If You Love Bridget Jones’s Diary, You Will Love These 12 Hilarious, Heartfelt Books

In a roundup of books like Bridget Jones’s Diary, we have no choice but to start with the original!

Witty observations, hilarious mishaps, juicy love triangles…Bridget Jones’s Diary launched a genre and became a touchstone for readers through the years. And in the 25th anniversary reprint, readers get to revisit their favorite ‘hot mess.’ The story follows single, 30-something Bridget Jones, who shares her life through a series of diary entries. As Bridget attempts to heal heartbreak and get her life together, comedic and cringe-worthy trials and tribulations unfold. A pitch-perfect story about self-discovery, love, second chances and finding your way.

This special edition reprint is also just in time for Renée Zellweger’s reprisal of her beloved role as Bridget in the forthcoming film ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy’ which will hit theaters in February 2025.

Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and smart prose, this saga by Sophie Kinsella, another beloved English writer, is guaranteed to charm. Sasha’s career has officially burned her out. She decides to visit the English seaside resort she loved as a child to finally relax. But it’s off-season, and the only other occupant is Finn — another totally stressed-out professional. When messages addressed to them appear on the beach, the two start to talk. As they open up to one another, Sasha and Finn feel a spark that ignites them both.

‘Fake dating’ takes center stage in this sparkling romantic comedy by Scottish author Mhairi McFarlane. After Laurie’s partner of more than a decade ends things abruptly, she’s crushed. Not only will she have to seem him every day (they work at the same firm), but now she’ll have to learn how to navigate all the dreaded dating sites. To make matters worse, she finds out her ex’s new girlfriend is pregnant. She’s humiliated. So when Laurie gets trapped in an elevator with the office playboy, Jamie Carter, who happens to need a girlfriend to impress their boss, a plan is hatched. The pair strike up a fake relationship but soon find themselves struggling to figure out what’s real and what’s make believe.

Described as Crazy Rich Asians meets Bridget Jones’s Diary, this debut novel written by Lauren Ho is equal parts relatable and entertaining. At 33 years old, Andrea Tang has everything she could want: a successful career as a lawyer, a chic condo and a bevy of fun friends. The only thing Andrea needs is to make law partner. Oh…and she also doesn’t have a husband, much to the dismay of her Chinese-Malaysian family, but she refuses to let that define her. Then, a run-in with entrepreneur Eric Deng offers Andrea a glimpse into a lavish future. But why does her office rival, Suresh Aditparan, suddenly keep throwing a wrench in her newfound dating plans? As Andrea tries to put herself first and figure out her future, she begins to wonder if any woman can really have it all.

This New York Times bestselling novel by Sophie Cousens is a tale of second chances, fate and true love. Minnie Cooper believes her New Year’s birthday is cursed — and it’s all Quinn Hamilton’s fault…a guy she’s never actually met. Their mothers gave birth to them at the same hospital just after midnight on New Year’s Day, but Quinn won the cash prize for the ‘first baby born in London in 1990.’ Also, Minnie’s mom was supposed to name her Quinn. Decades later, Minnie runs into Quinn at a New Year’s party on their mutual thirtieth birthday and all she sees is more evidence that fortune is on his side. If these two are so different why do they keep running into one another and why do they feel such a spark?

Bestselling author Terry McMillan’s iconic novel, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, dazzled readers when it was first released in 1998 — and it gained even more fans after it was made into a movie starring Angela Bassett. The story follows 42 year-old Stella Payne, a divorced high-power investment analyst and mom to 11 year-old Quincy. In short, she does it all. When she books a spontaneous vacation to Jamaica, she expects to find some much-needed R&R, but instead she meets a charming man who is half her age. Can Stella navigate this new romance amid her busy life and demanding schedule? And most of all, can she conquer her hopes and fears about love?

Heartfelt humor? Check. Witty banter? Check. Dreamy charm? Check. This novel ticks all the boxes sure to delight any Bridget Jones fan! The story stars Seattle radio producer Shay Goldstein, who keeps clashing with her new colleague, Dominic Yun. To save the struggling station, Shay comes up with a relationship advice segment for the show called The Ex Talk…and her boss decides Dominic will be her co-host. As their show gains popularity, the pair begin to feel a fiery, unexpected connection.

Joyful journeys, empowering lessons of self-love, sexy moments…this book has it all. Noni Blake is an excellent people-pleaser to all people — except herself. After the end of a 10-year relationship, Noni thinks it’s time for change. To shake things up, she finally puts herself first and embarks on a pleasure-seeking quest around the world. Her goals? To start over, find joy and live her best life no matter what.

This charming story filled with heart-fluttering flirtations and idyllic settings features bookish Evie Starling, who decides her life in Chicago needs a major change. She plans a trip to a quaint English village, and before long, finds herself working at a bookshop and befriending the villagers — especially handsome, charismatic farmer Roane Robson. Their conversations evolve into a steamy connection, and Evie wonders if this is true love. 

At 29 years old, Raina Anand isn’t even close to finding a husband — much to the dismay of her traditional Indian grandmother. When Raina finally agrees to let her beloved Nani play matchmaker, she goes on a series of dates where most of the “eligible” bachelors are more duds than studs. As Raina attempts to honor Nani’s wishes, she begins to realize that she needs to follow her own heart in order to find true love — even if her grandma disapproves.

This hope-filled debut novel follows Evvie Drake, who rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house for nearly a year after losing her husband in a car crash. But when former baseball player Dean Tenney moves into the apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s failed career. But what follows is a sweet story of second chances.

Filled with humorous moments and likable characters, this rom-com centers on Violet Covington, the writer of an advice column called Dear Sweetie. She always knows just how to handle any situation — until she discovers her husband, Sam, is cheating. When she lights his belongings on fire in their yard, handsome firefighter Dez shows up to douse the flames…but the sparks between Violet and Dez start to fly.