reassures Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) that she'll return to town; she just needs space to learn more about who she is.

In Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" book series, Francesca's love story is the focal point of the sixth installment, "When He Was Wicked." Fans who read the book (or looked up the spoilers) already know that John dies two years into their marriage and his cousin Michael becomes the new Earl of Kilmartin. Years later, Francesca and Michael reconnect and get married.

The show has already made a huge change in Franceca's story by introducing a gender-flipped version of John's cousin, named Michaela (played by Masali Baduza).

Season four is expected to focus on Benedict (though there hasn't been an official lead announcement yet), so it remains to be seen how heavily the episodes will show the development between Francesca, John, and Michaela in Scotland.

While we're at it, how is the show going to deal with Michaela's story?

In "When He Was Wicked," Michael is extremely reluctant to take over his cousin's title as the Earl of Kilmartin. But now that Michael is Michaela, there's another concern to contend with: She can't assume his title at all because she is a woman.

In the book, Francesca is pregnant with her and John's first child when he dies, but the title passes to Michael after she miscarries. Four years later, she only pursues a second marriage so that she can have children.

Of course, nothing is set in stone: "Bridgerton" could decide not to kill John after all. But the finale fairly plainly set up a romance between Francesca and Michaela, so it's safe to assume we'll see more of them in the future. What remains is to see how the show handles the details of their story.

How quickly is Benedict going to renounce his newfound drive for sexual exploration?

"Bridgerton" finally established Benedict's long-hinted-at queerness by setting him up in an apparently very long threesome with Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and her other friend with benefits, Paul. The encounter — specifically, seeing Benedict with another person — made Lady Tilley realize her true feelings for him. Unfortunately for her, it makes Benedict realize that he's not ready to commit to a serious relationship.

That's all well and good, but a bit inconvenient when it's probably about to be Benedict's turn to get married. His story — and that of his wife, Sophie — would have occurred in season three if the show had followed the books. But showrunner Jess Brownell told Entertainment Weekly that the show's team didn't feel like it was Benedict's time yet.

"He's such a fun character and such a fan favorite that we are really excited to play with him for a little bit more and let him have more fun before he settles down," Brownell said.

Benedict definitely did have fun in season three. But we're curious to see how his approach to romance has changed by the time season four rolls around.

What's the name of Colin and Penelope's son?

The TV series strayed from Quinn's novels in several ways throughout season three. One of these changes occurs in the epilogue scene, which shows Penelope and Colin's baby boy, who becomes the heir and new Lord Featherington since her sisters gave birth to daughters.

None of the characters mention the Polin baby by name, but in the book series, Colin and Penelope have four kids: Agatha, Thomas, Jane, and George.

Why didn't the epilogue show Kanthony's baby?

The epilogue takes place at least nine months later, considering that Penelope has already given birth to her and Colin's first child. But Kate was already pregnant before Penelope, meaning that she and Anthony had their baby by the time the show skips ahead several months.

Throughout season three, part one, Kanthony's primary focus was enjoying marital bliss and trying to get pregnant. Wouldn't it have made sense to complete their season three arc by including a scene showing the couple and their baby in India?

Is Julie Andrews' role on "Bridgerton" officially over?

Since the start of "Bridgerton," Andrews has voiced Lady Whistledown. Her immediately recognizable, warm voice is so synonymous with the show that it's difficult to hear anyone else saying "dearest gentle reader" — even Whistledown herself, Penelope.

The season three finale ends with Penelope writing her final sentence as Lady Whistledown and signing her name as "Penelope Bridgerton."

Does that mean Andrews' work on the show is finished?

How prominent will Penelope's column be on the show now that her main arc has been completed?

In the epilogue, Penelope retires her literary persona but continues her work as a columnist under her own name.

"And hopefully, dear reader, you will stay on to enjoy them with me as we begin the next part of our journey," she writes, as Coughlan takes over the narration from Andrews.

Lady Whistledown has always been a key component of the series, even before Penelope's storyline took the spotlight on season three. But with another character leading season four, Polin will likely have less screen time, as is the pattern for all the main couples once they've completed their seasons.

Coughlan and Newton already confirmed that they'll return next season. Fans will probably have to wait a while before getting any solid details about what the future holds for Polin, but Newton told Teen Vogue that he's sticking around because "there's still stuff to get sorted in season four."

Will there be a multi-year gap between seasons?

Although each season of "Bridgerton" comes out every two years, only a year passes within the show. It may not be easy to keep that momentum forever.

For starters, the younger Bridgerton actors, Will Tilston and Florence Hunt, will be growing much older than the characters they play, which may make them look out of place in later years.

In addition, some of the love stories from the "Bridgerton" books just work better with multi-year gaps between them. In "An Offer From a Gentleman," there is a two-year gap between the time Benedict meets his lover, Sophie, and when they find each other again to fall in love.

A key element in both "To Sir Phillip, With Love" and "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" is that Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) and Penelope are in their late 20s and definite spinsters, which makes their desperation for marriage more believable.

If "Bridgerton" is going to adapt every Bridgerton book, the writers may have to start changing their timeline.

What is Will and Alice Mondrich's next goal after losing the club?

A prominent storyline in season three, part one, is Will ( Martins Imhangbe ) and Alice (Emma Naomi) Mondrich's promotion to nobility. But the promotion means Will must give up the Gentleman's club he built up in the previous season.

Will resists this for all of season three, part one. But in episode five, Alice tells Will that his family matters more than the club, so he gives it up. Later in the episode, the pair host a ball to integrate into society properly.

However, after this, the pair are forced to the sidelines again and not given much to do for the rest of the season.

Does this mean Will and Alice's arc is officially over, or will the "Bridgerton" writers come up with a new storyline for the couple?

It's worth noting that these characters were created specifically for the show, so the book series won't give any clues as to where they may end up. Fans will have to wait for season four.

Will we finally get a full love story for Violet Bridgerton in season four?

In " Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, " Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) says she is ready to find a new lover after conversing with Lady Danbury ( Adjoa Andoh ). Her first husband, Edmund, died before the series began.

In season three, Violet meets Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), Lady Danbury's widowed younger brother. They bond over losing a partner. Marcus tries to court Violet, but obstacles keep getting in their way.

Lady Danbury and Marcus must first settle a family dispute. Violet is too busy solving her children's love lives. The pair don't even get a chance to dance together before the season ends.

Although we will likely have another Bridgerton on the marriage mart in season four, there might be more space for Violet to sort out her own love life, too.

All episodes of "Bridgerton" season three are streaming on Netflix.

