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Interference
I will not get involved…I will not get involved…I will not get involved…
As a congressman’s daughter in Washington, DC, Kate Hamilton always pushes to make things right. But when a scandal sends her family to Red Dirt, Texas, she decides to step back for a while. She’ll take pictures for her portfolio. She’ll volunteer at her aunt’s animal shelter. And most of all, she’ll stay out of politics (including her father’s latest election) and away from guys (especially after her ex’s betrayal).
But…
If Kate’s political skills can be useful in Red Dirt, should she really let them go to waste? After all, her friend Ana Gomez and quarterback Kyle Stone would be a perfect match. Her dad’s campaign could benefit from a teenage perspective. The irritatingly handsome Hunter Price should learn he doesn’t know everything…When Kate’s plans backfire, she must find the soul beneath her DC spin, and risk her heart—the biggest involvement of all.
As a congressman’s daughter in Washington, DC, Kate Hamilton always pushes to make things right. But when a scandal sends her family to Red Dirt, Texas, she decides to step back for a while. She’ll take pictures for her portfolio. She’ll volunteer at her aunt’s animal shelter. And most of all, she’ll stay out of politics (including her father’s latest election) and away from guys (especially after her ex’s betrayal).
But…
If Kate’s political skills can be useful in Red Dirt, should she really let them go to waste? After all, her friend Ana Gomez and quarterback Kyle Stone would be a perfect match. Her dad’s campaign could benefit from a teenage perspective. The irritatingly handsome Hunter Price should learn he doesn’t know everything…When Kate’s plans backfire, she must find the soul beneath her DC spin, and risk her heart—the biggest involvement of all.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
August 27, 2016
Anything paired with anything Jane Austen is pretty much a sure thing for me. I've never seen Friday Night Lights, but I do like football, so I was all in.
I didn't know how to take Kate in the beginning. She's so sure that she's doing the right thing that she doesn't pay attention to who she's hurting. There were some great scenes where you could just see her start to figure it out and those were my favorite.
At times the plot was a little slow, but for the most part, once I was fully interested, I couldn't stop reading. I would have liked to see more of an ending or maybe an epilogue, yet somehow it all worked for the story that was being told.
**Huge thanks to Mysterious Galaxy for letting me take this arc out of the super sekrit back room**
I didn't know how to take Kate in the beginning. She's so sure that she's doing the right thing that she doesn't pay attention to who she's hurting. There were some great scenes where you could just see her start to figure it out and those were my favorite.
At times the plot was a little slow, but for the most part, once I was fully interested, I couldn't stop reading. I would have liked to see more of an ending or maybe an epilogue, yet somehow it all worked for the story that was being told.
**Huge thanks to Mysterious Galaxy for letting me take this arc out of the super sekrit back room**
August 31, 2016
4.5 This was a really fun and clever take on Emma, with a fantastic voice.
Those of you who watched my First Impressions video on Interference will likely have suspected I was going to love this. I was smitten right from the first page, couldn't get over the voice and the fantastic dry humor, and well, everything, basically. There may have been "delighted jazz hands" in the video, so. . . Basically I said it was on track to be a favorite of 2016, unless it took a nosedive, so now the question is: did it?
Thankfully, thankfully, it did not. Interference was strong from beginning to end. It was warm and endearing and funny, and captured the place-feel very well. As I said in the video, it set up a lot of interesting contrasts well right from the beginning (there vs here, then vs now, us vs them). I can't speak to the Friday Night Lights of it all, as I've never watched it (couldn't get past the nauseating shaky-cam of the first episode; someone tell me if the camera work gets better and its worth sticking around?), but I'd imagine that any YA small town slice-of-Americana that heavily features football probably garners the same comparison.
What I can speak to is the Austen of it all, and I gotta say, it hits Emma notes in very clever ways, much the same way Clueless did: not over-the-top, but with all these little nods and easter eggs for Austen fans, while interpreting and reinventing the story in fresh, fun ways. There's some really smart thinking in using the daughter of a politician to reframe the story of Emma for the modern day -- the theme of manipulation for the greater good and that sense of well-meaning superiority that is such a part of Emma's world fits perfectly with a daughter who has been raised on the campaign trail and in front of cameras. It's one of those strokes of perfect obviousness that is borderline genius — of course! Of course a modern Emma would get her manipulation skills and ability to spin things to her benefit from a politician father! Of course someone whose grown up in a world where people are both passionately fighting for what they feel is right while also being absolutely sharks would pick up some of Emma's puppet master tendencies. It's really a very clever mash-up.
Now, like Emma, whom many readers have MAJOR likability problems with, some readers may never connect to Kate, or may want to jump ship before she learns some lessons and wins her likability points. But as I've always said, Emma is one of my favorite characters, and I relate to her a lot. I relate to her hard, y'all. I've got as much Emma in me as I do Lizzy (that's right, I'm a self-important smartypants who knows whats best for everyone else, but never takes her own advice. Soz!), so I loved Kate from the start. One of the joys of Emma for me is that, even when Emma is getting herself (and those around her. Oops) into colossal snarls, following her own misguided compass, you can always see why she thinks she's right. Her actions, though inevitably wrong, make sense. The same is true of Kate; she doesn't listen when people tell her that she's interpreting something incorrectly, and she doesn't kowtow to someone else's greater understanding of a person's character that they've known their whole life — she knows how things have worked for her in the past, where she's from, and she knows how she'd expect people to react, and why should here be any different? She goes full-steam ahead with her schemes, convinced that she's right and someone just needs to try, and that may frustrate some readers, but I get her — because how do you know if you don't try? And frankly, I like a confident (some may say cocky, I say confident) YA heroine or young woman in general. (I think that's part of the reason that I actually resent Knightley a little bit. He just had to be right. =/)
I don't know what else there really is to say. In many ways, it's a typical, familiar story; that doesn't bother me, because it just makes it seem relatable and familiar-like-a-friend, rather than just the same old, recycled storylines. (And I mean, it is a retelling, so... I expect that feel.) Its main character may put some people off, but I love her; but then, I do tend to love the MCs that no one else does (and I'm okay with that). As always, I'd say just know yourself as a reader: if you're not a fan of Emma, there's a good chance you won't like her rewritten. If you love fluffy, fun contemporary,* you might like this. And if you're not, you won't.
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, especially if you've read this or watched my First Impressions and have thoughts on the style! Also, can I hear from some fellow Emma lovers out there? It was many, many years before I realized that a lot of people didn't actually like her (like, seriously, many years. I read it when I was 17, and I think I only realized last year when our read along was Emma. I was baffled(ish), startled, and a little bit heart-broken.)
And if you end up picking this book up, please come back or find me on twitter and let me know what you thought!
*Speaking of, the synopsis compares this to Elizabeth Eulberg (with which I agree) and Sarah Dessen, and now I wanna know: is this how Sarah Dessen writes? Is this the kind of story she tells? Because if so, I've been missing out and need to change that. Someone who's read this, let me know, pls!
Reviewed August 30,2016
Those of you who watched my First Impressions video on Interference will likely have suspected I was going to love this. I was smitten right from the first page, couldn't get over the voice and the fantastic dry humor, and well, everything, basically. There may have been "delighted jazz hands" in the video, so. . . Basically I said it was on track to be a favorite of 2016, unless it took a nosedive, so now the question is: did it?
