The Feelgood Read of the Year: Read Our Review of The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

The Feelgood Read of the Year: Read Our Review of The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

Written by Australia’s most beloved romance writer, The Other Bridget is a delightfully uplifting book about books, and a gorgeous celebration of the power and pleasure of romance novels throughout the ages.

Named after a famous fictional character, librarian Bridget Jones was raised on a remote cattle station, with only her mother’s romance novels for company. Now living alone in Fremantle, Bridget is a hopeless romantic. She also believes that anyone who doesn’t like reading just hasn’t met the right book yet, and that connecting books to their readers is her superpower. If only her love life was that easy.

When handsome Italian barista Fabio progresses from flirting with love hearts on her coffee foam to joining the book club she runs at her library, Bridget prays her romance ‘curse’ won’t ruin things. But it’s the attention of her cranky neighbour Sully that seems to be the major obstacle in her life. Why is he going to so much effort to get under her skin?

With the help of her close friends and the colourful characters who frequent her library, Bridget decides to put both men to the test by finding just the right books to capture their very different hearts. She soon discovers that not all romances start with a meet-cute, but they might just end in happily ever after…

Time and time again, Rachael Johns proves she is one of this country’s most noteworthy authors. She continues to reinvent herself, taking on fresh genres, writing books that land her a whole new audience of readers, while never for a second forgetting her established readership. She continues to enthral readers with her rural romances, where she got her start, and women’s fiction, but now she’s taken a fabulously refreshing turn with this feelgood romantic comedy that’s being compared to Emily Henry and Marian Keyes. However, as much as I love both those authors, I don’t think the comparisons do this novel justice. Rachael Johns is an absolute force in storytelling and stands firmly alone, no comparisons needed.

The Other Bridget has everything a booklover could want in a great read. Our protagonist is a delight. Tick. She works with books. Tick. There’s an all-star supporting cast. Tick. The two love interests are perfectly cast and the chemistry sizzles. Tick-tick. But also, this exceptional story has so much heart, humour and intelligence. I often laughed out loud and, yes, I even got teary. It delivers.

The Other Bridget is Rachael at the top of her game. The writing sings. It’s a superb celebration of libraries, friendship and books. It will be difficult to top this for a feelgood read this year.

Buy a copy of The Other Bridget here.

Reviews

Heart, Humour and Intelligence: Read an Extract from The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

Review | Extract

1 February 2024

Heart, Humour and Intelligence: Read an Extract from The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

    Your Preview Verdict: The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

    Review | Preview

    30 January 2024

    Your Preview Verdict: The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

      Better Reading Preview: The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

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      11 December 2023

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          Publisher details

          The Other Bridget
          Author
          Rachael Johns
          Publisher
          Penguin
          Genre
          Fiction
          Released
          30 January, 2024
          ISBN
          9781761341731

          Synopsis

          A feelgood romantic comedy by Australia's bestselling romance writer, ideal for fans of Emily Henry and Marian Keyes.Named after a famous fictional character, librarian Bridget Jones was raised on a remote cattle station, with only her mother’s romance novels for company. Now living alone in Fremantle, Bridget is a hopeless romantic. She also believes that anyone who doesn’t like reading just hasn’t met the right book yet, and that connecting books to their readers is her superpower. If only her love life was that easy.When handsome Italian barista Fabio progresses from flirting with love hearts on her coffee foam to joining the book club she runs at her library, Bridget prays her romance ‘curse’ won’t ruin things. But it’s the attention of her cranky neighbour Sully that seems to be the major obstacle in her life. Why is he going to so much effort to get under her skin?With the help of her close friends and the colourful characters who frequent her library, Bridget decides to put both men to the test by finding just the right books to capture their very different hearts. She soon discovers that not all romances start with a meet-cute, but they might just end in happily ever after…Written by Australia’s most beloved romance writer, The Other Bridget is a delightfully uplifting book about books, and a gorgeous celebration of the power and pleasure of romance novels throughout the ages.
          Rachael Johns
          About the author

          Rachael Johns

          Rachael Johns, an English teacher by trade and a mum 24/7, is the bestselling ABIA-winning author of The Patterson Girls and a number of other romance and women's fiction books including The Art of Keeping Secrets, The Greatest Gift and Lost Without You. She is currently Australia's leading writer of contemporary relationship stories around women's issues, a genre she has coined ‘life-lit'. Rachael lives in the Perth hills with her hyperactive husband, three mostly gorgeous heroes-in-training and a very badly behaved dog. She rarely sleeps and never irons.

          Books by Rachael Johns

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          1. Abigail Brennan says:

            I believe it’s great that you take some time out of your day to spend it playing , which you can find at poppy playtime Those kinds of games, as these function as a stress reliever, but if it becomes excessive to the point where you spend more time playing than you do focusing on your priorities, then it is really not a good idea to continue doing so.

          2. susan says:

            The Other Bridget is such a heartwarming read, especially with its focus on libraries and the power of books. It’s like finding the perfect book for someone, just as Bridget does in the story. Speaking of perfect matches, I recently used heic convert to pdf online to organize my digital photos into a neat PDF, making it easier to share and cherish memories.

          3. SU says:

            This book is a delightful celebration of romance and friendship, with characters that feel like old friends by the end. It’s the kind of story that makes you smile and reflect on your own connections. On a similar note, I’ve been using Polaroid AI Photo Generator to create nostalgic and charming photos, adding a touch of magic to everyday moments.

          4. ZooBlocks Game says:

            It sounds like Rachael Johns has captured the pure magic of falling in love with stories, which is a sentiment I think every bibliophile can relate to. I love how the premise highlights the comfort and escapism that a good novel provides when you are looking to recharge. Whenever I finish a heartwarming book like this and want to keep that light, playful energy going, I usually spend some time with the ZooBlocks Game as a fun mental palate cleanser.

          5. Seedance 2.0 AI Video says:

            There is something so comforting about reading a story that celebrates the very books we love, and this premise sounds like the perfect escape. I could easily picture some of these scenes coming to life through Seedance 2.0 AI Video if someone were to adapt this charming narrative for social media. It is definitely moving to the top of my reading list for my next weekend getaway.

          6. Spunky Game says:

            It sounds like Rachael Johns has captured that specific magic of how books can shape our outlook on life, especially for those of us who grew up with a library as our closest friend. If you find yourself needing a break between chapters, I often find that a quick session of Spunky Game helps me recharge my focus for more reading. This novel definitely sounds like the perfect addition to my weekend reading list.

          7. I absolutely loved this review’s point about how “connecting books to their readers is her superpower”—as a librarian myself, that line hit home, and it makes me want to dive into *The Other Bridget* even more. For anyone who wants to explore more about fan-favorite bookish heroes, I’ve been finding great resources at Task Bar Hero Wiki.