Queen Charlotte

Before the Bridgertons Came the Love Story That Changed the Ton...

By: Julia Quinn, Shonda Rhimes

Narrated by: Natalie Simpson

Go beyond the original Shondaland series on Netflix, Queen Charlotte, with this lushly romantic Bridgerton prequel novel written by New York Times bestselling authors Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes as the marriage of Queen Charlotte and King George of England leads to an unexpected love story and a union that transforms society.

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, and her King, needed.

Because George has secrets… secrets with the potential to shake the very foundations of the monarchy.

Thrust into her new role, Charlotte must navigate the intricate politics of the court—with the newly-titled Lady Danbury at her side—all the while guarding her heart, because she is falling in love with the King…even as he pushes her away. Now, Charlotte must learn to rule, and to understand that she has been given the power to remake society, fulfilling her destiny as Queen. But she also has to fight for the love growing between her and George as people first, royals second. As she says to him: “Fight with me! Fight for me!”

Basically a 21st Century Love Story

I love The Bridgerton's series, and this is a good story and well narrated, but it takes issues from 2023 and puts them into 18th century England. When one character is described as "speaking truth to power," I dismissed the "historical" part of fiction. I hope listeners do not believe that Queen Charlotte (who most historians do not consider Black) created a racially integrated England. This is the same Queen Charlotte of Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities and King George the American colonies rebelled against.
To me, it felt like Netflix asked Julia Quinn to write something more diverse than all white people ruling over peasants in a patriarchal society, and she wrote this. It is a good story - it just seems like a modern-day story filled with same-sex love being cherished and appreciated; the understanding and acceptance of mental illness; and a Black queen in a racially diverse Georgian England.

1st love story I’ve chosen to read in quite a while and I’m so glad I did I!

Lovely, lovely story! After viewing the series, the book rounds out the telling of this love story, and the endurance of the characters through their many trials and triumphs.

I do suggest that you do not listen to the final chapters as you are grocery shopping, unless you can contain your inclination to laugh and cry. I unashamedly did both! Now, I’m in the checkout line with my thoughts❤️

Enchantment

Where do I begin!!!! I absolutely LOVED Queen Charlotte!!!! ❤️ The orator did an absolutely magnificent job! Her voice and expression were on point! I was so intrigued by the story that it took me 1.5 hours plus to reach my otherwise 30 minute trip.
I was lost in the mind of Queen Charlotte!

The author deserves extra stars for the believability of the characters and their affections (whether love or hate) for each other! The story was well written and exquisitely presented!! Bravo!!!!!!

Sweet! A little spice, but nothing bad!

I have the heart of a butterfly, I can’t do spice or anything violent.

This I think was perfect. There are some spice scenes, but I was able to handle it!

Sweet overall story, and fun. A good read.

Great book!

This book is a MUST read. It was such a great story of Queen Charlotte and King George.