Tabloid Love: Looking for Mr. Right in All the Wrong Places, A Memoir

by Bridget Harrison

Dubbed one of the summer’s hottest beach reads by People, Glamour, Cosmo, and the Weekend “Today” show, Tabloid Love introduces Bridget Harrison, an almost thirty-year-old Brit and rookie reporter for the New York Post. While her London friends begin to marry, Bridget chases her dream of becoming a hard-news journalist. But just as she perfects the art of interviewing strangers about ghoulish crimes, she discovers that finding a mate seems impossible in the ultimate singles city. Then Bridget lands her very own Post dating column, and half a million New Yorkers read about her weekly romantic disasters. Whether covering celebrity parties in the Hamptons or struggling to hide her inter-office crush, Bridget retains such humor and humility “you’ll not only root for her, you’ll wish she were your best friend.” (Harper’s Bazaar)

Genres: Chick Lit, Nonfiction, Memoir, Romance, Humor, Biography Memoir, Autobiography

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok read - didn't realize this was a memoir until a few pages in (despite A MEMOIR emblazoned on the front cover - duh). Bridget moves from London to NYC in her mid-20's through the NY Post's exchange program with a sister newspaper in London. She intends to stay only for 4 months, but ends up staying longer than that.

Bridget is beset by dating troubles from page 1, but none of her tales were especially hilarious. It was entertaining in a sanitized Sex in the City sort of way, with a bit of Lifetime movie drama thrown in. Some of Bridget's stories about the news items she had to cover were funny (see: green goo that lands on her, the blob in the pond, and subway sauna), but overall it was a very unglamorous look at a tabloid new's reporters job. Definitely glad that's not my line of work.

Overall this was meh for me. Maybe I just couldn't relate to it, but it didn't wow me.

[LynCyln · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eigentlich fand ich das Buch sehr spannend und empathisch. Das Ende hat mich erst geärgert, weil sie immer noch keinen Typen gefunden hat. Aber dann dachte ich, hey eigentlich gut. Kein Klischee Ende, dass sie dann doch den Traumprinzen findet.
Ja mit 34 darf man auch noch unverheiratet sein - also gute Leseerfahrung und auch tiefgründiger, als gedacht.

[Abbie Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow this was incredibly self-indulgent and problematic. She utilized racist tropes and used ableist language. Her love life was interesting at times, but she was not a character I rooted for as she was negative, self obsessed, and annoying. I would not suggest this to anyone.

[Emilayday Adamcyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what everyone else was on about. I liked it. She's definitely flawed but it's an easy fun read for the summer. I too did not realize it was a "memoir" until I was like "hey! The main character had the same name as the author!"

[Rania yousife · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked it

it was funny

lots of things were going on ,,

i can relate to her at some point ..

i was cheering for her and Jack all the way ..

Agnus was meh ..

Evan was soo off and ewww ..

I liked that she somehow had came to terms with her issue ..

[bibdragon]

Boring - dnf

[Claire Daubney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as could put myself in the various places of new York and it was a real feel good book.

[Carme · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is the messiest woman madre mía. Si el ejemplar de la biblioteca no tuviese una portada tan bonita (que claramente no es la que sale aquí) no me lo habría leído ni de una.
Son simple y llanamente las vivencias de una pava de londres que trabaja en un periódico y deja su cómoda vida de pija para irse a nueva york de “intercambio de trabajo”al post en el año 2000 (ups). Esta mujer es completamente irrelevante su vida es completamente irrelevante y el libro no va hacia ningún lado pero ella se cree carrie bradshaw con acento británico.
Te lo intentan vender como una novela de romance porque omg se enamora de su “jefe” pero eso solo es para darle un poco de salsa porque pasan más libro sin ser pareja que siendo pareja.
Lo más interesante es leer sobre la prensa de sucesos amarillista de rupert murdoch 🤢 y el 11 s desde la perspectiva de alguien que no solo estaba en nueva york ese día pero que también tuvo que informar sobre lo que estaba sucediendo.
Evidentemente como amante del mess podría escribir un post entero sobre el libro y ahora necesito saberlo absolutamente todo sobre la vida de esta mujer, leerme todas sus columnas cutres del periódico y buscar a una presa incauta a la que bombardear con toda esa información de esta señora completamente desconocida.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Candace Bushnell says on the jacket, it's real-life Bridget Jones meets Sex and the City. Bridget Harrison is a nearly 30-something Brit with a self-deprecating sense of humor who decides to give working in New York City for the New York Post a chance, and maybe find love in the process. The story's not quite as tightly woven as real life, but it's still fascinating to learn about her life as a tabloid reporter in New York in the early 2000s (yes, she covered 9/11), as well as a dating columnist in New York (seriously, think Carrie Bradshaw), and about her romances (including a super sweet office one) and disaster dates (which will sound awfully familiar to anyone who's watched Sex in the City). While the events of the story happened over 10 years ago, the story still feels surprisingly fresh, or maybe that's because I compulsively watch Sex and the City in college.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It was fun, it took me about the rough equivalent of three round trip subway journeys from Midtown to Brooklyn to finish, and it was exactly the fluffy break I was looking for between rafts of non-fiction. But that's all I'll say for it. Though non-fiction itself, the book lives up to its back cover review - it is Sex and the City meets Bridget Jones (even her name is Bridget), but it seems not to have much of the joy of either and it does have all of their cliches (as a die hard SATC fan, I'd like to point out that when they did them, they weren't even cliches yet). I admire the author for not tacking on a happy ending - she doesn't get any of the guys you think she will - but I think the book is too quick to find the fun, easy solution and not quick enough to look beneath the glossy surface. Still, a fun read if you know what you're getting into.

[Nicole Fulmino · Rating 3 out of 5]

*contains spoilers*
I don't know. I'm just a sucker for happy endings and I guess without one, this book seemed pointless. That is why it is real life though, right? If it were fiction that last scene when Jack told her he never cared for a woman the way he cared for her would have been the moment they got back together. But no such luck in this 'memoir.' Kind of depressing, if you ask me. She tries to make it seem all victorious that she is single at the end. But after reading 300 plus pages of her being jealous of married friends with children and in an eager quest to find something like it, you know the ending is not as triumphant as she makes it. Yes, she has lived a fabulous life in the city and had some great accomplishments. But after getting to know her throughout the book, you know it is not really how she wants things to end.

[Siyuan · Rating 2 out of 5]

some things you read only because you come across them for free (free!) on the street and occasionally the mood strikes for junk reading. this (obviously) echoed sex and city and she acknowledges this, but is unable to offer anything beyond or different from what carrie bradshaw offers, and fails to even achieve those occasional moments of deep familiarity and insight that, yes, can be found in sex and the city. the fact that it also capitalizes on the author being a Brit named Bridget and attempts to strike the same chatty inner dialogue as Bridget Jones while not even approaching the level of humor and entertainment made the narrative voice more annoying. and in the end, the experience taught me that reading about trashy people is actually a much more intimate and therefore unpleasant form of engagement than just watching them on tv.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this book, and I really enjoyed it. Bridget got me thinking about my life, and choices. When you read about someone trying to be brave, it makes you want to be brave too. I also found myself really relating to her. She really is sort of Carrie Bradshaw meets Bridget Jones. I love her style and voice. She's not only witty and intelligent, but really awkward, brave, adventurous, and a hot mess...all at once. The only problem with the book was the end. I wasn't ready for it to be over, and it didn't really wrap anything up. I enjoyed all her zany exploits, and adventures. I read about the men that were in and out of her life...and I wanted to know what happened to her. Who did she end up with? When and why did she leave New York? I wanted to know if she got her happy ending. That's incredibly frustrating. Otherwise? A fantastic read.

[LibraryCin · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this memoir, Bridget wants to be a reporter and moves from England to New York for 4 months on an exchange. In New York, she will be a reporter at the tabloid paper, the New York Post. She eventually gets herself a column on dating and being single in New York and stays for 5 years. This book tells of her life and work during this time.

I enjoyed this. It's pretty light, but it was enjoyable to read. There was a mix of dating stories and stories of reporting. Simply because I can't relate, I did tend to roll my eyes a bit every time she seemed so worried about her biological clock ticking.

[Jena Piazze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candace Bushnell, author of Sex and the City, calls this book "A real-life Bridget Jones meets Sex and the City". Plus its based in NYC.. the greatest city in the world.-------------------------------------------------------------------I decided to start another easy read...so far its got me giddy!-------------------------------------------------------
I struggled with sleep last night and actually finished this up at about 3am this morning. This book was an enjoyable read. The narrator ends with an upbeat attitude although her issues with NY dating ended on a low note.

