Helen FIELDING

The Edge of Reason

Bridget Jones's Diary

Helen Fielding

This witty national bestseller is now available in paperback, allowing readers to enjoy all over again the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of a single woman determined to outlast her single status. Reprint.

A Novel

This book was unbearably boring. Perhaps it was because I read it after I watched the movie, but I just didn't feel connected with this book. The characters are all just terribly annoying, and frankly, I just abhor this writing style. I never thought I'd say this, but watch the movie instead.

Reese Ruiz

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (Bridget Jones #2)

Chloé

Loved this book, but once again DARCY IS MORE LIKEABLE IN THE FILMS.
I understand falling out with the person you love but like BITCH YOU KNOW SHE DON'T LIKE HER WHAT ARE YOU DOING. However when he said he didn't know he was dating her made me laugh CAUSE IT OBVIOUS MORON. God I love Colin Firth thank god he made him likeable.

My favourite movie so I thought I'd read it.
Darcy is more likeable in the film... but that could be because of Colin Firth. Daniel Cleaver was more detestable in the book... which kinda made me love him more. 
And Bridget is just delightful in everything.

In a new phase of Bridget's life in contemporary London, she faces the challenge of maintaining her sex appeal, engages in drunken texting, and despairs of fitting into skinny jeans.

Mad about the Boy

Bridget Jones

Sarah Sammis

What a complete waste of my time. The parodies are much better. Read [title: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging] instead.

it was fun to read and i liked it more than the movie :)

Melanie

Kendall McClain

This book has it all- racism, sexism, homophobia, detailed and normalized log of an eating disorder, and a girl who desperately needs a guy to save her! ironic I read this for my women’s literature class. Quite literally every character is awful and selfish and and there was no development at all. But she find a guy so her life is perfect now!! Go Bridget

Aww I felt warm and happy and hopeful when I finished this book. I love Bridget though I loved the first book more. And bless Mark Darcy, seriously I want one.

Way to go Singletons!!!

Laura Mauler

Two stars because it is not necessarily bad, just repetitive. There's no way I can make it through a whole year of this so I'm closing the book in April. I almost never say this but: the movie is better.

Beatriz Aguiar

I hate the journal type writing 🙄
Nothing happens for most of it and we don't really get to know any of the love interests. It doesn't get to be a very immersive experience in my view.

I had so much fun reading this one.
The humor is superb. I constantly found myself bending over in laughter or closing the book and covering my face in embarrassment for Bridget Jones. The writing is superb too, although I got lost on some British terms. 

My biggest problem on the book was Bridget herself. She isn't your typical heroine. Her life is my parents biggest fear at how my life would turn out. She smokes and drinks quite a lot, plus she's prone to making all the wrong choices. I really couldn't relate to her, because she mostly concentrated on the superficial things, which Im not very inclined too. She's not very smart and she's very shallow. Her life turns out right not because of her determination and choices but as a result of pure chance, or maybe fate pitying on her pathetic life. 

Im glad the Pride and Prejudice concept wasn't emphasized too much, except for the obvious Darcy reference. The stark contrast of Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleave and their natural opposition to each other was perfect, not to mention the past they had. I loved how Darcy came to Bridget's rescue, and I cant help but notice that he was one of the rare good choices Bridget makes. 

The book was good but not my type. Chic-lit isn't just my thing, I guess.

olivia musick

** spoiler alert **
           number of chocolates eaten while reading 30, times cried 1 (v.g.)

this was a lovely sequel to fielding's first book, bridget jones's diary. i love bridget and wish every day i could be a part of her friend group. if you were a fan of bridget and mark's relationship in the first book, this is definitely a must-read! took off one star just because the beginning was a little slow and i was almost worried i wouldn't be able to get into the book.

this review is a bit biased because i'm partial to renée zellweger and the films (v.g.), but i really like bridget jones's diary (perhaps, it's because i identify with bridget quite a bit). i enjoy the format of the book and found myself lost in it - reading weeks and months at a time, haha. really good if you're a fan of the movies and/or need a good laugh.

Elisa Bieg

** spoiler alert **
           

(Ok, let me just update this because I was really emotional over one of my favorite characters being irreparably ruined when I wrote this; but re-reading it now it makes me cringe, so allow me to put it slightly better) 

Ok. 
*deep breath*

The first thing that really, really pissed me off about this book is that the premise is that Bridget is now a widow. 
Let me say this again: Bridget is now a WIDOW.

So my first thought was:
 “You CANNOT be serious. You KILLED OFF Mark.fucking.Darcy??!??
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?”
And I kid you not, I wanted to stop reading right there and then. But I also wanted to see how Bridget was coping, because she felt like an old friend.
Turns out, she is having some trouble. Which is understandable. It’s a terrible, terrible tragedy to lose the love of your life, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

However we don’t have a lot of time to feel sorry for Bridget, because she is not quite so likable here. Turns out, Bridget’s character hasn't evolved at all in the past 20 years. She got married, she had a kid, but she is the same awkward mess she used to be. And that should make her somehow more relatable and likable, but unfortunately here she isn’t really funny and likable — she just comes across as a one-dimensional flake.
That impression is furthered by the insta-love situation that quickly emerges.
And yes, of course we want her to find love and be happy again, but honestly, there are so many problems with this book, that it feels like Fielding took a boxed up, generic story line and tried to make it fit with Bridget — and to do that she had to change her circumstances, so she could give her a... a 
  reboot
 of sorts (which frankly just bothers me TO NO END, but let’s move on). In fact, the circumstances are vaguely reminiscing of those in Did the Earth Move? except the main character there was charming and lovely and relatable — beautifully imperfect, not someone who made you roll your eyes and wish you could shake her and give her a dope slap (oh god, I can’t believe I am talking about Bridget this way. I can’t believe I feel this way about Bridget. I shall never forgive you for this, Helen Fielding 😖).