Thankfully, thankfully, it did not. Interference was strong from beginning to end. It was warm and endearing and funny, and captured the place-feel very well. As I said in the video, it set up a lot of interesting contrasts well right from the beginning (there vs here, then vs now, us vs them). I can't speak to the Friday Night Lights of it all, as I've never watched it (couldn't get past the nauseating shaky-cam of the first episode; someone tell me if the camera work gets better and its worth sticking around?), but I'd imagine that any YA small town slice-of-Americana that heavily features football probably garners the same comparison.
What I can speak to is the Austen of it all, and I gotta say, it hits Emma notes in very clever ways, much the same way Clueless did: not over-the-top, but with all these little nods and easter eggs for Austen fans, while interpreting and reinventing the story in fresh, fun ways. There's some really smart thinking in using the daughter of a politician to reframe the story of Emma for the modern day -- the theme of manipulation for the greater good and that sense of well-meaning superiority that is such a part of Emma's world fits perfectly with a daughter who has been raised on the campaign trail and in front of cameras. It's one of those strokes of perfect obviousness that is borderline genius — of course! Of course a modern Emma would get her manipulation skills and ability to spin things to her benefit from a politician father! Of course someone whose grown up in a world where people are both passionately fighting for what they feel is right while also being absolutely sharks would pick up some of Emma's puppet master tendencies. It's really a very clever mash-up.
Now, like Emma, whom many readers have MAJOR likability problems with, some readers may never connect to Kate, or may want to jump ship before she learns some lessons and wins her likability points. But as I've always said, Emma is one of my favorite characters, and I relate to her a lot. I relate to her hard, y'all. I've got as much Emma in me as I do Lizzy (that's right, I'm a self-important smartypants who knows whats best for everyone else, but never takes her own advice. Soz!), so I loved Kate from the start. One of the joys of Emma for me is that, even when Emma is getting herself (and those around her. Oops) into colossal snarls, following her own misguided compass, you can always see why she thinks she's right. Her actions, though inevitably wrong, make sense. The same is true of Kate; she doesn't listen when people tell her that she's interpreting something incorrectly, and she doesn't kowtow to someone else's greater understanding of a person's character that they've known their whole life — she knows how things have worked for her in the past, where she's from, and she knows how she'd expect people to react, and why should here be any different? She goes full-steam ahead with her schemes, convinced that she's right and someone just needs to try, and that may frustrate some readers, but I get her — because how do you know if you don't try? And frankly, I like a confident (some may say cocky, I say confident) YA heroine or young woman in general. (I think that's part of the reason that I actually resent Knightley a little bit. He just had to be right. =/)
I don't know what else there really is to say. In many ways, it's a typical, familiar story; that doesn't bother me, because it just makes it seem relatable and familiar-like-a-friend, rather than just the same old, recycled storylines. (And I mean, it is a retelling, so... I expect that feel.) Its main character may put some people off, but I love her; but then, I do tend to love the MCs that no one else does (and I'm okay with that). As always, I'd say just know yourself as a reader: if you're not a fan of Emma, there's a good chance you won't like her rewritten. If you love fluffy, fun contemporary,* you might like this. And if you're not, you won't.
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, especially if you've read this or watched my First Impressions and have thoughts on the style! Also, can I hear from some fellow Emma lovers out there? It was many, many years before I realized that a lot of people didn't actually like her (like, seriously, many years. I read it when I was 17, and I think I only realized last year when our read along was Emma. I was baffled(ish), startled, and a little bit heart-broken.)
And if you end up picking this book up, please come back or find me on twitter and let me know what you thought!
*Speaking of, the synopsis compares this to Elizabeth Eulberg (with which I agree) and Sarah Dessen, and now I wanna know: is this how Sarah Dessen writes? Is this the kind of story she tells? Because if so, I've been missing out and need to change that. Someone who's read this, let me know, pls!
Reviewed August 30,2016
December 21, 2016
While the story is never not interesting, I had a hard time with Kate through at least the first half of the book. Since the book is essentially the humanization of Kate, that kinda makes sense, even if that makes it a bit hard for me to engage. It was hard because there's a disparity between her self-image as a good person and her actions and preoccupation that (mostly) show the opposite. It doesn't help to have Hunter around at the same time. Hunter acts as Kate's sounding-board and eventual conscience. Which means the contrast between Kate and Hunter is stark and not flattering to her.
All of which is about the only even nominally negative thing I have to say about the book. Honeyman develops some excellent secondary characters and Hunter is just awesome with extra mellow sauce. I loved the school environment and Kate's journey ended up being very rewarding despite the tough start. I take that back, because of the tough start. It plays particularly well with Kate's family's political environment. We start off seeing that Kate has advanced manipulation skills and I half-braced for the "politicians are evil" subtext to emerge. It never does. It's shown to be like any other interpersonal skill, open to both good and bad uses.
And I'd like to give this book to any other author who wants to include politics as a background element of their stories. Kate's dad is very much a politician, and thus comfortable schmoozing and working the system in his favor. But Honeyman does an excellent job showing his heart while she's showing his skills and that lets us see the best side of political ambition—the side that honestly wants to help their community and neighbors. We see the spin and the consultants and the constant meetings and maneuvering and toll on the family and why it can be so cutthroat and important. But we also see the motivation that makes that hold together in a non-self-serving way that works very well, I think. But the very best thing Honeyman does is leave it completely ambiguous what US political party Kate's dad belongs to. She does this by focusing on local aspects and the effort to win a special election and everything described could frankly belong to either major political party. Family values, farm bill (without pro or con arguments, just implementation issues), community loyalty, all of these cross party lines and allow readers to sympathize with Kate's family without having to overcome any strongly-held political beliefs.
So there's a strong background, but in the end, I really liked Kate's story, too. I like her growth, both morally and emotionally, and I like her growing understanding of how to love and support others. Yeah, Hunter may be a little too perfect as her moral compass and she has a rather stereotypically clueless moment towards the end, but the results were outstanding and left me with all the good feels. I particularly liked the resolution to the family dynamic and the indication that the story was a strong growth arc for the family as a whole as well as for Kate as the individual most in need of maturation. My rocky first half with Kate keeps me from going higher than four stars, but it's a rock-solid four and came close to higher.
All of which is about the only even nominally negative thing I have to say about the book. Honeyman develops some excellent secondary characters and Hunter is just awesome with extra mellow sauce. I loved the school environment and Kate's journey ended up being very rewarding despite the tough start. I take that back, because of the tough start. It plays particularly well with Kate's family's political environment. We start off seeing that Kate has advanced manipulation skills and I half-braced for the "politicians are evil" subtext to emerge. It never does. It's shown to be like any other interpersonal skill, open to both good and bad uses.
And I'd like to give this book to any other author who wants to include politics as a background element of their stories. Kate's dad is very much a politician, and thus comfortable schmoozing and working the system in his favor. But Honeyman does an excellent job showing his heart while she's showing his skills and that lets us see the best side of political ambition—the side that honestly wants to help their community and neighbors. We see the spin and the consultants and the constant meetings and maneuvering and toll on the family and why it can be so cutthroat and important. But we also see the motivation that makes that hold together in a non-self-serving way that works very well, I think. But the very best thing Honeyman does is leave it completely ambiguous what US political party Kate's dad belongs to. She does this by focusing on local aspects and the effort to win a special election and everything described could frankly belong to either major political party. Family values, farm bill (without pro or con arguments, just implementation issues), community loyalty, all of these cross party lines and allow readers to sympathize with Kate's family without having to overcome any strongly-held political beliefs.
