What to Read After Bridgerton

If you have been following me on Instagram, then you will know that I have been binge reading the Bridgerton books. I watched the show in one sitting and was instantly obsessed with not only the Netflix series, but I knew that I needed to read the book. I subsequently devoured all eight books in less than a month. Actually I read The Duke and I back in the spring of 2020, but the other seven books were all ready in less than three weeks, that’s how much I loved them.

Now here I am with a massive book hangover. I picked up another book to read and instantly felt sad—it didn’t compare to the Bridgerton’s and I knew that the only thing to cure my book hangover was to find more books like Bridgerton and devour them too. I know there are other out there who are feeling like me and need something to cure their Bridgeton hangover!

I decided to put together a short list of books to read if you are suffering from Bridgerton withdrawals. These five books are all ones that I have read and enjoyed over the years and I think that others will enjoy too. But let me say this…..if you have watched the show and haven’t read the books—-stop reading this and go read the Bridgerton books first.

6. Anything Else By Julia Quinn (not a real book title)

Ok I know I said this was a list of five books but I felt like it was worth pointing out that if you read the Bridgerton books already and need something similar, you really don’t have to look far because Julia Quinn has written a number of other books that contain her tell tale wit and romance. Fans of the Bridgerton series will recognize other series by Quinn that feature some of the characters in the main Bridgerton books. For example Smythe-Smith Quartet series follows the four musically disinclines siblings and their romances. There is also the Rokesby series chronicles the generation of Bridgerton’s before the main series. So fans of the main Bridgerton books and the show will surely find much to love in any of Quinn’s other books. Now, on to the main list of books to check out if you are missing Bridgerton.

5. A League of Extraordinary Women Series by Evie Dunmore

This series begins with Bringing Down The Duke which was my favorite read of 2019. This is a historical romance series is written with the modern woman in mind. I know that some women shy away from reading historical romance because of the stereotypes and how women are represented. But in this series, Evie Dunmore goes to great lengths to write fresh, modern feminists who find romance in the late 1800s. These are your mothers romances, these books are meant to attract modern readers. This book currently has two books out with a third coming out in the fall of 2021. I have read both books in the series so far and can’t say enough wonderful things I recommend this series to friends of mine all the time. If you are missing characters like Eloise Bridgerton, then you want to pick up this series. The books can also be read out of order so feel free to jump around if needed.

4. To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters

If you like the enemies to lovers rom-coms then this book has you covered. The dialogue and banter is witty and fresh with plenty of laugh out loud moments. This book is also a little more modern and written for the twenty to thirty demographic in my opinion but I am also almost 40 and I still loved it. Violet and James had a lot of chemistry and I loved that their marriage and home were essentially war zones. It reminded me of Simon and Daphne’s marriage in some ways. There were hurt feelings and issues that Violet and James refused to talk about to one another but eventually they broke through their issues and returned to one another and their marriage stronger than ever. There was plenty of comedy in this one and there were plenty of times that it reminded me of Simon and Daphne so if you are missing the romance between Simon and Daphne then pick this one up and check out the romance between Violet and James.

3. The Survivor’s Club series by Mary Balogh

Like Julia Quinn, Mary Balogh is a long standing romance writer with multiple series to her name. The Survivor’s Club series follows a group of close friends who are bound together by their hared pasts. Similar to the Bridgerton series, readers will get to meet and interact with characters throughout all of the books. The books can also be read out of order which I actually recommend. I read the first book The Proposal and it wasn’t my favorite. I actually liked The Arrangement the best which is the second book in the series. If you are missing the camaraderie and closeness of the Bridgerton siblings this series might be a great fit for you. For me the dialogue wasn’t as refined and witty in some of these books compared to the Bridgerton books but the characters were well drawn and fun to explore. And the series gets better as it goes on.

2. The Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas

It has been ages since I read anything by Lisa Kleypas. I read a couple of her Wallflower books and a couple of her Hathaway books way back in the late 2000s and at that time I don’t think I fully appreciated her writing abilities. She does write some steamy scenes so if you are missing the lust and desire of the Bridgerton books then you will find comfort in the pages of Lisa Kleypas’s books. I personally liked The Wallflower books the best but the Hathaway books would also be a good cure for your Bridgerton hangover. If you were cheering for Penelope then you will probably enjoy the Wallflower books the best. Like Julia Quinn and Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas has written a number of historical romances and series with inner connecting characters. I think I am going to go back and re-read some of Kleypas’s books now because I feel like I will appreciate them more now that I am older.

1 The Pink Carnation Series by Lauren Willig

Like the Bridgerton books, the Pink Carnation series has multiple inter connecting characters and plots plus a main ‘modern day’ romance that is equally as enthralling as the historical ones. There are twelve books in the series and I highly recommend reading them in order. The plot between Eloise and Collin is spread out over all of the books as well so I highly recommend reading in order. If you love the setting of Bridgerton and want something to balance the romance, then this is the series for you. It is ripe with romance but there is plenty to enjoy such as spies and adventure in the pages. This series has smart, witty dialogue and charming memorable heroines and dashing sexy heroes. If you are missing the debonair Bridgerton brothers then you need to pick up this series! It is truly one of my all time favorite series and I could easily read the series beginning to end again.

So there you have it friends, my recommendations for books to read post Bridgerton show and books. If there are other book series that you think I or other fans of the series should read then please drop is below in a comment. I love reading all your recommendations!