Before Bridgerton, I Knew the Everards
By Stephanie Candelario Santiago
Edited by Emilee Saigh
If you’re like me, Bridgerton has completely taken over your life in the last few years. Every time a new season comes out, I consume it in less than a day, and then I’m left in that post-Bridgerton void where I have to wait two years for the next season. The show has captured our hearts with its swoon-worthy storylines and exceptional performances. Whenever I get into the Bridgerton headspace, I want to consume media that reminds me of it; mainly regency-centered romances featuring family dynamics.
It was during this search I rediscovered a Wattpad series that captured my heart when I was in middle school. The Everard series by Janelle Duco Ruiz was my holy grail. Stumbling upon an interconnected romance series set in a fictional underground town frozen in the Regency era felt like striking gold as a preteen surfing the mines of Wattpad. If you’re looking for a Regency romance that has the Bridgerton feel while also offering its own unique take on the genre, look no further than the Everard siblings.
(Note: This article will only focus on the eight Everard sibling novels and won't include the prequel story.)
Book One: To Bewitch A Beast
To Bewitch A Beast, the story that started it all. Benedict Everard’s story introduces us to the fictional place of The Town; an underground society frozen in time whose only contact with the outside world are the holes rising up to the ground above them, providing a view of the sky. Benedict is the oldest sibling, taking on the responsibility of his family when his father passes away in a mining accident. Very Anthony Bridgerton-coded if you ask me. Due to his mysterious nature and the scars on his face, he’s earned the nickname of “the beast.” To his family and the townsfolk, it seemed unlikely anyone would crack his tough exterior. Enter Agatha Blair, governess to his little sisters and the woman who turns his life upside down. Their story is filled with tense moments, secrets, and an unforgettable love defying the social standings their society is built upon. Benedict and Agatha’s will to fight for their love against all odds is what lays the groundwork for the next Everard siblings to follow the same path.
Book Two: One Wicked Season
One Wicked Season follows the second son, Levi Everard, and his love story with Lady Victoria Ashwell. This book is perfect if you’ve just finished season four of Bridgerton because this is the Everards’ Cinderella story. Victoria, or Tori to her friends, doesn’t have to deal with different social classes the way Sophie does in Bridgerton, but she does have to outscheme a wicked stepmother. Tori must secure a husband during the social season to protect her inheritance, so she seeks the help of her good friend and former rake, Levi. Needless to say, Levi does succeed in finding Tori’s husband, even if it’s not who they would’ve originally imagined.
Book Three: Sleeping Engagement
Sleeping Engagement is the first book to follow the story of an Everard woman. Margaret Everard’s story gives us a glimpse into not only her past, but her brother Benedict’s as well. Margaret’s story with her ex-fiancé, Cole Devitt, is a big jump from the previous books. The pair used to believe they would spend their lives together until a violent incident involving Benedict ruined any future they might have. When unforeseen circumstances bring Cole back into Margaret’s life, she must work through all the residual feelings she tried to bury when Cole first disappeared from her life. Featuring a murder mystery plot and a secret society, Margaret and Cole’s story is filled with secret meetings and a push-and-pull game between them. This novel explores second chances, engages with danger, and holds a seductive aura the first two don’t quite achieve.
(Note: Please check trigger warnings for this book if you plan on reading.)
Book Four: A Lady’s Guide to Courtship
Back-to-back Everard women stories! A Lady’s Guide to Courtship follows the youngest of the Everard bunch, Miss Ysabella Everard, as she attempts to woo the elusive Lord of Wakefield, William Hayward. This is also perfect for fans of Bridgerton Season Four since it features a case of hidden identity as Ysa writes Wakefield letters under the pen name Lady Weis. To me, Wakefield gives the biggest Benedict Bridgerton energy out of the Everard series men. Just like Benedict, Wakefield is unable to recognize two very important women in his life, who he has conflicting feelings for, are actually the same person. Apparently, there is nothing that hinders a Regency man more than a mask. Ysa and Wakefield’s story is one of my favorites in the series due to their amazing banter, even when Wakefield denies having any feelings for Ysa. This story features opulent balls, bandits, a butler who steals the show, many letters, and adventures leading these two back into each other’s lives against their better judgment.
Book Five: His Lady In Breeches
His Lady In Breeches gives a glimpse into the life of Maxwell Everard, the most serious and mysterious of the bunch. Maxine Theobald thought her quest to find the truth about her mother was a task of its own. It turns out masquerading as a man to secure employment as Nicholas Everard’s valet complicated her efforts. While Maxine is able to keep her identity hidden from the oblivious Nicholas, she didn’t count on Maxwell’s presence. She never would’ve imagined her boss’s brother would figure her out so quickly. Maxwell and Maxine experience so much tension as they both tiptoe around the secrets hanging between them. Their love is about welcoming the unexpected, and how sometimes you find the thing you need above all else isn’t the thing you set out to look for, after all.