So there's a strong background, but in the end, I really liked Kate's story, too. I like her growth, both morally and emotionally, and I like her growing understanding of how to love and support others. Yeah, Hunter may be a little too perfect as her moral compass and she has a rather stereotypically clueless moment towards the end, but the results were outstanding and left me with all the good feels. I particularly liked the resolution to the family dynamic and the indication that the story was a strong growth arc for the family as a whole as well as for Kate as the individual most in need of maturation. My rocky first half with Kate keeps me from going higher than four stars, but it's a rock-solid four and came close to higher.
October 27, 2016
Interference is the book I didn’t know I needed, until I had it. An Emma retelling, it has modernised the lovable Emma Woodhouse into Kate Hamilton. After her ex-boyfriend spread images of herself in an uncomplimentary light, she and her family end up heading back to Texas, to take a step back for a while. Why? Well her father is a congressman without a seat, and one has just opened up in his home town of Red Dirt. Kate feels like her life could be over, because without a glowing letter of recommendation, which she’s unlikely to get, she has little hope of getting into a good photography programme.
However, she turns it all around, and uses her time in Texas to her advantage. Volunteering at her aunt’s animal shelter, to gain volunteer hours, and using the environment for her photos, she’s finally settling in. but her lab partner, Hunter, seems to be in her business, all the time, and as much as she dislikes him, she can’t help but be drawn to him.
From the very beginning I loved Kate. I hadn’t known this was an Emma retelling, but it soon became apparent, and Kate was the perfect Emma stand-in. She keeps attempting to match make all of her friends, and it doesn’t always go to plan. Even when it’s gone wrong, she doesn’t let it faze her, and carries on like nothing has happened. Some might find her personality jarring and annoying, but I found it completely on point. Hunter, was a proper swoony character. Just like Mr Knightley, he wasn’t going to let Kate get away with anything all willy-nilly. He grounds Kate as a character, and both helped the other grow, in my opinion.
After previously reading another political book that didn’t have much politics in it, this one was perfect. Kate had never really liked being involved in her father’s campaigning, but she understands that her family needs to reconnect, otherwise the fractures will always be there. In Texas, her parents are more there for her, and she found herself actually enjoying campaigning, though that could be something to do with making sure her dad’s opponent doesn’t win.
Like I said, I knew this book would be one for me, but didn’t know how much I would enjoy it, until my copy became available. Interference was a wonderful political YA, and one of the best Austen retellings I've ever seen!
However, she turns it all around, and uses her time in Texas to her advantage. Volunteering at her aunt’s animal shelter, to gain volunteer hours, and using the environment for her photos, she’s finally settling in. but her lab partner, Hunter, seems to be in her business, all the time, and as much as she dislikes him, she can’t help but be drawn to him.
From the very beginning I loved Kate. I hadn’t known this was an Emma retelling, but it soon became apparent, and Kate was the perfect Emma stand-in. She keeps attempting to match make all of her friends, and it doesn’t always go to plan. Even when it’s gone wrong, she doesn’t let it faze her, and carries on like nothing has happened. Some might find her personality jarring and annoying, but I found it completely on point. Hunter, was a proper swoony character. Just like Mr Knightley, he wasn’t going to let Kate get away with anything all willy-nilly. He grounds Kate as a character, and both helped the other grow, in my opinion.
After previously reading another political book that didn’t have much politics in it, this one was perfect. Kate had never really liked being involved in her father’s campaigning, but she understands that her family needs to reconnect, otherwise the fractures will always be there. In Texas, her parents are more there for her, and she found herself actually enjoying campaigning, though that could be something to do with making sure her dad’s opponent doesn’t win.
Like I said, I knew this book would be one for me, but didn’t know how much I would enjoy it, until my copy became available. Interference was a wonderful political YA, and one of the best Austen retellings I've ever seen!
August 16, 2018
Politics, Texas high school football, and Jane Austen. Those are three things I never thought I'd want to read about in the same book, but here we are. I loved First and Then which was a Pride & Prejudice retelling that also involved football. Because of that, I gave this book a chance, being that it's an Emma retelling, which is my second favorite Austen novel. And I kind of adored it. I also really loved the small town atmosphere...how no matter how long you're gone, it'll always feel like home.
August 19, 2016
Even though it was released three years ago, Kay Honeyman's The Fire Horse Girl remains among the best debut novels I have read. Needless to say, I was fangirling all over the internet when I found out about Honeyman's sophomore novel, Interference, and she was sweet enough to send me an advanced copy. Where Honeyman's debut was a burst of diversity, color, and flair, her sophomore novel is an intelligent, wonderfully crafted modern-day re-telling of Jane Austen's Emma. It's a loose re-telling, omitting a handful of characters that we know and love to develop other relationships that weren't as prominent in the original, but unsurprisingly, they work, especially for YA.
Our heroine, Kate, is the type of headstrong, no-nonsense protagonist I wanted to be in high school. She stands up for what is right, even when the system privileges her, and she doesn't allow herself to be cowed, beaten, or taken advantage of--in other words, she's exactly who and what I'd envision Emma to be if she lived in modern-day society. Kate is the daughter of a politician and after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her in D.C. (not to mention posting photos of her online that undermine her relationship with her parents and specifically her father's campaigns), she finds herself in a small town in Texas where football reigns supreme and everyone knows everyone else. I'm the type of person who resists change at all costs, which is why I admired Kate so much, even from the beginning. Although she believes she's the reason for her family moving away from D.C., she makes the best of her situation and resolves to be better, work harder, and get the recommendation letter she so desperately wants for art school.
Honeyman ticks off so many boxes in her characterization of Kate. Here is a heroine who is confident--why is this so rare among YA protagonists??--and, what's more, she has passions that define her and is constantly pushing herself to discover more. Kate falters and make mistakes--so many mistakes!--but she always picks herself back up, owns up to her faults, and tries to make amends. I loved the way in which she kept in touch with her best friend from D.C. while also making new friendships and ingratiating herself into Texas life. Kate's life is so realistic and balanced, from her rocky relationship with her father to her tentative new friendship with Ana to her casual conversation with her former best friend Tasha and especially to her respect for her yearbook photography teacher who inspires her to be better. I find that adult role models are usually absent from the lives of so many fictional teenagers and this just breaks my heart because teachers, professors, coaches, etc. have always played such a huge role, not only in my life but in the lives of so many of my friends. It's refreshing to see Kate similarly affected by a teacher, especially since her relationship with this teacher starts out as disdain--since Kate can't see how a teacher in charge of the yearbook club could improve her photography--and shifts into awe and admiration.