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anfangs war ich von dem Buch nicht so begeistert weil es sich anfangs schon sehr langgezogen hat und ein wenig langweilig war.aber das hat sich dann nach kurzer Zeit auch schon geändert. Auch wenn ich finde das Bridge manchmal zuviel Erfahrungen mit Männern gesammelt hat,fand ich die verschiedenen Männer-Storys sehr amüsant.Am meisten gefesselt hat mich die Bridge/Jack Liebesstory.Ich habe bis zum Ende mitgefiebert und habe gehofft das es vielleicht noch ein Comeback hätte geben können zwischen den beiden.Leider vergebens...

Tolles Buch!!!!

[Mary Lou · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of those books that I wish I could get back the time I spent reading it. Read the whole thing thinking she would finally realize what a self-absorbed moron she was being and I was profoundly disappointed that she never figured it out. Can only say the real life Jack got lucky that we got away from her. Mostly I am still amazed that there really are people out there that are that self-absorbed. If your into the single party life you might enjoy the book but definitely wasn't for me.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a mix of Sex and the City and Bridget Jones.
It tells the story of a young woman who leaves Great Britain to go and work at a famous New York newspaper. Her dream is to be an important journalist and she does everything to accomplish her dreams. I liked this book a lot because it is easy to feel in the shoes of the main character.
I read is in only a few days and enjoyed it a lot. (I read it in German.)

[Aja · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the author tries very hard to end the story on a upbeat, positive note, I couldn't help but to mutter to myself "my god, that was bleak". I want to loan this book to my younger sister who lives and dates in New York but I'm quite afraid it will make her suicidal. All I know is I'm never moving back there again. I got 99 problems but dating in New York City ain't one.

But I will say this. Bridget Harrison can write. She is funny and you do cheer for her, again and again.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't hate it. And it is very much a Bridget Jones meets Sex and The City.

I embraced the ending though tended to feel the main characters antics at her job were more interesting than this alleged quest for Mr. Right.

I would question the cover's promise that it's this season's must-have beach accessory. I feel there are trashier and/or more funny books deserving of that moniker.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable balance of dating memoir/single-girl-in-the-city vignettes plus an inside look at what it takes to work for a big-name tabloid newspaper, covering heavier topics than you'd imagine based on the cover image. Approachable, chatty writing style, but never vapid. Wanted to hear what happened next when I reached the end (sequel??).

[ReBecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book! It was funny, entertaining, and I could totally relate! I was hoping that in the end Bridget would find the one, and was a little disappointed that she didn't. But her journey is one im sure a lot of us could relate to! From horrible first dates, to being stood up, to ruining relationships...we've all been there!

[Jeffra Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. Not only does she do an amazing job describing her own story of being single in New York (in a Carrie Bradshaw sorta way), but she also goes into her experience during 9/11 and the way it affected the city. This book is a very quick read, and also very relate-able.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would really give this book a 3 1/2. It's an easy chick-lit read. Bridget Harrison is amusing in her accounts of finding love in the big city. It's also interesting to see New York from an outsider's perspective.

[Deidra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this memoir, it made me feel a lot better about being single in my late 20s. Though most of it is set in NYC, it's fairly universal (though maybe Boston is more similar to NYC than most would care to admit).

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once again, I'm a sucker for a young New York gal making her way in the big bad city, but this time around, I barely got 50 pages in before losing interest. The writing isn't funny, smart, or insightful enough to make such a cliche story work. At best, it's mildly amusing every five pages or so.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an easy enough book to read, but even though it's real life, it seems far too much like Bridget Jones.

You do feel for Bridget though and you do want her to succeed but it's not a gripping novel. It's pretty basic.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was an easy, light and fun read. I found myself relating to so much of what she wrote about, that I couldn't help but wonder if I was reading my own diary of thoughts at times. I highly recommend this book - especially to single 30-something females.

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Couldn't put it down, a perfect read for a lazy weekend. A cross between Sex and The City and Bridget Jones' Diary, but from what I hear it's all true.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about Bridget's experience in New York---she found herself in interesting situations as a reporter and as a single girl in NY. Her commentary is also funny to read.