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Bridgerton's book ending is very different to the show

Warning, spoiler alert for the Bridgerton series finale and the book ahead!

TV & Film Editor
January 5, 2021

Bridgerton has been a smash hit with viewers, and it's easy to see why! The show sees the dashing Duke of Hastings fall in love with the beautiful Daphne Bridgerton, only to be determined not to have any children with her after vowing to end his lineage to his abusive father. 

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However, the Duke eventually is persuaded to change his mind, and the ending sees him and Daphne reconciled and as happy and in love as ever. 

MORE: The Duke of Hasting's spoon in Bridgerton has a fan following

However, the book ending is very different, as it jumps ahead several years into the future and looks at the couple's happy marriage after welcoming their fourth child together, and contemplating how on earth Lady Whistledown has already guessed what they have named him. 

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The book also fails to reveal who the real Lady Whistledown is, while the final moments of the show confirm that Penelope Featherington has been writing the gossip column all along. 

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While some viewers were loving the plot twist, it changed several opinions on Penelope, who had been a firm fan favourite. One person tweeted: "I don’t know why Penelope is a fan favourite... she didn’t have to make Marina’s 'condition' public news. And she did it out of spite and jealousy. For unrequited, unnoticed love of a man... while playing the role of friend. Trash." 

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Another added: "I know y’all love Penelope but I think it was extremely petty for her to expose Marina the way she did." Speaking about the big reveal, Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope, told Refinery29: "I think people will be mad. I was mad with her. It’s not only Marina's life that she's basically condemned, but also her sisters." 

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