While Kate is the star of this novel, and rightly so, I found myself charmed by Hunter, Ana, and a whole host of secondary characters from Kate's father's new campaign manager to her aunt who grudgingly allows her to volunteer at her animal shelter. Ana, the "Harriet" of Interference, is kind and talented, the type of photographer Kate aspires to become. It's an interesting take on their relationship because unlike in Emma, Kate doesn't hold all the cards, here. There's is a give-and-take, with Ana helping Kate assimilate and improving her photography while Kate tries to instill more confidence in Ana. Hunter, too, is a surprise from the "Mr. Knightley" we may all expect. For one, he hasn't known Kate all her life, so while that familiarity takes awhile to build, the growth and change in their relationship is fascinating to watch. Hunter is serious and steady, always looking out for Kate in the best of ways, but he's also still a teenager with his own problems and prickly nature to boot. I enjoyed his and Kate's interactions, from their banter to their genuine apologies, and I only wish we got to see more of them as a couple.
Honeyman excels at creating the atmosphere of this small Texan town, from its focus on football to the warmth and intimate understanding that they all have of one another. The politics, too, plays a large role in the plot of this story as Kate's father campaigns for a seat that has been held in his family for generations and Kate, as the politician's daughter, gets sucked in. Where this story differs from other political novels like The Wrong Side of Right is in that Kate has been on the campaign trail her whole life. She knows this drill like the back of her hand and she also knows the consequences of messing up and how to spin the story so that she comes out the victor--in other words, Kate knows how to win. I loved seeing how her father's political anecdotes made their way into her day-to-day life and thinking. Moreover, I really enjoyed her relationship with her father and the steady, but mature, manner in which she gains back his trust.
Interference is such a delight: a capable, imperfect heroine against a backdrop of politics as she learns to navigate her own aspirations alongside those of her father's. While I will say that I missed the presence of Kate's mother in this novel, sorely, for she seems to be nothing more than a prop for her father, and I also wanted more of Hunter's mother, whose storyline I don't feel as if I got enough of, Honeyman's sophomore novel is a definite hit and a very successful re-telling of Emma. It's certainly up there with "Emma Approved," the YouTube modern adaptation that I love. While Honeyman strays from the original plot quite a bit more, the main elements are all there, as is the heart of this tale. Emma isn't a character most readers love, at first, and I think that may translate to Kate, as well, but she's a heroine I want to emulate--her confidence, her bravery, and her stubborn will to never give up. If nothing else, she's the type of protagonist I want more teenage girls to read about because, maybe then, they won't be so afraid to be confident, own their personalities, or shy away from their intelligence.
Our heroine, Kate, is the type of headstrong, no-nonsense protagonist I wanted to be in high school. She stands up for what is right, even when the system privileges her, and she doesn't allow herself to be cowed, beaten, or taken advantage of--in other words, she's exactly who and what I'd envision Emma to be if she lived in modern-day society. Kate is the daughter of a politician and after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her in D.C. (not to mention posting photos of her online that undermine her relationship with her parents and specifically her father's campaigns), she finds herself in a small town in Texas where football reigns supreme and everyone knows everyone else. I'm the type of person who resists change at all costs, which is why I admired Kate so much, even from the beginning. Although she believes she's the reason for her family moving away from D.C., she makes the best of her situation and resolves to be better, work harder, and get the recommendation letter she so desperately wants for art school.
Honeyman ticks off so many boxes in her characterization of Kate. Here is a heroine who is confident--why is this so rare among YA protagonists??--and, what's more, she has passions that define her and is constantly pushing herself to discover more. Kate falters and make mistakes--so many mistakes!--but she always picks herself back up, owns up to her faults, and tries to make amends. I loved the way in which she kept in touch with her best friend from D.C. while also making new friendships and ingratiating herself into Texas life. Kate's life is so realistic and balanced, from her rocky relationship with her father to her tentative new friendship with Ana to her casual conversation with her former best friend Tasha and especially to her respect for her yearbook photography teacher who inspires her to be better. I find that adult role models are usually absent from the lives of so many fictional teenagers and this just breaks my heart because teachers, professors, coaches, etc. have always played such a huge role, not only in my life but in the lives of so many of my friends. It's refreshing to see Kate similarly affected by a teacher, especially since her relationship with this teacher starts out as disdain--since Kate can't see how a teacher in charge of the yearbook club could improve her photography--and shifts into awe and admiration.
While Kate is the star of this novel, and rightly so, I found myself charmed by Hunter, Ana, and a whole host of secondary characters from Kate's father's new campaign manager to her aunt who grudgingly allows her to volunteer at her animal shelter. Ana, the "Harriet" of Interference, is kind and talented, the type of photographer Kate aspires to become. It's an interesting take on their relationship because unlike in Emma, Kate doesn't hold all the cards, here. There's is a give-and-take, with Ana helping Kate assimilate and improving her photography while Kate tries to instill more confidence in Ana. Hunter, too, is a surprise from the "Mr. Knightley" we may all expect. For one, he hasn't known Kate all her life, so while that familiarity takes awhile to build, the growth and change in their relationship is fascinating to watch. Hunter is serious and steady, always looking out for Kate in the best of ways, but he's also still a teenager with his own problems and prickly nature to boot. I enjoyed his and Kate's interactions, from their banter to their genuine apologies, and I only wish we got to see more of them as a couple.
Honeyman excels at creating the atmosphere of this small Texan town, from its focus on football to the warmth and intimate understanding that they all have of one another. The politics, too, plays a large role in the plot of this story as Kate's father campaigns for a seat that has been held in his family for generations and Kate, as the politician's daughter, gets sucked in. Where this story differs from other political novels like The Wrong Side of Right is in that Kate has been on the campaign trail her whole life. She knows this drill like the back of her hand and she also knows the consequences of messing up and how to spin the story so that she comes out the victor--in other words, Kate knows how to win. I loved seeing how her father's political anecdotes made their way into her day-to-day life and thinking. Moreover, I really enjoyed her relationship with her father and the steady, but mature, manner in which she gains back his trust.
Interference is such a delight: a capable, imperfect heroine against a backdrop of politics as she learns to navigate her own aspirations alongside those of her father's. While I will say that I missed the presence of Kate's mother in this novel, sorely, for she seems to be nothing more than a prop for her father, and I also wanted more of Hunter's mother, whose storyline I don't feel as if I got enough of, Honeyman's sophomore novel is a definite hit and a very successful re-telling of Emma. It's certainly up there with "Emma Approved," the YouTube modern adaptation that I love. While Honeyman strays from the original plot quite a bit more, the main elements are all there, as is the heart of this tale. Emma isn't a character most readers love, at first, and I think that may translate to Kate, as well, but she's a heroine I want to emulate--her confidence, her bravery, and her stubborn will to never give up. If nothing else, she's the type of protagonist I want more teenage girls to read about because, maybe then, they won't be so afraid to be confident, own their personalities, or shy away from their intelligence.
December 27, 2016
I was considering not finishing because of a slow beginning. I listened to the audio while I did some marathon gift wrapping on Christmas Eve. I was still feeling pretty lukewarm after 1/3 finished, but the story picked up after that and I could finally feel the Emma vibe. Hunter was pretty swoony in the Knightly role, dispensing his easy, Yoda-like wisdom to Katie. The politics and the election added a new, fresh angle. Overall, a cute story. I'm a sucker for Jane Austen retellings.
