It’s been almost 15 years since Julia Quinn published the third book in her Bridgerton series, An Offer from a Gentleman, and it still lands.
A risqué and romantic Cinderella story about class and hidden identity, it’s the basis for Season 4 of the Shondaland/Netflix series. But it’s not the only book running this season, which also draws from Quinn’s sixth book in the series, When He Was Wicked, for the tale of Francesca, John, and Michaela Stirling — a simmering tale of guilt, lust, and longing that will take the lead in Season 5.
We went straight to the source, speaking to Quinn about the nuances of Sophie and Benedict’s socially-impossible situation, and the impact of gender flipping the character of Michael Stirling in the TV series — a decision that opens up queer inclusivity in for Bridgerton, and one that has seen strong fan reactions, for better or worse. These two books, published in the early 2000s, are still finding new audiences in 2026 — in fact, fancy new collector’s editions of the first three Bridgerton books have just been published.
‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 soundtrack, song-by-song
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