Each book follows the story of each Bridgerton family member, beginning with The Duke And I, which was turned into the Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’.
The Viscount Who Loved Me has recently seen a surge in popularity and new readers, due to the surfacing of the Netflix series.
Bridgerton Series Two is actually based on this book and follows the events of Anthony Bridgerton’s life, as he seeks a wife amongst the ‘ton.
Anthony has a reputation as a rake, and is one of the most wicked rogues in London high society, yet a very eligible bachelor.
He is quickly betrothed to a sweet girl, but there’s only one problem- he is completely enthralled by her older sister, Kate, who disapproves of his lifestyle and reputation.
In classic enemies-to-lovers fashion, the two engage in a battle of disliking each other and holding back their true feelings for the sake of the impending marriage betrothal.
The Viscount Who Loved Me is charming, witty, and set in the regency-era world that Quinn has penned, filled with webs of lies, deceit, scandal, and secrets.
If you love the style of Julia Quinn’s novels, then you’ll also enjoy books such as Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean, The Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas, When A Scot Ties The Knot by Tessa Dare, and Ravished by Amanda Quick.
If you have read all of the Bridgerton novels, and are looking for another regency-era romance to get lost in, then take a look at the list below of books with similar themes!
Themes In The Viscount Who Loved Me
Marriage
A common theme in The Viscount Who Loved Me, and many of the Bridgerton family series novels is marriage. Being part of high society, finding a suitable love match is the top priority for many characters in the series.
Marriage is often seen as doing one’s duty- and extending the family line, rather than finding true love as it is today.
As Anthony is the eldest male heir in the Bridgerton family, and subsequently the ‘man of the manor’ it is high time he finds a wife.
However, he has spent years as a notorious rake of the ton, enjoying the spoils of being a single man.
He wants to find a loveless marriage, because he knows that finding love is filled with heartache and sensitivity, and sets his sights on a suitable woman.
When he meets Kate, he becomes torn between doing what is deemed right – marrying for advantage or status, or doing what he wants to do, and falling in love.
Importance Of Family
Another overarching theme in this book and others in the series is the importance of family and family duty.
The Bridgertons are a very close-knit family, and with the addition of the scandalous paper, Lady Whistledown, trying to undo all those with secrets in the town, sticking together is more important than ever.
Romance
Romance is a key theme in Julia Quinn’s books, especially The Viscount Who Loved Me.
Many characters are afraid of getting hurt, of falling in love, and of speaking about their true feelings. They will need to overcome their fears if they want to find the love they really want.
Enemies To Lovers
The enemies-to-lovers trope is also found in the previous book, the Duke And I.
This makes for an interesting read, as two characters who loathe each other’s existence, actions, and morals, may often have an underlying desire to ‘tame’ the other in a passionate love affair for the ages.
The Devil In Winter is written by the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas, known for her romance series novels and standalone books.
The Devil In Winter is actually the third installment in The Wallflowers Series, which is beloved by Kleypas fans.
This book in particular follows the life of Evangeline, a girl desperate to escape the clutches of her family, who seeks help from an infamous London viscount, Sebastian.
The two fall into a marriage of convenience, with no real ties towards one another. The scandalous Viscount begins to desire her over all other things, but his reputation as a rake holds Evie back.
They strike a deal that if Sebastian can remain celibate for three months, then Evie will allow him into their marital bed.
Will the viscount do what it takes to win Evie’s heart? Or will he remain a rake forever? Find out in this exciting and passionate read.
Pros
Evie is a strong female lead
Romance is sweeping and exciting
There are a lot of secrets that are ready to be unfolded which makes for a thrilling read.
Cons
Is more appreciated when read as part of the series.
Themes: regency era, romance, enemies to lovers, passion, desire
When A Scot Ties The Knot is the third in the Castle Ever After series by Tessa Dare, a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
Similar to the theme of The Bridgerton Family series, the main character, Madeline is on the cusp of her very first London season, hoping to catch the eye of eligible gentlemen.
Despite her awkwardness, shy nature, and lack of confidence, she was sure she would be lost amongst the crowd of many beautiful ladies hoping to find a husband.
In an attempt to make herself look more desirable, she invents a sweetheart -in a very ‘The Duke And I’ manner.
She begins to write letters to her Scottish nobleman, ultimately pretending that he had passed away in battle, in order to avoid the societal norms of being part of London society and the pressures of trying to find a love match.
Much to her surprise, a few years later the real Captain MacKenzie arrives in London, in possession of the ‘fake’ letters she sent, ready to meet the woman who has been sending him love letters all this time.
Pros
Not just romance, the characters have real depth and dimension
In a similar manner to the Viscount Who Loved Me, Ravished by Amanda Quick is also a novel about a couple who are mismatched, who are about to embark on a journey toward true love.
The main character, Harriet, is in desperate need of a man.
Not just for companionship, but she needs someone to help get rid of the infamous thieves who are using her caves to store stolen loot.
When she sought the help of Viscount St. Justin, she didn’t realize what she was getting herself into.
This beastly man was known for his fearsome reputation, yet Harriet is not afraid of him. She senses something deeper about him and longs to know more.
The two must come together to battle the forces against them that seek to keep them apart. Will they prevail? Read the book to find out!
If you loved this historical, regency romance, and have read all of the Bridgerton novels, then books like The Devil In Winter, Ravished, When A Scot Ties The Knot, and Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake should be on your reading list (Also check out Books Like Lord Of Scoundrels)!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Read If I Like The Bridgerton Books?
A great choice would be the Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas. However, you can stick to Julia Quinn in one of her other novels such as The Rokesbys Series, starting with Because Of Miss Bridgerton– which is a prequel to the Bridgerton Family Series, or the Tom Thorne Novels collection of three different regency stories.
How Many Bridgerton Books Are There?
At the time of writing, there are eight novels, with a final book of epilogues, called The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After, composed of all of the answers readers have been looking for.
Gawonii Chubbuck is a proud Native American writer and poet. Born and raised on tribal land, Gawonii has a deep connection to her culture and heritage which is reflected in her work. Gawonii's writing focuses on themes of identity, tradition and the power of nature. She has a unique ability to capture the beauty of life, while also exploring its darker sides. Her poetry is often inspired by nature, and she often uses nature-inspired imagery and metaphors to express her ideas. Gawonii is a passionate advocate for Native American rights. She is a staff writer at RT Book Reviews.
