Goodreads Summary: Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination.
My Rating: 3.5 hearts
Thoughts on the Novel: I decided to request Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison because it sounded very similar to Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall, one of my favourite reads of 2010.
Harbison’s novel begins with a prologue in which Bridget is speeding and crashes her car before taking the reader back a few weeks in time to reveal how she got into her current predicament. In the present moment then, Bridget ends up in limbo and has to walk in the shoes of some of her friends and stepmother to see the consequences of her thoughtless words and actions on them. Here Lies Bridget therefore does a good job of showing how a person’s deeds matter and the tremendous impact they can have on somebody else even without realization.
What I didn’t like about the novel though was that the transformation of Bridget seemed a little too sudden. Right from the start, I disliked Bridget – I mean, she was speeding in the prologue and hoping to die just so everyone would be sorry! – and as the story progressed, I started to hate her. I kind of wished she would die because she was such a horribly mean character! So, when Bridget does feel remorseful after seeing the effects of her interactions on those she knows and is eager to fix her mistakes, I couldn’t fully believe that she wanted a second chance entirely because she was repentant and not also because she didn’t want to die.
As well, the character of Anna confused me because initially I thought that she was a new student who Bridget feels is taking over her place at school. It doesn’t turn out to be as simple as that, and so I was left wondering who/what was Anna.
A novel with a nice lesson ultimately, Here Lies Bridget will be released by Harlequin Teen on February 1, 2011.
Comments About the Cover: Although the cover is cute, I feel that it has too much of a cheerful vibe; and if not for the tag saying “Bridget” on the toe, it could probably serve as a cover for a bunch of other novels.
In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.
Wow, you really didn't like the MC! From my experience, if I don't like the MC than I usually don't enjoy the story. This book reminds me a little of the Ghost and the Goth. Have you read it? You might enjoy it :o) It's a quick, fun read with a similar theme, but without all the drama. Great review!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard with books like this to create a main character who is suitably mean, but still someone the reader can care about. It seems like this one may have missed the mark there.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Bridget sounds like a nightmare! This book isn't really calling out to me. I've seen some pretty mixed reviews so far! I think I'll give this one a miss.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! I might have to try it out.
ReplyDeleteBrandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog