After finishing the first season of Bridgerton last year I delved right into the books which, let’s admit it, were better than the series. At least I thought The Duke and I (which the first season is based on) was much funnier and the couple had more chemistry than in the show so I’m going to assume the rest will be as well. No spoilers here so my reasonings for how good they are a bit vague.

1. The Viscount who loved me. It reminds me a bit of Pride and Prejudice though much more funny. It’s cozy and sweet and hot and the one must likely I’d read again and again. Anthony and Kate worked out well together in how they supported each other’s fears and I enjoyed their pall-mall rivalry.

2. When He was Wicked. I actually would say this is tied with number one. But it is much more emotionally intense (and steamy). Like the heartache is more depressing, the passion more passionate and the highs were higher. While I could read Viscount anytime, because of how romantically intense Wicked is, you have to be in the right mood for it. Like a rainy day curled up by the fire. 

3. It’s in his kiss. This almost tied with 4 & 5 but it made me laugh way too loudly at some parts so it ranked higher. Plus I liked Gareth and his tortured secret was one of the most interesting. Plus he and Hycinth were great. There was the usual banter, push and pull between them, but more because they were so alike rather than the opposites attract thing that the other couples had. 

4&5. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and To Sir Philip with Love. These are tied, I really can’t put one over the other. They had equal strengths in the unique situations with the couples but equal flaws in how annoying they could be in getting on with their communication issues.  

6. The Duke and I. I’ll admit I saw the show before reading the book so the interest of what will happen next wasn’t here for me. But I will say the book is funnier and Daphne/Simon had more chemistry here than in the show in my opinion. 

7. On the way to the wedding. This was a bit too slow in the beginning and dramatic in the end for me. Gregory didn’t have much personality beyond hopeless romantic. If he didn’t have Lucy, I don’t know what he’d do in regular life, he had no distinctiveness or interests. Even his cute relationship with Hycinth was gone here. Lucy has some personality but it felt l like they literally didn’t have much outside their coupledom. No hobbies or interesting banter together. 

9. An Offer from a gentleman. I’ll admit the book kept me at the edge of my seat and had some really beautiful passages. However I didn’t care about the characters. Like I wanted to know what HOW they’d get together but I wasn’t invested in them being together. Benedict was kinda a boring jerk. Also this was as a Cinderella retelling, so you knew what was going to happen.