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How to read the Bridgerton books in order – as season 3 is released

These are the historical romance novels that inspired the hit drama, article bookmarked.

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Causing a stir when it dropped over Christmas 2020, Netflix ’s steamy period romance drama Bridgerton has gone on to be one of the streaming service ’s most-watched shows –and now, the trailer for the much-anticipated season three has dropped.

For the uninitiated, the lavish Regency-set series is best described as a hybrid between Gossip Girl and Pride and Prejudice . While the first two series followed the stories of Daphne and Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quests for love and a suitable marriage,the third series was a prequel that explored the queen consort Charlotte’s rise topower in the royal family and role in wider society as a Black woman from overseas.

Now, the show has returned to the original Bridgerton timeline for season three - which is out now on Netflix. Focusing on fan-favourite Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan) and her longtime crush Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), the trailer sees the two dealing with the fallout of season two’s drama. Returning to London to find a husband, Penelope enters the ballroom world while trying to repair the rift with her former best friend Eloise. When Colin returns from his travels, he offers her mentorship on how to court in order to win back her affection. But will they become more than just friends?

The contemporary period production includes drama, sex and romance, with colour-blind casting and the exploration of topics such as gender equality and sexual orientation. Even the music follows suit in its own cross-genre way, the soundtrack is decidedly modern –the classical versions of pop artists span Alicia Keys, Beyonce, SZA and Whitney Houston classics. This juxtaposed with the buttoned-up social interactions of Regency London in the latest series makes the show that little bit more charming. 

And we’ve got romance novelist Julia Quinn to thank for penning the very books that inspired the show. The latest series is adapted for screen from Julia Quinn’s fourth novel in the series: Romancing Mister Bridgerton.

If you’re a Bridgerton super-fan you might want to work your way through the novels too – including the book that follows Penelope and Colin.

‘Queen Charlotte; by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes, published by Piatkus

A prequel from the world of Bridgerton, Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes’ new book follows a young, but headstrong, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz adjusting to her role as the Queen consort. Set in 1761, it recounts the meeting of Charlotte and King George III, marrying and learning how to be a queen. But as George’s mental health deteriorates and he pushes Charlotte away, she must navigate the intricacies of love, the politics of court and how to rule over her subjects.

‘The Duke and I’ by Julia Quinn, published by Piaktus

The very book that inspired the second series of the show, The Duke and I tells the love story of the oldest daughter of the Bridgerton family, Daphne, and the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett. The pair befriend one another and enter a fake courtship in order for her to strike the interest of more suitors and for him to escape the eagle eyes of ambitious society mothers. Real feelings develop and Daphne and Simon quickly realise they want their ruse to become a reality. 

‘The Viscount Who Loved Me’ by Julia Quinn, published by Little, Brown Book Group

The second instalment in Quinn’s series – and the source material behind season two – focuses on Anthony Bridgerton, who has been head of the family ever since his father died – taking care of all responsibilities, except for finding himself a wife, opting instead to be London’s most eligible bachelor. He decides it’s time to settle down and find a suitable match, but under one condition that he can’t love her. After finding the perfect candidate he becomes more interested in her sister, Kate, who provides a very welcome distraction. It’s a story of love, as well as one of the impacts of grief, loss and trauma. 

‘An Offer From A Gentleman’ by Julia Quinn, published by Little, Brown Book Group

The second-eldest Bridgerton, Benedict falls in love with Sophie Beckett at his family’s costume ball, but their dreamy dalliance is cut short when Sophie leaves at midnight. Following a chance encounter two years later, their romance picks up once more. In this classic Cinderella tale with a twist, Quinn delves into issues of social class. 

'Romancing Mister Bridgerton’ by Julia Quinn, published by HarperCollins

Set in 1824, 11 years after the first novel, 28-year-old wallflower Penelope Featherington is now considered a spinster. But when Colin, the third Bridgerton child, returns from abroad, a once platonic relationship has the potential to be turned into something more. The best bit of all? Quinn finally reveals the identity of the mysterious Lady Whistledown. We can’t wait for the Netflix adaptation.

‘To Sir Phillip, With Love’ by Julia Quinn, published by Piaktus Books

Following multiple rejections, Eloise Bridgerton is considered a spinster, but unlike her siblings, this does not bother her much. After spending a year exchanging letters with Sir Philip, a widower and distant relative, he asks her for her hand in marriage. The only issue is they’ve never met in person. 

‘When He Was Wicked’ by Julia Quinn, published by HarperCollins

A more intense and deeper novel than the others in the series, When He Was Wicked is the story of Michael Stirling who finally meets the woman who he wants to marry, Francesca Bridgerton, the only issue is she married his cousin. Years later, Francesca is widowed and Michael has another chance.

‘It’s in His Kiss’ by Julia Quinn, published by Piaktus Books

Centred around the most outspoken and intelligent of the Bridgerton daughters, Hyacinth, It’s in His Kiss tells the story of her relationship with Gareth St. Clair. The pair often find themselves at odds until a mysterious old family diary brings them together. Expect a love story with plenty of sarcasm and quick-witted lines.  

‘On the Way to the Wedding’ by Julia Quinn, published by Piaktus Books

Winning the 2007 RITA Award for best long historical romance, On the Way to the Wedding is the final entry in Quinn’s Bridgerton series. Gregory Bridgerton, a true romantic, finds himself in a love triangle when he recruits Lucy to help him win her best friend Hermione. But in the process, Lucy and Gregory fall in love, but it’s a little too late because Lucy is at the alter. 

If this doesn’t satiate your lust for literature, delve into our edit of the best new book releases

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The ‘bridgerton’ books in order: where to buy all 8 novels in the series.

In honor of season three's long-awaited release, here's how to read Julia Quinn's 'Bridgerton' book series in order.

By Erin Lassner

Erin Lassner

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After season three’s two-part release on May 16 and June 13, Bridgerton is still holding strong as Netflix’s number one show on the streaming service. And with its growing list of merch , gifts and brand collaborations, it’s safe to say the franchise is a full-blown cultural phenomenon.

The Shondaland smash hit, which first premiered on Netflix in December 2020, is based on the eight-part historical romance book series by Julia Quinn, published between the years of 2000 and 2006.

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Whether you’re scrambling to get through all eight books before starting the series, or plan to leisurely bury yourself in them before the release of season four , here’s how to read all the Bridgerton books in order. Plus, scroll down for the full list of associated novels set in the Bridgerton universe.

