I Could Write a Book

by Karen M. Cox

(For readers of romantic comedy, coming of age, historical romance, Southern fiction)
“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich…”
Thus began Jane Austen’s classic, a light and lively tale set in an English village two hundred years ago. Yet every era has its share of young women trying to find themselves in their own corners of the world.
I Could Write a Book is the story of a self-proclaimed modern Emma Katherine Woodhouse, a 1970s co-ed whose life is pleasant, ordered, and predictable, if a bit confining.
Her friend George Knightley is a man of the world who has come home to fulfill his run his father’s thriving law practice and oversee the sprawling Donwell Farms, his family legacy in Central Kentucky horse country.
Since childhood, George’s and Emma’s lives have meshed and separated time and again. But now they’re adults with grown-up challenges and obligations. As Emma orchestrates life in quaint Highbury, George becomes less amused with her antics and struggles with a growing attraction to the young woman she’s become.
Rich with humor, poignancy, and the camaraderie of life in a small, Southern town, I Could Write a Book is a coming of age romance with side helpings of self-discovery, friendship, and finding true love in the most unlikely places.
*Categories*
Romance
New Adult
Historical Fiction 20th Century
Coming of Age
Southern Fiction

Genres: Romance, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2017

About the author

Karen M Cox is an award-winning author of novels accented with romance and history.
Originally from Everett, WA, Karen now lives in Central Kentucky with her husband, where she works as a pediatric speech pathologist, encourages her children, and spoils her granddaughter. Like Austen’s Emma, Karen has many hobbies and projects she doesn’t quite finish, but like Elizabeth Bennet, she aspires to be a great reader and an excellent walker.
"News & Muse Letter" : https://mailchi.mp/40d6c584af55/khjas...
Website: https://karenmcox.com/

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: I did a re-read with the audio verison- same rating. See the bottom for my additional thoughts on the narrator.

A retelling of Jane Austen's Emma set in 1970's Kentucky? Oh, now that did sound curious so I really wanted to read it. Karen Cox did not disappoint making Jane Austen's version of the controversial 'It' girl engage the reader's attention and then affection when paired with the noble and gentlemanly man about town George Knightley.

Couple the 1970's period in mid-America with Jane Austen's novel, Emma, which has one of Austen's most forward-thinking 'modern' heroines and it was an engaging piece of women's fiction. A young woman comes into her own between the tradition of the past and the promise of the future. The author settled her characters so that they were immersed in the times and felt authentic as a result.

I Could Write a Book's Emma was breezy and confident in her outlook. The world is her oyster and she's got it all sorted. Until she doesn't.

As the story unfolds at a gentle pace with an alternating narrative between heroine and hero, the reader sees what Emma does not. Because her nearest and dearest dote on her and she has never spent much time away from this atmosphere, she starts to believe what they all indulgently and proudly say- Emma is smart, sophisticated, skilled, and right. And they are not entirely wrong. Emma is all these things, but she is also untried, naive, and bases her triumphs on very little, as George Knightley attempts to point out to her. She senses this a little because she is uneasy around other superior women like George's ladyfriend who is a doctor with her own successful career. She is more than uneasy around professional actress, dancer, and singer, Jane Fairfax.

I appreciated the writing skill that brought Emma along through her flaws and growth period in such a way that I could get behind her as a heroine I wanted to see succeed and triumph. Emma has it all with looks, status, and wealth so it can be tricky writing her as a sympathetic character. I felt a good balance was struck with the author's George Knightley, too. He was perfect, but not too perfect. He doesn't stumble around in the dark like Emma, but he has to learn to fathom his own heart, nonetheless.

The surrounding cast of characters resembled Austen's characters, but also had originality. Kudos for the correlation of class difference through education and region, but also the inclusion of ethnic diversity. I was particularly taken with how Frank and Jane were described and their story played out. There was complexity and fun surprises with all the cast.

In summation, it was a faithful rendering of the classic tale, but engaged the reader with delightful originality from plot, to setting, and to characters. Fans of Austen are shoe-in for this, but I think fans of women's fiction and romance should give it a go as well.

I rec'd this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.


