Better Than the Movies

 Bridget Jones's Diary is the first movie I owned on DVD; for a while it was the only one I owned, which meant I watched it alot.

I would have watched it alot anyway though because I've always been madly in love with Colin Firth. I still watch those movies* all the time, so it's no surprise that when I saw a YA novel that references Bridget Jones's Diary on the first page, I was hooked. I also love that her cat is named Mr. Fitzpervert (a nod to Bridget's leering supervisor in the the first movie).  . .Not to mention the adorable cover art that references the kiss at the end:

Better Than the Movies is the story of Liz Buxbaum, who was raised on romantic-comedy movies. Each chapter begins with a quote from movies such as When Harry Met Sally, Ten Things I Hate About You, Sweet Home Alabama, You've Got Mail and more, in addition to Bridget Jones.

When her grade-school crush moves back to town, she makes a bet with with her obnoxious (so she thinks) next door neighbor (who is of course, also adorable) that she can end up at the prom with her crush. Of course, as the pair begin faux-dating and think they are putting on a show for everyone, everyone else is seeing right through the act.

This book is perfect for fans of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series, as well as anyone like me, who watches romantic comedies for comfort.

I read the entire 350 pages in one day because I couldn't put it down.

I alsways loved You've Got Mail, not just for the romance story but also because I envy Kathleen Kelly's charming children's bookstore in NYC; I'd give anything for a store like that, which stocks the best stories, where I could be the Storybook Lady and put as many twinkle lights up as I wanted.  .  .sigh.  .  .

          

* My personal ranking of the Bridget Jones movies:

1. Bridget Jones's Diary (the OG)

2. Bridget Jones's Baby (sans Hugh Grant, but Patrick Dempsey is a welcome stand-in, and the line "Sometimes you love a person just because they feel like home" is perfect)

3. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (definitely a sad narrative for Bridget, but still very true to her character and Hugh Grant returns)

4. Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason (as much as I love these movies, this sequel just seemed to recycle all the gags from the first movie, but in a more exaggerated way that overshadowed the original awkward charm of Bridget)