At a Glance: ‘Bridgerton’ Books In Order

• The Duke and I (2000)
• The Viscount Who Loved Me (2000)
• An Offer from a Gentleman (2001)
• Romancing Mister Bridgerton (2002)
• To Sir Phillip, With Love (2003)
• When He Was Wicked (2004)
• It’s in His Kiss (2005)
• On the Way to the Wedding (2006)

Where to Buy the ‘Bridgerton’ Book Series

Check out the best prices for each of the eight Bridgerton books online.

The Duke and I (Bridgerton Book 1) by Julia Quinn

The viscount who loved me: anthony’s story (bridgerton book 2) by julia quinn, an offer from a gentleman: benedict’s story (bridgerton book 3) by julia quinn, romancing mister bridgerton: penelope & colin’s story (bridgerton book 4) by julia quinn, to sir phillip, with love: eloise’s story (bridgerton book 5) by julia quinn, when he was wicked: francesca’s story (bridgerton book 6) by julia quinn, it’s in his kiss: hyancinth’s story (bridgerton book 7) by julia quinn, on the way to the wedding: gregory’s story (bridgerton book 8) by julia quinn, ‘bridgerton’ associated books.

In addition to the eight core novels in the series, there are a number of associated books set in the Bridgerton world.

Published in 2013, The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After offers updates on all the main characters, referred to as the “2nd Epilogues,” and includes a bonus novella titled Violet in Bloom .

The Rokesbys series, otherwise known as the Bridgerton Prequels , is a collection of four novels set before the Bridgerton series, focusing on the Rokesby family and featuring younger versions of many of the Bridgerton characters. The novels include Because of Miss Bridgerton (2016), The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (2017), The Other Miss Bridgerton (2018) and First Comes Scandal (2020).

The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown and Lady Whistledown Strikes Back are two anthologies featuring the Bridgerton character Lady Whistledown. The former was originally published in 2003 and the latter in 2004, and co-written by Julia Quinn, Mia Ryan, Karen Hawkins and Suzanne Enoch.

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Bridgerton Season 3: What We Know So Far

The Netflix series will shake up the chronology of the books.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Bridgerton, based on a series of eight novels (and multiple “epilogues”) written by Julia Quinn and adapted for Netflix by Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland productions, follows the Bridgerton family, comprised of widowed matriarch Violet (Ruth Gemmell) and her eight children, as they seek marriage matches in Regency England’s high society. The first season, which premiered Dec. 25, 2020, broke Netflix viewing records as it followed eldest daughter Daphne’s (Phoebe Dynevor) search for a husband, and her unexpected connection with the dashing Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). Season 2 then tackled the second book in the series, honing in on eldest brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey)’s enemies-to-lovers romance with the foolhardy Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

“ Bridgerton swept us off our feet,” Netflix VP of Global TV Bela Bajaria said in a statement when seasons 3 and 4 were first announced. “The creative team, led by Shonda, knew the material and delivered a beautiful, emotional, romantic drama for our members. They have some exciting plans for the future, and we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come.”

After a finale that ended in marital bliss for Anthony and Kate but stinging deception for Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and her best friend, Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), here’s what we know about what could come next.

Who will the season focus on?

Why will colin and penelope be the center of season 3, what else will season 3 be about, who is in the cast, is regé-jean page coming back as simon, can i see more photos of season 3, how many episodes will comprise season 3, when will bridgerton season 3 come out.

Season 3 will finally land in 2024. Netflix announced in December 2023 that the eight-episode third chapter will drop in two parts, with the first four episodes premiering on May 16, 2024, and the next four on June 13. You can watch the official trailer below.

Bridgerton season 3 will focus on Penelope, aka Lady Whistledown (Nicola Coughlan), and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) romance, Coughlan first confirmed during the FYSEE panel on May 2022, per Variety .

In an official synopsis released later, Netflix revealed that:

“Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.”

This direction marks a departure from the order of Quinn's books; in the written series, the next Bridgerton to get the lead treatment is Benedict (Luke Thompson), who takes center stage in An Offer From a Gentleman . The story pulls heavily from Cinderella lore: Benedict falls for one Sophie Beckett, an earl’s daughter forced into servitude by her hateful stepmother. The Colin-focused book, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton , is fourth in the line-up.

Jess Brownell, who will succeed Chris Van Dusen as showrunner for season 3, explained the change in chronology to Variety in 2022. “I really feel like it’s Colin and Penelope’s time. Because we’ve been watching both of these actors on our screens since season 1, we’ve already invested in them a little bit. We know who they are as people,” she said. “I feel like, especially in the last season, there are these moments of tension between them where it’s like, Colin walks up to the line of almost realizing that Penelope has feelings for him but doesn’t quite get there. Instead of treading water on that dynamic, we wanted to push it into their season. It really felt like the perfect moment to tee it up.”

Coughlan already knew about the season 3 plans since “two weeks into filming season 2,” she told E! News , “ so I had a lot of time to adjust to it.”

As for why it’s taken as long as it has for the two friends to share their feelings, Newton said in an official Netflix clip that he thinks “there’s a lot going on where they can’t really see what’s right in front of them.”

Apart from the romance at its focal point, season 3 will delve deeper into its juicy subplots as well. At the end of season 2, Eloise had finally learned her best friend’s identity as Lady Whistledown; Jessie promises the fallout is unlikely to dissipate any time soon. She told ELLE.com , “I think Eloise won’t tell anyone [Penelope’s secret]. I think Eloise will continue to be a good mate and not tell anyone, because what does Eloise gain, really? I do think they’ll make up, but I don’t think it’s going to happen quickly.”

At the New York premiere of Bridgerton season 3, Coughlin shared a little more about her character’s friendship with Eloise, calling it a “real journey.”

“Julia Quinn says that one of her favorite love stories in the show is Penelope and Eloise, and it’s mine too,” she told Deadline . “She has two great loves in her life. And certainly in my life, my female friends have been some of my biggest love stories. They’re the people that mean so much to me, and they are so much the reason you are who you are.”

Coughlin also explained that although Eloise may not be ready to forgive, Penelope wants to take that step.

“Penelope is ready to say sorry, but Eloise is not there,” she said. “So you really go through it with them.”

Jessie also chimed in at the premiere, explaining how the two friends are still “at odds” due to Penelope’s secret and the hurt that Eloise feels.

Coughlin also touched on the “steamy scenes” that take place between Penelope and Colin.

“I was intimidated at first, then super happy to read them, super thrilled when we filmed them, and even more thrilled when I watched them,” she said. “They were even better than I expected ’cause they’re beautiful. They’re funny, they’re smart, they’re sexy, they’re suspenseful…they’re everything, I’m super proud.”