January 5, 2023
A Splendidly Subtle and Sophisticated Tale
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
TYPE OF NOVEL: YA Modern Adaptation of Emma
THE PREMISE: A photo scandal and an unsuccessful congressional re-election forces Kate Hamilton’s family to retreat from Washington, DC and regroup in her dad’s hometown of Red Dirt, Texas. Kate’s experiences in DC and time on the campaign trail have taught her a lot about how to be a “fixer,” and Kate is often eager to share her unsolicited “talent” with others. But do Kate’s efforts ultimately help or harm…
WHAT I LOVED:
- It’s a YA Emma!: I adore Emma the novel, and, believe it or not, Emma the character! I’m always so happy to read anything that is inspired by this novel. And with it being a YA novel about a politician’s family moving to small town Texas, where high school football reigns supreme and a new election opportunity is on the horizon, this particular novel promised to be a very fresh and inventive take on Jane Austen’s classic.
- Subtle Notes: While there may be characters or incidents Jane Austen fans will recognize, this is a very original tale and the Emma parallels are often more thoughtful and nuanced. Some important themes from Emma are recreated and represented, such as Kate’s critical flaw being her own misperceptions and her penchant for interfering in the lives of others. And we see the societal distinctions and limitations represented within the established high school hierarchy in a similar style as we do in Clueless. Except this time the football team is considered the most elite. I was continuously impressed with all the understated ways Ms. Honeyman inserted some nods or echos to Jane Austen’s tale.
- Characters and Relationships: I loved them all! Kate has her issues with pride and interfering, but she is still likable because the reader understands her underlying desire is to help and solve problems. I adored all of Kate’s classmates and her relationships with them – especially Hunter Price, (our Mr. Knightley) who challenges, infuriates, and supports Kate in so many ways, yet faces his own challenges. In addition, I grew to love Kate’s relationship with her dad, his actions don’t always speak what is in his heart and it was lovely to see their relationship mend and evolve. I enjoyed how Ms. Honeyman took many of the story’s less likable characters and gave some sympathetic insight to each characters’ own personal struggles. There is some good in everyone, even the antagonists.
- Masterfully Blended: There are so many components in this story: politics – winning and deciding between right and good, campaigning and the balance between image and reality, football and the distinction between individual glory versus team gain, photography and learning about finding beauty instead of forcing it, and not to mention ants and their incredibly coordinated survival instincts. This story truly becomes a complex and brilliant work of art when Kay Honeyman starts to weave together these themes and metaphors with each other. These motifs all have significant meaning and the lessons they teach are simple yet profound.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Nothing!
CONCLUSION:
Major applause and praise for Kay Honeyman for this exquisitely clever and perceptive homage to Jane Austen’s Emma. I’ve encountered my fair share of Austsenesque Young Adult novels and Interference is one of the most sophisticated and meaningful YA Austenessque I’ve had the pleasure to read. I think many readers who love contemporary Austenesque and adaptations like Clueless will find much to appreciate and admire in this tale. I highly recommend!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
TYPE OF NOVEL: YA Modern Adaptation of Emma
THE PREMISE: A photo scandal and an unsuccessful congressional re-election forces Kate Hamilton’s family to retreat from Washington, DC and regroup in her dad’s hometown of Red Dirt, Texas. Kate’s experiences in DC and time on the campaign trail have taught her a lot about how to be a “fixer,” and Kate is often eager to share her unsolicited “talent” with others. But do Kate’s efforts ultimately help or harm…
WHAT I LOVED:
- It’s a YA Emma!: I adore Emma the novel, and, believe it or not, Emma the character! I’m always so happy to read anything that is inspired by this novel. And with it being a YA novel about a politician’s family moving to small town Texas, where high school football reigns supreme and a new election opportunity is on the horizon, this particular novel promised to be a very fresh and inventive take on Jane Austen’s classic.
- Subtle Notes: While there may be characters or incidents Jane Austen fans will recognize, this is a very original tale and the Emma parallels are often more thoughtful and nuanced. Some important themes from Emma are recreated and represented, such as Kate’s critical flaw being her own misperceptions and her penchant for interfering in the lives of others. And we see the societal distinctions and limitations represented within the established high school hierarchy in a similar style as we do in Clueless. Except this time the football team is considered the most elite. I was continuously impressed with all the understated ways Ms. Honeyman inserted some nods or echos to Jane Austen’s tale.
- Characters and Relationships: I loved them all! Kate has her issues with pride and interfering, but she is still likable because the reader understands her underlying desire is to help and solve problems. I adored all of Kate’s classmates and her relationships with them – especially Hunter Price, (our Mr. Knightley) who challenges, infuriates, and supports Kate in so many ways, yet faces his own challenges. In addition, I grew to love Kate’s relationship with her dad, his actions don’t always speak what is in his heart and it was lovely to see their relationship mend and evolve. I enjoyed how Ms. Honeyman took many of the story’s less likable characters and gave some sympathetic insight to each characters’ own personal struggles. There is some good in everyone, even the antagonists.
- Masterfully Blended: There are so many components in this story: politics – winning and deciding between right and good, campaigning and the balance between image and reality, football and the distinction between individual glory versus team gain, photography and learning about finding beauty instead of forcing it, and not to mention ants and their incredibly coordinated survival instincts. This story truly becomes a complex and brilliant work of art when Kay Honeyman starts to weave together these themes and metaphors with each other. These motifs all have significant meaning and the lessons they teach are simple yet profound.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
Nothing!
CONCLUSION:
Major applause and praise for Kay Honeyman for this exquisitely clever and perceptive homage to Jane Austen’s Emma. I’ve encountered my fair share of Austsenesque Young Adult novels and Interference is one of the most sophisticated and meaningful YA Austenessque I’ve had the pleasure to read. I think many readers who love contemporary Austenesque and adaptations like Clueless will find much to appreciate and admire in this tale. I highly recommend!
Austenesque Reviews
October 19, 2017
I loved this book so much! I got pulled into the story from the first page. The writing was superb was the characters were real and enjoyable. The story wasn't predictable, and it kept me guessing until the last chapter. The plot was complex and intriguing. I'll definitely check out more books by Kay Honeyman. If you enjoy a good young adult romance or just a good story, I highly recommend this book!
February 24, 2016
Another home run by Kay Honeyman. The research required for this book drips from every page in the best way possible, and I adored Hunter and Kate and their budding relationship. A perfect book for an election year!
June 10, 2017
Interference is an Emma-inspired retelling (Jane Austin) that is really cute and full of energy, politics, football and a Texas small town vibe.
Also included: ill-inspired matchmaking (see: Emma retelling), new friendships, hidden agendas and unexpected enemies, an animal shelter, plenty of mishaps and a swoony guy.
Interference was lots of fun to read and Kate really is a force to be reckoned with. She is often brash, relentless and frequently found plotting and scheming. She's also vulnerable, determined and charming. Kate really makes a mess of a lot of things and has to face the consequences, but through it all you see her big heart and well meaning intentions. A lot of her relationships with other characters were complex ~ I loved that nothing felt straightforward and there were layers to both the relationships and the characters.
I found Interference fast-paced and my only complaint is that at times it felt like there was a lot of story threads going on so the plot felt cluttered in the middle ~ but they all tie up brilliantly in the end.
Some fave moments: the calf birthing scene, on top of the water tower scenes, learning to drive, photography scenes with Ana (what a gem <3), and, really, any of the scenes between Kate and her love interest (ha!).
I will be reading more from Kay Honeyman and absolutely recommend you check Interference out if you're a fan of YA contemporaries ~ especially if the football, small town, politics (and cute guys) premise intrigues you.
