Got The Post-Bridgerton Blues?

Missing Bridgerton? Waiting for season three to come out? While you wait, why not pick up some of these reads to fill your time.

1. To Have and To Hoax by Martha Waters

If you love the main couples in either season 1 or season 2 of Bridgerton, I think you will especially love this novel. For all of the Daphne and Simon, or the Kate and Anthony lovers, this book has the often heated and sometimes witty arguments. It also has some of those steamy scenes that Bridgerton is known for. I really enjoyed the concept of this book, in the very beginning we find that our two protagonists, Lady Violet Gray and Lord James Audley (who is also a Duke's son), had a fight five years prior and have barely spoken since. We follow them as they hatch schemes, try to one-up the other, and navigate their confusing feelings for each other.

There are also sequels that follow some of the secondary characters, if you're looking for even more Bridgerton-esque reads.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

2. Lady Susan by Jane Austen

Although this is a quick and short novella, it is still packed full of juicy drama (or tea), and manipulative love affairs. The story is told in letters which allows us to see deep under the facade of certain characters, mainly the title character Lady Susan. If you like Lady Featherington (and by like I mean find her character interesting because if you actually like her then... please reconsider) then I think you will really enjoy this story. Let's just say that Lady Featherington is not the first mother of her kind.

Truly laugh out loud funny, and a little bit insane- this novella will keep you turning the pages until there are no more to be turned.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

3. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

If you wanted to get really technical, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels takes place in Victorian England, which although it is often confused as the time of Jane Austen, it is not. Bridgerton, Jane Austen, etc. take place in the Regency era... so perhaps this is technically not the best recommendation, but in terms of vibes, this is a perfect book to get over those Bridgerton Blues. The Wisteria Society is a group of lady thieves, one of whom has an assassin after her. But she is not afraid or insulted (actually quite the opposite), and the assassain... well he doesn't really want to kill her. If your favourite character is Elousie Bridgerton, I think you'll love this book. And even though we haven't had the pleasure of seeing her season yet, I'm sure that this is pretty much what her love story will look like.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

4. Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

The second season of Bridgerton reminded me a lot of Sense and Sensibility because our main characters are so focused on marrying the "right" person. They approach marriage with sense instead of following what their hearts want (sensibility). Kate was ready to give it all up in order for her sister to be able to marry someone she loved (or thought she loved) like Elinor, although in a different way. Kate was helping her sister by not pursuing her feelings for Anthony, whereas Elinor's plan was to marry for sense in order to allow Marianne to marry for love. In the end the older sisters (Kate and Elinor) are able to marry the man that they truly love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

5. A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin

This book has an interesting point of view that we haven't seen much of in Bridgerton. Our protaginist, Kitty, is from a poorer family and she comes to London in order to, as the title suggests, fortune hunt. She needs to marry rich in order to save her and her sisters from falling into destitute. Although this book is different from the lavish, rich (and sometimes royal) characters and places that we are used to seeing in the show, I think the story feels like it has a place in a Bridgerton world. And of course, in the end true love will conquer all (and what a conicidence that the guy is also rich!?!?).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5