Showrunner Jess Brownell told Entertainment Tonight , “If we’re asking about steamy scenes, it’s off the chart. Because these two have been friends for so long, there is that connection already, there’s a lot of depth, and it allowed us to really take things a little more quickly with the intimacy.”

“Worth the wait,” Harriet Cains (Philippa Featherington) added. “It’s the sexiest thing, yeah. There’s so much sex—I'm just gonna say it like that.”

“It’s so beautiful, it’s really romantic, it’s really funny, it’s very suspenseful,” Coughlin told Entertainment Tonight .

Newton also spoke about his character’s relationship with Penelope with Deadline . He compared them to Rachel and Ross from Friends , saying, “They’re perfect for each other but it never quite works out. There’s always some sort of obstacle, and that’s what we really explore this season. It’s not only Colin that doesn’t see what’s right in front of him, there’s an obstacle for both of [the characters] at all times. So it’s really complicated.”

“Colin and Penelope are underdogs in many ways,” Brownell said during a Bridgerton fan event on Feb. 14, 2024. She added, “We get to see these characters step into their powers this year.” She teased that the season will include “classic rom-com tropes” and “a lot of awkward banter.”

Shonda Rhimes, meanwhile, teased, “We do have some very interesting new characters.” That includes a new suitor for Penelope, Lord Debling (played by Sam Phillips), who creates some tension between her and Colin.

Things are also changing outside the leading pair. Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and his family, for example, are facing some new challenges. “Will and Alice are literally drawn out of the shadows and they inherit a new title,” Imhangbe said. We’re bound to see how these changes affect the family dynamic.

Lady Danbury goes on a personal journey of her own: Actress Adjoa Andoh teased, “With the arrival that happens, are they going to knock me off my game, are they going to put cracks into my carefully constructed facade?” She added, “You see Lady Danbury on the back foot slightly… slightly not in control of her emotions.”

The Featheringtons as a whole will also be tested. Every family has set roles, and “when people step out of those roles, it can throw people into chaos,” Brownell hinted. Penelope’s stepping out of her role, and stepping away from the family’s citrus color palette, will cause “absolute drama” with her mother and sisters, Brownell added.

“Season 3 is for all us wallflowers,” Andoh said. Rhimes echoed those feelings. “This season really leans into the idea of telling those untold stories. You get to see what’s going on emotionally with the adult ladies in the show. And it brings people into this world even more,” she said.

After Page famously departed Bridgerton following his season 1 run, citing his completed arc and one-season commitment to the series, many fans might be wondering if Bailey, Ashley, and other new favorites will return for the third season. Thankfully, Ashley confirmed to Deadline that both she and Bailey plan to participate. “We’re going to be back! Kate and Anthony are just getting started,” she told the outlet, adding, “I’d like to see Kate just let go a bit more and play more in season 3 and kind of swim in that circle of love together. I think they both deserve it.”

In an interview with BAFTA on March 2, 2024, Bailey admitted that he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. “I look forward to supporting the rest of the family and the stories that go forward because if there’s one thing I know about beloved worlds, it’s that you want to see them through, and people invest their love and their time, and it means so much to so many people,” Bailey said.

“So, yeah. Me and Tony will be together for a while,” Bailey added, referencing his character, Anthony Bridgerton.

But expect plenty of newcomers as well. Hannah Dodd ( Anatomy of a Scandal ) has been cast as Francesca Bridgerton for season 3, replacing actress Ruby Stokes, who exited to work on Netflix’s upcoming Lockwood & Co . series. Variety reported the news on May 12, following the character’s noticeable absence in the second season. “I love Francesca, but we lost her midway through season 2,” Chris Van Dusen previously told TVLine . “After exhausting all other options, she unfortunately had to come out due to reasons beyond our control.”

Netflix also announced multiple other new additions to the season 3 cast, including: Daniel Francis ( Stay Close ), who will play Marcus Anderson; Sam Phillips ( The Crown ), who will play Lord Debling; James Phoon ( Wreck ), who will play Harry Dankworth; and Hannah New ( Black Sails ), who will play Lady Tilley Arnold, “a firebrand widow,” per Deadline .

Sadly, no. Shortly after rumors bubbled up saying Page would return to reprise his role as the Duke of Hastings, the actor himself put speculation to rest with an Instagram post on June 21, 2022. In it, he posed with his former co-star Bailey and wrote in the caption : “The boys are back in town. ❤️ (No, I’m not going back to the show btw - the papers made that one up.) But we had the best, and most stylish, catch up I’ve had in a while over some truly excellent Italian coffee and sunshine ☕️.”

Page later added that he'd be okay with Netflix recasting his former role: “They’re free to do as they like,” he said.

The cast first treated fans to a behind-the-scenes sneak peek on July 20, 2022, confirming that production was officially underway in London. “ Bridgerton season 3 filming has officially begun,” Coughlan says in the quick montage , as Newton joins her in a carriage on set.

Soon after, Ashley and Bailey shared a set photo of their hands interlocked. Both of them wrote “reunited” over their posts, with Bailey hashtagging the photo #kanthony.

Finally, during Netflix’s annual TUDUM event in 2023, the cast of season 3 shared that the first episode, written by Brownell and directed by Tricia Brock, would be titled “Out of the Shadows.” Coughlan then read the first few lines of what appears to be season 3’s opening monologue: “Dearest Gentle Reader, we’ve been apart for far too long. At last, London’s smart set has made its return, and so, too, has This Author. As the season begins, the question on everyone’s minds is, of course: Which newly minted debutante will shine the brightest? The crop this year appears to be rather dazzling indeed. Unfortunately, not every young lady can attract the light.”

Coughlan and Newton later shared more BTS shots on Instagram, too.

During the Tudum event in Brazil, Netflix shared the first photos of Penelope and Colin in Bridgerton season 3. Coughlan explained that the images show Penelope's “new look” and that this will be “quite the scandalous season.” Check out the photos below.

In December, Entertainment Weekly shared a photo showing Penelope and Eloise are at least talking again in the new season, even if their friendship isn't completely repaired.

“I'm rooting for them,” showrunner Jess Brownell said of the development. “ Bridgerton is about love in its many forms, and that includes friendship. The breakup between two friends can be just as earth shattering as a romantic relationship. For Penn, it is extremely difficult. But it's also a chance for the two of them to grow and learn about themselves without that safety net of always having their best friend around.”

During a Bridgerton fan event on February 14 (Valentine’s Day), Netflix shared even mrore new photos from the upcoming season.

