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namzuru's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
3.75
i really enjoyed reading this book, i had seen the movie first and didnt know there was a book till i found it in a little free library.
since i saw the movie first i will compare it to it. Bridget in the book and movie are very similar despite the stories they go through mostly being different. i found that things that happened in the book were rearranged differently for the movie. also the plot line of julio and her mom being criminals was a very unexpected touch of the book. Since i know its based on pride and prejudice, i kinda like that her mom was set up to be like kitty from p&p. and oh my god did i hate her mom. Everytime she would be brought up it was just her gaslighting bridget and i couldnt handle it. I actually found all the characters (who were meant to be annoying) were so much more annoying in the book than the movie.
since this book is supposed to be bridget's diary, i think the author did such a good job. there are so many entries throughout it that felt so personal and so relatable. In the beginning i found it a little annoying she found 130 pounds to be fat, but then i realized this is such a detailed and accurate representation of what goes through so many woman’s thoughts. we are reading her diary, it’s meant for her eyes only so she’s being vulnerable in it. and a lot of the hatred is towards herself, and that’s honestly relatable. It could be triggering for people to read it cause i think it was written really well. I also realized shes so me. making all these promises to improve herself and then rarely actually doing it. and even more so when she falls out of her new habit immediately.
i found april 25 and june 10 to be really sad entries. The april one being about how she finally felt thin enough and went to a party where everyone told her she looked kinda dull and not herself. it was really sad to read as she thought she was the best version of herself but her friends saw how she looked sick being so thin, they did not put it very nicely tho. as for the june one, It was really sad to see how one of her "friends" kept purposely trying to say she looked old by comparing her to one of their other friends. it was really heartbreaking to read. looking back at the entry again, i see its the same girl who throws the christmas party in december and its really sad she still friends with her.
also i think its fun they mention colin firth and hugh grant in the book and then they go on to play mark and daniel respectively.
since i saw the movie first i will compare it to it. Bridget in the book and movie are very similar despite the stories they go through mostly being different. i found that things that happened in the book were rearranged differently for the movie. also the plot line of julio and her mom being criminals was a very unexpected touch of the book. Since i know its based on pride and prejudice, i kinda like that her mom was set up to be like kitty from p&p. and oh my god did i hate her mom. Everytime she would be brought up it was just her gaslighting bridget and i couldnt handle it. I actually found all the characters (who were meant to be annoying) were so much more annoying in the book than the movie.
since this book is supposed to be bridget's diary, i think the author did such a good job. there are so many entries throughout it that felt so personal and so relatable. In the beginning i found it a little annoying she found 130 pounds to be fat, but then i realized this is such a detailed and accurate representation of what goes through so many woman’s thoughts. we are reading her diary, it’s meant for her eyes only so she’s being vulnerable in it. and a lot of the hatred is towards herself, and that’s honestly relatable. It could be triggering for people to read it cause i think it was written really well. I also realized shes so me. making all these promises to improve herself and then rarely actually doing it. and even more so when she falls out of her new habit immediately.
i found april 25 and june 10 to be really sad entries. The april one being about how she finally felt thin enough and went to a party where everyone told her she looked kinda dull and not herself. it was really sad to read as she thought she was the best version of herself but her friends saw how she looked sick being so thin, they did not put it very nicely tho. as for the june one, It was really sad to see how one of her "friends" kept purposely trying to say she looked old by comparing her to one of their other friends. it was really heartbreaking to read. looking back at the entry again, i see its the same girl who throws the christmas party in december and its really sad she still friends with her.
also i think its fun they mention colin firth and hugh grant in the book and then they go on to play mark and daniel respectively.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Grief
julianapmeyer's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
vivisms_82's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I mostly enjoyed this book and found myself laughing out loud at times. The narrator is absolutely marvellous in bringing all the characters to life! Bridget is 32 years old, likeable, and just like many of us stumbles her way through life and romantic relationships. HOWEVER, I did have some issues with this book; one in particular was her normalised, regular and excessive alcohol consumption which was kind of treated as no biggy and a bit of a "woopsy" when she consumed a lot, which was nearly ALL OF THE TIME. It seems to be used as a trivial and flippant way to make her seem relatable, you know "just a flawed young woman." When really she is an alcoholic.
**Book was first published in 1996 and should be noted that some dialogue and situations that were perhaps deemed passable and even considered humorous then are most definitely not now (thank goodness) ie derogatory slurs used to reference someone who is from Portugal, grossly inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by bosses, very minimised abuse of alcohol and cigarettes
**Book was first published in 1996 and should be noted that some dialogue and situations that were perhaps deemed passable and even considered humorous then are most definitely not now (thank goodness) ie derogatory slurs used to reference someone who is from Portugal, grossly inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by bosses, very minimised abuse of alcohol and cigarettes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racial slurs and Sexism
Liked this book but is does feature some of the worst of the 90s that I am happy I no longer live in - Gen Z women, you are lucky you dodged the 90s bullet!!.... unhealthy weight obsessions, everywhere this notion you needed a man and babies to be "complete', casual racism, creepy bosses getting away with everything with zero consequences (she gets called a bleeding, bloody idiot by a boss and in front of her colleagues!)... could go on and on :/niamhlovesbooks28's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
clarney12's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
amillii's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Explicit mention of exact weight, calories, alcohol intake, and cigarettes at the begining of almost every chaptermrej'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: Addiction, Sexism, and Alcohol
ophycore's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Dysphoria
Minor: Rape, Pregnancy, and Classism
eviecanactuallyread's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia and Gaslighting
lag1995's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
2.5
Meh. Movie is better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Alcohol