Any Bridget Jones fans out there?

The original book “Bridget Jones’s Diary” written by Helen Fielding was published in 1996–yes, it’s been that long. The book, written in diary form, chronicled the hapless love life of Bridget Jones, a 30-something, single, career oriented, British woman.

Anyone who’s read it recognized its roots in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Mr. Darcy anyone? And the movie brilliantly cast Colin Firth in that role.

According to Knopf Double Day, the books “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and the sequel  “Bridget Jones Edge of Reason” combined sold over 15 million copies.

The books spoke to a generation of women and helped make the chick lit genre wildly popular.

And now, 17 years later, Bridget Jones is back. A new book is set to be published in November of this year.

What will it be about?

According to this Publishers Weekly article, ”it will examine a new phase in [Bridget's] life.” Author Helen Fielding said, “My life has moved on, and Bridget’s will move on, too.”

The Huffington Post reported on the new book asking if Bridget Jones still matters. Does she still speak to 30-something year old women? Or even to the original readers who are now a bit older and possibly not that into the same chick lit genre anymore. The consensus  seemed to be that if Bridget were the same woman who struggled to ‘get it together’ then the book would be a pass.

What do you think? Did you relate to Bridget Jones? Do you want to see her back?

Is this a must read, a maybe or a pass?