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For the Love of Austen #2
Elizabeth of East Hampton
It’s a truth universally acknowledged—well, by Elizabeth Bennet anyway—that there’s nothing worse than summer in the Hamptons. She should know: she’s lived out there her whole life. Every June, her hometown on the edge of Long Island is inundated with rich Manhattanites who party until dawn and then disappear by September. And after twenty-five years, Lizzy wants to leave, too.
But after putting her own dreams on hold to help save her family’s failing bakery, she’s still surfing the same beach every morning and waiting for something, anything, to change. She’s not holding her breath though, not even when her sister starts flirting with the hot new bachelor in town, Charlie Pierce, and he introduces Lizzy to his even hotter friend.
Will Darcy is everything Lizzy Bennet is not. Aloof, arrogant…and rich. Of course, he’s never cared about money. In fact, it’s number one on his long list of things that irk him. Number two? His friend Charlie’s insistence on setting him up with his new girlfriend’s sharp-tongued sister. Lizzy Bennet is all wrong for him, from her money-hungry family to her uncanny ability to speak to him as bluntly as he does everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her.
Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she willfully misunderstands them. Yet, just as they strike an uneasy truce, mistakes threaten Charlie and Jane’s romance, with Will and Lizzy caught in the undertow. Between a hurricane and a hypocritical aunt, a drunken voicemail and a deceptive party promoter, the two must sift through the gossip and lies to protect the happiness of everyone they love—even if it means sacrificing their own. But when the truth also forces them to see each other in an entirely new light, they must swallow their pride to learn that love is a lot like surfing: sometimes the only way to survive is to let yourself fall.
But after putting her own dreams on hold to help save her family’s failing bakery, she’s still surfing the same beach every morning and waiting for something, anything, to change. She’s not holding her breath though, not even when her sister starts flirting with the hot new bachelor in town, Charlie Pierce, and he introduces Lizzy to his even hotter friend.
Will Darcy is everything Lizzy Bennet is not. Aloof, arrogant…and rich. Of course, he’s never cared about money. In fact, it’s number one on his long list of things that irk him. Number two? His friend Charlie’s insistence on setting him up with his new girlfriend’s sharp-tongued sister. Lizzy Bennet is all wrong for him, from her money-hungry family to her uncanny ability to speak to him as bluntly as he does everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her.
Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she willfully misunderstands them. Yet, just as they strike an uneasy truce, mistakes threaten Charlie and Jane’s romance, with Will and Lizzy caught in the undertow. Between a hurricane and a hypocritical aunt, a drunken voicemail and a deceptive party promoter, the two must sift through the gossip and lies to protect the happiness of everyone they love—even if it means sacrificing their own. But when the truth also forces them to see each other in an entirely new light, they must swallow their pride to learn that love is a lot like surfing: sometimes the only way to survive is to let yourself fall.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
455 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,307 reviews
December 10, 2024
such a fun coastal small town rom-com!! If you love Pride and Prejudice, you definitely need to read!! Perfect summer read ☀️
May 24, 2025
I absolutely adored the duo’s first Manhattan elite version of “Emma” as “Emma on 83rd Street” and gave it five stars, but their new retelling of “Pride and Prejudice” takes it to another level. It's a perfect execution of enemies-to-lovers, with high chemistry and hilariously entertaining dysfunctional family dynamics set in East Hampton. The story also delves into questions of class differences between locals and summer renters escaping their exhausting city lives, as well as the beautiful bond between sisters who seemingly have no common interests. Themes of grief, self-discovery, and the burdens of growing up are expertly woven throughout.
Seeing Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy with new nicknames as Lizzie and Will, glaring at each other, surfing together, and engaging in heated conversations at dive bars, all set against the backdrop of East Hampton and Montauk, are creative ideas executed perfectly within the Austen universe.
Lizzie, the red menace, is fiery, smart, and caring, serving as the glue of her family, holding everyone together. Despite getting approval from her dream college, Columbia, to pursue her dreams of becoming a journalist, she finds herself burdened with the workload of her family’s bakery after discovering her father suffering from a heart attack.
Will initially comes off as cold, arrogant, and work-oriented, reluctantly accompanying his close friend and business partner, Charlie Pierce, to Long Island to stay at Charlie’s sisters' summer rental. His motivation is simple: to keep Charlie focused on work-related matters. However, when Charlie meets the elder Bennett sister, Jane, Will's world takes a sudden turn as he falls hard for her.
Will already has preconceived notions about Elizabeth/Lizzie, whom he first encountered at her family’s bakery. He sees her as a mess and the bane of his existence, convinced he needs to stay away from her to protect Charlie from falling for her sister and potentially jeopardizing their business interests. But he soon finds himself drawn to Lizzie's charm, even as an unwanted ghost from the past appears in town, showing an interest in Lizzie, further complicating things.
Overall, while I loved Emma and George’s love story in the first book and enjoyed their cameos in the sequel, I found myself loving this book even more. The chaotic family comedy, with twin Bennett sisters Lydia (an easygoing influencer) and Kitty (a focused career woman), along with the fiery environmentalist Mary, adds depth to the story. Quirky, kind, introverted Jane is also a lovable character. While Lizzie and Will may act immature at times, their intense chemistry stole my heart in the end.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great retelling, perfect romance, and enjoyable comedy. It truly has everything you're looking for in a fantastic romcom!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this hilarious book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Seeing Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy with new nicknames as Lizzie and Will, glaring at each other, surfing together, and engaging in heated conversations at dive bars, all set against the backdrop of East Hampton and Montauk, are creative ideas executed perfectly within the Austen universe.
Lizzie, the red menace, is fiery, smart, and caring, serving as the glue of her family, holding everyone together. Despite getting approval from her dream college, Columbia, to pursue her dreams of becoming a journalist, she finds herself burdened with the workload of her family’s bakery after discovering her father suffering from a heart attack.
Will initially comes off as cold, arrogant, and work-oriented, reluctantly accompanying his close friend and business partner, Charlie Pierce, to Long Island to stay at Charlie’s sisters' summer rental. His motivation is simple: to keep Charlie focused on work-related matters. However, when Charlie meets the elder Bennett sister, Jane, Will's world takes a sudden turn as he falls hard for her.
Will already has preconceived notions about Elizabeth/Lizzie, whom he first encountered at her family’s bakery. He sees her as a mess and the bane of his existence, convinced he needs to stay away from her to protect Charlie from falling for her sister and potentially jeopardizing their business interests. But he soon finds himself drawn to Lizzie's charm, even as an unwanted ghost from the past appears in town, showing an interest in Lizzie, further complicating things.
Overall, while I loved Emma and George’s love story in the first book and enjoyed their cameos in the sequel, I found myself loving this book even more. The chaotic family comedy, with twin Bennett sisters Lydia (an easygoing influencer) and Kitty (a focused career woman), along with the fiery environmentalist Mary, adds depth to the story. Quirky, kind, introverted Jane is also a lovable character. While Lizzie and Will may act immature at times, their intense chemistry stole my heart in the end.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great retelling, perfect romance, and enjoyable comedy. It truly has everything you're looking for in a fantastic romcom!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this hilarious book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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August 13, 2024
4 stars for this very, very contemporary retelling of my favorite novel "Pride & Prejudice" - Lizzy Bennet & Will Darcy are SURFERS 🤯 in the Hamptons, he's rich, old money still, and she's still got that crazy family, but there are some real differences here from the original (like the bad guy & her sisters). Quite surprised that Emma & Knightly were also in this. My only quibble was that it's a LOT more steam than I care for, so I skimmed through those two 🌶️🌶️ parts (just don't need that with Austen!) Easy to read & nicely done, will look for whichever one they do next (Persuasion maybe??)
August 25, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery, and to Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding for an ARC of this book!**
It is a truth universally acknowledged...that sometimes, even if you have Great Expectations for a book...you can STILL end up an outlier.
(Yes, I know, wrong author...but I couldn't resist!) 😉
Elizabeth Bennet would rather be somewhere (or well, ANYWHERE) than the Hamptons for yet another summer working at her family's bakery. It's always the same parades of Richie Rich folk who look at the area as their own personal playground, and everyone in it as their servants...and Lizzy has had QUITE enough of that, thank you very much. Although her and her gaggle of sisters are all wildly different, they share an inscrutable bond, and each is working toward achieving her dreams in her own way. Trying to surf her troubles and angst away, Lizzy feels like she has had to put living out HER dreams at Columbia University on hold so she can help run the bakery amidst her father's health troubles and a recent stroke. But such is the mark of a faithful daughter, and Lizzy soldiers on despite her troubles.
Charles Pierce, on the other hand, is in the Hamptons trying to forget. After his sister's divorce, he convinces his longtime friend and business partner, William Darcy, to put aside the strife of recent times and focus on having a good summer in the Hamptons together...until Charles is struck by Lizzy's sister, Jane, and can think of little else. Although the pair were supposed to be focusing on work with Charlie as their main motivator, it is William who ends up needing to provide focus...until HE begins to realize he cannot stop thinking about the sassy redhead from the bakery, Lizzie Bennet. The pair shouldn't have anything in common, and at first the barbs back and forth continue to fly...but one voicemail from Darcy to Lizzie quickly changes everything. But with miscommunications and complications aplenty, SHOULD these two even continue pursuing one another? Or were their first impressions of one another FAR more accurate...and indicative of a relationship that is simply doomed to fail?
It's hard to think of an author nearer and dearer to my heart, especially in the romantic space, than the undisputed Queen of Romance herself, Jane Austen. Ever since grabbingSense and Sensibility in my freshman year of college as the first required reading for a Jane Austen class I was in (yes, those were happy times indeed), I fell in love with Austen's wry wit, perfectly executed social commentary, and INCREDIBLE characters who so often kept me in a 'will they, won't they' choke hold for the ages. Although I haven't had the opportunity to dive back into her catalog as of late, it is a joy to know that I have so many of these intrepid classics sitting on my shelf, just waiting to be explored. (Yes Emma, I'm looking at you...) and needless to say, when a retelling of my FAVORITE Austen book, Pride and Prejudice, popped up, I was ALL about it.
But the difficult thing with a retelling, though, is that comparisons to the source material are not only expected, but frankly are warranted...and while Elizabeth of East Hampton maintained SOME of P&P's masterfully done enemies-to-lovers romance, lovable characters, and to an extent, social commentary, the vast majority of the text read just like any modern day romance plopped on the beaches of the Hamptons...but with characters who just so HAPPENED to have similar names (at least, for the most part).
For starters, one aspect of this retelling that felt sort of 'off' to me was the flow. While the original storyline of Pride and Prejudice is SORT of present...it mostly felt like a stretch. There was far more in this version that felt completely removed from the original than congruent. I'm sure part of this struggle came from the very notion of prearranged marriages in the modern era being limited to very specific cases and cultures, rather than the 'norm', but because of this, it made for a bit of haphazard storytelling to fill in these blanks. There is no ACTUAL reason why Charles would want to push Darcy to be with Lizzy in the modern era...if anything, having your good buddy and business partner romantically linked to your would-be girlfriend's sister would PROBABLY just muddy the waters.
I also didn't feel like Darcy was ever really that rude to Lizzy (save for their first interaction or two) or that he was particularly hard to read....because before the book is even half over he's all but proclaiming his love to her (okay, not in an OUTRIGHT way by any means) and I felt like we ended up with Lizzy and Will in a real relationship (of sorts) far earlier than they would have even come CLOSE to that in P&P. While Lizzy was strong and independent for the most part, I also felt like the version of her in this story was a bit more watered down than I would have liked, with only a few instances of 'stubborn' behavior. Basically, both characters felt a bit watered down from their Austen versions, and this sort of lowered the stakes of 'will they, won't they' for me down to 'well it would be nice if they got together...but then again maybe not'.
One high point was Lizzy's gaggle of sisters, who each had their own distinct personalities (and a very entertaining group text), and I felt each of them were fun and had distinct points of view.But even this sort of got lost amidst the ever evolving plot, mentions of their mother's MLM ventures (which IMO was the weirdest modern take in this book, because I don't think someone so easily swayed by MLMs would raise such intelligent girls...but I digress), and of course, the extra page count devoted to Lizzy and Will's courtship. There are also a COUPLE of spicy scenes that just felt so BIZARRE to read in the context of anything Austen related. Perhaps one of the reasons I adore Austen so much is that SO much is left to the imagination, and that certainly wasn't the case here. There are also surfing segments that seemed like they would be more at home as the intro to the movie Grease (with Danny and Sandy running down the beach) than between these two...or maybe as part of an Annette Funicello movie... jury's still out on that one. 🤷♀️
In the pantheon of William Darcys, there are generally two camps: the Firth fans OR the McFayden maniacs. Each group has their own reason for thinking THEIR Darcy was the most authentic, honest, and fitting version of the beloved Austen protagonist. But if Darcy was all of a sudden portrayed by Brody Jenner in a pair of swim trunks?
I'm not quite sure that ANYBODY would be swooning. 😝
3.5 stars
It is a truth universally acknowledged...that sometimes, even if you have Great Expectations for a book...you can STILL end up an outlier.
(Yes, I know, wrong author...but I couldn't resist!) 😉
Elizabeth Bennet would rather be somewhere (or well, ANYWHERE) than the Hamptons for yet another summer working at her family's bakery. It's always the same parades of Richie Rich folk who look at the area as their own personal playground, and everyone in it as their servants...and Lizzy has had QUITE enough of that, thank you very much. Although her and her gaggle of sisters are all wildly different, they share an inscrutable bond, and each is working toward achieving her dreams in her own way. Trying to surf her troubles and angst away, Lizzy feels like she has had to put living out HER dreams at Columbia University on hold so she can help run the bakery amidst her father's health troubles and a recent stroke. But such is the mark of a faithful daughter, and Lizzy soldiers on despite her troubles.
Charles Pierce, on the other hand, is in the Hamptons trying to forget. After his sister's divorce, he convinces his longtime friend and business partner, William Darcy, to put aside the strife of recent times and focus on having a good summer in the Hamptons together...until Charles is struck by Lizzy's sister, Jane, and can think of little else. Although the pair were supposed to be focusing on work with Charlie as their main motivator, it is William who ends up needing to provide focus...until HE begins to realize he cannot stop thinking about the sassy redhead from the bakery, Lizzie Bennet. The pair shouldn't have anything in common, and at first the barbs back and forth continue to fly...but one voicemail from Darcy to Lizzie quickly changes everything. But with miscommunications and complications aplenty, SHOULD these two even continue pursuing one another? Or were their first impressions of one another FAR more accurate...and indicative of a relationship that is simply doomed to fail?
It's hard to think of an author nearer and dearer to my heart, especially in the romantic space, than the undisputed Queen of Romance herself, Jane Austen. Ever since grabbingSense and Sensibility in my freshman year of college as the first required reading for a Jane Austen class I was in (yes, those were happy times indeed), I fell in love with Austen's wry wit, perfectly executed social commentary, and INCREDIBLE characters who so often kept me in a 'will they, won't they' choke hold for the ages. Although I haven't had the opportunity to dive back into her catalog as of late, it is a joy to know that I have so many of these intrepid classics sitting on my shelf, just waiting to be explored. (Yes Emma, I'm looking at you...) and needless to say, when a retelling of my FAVORITE Austen book, Pride and Prejudice, popped up, I was ALL about it.
But the difficult thing with a retelling, though, is that comparisons to the source material are not only expected, but frankly are warranted...and while Elizabeth of East Hampton maintained SOME of P&P's masterfully done enemies-to-lovers romance, lovable characters, and to an extent, social commentary, the vast majority of the text read just like any modern day romance plopped on the beaches of the Hamptons...but with characters who just so HAPPENED to have similar names (at least, for the most part).
For starters, one aspect of this retelling that felt sort of 'off' to me was the flow. While the original storyline of Pride and Prejudice is SORT of present...it mostly felt like a stretch. There was far more in this version that felt completely removed from the original than congruent. I'm sure part of this struggle came from the very notion of prearranged marriages in the modern era being limited to very specific cases and cultures, rather than the 'norm', but because of this, it made for a bit of haphazard storytelling to fill in these blanks. There is no ACTUAL reason why Charles would want to push Darcy to be with Lizzy in the modern era...if anything, having your good buddy and business partner romantically linked to your would-be girlfriend's sister would PROBABLY just muddy the waters.
I also didn't feel like Darcy was ever really that rude to Lizzy (save for their first interaction or two) or that he was particularly hard to read....because before the book is even half over he's all but proclaiming his love to her (okay, not in an OUTRIGHT way by any means) and I felt like we ended up with Lizzy and Will in a real relationship (of sorts) far earlier than they would have even come CLOSE to that in P&P. While Lizzy was strong and independent for the most part, I also felt like the version of her in this story was a bit more watered down than I would have liked, with only a few instances of 'stubborn' behavior. Basically, both characters felt a bit watered down from their Austen versions, and this sort of lowered the stakes of 'will they, won't they' for me down to 'well it would be nice if they got together...but then again maybe not'.
One high point was Lizzy's gaggle of sisters, who each had their own distinct personalities (and a very entertaining group text), and I felt each of them were fun and had distinct points of view.But even this sort of got lost amidst the ever evolving plot, mentions of their mother's MLM ventures (which IMO was the weirdest modern take in this book, because I don't think someone so easily swayed by MLMs would raise such intelligent girls...but I digress), and of course, the extra page count devoted to Lizzy and Will's courtship. There are also a COUPLE of spicy scenes that just felt so BIZARRE to read in the context of anything Austen related. Perhaps one of the reasons I adore Austen so much is that SO much is left to the imagination, and that certainly wasn't the case here. There are also surfing segments that seemed like they would be more at home as the intro to the movie Grease (with Danny and Sandy running down the beach) than between these two...or maybe as part of an Annette Funicello movie... jury's still out on that one. 🤷♀️
In the pantheon of William Darcys, there are generally two camps: the Firth fans OR the McFayden maniacs. Each group has their own reason for thinking THEIR Darcy was the most authentic, honest, and fitting version of the beloved Austen protagonist. But if Darcy was all of a sudden portrayed by Brody Jenner in a pair of swim trunks?
I'm not quite sure that ANYBODY would be swooning. 😝
3.5 stars
April 23, 2024
I want to bless the authors, the publisher, the agent, NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to publication.
I was a big fan of Emma of 83rd Street - I gave it 5 stars. Completely blew me away. I knew (and hoped) that they would give me a sequel, since we saw Darcy make an appearance at the end. And, yes, we got our Pride and Prejudice retelling! And the wait wasn't too long.
The problems with re-tellings is that the authors focus on hitting the beats not leaving room for character development and the trust that they can craft a character within the confines of sticking to the original. These two ladies once again give you a messy, hectic family where at times you completely forget they are 'reincarnations' of the characters you know from the original source material.
Elizabeth is independent, a dreamer, a loner at times, but someone who wants more and feels trapped. Darcy is someone who knows he is trapped but has gone accustomed to being that way, he has fallen into the trajectory of being the wingman / second to Charlie (who likes to move in and out of love quickly). Jane is a nerd (a Doctor Who / Trekkie / Lord of the Rings / fantasy) teacher who won my heart, and allowed Charlie to finally find someone who he care share that side with (which makes him want to chase after her). Elizabeth's family: father is a baker / owner of a bakery, mother is a MLM junkie, Lydia is a blogger / internet influencer, Kitty dabbles into legal, and Mary is a environmentalist.
I liked that while the story follows the plot of the original novel, it uses also the various media adaptations to give growth to moments between the characters. (There was a 'shirt' scene moment, since Darcy and Lizzie both surf ; Darcy had a couple 'hand' moments.) There was also a nod (I think) to Bridget Jones Diary (not telling you what bit, but if you're a fan of the movie and it's sequel, you'll know).
There is also some changes to some of the character moments in the original, one of which I really liked. This moment also introduced us to the next book in the series these two ladies have their eye on! (Not telling you which one either! - but I expect these ladies will deliver since Emma is my #1 Austen, and this next book retelling would be my #2.)
All in all, I loved the book so much. I continue to remain an ardent fan of these ladies and will seek out Book #3 when they finish. If you like Austen re-tellings then you must read this!
I was a big fan of Emma of 83rd Street - I gave it 5 stars. Completely blew me away. I knew (and hoped) that they would give me a sequel, since we saw Darcy make an appearance at the end. And, yes, we got our Pride and Prejudice retelling! And the wait wasn't too long.
The problems with re-tellings is that the authors focus on hitting the beats not leaving room for character development and the trust that they can craft a character within the confines of sticking to the original. These two ladies once again give you a messy, hectic family where at times you completely forget they are 'reincarnations' of the characters you know from the original source material.
Elizabeth is independent, a dreamer, a loner at times, but someone who wants more and feels trapped. Darcy is someone who knows he is trapped but has gone accustomed to being that way, he has fallen into the trajectory of being the wingman / second to Charlie (who likes to move in and out of love quickly). Jane is a nerd (a Doctor Who / Trekkie / Lord of the Rings / fantasy) teacher who won my heart, and allowed Charlie to finally find someone who he care share that side with (which makes him want to chase after her). Elizabeth's family: father is a baker / owner of a bakery, mother is a MLM junkie, Lydia is a blogger / internet influencer, Kitty dabbles into legal, and Mary is a environmentalist.
I liked that while the story follows the plot of the original novel, it uses also the various media adaptations to give growth to moments between the characters. (There was a 'shirt' scene moment, since Darcy and Lizzie both surf ; Darcy had a couple 'hand' moments.) There was also a nod (I think) to Bridget Jones Diary (not telling you what bit, but if you're a fan of the movie and it's sequel, you'll know).
There is also some changes to some of the character moments in the original, one of which I really liked. This moment also introduced us to the next book in the series these two ladies have their eye on! (Not telling you which one either! - but I expect these ladies will deliver since Emma is my #1 Austen, and this next book retelling would be my #2.)
All in all, I loved the book so much. I continue to remain an ardent fan of these ladies and will seek out Book #3 when they finish. If you like Austen re-tellings then you must read this!
May 10, 2024
as someone who honestly isn't very fond of the hate to love trope in romance books, i was prepared to not love this one very much, considering it is a retelling of the one who started it all: pride and prejudice. i knew i'd enjoy it to some extent, because i really enjoyed the first installment of the series, but i was preparing myself to not be that connected to the couple itself. oh how wrong i was, and how happy to be wrong i was too.
lizzy and will gave me everything i needed and so much more. from the very start, i was enthralled with their dynamic, going into that classic banter between people who clearly dislike each other and watching that banter turn into a friendlier one. i couldn't help my cheesy grin when we finally got to the more romantic/couple-y scenes. i literally can't stop thinking about them ever since i reached the end" and i'm sensing a reread will be coming sooner rather than later.
the secondary characters were EVERYTHING. i had a blast with each one of them, their different personalities and how that shined through every scene. throughout the book, i was caring for jane and charlie almost as much as the main characters, and if that doesn't say what a great job they did with all these characters, i don't know what can.
truthfully, i'm having trouble with putting into words how much i loved this book, and to quote knightley himself *wink* *wink*, “Well, if I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
audrey bellezza and emily harding are quickly going into my list of auto-buy authors. i can't wait for what's coming next from them (specially coming from these series, hello!)
ARC kindly provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
lizzy and will gave me everything i needed and so much more. from the very start, i was enthralled with their dynamic, going into that classic banter between people who clearly dislike each other and watching that banter turn into a friendlier one. i couldn't help my cheesy grin when we finally got to the more romantic/couple-y scenes. i literally can't stop thinking about them ever since i reached the end" and i'm sensing a reread will be coming sooner rather than later.
the secondary characters were EVERYTHING. i had a blast with each one of them, their different personalities and how that shined through every scene. throughout the book, i was caring for jane and charlie almost as much as the main characters, and if that doesn't say what a great job they did with all these characters, i don't know what can.
truthfully, i'm having trouble with putting into words how much i loved this book, and to quote knightley himself *wink* *wink*, “Well, if I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
audrey bellezza and emily harding are quickly going into my list of auto-buy authors. i can't wait for what's coming next from them (specially coming from these series, hello!)
ARC kindly provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2024
A Rich Manhattanite vacationer makes a bad first impression and the local gal has a sassy way of catching his attention at the beach. Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding’s Emma of 83rd Street was an amazing first book and in my top reads last year so I couldn’t pass up the chance to pick up the latest book in their series of sparkling Jane Austen modern retellings.
Elizabeth of East Hampton is mildly connected to the first For the Love of Austen book with the male lead briefly introduced in a scene so is flexible as a standalone or follow up read.
Lizzy is a local and has mixed feelings about the wealthy vacationers that come to her town for the season. She gets that the tourist economy is what sustains the area, but personally, she’s tired of being a local and wants to be gone pursuing her journalism dream. Unfortunately, family obligation of working the bakery because of her dad’s heart has kept her stuck.
I enjoyed seeing the Bennets updated so Lizzy’s a surfer working in the family bakery and has a dream of journalism while her mom wants one of the five sisters to snag a rich vacationer and is so obvious. Her oldest sister is a looker and sweet, middle sister is an activist, and younger vivacious sisters are influencers and bloggers.
Meanwhile, a class difference romance is up to the minute with a wealth Manhattanite, Will Darcy, accompanying his friend Charlie to the shore and keeping an eye out so Charlie doesn’t fall for a local golddigger. Eventually, he realizes that Lizzy and her sister aren’t that way, but not until after he sets off everyone and doesn’t get help from an enemy in his past.
I love how Elizabeth of East Hampton strikes the right beat of honoring the classic, but is also a wholly new and sparkling contemporary romance fully developed in characters and relationship connections. There is a steady pacing and a slow burn romance that comes with character growth.
So, another hit from this writing pair and making me more than eager for the third book hinted at with the intro of a familiar face at the end. Sunny summer beach town setting makes Elizabeth of East Hampton a fab edition to the beach bag reading stack.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 8.21.24
Elizabeth of East Hampton is mildly connected to the first For the Love of Austen book with the male lead briefly introduced in a scene so is flexible as a standalone or follow up read.
Lizzy is a local and has mixed feelings about the wealthy vacationers that come to her town for the season. She gets that the tourist economy is what sustains the area, but personally, she’s tired of being a local and wants to be gone pursuing her journalism dream. Unfortunately, family obligation of working the bakery because of her dad’s heart has kept her stuck.
I enjoyed seeing the Bennets updated so Lizzy’s a surfer working in the family bakery and has a dream of journalism while her mom wants one of the five sisters to snag a rich vacationer and is so obvious. Her oldest sister is a looker and sweet, middle sister is an activist, and younger vivacious sisters are influencers and bloggers.
Meanwhile, a class difference romance is up to the minute with a wealth Manhattanite, Will Darcy, accompanying his friend Charlie to the shore and keeping an eye out so Charlie doesn’t fall for a local golddigger. Eventually, he realizes that Lizzy and her sister aren’t that way, but not until after he sets off everyone and doesn’t get help from an enemy in his past.
I love how Elizabeth of East Hampton strikes the right beat of honoring the classic, but is also a wholly new and sparkling contemporary romance fully developed in characters and relationship connections. There is a steady pacing and a slow burn romance that comes with character growth.
So, another hit from this writing pair and making me more than eager for the third book hinted at with the intro of a familiar face at the end. Sunny summer beach town setting makes Elizabeth of East Hampton a fab edition to the beach bag reading stack.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 8.21.24
August 18, 2024
This is how you do a retelling of a classic. Enough to make it recognizable, but plenty of changes to make it its own story. Loved it.
January 24, 2025
Elizabeth of East Hampton is a charming and clever retelling of Pride & Prejudice, seamlessly reimagined for the 21st century while honouring the essence of Austen’s original. All of the characters are instantly recognisable yet given fresh, modern twists that make them feel both familiar and new. Lizzie is fiercely independent and relatable, while Darcy exudes all the brooding charm we are known to love—complete with nods to iconic adaptations like Macfadyen’s hand clench and Firth’s pond scene.
The modern updates are delightful, from Lydia’s sharp, self-aware arc to Jane’s unexpected nerdy side. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lizzie and Will is executed brilliantly, bringing slow-burn chemistry to the story. The subtle humor and contemporary setting bring a fun and relatable layer to the timeless story, while still delivering on all the swoony and satisfying moments.
Whether you’re a diehard Austen fan or just love a good romance, this book is a joy to read. It’s respectful of its source material while adding just enough modern flair to make it feel fresh and engaging. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a witty and heartfelt take on a beloved classic!
The modern updates are delightful, from Lydia’s sharp, self-aware arc to Jane’s unexpected nerdy side. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lizzie and Will is executed brilliantly, bringing slow-burn chemistry to the story. The subtle humor and contemporary setting bring a fun and relatable layer to the timeless story, while still delivering on all the swoony and satisfying moments.
Whether you’re a diehard Austen fan or just love a good romance, this book is a joy to read. It’s respectful of its source material while adding just enough modern flair to make it feel fresh and engaging. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a witty and heartfelt take on a beloved classic!
May 17, 2024
This is a fun interpretation of a classic, especially if you want a fresh modern take. I like the setting in New York and it was quick read.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2024
bewitched me body and soul
December 23, 2024
darcy being blond is actually a war crime. this book clearly wanted to be p&p but only has like 40% of it and it did not do what they wanted it to.
February 25, 2025
5! I absolutely love a good Jane Austen retelling, and Emma of 83rd Street is one of my favorite books of all time. When Will Darcy was introduced, I just knew his story would be next, and he did not disappoint in the slightest.
In this novel, Will Darcy and his best friend Charlie decide to spend the summer in the Hamptons, where they meet Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy, born and raised in East Hampton, works at her family's bakery, though she dreams of becoming a traveling journalist. Will and Lizzy’s first interaction is less than ideal, leading to a rocky start. For the first third of the book, they don’t really get along. The transition from enemies to lovers is perfectly executed, making their journey from initial dislike to deep affection both believable and satisfying. They were never outright cruel to each other, which I dislike in some books with the enemies-to-lovers trope.
The pacing of this book was spot-on, ensuring that there was never a dull moment. I also appreciated the small secondary romance involving Elizabeth’s sister. It helped the book stay true to the key elements of Pride and Prejudice while incorporating the author’s twist.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and engaging read! Don’t forget to check out Emma of 83rd Street as well, since Emma and Knightley make a brief but rewarding appearance in this novel. I'm hoping the authors' next book will be a Persuasion retelling focusing on Wentworth, as I adore a good second-chance romance!
In this novel, Will Darcy and his best friend Charlie decide to spend the summer in the Hamptons, where they meet Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy, born and raised in East Hampton, works at her family's bakery, though she dreams of becoming a traveling journalist. Will and Lizzy’s first interaction is less than ideal, leading to a rocky start. For the first third of the book, they don’t really get along. The transition from enemies to lovers is perfectly executed, making their journey from initial dislike to deep affection both believable and satisfying. They were never outright cruel to each other, which I dislike in some books with the enemies-to-lovers trope.
The pacing of this book was spot-on, ensuring that there was never a dull moment. I also appreciated the small secondary romance involving Elizabeth’s sister. It helped the book stay true to the key elements of Pride and Prejudice while incorporating the author’s twist.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and engaging read! Don’t forget to check out Emma of 83rd Street as well, since Emma and Knightley make a brief but rewarding appearance in this novel. I'm hoping the authors' next book will be a Persuasion retelling focusing on Wentworth, as I adore a good second-chance romance!
August 8, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, which is an Emma retelling. I think this second installment suffers a bit from the fact there are SO many remixes of Pride and Prejudice (as opposed to Emma retellings), it’s harder to write a standout story. I also felt like the characters relationship was hindered by a lack of enough forced proximity in the outset. In the original story, Darcy gets to know Elizabeth much better when Jane is stuck at Netherfield because they spend several days in each other’s company. In this installment, it’s really just a handful of rather brief encounters before they’re feeling ALL THE BIG FEELINGS. It cheapened the payoff for me.
September 15, 2025
I love this author, her retellings of Jane Austen books are so so good and I eat them up every time. Such a cute book, loved the family dynamics and the main characters. Kind of makes me want to read pride and prejudice
October 14, 2024
I desperately wanted to love this because I love Pride and Prejudice, but there wasn’t nearly enough yearning. Plus several small and inconsequential things that irritated me and added up to really just a “meh” feeling about this one, unfortunately.
March 13, 2025
3.5/5
this hit all the right beats, but making darcy blonde unfortunately is a federal crime
this hit all the right beats, but making darcy blonde unfortunately is a federal crime
September 7, 2024
⭐️: 4
🌶️: 2
🌊 P&P retelling
🌊 enemies to lovers
🌊 billionaire
🌊 he falls first
I absolutely adored this modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice! It had all of my favorite tropes, including a truly under represented one, the stuck together during a hurricane trope.
Lizzie and Will had a delicious chemistry and I loved the way the authors included two love stories in one with Jane and Charlie. There was no shortage of swoony quotes and heart warming moments. As we are moving out of Summer and into Fall, this book made me want to hold on tight to the last bits of Summer.
🌶️🌶️ = open door, minimal detail
♥︎ Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of Elizabeth of East Hampton.
🌶️: 2
🌊 P&P retelling
🌊 enemies to lovers
🌊 billionaire
🌊 he falls first
I absolutely adored this modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice! It had all of my favorite tropes, including a truly under represented one, the stuck together during a hurricane trope.
Lizzie and Will had a delicious chemistry and I loved the way the authors included two love stories in one with Jane and Charlie. There was no shortage of swoony quotes and heart warming moments. As we are moving out of Summer and into Fall, this book made me want to hold on tight to the last bits of Summer.
🌶️🌶️ = open door, minimal detail
♥︎ Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of Elizabeth of East Hampton.
August 18, 2024
Чудовий сучасний ретелінг "Гордості та упередження", мені все сподобалося (навіть більше ніж ретелінг Емми), лишилася дуже задоволена.
Ліззі та Дарсі були прекрасні, але найбільше мені сподобалося, як розкрили всіх сестер Беннет і сюжетні зміни теж були досить органічні.
Я так розумію, що наступним буде ретелінг 'Persuasion', який теж із задоволенням почитаю, але найбільше сподіваюся, що авторки доберуться і напишуть також ретелінг "Нортенгерсткого абатства", бо це моя третя улюблена книжка Остін і як би її класно можна було переробити під сучасні реалії. Можливо, зробити янг едалт з геловінськими мотивами, було б чудово.
P.S. Моя єдина претензія до сцени 'це нічого, що у нас немає презервативів, я на протизаплідних'. Дуже хотілося б, щоб цей концепт зник з любовних романів, бо авторки ніби дорослі жінки, а таке враження, що не знають, що презервативи потрібні не лише для запобігання вагітності.
Ліззі та Дарсі були прекрасні, але найбільше мені сподобалося, як розкрили всіх сестер Беннет і сюжетні зміни теж були досить органічні.
Я так розумію, що наступним буде ретелінг 'Persuasion', який теж із задоволенням почитаю, але найбільше сподіваюся, що авторки доберуться і напишуть також ретелінг "Нортенгерсткого абатства", бо це моя третя улюблена книжка Остін і як би її класно можна було переробити під сучасні реалії. Можливо, зробити янг едалт з геловінськими мотивами, було б чудово.
P.S. Моя єдина претензія до сцени 'це нічого, що у нас немає презервативів, я на протизаплідних'. Дуже хотілося б, щоб цей концепт зник з любовних романів, бо авторки ніби дорослі жінки, а таке враження, що не знають, що презервативи потрібні не лише для запобігання вагітності.
December 6, 2024
Sweet, charming and sexy, and it pays homage but does not stick to the original in a slavish way, which is as it should be because it is a totally different world. I wish the author knew that what Darcy did was venture capital and that there is no such thing as an M&A shop, but that is my own bugaboo because of my professional life, and should not impact others. I loved that Wickham was basically the Fyre Festival guy! That was perfect.
June 5, 2025
anyone who has encountered me in the last 4 days knows I won’t shut up about this series so SORRY i’m addicted to this austen universe they have created
pride & prejudice is the best romance ever written (obviously) and this retelling is so fun and cute (kind of beach read vibes) and has all the yearning I could ever want. bc darcy 🙂↔️
would’ve been 5 stars if he told her she had bewitched him body and soul butttt
pride & prejudice is the best romance ever written (obviously) and this retelling is so fun and cute (kind of beach read vibes) and has all the yearning I could ever want. bc darcy 🙂↔️
would’ve been 5 stars if he told her she had bewitched him body and soul butttt
July 18, 2024
Let me start off by saying Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book of all time. The one I read at 15 and stuck with me forever. I've read every retelling and watched every movie/tv show ever made.
So I can in all honesty tell you that this might be my favourite book retelling of the original. I don't have much to say about the plot because it's a universally known plot, so I'll focus my review on other things.
First off, the characters. I've loved how you knew the authors were describing the Bennet family, Mr Darcy and everybody else you can find in the original story, but at the same time they were given a new development. It's them but at the same time they are not.
Jane, the usual quite and gentle girl who is an elementary school teacher, is also a nerd and a Doctor Who fan. Or Lydia, who still is that vapid girl who wants to be an influencer but she's also quite smart and she finally did what she was supposed to do in the original story.
But let's talk about the main characters, Lizzie and Will. Oh Mr Darcy, don't think I didn't notice you clenched your hand in a fist like Matthew Macfadyen because you wanted to touch Lizzy or that basically everytime he was in the ocean surfing, it was like the pond scene with Colin Firth. And these are the things alone that make this book deserve 5 stars. Lizzy is independent, a dreamer, a loner at times, but someone who wants more and feels trapped. And she's an avid reader, looking for smut scenes in books, so welcome to the club girl.
The enemies to lovers trope here is delivered splendidly, but one thing I enjoyed the most was Lydia's reaction to Tristan, saying that even if the guy is hot, he's not enough to run off with him or marry him. Or even when she get the 'revenge' we've all been waiting for.
I can't believe this book took every beautiful thing that was in Pride and Prejudice and made it so much better with retellings, new info and setting it into the 21st century.
I couldn't recommend it enough. And I want to thank NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for having given me the pleasure of reading this wonderful book. I'm definitely going to read the previous one, about Emma and Mr Knightley and I do hope they'll continue with their Jane Austen's retelling.
So I can in all honesty tell you that this might be my favourite book retelling of the original. I don't have much to say about the plot because it's a universally known plot, so I'll focus my review on other things.
First off, the characters. I've loved how you knew the authors were describing the Bennet family, Mr Darcy and everybody else you can find in the original story, but at the same time they were given a new development. It's them but at the same time they are not.
Jane, the usual quite and gentle girl who is an elementary school teacher, is also a nerd and a Doctor Who fan. Or Lydia, who still is that vapid girl who wants to be an influencer but she's also quite smart and she finally did what she was supposed to do in the original story.
But let's talk about the main characters, Lizzie and Will. Oh Mr Darcy, don't think I didn't notice you clenched your hand in a fist like Matthew Macfadyen because you wanted to touch Lizzy or that basically everytime he was in the ocean surfing, it was like the pond scene with Colin Firth. And these are the things alone that make this book deserve 5 stars. Lizzy is independent, a dreamer, a loner at times, but someone who wants more and feels trapped. And she's an avid reader, looking for smut scenes in books, so welcome to the club girl.
The enemies to lovers trope here is delivered splendidly, but one thing I enjoyed the most was Lydia's reaction to Tristan, saying that even if the guy is hot, he's not enough to run off with him or marry him. Or even when she get the 'revenge' we've all been waiting for.
I can't believe this book took every beautiful thing that was in Pride and Prejudice and made it so much better with retellings, new info and setting it into the 21st century.
I couldn't recommend it enough. And I want to thank NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for having given me the pleasure of reading this wonderful book. I'm definitely going to read the previous one, about Emma and Mr Knightley and I do hope they'll continue with their Jane Austen's retelling.
October 6, 2024
Loved it, even more than Emma on 83rd Street, which I absolutely adored. Janeites who love P & P variations will want to buy and read it ASAP! You will thank me.
March 4, 2025
This book is an affront to Jane Austen. If you like Pride and Prejudice even a little bit, stay away.
Elizabeth is a twenty-something who’s nearly given up on her dreams to stay home and help her family. And she loves reading romantasy novels.
Jane is a first grade teacher and super big nerd. She adores Doctor Who.
Mary is an ecoterrorist with blue hair. Please note: I’m not being harsh, the group she is a member of is literally referred to in the narration as an ecoterrorist organization.
Kitty is a marketing major who wants to help the family bakery make more money but doesn’t actually do anything to help until the end of the book????
And Lydia is a wannabe TikTok influencer who canonically throws shade at the character personality that Austen’s Lydia has.
Darcy is blond????? No. Just. No. Bingley doesn’t even get to keep his last name. Charlotte Lucas is renamed for no reason and is a lesbian, Wickham is also renamed for no reason. Darcy is also better friends with George Knightley than he is Bingley?????? Lady Katherine is a real estate shark, GEORGIANA DOESN’T EXIST, and there are references to other Jane Austen heroes.
If you think that’s bad there’s also what is one of the worst love scenes I’ve ever come across in a book because Darcy just thrusts into Elizabeth right off the bat without foreplay and I’m sorry but excuse me??????? Major ouch; also- not very romantic at all. To say nothing of the boat sex at the end of the book. Elizabeth, that’s your father’s boat and you really did that???? Gross.
Brb, going to bleach my brain for a bit and then scrub the memory of this awfulness from my mind.
Elizabeth is a twenty-something who’s nearly given up on her dreams to stay home and help her family. And she loves reading romantasy novels.
Jane is a first grade teacher and super big nerd. She adores Doctor Who.
Mary is an ecoterrorist with blue hair. Please note: I’m not being harsh, the group she is a member of is literally referred to in the narration as an ecoterrorist organization.
Kitty is a marketing major who wants to help the family bakery make more money but doesn’t actually do anything to help until the end of the book????
And Lydia is a wannabe TikTok influencer who canonically throws shade at the character personality that Austen’s Lydia has.
Darcy is blond????? No. Just. No. Bingley doesn’t even get to keep his last name. Charlotte Lucas is renamed for no reason and is a lesbian, Wickham is also renamed for no reason. Darcy is also better friends with George Knightley than he is Bingley?????? Lady Katherine is a real estate shark, GEORGIANA DOESN’T EXIST, and there are references to other Jane Austen heroes.
If you think that’s bad there’s also what is one of the worst love scenes I’ve ever come across in a book because Darcy just thrusts into Elizabeth right off the bat without foreplay and I’m sorry but excuse me??????? Major ouch; also- not very romantic at all. To say nothing of the boat sex at the end of the book. Elizabeth, that’s your father’s boat and you really did that???? Gross.
Brb, going to bleach my brain for a bit and then scrub the memory of this awfulness from my mind.
September 7, 2024
I’ve admittedly never read (or watched) Pride and Prejudice, so I can’t comment on how this worked as a retelling. But much like Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, this completely stole my heart on its own!
The East Hampton setting added such a fun, beachy vibe to the story, especially with the surfing element woven in! The Bennet family was loud, chaotic, and absolutely lovable. Mrs. Bennet, with her boisterous personality and quirky side hustles, was a riot. But despite their strong family bond, Elizabeth feels trapped in the family bakery business, unable to fully pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. I loved watching her take charge of her own life—and unexpectedly find love with a certain wealthy businessman from out of town.
Will Darcy—irresistibly arrogant yet completely misunderstood—immediately gets under Elizabeth’s skin. The addictive tension between them, simmering beneath their mutual distaste, kept me smiling the entire time. Watching Will slowly unravel his feelings for Elizabeth, so distracted by her that he can barely function, was easily my favourite part. I can’t wait to read more from this author duo!
(heat level: a few open-door scenes, moderate to explicit details)
The East Hampton setting added such a fun, beachy vibe to the story, especially with the surfing element woven in! The Bennet family was loud, chaotic, and absolutely lovable. Mrs. Bennet, with her boisterous personality and quirky side hustles, was a riot. But despite their strong family bond, Elizabeth feels trapped in the family bakery business, unable to fully pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. I loved watching her take charge of her own life—and unexpectedly find love with a certain wealthy businessman from out of town.
Will Darcy—irresistibly arrogant yet completely misunderstood—immediately gets under Elizabeth’s skin. The addictive tension between them, simmering beneath their mutual distaste, kept me smiling the entire time. Watching Will slowly unravel his feelings for Elizabeth, so distracted by her that he can barely function, was easily my favourite part. I can’t wait to read more from this author duo!
(heat level: a few open-door scenes, moderate to explicit details)
August 12, 2025
Is there anything better than a Pride & Prejudice enemies to lovers retelling?? It's always been my favorite Jane Austen book and makes for a perfect Austen in August read. Especially great on audio narrated by two of my very favs, Teddy Hamilton and Brittany Pressley. If you enjoy Austen and contemporary adaptations you don't wan't to miss this standout summer romcom! Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon.Audio for a digital and audio advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!
September 9, 2024
Loved!!!!! Was saving this for a beach day out east, and it was the perfect setting for this Pride and Prejudice retelling. We know the plot, but beyond that this played into the Long Island local / rich summer resident trope and I really loved how it was done. They have an Emma retelling that I need to pick up.
August 11, 2025
a cute p&p modernization. I liked the choices to vary from the original, particularly with the bennet sisters. Mary and Lydia were especially fun and surprising.
May 27, 2024
A delightful retelling of the beloved classic Pride & Prejudice, as told from a refreshing and modern twist! This novel was extremely entertaining, witty and an overall fun read. A real page turner, too.
The story follows Elizabeth Bennet from East Hampton. Just like the original tale, Lizzy has four sisters, but this time around, she works at her family’s bakery. While she has ambitions to attend Columbia University to obtain her Master’s degree in journalism, her father’s declining health forces Lizzy to put her dreams on hold and to instead, help run the family’s business. Being the head strong and determined young woman that she is, Lizzy generally assumes the trivial role as the designated responsible family member who is often left to pick up the messy pieces left behind her colorful clan.
Here enters Will Darcy, a wealthy, uptight and arrogant tycoon from New York. And when he crosses paths with Lizzy at her small town bakery, sparks fly and the war of the roses officially begins!
This book had some very sweet and endearing scenes. The evolution of Will Darcy’s character was extremely touching and believable at the same time. I particularly loved his overall concern for Lizzy’s general welfare and the scene where he follows her in his car after she storms out of the tavern was truly swoon worthy.
Personally, I really liked the authors unique take on the original tale. I appreciated how they took well beloved literary characters and transformed them into everyday modern folks that most readers can identify with. For example, Jane is a teacher, while Mary is an environmental activist. Meanwhile, Lydia and Kitty are twins, where one is a modern day influencer and the other an entrepreneur. Plus, I also enjoyed how they changed things up a bit with some of the side characters as well.
Additionally, I found that the incorporation of other Austen characters found within her other novels, which were frequently crossed referenced in this particular book, to be rather clever. Especially, Emma and George from the first novel in this series. In many ways, this helped to set up a new Austen-style universe for the future.
Overall, this was a delightful and romantic read, that also included some spice, too. Previously, I did not get a chance to read the first book in this series; however, after reading this novel, I now plan to. Furthermore, this novel is a stand alone, so all books in this series can be read in any order.
Lastly, I simply adored the cover’s artwork and found it to be most fitting for this story. Also, I do hope that the authors continue to write more retellings of beloved Austen novels, using their unique and fresh storytelling style. In particular, I’d love to see their take on Persuasion and Mansfield Park.
A special thank you to the authors and the publisher for an early ARC, in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.
The story follows Elizabeth Bennet from East Hampton. Just like the original tale, Lizzy has four sisters, but this time around, she works at her family’s bakery. While she has ambitions to attend Columbia University to obtain her Master’s degree in journalism, her father’s declining health forces Lizzy to put her dreams on hold and to instead, help run the family’s business. Being the head strong and determined young woman that she is, Lizzy generally assumes the trivial role as the designated responsible family member who is often left to pick up the messy pieces left behind her colorful clan.
Here enters Will Darcy, a wealthy, uptight and arrogant tycoon from New York. And when he crosses paths with Lizzy at her small town bakery, sparks fly and the war of the roses officially begins!
This book had some very sweet and endearing scenes. The evolution of Will Darcy’s character was extremely touching and believable at the same time. I particularly loved his overall concern for Lizzy’s general welfare and the scene where he follows her in his car after she storms out of the tavern was truly swoon worthy.
Personally, I really liked the authors unique take on the original tale. I appreciated how they took well beloved literary characters and transformed them into everyday modern folks that most readers can identify with. For example, Jane is a teacher, while Mary is an environmental activist. Meanwhile, Lydia and Kitty are twins, where one is a modern day influencer and the other an entrepreneur. Plus, I also enjoyed how they changed things up a bit with some of the side characters as well.
Additionally, I found that the incorporation of other Austen characters found within her other novels, which were frequently crossed referenced in this particular book, to be rather clever. Especially, Emma and George from the first novel in this series. In many ways, this helped to set up a new Austen-style universe for the future.
Overall, this was a delightful and romantic read, that also included some spice, too. Previously, I did not get a chance to read the first book in this series; however, after reading this novel, I now plan to. Furthermore, this novel is a stand alone, so all books in this series can be read in any order.
Lastly, I simply adored the cover’s artwork and found it to be most fitting for this story. Also, I do hope that the authors continue to write more retellings of beloved Austen novels, using their unique and fresh storytelling style. In particular, I’d love to see their take on Persuasion and Mansfield Park.
A special thank you to the authors and the publisher for an early ARC, in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.
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