There's no place for pride in this Austen misadventure.
Chloe Parker was born two centuries too late. A thirty-nine-year- old di... read full description
reviews
Feb 16, 2012
Nicky
rated it: 
Please save me from the urge to read every Austenesque book that comes my way. This one had way too many things going on and rarely were they things I want to read about. The plot is not remotely believable for starters, Chloe is a single mother who prefers the ways of the past and is trying to save her business and raise her young daughter. So she leaves America to be in an 'immersive historical documentary' in the English countryside, which she has not really investigated well, and (surpris
More...
Jan 12, 2012
Erin
rated it: 
Meet Chloe Parker. She is a 39 year-old, divorced mother of one running her own antique letterpress business in Chicago. She also eats, sleeps, and breaths anything Jane Austen related. She thinks she is going to be in a documentary/competition where everyone is dressed in regency style and answers questions about Austen.
Meet Mr. Wrightman. He is an elegible bachelor owning one of the largest estates in England. He loves history, science, and bird watching. Also, women constantly fall More...
Meet Mr. Wrightman. He is an elegible bachelor owning one of the largest estates in England. He loves history, science, and bird watching. Also, women constantly fall More...
Nov 11, 2011
Candy
rated it:
I loved it!! I definitely didn’t want it to end! Those were the first words out of my mouth when I finished the book!
Chloe Parker thinks she is going to London to do a documentary about life in 1812 England. What she discovers after arriving is that is not a documentary at all, it’s a reality TV show! She and several other women are competing to win a proposal of marriage from Mr. Sebastian Wrightman and a $100,000 prize. They have to live like people did 200 years ago. Eve More...
Chloe Parker thinks she is going to London to do a documentary about life in 1812 England. What she discovers after arriving is that is not a documentary at all, it’s a reality TV show! She and several other women are competing to win a proposal of marriage from Mr. Sebastian Wrightman and a $100,000 prize. They have to live like people did 200 years ago. Eve More...
Nov 09, 2011
Tanya
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 05, 2011
Vicki
rated it:
As a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, this book came to my attention through our newsletter. I got it through my local library and felt an immediate feeling of doubt when it arrived with the little heart sticker on the spine that indicates that it is part of the library's "romance" collection.
I'm no longer a young girl that thrills with romantic novels, but the Austen-inspired plot pulled me into the book anyway. There was an interesting twist: the mai More...
I'm no longer a young girl that thrills with romantic novels, but the Austen-inspired plot pulled me into the book anyway. There was an interesting twist: the mai More...
0 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Nov 02, 2011
Marilyn
rated it: 
Chole Parker is a thirty-nine year old divorced mother who runs her own antique letterpress business as well as being a lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society. At the moment Chloe’s business is failing which in turn threatens her daughter’s future and rumors that her ex is getting ready to wage a new battle for custody over their daughter. When the chance to audition for a Jane Austen inspired documentary show presents itself Chloe is absolutely ready to throw her hat in the ring even if i
More...
3 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 30, 2011
Regina
rated it:
I was extremely excited to receive my copy of Definitely Not Mr. Darcy as a Goodreads giveaway. It is a novel that I would have looked at in the bookstore, but may not have bought for myself. My reasons for wanting to read it are purely self indulgent as a confirmed Jane Austin fanatic. The novel, while referring to Austin's novels, is not a reboot or even a parody of the classic Austin novels we all know and love. It is set in a modern day reality show, but with a twist: the contestants must pr
More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Oct 23, 2011
Angela
rated it:
This was a really fun premise for a book. However, after a couple of chapters I grew weary of being reminded that she couldn't access anything that wasn't authentic to 1812. And I really hated how the author kept referring very specifically "the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice w/ Colin Firth." Great the first time, get it the second time that you want to re-enforce the point, third time I can skim over, but a forth time, fifth time, sixth time....I got it. Stop treating me li
More...
Dec 03, 2011
CarrieLynn
rated it: 
A nice diversion that is a quick read and has one of those ideas that makes you wonder why someone hasn't made a television show or movie out of it. The writing is at times confusing, as her descriptions of what happened and why sometime didn't make any sense, and things just seemed to happen when it was convenient for the plot. But the romance story was well executed, in the vein of a good romcom, and I found myself compelled enough to not want to put it down. Also, I don't know how historic
More...
Sep 20, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Definitely Not Mr. Darcy was a cute, sugary read. The story focuses on Chloe Parker, a middle-aged Midwestern woman who travels to England to take place in a Regency-style dating show. The show is designed much like a 1812 style version of The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, with contestants vying for the heart (and money!) of one Mr. Sebastian Wrightman.
Chloe joins the fray, and meets characters along the way, such as George, the EP and director, Mrs. Crescent, her chaperone, Cook, the c More...
Chloe joins the fray, and meets characters along the way, such as George, the EP and director, Mrs. Crescent, her chaperone, Cook, the c More...
Jan 27, 2012
Emily
rated it:
It was not the worse P&P spinoff I have ever read, but it wasn't the best either. It was kinda "meh". The story was okay, and I laughed a few times but I have to say the characters were just so weird and at the same time, so stereotypical. I did not feel that the main character was 39 by any stretch of the imagination and the love interests were just off. Neither had the same appeal as Mr. Darcy, if that was what she was going for. and if she was trying to stay away from too much a Mr
More...
Sep 19, 2011
Tanya
rated it:
After thinking this through, I changed my rating to 2 stars - more like a 2 1/2. I received this free through Goodreads (thank you) and while I enjoyed most of it, the ending left me cold.
Chloe has unwittingly signed up for a reality dating show - that's what happens when you don't read the fine print. She thought it would be more trivia, but it turns out to be a Regency date show. I don't think I'm giving too much away (since it happens in the first 50 pages), she discovers that ther More...
Chloe has unwittingly signed up for a reality dating show - that's what happens when you don't read the fine print. She thought it would be more trivia, but it turns out to be a Regency date show. I don't think I'm giving too much away (since it happens in the first 50 pages), she discovers that ther More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Feb 09, 2012
Kate
rated it:
This book did absolutely nothing for me. There was no buildup, no tension, no nothing. The main character, Chloe, was completely wishy-washy and had no consistent characterization. One day she's a regency genius and the next she has no idea what went on in the 19th century. She's supposed to be 39 but read a lot younger (and honestly, this book would have been better if she actually were a lot younger). This immaturity made her really hard to like. She made decisions and got upset by things I ju
More...
Dec 04, 2011
Meagan
rated it:
The heroine in this book suffered a little bit from too-stupid-to-live-itis at times, but overall she was likable and it didn't make it into deal-breaker land. The big success of this book, though, was its portrayal of life in Regency England. Aspects of it seem romantic, like the beautiful gowns, balls, and manners. Mostly, though, it was kind of unpleasant. No anti-perspirant, baths in used water once a week, chamber pots, and of course the lack of all the rights and privileges for women t
More...
Sep 12, 2011
Marcie
rated it:
Definitely Not Mr Darcy by Karen Doornebos is a fun book to read. It's a cross between The Bachelor and a Jane Austen novel. I absolutely adored this novel from beginning to end. It's enchanting, humorous, delightful book that I couldn't get enough of.
Chloe Parker is a single mom who thinks she's going to be a part of a documentary but instead ends up on a reality show set in regency times. The producers of the show want it to be as authentic as possible so the contestants can' More...
Chloe Parker is a single mom who thinks she's going to be a part of a documentary but instead ends up on a reality show set in regency times. The producers of the show want it to be as authentic as possible so the contestants can' More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 16, 2011
Maria Grazia
rated it:
“Maybe you could mix e-mail and etiquette. Business and birdwatching. Nineteenth-century courtship and modern feminism The best of Austen and the worst of our reality” (p. 374)
I have a strong aversion to reality shows, especially those “Big Brother” – style. So I really can’t explain how it is possible that I found Karen Doornebos’s idea of a Regency, Jane Austen-inspired , reality show brilliant. But It just was. Brilliant, I mean. Absolutely, totally brilliant!
“Definitely not More...
I have a strong aversion to reality shows, especially those “Big Brother” – style. So I really can’t explain how it is possible that I found Karen Doornebos’s idea of a Regency, Jane Austen-inspired , reality show brilliant. But It just was. Brilliant, I mean. Absolutely, totally brilliant!
“Definitely not More...
Sep 30, 2011
Liralen
rated it:
I should really stop reading these 'Austen-inspired' books.
The premise is kind of entertaining -- I view reality TV as a series of train wrecks waiting to happen, but the idea of an Austen-based show is fun.
The book stretches the bounds of believability too far, though. The writing is fine, if a bit overdone in places, but I just cannot believe that 1) anybody could sign on to do a reality show while thinking that it was actually a documentary or that 2) they would be suc More...
The premise is kind of entertaining -- I view reality TV as a series of train wrecks waiting to happen, but the idea of an Austen-based show is fun.
The book stretches the bounds of believability too far, though. The writing is fine, if a bit overdone in places, but I just cannot believe that 1) anybody could sign on to do a reality show while thinking that it was actually a documentary or that 2) they would be suc More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 07, 2011
Cindy
rated it:
I was so happy to receive an ARC of this book to read. I am a huge fan of Jane Austen and the regency period so I was thrilled to begin reading. Chloe is a terrific heroine...she is flawed and imperfect and makes mistakes just like the rest of us. She is not model perfect in any way (which makes her a perfect character for me). The author obviously spent a lot of time researching the Regency period because thee was no detail missed in the descriptions. I liked the characters; I liked the s
More...
3 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Nov 18, 2011
Sharon
rated it:
The premise of this is fun: an American Jane Austin fan signs up to be on a documentary film/quiz about the author's books, only to find out she didn't read the fine print and it's really a reality dating show set in the Regency period and overly authentic to the times. The execution is less fun than the premise. The main character overreacted to just about every situation in the book, which makes for kooky antics and hollow storytelling. (It's the Janet Evanovich sytle of writing.) Some of the
More...
Aug 28, 2011
Sandy
rated it:
Loved this book! It is light reading but I learned alot about Regency details! This book was funny, well-written and must be on the list of anyone who has read Jane Austen. Little details from Ms. Austen's books pop up throughout this book.
The main character has undergone various levels of scrutiny in order to be selected as a participant in a high-stakes trivia game in England. Unfortunately, Chloe did not read the tedious contract's fine print so was surprised to learn upon arr More...
The main character has undergone various levels of scrutiny in order to be selected as a participant in a high-stakes trivia game in England. Unfortunately, Chloe did not read the tedious contract's fine print so was surprised to learn upon arr More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 06, 2011
Kate
rated it:
Problems:
1. This gal is introduced as a divorcee so it either defines her as a person or is recent. This means pain and torment. No thanks.
2. She longs for simpler times and men in breeches. I can feel for the breeches thing, but if she were in said simpler times she would not have gotten her divorce and would probably be miserable. This kind of disparity frustrates me so much that I can not enjoy the character.
3. She has left her kid for the main action of the book. Single moms' More...
1. This gal is introduced as a divorcee so it either defines her as a person or is recent. This means pain and torment. No thanks.
2. She longs for simpler times and men in breeches. I can feel for the breeches thing, but if she were in said simpler times she would not have gotten her divorce and would probably be miserable. This kind of disparity frustrates me so much that I can not enjoy the character.
3. She has left her kid for the main action of the book. Single moms' More...
Dec 18, 2011
Ann
rated it:
What a surprisingly great read! I have read many of Jane Austen's books, so I appreciate the premise of this book. It's a reality dating TV show for modern times, but with the twist of taking place in 1812 with a lot of references to many of Jane Austen's writings. You do not have to be a Jane Austen fan to appreciate this book. It's a fun read. Yes, it is somewhat of a romance novel but without all the promiscuity. This author does, however, have some fun with inappropriate behavior. Aft
More...
Jan 26, 2012
Nell
rated it:
Interesting details about daily life in the 1820s, à la Regency House Party. A sad commentary on reality TV, the plot is plausible. Our heroine's behavior, however, is just too wacky, considering that she's supposed to be the most intelligent of the bunch. We never see why she was chosen as a contestant from among hundreds of applicants. I liked Austenland,, with a similar plot, better; the characters are truer to life.
Many Regency fans probably would like this, but the purist in me More...
Many Regency fans probably would like this, but the purist in me More...
Oct 22, 2011
Diane
rated it:
Another romance, I must be in a mood. Did not think I would like it when I found out it is about a reality TV Show "How to Date Mr. Darcy." But it became hilarious very quickly. The tasks were silly and the complaints about life in 1812 "Regency Period" are many. Everyone is breaking the rules left and right. Henry saves Chloe's tail several times. She befriends the cook and is lucky to have her on her side in the end. I LOVE that Chloe runs out on her fairytale wedding. She
More...
Oct 03, 2011
Claire
rated it:
Such a great idea, and such poor execution. I loved the idea of a Regency house party that combines elements of "Big Brother" and "The Bachelor." However, once her cell phone is surrendered, our heroine turns into a witless fool who acts as if she's never seen a man before, let alone has been married to one. Every day is a roller coaster of emotions that would embarrass a hormonal teenager. I did like the resolution at the end, finding it -- finally -- much more realistic than the rest of the
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 01, 2011
Becky
rated it:
I was chosen to receive this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thank You!
I struggled with this book. The beginning held so much promise. Often, I found myself laughing at the antics between competitors. I was throughly enjoying it. However, things began to change for me midway through the story. Though not overly explicit, the content became entirely too risque for my liking. I finished the book but did so more to find out if my suspicions were correct than for enjoym More...
I struggled with this book. The beginning held so much promise. Often, I found myself laughing at the antics between competitors. I was throughly enjoying it. However, things began to change for me midway through the story. Though not overly explicit, the content became entirely too risque for my liking. I finished the book but did so more to find out if my suspicions were correct than for enjoym More...
Feb 02, 2012
Jen
rated it:
An interesting premise. A woman joins a tv reality dating show set in 1812. The female contestants have to compete for points by making their own ink, embroidering pillows and learning dance moves among other activities. The prize is Mr. Wrightman, a gentleman of several thousand pounds on whose estate they're living. The catch: they have to woo and win him with all the genteel and limitations of a 19th century woman. Needless to say, many crazy things happen as our heroine attempts to adjust to
More...
Oct 25, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 23, 2012
Jude
rated it:
It is a really cute story... I loved all the Jane Austen references and also enjoyed being taken into what life was logistically like in the year 1812. Very interesting! I had to give it 3 stars and no more because I am not a romance novel person. I love the books that make one think and the classics. However, this is a good 'breather' if you've had a lot of heavy reading lately. Fun, funny, charming in parts, just had a bit of a smut factor to it that is not my taste. But fortunately, no g
More...
Jan 20, 2012
April
rated it:
Chloe Parker an American comes to England to participate in a Jane Austen period documentary quiz show. She is hoping to win the money to help her failing business.
Imagine her surprise when the show is actually a bachelor type reality show set in 1812. She and the other contestants must dress and live in the way that people did in 1812. To win she must win Mr. Wightman's heart.
There are two Mr. Wightmans - Sebastian and Henry. Sebastian is the one to win, but Henry has the more a More...
Imagine her surprise when the show is actually a bachelor type reality show set in 1812. She and the other contestants must dress and live in the way that people did in 1812. To win she must win Mr. Wightman's heart.
There are two Mr. Wightmans - Sebastian and Henry. Sebastian is the one to win, but Henry has the more a More...