Book Six: Remember Then
Nicholas Everard finally gets his time to shine in Remember Then. Nicholas proves to be a man fascinated by the unknown, and the current object of his attention is the mystery woman who works in the most affluent brothel in The Town. Sophia may technically work and reside in Rock’oles, but her role is not the same as the rest of the women who work there. She keeps her secrets guarded the same way she guards the entrance to her room. Sophia’s main job is to acquire secrets and information to pass along to Marcus Durley, her boss and the man who saved her life. Nicholas and Sophia’s story starts when Nick’s brother, Ralph, takes advantage of his desire to solve the mystery of “the woman behind the door” to aid in his own mission. What follows is a beautiful love story between two people who realize they are both looking for the same thing: someone who truly understands them.
Book Seven: Masterful Trickery
In Masterful Trickery, Alex, our favorite bandit, becomes the protagonist after she finds an injured woman in the middle of the forest. As luck would have it, this event brings Ralph Everard, the youngest of the Everard brothers and established Town Guard, back into her life. Ralph and Alex previously met during an Everard wedding and shared a magical moment that has haunted their thoughts ever since. When they meet again, Ralph is unable to reconcile the woman from the wedding with the bandit. Seriously, masks and a pretty dress are a regency man’s greatest enemy to finding true love. When they find themselves caught up in a bigger conspiracy than they originally imagined, they must work together to solve the mystery that will have major repercussions for the Everard family and The Town as they know it. Ralph and Alex’s story is packed to the brim with adventures, high stakes situations, endless banter, and slight spoiler my favorite proposal scene of the entire series.
Book Eight: Mysterious Seduction
Mysterious Seduction, the last book in the Everard series, arrives in the form of Emma Everard’s story. Emma’s storyline is so interesting because it’s the first one to have three main POVs instead of two. When you start reading, you think this will be your classic love triangle, but it very quickly establishes there is only one possible option. Our other protagonists are Samuel Theobald and Wynn Hastings, who we’ve met in previous books. I’m not going to give too much away because I believe it’s best to go into this story knowing as little as possible so you truly appreciate each reveal and plot twist (I promise, you’ll thank me later!). What I will say is you’re in for a surprise engagement, secret identities, gossip, and a glimpse into the lives of another of The Town’s infamous families. I had been very curious as to how Emma’s story would finish the Everards’ arc, but I think it was a fantastic conclusion to an incredible series.
Important Critiques
It doesn’t matter how much sentimental value a series might carry, it isn't exempt from criticism. This is true for both the Everard and Bridgerton books. While I do enjoy both of these series, the Everards carry more of a nostalgic feel than the Bridgertons do. However, they both have areas in which they can improve when it comes to discussing certain topics within a genre such as historical romance, whether based in real or fictional events. In the Bridgerton books, critiques have been raised about how male characters were originally written, with misogyny and sexism present throughout. More broadly, historical fiction can fall into similar pitfalls by portraying or reinforcing prejudice and racial stereotypes. For example, one criticism of the Everard series is that some characters appear oblivious to how race shapes social standing and influences other character’s lived experiences. Nicholas Everard falls prey to this by not fully acknowledging how Sophia’s experience as a woman of color contributes to the way she was treated within a close-minded society. I understand historical romance deals with a period of time where there was a lot of prejudice and certain topics such as misogyny, classism, and racial biases are typically portrayed in a certain way. However, it’s still important we also engage critically with the text and identify the areas where these topics can be discussed more effectively. Regardless of when a work of fiction is set, the human experience will always matter and it’s important as readers we do our part to ensure this criteria is met.
Conclusion
The Everards are a big family who fight for love and their happy endings above all else, just like the Bridgertons. If you still long for that chaotic family dynamic the Bridgertons provided, I urge you to give the Everards and their love stories a chance. I’ve carried this family in my heart for a long time, longer than the Bridgertons, and I hope whoever chooses to embark on this crazy journey with them comes to love them and the fictional place of The Town just as much as I do. All the Everard books can be found on Wattpad on Janelle Ruiz’s page under the name greenwriter. Benedict and Levi’s books require a subscription to access the full story, but the rest of the series is free for anyone to read. While there is a connection between each story, you typically don’t have to read them all or go in order to understand each individual one. Although, reading them in order does add more context. I hope I’ve inspired some of you to give the Everards a chance and they can fill that Bridgerton-shaped hole as you wait for the next season. Happy reading, everyone!