Also included: ill-inspired matchmaking (see: Emma retelling), new friendships, hidden agendas and unexpected enemies, an animal shelter, plenty of mishaps and a swoony guy.
Interference was lots of fun to read and Kate really is a force to be reckoned with. She is often brash, relentless and frequently found plotting and scheming. She's also vulnerable, determined and charming. Kate really makes a mess of a lot of things and has to face the consequences, but through it all you see her big heart and well meaning intentions. A lot of her relationships with other characters were complex ~ I loved that nothing felt straightforward and there were layers to both the relationships and the characters.
I found Interference fast-paced and my only complaint is that at times it felt like there was a lot of story threads going on so the plot felt cluttered in the middle ~ but they all tie up brilliantly in the end.
Some fave moments: the calf birthing scene, on top of the water tower scenes, learning to drive, photography scenes with Ana (what a gem <3), and, really, any of the scenes between Kate and her love interest (ha!).
I will be reading more from Kay Honeyman and absolutely recommend you check Interference out if you're a fan of YA contemporaries ~ especially if the football, small town, politics (and cute guys) premise intrigues you.
July 17, 2016
Finished it with a big smile on my face.
Emma is one of my favorite books by Austen. Honeyman does the book justice, but also gives this story a life of its own. There's a warmth to this book, that was reminiscent of both West Wing and Friday Night Lights.
Emma is one of my favorite books by Austen. Honeyman does the book justice, but also gives this story a life of its own. There's a warmth to this book, that was reminiscent of both West Wing and Friday Night Lights.
September 16, 2020
This book was really good! I loved the writing and it kept me in suspense!
April 20, 2022
I don't know why, but it took me a long time to get into this. Maybe I just had too high of expectations or maybe not.
The main character is super pushy when she does what she believes is right and that grated on me for awhile. However, I did get used to it as the book progressed.
I also want to note that I appreciated how the author made this book about politics without making it political if you know what I mean.
Content: kissing, very few scattered uses of language
3 Stars
The main character is super pushy when she does what she believes is right and that grated on me for awhile. However, I did get used to it as the book progressed.
I also want to note that I appreciated how the author made this book about politics without making it political if you know what I mean.
Content: kissing, very few scattered uses of language
3 Stars
August 1, 2016
*This review can also be found on The Reader and the Chef! Special thanks to the author for the review copy in exchange of my honest opinion.*
I feel like demanding for more pages, more chapters, and more Hunter! I had such a great time reading Interference that I was a bit sad when I reached its last page and I had to say goodbye to the characters. However, it left me with a smile on my face so I believe that's a really good sign, don't you agree?
What I really liked about this book is that it takes place in a small town in Texas. Being from a small town myself (not from Texas though), I instantly felt a connection towards Red Dirt and its people. Small towns are great settings since they allow the reader to explore every nook and cranny and get to know the tight unit of citizens through the eyes of the main character. They often come with such colorful personalities and strong values, like Kate's aunt with her animal shelter.
I could also understand Kate's feelings of moving from a big city to such a small place where everyone knows everyone and everything. It's a bit daunting to be the odd one out and Kate faces it all, from unwanted attention to jealousy from her peers.
Before reading this book, I had not caught the comparison to Jane Austen's Emma, but yeah, it certainly reminds me of Emma when it comes to Kate's whole matchmaking adventure at her new school. It's funny how she gets everything horribly, horribly wrong and yet she never lets her errors bring her down. Some might think it annoying, but I found her personality highly entertaining and someone with good intentions.
There's also a bit of romance inside this book that I found to be very sweet. Hunter is a great guy just like Mr. Knightley from Emma, and I was glad that his past wasn't as problematic as other book boyfriends. His role is any less important as he grounds Kate from making further mistakes, and when she does, he's there to soften her mind. I liked that about him.
The big focus of this book, however, was about Kate learning to embrace her knowledge of political life to achieve things that matter instead of trying to run away from it or use it as a way out. Her family goes through the same journey in fact, so it's a nice message, even when you're not that into politics.
Final Verdict:
Interference is a sweet, fun, and full of heart read that's perfect to brighten any reader's day and will leave you wanting to be part of a small town like Red Dirt! If you haven't added this book to your TBR then, dear readers, I must push you incessantly until you do so!
I feel like demanding for more pages, more chapters, and more Hunter! I had such a great time reading Interference that I was a bit sad when I reached its last page and I had to say goodbye to the characters. However, it left me with a smile on my face so I believe that's a really good sign, don't you agree?
What I really liked about this book is that it takes place in a small town in Texas. Being from a small town myself (not from Texas though), I instantly felt a connection towards Red Dirt and its people. Small towns are great settings since they allow the reader to explore every nook and cranny and get to know the tight unit of citizens through the eyes of the main character. They often come with such colorful personalities and strong values, like Kate's aunt with her animal shelter.
I could also understand Kate's feelings of moving from a big city to such a small place where everyone knows everyone and everything. It's a bit daunting to be the odd one out and Kate faces it all, from unwanted attention to jealousy from her peers.
Before reading this book, I had not caught the comparison to Jane Austen's Emma, but yeah, it certainly reminds me of Emma when it comes to Kate's whole matchmaking adventure at her new school. It's funny how she gets everything horribly, horribly wrong and yet she never lets her errors bring her down. Some might think it annoying, but I found her personality highly entertaining and someone with good intentions.
There's also a bit of romance inside this book that I found to be very sweet. Hunter is a great guy just like Mr. Knightley from Emma, and I was glad that his past wasn't as problematic as other book boyfriends. His role is any less important as he grounds Kate from making further mistakes, and when she does, he's there to soften her mind. I liked that about him.
The big focus of this book, however, was about Kate learning to embrace her knowledge of political life to achieve things that matter instead of trying to run away from it or use it as a way out. Her family goes through the same journey in fact, so it's a nice message, even when you're not that into politics.
Final Verdict:
Interference is a sweet, fun, and full of heart read that's perfect to brighten any reader's day and will leave you wanting to be part of a small town like Red Dirt! If you haven't added this book to your TBR then, dear readers, I must push you incessantly until you do so!
February 7, 2017
Disclaimer: if you didn't read Emma by Jane Austen you'll probably won't enjoy this book because it is a retelling of the classic
I really enjoy retellings, specially with the ones I read, I did enjoy Emma and I've been recommending it to everyone I know so I had to read this book and see what is it all about and I have to say it was a fun adventurous intake of the story, we have Kate who likes to control every aspect of her life due to her life as a politician daughter who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a scandal and have to move to a dead beat town which happens to be her Dad's hometown, and then we get the gang Hunter, Ana, Kyle, Aunt Celia .. oh man they are such adorable characters, I really enjoyed this book, I did feel a bit overwhelmed with the whole political talk but the progression of the story is so smooth and the character development is top notch .. most recommended :)
I really enjoy retellings, specially with the ones I read, I did enjoy Emma and I've been recommending it to everyone I know so I had to read this book and see what is it all about and I have to say it was a fun adventurous intake of the story, we have Kate who likes to control every aspect of her life due to her life as a politician daughter who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a scandal and have to move to a dead beat town which happens to be her Dad's hometown, and then we get the gang Hunter, Ana, Kyle, Aunt Celia .. oh man they are such adorable characters, I really enjoyed this book, I did feel a bit overwhelmed with the whole political talk but the progression of the story is so smooth and the character development is top notch .. most recommended :)
September 27, 2016
There just aren't enough teen political dramas out there. I'll come right out and say it. Interference is a book I read early, and the book is basically about a girl dealing with her politician father's political life seeping into her own. There's a lot of fun teen drama and, as a political junkie myself, it has that extra perk for me that it hits a few of my interests all at once.