There will be eight episodes in season 3. Netflix shared the titles below:

• Out of the Shadows
• How Bright the Moon
• Forces of Nature
• Old Friends

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

• Joining of Hands
• Into the Light

Read the Books that Inspired ‘Bridgerton’

The Duke and I

The Viscount Who Loved Me

An Offer from a Gentleman

To Sir Phillip, With Love

When He Was Wicked

It's in His Kiss

On the Way to the Wedding

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10 Book Plotlines Bridgerton Fans Want to See in Season 3

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Bridgerton is known to deviate from its source material often and for good measure, but Season 3 will be the first to switch up the order of love stories from the books. Bridgerton Season 3 will delve into the romance between Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, originally the fourth installment, titled Romancing Mister Bridgerton in Julia Quinn's book series.

Fans of the books already have an idea of what the dynamic will be between Colin and Penelope, or Polin as they are fondly known, but Bridgerton will most likely add its own spin to their story. Still, there are some stellar moments from Romancing Mister Bridgerton that book readers hope will make it to the show, especially now that there is an official release date.

Updated on February 16th, 2024 by Fawzia Khan: Shondaland and Netflix released scintillating footage from Bridgerton Season 3 this Valentine's Day, showcasing Polin deep in their feelings. With new episodes of Bridgerton to be released on May 16th, 2024, fans are excited to see which parts of Romancing Mister Bridgerton will make it to the show. This list has been updated with new formatting, trivia, and new images for a better reading experience.

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10 Penelope Finally Coming Into Her Own Will be Empowering

For years, Penelope was sidelined and mocked for her outfits and appearance. Still, in Romancing Mister Bridgerton, she finally shed her inhibitions and started showing up as her true, authentic self. This was mainly because Penelope had accepted her role in society as a spinster, which gave her the freedom to show her wit and intelligence to the world instead of trying to impress men.

The book depicted her newfound confidence very well, which is something that fans want to witness in Bridgerton Season 3 . She even started picking her own wardrobe instead of following her mother's terrible fashion tastes in the novel, which would translate beautifully on screen. There's already a brief showcase of what it'd look like in Season 1 when she goes to a ball without her mother present, so fans are quite excited to see her in Bridgerton colors.

9 The Carriage Scene Spiced Up Polin's Story

"The Carriage Scene," as it is popularly referred to by readers, was pivotal in Colin and Penelope's relationship. In the novel, Colin spotted Penelope heading into a rough part of town by herself, and he followed her to an empty church. There, he found out that she was Lady Whistledown, which led to some heightened emotions between the two.

This led to Penelope and Colin getting intimate and Colin finally acknowledging his changed feelings for his best friend. Bridgerton is one of Netflix's steamiest shows , and this scene would be a worthy addition to the next season. Plus, given how much longing is quietly present between them, the scene would be even better as it is in the books because viewers know versions of them closer than where they are in the books.

8 Colin Telling Lady Featherington Off Would Be Deeply Satisfying

10 Most Romantic Moments in Bridgerton, Ranked

Bridgerton is chockful of romantic scenes, but a few moments in particular stand head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Right after Colin and Penelope's intimacy in the carriage, Colin immediately proposed to her as that's what was proper in Regency England. Inside her home, Lady Featherington was convinced that Colin had come to propose to Penelope's sister Felicity. While Felicity doesn't exist in the show, this interaction between Colin and Penelope's mother was a crucial one where Colin stood up for Penelope for once.

Lady Featherington can be very condescending to Penelope, and fans would love to see her put in her place and finally recognize how talented and special her daughter is. This part of the book also fully transitioned Polin from friends to lovers . While Felicity doesn't exist, the scene could maybe happen with Prudence, or better yet, any version where Colin stands up for Penelope would be great to see. Penelope had been torn down so often by her mother, that seeing her be defended, especially by her future husband, would be very satisfying.

7 Colin's Writing Talent Matches Perfectly WIth Penelope's Skills

Colin's character development is one of the most significant aspects of Bridgerton , especially since the third Bridgerton brother always felt a bit purposeless in the grand scheme of things. His elder brothers and sister had their duties, whereas he felt directionless. This is where Penelope stepped in.

She found Colin's travel journals in Romancing Mister Bridgerton , which she read and then encouraged Colin to publish. Colin needs to be fleshed out a lot as a solo character, especially if he is to lead the show. Allowing viewers to see that there's more on his mind will add legitimacy to his character, especially since his treatment of Penelope thus far has upset many fans.

6 The Family Tea With Penelope Is Endearing

There are plenty of toxic friendships on television , but Eloise and Penelope's bond was one of the purest on Bridgerton . In the show, Eloise has already learned that Penelope is Lady Whistledown, which leads to a rift forming between them. However, it would be heartwarming to see the Bridgerton family tea that Penelope was a part of for years, in the novels.

She was extremely close to Violet and her children, taking tea with the family regularly. It proved how close Eloise and Penelope really were to each other, and her bonding with other Bridgerton girls was endearing, too. While viewers have seen glimpses of Penelope's inclusion in the series, the specific family tea could cement the idea that she's always been like family to them.

5 Cressida's Downfall Is a Long Time Coming

10 Times Bridgerton Broke Our Hearts

Between King George's illness in Queen Charlotte and Edmund's death in Bridgerton, the two TV shows have broken fans' hearts many times.

In the books, Cressida was married and widowed, but her character was vain and mean regardless. Cressida went head-to-head with Penelope in the fourth Bridgerton novel, being generally malicious to her and then blackmailing her after learning that Penelope was Lady Whistledown. She was a main antagonist in the book.

This rivalry was hinted at very subtly in Bridgerton Season 2 when Cressida danced with Colin as Penelope looked on jealously. Watching Penelope stand up to Cressida would be enjoyable, and since Cressida is a formidable enemy, she could finally take on the role of the antagonist fully in the third season. This could also lead to a version of Colin standing up for Penelope if the scene with her siblings isn't included.

4 Eloise And Colin's Sibling Dynamics Are Seriously Sweet

For two seasons, Bridgerton has shown the bond between Eloise and her brother Benedict extensively, but she also had a great relationship with Colin. In the book, Colin was convinced that Eloise was Lady Whistledown, and there was plenty of banter between them. In the show, their dynamic could be tested once she learns about his feelings for Penelope.

It makes sense that Colin and Eloise were close in the books because they were also closer in age to each other. While her bond with Benedict makes sense for the series' versions of the characters, elaborating on the closeness with Colin could also honor her desires to live as freely as he does. The Bridgerton family relationships are heartwarming, and fans would surely adore a few moments between Eloise and Colin, too. Penelope would also need her best friend to support her union with Colin if she's to get by in Season 3.