Narrator Review:
Emily Rahm was new to me. I took to her narrating voice from the start. She did great with both George and Emma’s alternating turns at narration and narrating the diverse cast from older to younger, genders, different regional accents, and even different social classes. The soft Kentucky southern accent was the most impressive since most people tend to exaggerate the accents of some of the southern border states. She had a good sense of pace and tone. She kept an even slow build story from sounding pedantic. Definitely will be watching for more of her work.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“With insufferable vanity had she believed herself in the secret of everybody’s feelings; with unpardonable arrogance proposed to arrange everybody’s destiny. She was proved to have been universally mistaken; and she had not quite done nothing – for she had done mischief.” Jane Austen, Emma

Since Emma has not been my favorite book among Austen’s classics, I was a bit hesitant in reading this reimagining, by Karen Cox, due to my ambivalence. However, after reading this work, I was amazed at how the author was able to follow Austen’s outline so closely as she told a completely modern story in a setting located in the US. It was fun watching the Emma characters living, working, and loving right in the middle of Kentucky horse country. And yet, our author managed to keep the integrity of Austen’s characters as well as the story-line. Well done.

Rating: PG until the end where there was a sex scene between consenting adults that pushed it to PG-17. It was not excessively graphic; however, it was steamy.

I received an ARC [advanced reader copy] as a member of the launch team, for a fair and honest review.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austen said she was going to write Emma as a character that only she might like. But I think you will come to adore Karen M Cox’s modernized interpretation. It really translates well to 20th century. And her Emma, who ends up getting an undergrad degree in psychology, seems to gain just enough education in the program to think she knows people… But just like in Austen’s masterpiece, boy, does she get it wrong.

I believe this is Karen M Cox's best work yet! Despite all Emma's faults, I believe Cox has written a contemporary Emma that you not only will like but maybe even understand her actions better.

Some have compared Emma as the female Darcy. Never have I seen that clearer than in Cox's "I Could Write a Book". And her Mr Knightley... Swoonworthy. Set in the 1970s and the horse country of Kentucky, this novel is a smart, emotive, and thoughtful interpretation of Austen's masterpiece. I hope readers will give this nonP&P novel a chance. I LOVED IT!

[Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come by Just Jane 1813 today to enter a giveaway for this latest book, an alternative era story based on Jane Austen's "Emma" and learn about how this new cover was created too! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one.

https://justjane1813.com/2017/08/20/i...

[Ceri]

This review was first posted on Babblings of a Bookworm: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....

I have already read quite a few books by Karen M Cox, who often takes Jane Austen's stories to other places and times. Here we are taken to 1970's Kentucky, with an updated version of ‘Emma’, ‘I Could Write a Book’.

Many people struggle to like Austen’s Emma; even Miss Austen described her as ‘a heroine whom nobody but myself will like’ but I’ve always liked her. Although she thought she knew best, which is annoying, she meant well, and her over-confidence in her abilities had been shaped by her environment. When she was surrounded by people who were less intelligent than her (with the exception of Mr Knightley) and who looked up to her and trusted her judgement, it’s only natural that she rated her abilities highly. The other thing I always felt towards Emma was pity, because she has quite a lonely life, and quite a constrained one, as her father’s habits have affected her habits. She has never even seen the sea, and at the dance, she makes observations to herself that show that she’s never seen Mr Knightley dance, so dances in Highbury are presumably fairly rare. Not only is Emma quite low on friends (and she has supported her governess’s courtship, knowing all the while that she will be losing her closest friend) but she has to minister constantly to her father and doesn’t even have much in the way holidays or dances to break up the monotony. I was very interested to see how Karen M Cox would impose such constraints on a more modern woman.

‘I Could Write a Book’s Emma Woodhouse also leads a very constrained life, despite living in the mid 20th century. An aneurysm has left her beautiful, vivacious mother as a shadow of her former self for most of Emma’s living memory, and Mrs Woodhouse finally dies in Emma’s teenage years. We see a scene of a teenage Emma visiting her mother, which is very touching; I wasn’t expecting to get the tissues out with this story!

When Emma is about to go to college her father has a stroke, leaving him as a fretful man with memory issues. At the point where Emma would have been free to start out into the world and start living her life, instead she commits to stay home rather than moving away to go to college. And the reason she stays is simply because she loves her father, and she has a very strong sense of family. So Emma, despite the avenues open to the modern woman, stays at home, catering to the needs of an invalid and meaning that her life experience has a more narrowed scope than she would have anticipated, and I heartily felt for her missed opportunities, and admired the way she didn’t bemoan it herself. In her mind, there was simply no other acceptable option and she wasted no time at all even considering it.