I would definitely recommend this for a lot of people, although the flaw might be that those looking for romance might be stuck with a good political drama instead, and it's not exactly what you might expect or what is advertised.
I would definitely recommend this for a lot of people, although the flaw might be that those looking for romance might be stuck with a good political drama instead, and it's not exactly what you might expect or what is advertised.
Read
November 22, 2015What a fun read! Football + politics + small town romance + a spirited heroine.
Read
September 12, 2016I'm a HUGE Jane Austen EMMA fan, so it wasn't hard to fall in love with INTERFERENCE. Adorable! Swoon. :) Full review to come!
April 5, 2017
3.5 stars. Funny and cute :-)
January 14, 2018
Rating's more like 3.5 stars. Was missing a little more substance and originality.
November 3, 2016
5 stars!
I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for awhile. And I’ve been itching to read a football themed book recently. So when this book finally came out, I had to get my hands on it. It met my every expectation and more.
I adore Kate. She’s whip-smart, feisty, and she’s determined to get what she wants. She’s caring to a fault. In her attempt to right the wrongs in her world, she is always making a mess of things. And that proves to be an issue for her dad, who is running for a Congressional seat in a small Texan town. For a daughter of a politician, she’s got a natural knack for politics and is not shy about using her persuasive skills to charm her way into what she wants. She hones in on the obvious but as the story progresses, she begins to see things with depth and perspective. She is wonderfully flawed. I think I like her more than the original Emma.
This book is meaty enough even without the romance. But who am I kidding? Romance makes it 1,000 times sweeter and 1,000 more gratifying. I usually go for the glorious, grand, heart melting, Austen-esque, beautiful, romantic endings, but I thought that the author crafted the story so well and the chemistry between Kate and Hunter was so on target that I was happily satisfied with this moderately impressive ending.
I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for awhile. And I’ve been itching to read a football themed book recently. So when this book finally came out, I had to get my hands on it. It met my every expectation and more.
I adore Kate. She’s whip-smart, feisty, and she’s determined to get what she wants. She’s caring to a fault. In her attempt to right the wrongs in her world, she is always making a mess of things. And that proves to be an issue for her dad, who is running for a Congressional seat in a small Texan town. For a daughter of a politician, she’s got a natural knack for politics and is not shy about using her persuasive skills to charm her way into what she wants. She hones in on the obvious but as the story progresses, she begins to see things with depth and perspective. She is wonderfully flawed. I think I like her more than the original Emma.
This book is meaty enough even without the romance. But who am I kidding? Romance makes it 1,000 times sweeter and 1,000 more gratifying. I usually go for the glorious, grand, heart melting, Austen-esque, beautiful, romantic endings, but I thought that the author crafted the story so well and the chemistry between Kate and Hunter was so on target that I was happily satisfied with this moderately impressive ending.
April 12, 2022
I feel like I should be giving this four stars, but I enjoyed this so much that I can’t bear to give it anything lower than five. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, and I loved the fact that her father was campaigning and it was slightly political. Just because that added the right amount of drama. This was definitely worth the read and I can’t wait to reread it in the future.
August 20, 2018
If you're into politics and elections and romance, this is the book for you! It wasn't my favorite romance (Kasie West's books are way better!), but if you like romance and don't mind a slow beginning, it's pretty good!
December 2, 2016
A good YA novel about the daughter of a politician, and how she uses politics in her high school life.
October 19, 2016
I immediately fell for Kay Honeyman’s Interference. This book perfectly nails Clueless meets The Unexpected Everything meets (I assume though I haven’t seen it) Friday Night Lights. If you’re into those things, you will most definitely be into this book.
Interference is a loose Emma retelling, but it’s very much recognizable. Kate’s a plotter, a fixer, consummately political, but in the best way possible. Her father’s been in politics for most of her life, and she’s used to campaigning. Unlike most politician’s kids, Kate actually loves being involved most of the time, and she absolutely hates that because of her, his spot in Congress is in jeopardy and her family’s running off to her dad’s hometown of Red Dirt, Texas. More disappointingly, he’s actually planning to run for a different Congress seat there, which he didn’t tell her about.
Kate’s struggling with her father’s lack of faith in her, upset that he no longer wants her involved in his campaign, and also a bit sad that they won’t
have some good family time during their time in Texas. She’s really not the sort of person to throw a tantrum or mope. Kate’s a lot like her dad, and she wants to help the people around her. Immediately, she has causes in Red Dirt (on top of her goal of getting vengeance on her cheating ex by winning a recommendation letter away from him), like ending the bullying of her new friend Ava, helping her father win the election, and saving her aunt’s flagging animal shelter.
Here’s where we come back to the Emma tie-in: one of the ways in which Kate tries to help people is by matchmaking. If she thinks that a boyfriend or girlfriend will help someone with a problem or just make them happier, Kate’s going to everything she can to fix it. All Kate wants to do is help and to fix any problem she comes across. The Knightly to her Emma is Hunter, a bit of a loner in the town, who constantly tries to convince her that she’s going too far and doing too much accidental harm. Their grumbling banter as they end up working together to help the town in their different ways is super adorable and shippy.
I adored this read, but I did find it a bit too similar to other books I’ve read before, and it didn’t quite manage to surpass any of them. It’s voicey but not quite as voicey as it’s comps. Shippy but not quite as shippy. The political maneuverings are fun, and the way Honeyman parallels politics to football is quite clever. I love Kate’s personality, and it’s a nice to change to the fairly common child-of-a-politician narrative that she’s actually into the whole thing. The secondary characters could be a bit better developed and mostly do not get strong arcs of their own. When it comes down to it, this book is about Kate and Kate alone.
Interference is a great contemporary read, and, though I wanted just a smidge more from it for it to be an all-time favorite, I definitely recommend it to my shippy compatriots into Austen-inspired fiction and cute banterships.
Interference is a loose Emma retelling, but it’s very much recognizable. Kate’s a plotter, a fixer, consummately political, but in the best way possible. Her father’s been in politics for most of her life, and she’s used to campaigning. Unlike most politician’s kids, Kate actually loves being involved most of the time, and she absolutely hates that because of her, his spot in Congress is in jeopardy and her family’s running off to her dad’s hometown of Red Dirt, Texas. More disappointingly, he’s actually planning to run for a different Congress seat there, which he didn’t tell her about.
Kate’s struggling with her father’s lack of faith in her, upset that he no longer wants her involved in his campaign, and also a bit sad that they won’t
have some good family time during their time in Texas. She’s really not the sort of person to throw a tantrum or mope. Kate’s a lot like her dad, and she wants to help the people around her. Immediately, she has causes in Red Dirt (on top of her goal of getting vengeance on her cheating ex by winning a recommendation letter away from him), like ending the bullying of her new friend Ava, helping her father win the election, and saving her aunt’s flagging animal shelter.
