If you’re like me, you might have watched all of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix in approximately one day, and then didn’t know where to put the emotions and Bridgerton-y hopes and dreams it made you feel. If this sounds familiar, look no further than Queen Charlotte, the book that is inspired by the original series, written by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes. These iconic creators have outdone themselves yet again, as we have come to expect from anything in the Bridger-verse. Julia is the author and creator of the original Bridgerton books and Shonda is the showrunner, executive producer, and writer for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (and also executive produced the first two seasons of Bridgerton).
The show and the book are blended seamlessly, clear proof that the collaboration between Julia and Shonda is strong. And yet, watching the show and reading the book are completely different experiences. I highly recommend both to anyone who wants to laugh, cry, be inspired, and maybe even transform into the heart eyes emoji. Here’s why Queen Charlotte the book will expand your Bridgerton knowledge:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn and TV legend Shonda Rhimes comes a novel of Bridgerton's Queen Charlotte and King George III's epic love story and how it kick-started a complete societal shift, inspired by the beloved original series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
The book and the show are each their own experience
The moments that struck me in the show felt brand new in the book, and often gave me an alternative perspective as the reader. I did watch the entire series first before I read, but I was so immersed in the book that I wasn’t comparing it to the show the entire time. There are definitely some key differences between the show and the book, as each is tailored to the format for which it was made. The biggest difference is that the book solely focuses on the story of the younger versions of Charlotte, George, Brimsley, and Agatha and does not flash forward to the “present-day” Bridgerton in the way that the show does, except for very briefly.
Readers will definitely notice expanded moments, more insight into each character’s thoughts, as well as fresh moments we didn’t know were happening. A very fun thing to discover in the book is when characters overhear or see moments you didn’t know they knew about after watching the show. It’s surprising but also makes perfect sense when these moments are discovered. In this way, there’s quite a few “ah-ha!” moments when something in the book clicks into place with the reader’s previous knowledge of Bridgerton.
We get to live inside the minds of the main characters
As with any television or streaming series, the audience is only given the information on the screen, and we sometimes have to guess what the characters are thinking, which usually is a purposeful tension-builder for the viewer. With the book, we get an in-depth look at the motivations of the characters from the very beginning, building tension in a different way. I especially felt this shift in the chapters devoted to Agatha (Lady Danbury). I was already a huge Lady Danbury fan and found her strength to be inspiring, but the book really solidified her as not only one of my favorite characters, but possibly one of the most important characters in all of the ton.
In the book, the reader also knows right away how George is feeling, and why he’s doing what he’s doing. While not knowing this was a device that amped up the stakes in the show, knowing more in the book from the beginning makes the couple’s struggle all the more sad and joyful to watch.
The reader can practically hear the conversations
One of my favorite things about the book is that the dialogue and the rhythm in which the characters speak is written in a way that the reader can almost hear the actors from the show. Not all of the dialogue from the show is in the book, and of course there are many conversations that are expanded upon. However, the cadence and repetition of phrases that each character speaks feels very specific to the world of the time period—not necessarily the historical world, but the Bridgerton world that has been built around us. I love that the way the characters speak in Queen Charlotte is slightly different than the way characters speak in the original Bridgerton books, signifying that the two stories take place decades apart. This detail is delightful to take notice of as you’re reading.
The dynamic between sets of characters is fascinating
In the book, I was struck by the many moments that highlighted the relationships between two people, and how each person transforms when talking to someone from another station. Chapters that focus on Charlotte and George, Charlotte and Agatha, or Charlotte and Brimsley, all reveal to the reader different, complex, human versions of Queen Charlotte. We also read how Agatha navigates her new place in society and manages the weight of the ton as she speaks to the new Queen Charlotte, who she must guide, or takes on Princess Augusta, who she must battle. And as we read about Brimsley stepping into a brand-new role and navigating his relationships with the entire household, we see that he is delightful and darling and nervous no matter who he is talking to.
But perhaps most satisfying of all is the deeper look into Agatha and Charlotte’s friendship, and the specific choices and sacrifices Agatha makes. For me, the pairing of Charlotte and Agatha is just as much at the heart of the book as is the relationship between Charlotte and George. That being said, the constant yet ever-changing relationship between Charlotte and George is vibrant in the book, and the detailed moments between them are little treasures for the reader.
The themes of the book tie into all of Bridgerton
There were many themes that struck me when reading the book, but perhaps the most resilient is the power of joy over the power of fear. While the show brought me to focus on the generational love stories of all the characters, the book centered my thoughts on the immediate stakes for the younger versions of the characters. If none of these events happened, the ton would quite literally not be the one we see in the original Bridgerton series. It all goes back to Queen Charlotte. And Agatha. And even Brimsley. Because of this, the book is a place for Bridgerton fans and readers to nerd out and discover new pieces within the Bridger-verse. By the way, there’s even a mention of the original Duke of Hastings, which was exciting because we all know and love a certain more recent Duke of Hastings.
All in all, reading the book made me want to watch the series again, which will likely in turn make me want to read the book again, and perhaps I will forever be caught in an endless loop in this manner as I await more Bridgerton stories. Honestly, it’s a great place to be.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn and TV legend Shonda Rhimes comes a novel of Bridgerton's Queen Charlotte and King George III's epic love story and how it kick-started a complete societal shift, inspired by the beloved original series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