Emma’s family is similar to the original book. Miss Taylor is her aunt rather than her governess, and she still has an elder sister, Isabel, who is married to John Knightley, who in this is the son of Mr Woodhouse’s former business partner. The Knightley and Woodhouse families are close, and the younger generation have known each other all their lives. Despite the age gap (7 years in this version, rather than the larger gap found in Austen), George and Emma have an easy familiarity, plus a bond that both seem subconsciously aware of, but consciously don’t notice. There is a definite connection there.
‘I shot George a reluctant grin. He was standing a few feet away with his hands in his pocket, smiling back at me, and immediately my mood lifted.’

There is nothing awkward in their feelings towards each other. She thinks he is handsome, bossy, stuffy, and wonders at his taste in women, as, in a quite ‘un-Mr-Knightley-ish’ quirk, he is a serial dater, mainly of women who are attractive but lightweight in one way or another. On George’s side, Emma at first is obviously a child to him, as she is so much younger, but as she grows, he is frustrated by her not fulfilling her potential. One thing I thought was done really well is that it was clear that Emma was very central to his life and often taking prime position in his thoughts, but he doesn’t realise that this is the case and what it may signify. It’s often said that Emma is clueless, but in this respect, Mr Knightley is pretty clueless too!

Like canon Emma, this Emma holds up George Knightley as the pattern of a true gentleman:
“He’s kind to you because he’s a true gentleman—who is, by definition, a man who is kind to everyone.”

Of all Austen’s heroes, I would say that Mr Knightley is the most gentlemanly, and this modern incarnation of him is pretty gentlemanly too. The less gentlemanly things he does all have his feelings for Emma at the root of them, so they are easy for the reader to gloss over!

One of the things I really enjoyed in this book were the echoes back to Austen’s text. I have read Emma quite a few times, but I don’t have a huge, in-depth knowledge of quotes from the book. Nevertheless, I noticed quite a few nods back, such as this example:
“She’s so self-assured. I think perhaps a little romantic angst would do her some good. She’s never had her heart bruised.” – ‘I Could Write a Book’, Karen M Cox

“It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in love with a proper object. I should like to see Emma in love, and in some doubt of a return; it would do her good.” – ‘Emma’, by Jane Austen

So, what about the cringe factor? Austen’s 'Emma' is pretty hard to read in places, particularly Emma’s rudeness to Miss Bates, and also her arrogance in directing Harriet’s life. There was some cringe in this book, but I thought it was toned down. Emma comes across as less arrogant here, though she certainly has a lot to learn. As George Knightley correctly observes:
“Emma’s vanity is her absolute confidence that she knows what’s best for all.”

There is quite a bit of humour in this book, which is another thing that I wasn’t expecting. Some funny comments, and the Elton and Augusta characters were awful in a way that I enjoyed reading. Also, the Harriet character, Mary Jo, is a sweet girl, but a little uneducated in some respects. I particularly liked this little joke for the Austen fans:
“Do you ladies play tennis?”
“A little and very ill, as Elizabeth Bennet would say.”
Mary Jo turned to me and whispered, “Who’s that? Have I met her?”

One thing I was expecting to get from this book was a sense of the era; much of the action takes place in the 1970s, which is an era I don’t have personal knowledge of, so I was looking forward to getting a flavour of the time. However, I didn’t really feel it. Towards the beginning of the book, there is a part in Emma’s teenage years which references the moon landing, but later on, aside from the odd ‘hip’ and ‘groovy’ I didn’t get much of a feel, which I felt was a shame. However, this was a minor downside, and perhaps it’s more of a reflection of my expectation of the book as opposed to anything else.

I felt that on the whole, this was a surprisingly faithful modern adaptation of ‘Emma’. I loved that the author made this work in a more modernised setting, and I particularly loved Emma herself – I felt that the essence of Austen’s character was captured really well, and that she still had the qualities that made me find her loveable despite her faults. I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Karen M Cox but now I have a new favourite, and a new favourite modernised version of ‘Emma’ too! This was a five star read for me and I’d really recommend it.

Content warning – for those who like to know these things, there is a sex scene, which isn’t detailed, and an instance of language which as a UK reader I would deem offensive in a contemporary story, but I believe would be found less offensive by a US reader, and which wouldn’t have been offensive at the time the story was set.

