What to Watch/Read after Bridgerton
If anything seems to have taken over social media in the last month, it’s Bridgerton. I have always been wary of historical romance because I wasn’t quite sure it was for me. My friends Haley and Diane have been encouraging me to read one for months, especially after I read Bringing Down the Duke. So, I finally gave in and I read my first historical romance!
I was particularly inspired to read historical romance due to the discussion of sexual assault in Bridgerton. If you haven’t seen it yet, there is a sex scene where there’s a moment that is extremely nonconsensual between Daphne and Simon. I had seen some talk of this prior to watching the show from those who had read the book. I don’t know if I’ll read the Bridgerton books now due to this careless display, but I am still really fascinated by the genre.
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare is a popular choice for first time readers of historical romance and I have to say, it did not disappoint. If you watched Bridgerton and now want to immerse yourself in some more regency romance, here are some fantastic choices!
Shows:
Not all of these are regency era but they are period pieces that are just so dang good!
Versailles—I haven’t watched this one yet but a friend told me if you LOVE Bridgerton, you’ll love this show. It’s about the construction of the Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV!
Reign—If you loved the the ~ modern ~ elements of Bridgerton, I think you’ll really enjoy this series about Mary Queen of Scots. It’s an old CW show full of drama and it’s so darn romantic.
Downton Abbey—If you’ve been thinking you won’t like this show, you just need to go for it. It’s on Amazon Prime and it’s just so dang good. One of my all time favs!
The Crown—I’m going to be honest, I may have skipped most of season 3. But seasons 1, 2, and 4 are dynamite!
Books:
The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
The Butterfly Bride by Vanessa Riley
Unveiled by Courtney Milan
50 Ways to Ruin a Rake by Jade Lee
Do you have a favorite period piece? Whether it’s a book or show, I’m all about escaping our current reality and heading to these different times. The romance! The drama! The clothes! As my dear friend Diane says, “The bonnet lives within.”