HomeArts & LifestyleHelen Fielding – Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy review

Helen Fielding – Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy review

14 years have passed since we last enjoyed the company of Bridget Jones, well in literary form anyway. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason saw Bridget continue her on/off relationship with Mark Darcy with the two finally getting a happy ending. Since the publication of that book two films based on the Bridget Jones series have been released starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in the three lead roles. Fans of Bridget can rejoice as a third book in the series has just been published and our favourite love-obsessed singleton is back.

If you don’t want Mad About The Boy spoiling we suggest you stop reading this review right now as it’s near impossible not to ruin the story whilst discussing the book. Mad About The Boy catches up with 51-year-old Bridget who is now a single mother to two young children; Billy and Mabel. The big twist, and the one that seems to have got fans and critics into a frenzy, is that Mark Darcy has died leaving Bridget a widow trying to cope without her true love.

Before we go any further it’s amazing the amount of negative commentary we’ve read because Darcy is dead and Bridget isn’t the same woman she was in the previous books. Honestly we didn’t particularly mind the death of Darcy as Fielding has crafted a story here that reminds you why you fell in love with Bridget in the first place. Also, of course Bridget isn’t the same woman she was in The Edge of Reason. She’s older, dare we say wiser, and she’s experienced a lot more since we last spent some time with her.

Mad About The Boy sees Bridget picking up the pieces of her life a few years after Darcy’s death with her friends Tom, Jude and Talitha on hand to help her through. She hasn’t dated anyone since Darcy and she’s become consumed with being a mother and trying to write a screenplay. After a bit of forceful nudging and a few disastrous forays into the world of social media, Bridget finally gets back on the dating wagon. She soon finds herself enamoured with 29-year-old Roxster whom she meets on Twitter. The lead up to the two characters connecting is classic Bridget Jones with the character obsessing over everything she does and often putting her foot in it.

Throughout the book there are plenty of laughs to be had. Bridget tries to fit in with the other school mums during a hilarious email exchange, clashes with the children’s teacher Mr Wallaker and finds her foray into screenwriting turn into a bit of a nightmare very quickly. Of course all of these things happen with Bridget’s familiar running commentary with each diary entry opening with details she feels are important such as her weight, amount of grated cheese eaten and the number of times she’s checked for new Twitter followers.

We’ve read some criticism that the Bridget Jones you find in this book is a sad one. Well yes she is sad, she’s lost her husband, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t as hilarious and crazy as ever. The sadder moments of the book bring some believability to Bridget and show a more emotional side than we’ve seen in previous books. Honestly given everything she’s gone through with Darcy’s death we’re surprised she’s come out of the situation as chipper as she has.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is a fantastic read and one that will stir up many emotions. Helen Fielding has definitely recaptured Bridget once again and although the character may be older, she’s still getting herself into all kinds of funny and awkward situations. Fans of the series will be pleased to see a few familiar faces pop up throughout the book. Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is a welcome return for everyone’s favourite singleton and we can’t wait to see what they do with the film which is rumoured to be in the works already.

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of Piñata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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