Romancing Mister Bridgerton

In 1824, Penelope Featherington is 28, written off as a spinster, and has secretly loved Colin Bridgerton since she was a girl. Colin comes home from another trip, tired of being just the family charmer, and starts to see her differently. Then he discovers that Penelope is Lady Whistledown, the author of the gossip column that has stirred up London for over ten years, and he's torn between admiration and fear of scandal. They get engaged anyway. Cressida Twombley claims to be Whistledown and blackmails Penelope. At a ball, Colin reveals the truth to everyone and stands by her. Penelope can finally sign her own work.

1. ChangeTen years later, not one

   The book is set in 1824, with Penelope at 28 and Colin at 33. On the show, it picks up right after S2, with both of them much younger.

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2. ChangeWho tells the truth

   In the book, Colin is the one who reveals at a ball that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. On the show, Penelope steps up and confesses in front of everyone.

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3. ChangeFrancesca gets more room

   In the books, Francesca marries John Stirling off the page, before this novel. S3 shows their courtship and introduces Michaela, John's cousin.

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4. ChangeColin before Benedict

   The books tell Benedict's story before Colin's. The show flipped the order and made Penelope and Colin the S3 couple.

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