Is Francesca gay or bisexual in the original Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn?

Bridgerton season five will focus on Francesca’s sapphic romance. But in the original Julia Quinn books, is the character queer?

The next series of the Netflix hit will see the middle Bridgerton daughter (portrayed by Hannah Dodd) fall for her late husband’s cousin, Michaela (Masali Baduza).

The fourth season focused on the love story of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). Many thought Benedict’s bisexual storyline would be the only LGBTQ+ spotlighted narrative. However, at the season four premiere, showrunner Jess Brownwell teased that a queer love story was still coming. Previously, Brownwell also said Francesca will begin a gay relationship.

In season three, Francesca met her husband John Stirling’s (Victor Alli) cousin, Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). Sparks flew instantly. Then, at the end of season four, Francesca’s husband passed away, and Michaela left London.

Presumably, this sets up the beginnings of Francesca and Michaela’s budding romance when the latter returns.

The forthcoming fifth season is set to adapt the sixth book in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, When He Was Wicked. Because of this, the show will jump ahead of the fifth book, To Sir Phillip, With Love, starring Eloise (Claudia Jessie).

‘An entire Bridgerton season about a sapphic relationship feels huge.’

Francesca’s season is set to jump two years after her husband’s death. The show picks up with her deciding to re-enter the marriage market for practical reasons. “Francesca’s complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions,” the synopsis reads.

In the show’s adaptation of the books, the fifth season will feature a major change: a gender-swapped character. In Quinn’s novels, Michaela is Michael. The change broadens the show’s LGBTQ+ representation.

Furthermore, throughout the books, Francesca is only in relationships with men. The fifth season will see the character explore her queerness. 

With the announcement that the series is in production, Brownell told Netflix’s Tudum it’s all about “big-time yearning.”

She continued: “To make an entire Bridgerton season about a sapphic relationship feels huge.”

“Those of us who know what it’s like to be in a sapphic relationship or have a sapphic crush understand that’s so baked into the experience.

“We had a lot of fun in the writers’ room for season five talking about what is really specific to women-loving-women relationships. Like the moment where you think, like, “Oh gosh, are we just friends? Or is this more?” You know, the gay panic. We’re having so much fun with it this season!”

Brownell also adds that the season will be about “queer joy” rather than “queer trauma.”