*I received a copy of this book for my honest review as part of the launch blog tour

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thoughtful and Reverent Retelling of Emma

Source: Review Copy from Author

While she may be “handsome, clever, and rich,” Emma Woodhouse finds herself living a life not entirely of her own choosing. In 1973 she left the university that was her mother’s alma mater to come home and live with and care for her father who suffered from a debilitating stroke. And even though she is soon to be graduating, she doesn’t have the ability to up and go live a new city or begin a full-time career. But Emma isn’t one to complain. Her family is her world and she would happily sacrifice her freedom to take care of them and be what they need – no questions about it! However, sometimes, Emma cannot help but feel a little envious towards those that are able to lead a different life – whether it be moving away from their hometown, having a noble profession, or just following their dreams…

Even though Emma keeps herself pretty busy with her course work, managing her father’s house, and tending to her father’s care, she has time to lend assistance and guidance to those in her circle of dear friends and family. She touts herself as a “born matchmaker,” but as Emma will soon learn the game of love is often more complex and risky than it seems…

For years, I’ve admired the celebrated and praiseworthy Austenesque retellings that came from Karen M. Cox’s pen – I cannot tell you how thrilled I am she decided to create a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma! (Confession: I adore Emma, think Mr. Knightley gives Mr. Darcy a good run for his money, and find Emma Woodhouse likable!) And not only that, she chooses to set her story in a new time period and setting. Having read and loved 1932, Undeceived, or At the Edge of the Sea, I already knew Ms. Cox had a talent for transplanting our beloved stories that take place in Regency, England to some very creative and clever settings. I am so very pleased that she chose Kentucky horse country and the 1970’s as her setting for this retelling. With horse farms, ancestral homes, southern charm, and friendly neighbors – I felt the quiet, hamlet of Highbury, Kentucky beautifully captured the essences of Jane Austen’s bucolic and charming fictional village in Surrey.

Aside from the unique setting, one of the aspects I loved most about this story is our dear heroine, Emma. From the very first page Karen Cox displays her understanding and sympathy for Emma. And since she often shares Emma’s inner-most thoughts and feelings, Ms. Cox fosters a growing sense of compassion and comprehension for a heroine that many may not initially like. I thoroughly appreciated how adeptly Karen Cox provided glimpses into Emma’s heart and mind. And I thought Emma’s conflicted feelings about her future were well-portrayed and relevant to the time period. With her fierce love, chagrin over her own errors, and reflective introspection this Emma Woodhouse is one I think many readers will admire.

Not only did I love Emma in this retelling, I loved George Knightley as well, and this paragraph is devoted entirely to him! I loved this mixture of George Knightley’s character in this update – he isn’t all seriousness and responsibility. I enjoyed his banters, teasing, and the glimpses we had of his past and more youthful years. I love how Emma had a nickname for him and his “club” as well. 😉 But what truly was my favorite was seeing his affection and admiration for Emma grow and evolve. From family friend and practically older brother, to loyal protector and ardent admirer. I very much appreciated seeing some scenes from George’s perspective in this tale, especially the latter ones. I wouldn’t have minded a few more, such as the double date at the Carriage House and his conversation with Julianne…

Perceptive and compelling, I Could Write a Book is a wonderful and worthy retelling of Jane Austen’s timeless tale. With eloquent style, grace, and insight Karen Cox has proven, once again, she can indeed ‘write a book!’ (Please continue to write many more, Karen!)

Note: Due to some brief intimate scenes later in the book, I’d recommend this book for Mature Audiences only.

Austenesque Reviews

[Anna]

Karen M Cox’s latest novel, I Could Write a Book, is a variation of Jane Austen’s Emma set in 1970s Kentucky. Cox’s Emma Woodhouse is a college student who has sacrificed her future to care for her father following a stroke, and her George Knightley is a lawyer whose family has been connected to the Woodhouse’s since he was a child. Emma’s father was George’s father’s partner at Knightley and Woodhouse, and George and Emma have been close friends throughout the years, while George was away at college, through his long list of female companions, and throughout the illnesses of both Emma’s parents.

Cox does a fantastic job modernizing the story, keeping events and challenges true to the times while allowing the original novel to shine through. Mrs. Taylor has become Emma’s aunt, Nina, who cared for Emma and her sister Izzy while they were growing up without a mother; Harriet Smith has become Mary Jo, a secretary in George’s office who is just as flighty and easily swayed as Harriet; Mr. Elton has become Tim Elton, who is seeking a career in politics and a wife who will assist in those ambitions. Frank (Churchill) Weston, Jane Fairfax, Miss Bates (Helen), and the rest of Emma‘s cast of characters are featured here, and I loved going with the flow and seeing how the story would play out in a different setting.