3 Lady Danbury And Penelope's Friendship Is Special

A friendship that nobody saw coming but made perfect sense was the one between Lady Danbury and Penelope in Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Lady Danbury was the only one who actually recognized Penelope's sharp mind and engaging personality, thus being drawn to her automatically.

Lady Danbury's advice even gave Penelope the gumption to be fearless and reach for her dreams. Adjoa Andoh's Lady Danbury is as perceptive as her novel counterpart, and she often provides a lot of support to the female characters of Bridgerton . This friendship would fit right in Season 3, giving both characters an opportunity to share their similarities.

2 The Bridgerton Family Uniting To Protect Penelope Is Highly Anticipated

15 Incredibly Romantic Bridgerton Quotes

Bridgerton is all about love. With heroes and heroines like Anthony, Simon, Kate, and Daphne, the show is full of romantic quotes.

After the romance, family forms the heart of Bridgerton . The Bridgertons always put up a united front, even when members of their family mess up. This exact sentiment was present in the book when Colin united Anthony, Kate, Violet, Daphne, Simon, Eloise, and even Hyacinth to support Penelope when he rescued her from Cressida's blackmail. This meant that Colin revealed Penelope's secret identity to the family, and they were completely on board.

Bridgerton family moments are just precious, and even though Daphne and Simon will not be present in Season 3, there are more than enough Bridgertons to participate in this scene and make it memorable. It'd continue to showcase how she's always been a part of them while simultaneously reiterating why they're the most revered family of the ton.

1 Lady Whistledown's Signature Snark Must Be Present

Whether Lady Whistledown's identity is revealed in Bridgerton Season 3 or not, the show could most definitely include more of her sardonic prose, as it adds so much character to the period drama. Lady Whistledown was especially funny in Romancing Mister Bridgerton, as she went to war with Cressida through her newsletter. While viewers have seen bouts of her cruelty throughout Season 2, this would be the perfect time to see some of her witty humor.

Fans are hoping to see and hear more of Penelope's choicest jibes and phrases, which might be the case as she had aggressively returned to the quill when she had heard Colin insult her in the Season 2 finale. The range and nuance in the anonymous gossip columnist is precisely why she was special in the book series, and allowing more of that to come to the surface during her season would flesh out Penelope as a character too.

Bridgerton Season 3 is set to air on May 16, 2024, on Netflix. Both previous Bridgerton seasons, along with the series spinoff, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, are available to stream on Netflix now.

In Regency-era London, the Bridgerton family navigates the complex world of high society, filled with romance, scandal, and intrigue. The series follows the eldest Bridgerton daughter, Daphne, as she makes her debut into the competitive marriage market, catching the eye of the dashing Duke of Hastings.

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I Genuinely Can't Watch "Bridgerton" Season 3 The Same Way Again After Reading About These Easter Eggs And Details

The paper birthday hat making an appearance at Lady Danbury's house made me emotional.

BuzzFeed Staff

🐝 There are obviously MASSIVE spoilers ahead for Bridgerton   Season 3! 🐝

It's the most wonderful time of the year, aka Bridgerton season. After a two-year wait between seasons, the series returned with Season 3, which focused on Colin Bridgerton ( Luke Newton ) finally realizing his feelings for Penelope Featherington ( Nicola Coughlan ).

It was a jam-packed season filled with steamy scenes , character growth for several Bridgerton family members, and so much more. And, if you're like me, you've probably already watched it all (more than once).

So, if you're as obsessed with Season 3 as I was, here are just 21 Easter eggs and details from this season of Bridgerton that are just so good:

1. First, like in previous Bridgerton seasons, the opening credits change to reflect this season. In particular, you'll see Colin's name front and center, the Lady Whistledown logo on the tree, and a carriage.

2. The opening also reflects how Francesca's love story begins in this season. Given Fran's love of the piano, you can spot piano keys in the opening credits.

3. Both Kate and Penelope wear shades of blue throughout Season 3, with blue often being the color scheme associated with the Bridgerton family. This is a subtle nod to both of them joining the family and becoming Bridgertons.

4. In the now-famous carriage scene , Colin fixes Penelope's dress using only certain fingers after touching her. It was actually improvised by Luke during filming.

In response to a viral tweet about the small gesture, director Andrew Ahn  tweeted , "I wish I could take credit for this incredible moment of… physical authenticity, but I did not give this piece of direction. It was all Luke Newton!"

5. In the carriage scene, when Colin asks if the driver cannot keep on driving, it's the reverse of what happens in Romancing Mister Bridgerton . In the book, Penelope's the one to utter the line when she asks Colin, "Can't we just ask the driver to keep going?"

6. Throughout this season, you can spot Eloise wearing a muff during her walks with Cressida. The reason is that Claudia Jessie actually broke her wrist while on set. She said they coined the fashion accessory "summer muff" in order to hide her wrist, which was in a cast.

In an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , Claudia explained how she went to do a high-kick while wearing the massive skirts she wears in the show. She then toppled backward and broke her wrist.

7. In Episode 1, when Francesca plays the piano, she's playing Mozart's "Little Funeral March" in C minor. If you're a fan of the books, this is a heartbreaking nod to the events that transpire in Francesca's book When He Was Wicked .

8. The introduction of John's cousin Michaela Stirling is a gender-swap of Michael Stirling from Julia Quinn's novels. The character plays an important role in Francesca's book.

Similar to the show, Michael is John's cousin, who grows close to Francesca.

9. Violet tells Francesca that when she first met her father, she could barely say her own name. Then, when Fran meets Michaela for the first time, the same thing happens.

Showrunner Jess Brownell talked with Teen Vogue about the importance of gender-swapping Michael and preparing to tell a queer love story on Bridgerton.  She said, "I didn't want to just insert a queer character for queer character's sake. I want to tell a story that accurately reflects a queer experience, and the first time I read Francesca's book, I really identified with it as a queer woman."

10. When John Stirling comes to call on one of Violet's daughters, you'll notice Eloise subtly slide behind Gregory and hide. Victor Alli , who plays John, revealed Eloise's hiding wasn't in the script but something Claudia Jessie improvised.

Hannah Dodd, who plays Francesca, added in an interview with Netflix, "Love it. Every time I see the scene."

11. In Episode 3, when Benedict and Lady Tilley Arnold dance at the ball, if you watch closely, you can see that Tilley takes the lead and begins leading Benedict in the dance like the other male suitors in the scene.

12. When Penelope asks Colin if she's a mess right after they have sex for the first time during the mirror scene , it's an exchange taken directly from Romancing Mister Bridgerton .

Nicola previously said it's her favorite line from the book. In a Cameo  posted to TikTok , Nicola added, "I think that's so beautiful because I think the way he loves her makes her love herself."

