The cover of this book seems to have been designed for me. OK, maybe not just me- like Keris, I'm a sucker for a New York skyline, and this book has that, plus courier font to lend it a serious journalism/Woodward Bernstein-y edge... and for the hard sell, a cover blurb from Candace Bushnell: "A Real-Life Bridget Jones meets Sex and the City", which aside from being the biggest compliment the creator of Sex and the City could give, is actually a really accurate description of Bridget Harrison's memoir, Tabloid Love.
At the age of twenty-nine, Bridget (great chick-lit name!) had her life all settled: a great relationship with a boyfriend everyone expected her to marry, her own home, a job as assistant features editor at The Times and a fabulous circle of friends. But something was nagging at her, something she couldn't quite put her finger on...
If she was truly contented, then why was the opportunity to go on a work exchange to New York for four months so incredibly tempting? She loved her life, but this seemed too good to pass up so after a few sleepless nights, Bridget decided to risk it. She rented out her house and left for NYC and a job at super-tabloid and gossip rag extraordinaire The New York Post, saying a sad goodbye to her boyfriend and friends... But not that sad: after all, she'd be home soon. Wouldn't she?
Well, maybe not as soon as she thought! When she arrived in New York, she loved it instantly. (Okay, that's not entirely true: it took her some time to adjust, but after that, she adored it). She certainly suffered culture shock at first, though: running down subway steps in her high heels (she was used to being office-bound), she struggled to make herself understood and find her way around town in time to get her story. Plus she had to learn the lingo, local etiquette and how to cope in risky areas of the city.
Just when she felt she was getting the hang of things, it was time to leave. Could she tear herself away? Or would she stay put, even if she risked losing her man and the life she'd built back in England? Doubting her own sanity Bridget tentatively began to break the news to her loved ones: she wasn't coming back anytime soon. And that's when things really started to get interesting...
This is a hugely evocative book that gives a fascinating insight into New York life (sometimes horrifying, often funny!) and the difficulties of keeping your head above water in a hugely competitive industry. Sometimes I was completely jealous of Bridget (she scooped her own Carrie-Bradshaw style column), other times I was mortified on her behalf (the difficulties of making friends in the big apple). What I most admired about her story is that she took a risk in order to expand her horizons- and came to realise than being happy is more important than ticking off career and relationship goals. I found her story particularly fascinating being a frustrated Lois Lane myself, but you don't need to be a journalist-wannabe to enjoy this book: if you like reading about big cities, love, and the ups and downs of a modern woman making it on her own (and if none of those things interest you, what are you doing here?!) then you'll love this memoir.
One warning though- because of the large print in this format, the book's thicker than a Manhattan phone directory!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Like this? Try The Year of Yes by Maria Headley, Pug Hill by Alison Pace.
