Did I jump on the rom-com bandwagon?
And my thoughts about the new BJ movie!
Last weekend, I had the absolute BEST time at the second Blussh Romance Festival—a celebration of romance in books and film! It’s hard to put into words the sheer joy and energy inside the Angelika Cinemas, so I’ll let the photos do the talking because we all know a picture tells 1,000 words.
Friday Night: Bridget is Back!
The festival kicked off with a screening of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know I’m a MEGA Bridget fan. Bridget Jones’s Diary was instrumental in shaping my writing journey. Not only did I devour both the books and movies, but I also collect different editions. So naturally, even though I already had Mad About the Boy, I couldn’t resist grabbing the movie tie-in edition.
We entered on a pink carpet, cocktail in hand, and indulged in gorgeous food while watching the movie. It was the perfect setting.
My Verdict
Maybe my expectations were too high, but I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped. I felt like Bridget hadn’t really grown much at all from the previous movies (although I haven’t read the book for a while so maybe that’s true to it) and I would have actually liked a little more pining over Mark Darcy. That said, I did enjoy Leo Woodall as the younger love interest (or should I say sex buddy?), and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s romance with Bridget was sweet. Yet, it didn’t quite match the swoon-factor of her relationship with Colin Firth’s character, Mark Darcy, but I understand why Helen Fielding killed Darcy off in this book (spoiler) wanting to explore grief and the affects it has on a family.
It was a treat to see Hugh Grant return as Daniel Cleaver, along with most of the original cast. But…I’m sorry, Tom’s long hair? Someone tell him to chop it off!
I’m in the minority here (a quick online poll confirmed it), but I actually preferred Bridget Jones’s Baby. I’m now beginning to wonder, was this because I’d enjoyed a few proseccos before (and during) the movie, following a VERY early flight to Brissy the day before, then a long day of events? Maybe I slept through the good bits? I’ll definitely be rewatching MAD ABOUT THE BOY when it comes to the streaming platforms (sans alcohol this time).
For a fabulously fun re-cap of the whole movie (by someone who appears to have not zoned out like I may have), check out this article from Vogue.
Saturday: More Romance, More Films, More Fun!
Saturday brought another book-to-film adaptation: Lick, based on Kylie Scott’s fabulous novel. The casting was spot on, and I was loving every moment…until a killer headache (possibly prosecco-induced) sent me on an emergency snack run. I can’t wait to finish watching it and I highly recommend checking it out.
And now to the rom-coms…
Saturday morning, I joined romance authors, Amy Andrews, Louisa Duval and Ally Blake for The Rom-Com Revival panel, where we discussed what makes a great rom-com and whether we’re really seeing a true resurgence.
Amy Andrews outlined her five must-haves for a rom-com:
✔️ A funny/zany/unusual meet-cute
✔️ Quirky characters
✔️ A madcap or unusual plot
✔️ Zingy dialogue (I’d say this is banter)
✔️ The Hollywood Moment (that unforgettable, grand romantic gesture)
(Side note: Amy’s running a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference in August—if you’re into this topic, don’t miss it!)
A writer for the Australian recently said in a review of THE BAD BRIDESMAID that “A good rom-com is a balm for the harshness of the outside world,” and I think that is an important aspect as well.
But are Today’s Rom-Coms Missing the Magic?
We mentioned a lot of classic rom-coms like Notting Hill, When Harry Met Sally, and of course, Bridget Jones’s Diary, how much we adored them and how they’ve stood the test of time. But while plenty of modern films are labeled “rom-coms,” none of them really shine with lasting-magic or the moments that make a movie unforgettable.
Think about it:
💖 Notting Hill gave us “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy…”
😂 When Harry Met Sally had “I’ll have what she’s having.”
🩲 Bridget Jones’s Diary gave us granny undies gold.
Beyond the humour, these films also delivered deep, believable romance. We felt the connections, we rooted for the couples, and we believed their love would last beyond the credits. That emotional depth, combined with genuine laugh-out-loud moments, is what makes a rom-com truly timeless, in my humble opinion!
If you DO have a recent rom-com film that gave you that feeling, share you recs in the comments! I’d love to hear them.
Are Too Many Books Labeled Rom-Coms?
We also discussed how the “rom-com” title is being overused in publishing. Many books marketed as rom-coms these days feel more like contemporary romance—which is a fantastic genre in its own right, but if a book is sold as a rom-com, I expect to laugh. A LOT. The comedy should be just as strong as the romance.
Did I Jump on the Rom-Com Bandwagon?
One question I got: Did you jump on the rom-com bandwagon?!
Okay, it wasn’t phrased quite like that, but that was the gist. Before The Other Bridget, I wrote rural romance and women’s fiction so why the addition of rom-com? Was it because they were trending? Being embraced by all those Booktokers?
Truthfully, I didn’t even realize I was writing a rom-com at first! The idea for The Other Bridget came to me, and I simply wrote the story I was passionate about. It wasn’t until my publisher labeled it a rom-com that I had a mini panic attack. Was it funny enough to be considered a rom-com? Thankfully, readers reassured me: yes, it was! PHEW.
But here’s the thing:
I would NEVER ever write a book just because a particular genre is having a moment and neither should you!
Publishing trends shift constantly. By the time you’re finished writing, the wave you’re chasing will likely be over.
More importantly, if you don’t LOVE the genre you’re writing, it will show. Readers are smart. They can sense when a story is forced or being written for the wrong reasons.
I write rom-coms, women’s fiction and small-town romances because I love all these genres. I love the books. I love the movies. I love the humour, the swoon, the escapism. That’s why I wrote The Other Bridget and The Bad Bridesmaid.
And if one day, a fantasy idea strikes me? Well…never say never.
Loved this Rachael! Especially the conversation around rom-coms, because interestingly enough it was the same conversation I was having with myself after seeing Bridget Jones on the weekend and ended up dumping into some rambles. I 100% agree that a rom-com *must* have comedy, but I do think there is space for grief and sadness alongside. I've read some great and funny books that deal with grief that absolutely deserve to be counted as rom-coms!
I tried to pick my brain in regard to modern rom-com movies and it really is tough to think of some that have wowed me in the way noughties rom-coms did; Upgraded on Amazon and Set It Up on Netflix come to mind.
I LOVED the movie and the way it dealt with grief and all the nods to Bridget symbolism in the past books and movies - and the return of all the old characters. I loved the way they dealt with grief too - I was totally caught out by the scene at the school concert and was having to restrain myself from sobbing in the cinema! It's met me at a moment of some sadness in my life though, and I appreciated the nostalgia. I would have liked the romance stories to collide a bit more - we missed out on a good fight scene - ha ha.