13. When Penelope is looking through her closet right before she decides to transform her wardrobe, Nicola revealed you can actually see the dress Penelope wore to her very first ball in Bridgerton .

In an interview with Cat Quinn , Nicola said she asked the Bridgerton  props department to put that particular dress "at the top" of the pile as a little nod for the fans.

14. When Colin returns home, he notably gives Violet a pocket watch, which could be a sweet nod to his father, Edmund. In The Viscount Who Loved Me , Julia Quinn writes, "When Anthony cradled the Bridgerton pocket watch to his chest (given to him on his eighth birthday by his father, who had received it on his eighth birthday from his father)."

15. In Season 1, Penelope asks Marina how she got pregnant, and Marina replies with, "Cake." Then, in Season 3, Colin has another "a-ha" moment about his feelings for Penelope when he watches her eat cake.

16. In the finale, Benedict and Eloise chat about Violet's upcoming masquerade ball and how they both won't miss it. This is a nod to Benedict's book, An Offer from a Gentleman , where he meets Sophie Beckett for the first time at the Bridgerton's famous masquerade ball.

Many fans, myself included, speculate that Benedict will be the focus of Season 4.

17. During Francesca's wedding, when Francesca asks her mother to play the piano with her, you can see Eloise pouring the contents of Violet's glass into her own.

18. After Lady Danbury and Violet have a heart-to-heart about Violet dating Marcus and how Danbury loved Violet's father, you can spot a paper crown on a table. This is a nod to Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story where we learned Violet's dad made it for Lady Danbury.

19. In the Season 3 finale, when Penelope ends her latest Lady Whistledown column with her own name, you can see that the Whistledown logo has changed to look more like Pen's silhouette. She's no longer hiding her identity behind a nameless woman.

20. Eloise reveals to Colin that she's reading Jane Austen's Emma, which was first published in December 1815. So, that would likely mean Season 3 takes place in 1816.

Also, when Colin tries to give Eloise the book he brought her as a gift, it's in "brown paper packages, tied up with strings," which I'm assuming wasn't a planned nod to Julie Andrews's  The Sound of Music , but I do love it.

21. And finally, to lean into the theme of butterflies, which was present throughout Season 3, some of Colin's waistcoats actually included little butterflies.

In an interview with Cat Quinn on the red carpet, Luke explained, "What I love about this season is the designers wanted him to have his own wardrobe, rather than, 'Here's a waistcoat for this day. Here's a waistcoat for this day.' Like, I had a wardrobe where we could literally pick on the day." He also added that they often matched Colin's clothing to how Penelope was feeling or what she was wearing.

Did you spot any other great details, book callbacks, Easter eggs, and more? And what did you think of Bridgerton Season 3? Tell us in the comments below!

All episodes of bridgerton season 3 are streaming now on netflix ., share this article.

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The biggest bridgerton season 3 book changes confirmed so far (& why they're a good thing).

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One Bridgerton Season 3 Line Sets Up The Show’s Greatest Tragedy

Bridgerton's 15 steamiest scenes, ranked, i can't believe anthony & kate's story in bridgerton season 3.

Warning! SPOILERS about the Bridgerton books ahead.

• Bridgerton season 3 will deviate heavily from the books, with changes already introduced in previous seasons allowing for new and fresh storylines.
• Cast exits, such as Phoebe Dynevor's absence as Daphne, contribute to the differences between the adaptation and Romancing Mr. Bridgerton , allowing for a focus on other characters.
• The structure of the TV show, with multiple storylines and genres, enriches the story and keeps viewers engaged, even if it means the timing and roles of certain characters differ from the books.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Netflix’s Bridgerton included multiple original stories and many changes from Julia Quinn’s novels, but Bridgerton season 3’s story can make the upcoming season the most divergent from the books to date. Although Quinn's books usually follow the story of one Bridgerton sibling's quest to find true love, the show has deviated away from this structure in order to develop other characters and introduce their own unique storylines.

Bridgerton season 1 hinted at Anthony’s burden of carrying the Bridgerton name, as all he worried about was sullying his family’s legacy and making the wrong choices. Similarly, Bridgerton season 2 often hinted at Colin’s wish to find his purpose, and a big story in the fourth Bridgerton book, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton , has Colin’s jealousy of Penelope’s work as Lady Whistledown at the forefront because he doesn’t know what’s his purpose. However, while these might be relatively minor changes, working as a preview of their main plots, some storylines already delivered their protagonists to a much different situation than where they’re supposed to be by the beginning of their seasons.

Related: 6 Huge Ways Bridgerton Season 3 Will Change The Show (If It Follows The Book)

Bridgerton Season 3 Will Deviate Heavily From The Books

Bridgerton season 2’s revelation that Anthony had paid for Benedict’s spot at the academy already hindered Benedict’s belief in himself as an artist (which led to his ending scene showing Benedict abandoning his art studio and supplies). While this development might be beneficial to his story, as in his book it’s his love interest Sophie who helps Benedict share his art, the timing is not. With Colin’s story taking precedence and hinting at a probable time jump, like in the book, Benedict’s role in it will have to be changed entirely, since he was already married to Sophie and helping his love-searching siblings in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton .

Similarly, Penelope and Eloise’s fight following Eloise’s discovery of her friend being behind Lady Whistledown’s pamphlets leaves the two at odds. While Eloise was also less present in Penelope’s life in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton since she was writing secret letters to Sir Phillip, she wasn’t furious with her to the point of not wanting to have anything to do with Penelope. The reason behind their fight might even make Eloise more vehemently opposed to Penelope and Colin’s courtship, and not out of fear of being left alone like in the books, but because of what she viewed as Penelope’s betrayal.

Cast Exits Have Made Bridgerton Even More Separate From The Books

Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne being absent from Bridgerton season 3 could potentially contribute to the differences between the adaptation and Romancing Mr. Bridgerton . Albeit not central to the story after The Duke & I , Daphne often returns to help her siblings and offer wisdom, and Colin himself goes to her in the fourth Bridgerton book to ask for her advice regarding how to know if you love somebody or not. Her improbable return as Daphne might let Bridgerton focus on other characters whose stories had been ignored until now, like Francesca, who may also end up helping Colin along the way.

Why Bridgerton Season 3 Changing The Books Is A Good Thing

Bridgerton season 3 changing Romancing Mr. Bridgerton ’s story can build upon the changes already introduced in seasons 1 and 2, making the series better by keeping the story new and fresh. After all, while the central couples’ story in Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 closely resembled the books’, it also benefited from Queen Charlotte's meddling and making matters more challenging, offering another perspective that didn’t focus entirely on the Bridgertons and the Bassets in season 1, and the Sharmas in season 2. The original character Theo Sharpe made it possible for Bridgerton to show a different side of Eloise, which would have stayed hidden till her story in the future.

