readingbusybee's review against another edition
the calorie counting was so sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
lucylodder's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Mixed feelings, feel like a lot of what this book (and the film) gets hate for ie stuff about the dieting and everything is very different to how it’s spoken about. I think it actually shows eating disorders in a very real way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
rayreyes's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun, funny, lighthearted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
lydiature_'s review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
it wasn’t BAD but it wasn’t good either 💀 i understand it’s diary format but my god, the writing style wasn’t very good. it wandered too much, and lacked focus. bridget was wayyyyy too quirky—annoyingly so—and i found myself rolling my eyes a lot. it was funny sometimes. the characters also had 0 personality. i can’t stress that enough. it was just bridget word-vomiting in her diary. i’ve read better diary books.
also, bridget was OBSESSED with weight loss (literally mentioned her calories every 5 seconds), so that was extremely annoying to me.
i like lighthearted books every once in a while, but this was not it. i don’t recommend.
i will say that if you liked dolly alderton’s “everything i know about love” (which i despised lol), you might like this.
also, bridget was OBSESSED with weight loss (literally mentioned her calories every 5 seconds), so that was extremely annoying to me.
i like lighthearted books every once in a while, but this was not it. i don’t recommend.
i will say that if you liked dolly alderton’s “everything i know about love” (which i despised lol), you might like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
chuckyinspace's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder
jessietn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This has not aged particularly well. However, it does provide readers with an insightful snapshot of the toxic diet culture of the 90s and early 2000s. While Bridget's obsession with her weight might be triggering for many women who grew up during this time, in my opinion the novel did not condone her behaviour. Instead, there were several points where it was made clear that her weight goals were unhealthy and unrealistic -- when she finally reaches her goal weight, her friend Tom tells her gently that he thought she looked better before and that she isn't her usual self. I think this was handled with less tact in the film.
There were some truly funny lines, and I liked that there was less of Daniel Cleaver than in the film (and that it was made more obvious from the outset that he was an "emotional fuckwit" who was bad for Bridget), but there was probably more cringeworthiness than humour overall... and the ending was just bewilderingly stupid (as was the entire Julio plotline). I would probably only recommend it only for fans of the film or of Bridget as a flawed and relatable character.
There were some truly funny lines, and I liked that there was less of Daniel Cleaver than in the film (and that it was made more obvious from the outset that he was an "emotional fuckwit" who was bad for Bridget), but there was probably more cringeworthiness than humour overall... and the ending was just bewilderingly stupid (as was the entire Julio plotline). I would probably only recommend it only for fans of the film or of Bridget as a flawed and relatable character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Toxic relationship
rawleyloftus's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Eating disorder
elizabeth_1111's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
leahmai309's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
not sure if bridget has an eating disorder or just fat phobic, i know this was written in ‘the age of diet culture’ but still disgusting to read. hated all the characters bar darcy but i didn’t have enough time to hate him
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Eating disorder
maryjohnstone's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I really thought that I would love this book since the movie is one of my favourites. But this version of Bridget is so intolerable and fatphobic. I understand that this book was written at a time where diet culture and fat shaming was common place but it made this story much less enjoyable. Even without that, Bridget is rude and entitled and only seems normal compared to her psychotic mother (like she's insane).
I was also upset by the lack of Darcy who was unbelievably dull compared to the aggressively vivid other characters. There was no room for development and their connection felt so forced since Fielding only really introduced him in the last three chapters. This would be fine if I liked this Bridget but I really didn't :(
I spent most of the book comparing it to some of my favourite media - Pride and Prejudice and the film which might not be a fair comparison but just watch these instead.
On a serious note, this book is incredibly triggering for anyone struggling with their weight since almost every 5 minutes Bridget is recording on her weight and calories and commenting on how disgusting it is. There is even a section where Bridget admits to forgetting that calories are necessary to survival if that gives an impression on how warped her mindset is. Luckily for me the numbers went right over my head so didn't bother me much or otherwise I would have DNFed.
As much as I hated this book, I cannot deny that the narrative was very vivid and I still love the story (just not the book).
I was also upset by the lack of Darcy who was unbelievably dull compared to the aggressively vivid other characters. There was no room for development and their connection felt so forced since Fielding only really introduced him in the last three chapters. This would be fine if I liked this Bridget but I really didn't :(
I spent most of the book comparing it to some of my favourite media - Pride and Prejudice and the film which might not be a fair comparison but just watch these instead.
On a serious note, this book is incredibly triggering for anyone struggling with their weight since almost every 5 minutes Bridget is recording on her weight and calories and commenting on how disgusting it is. There is even a section where Bridget admits to forgetting that calories are necessary to survival if that gives an impression on how warped her mindset is. Luckily for me the numbers went right over my head so didn't bother me much or otherwise I would have DNFed.
As much as I hated this book, I cannot deny that the narrative was very vivid and I still love the story (just not the book).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, and Sexism