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Julia Quinn, the author of “Bridgerton,” said the offer to turn her best-selling romance series into a Netflix show came unexpectedly.”The way I understand it, Shonda ran out of books to read on vacation and somehow stumbled on one of mine,” Quinn said during a recent appearance on “Tamron Hall.””It’s crazy to think that my life is forever changed because Shonda didn’t bring enough reading material on vacation, but that’s honestly what happened,” Quinn added. Source: ‘Bridgerton’ author explains why Shonda Rhimes adapted her books – InsiderContinue Reading

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Almost one month after the hit period drama Bridgerton was released on Netflix, sales of the same-titled book series by Julia Quinn have exploded, with the first book securing the number one spot on The New York Times’ bestsellers list. Other novels in the historical romance series aren’t far behind. Source: Sales of Bridgerton Novels Have Exploded Since Netflix Premiere | PEOPLE.com Congratulations, Julia Quinn!Continue Reading

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The continuing conversation that the Netflix series is going to give a resurgence to the historical romance genre and hopefully give it more credit than it has received in the past. Bridgerton quickly became more than just an adaptation; it was also a challenge to destigmatize a genre that doesn’t wholly deserve the condemnation it’s received. Source: Revolutionising romance adaptations – PalatinateContinue Reading

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Hold onto your bonnets ladies, Anthony Bridgerton’s story in The Viscount Who Loved Me is coming to screen next. 1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better…                          –Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers,April 1814 Season 2 will focus on Anthony Bridgerton. Bridgerton has officially been renewed for a second season at Netflix, which will begin filming this spring. The historical romance saga, based on Julia Quinn’s popular series of novels, became an instant classic for theContinue Reading

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Now this article gets it right about what historical romance is all about. Great article and worth the read! “By building a love story between the primary couple, one that is guaranteed to end ‘happily ever after’ or ‘happy for now,’ a romance novel not only provides escapism and the heart-pounding rush of vicarious passion, but a space in which to explore how romantic relationships can and should be, and how women can find fulfillment and happiness. And that means these stories have little to do with how the marriage market of Regency high society actually functioned; they’re about what readers — predominantly women — want to see in their lives today.” Source: ‘Bridgerton’ Isn’t Bad Austen — It’s An Entirely Different Genre | HuffPostContinue Reading

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This article on IndieWire is a bit harsh, calling Bridgerton’s storyline as “perpetrating harmful myths” (I’m not too keen on the word choice).  So let’s back-up the carriage here, folks.  He’s not just talking about the series, but he’s criticizing the premise of Julia Quinn’s historical romance novel, and undoubtedly thousands of other books by other authors. Apparently, due to the so-called lack of “practical sex education in this country,” the information expressed in this series paints a “dismal” portrait.  It gives the idea that sex is “wildly passionate” and everlasting love is the norm (those darn romance books with HEA).  I doubt readers believe that the Duke & I is a sex education manual.  The writer of this article definitely doesn’t understand the historicalContinue Reading

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Pinsent Tailoring reviews Bridgerton’s costumes! Gotta love this guy. He dresses Regency every day as a lifestyle.  So many goofs!  Enjoy!  Learn about what it means to be a “loose woman” by not wearing a hat. Some of the costuming is a “disaster.”Continue Reading

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A show based on popular bodice-rippers gives an industry often dismissed as tawdry a much-needed embrace. The success of “Bridgerton” couldn’t have come at a better time for the romance industry, which has been struggling to retain its power in the publishing world. Recent years have marked a steady decline in print and ebook sales of romance novels, which went from more than 98 million units sold in 2012 to 41 million in 2020, according to NPD BookScan, whose figures do not reflect sales of self-published titles. Source: Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ Heats Up Romance – WSJContinue Reading

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Author Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series of novels is as delightful as the hit Netflix show adapted from it. Luckily, many viewers getting into the world of Bridgerton means quite a few new readers will head to their libraries or local bookstores to check out the books that inspired the show. Source: 10 Books Like ‘Bridgerton’ To Read When You Need More RomanceContinue Reading

