When I found out that the Netflix Bridgerton series was based on a Julia Quinn romance series my first thought was “I bet I have a book from that series sitting on my shelf already.” I was right!
Romancing Mister Bridgerton is the 4th novel in 9 volume series and it is the one I started with because it is the one I had. I do not think its vital to read the series in order- although characters from the other novels make an appearance, their backstories aren’t material to understanding the plot. On plot: this is a fairly simple novel. Penelope Featherington is a plain looking 28 year old spinster who is family friends with the many-siblinged Bridgertons (each of whom gets their own novel). Penelope has nursed a crush on Colin Bridgerton for over a decade and given her age she has largely given up hope that romance will ever bloom for her at all, let alone with Colin. That all changes when Colin returns from his travels and their paths collide. Once Colin realizes Penelope is the love he is looking for, the only thing that might prevent a blissful union is a secret!
This was a delightful piece of fluff. Unlike some other romance novels I’ve read, the marriage occurs at roughly the halfway point, with the secret being the Thing That Might Keep Them Apart. Because of this, it doesn’t ever feel like the most high stakes heartbreak potential, but it does feel somehow realer- the worst thing that can happen isn’t a break up but a disconnection. Penelope is a very loveable, very relatable heroine and I adored her (although I haven’t read all the novels, I am assuming that Penelope will be my favourite Bridgerton heroine, a bookish, smart spinster with a quick pen and even quicker wit). More fluff for the pandemic I say!