By Okon Ekpenyong

A day after Columbus Metropolitan Library celebrated its 150th birthday on March 4, 2023 at all 22 branches, 1,500 people gathered at the Library’s Downtown branch to hear the Author of the groundbreaking historical fiction/romance mini-series Bridgerton on Netflix, Julian Quinn.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author whose Bridgerton book series inspired the Netflix original series of the same name, was the second Author in the Sesquicentennial Author Series celebrating the library’s 150 years of bringing readers joy.

According to the library’s website, “The books she has written have been translated into 41 languages and have been regarded as classics all over the world. She briefly studied medicine before focusing on writing full-time as a career path”.

It was a packed house, and the book series is a must-read for anyone who loves romance novels, especially if you’re a fan of them. Shonda Rhimes, best known for producing Station 19, Scandal, and Grace’s Anatomy, is the producer of this Netflix series.

Below is a list of the Bridgerton Books released from 2000 to 2006, which follow eight members of the Bridgerton family as they search for love, adventure, and happiness in the late Regency era and during the reign of King George IV and later:

• The Duke and I (2000, Daphne’s Story)
• The Viscount Who Loved Me (2000, Anthony’s Story)
• An Offer from a Gentleman (2001, Benedict’s Story)
• Romancing Mister Bridgerton (2002, Colin’s Story)
• To Sir Phillip, With Love (2003, Eloise’s Story)
• When He Was Wicked (2004, Francesca’s Story)
• It’s In His Kiss (2005, Hyacinth’s Story)
• On the Way to the Wedding (2006, Gregory’s Story)

Fans of the Author’s work

“It was beautiful to hear the Author’s rundown of her history, her thoughts on writing the novels, and seeing it adapted into a Netflix series. While I have not read the books, I have seen the Netflix series and am eager to read all eight of Bridgerton’s stories. The characters’ depth, well-roundedness, and stories are incredibly well-written. Each of the siblings who make up the series is so different that you can understand they are a family, and you can feel the family bond and how essential family values are to all of them.

“The story illustrates the impact of a supportive, loving family on creating love romantically, friendships, and bonds passed from generation to generation,” another fan noted.

“As a fan of romance novels and historical fiction, seeing the series combine those components made the story enjoyable to watch and read.”

There is no doubt that the story will resonate with many generations, judging by the long lines of fans lining up for autographs. Many authors have written such a beautiful story, but there has yet to be a screen adaptation. It took some time for the screen adaptation of Bridgerton’s series to appear since Quinn published the books seventeen years ago.

In other words, the increasing number of romance novels made into movies lately offers the audience various options, especially for fans of these books”.

The recently elected judge from Ohio’s Franklin County Court of Common Pleas General Division, Andria Noble, is a Quinn fan and waited in line to get autographs from the Author on Sunday.

“I’ve read and watched the Bridgerton series, and the novels are fun to read and easy to follow each character’s journey to the end. It made you want to read the series as quickly as possible, and Netflix’s adaptation is fantastic, with a diverse cast,” Judge Andria Noble said.

“I am a fan of the Author, have read her entire work, and it’s my third time seeing Julia Quinn. It is reminiscent of Bollywood romantic movies, especially since it has such an element of historical fiction that relates to parents’ expectations regarding their children’s careers, love, and spirituality,” Ajmeri Linda Hoque said. Hoque is a managing partner at the Law Offices of Ajmeri Linda Hoqueonce ran for the Dublin, Ohio, City Council.

The Netflix series and the books are great if you like historical romances and books featuring siblings. No matter if you dislike historical romances, it’s hard not to fall in love with one of the Noble Bridergton family members within the eight-book series.

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