Readers who loved The Other Bridget, last year’s rom-com from heavy hitter Rachael Johns featuring a gnome-loving librarian, will be delighted to learn that our beloved Bee makes more than a few cameo’s in 2025’s follow up, The Bad Bridesmaid. Whilst it’s not a sequel, the events of Bridget’s story are referred to throughout, so you might enjoy the opportunity for a reread to refresh your memory.
This time around, we’re following Fred, AKA Winifred, Bee’s best friend and fellow librarian. After receiving the feedback that her novel (which had a bizarre premise I won’t spoil for you) was not going to jettison her to literary stardom, Fred’s usual confidence took a knock. But, a well-timed article on how to not catch feelings set things right back on track, landing Fred a contract to write a non-fiction book about casual dating and not settling down for the modern single.
There’s a catch, however. Not only does Fred have writer’s block, her mother has decided to get married…again. This means Fred has to fly over to Norfolk Island to be her mother’s bridesmaid, despite the fact that she’s actively not a romantic, and is one hundred percent not in support of her mother marrying someone she’s only just re-connected with, even if they did date in high school.
Determined not to see her mother crushed and heartbroken again, Fred teams up with hunky future step-brother Leo to break up the happy couple before they say ‘I do.’ But Fred might just find that despite her determination to stick to her anti-relationship stance, that true love is real and it can come for anyone at any time… even when they’ve got a deadline with their publisher.
The Bad Bridesmaid is a funny and charming coda to the events of The Other Bridget, though my heart still belongs to Bee. Fred can be a bit abrasive at times (by design) and her seemingly unfeeling behaviour towards her mother and the men she dates was at times a bit harsh. Of course, true love tames the wild Fred, as is to be expected in a book like this one, and it’s a Rachael Johns book so there are a number of spicy scenes between Fred and her hunk of choice.
I won’t spoil who it is she falls for but these sorts of books do tend to have an element of the familiar to them, so you probably have already guessed. Being able to guess what will happen doesn’t spoil the fun, however, and Johns manages to pull off a few surprises along the way, including a heart-wrenching revelation or two in the final third of the book.
Long time Rachael Johns fans are sure to be delighted, and this foray into romantic comedy is sure to garner the WA-based writer some new fans as well, as this book and its predecessor bring some light-hearted romantic fun à la an early 2000s film to book format.
If you like films like How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days or books by Katherine Center, these books are for you. But I really do recommend starting with The Other Bridget if you missed that one in 2024 though.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Rachael Johns’ The Bad Bridesmaid is available now through Penguin Books. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore HERE.
