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The Girl in a Cafe

Loving Books Since Before It Was Cool! All reviews can also be found on my main blog!

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Why Helen Fielding Will No Longer Be My Lady Jam

The whole appeal of Helen Fielding's novels have been based on my absolute love for anything Jane Austen, and considering that Mr Darcy is "my guy", Pride and Prejudice retellings or modern remakes have always had a special place in my heart.

 



Granted, I enjoy the movie more so than the book, but at least I can still picture Colin Firth as Mark Darcy. That's not to say that the book isn't great - it is infinitely times greater than any other piece of chick lit out there, and that's the appeal of Bridget.

Bridget is someone I can turn to when I'm feeling down with my life. When sit down and assess how things are going and I realise:

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So I turn to books and movies with HEA that make me swoon to try and feel good about myself. Bridget is always, always, that feel good moment. Whether it's in book or movie form.

In saying that, I will never pick up Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.

The great attraction of this novel, of course, is one Mr. Mark Darcy. 

It's a fact. We love Bridget because she's normal, her bum is the same size as ours, and she's having a midlife crisis. Heck, I'm turning 24 and I'm having a midlife crisis. We women relate to Bridget.

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Why? Because if Bridget can snag a Mark Darcy, then we all can. Mark, Mark, Mark, Mark Darcy. He's the love of our lives, the man of our dreams and we all gave a big collective sigh when he and Bridget got together. 

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Then recently, I found out something completely shocking. 

Mark Darcy - *cries* - as in Mark Darcy, Christmas jumper wearing, barrister hottieness Mark Darcy - is dead. As in killed off. How, I don't know. Frankly, I don't give flying fancy how or why. He's dead.

 



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Killing off Mark Darcy is like...letting Voldemort live. Like Darth Vader taking over the world (did he take over? IDK, I don't watch Star Wars). Like Vanessa the Sea Witch winning and Ariel being turned into sea plankton. Like any literary hero and heroine never coming together in their HEA. Like Cathy and Heathcliff actually talking to each other.

IT'S JUST NOT DONE.

Quite frankly, I'm upset. And I won't read this book, despite having eagerly anticipating it since I found out at BEA that she had written another book.

I get that Bridget's life is changing. That she's growing older, having babies by the dozen. I would be too if I was with Mark Darcy. But killing him? Making him cease to exist?

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Well, she might as well have ended up with Daniel Cleaver right from the start. And considering he's Godfather to his children, I wonder what Mark Darcy would think of that, but I have a feeling their first meeting in heaven would be something like this:




It's pointless. To me, it seems as if Fielding's personal life has over taken what could have been a fantastic novel. Her thoughts and ideas about marriages and failures in life overshadow a perfectly HEA that didn't need ruining. 

 

So yeah.

Rant over.

 

This can also be found on Goodreads

Failed.

Note to self: When cooking pizza, it helps to turn the oven on first.

 

I am really, really confused. This looks like a great site, especially with the Tumblr style layout, but at the moment I feel like this;

 

 

 

And then because I don't understand, I just am.

 

 

 

Also,

 

Isn't She Lovely: Flirt New Adult Romance

Isn't She Lovely: Flirt New Adult Romance - Lauren Layne LAH-OVED. Thanks to Ellis for bringing my attention to this book. GOD it was almost perfect in every way.Oh look, there's me channeling my inner Julie Andrews. How amazingly ironic is that?Full review to come soon because you need to know how great this book is. I have quotes.

Endless

Endless - Amanda Gray 3.5 stars. Full review to come, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Time travel books for the win! Suspenseful, action packed and I loved the romance as well. Also, Romanovs.

Siege and Storm

Siege and Storm - A very meh 4 stars, because although I enjoyed it, I didn't love it, but it's worth more than 3.5 stars. Not enough Darkling in my humble opinion, and too much of Mal and Alina moaning to each other, and then i wasn't quite sure where Sturmhond fitted in to things, and there seemed to be a lot of nothing happening...But in saying that I loved the way Bardugo has created such a wonderful world; once again I found myself picking up the parallels to the Russian Revolution, and while I didn't know if some of the terminology was used correctly (I'm not Russian language expert), there were times when I wasn't sure the right names had been used, but I did adore it, like most Russian related things!While all in all a great book, it didn't jump off the pages like Shadow and Bone did, but I'm eagerly waiting to see what happens next.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns - Rae Carson 3.5 stars. Wasn't as enamored with this as I originally thought I was going to be. Everything up until she was kidnapped was going smoothly, and then it just fizzled for me. Everything happened too quickly, despite it being a number of months passing, and the romance was awkward and confusing. I wasn't quite sure who was supposed to be romantic interests or not, people were dying left right and centre and it was too religious for my liking (and that's saying something, considering). The whole Godstone thing I couldn't imagine very well.Although I loved the world and all the descriptions!

Up In Flames

Up in Flames - Nicole  Williams I gave Williams a second chance, but I don't give third ones. Another author I am done with, for good. Simon & Schu AU were kind enough to give me an unsolicited finished copy of this book, and as such I will be reviewing shortly. In the mean time, just no. This book needed a boot to the head. And possibly Seneca Crane's flame throwing beard.
Just a Little Crush (Just a Little #1) - Tracie Puckett Final rating - 2.5 stars. A lot of potential, but not enough oomph. Reminded me too much of Going Too Far by Jen Echols, and I hate comparing books up against each other. The story did have a well fleshed out set of characters, however the novella length meant you were only just beginning to know them when the book finished. Not quite sure why it couldn't have just been one or two novels instead of a full mini series. A light and easy read on the other hand, but over too quickly otherwise.
The Carnelian Legacy - Cheryl Koevoet 3.5 stars. A full review to come shortly!
Truly, Madly, Deadly - Hannah Jayne A great quick read filled with suspense and drama llamas that had me biting my already non-existent nails. Note to self: probs best to not read thriller books late at night with all the lights off.Full review to come.

King Hall

King Hall - Scarlett Dawn Very convoluted and unexplained at times. Plus I felt the narration was more of a teen read rather than a new adult. And for someone who just lost her 'mate', Lily was back in the sack again too many times to count, apparently. Plus for all the sex that was apparently going on, we didn't get to see any. Even this prude likes some sexy times. Full review to come.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré I still remember the day my bff spoiled the ending of this book for me in class. He wasn't my bff for about a month.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré My favourite HP book of the series!

Soul Ties (Soul Ties, #1)

Soul Ties (Soul Ties, #1) - Lisa  Swallow English university = hot English accents (in my mind). Great debut from a local author, almost squealed my pants off when I found out she was from Perth! Eagerly looking forward to the next book. Why is it that I much prefer New Adult when it's not contemporary? Oh yeah, because there's actually a plot attached to it.This book nailed everything on the head. Steamy looks and touches, forbidden romance, suspense and the general feeling of just wanting to know more.And on a side note - is that the guy who played Kane on Home and Away on the cover?????
Unteachable - Leah Raeder Can't decide between a 2.5 or 3. Didn't like it, but didn't hate it either.