These Are The 8 Biggest Differences Between The "Bridgerton" Book And TV Show

Just call me Lady Whisteldown, 'cause I'm revealing all the secrets.

Attention dear readers, I think it's safe to say that Bridgerton is officially the diamond of the season.

Liam Daniel / Netflix

In case you didn't know, the hit Netflix series is based on Julia Quinn's The Duke and I, the first novel in an eight-book series about the Bridgerton siblings.

instagram.com

Now, I'm one of those people who has to read the book before watching the show, which means I easily spotted all the differences between the two. So, without further ado your grace, here are the biggest differences between the book and the series:

Netflix / Via Vanity Fair

🚨MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD !!! 🚨

Simon and Daphne meet in a slightly different way.

Liam Daniel / Netflix

In the show, Daphne bumps into him at a ball before being formally introduced by her brother, Anthony. However, in the book, Daphne is accosted by Lord Berbrooke in the hallway and she punches him unconscious, similar to the garden scene in the show's pilot. Simon stumbles upon her and Berbrook's unconscious body, and the two devise a plan to remove him before anyone sees.

Anthony was in on their ruse.

Liam Daniel / Netflix

In the show, Daphne and Simon keep their fake romance completely under lock and key, especially from Anthony, who makes his disdain of their relationship very known. But in the book, Anthony gets so angry that Daphne and Simon come clean about their ruse and swear him to secrecy. This just made finding the two hooking up in the garden even more shocking!

Simon's stutter isn't completely gone.

Netflix

In both the book and the series, Simon struggles with a stutter as a young child, horribly leading to his father disowning him. In the show, Simon's stutter is gone in adulthood and is only mentioned in the past (save for one scene with Lady Danbury). But in The Duke and I, he still struggles with it, usually when his emotions are running high, and it becomes something we see him actively work to overcome during his relationship with Daphne.

And he doesn't box.

Netflix

That's right, Simon's affinity for boxing is 100% limited to the show. That being said, I'm by no means complaining 😏.

Benedict doesn't attend orgies or artistic bohemian parties.

Netflix

Though Benedict is an artist in the books as well, that's about all that's the same. There are no bohemian parties or orgies in sight, but never fear. His book, An Offer and a Gentleman, still has plenty of spicy scenes.

Marina Thompson doesn't exist.

Netflix

Okay, ~technically~ she's mentioned very briefly in the fifth book — To Sir Phillip, With Love — as the late wife of Eloise's love interest, Phillip Crane. But she's never alive on the page, so for all intents and purposes, her character in the show is essentially written from scratch. That pregnancy scandal? Her engagement to Colin? Yeah, never happened.

And she's not the only one. There are a ton of new characters in the series who don't appear anywhere in the books.

Liam Daniel / LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX

Madame Delacroix, Will Mondrich, Siena Russo, Prince Friederich, Lord Featherington, and Queen Charlotte are all characters exclusive to the show.

And finally, Lady Whistledown's identity isn't revealed until much later.

Netflix

The identity of the elusive Lady Whistledown is revealed in the last moments of the show's season finale, but it's not revealed in the book at all. In fact, the book doesn't really focus that much on uncovering who she is. Eloise doesn't conduct an investigation, and though people are curious, they're mostly content letting her be anonymous. Lady W's identity is eventually uncovered in the fourth book in the series, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

Have you read the Bridgerton books? Spot a difference I missed? Let me know in the comments!