For fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton, Edwina Sharma’s journey in season two was a dramatic rollercoaster. As the season’s “diamond,” she found her heart torn between her own dreams and her sister’s hidden feelings for Anthony Bridgerton. The show left her future open-ended, but in Julia Quinn’s original books, her path to love is much clearer and ends quite differently.
Edwina’s Story in the Netflix Series
In the Netflix adaptation, Edwina Sharma is a confident and intelligent debutante who knows exactly what she wants in a husband. Her arrival in London with her sister Kate and mother Mary turns many heads, especially that of Anthony Bridgerton, the Viscount. Anthony decides to court Edwina, seeing her as the perfect candidate to become his viscountess—a marriage of duty, not love.
This sets up a complicated love triangle. While Anthony pursues Edwina, he develops undeniable chemistry and tension with her older sister, Kate. Edwina, initially swept up by Anthony’s attention, genuinely believes she is in love and agrees to marry him. The drama peaks at their wedding ceremony, where Edwina realizes the true depth of the connection between her fiancé and her sister.
In a powerful moment of self-respect, she makes the bold decision to call off the wedding. She tells Anthony, “I think she ultimately thought Anthony is not it. She can do better”. By choosing to walk away, Edwina prioritizes her own worth and happiness over a society marriage built on a lie. The season concludes with Queen Charlotte hinting at a potential match with her nephew, Prince Friedrich, but Edwina’s future ultimately remains a mystery, leaving her story open for the show to explore further.
Edwina’s Happily-Ever-After in the Books
Julia Quinn’s book, The Viscount Who Loved Me, presents a very different version of Edwina. Rather than a central figure in a tense love triangle, book Edwina is a more mild-mannered character. She is described as a kind and beautiful young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, who dreams of marrying a scholar.
Her courtship with Anthony Bridgerton is much less intense. In the book, Edwina does not develop strong romantic feelings for the Viscount. Their relationship is primarily a plot device that allows Anthony and Kate to be in close proximity and eventually fall in love. Edwina is never truly heartbroken and is, in fact, supportive of her sister’s relationship with Anthony.
Most importantly, the books provide a clear and happy ending for Edwina. She eventually marries a man named Mr. Bagwell. True to her dreams, he is a scholar—an intelligent and kind man, though not a wealthy lord or a titled aristocrat. Their relationship is built on mutual respect and shared interests, offering Edwina a simple and steady love story that perfectly suits her gentle personality.
Key Differences Between the Two Storylines
The adaptation made significant changes to Edwina’s character and arc to create more drama for television.
- Character Agency: Netflix’s Edwina is a modern, independent woman who makes her own choices, even when they go against society’s expectations. Book Edwina has a quieter role and is not the driver of such dramatic conflict.
- The Love Triangle: The show greatly heightened the love triangle, making Edwina an active and emotionally invested participant who feels betrayed. In the book, the triangle is far less pronounced, and Edwina is not caught in the middle of a painful secret.
- The Ending: The series leaves Edwina’s romantic future uncertain, focusing on her personal growth after her heartbreak. The books give her a definitive and satisfying conclusion by marrying her to a man who values her for who she is.
Both versions of Edwina Sharma celebrate her kind and graceful nature. Whether she finds love with a prince on the show or a scholar in the books, her story highlights that happiness comes in many forms.
Also Read: The Real Story Behind Lady Danbury and Her Brother Marcus Anderson on ‘Bridgerton’