So, long story short: if you love Bridget Jones, behave as if this book didn’t exist.
Just keep reading Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and enjoy lovely, charming, awkward and weirdly brave Bridget!

I do not recommend this book to ANYONE. 1 1/2 stars

**edited March 2018**

*******original review follows*********
I could rant about how far-fetched some of it is, or complain that it was a huge waste of time, but what really bugs me is that this book kind or ruined Bridget Jones for me. 

She was naive and a bit silly at times, but still smart and charming. 
She indulged in self-irony and sarcasm quite a bit and I loved that. 
But how in the world is it possible that in almost 20 years she has not managed to grow up a bit? Things that were funny and charming in a 30-year old clueless singleton are just ridiculous (and not in a funny way) and annoying in a 51-year old mother of two who is also a widow. I mean, come on. 

I was tempted to toss this book so many times but I kept reading, hoping that she would redeem herself. Out of luck - she simply jumps into bed with the next hunk and calls it a day. Oh, but it's all ok because they love each other. How they could possibly know that, having only interacted in the most perfunctory of manners (except for when she loses it) is something that apparently doesn't occur to either one of them. I just wanted to constantly scream GROW UP!

Only reason for second star (more half a star really) is that there are a few funny bits.

Bridget Jones's diary

Sian Wadey

Having been familiar with the Bridget Jones films for a number of years I thought it was about time I got round to reading the book that started it all. It's fair to say I consumed this book, I read it in two days flat. It was like I inhaled the words and I loved every page. Helen Fielding creates a fantastically realistic character. I think it's fair to say that every woman has had one or two 'Bridget Jones' moments. Her diary entries and the ups and downs of her life make for a funny, witty novel and the reader is behind her 100%, egging her on from beyond the page. Of course, having seen the film I knew how the events would unfold but that did not stop me enjoying the ride. I'm yet to read the other books in the series but I'm sure I well enjoy them as much as I did Bridget Jones' Diary.
The only reason this is four stars instead of five is because there are certain things that are handed to her on a plate, like her job. I felt that the character could be a tad more realistic in real life situations, however maybe this is just a sign of when the book was written as opposed to today's economic climate.

Bridget Jones, beloved Singleton and global phenomenon, is back with a bump in Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries. As Bridget careers towards baby-deadline, a series of classic Bridget Jones moments finally leads her into pregnancy--but just not quite as intended. It's a pregnancy full of cheesy potatoes, outlandish advice from Drunken Singletons and Smug Mothers, chaos at scans and childbirth classes, high jinks and romance, joy and despair--but all of it dominated by the terribly awkward question: Who's the father?

The Diaries

Bridget Jones's Baby

Yulande Lindsay

Finished it in one night. Was disappointed. Clearly rushed to align with the movie which was much better.

Despite the horribly negative reviews I read about this book, I loved it. I bawled (for reasons I will not disclose here for those who haven't read it) and laughed all throughout. Highly recommended.

Liv Strefford

Though can be a little slow at times and filled with repeatedly trivial stories, this is a light-hearted book that will not fail to make you laugh out loud.

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER Is it morally wrong to have a blow-dry when one of your children has head lice? Is technology now the fifth element? Or is that wood? Is sleeping with someone after 2 dates and 6 weeks of texting the same as getting married after 2 meetings and 6 months of letter writing in Jane Austen's day? Pondering these, and other modern dilemmas, Bridget Jones stumbles through the challenges of single-motherhood, tweeting, texting and redisovering her sexuality in what SOME people rudely and outdatedly call 'middle age'. The long-awaited return of a much-loved character, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is timely, tender, touching, witty, wise and bloody hilarious.

A slow start to this book, I wasn’t quite as entertained as the first two books as this is a very different, older Bridget, with different stories to tell. At some points I just got second hand embarrassment from the stories rather than finding them hilarious. However, the ending really turned it around for me, I thought it was brilliant, just the right amount of emotion and recognition of Mark, with the introduction of a new partner in Scott. If it wasn’t for the ending, I probably would have only given this 3 stars

Micelf

Thumbs up. Bit outdated now, but still relatable. Fun!

Cindy Lieberman

If you read Bridget Jones' Diary back in the day and loved it, then you might like this latest offering. The writing is quite obvious in following the same general plot as the first book, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.

3.75. An enjoyable diversion for those who love the Bridget Jones series.

Sarah Ryan

I'm going to pretend this book doesn't exist and that there were only the first two. 

Bridget's life does not turn out the way everyone imagined and Mark being killed off just so Bridget can 'be single again' in this book just rubbed me the wrong way. 

Bridget in her 30s was someone most people could easily relate to. Bridget in her 50s (very wealthy widow who doesn't need to work and has a full time nanny, and effortlessly loses 3 stone in 3 months etc. etc.) is not someone most people can relate too. 

End of book can be seen coming 100 miles away.

Bridget Jones's Diary The Edge of Reason

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