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  • Published: 30 January 2024
  • ISBN: 9781761341717
  • Imprint: Michael Joseph
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 496
  • RRP: $34.99

The Other Bridget




'The feelgood read of the year.' - Better Reading

‘Prolific, entertaining and charming, Rachael Johns is arguably the best romantic writer in Australia.’ The Australian

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.

'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.' Better Reading

'Pure sunshine for the soul. I just loved it!' Tess Woods

  • Published: 30 January 2024
  • ISBN: 9781761341717
  • Imprint: Michael Joseph
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 496
  • RRP: $34.99

About the author

Rachael Johns

Once upon a time (briefly) Rachael was an English teacher, then her dreams of becoming a novelist came true. Now she spends her days writing romance and women’s fiction in the Swan Valley, Western Australia. Her book The Patterson Girls won the ABIA Award in 2016 for General Fiction and she has also won the prestigious Romance Writers of Australia RUBY Award twice.

When she’s not writing, you’ll find Rachael reading, occasionally sewing, hanging with her adorable Sheepadoodle or listening to audiobooks while driving around or cleaning up after her three teenage boys. The only TV show she watches is The Farmer Wants a Wife and every year she says she’ll read more non-fiction but fails because there are too many good novels waiting to be devoured.

Rachael loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads. She also runs the Rachael Johns’ Online Book Club, which you can join on Facebook.

For more information visit www.rachaeljohns.com

Also by Rachael Johns

See all

Praise for The Other Bridget

A very fresh kind of romcom but with all the warmth and heart and emotional punch you’d expect from Rachael Johns. Bridget loves books and her hot barista but definitely not her neighbour Sully - and she should know better than anyone not to judge a book by its cover. This sparkly, witty story feels like a big, nostalgic hug. For fans of Beth O’Leary and Emily Henry - and of course Bridget Jones - this book is pure, heartfelt joy for book lovers everywhere.

Lizzy Dent

Brimming with Johns’s signature heart and humour, THE OTHER BRIDGET is a triumph!

Maisey Yates

All romantics will enjoy slipping between these covers.

Kathy Lette

What a warm-hearted love letter to books, libraries, readers, and love! Rachael Johns really gets the joy of love stories—and why they make the world a better place.

NYT bestselling author Katherine Center

Sweet and funny, charming and romantic, there’s so much to love about The Other Bridget.

Paige Toon

Hilarious, heartfelt and romantic - the perfect romcom I fell in love with Bridget and you will too. Rachael Johns has written a love letter to romcoms - a must read!

Sandy Barker

Rachael Johns gets better and better...The Other Bridget is glittering, glorious and delightful, and will go down as one of the best romcoms to hit the shelves...The characters are iconic, the plot is magical, the emotion is high, the humour is in prosperity and it will give you a behind the scenes look at the daily operations of a library. It will give you all the feels and get your senses tingling as the story comes to life ... I can confidently say this is one of Rachael's finest books, if not the best! *****

HappyValley BooksRead, Global Girls Online Book Club

The feelgood read of the year. 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.

Better Reading

My favourite romcom ever! I do not say this lightly... but I am calling it. ...It is a story about how books can truly impact our lives when we need it the most.

read.by.the.librarian

Loved this Australian flavoured enemies to lovers romantic comedy that celebrates libraries, bookclubs and books in such a clever and quirky way! It was an absolute delight reading this, it was uplifting and addictive. …There is so much to love in this book for booklovers, you’ll laugh and cry a little, just magical.

Mrs Gs Bookshelf

Shut the front door! Actually, go to the book shop, grab this book, then go home and shut the front door! This was exactly the kind of book I needed. …If you are after a fantastic book with such a funny bunch of people, with romance, real-life struggles, gnomes, and a shit ton of happy feels, this is it!

Not Now I'm Reading

Everything a rom-com should be – funny, uplifting and, best of all, a book about books and book-lovers. Absolutely adored it!

The Sunday Book Club

Prolific, entertaining and charming, Rachael Johns is arguably the best romantic writer in Australia.

The Australian

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The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

Out 30 January: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-other-bridget-9781761341717 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.

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