Similarly, the focus on Genevieve Delacroix’s job not only highlighted how different classes lived in the Bridgertons' world, something rarely hinted at by the Bridgerton books, but also offered some insight into Penelope’s distribution process of Lady Whistledown’s pamphlets, which was only unveiled later on in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton . Focusing on two female entrepreneurs and embedding an original character such as Genevieve closely into the protagonists’ stories bettered Bridgerton by keeping the story updated for the viewers who already knew what would have happened from the books, but also for those who didn’t, as telling multiple stories could avoid the risk of a single-couple focus stifling the story.

Related: 10 Bridgerton Season 3 Twists That The Ton Will Obsess Over

The Bridgerton books strongly belonging to the romance genre made the story in the novels exclusively focus on each couple, which couldn’t work for an ensemble TV show like Bridgerton . By letting its characters’ stories progress organically over multiple seasons, Bridgerton keeps the viewers’ focus on all of them, working towards the show’s enjoyability by telling stories encompassing different genres besides romance. While this structure causes the stories of some characters to start earlier or later than how it would have happened in the Bridgerton books, it eventually ends up enriching the story, making it work perfectly for a TV show.

• Bridgerton (2020)

'Bridgerton' author Julia Quinn says Francesca's season will be the 'most emotional' one

Spoiler alert: This story includes details Season 3 of Netflix's "Bridgerton" (now streaming).

While this season's couples in "Bridgerton" - Colin and Penelope , and Francesca and John - may have gotten their happy endings, fans of the show are not pleased with the way things ended with Francesca, especially with showrunner Jess Brownell's decision to gender-swap a fan-favorite character from the books. However, "Bridgerton" books author Julia Quinn promises that Francesca's season will be the "most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show."

Soon after Season 3 wrapped up, Brownell, in multiple interviews , shared that Francesca Bridgerton's (played by Hannah Dodd) main story, will shift away from the book "When He Was Wicked." It will instead feature a gender-swapped version of the protagonist with the book's Michael Stirling being replaced by Michaela Stirling (played by Masali Baduza), who made a brief appearance at the end of the Season 3. Michaela's introduction also marks the first main queer pairing in the "Bridgerton" series.

The announcement did not go down well with fans of the book, and many voiced their concerns on social media. A Change.org petition demanding the undoing of this "travesty" and bringing back the original character of Michael Stirling of Kilmartin from the "Bridgerton" books has also been set up with a goal of 50,000 signatures. As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had more than 36,000 signatures.

'Bridgerton' twist: Does it signal queer romance to come?

'Bridgerton' author requests faith from fans

While production company Shondaland and Netflix have not yet responded to the debate over Francesca's romantic future, Quinn in a lengthy statement on Facebook asked fans who said they were surprised and disappointed to "grant" her and the Shondaland team "some faith as we move forward."

"Many 'Bridgerton' fans have expressed their surprise, and for some, disappointment in the twist at the end of 'Bridgerton' Season 3--that Michael Stirling, with whom Francesca eventually falls in love in 'When He Was Wicked', would instead be Michaela," Quinn said in her statement.

Quinn said that though she is "deeply committed to the Bridgerton world becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen," switching a major character was a "huge change". The author added that when Brownell approached her with the idea of switching Michael into Michaela, she needed more information so that the story could "remain true to the spirit of the book and of the characters."

As Brownell mentioned in her interviews, Quinn said the two discussed the change at length before proceeding with it. The author said that she wanted to ensure that "Francesca's abiding love for John be shown on screen," and that had to fight for the same when she wrote "When He Was Wicked" because her publisher "was worried that writing about Fran's love for John would take away from Michael's role as the eventual romance novel hero." Quinn said that was important for her to show that both Francesca and Michael had deep love for John and how guilty they felt about falling for each other after John’s death, adding that it was important to include that build up for their own story.

"I'm confident now that when Francesca has her Bridgerton season, it will be the most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show, just like 'When He Was Wicked' has always been the true tear-jerker of the 'Bridgerton' book series," Quinn said. "Honestly, it may pack even more of a punch, since John is getting a lot more time on the screen than he ever did on the page, and I think it's fair to say we've all fallen a little bit in love with him."

Thanking the readers and fans for their feedback, Quinn said that she was "grateful" for their understanding and "touched" by their commitment to "Bridgerton."

"I think we are going to end up with two stories, one on page and one on screen, and they will both be beautiful and moving," Quinn said.

Who is Michaela Stirling?

At the end of Season 3, viewers are introduced to a new character Michaela Stirling, who is the cousin of Earl of Kilmartin, Lord John. Michaela, who will be accompanying Eloise, John and Francesca to Scotland, leaves Francesca slightly flustered as she introduces herself.

Brownell, in an interview with Glamour , earlier this month, had confirmed that Michaela will be playing Francesca's love interest, and that they have planned a queer romance for the character.

The showrunner, in her interview, said when she first read Francesca's book "When He Was Wicked," she "really related to it as a queer woman," explaining how the book "talks a lot about how different she feels."

"I think Julia Quinn's intention in the book is just that Fran feels different because she's introverted. But for many of us in the queer community, that sense of feeling different is a part of our stories," Brownell said in the interview, adding that she felt like "there was fertile ground thematically in her book to nod toward telling a queer story" with a happy ending. The showrunner further said that she had received Quinn's blessings for the change and that everyone behind the show as on the same page.

"It was important for me in telling a main queer story for us to be able to give them a happily ever after, as we have with every other couple," Brownell had said.

In the books, Francesca and her husband, Lord John Killmartin (played by Victor Alli in the series) have a blissful marriage, until John dies from a brain aneurysm. His best friend, Michael, who is secretly in love with his wife, becomes the Earl and takes over the estate. However, devastated from his friend's death, Michael flees to India to grieve. However, when he returns years later, Francesca is seeking a second husband to start a family and the two end up falling in love and getting married.

Release, cast, lead couple, more: What we know so far about 'Bridgerton' Season 4

'Bridgerton' Season 4

The producers of "Bridgerton" have not yet announced any details for Season 4 , except for that fans can have to wait to up to two years for its release, as per Brownell . It is not clear which book the next season will be based and which Bridgerton sibling will be leading it though hints (masquerade ball) point towards the second Bridgerton sibling Benedict Bridgerton.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.