Content Warning: Both the source text and this guide contain descriptions of body shaming and sexism.

Bridget makes a commitment to reducing her drinking, smoking, and needless spending. She commits to be kind to her family, to go to the gym, to eat well and get up early, and to only develop crushes on appropriate men, and to “be poised and ice-queen” (2) in the meantime.

It is January 1; Bridget is hungover and exhausted in the aftermath of a New Year’s Eve party. She drives from her flat in London to a luncheon party held by friends of her parents: Una and Geoffrey Alconbury. At the event, the New Year’s Day Turkey Curry Buffet, her parents’ friends berate her for still being single. Una joins forces with Bridget’s mother, Pam, and introduces Bridget to Mark Darcy, a recently divorced barrister. Bridget notes Mark’s ugly sweater. Mark is not interested in Bridget and makes an excuse to exit the conversation.

Bridget reluctantly returns to work; she works in a publishing house. She dislikes her colleague, Perpetua, who bosses her around, but she has a crush on Daniel Cleaver, who holds a senior position at the company.