Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Pages: 224

Publisher: Harlequin

Age Group: Young Adult

Challenges: Debut Author Challenge

Release Date: January 18, 2011

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough . . .

Stars: 4.5/5

Cover: A-

Plot:

I was hooked from the very first page. The book started out showing us Bridget as a total (insert other word for a female dog here). She almost dies, and then has to try to right all the wrong that she's done so that she can live.

I reaaaaaalllyyyyy loved this book. Paige Haribson created an awesome world, and when the book was over, I was hoping there'd be a sequel just so I could be re-immersed in Bridget's life (Even though there'd be nowhere for the story to go in the sequel, I think).

Characters:

The character development in this book was spot-on. Bridget didn't come to realize how hurtful she'd been to other people too fast, but it wasn't too gradual either. 

The supporting characters were awesome. They helped the story along without hindering, and provided some comic relief and uniqueness to the story.

Writing:

I love the way Haribson writes. As I said up there, she had me hooked from the very first page, and I could not put this book down.

Her writing flows really nicely, and the different elements of Here Lies Bridget were molded together seamlessly.

Ending:

I liked the ending of this book! It was refreshing, and gave me hope that maybe Bridget really had changed.

Cover:

The cover to Here Lies Bridget is cute and eye-catching, but (I think) still has some edge to it with the dead body and all.

The Final Verdict:

Here Lies Bridget was one of those books that you can get a moral or life lesson from. It kind of reminded me of A Christmas Carol, with Bridget resembling Scrooge (though she doesn't walk around hating Christmas like he does).

If you haven't read Here Lies Bridget, I definitely recommend it.

FTC: NetGalley