Here’s where we come back to the Emma tie-in: one of the ways in which Kate tries to help people is by matchmaking. If she thinks that a boyfriend or girlfriend will help someone with a problem or just make them happier, Kate’s going to everything she can to fix it. All Kate wants to do is help and to fix any problem she comes across. The Knightly to her Emma is Hunter, a bit of a loner in the town, who constantly tries to convince her that she’s going too far and doing too much accidental harm. Their grumbling banter as they end up working together to help the town in their different ways is super adorable and shippy.
I adored this read, but I did find it a bit too similar to other books I’ve read before, and it didn’t quite manage to surpass any of them. It’s voicey but not quite as voicey as it’s comps. Shippy but not quite as shippy. The political maneuverings are fun, and the way Honeyman parallels politics to football is quite clever. I love Kate’s personality, and it’s a nice to change to the fairly common child-of-a-politician narrative that she’s actually into the whole thing. The secondary characters could be a bit better developed and mostly do not get strong arcs of their own. When it comes down to it, this book is about Kate and Kate alone.
Interference is a great contemporary read, and, though I wanted just a smidge more from it for it to be an all-time favorite, I definitely recommend it to my shippy compatriots into Austen-inspired fiction and cute banterships.
May 4, 2018
Personal Response:
I thought that the book Interference by Kate Honeyman was probably written by an inexperienced author or maybe one that just was not very creative. I felt this way because the plot of the story was unoriginal and predictable. Sometimes in books it is nice to be able to guess some things and sometimes get them right, but this book was too predictable. The characters followed a typical teenage romance. I pretty much could tell as soon as the characters were introduced what was going to happen with them, and what role they would play in the book. This was not a bad story, just one that the author probably did not put much thought into.
Plot:
The main character in this book, Kate, lived a life buried deep in politics because of her politician father. She grew up in Washington D.C.. After a scandal erupted at school, her family decided to take what she thought was a break from politics, and move back to her father's hometown in Red Dirt, Texas. When they arrived there her only focuses were taking pictures for her art portfolio, and doing community service to hopefully receive a letter of recommendation. She volunteered at her aunt's humane society, and met the sarcastically intelligent Hunter Price. Although she went there to leave conflicts in D.C. Kate found her own conflicts in Texas. Football was what the state idolized and Kate had trouble grasping that it was more important than anything else. With her father's campaign and her recommendation on the line, Kate tried to fly under the radar with her new friend Ana, but that did not go as planned.
Characterization:
Kate started out in the beginning of the story living a very complicated life. She was born into the world of campaigning and politics because of her dad. Kate had to be careful about what she was saying and doing as well as her appearance. When she messed up a little bit she had to develop a stronger mindset. Kate became focused on what was most important to her as the plot deepened. What she had originally thought was important was now not so important anymore. By the end of the book, Kate became a lot more aware of herself and what she wanted most in life.
Recommendation:
I recommend Interference to middle and high school aged people. This is because this book does not have complex vocabulary or a complex plot. I think that anyone these ages should easily be able to comprehend this book. Anyone older than high school aged may see this book as too mundane and unoriginal, in my opinion.
I thought that the book Interference by Kate Honeyman was probably written by an inexperienced author or maybe one that just was not very creative. I felt this way because the plot of the story was unoriginal and predictable. Sometimes in books it is nice to be able to guess some things and sometimes get them right, but this book was too predictable. The characters followed a typical teenage romance. I pretty much could tell as soon as the characters were introduced what was going to happen with them, and what role they would play in the book. This was not a bad story, just one that the author probably did not put much thought into.
Plot:
The main character in this book, Kate, lived a life buried deep in politics because of her politician father. She grew up in Washington D.C.. After a scandal erupted at school, her family decided to take what she thought was a break from politics, and move back to her father's hometown in Red Dirt, Texas. When they arrived there her only focuses were taking pictures for her art portfolio, and doing community service to hopefully receive a letter of recommendation. She volunteered at her aunt's humane society, and met the sarcastically intelligent Hunter Price. Although she went there to leave conflicts in D.C. Kate found her own conflicts in Texas. Football was what the state idolized and Kate had trouble grasping that it was more important than anything else. With her father's campaign and her recommendation on the line, Kate tried to fly under the radar with her new friend Ana, but that did not go as planned.
Characterization:
Kate started out in the beginning of the story living a very complicated life. She was born into the world of campaigning and politics because of her dad. Kate had to be careful about what she was saying and doing as well as her appearance. When she messed up a little bit she had to develop a stronger mindset. Kate became focused on what was most important to her as the plot deepened. What she had originally thought was important was now not so important anymore. By the end of the book, Kate became a lot more aware of herself and what she wanted most in life.
Recommendation:
I recommend Interference to middle and high school aged people. This is because this book does not have complex vocabulary or a complex plot. I think that anyone these ages should easily be able to comprehend this book. Anyone older than high school aged may see this book as too mundane and unoriginal, in my opinion.
August 1, 2018
I know the back of the book said that Kate was a Congressman’s daughter, but I didn’t expect so much politics in this book. I also didn’t expect so much football to be in this book. These two things are why this book wasn’t for me. I hate politics AND football!!!!!! At least the book was only $2.50. Not too much money wasted on an okayish book I probably could’ve found at the library.
Other than the football and politics, there was a lot of photography which IS something that interests me, so that’s a plus. And there was some cute romance. I think Hunter’s character and Ms Serrano’s characters are the only reasons why I could stand this book. They spiced things up and made the book interesting.
There’s really not a lot to say about this book. Football, politics, and photography pretty much sum it up. Plus, the beginning had me super confused. If you’re looking for a cute romance novel with football in it, I recommend “Surviving Adam Meade.” It’s much better and I believe you can find it on WattPad.
Other than the football and politics, there was a lot of photography which IS something that interests me, so that’s a plus. And there was some cute romance. I think Hunter’s character and Ms Serrano’s characters are the only reasons why I could stand this book. They spiced things up and made the book interesting.
There’s really not a lot to say about this book. Football, politics, and photography pretty much sum it up. Plus, the beginning had me super confused. If you’re looking for a cute romance novel with football in it, I recommend “Surviving Adam Meade.” It’s much better and I believe you can find it on WattPad.
March 13, 2018
This book was a perfect palate cleanser between fantasy and sci fi worlds. To me it was a mix of Friday night lights tv show and Emma by Jane Austen with some modern political intrigue. I liked the setting with Texas high school football and liked the animal shelter because though in my city in texas there is not a lot of farm aspects i could relate with some of the hype of high school football. I also liked that there was photography lessons /yearbook class because when i was in middle school i also was on the yearbook staff and remembered working on layouts and taking photos. I also liked that romance did not take center stage. We learned about the main character and how she grew as a person and though there was romance it was secondary to the overall story. Overall i give this book 4 out of 5 stars great relatable book.
January 6, 2018
Okay read this because I needed something light after a heavy thriller and it turned out better than I had hoped. It is funny, quirky and one of the better retellings of Austen's Emma. It is quite smart, takes only major events/ plot points of the original and does not attempt a word to word translation of the original. It makes one sympathise with the protagonists, without turning them sugary and one-dimensional, which many books in this genre tend to do.
Pick up if you are looking for something lighthearted and sweet.
Pick up if you are looking for something lighthearted and sweet.
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