The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke

Rachael Johns, author of The Bad Bridesmaid, is an Australian writer of contemporary relationship stories around women’s issues, a genre she has coined ‘life-lit’. Johns drew inspiration for her new book from The Parent Trap in writing what she called a “reverse Parent Trap for grown-ups”.

In this story, which is told in the first person by librarian and serial dater Winifred (Fred), attitudes and behaviours of the early 21st Century are featured, with texting, emails, dating apps, vaping and scrolling through phones. Fred, who had shaved off her hair because of a friend with cancer, does not believe in strong feelings that lead to lasting relationships. She is not looking for Mr Right but seems very interested in Mr Right Now. She is contracted to write a book about her list of twenty-one rules for ‘Not Catching Feelings’. Throughout her narration Fred is always looking for ‘red flags’ which she believes could derail the way she wants to live her life. She believes that she can keep lust and other emotions in separate compartments.

Not in a very close relationship with her mother, she is surprised when asked to be maid of honour for her mother’s sixth wedding which is to take place on beautiful Norfolk Island. Instead of refusing, Fred decides to go but try to do all she can to prevent the union. When she meets the intended groom’s family, she finds an ally in the son of the new groom who believes that it is too soon after the death of his wife for his father to be considering marriage.

The relationship between the schemers is interesting to read as it runs hot and cold. They appear to be opposites, especially in their moral beliefs, yet they feel comfortable in each other’s company, and both believe that what they are trying to achieve is in the best interests of their respective parent.

The story begins with the week leading up to the wedding when the families connect while exploring Norfolk Island. The magic of the island setting is detailed and beautifully described from the natural landscape, the friendly people, the roosters with their wake-up calls and cows which often disrupt traffic. It was interesting for such a modern story to find older movies, books and TV shows mentioned throughout the story.

Some of the images the writer presents are vivid and quite humorous while at the same time being quite disastrous. I loved the image of the wedding marquee which ‘took to the skies and then bellyflopped into the water’. This was not the only disaster they had to overcome on the morning of the wedding.

Family relationships, keeping secrets, differing parenting styles, and past experiences have a lasting impact on the lives of the individuals in this story who all seem to have the most unusual names. I did not know the surname of the narrator until page 332.

Other topics which surface are individual attitudes towards issues that might impact actions. While some family members do not believe in labels being attached to individual behaviours others believe that having a reason for sometimes unacceptable behaviours can help work with the situation and change attitudes.

At the conclusion of the narrative there is a list which highlights Fred’s change of attitude providing twenty-one rules for knowing when you have found the one. There are also twelve Book Club notes provided.

The author has written many books and won the Romance Writers of Australia RUBY Award twice. Her book The Patterson Girls won the ABIA Award in 2016 for general fiction. This is the first of her offerings I have read. I found this an interesting read into family intrigue and how problems can be rectified if all parties are open to considering others as much as themselves. Murphy’s Law is alive and well in this story.

The Bad Bridesmaid

(2024)

by Rachael Johns

Penguin Random House Australia

ISBN:978-1-76134-174-8

$34.99; 400pp

 

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