Warning: Contains possible SPOILERS for Bridgerton
Although Netflix's Bridgerton series began with Daphne's story, each member of the Bridgerton family has a chance in the spotlight. The children consist of Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth, with each child's name starting with the next letter in the alphabet. The Netflix show was based on a popular book series by Julia Quinn, and each novel focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling.
Bridgerton season 1 covered Daphne's search for love in Regency-era London. As she and the rest of her family tried to navigate relationships and scandals, an anonymous newsletter columnist known only as Lady Whistledown revealed people's most intimate secrets. Unlike the novels, the Bridgerton Netflix series takes place in a racially integrated London with people of color included among Britain's high society, most notably Queen Charlotte and Daphne's love interest, Simon Basset.
The series has also been able to expand on elements of the original novels, such as the past romances of the eldest Bridgerton sibling, Anthony. While the books only mentioned his past lover, the show fleshed out an affair with opera singer Siena Rosso. Bridgerton season 2 is continuing the trend of adapting one book per season, meaning Anthony will replace his sister as the main focus. Since the show has so far been renewed for a third and fourth season as well, it seems Netflix hopes to adapt as many of Quinn's novels as it can, allowing for Daphne's siblings to each get a chance to shine. Here's a breakdown of everyone in the Bridgerton family and an overview of their stories in the books.
Edmund & Violet Bridgerton
The parents of the Bridgerton siblings, Edmund and Violet, married when Edmund was 20-years-old and Violet was 18. They started a loving marriage and family together, until Edmund's sudden death at 38-years-old from an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Tragically, he passed before his youngest child, Hyacinth, was born. Violet never remarried, instead concerning herself with ensuring that her eight children found good matches of their own. She was 47-years-old during Bridgerton season 1. Although devoted fans of Quinn's series have repeatedly asked the author if she'd ever be willing to write a book about Violet and Edmund, she replied that it would be "too bittersweet." However, a short story called "Violet in Bloom" in The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After collection is about a younger Violet, and the story features Edmund as well.
Anthony Bridgerton
The oldest Bridgerton child, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, has experienced mounting pressures after inheriting the Viscount title at only 18-years-old. At 29, Anthony spent the majority of Bridgerton season 1 in a secret on-again, off-again affair with Siena Rosso, who lacked the social standing to marry a Viscount. They split for good by the end of the season, and Anthony's true love story occurs in Quinn's second novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me, as well as the upcoming Bridgerton season 2. Having put off his own wedding long enough, Anthony decides to marry Edwina Sheffield, but her older half-sister Kate becomes determined to stop it from happening. In the process of thwarting Anthony's plans, the two of them accidentally fall in love.
Benedict Bridgerton
27-years-old at the start of the series, Benedict Bridgerton is a renowned artist with paintings in art museums and galleries. In Quinn's third book, An Offer from a Gentleman, Benedict falls for a mysterious woman at a masquerade ball, and by the end of the party, he has only a single glove of hers to remember her by. Two years later, he unknowingly encounters the woman, Sophie Beckett, once again, as she's dressed as a maid and being harrassed by three men. Saving her from the situation, Benedict convinces her to take a job working for his mother. Eventually, he recognizes her as the woman from the ball.
Colin Bridgerton
In Bridgerton season 1, the third oldest Bridgerton, Colin, was briefly engaged to Mariana. His family was against the marriage partly because he was only 22-years-old at the time. The engagement ended when he learned she was trying to use him to save herself from social ruin after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. However, in book four of the Bridgerton series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Colin falls in love for real. He develops feelings for his longtime friend Penelope Featherington despite the many secrets they both possess. Most notably, Penelope's secret identity as Lady Whistledown is revealed.
Daphne Bridgerton
Bridgerton season 1, like Quinn's first novel The Duke and I, followed 21-year-old Daphne Bridgerton as she faked a relationship with the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett, in order to entice other eligible men to want to pursue her. Although the plan was working, the two of them ended up falling in love instead. At first, Simon refused to marry her because of how much Daphne wanted children, which the duke said he could not have. However, they eventually worked through their misunderstandings and conflicts to become a very happy couple.
Eloise Bridgerton
The fifth Bridgerton sibling, Eloise, was 17-years-old at the start of the Netflix series. Her story is told in book five, called To Sir Phillip, with Love, during which she becomes pen pals with Sir Phillip Crane after his wife, who was also Eloise's fourth cousin, passes away. Eloise Bridgerton writes to him to express her condolences for the loss, and they grow close through letters until Phillip eventually writes to ask for her hand in marriage. Eloise is skeptical, since they had never even met in person, but decides to visit him anyway, curious what might come of it.
Francesca Bridgerton
Francesca Bridgerton was 16-years-old during Bridgerton season 1, and she takes the center stage in the sixth book in the series, When He Was Wicked. Francesca meets her future love, Michael Stirling, at a dinner celebrating her upcoming marriage to someone else. Although Michael falls in love rather quickly, they become good friends instead. Michael keeps his true feelings to himself for as long as he can, until one night when he simply can't anymore.
Gregory Bridgerton
Gregory Bridgerton was 12-years-old at the start of the Bridgerton series. In book eight, On the Way to the Wedding, Gregory falls in love with a woman named Hermione Watson who, to his dismay, loves someone else. Hermione's best friend, Lady Lucinda Abernathy, disapproves of the pairing, and so offers to help Gregory win her over instead. As they work together to stop Hermione's union, Gregory and Lucy end up developing feelings for each other. Unfortunately, Lucy is already engaged, and her uncle won't let her back out of the upcoming wedding.
Hyacinth Bridgerton
The youngest child of the Bridgerton family, Hyacinth, was only ten-years-old during Bridgerton season 1. In It's in His Kiss, book seven of the series, Hyacinth offers to translate an old family diary belonging to an acquaintance of hers, Gareth St. Clair. The diary was written entirely in Italian, which Hyacinth knows a little of. Gareth desperately needs to learn what the diary contains because he believes it may have the power to save him from losing his inheritance, which his father has been trying to take away from him. As Hyacinth and Gareth learn the diary's secrets, they also slowly start to fall in love.
Bridgerton season 2 premieres on Netflix on March 25th.