Episode · The Book Review · 2026-02-13
Julia Quinn on The Book Review: books mentioned
Julia Quinn on Her 'Bridgerton' Books and the Smash Netflix Series
Gilbert Cruz discussed The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. Julia Quinn recommended Lost In Place by Mark Salzman, Last Days of Summer Updated Ed by Steve Kluger, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, The City of Ember (The First Book of Ember) by Jeanne DuPrau, The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, and The evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, and discussed The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Night Song by Beverly Jenkins, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Duke and I
Discussed“when that first Bridgetgerton book, The Duke and I, was published, you had already put out six, seven books. Mhm. This is my eighth novel.”
Where to get it
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The Flame and the Flower
Discussed“So my earliest memory of it is actually reading an abridged romance novel I think by Kathleen Woodwis who basically invented the modern romance novel. She had a book that came out in 1972 called The Flame and the Flower.”
Where to get it
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Night Song
Discussed“And this was a huge deal to have two black characters on the front of the book. I think I think the book was called Night Song was the first one.”
Where to get it
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is a beloved comedic science fiction classic that satirizes bureaucracy, existentialism, and the absurdities of the universe.
Discussed“I'm going to go with The Hitcher's Guide to the Galaxy, which I adore.”
Where to get it
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Lost In Place
Lost in Place: Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia by Mark Salzman is a memoir that explores the author's formative years.
Recommended“I would say it is a memoir called Lost in Place: Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia by Mark Salsman.”
Where to get it
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Last Days of Summer Updated Ed
Last Days of Summer Updated Ed is a epistolary novel written by Steve Kluger.
Recommended“So, this is a tough one because I get people get me books a lot, but I think it was Last Days of Summer by Steve Kuger”
Where to get it
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The Phantom Tollbooth
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is a classic children's adventure novel featuring illustrations by Jules Feiffer, following a bored boy named Milo who receives a magical tollbooth and drives his toy car into a whimsical kingdom.
Recommended“So, like the Phantom Toll booth, like what are we talking about?”
Where to get it
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The City of Ember (The First Book of Ember)
The City of Ember (The First Book of Ember) is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by Jeanne DuPrau.
Recommended“I did The City of Ember twice.”
Where to get it
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The Wednesday Wars
The Wednesday Wars is a novel by Gary D.
Recommended“I did The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt twice, which is just a fabulous book.”
Where to get it
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The evolution of Calpurnia Tate
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly is a charming middle-grade historical novel following a young girl growing up in Texas at the turn of the twentieth century as she develops a passion for science and nature.
Recommended“I did The Evolution of Kalpernia Tate twice.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Her Bridgetgerton series kicked off in the year 2000 with the Duke and I.”
“And actually, not everybody would be surprised because eagle-eyed readers of Romancing Mr. Bridgetton, which is Colin and Penelope story, will spot a little homage to the Hitcher's Guide in the book”