Helen Fielding's latest Bridget Jones volume Mad About The Boy has been met with startlingly cool reviews from critics so far, with many slating it for not being as believable as her previous novels.

The drastic new backstory for one of the world's best-loved middle class but mediocre characters has already caused a major stir among Jones fans since it was revealed, and it seems that it has put a considerable downer on the entire novel.

The other week, fans flooded Twitter and Facebook to offload their anger and grief at the fact that Helen Fielding has killed off the 'Pride and Prejudice' inspired Mark Darcy, leaving Bridget a wealthy widow and single mother of two. 

And while readers struggle to come to turns with their loss, Bridget meanwhile is attempting to impress her new toyboy Roxster, while juggling school runs and headlice. A real enough situation for the now 51-year-old but it has certainly left the first readers unimpressed. The Telegraph gave it a rather brutal 2 stars while describing it as 'a clunking disappointment' and even likening it to the much criticised popular erotic novel 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'.

The Guardian were perhaps a little more polite, but commented on how it was overtly 'posh' and "less like a satire on modern life and more like a good old Jilly Cooper."

Christina Patterson from the Sunday Times admitted, "I hardly believed a word of it" which seems to be the general consensus all round - a stark contrast to how Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason were received on publication.

Nonetheless, we're sure the sales will still be up for 'Mad About The Boy' and we'll definitely be looking forward to the next movie adaptation.

Helen Fielding at the Chelsea Flower Show
Helen Fielding has disappointed fans and critics with her new Bridget Jones story

Renee Zellweger at Fashion Group International Night Of Stars
Renee Zellweger portrayed Bridget Jones in the movie adaptations of the first two novels