Loyal Lovin readers can support Lovin so we can continue to share the stories of all amazing cities
Minimum custom amount to enter is AED 2
By donating, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
The Tea Of The Ton! Why Bridgerton Won’t Be Filmed In Dubai Anytime Soon
Author Julia Quinn Talks About The Possibility Of A Bridgerton Set In Dubai!
Bridgerton fans UNITE because queen Julia Quinn is HERE in Dubai!
The New York Times best-selling romance author, Julia Quinn, recently landed in Dubai for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2022. If you haven’t watched Netflix’s glamorous Regency period drama Bridgerton, then it is highly possible that you have been living under a rock.
Recommended
WEEKEND HOTLIST: 6 Ways To Cool Off On A Summer Day Off
Juventus Academy Dubai And Danube Sports World Kick Off A New Era of Football Greatness!
UFC Fight Night Is Back In Abu Dhabi For An Unforgettable Showdown!EVERYONE’S watched it – from the First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden to all the squealing Dubai fans waiting in the book-signing line after the Julia Quinn session. You should be aghast (*flutters hand fan in disappointment*)
*This article is available for Lovin Extra readers
View this post on Instagram
But fear not fans and folks, because Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers (ahem Lovin Dubai ahem) has all the piping HOT HIGH TEA about the Ton laid out for you right here
View this post on Instagram
Julia Quinn was very EXCITED to come to Dubai. “I’d heard about the Lit Fest about 10 years ago and I thought to myself, maybe someday they’ll ask me to come”
What she didn’t figure out was that the UAE fans were even more excited to meet her. “I didn’t realize how many people here read in English!”
Julia got on a tourist bus and went around the city and she found it to be a very unique experience. “I’ve always been interested in urban planning and how cities grow, and Dubai is such a fascinating example of that,” she said.
“The amount of construction is just unreal and you realize that some of these whole sections weren’t even here 10 years ago – it’s a really amazing city.”
Julia Quinn also had loads of fun meeting up with a group of Emirati romance authors: “I don’t think most of them are published but they want to write Emirati romance novels – that is so cool.”
View this post on Instagram
Here’s the answer to the question you didn’t know you needed: A Bridgerton set in Dubai?
As a predominantly historical fiction writer, Julia doesn’t think she will set a Bridgerton in Dubai for very valid reasons: “I don’t know enough about the culture to do it authentically. So probably not right now, although I loved learning about it.” (Did y’all also notice her use of the the word probably?!)
Also, very soon, the first two Bridgerton books are coming out in Arabic!
They will be published by an Egyptian publisher based in Cairo. Julia Quinn believes that, just like the English version, the Arabic version will also be embraced by readers because her stories are universal.
“I mean we’re not that different. We may have different elements of our culture but everyone loves to read about people falling in love, about families, and they love books that will make them laugh.”
Already, the Bridgerton book series have been translated into more than 40 languages. WOW.
View this post on Instagram
Julia’s Quinn’s Valentine’s Day message to her Dubai fans
“Spend it with the person you love and if you don’t have a sweetheart right now – that is totally fine. It’s cool because you are a complete person by yourself!”
As a pro on the romance business, Julia says she always writes characters who she can respect. “I’ve heard from some readers that they never realized they should be treated well in a relationship until they read my books which is sad and kind of wonderful.”
View this post on Instagram
Fans also asked her this important question: “Don’t you think you’re giving women unrealistic expectations of men?”
To which Julia Quinn says: “I say no, our expectations should be high. People should treat us well. I’m not letting the men off the hook.
“I think we think of Prince Charming as someone who swoops in and makes everything right. You know that’s not what the heroes of my romance novels are.
“They are not gonna swoop in and make everything right. They are going to make the heroine’s life better because they love and respect her. And she’s gonna make his life better too because she loves and respects him. So he’s not solving everything – they’re solving it together. And they’re gonna save each other.”
Julia Quinn used the example of her marriage and said, “We need each other, we are better together. But we still are independent people. We are not incomplete without the other person, but we are better together.”
View this post on Instagram
Netflix’s Bridgerton has been described as a combination of Jane Austen and Gossip Girl. But despite what it seems, Bridgerton is not exactly influenced from Jane Austen.
In fact, she hadn’t even read Pride and Prejudice when she wrote Bridgerton. Julia Quinn is a fan of 20th century novelist Georgette Heyer. According to the Bridgerton author, Heyer is the reason behind why the Jane-Austen-type-Regency-era-period-drama novels were modernized.
While Julia Quinn has watched Austen adaptations and eventually read the books, she confesses that Austen’s novels aren’t “easy quick reads”. If you’ve ever picked up a classic, you too would agree that the language is frankly tedious and as Julia Quinn says: “The language is not what we write today.”
View this post on Instagram
By now, ‘Bridgerton’ has become a household name worldwide; it has a viewership of 82 million! Mind = blown
The eight-episode first season premiered on December 25, 2020 and quickly became the most-watched series on Netflix. It recently got ousted by Squid Games, but still remains the second most-watched series to this day.
Bridgerton was lauded for it’s diversity and representation and everyone is excited for season 2 where the story focuses on Daphne’s brother Anthony and his love interest Kate Sharma, a girl from Bombay whose family has just arrived in London.
Julia Quinn says that the TV show compliments the book really well: “The adaptation is like a masterclass on how to adapt a book because even though it’s not pulled word-for-word, the characters are absolutely true to how they’re written, and the overall romance story is the same plot.”
View this post on Instagram
As is with every adaptaion, half the internet says the books are better and the other half says the TV show is better
Julia Quinn thinks it’s great because “if everybody said one or the other, it would mean that one of us didn’t do our job and the fact that it’s evenly split means it’s fabulous – I love it.”
The hit series was all over the late night shows – from SNL and Stephen Colbert to Jimmy Kimmel. Even the NFL made a spoof about Bridgerton with the players as debutantes
Julia Quinn finds all of this absolutely unreal and says, “Oh my gosh, I never thought I would be culturally relevant to the NFL; it was nuts!” The author herself can’t wrap her mind around how famous her work has become, “It’s absolutely crazy, and weird, and wonderful!”
Bridgerton invades the NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/S3dOSVSUEh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2021
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Dubai Ton, this was all the raging scandal for today. Lady Whistledown is signing off for the day but not before giving good news – Season 2 is only a month away. It’s dropping out on March 25; message your besties!
READ MORE: An Online Show Discusses The Trials And Tribulations Of Dating In Dubai
Lovin Dubai Newsletter 