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What’s so great about Regency romances anyway? Source: Blame Jane: Romance Novels 2019–2020 Another interesting article – Blame Jane! “The lack of realistic options for writing interesting heroines is where the Regency loses a lot of authors. The choice can feel stuck between anachronism—planting a modern sensibility into an historic setting—and gender politics that leave modern readers cold.”Continue Reading

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The article linked below makes the point, “The Duke and I, was first published in 2000 – twenty years ago, well before woke culture, the #MeToo movement, and our growing understanding of consent and healthy gender dynamics.” We are back again to the conundrum that historical romance needs to stay pure to the times in which women lived, or we need to tweak the past so that it doesn’t offend those in the present. Recently I read a review for the Earl’s Well that Ends Well, a new release by Catherine Heloise, on another book website. I won’t go into the review itself but would like to focus upon a comment left by a reader. Perhaps it brings up a singular thought or one thatContinue Reading

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A history lesson on the gossip columns. Great read. “Newspapers were plentiful during the Regency Era, with most of the stories published centering on politics, crime, fashion, infidelity, or royal doings,” says Geri Walton, author of Marie Antoinette’s Confidante and regular writer on 18th and 19th-century Europe. Source: True Story of Lady Whistledown’s Scandal Sheets in ‘Bridgerton’Continue Reading

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“Quinn hopes the Netflix series might draw more attention to the genre.”  We can hope! Julia Quinn, the Seattle-based author of dozens of bestselling historical romance novels (whose real name is Julie Pottinger), is on the phone, remembering the moment she learned that her series of books about the Bridgerton family in Regency London was headed to the screen. Source: Seattle author’s ‘Bridgerton’ novels debut as Netflix series | Arts & Entertainment | lmtribune.comContinue Reading

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The show’s producers claim, “The point was to take that Regency period as a foundation, and not betray it in any way, but we didn’t want to make it a history lesson.” I find it interesting that some readers will allow authors to take liberties in their stories when they don’t one-hundred percent reflect the norms of the historical eras in which their book is set. A few minor falsehoods are forgiven, and it’s the love story that captures the reader’s attention instead. Other readers are purists at heart and want both — a historical romance that rings true to the era. I’ve read my fair share of reviewers who complain, using comments such as “the speech was too modern,” “badly written Regency novel, usingContinue Reading

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I read an interesting complaint the other day in a group on Facebook for historical fiction lovers. They complained that far too many historical romance books were invading the list, making it difficult for them to find books. Naturally, I jumped on the bandwagon to explain how publishers and authors choose categories and keywords when uploading a book. I don’t know that it helped any, because the complaints kept coming. Frankly, I will admit when I look at the best selling list for historical romance, I get confused. There are plenty of category crossovers as well, causing readers to sift through the top one hundred. As a result, I occasionally read nasty reviews when a reader who expected a certain genre gets a miss-match instead.Continue Reading

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So my recommendation to you: If you have read the books, try NOT to compare them. You can’t. They are completely different, except for the names of the characters and a vague sense that you are in a historical England. If you want to see the books brought to life on the screen, simply trade in your paperback for a Kindle. Source: Bridgerton on Netflix Has Very Little in Common with the Books – PasteContinue Reading

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NetGalley sent out an email (and put a notice on their home page) informing users that the e-galley service has been hacked on Monday, December 21, 2020. The hackers defaced the NetGalley. . . (continue reading) Source: NetGalley Has Been Hacked | The Digital Reader Authors and publishers pay a hefty fee to use NetGalley.  If you are not familiar with the website, readers can obtain advance copies of books.  It was originally launched in 2008, distributing galley proofs before release.  These books are posted by mainstream publishing houses and independent authors. Apparently the hackers accessed the backup file of the NetGalley database.  Not good news. If you are a reader, author, or publisher, you will have received notification of the breach.Continue Reading