• First Comes Scandal

  • A Bridgerton Prequel
  • By: Julia Quinn
  • Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
  • Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,286 ratings)

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First Comes Scandal  By  cover art

First Comes Scandal

By: Julia Quinn
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
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Publisher's summary

She was given two choices....

Georgiana Bridgerton isn’t against the idea of marriage. She’d just thought she’d have some say in the matter. But with her reputation hanging by a thread after she’s abducted for her dowry, Georgie is given two options: live out her life as a spinster or marry the rogue who has ruined her life.

Enter option number three...

As the fourth son of an earl, Nicholas Rokesby is prepared to chart his own course. He has a life in Edinburgh, where he’s close to completing his medical studies, and he has no time - or interest - to find a wife. But when he discovers that Georgie Bridgerton - his literal girl next door - is facing ruin, he knows what he must do.

A marriage of convenience...

It might not have been the most romantic of proposals, but Nicholas never thought she’d say no. Georgie doesn’t want to be anyone’s sacrifice, and besides, they could never think of each other as anything more than childhood friends...or could they?

But as they embark upon their unorthodox courtship they discover a new twist to the age-old rhyme. First comes scandal, then comes marriage. But after that comes love... 

©2020 Julia Quinn (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Featured Article: Breaking Down the Bridgerton Family Tree


It's hard not to fall in love with the Bridgerton family, which explains why there's a whole series of books all about, well, people falling in love with them. Even if you've only seen the Netflix show and have yet to dive into Julia Quinn's fun, fast-paced, and swoon-worthy romance series, you probably want to know more about the Bridgertons. Here's your guide to the siblings and their significant others—from who's who to who's romantically linked to whom.

What listeners say about First Comes Scandal

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Ok Julia

Julia Quinn is hands down, next to Tessa Dare, my favorite Regency Romance author. However, THIS is not what is up. I love the idea of the story line but this is my least favorite of them all. She owes me another book... Just saying ...
I truly hope she gets a nice check from this book because this was a definitely a pay the bills book! ... if I were an English Teacher this book would be exited into a short story. A lot of filler. Sort of a waste of a good plot as well. Julia you owe me!!!

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8 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Does not disappoint

Another great installment in a fantastic series. I only have to say that the road trip was a bit exhausting and could easily have been shortened especially regarding the cats. It went on a bit too long for pleasure. I also would’ve liked a bit more conflicts or climax for the couple to overcome to get to their happily ever after.It’s charming and witty and simply Julia Quinn. I did get tired of hearing about the cats on their trip. That did seem a bit exhausting. Also would have liked a bit more climax in the story before the happy ever ending.

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5 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Dull

I'm so disappointed in this book. It was well-written and well-performed, but it was boring. Nothing happened in this story, and there was no conflict to be found anywhere. When I reached the epilogue, I went back a couple of chapters to see if it had skipped a few, but it hadn't. it was rushed at the end, pretty much as soon as their feeling were established. I would've liked to have seen Georgie's interest grow into more than a mention here and there, because there seems to be more story in between the last chapter and the epilogue. I was tempted to return the book, but I love Quinn and Landor, so I'll take the loss and hope the next one is better.

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3 people found this helpful

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Too much focus on a cat

I’ve listened to and read more than a dozen Julia Quinn novels and this is the only one I disliked. The story focuses on a cat so much that I almost decided not to finish the book. The only positive is that the female lead was very much an equal academically to the male lead. Not exactly academically since she didn’t have access to a formal higher education though

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Boring!!

I’ve read a few Julia Quinn books and this was by far the most boring. Not much of a story line. Everything was stretched out. Could have been a quarter the length and still would have covered the same information.

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Story missing. Not good Quinn.

Disappointing book. Having enjoyed Quinn's earlier Bridgerton novels, I was expecting an engaging story, witty dialog, and laughter. This book was boring. Sorry that I pre-ordered. Narrator is good.

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2 people found this helpful

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Extremely disappointing

After reading the first three books of this series, I was excited for this booking thinking it would be the concluding book of the series...meaning it would give more info of their family members and a look into Edmund and Voilet's story. This was barely a love story, or even a story. Weak characters, weak banter, weak, story line. Worst Julia Quinn book I've read so far (and I've read over 10 of her books)

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Quinn's Style But No Substance

I so looked forward to this Bridgerton prequel. And Quinn delivered her inimitable style and writing quality. But there is really no story here. As much as I enjoyed the heroine's antics with her rascally cat, that wasn't enough to make up for the lack of real content. I admire Quinn's skill but there is no there there (as Gertrude Stein might have said). A tremendous and total disappointment. I'll be wary of her future books and certainly won't pre-order any of them.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Being a cat lover..,

Being a cat lover I loved the story and could well understand and love the part out Cat Head!

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First Comes Scandal


Julia Quinn has done it again with First Comes Scandal! Georgie and Nathaniel grew up together but until Georgie was caught in a compromize they never considered each other as a love interest. As it turns out, he came to her rescue and they married and went to Scotland where he was in medical school. Great story !!

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  • debcraig78
  • 02-12-23

A good light read

An easy read light romance book, not sure about all the cat dedication it was a bit weird and long. I would have liked the end storyline fleshed out more. The sex scene descriptions are a bit over the top especially for that period- less is best. Recommend for others after the previous books have been completed

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  • Deborah Forster
  • 08-07-23

Not the usual standard

The cat is unbelievably annoying and spoils the relationship story. Difficult circumstances to begin with and then the constant interruption of the cat.

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  • J Loccisano
  • 01-06-23

Not Bad

Parts of the story line were good but an hour half about the cats on the journey to Edinburgh was tedious.

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  • Tanya
  • 06-23-22

Wonder novel

Sweet and charming light book.
Was a pleasure to listen to and I loved every minute of it!

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  • Sharon Tindall
  • 05-19-22

Worst romance novel

This story is nothing like other books in Rokesby series. Found it pretty boring. I felt like the story is more about an annoying cat.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 03-31-22

could not get into it

found this book bit tiresome - the cat stuff was actually just annoying in the end

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-26-21

Worst bridgerton book

I have loved all the bridgerton books. This was the last one on the list. Quite disappointed sadly. The cat in this book is overdone
The cat screeches are way too much and almost unbearable to listen to. Landor is phenomenal but the cat was too much for me
Not a great story this one unfortunately and it pains me to say it

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  • Yvonne N Langridge
  • 10-21-21

Where’s the story

Sorry but seems this was just a short story with no real plot and mostly sex. If that’s what you’re after then fine but there are so many better.

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  • Lena
  • 10-04-21

not the best out of the series but good

at first the audio had a really weird fuzz or something I can't explain. eventually got better, the book felt very repetitive in certain parts and the darn cat made me want to scream, a+ to the narrator there, conveyed the annoyance of that cat well.
overall, good, but ehhhhh.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 08-07-21

Funny

I found this book funny in most parts. She did get a lil irritating in some parts, but I did enjoyed it overall.

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