Queen Charlotte

I'm a relative newbie to the Bridgerton universe. I've read the first three books and watched the first season of the TV show (which I loved). I was excited to hear that Quinn would be focusing on Queen Charlotte's backstory, so I picked up the audiobook (before watching the NetFlix series) to see where this grand dame came from.

This book was co-written by Julia Quinn and powerhouse American TV producer, Shonda Rhimes who helped bring the Bridgertons to the small screen. I think the addition of Rhimes' voice gave this story a bit of a different feel compared to the other books in the Bridgerton series. 

The story's strength is in its narrators of which there are a few - Charlotte, George, Agatha (aka Lady Danbury) and servant Brimsley. The romance was sweet, and I enjoyed the bits of humour, but the plot itself is fairly basic with the focus more on the mental health angle than on the burgeoning love between Charlotte and George. 

This was a light listen and a decent addition to the Bridgerton universe. I plan to watch the NetFlix series and see if perhaps the story was better fitted (for me) on the small screen.  

My Rating: 3 stars

Authors: Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes

Type and Source: eAudio from public library

Genre: Romance

Run Time: 12 hours, 23 min

Narrator: Natalie Simpson

Publisher: HarperAudio

First Published: May 9, 2023

Book Description from GoodReads: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn and television pioneer Shonda Rhimes comes a powerful and romantic novel of Bridgerton's Queen Charlotte and King George III's great love story and how it sparked a societal shift, inspired by the original series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, created by Shondaland for Netflix.

“We are one crown. His weight is mine, and mine is his…”

In 1761, on a sunny day in September, a King and Queen met for the very first time. They were married within hours.

Born a German Princess, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was beautiful, headstrong, and fiercely intelligent… not precisely the attributes the British Court had been seeking in a spouse for the young King George III. But her fire and independence were exactly what she needed, because George had secrets… secrets with the potential to shake the very foundations of the monarchy.

Thrust into her new role as a royal, Charlotte must learn to navigate the intricate politics of the court… all the while guarding her heart, because she is falling in love with the King, even as he pushes her away. Above all she must learn to rule, and to understand that she has been given the power to remake society. She must fight—for herself, for her husband, and for all her new subjects who look to her for guidance and grace. For she will never be just Charlotte again. She must instead fulfill her destiny… as Queen.