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Quick answer: If you loved Bridgerton by Julia Quinn, try Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore, The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare, Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain and Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes.
The Netflix series Bridgerton brought Julia Quinn’s Regency romances to millions of new readers. Whether you started with The Duke and I or with the show, the books below offer the same mix of ballrooms, scandal and swoon. Many historical romances include sex scenes, which we’ve noted where relevant, plus a few cleaner picks.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Bridgerton
Bridgerton made Regency romance a global phenomenon. Julia Quinn’s books follow the eight Bridgerton siblings, each finding love in witty, swoony stories full of balls, scandals and Lady Whistledown’s gossip column. The banter is sharp, the families are warm, and every book ends happily. If you loved the Regency setting, the humor or the romance, these picks are next.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Bridgerton: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Duke and I | Julia Quinn | Historical romance | Where it starts |
| Romancing Mister Bridgerton | Julia Quinn | Historical romance | Fan favorite |
| Queen Charlotte | Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes | Historical romance | Royal romance |
| Lord of Scoundrels | Loretta Chase | Historical romance | Witty banter |
| Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | Classic novel | The original Regency romance |
| A Rogue of One’s Own | Evie Dunmore | Historical romance | Suffragist heroines |
| The Duchess Deal | Tessa Dare | Historical romance | Funny romance |
| Mr. Malcolm’s List | Suzanne Allain | Historical romance | Clean romance |
| Bringing Down the Duke | Evie Dunmore | Historical romance | Clever heroines |
| A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem | Manda Collins | Historical mystery | Romance and mystery |
| The Viscount Who Loved Me | Julia Quinn | Historical romance | Enemies to lovers |
| Sense and Sensibility | Jane Austen | Classic novel | Sisters and romance |
| Heartstopper | Alice Oseman | Graphic novel | Sweet romance for teens |
| A Rogue by Any Other Name | Sarah MacLean | Historical romance | Scandalous rakes |
| Romantic Outlaws | Charlotte Gordon | Biography | Real Regency women |
1. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings fake a courtship that becomes real. Book one of the series.
2. Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton’s friends-to-lovers story. It’s many fans’ favorite.
3. Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes
The love story of the young Queen Charlotte and King George, based on the series.
4. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
A clever woman and a notorious marquess spar and fall in love. It’s a classic.
5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s famous misunderstandings. It’s witty and timeless.
6. A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore
A suffragist and a notorious rake fight over a magazine. It’s smart and romantic.
7. The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
A seamstress agrees to marry a scarred duke who needs an heir. It’s hilarious.
8. Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain
A gentleman’s list of requirements for a wife leads to a scheme. It’s sweet and clean.
9. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
One of Oxford’s first female students recruits a duke for the suffrage cause.
10. A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins
A lady journalist and a detective solve a murder.
11. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield’s story, with a famous croquet game.
12. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Two sisters with opposite temperaments navigate love and money.
13. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
A modern, gentle love story for younger readers who love romance.
14. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
A gambling-hall owner schemes to win back his family lands by marrying a proper lady. It’s steamy and witty.
15. Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon
The lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley. It’s fascinating history.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Bridgerton
- Read the series in order. Start with The Duke and I.
- Want classics? Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
- Want cleaner romance? Mr. Malcolm’s List.
- Want clever heroines? Evie Dunmore’s books.
- Want humor? Tessa Dare.
- Check spice levels. Many historical romances include sex scenes.
Related: books like Outlander and best romance books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after Bridgerton?
Try Lord of Scoundrels, A Rogue of One’s Own, The Duchess Deal or Pride and Prejudice.
What order are the Bridgerton books?
The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me, An Offer from a Gentleman, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, To Sir Phillip With Love, When He Was Wicked, It’s In His Kiss and On the Way to the Wedding.
Is there a clean romance like Bridgerton?
Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain is a sweet, clean Regency romance.