I couldn’t help but love Emma even when it was obvious that her scheming was misguided. By giving readers a glimpse of Emma’s childhood and her bond with her mother, I felt like I really got to know her and understand why she was so willing to put her life on hold to take care of her father. I loved getting a peek into George’s head as well, and showing some of his romantic relationships made it so much better when his feelings for his best friend began to change. I’ve always loved Mr. Knightley, so I wasn’t surprised that I fell in love with him here.

As with Undeceived, where Cox transformed Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet into Cold War-era spies, I Could Write a Book showcases Cox’s cleverness and understanding of Austen’s characters in shaking things up while at the same time maintaining the structure of the original. Emma is one of my favorite Austen novels, and when I saw that Cox was writing a new spin on it, I expected it to be fantastic…and I wasn’t disappointed! Another contender for my Best of 2017 list, and another addition to my auto-buy author list!

Review originally posted on Diary of an Eccentric

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Cox has set an impossibly high bar with her previous books. I’ve read ‘em all and given each 5 very enthusiastic stars. I Could Write a Book is just as beautifully written, the characters just as richly defined, and the parallels to Jane Austen’s Emma are easy to spot.

However, the transposition to the 1970s didn’t feel completely successful to me. I am probably a tough critic on this point because I was exactly Emma’s age at the dates in this book, while Ms. Cox’s other books are set in times with which I am not intimately familiar.

This pretty much is a straight-up modernization rather than a variation. There's not much difference in the major plot points from the Regency Emma, even though they've been put into a 20th century context. All of Ms. Cox's other books, if I recall correctly, had a few significant deviations from the original. That's not the case here, and I think some changes would have helped the story.

I’ve never been a big fan of this particular Austen heroine, though I do appreciate her better qualities. Emma Woodhouse is a devoted daughter and a loyal, well-meaning friend. She’s intelligent and clever. Emma and neighboring George Knightley enjoy a strong sibling-type relationship; she was born when he was 7 years old. His father and her father partnered to establish a law firm, and George is now a lawyer in the practice as well as a nearby neighbor in rural Kentucky. Mr. Woodhouse suffers a stroke, causing Emma to transfer from the University of South Carolina to a smaller college in order to finish her education while living at home and caring for her father. This limits her collegiate experience, so she’s more book smart than street smart. She also majors in psychology, which at that time was considered a “soft” major because it didn’t require much study to do well, and collegiate core curriculums in the 70s allowed students far more elective choices than today’s programs.

There are references to Emma’s “phases”- Tennis, art, piano and photography are among the numerous hobbies that she has picked up and subsequently dropped. Basically, Emma enjoys doing things that come easily but becomes bored when mastery requires dedication. The only child in a wealthy household, she has been pampered and praised, so she’s developed a good bit of conceit. George is one of the few who pushes her to think harder about her actions.

Emma believes she deserves all the credit for matching her Aunt Nina Taylor and Bob Weston, who marry in one of the early chapters. Once Emma befriends the unpolished Mary Jo Smith, a secretary in the law office, she decides to be the person to do the polishing. Mary Jo is asked out by Robert Martin, a hardworking, handsome black paralegal in the office, but Emma has come up with the notion that Mary Jo is the perfect wife for Tim Elton and discourages her from accepting. Also, Frank Weston (Bob's son from a previous marriage with whom Emma had one date years ago) comes to town, and he and Emma flirt with each other. There are various embarrassing romantic triangles woven throughout. The story moves on with all the other recognizable characters and events if you’re familiar with Emma.

It is somewhat understandable that Jane Austen's Regency era Emma isn't discouraged even though Harriet (Mary Jo) seems awkward and quiet whenever she's with Mr. Elton. In the early 1800s, a comfortable marriage was all that any woman could really aspire to, and arranged marriages were common. Emma truly believes Harriet is a diamond in the rough (probably the "natural child" of a gentleman) and would be happy as the wife of the local vicar.

Contrast this to the 1970s, when the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" would be a fitting theme song. The fact that Mary Jo is overwhelmed by Tim and uncomfortable around him would cue any true friend that there's no spark to ignite here. Emma witnessed the instant attraction between Bob and her Aunt Nina, so I had trouble believing she would be so blind to the lack of it between Mary Jo and Tim.

The 7-year age difference between Emma and George (yes, it's less than in canon) also seems too wide to be disregarded. George is managing his horse farm and practicing law, interacting with a wide variety of people in both roles. His life has purpose and he knows who he is. Emma's still got a lot of growing up to do and hasn't found her niche. The justification for them as a pair is that being George's wife and taking the kind of role that Emma's mother filled for her father as hostess with the mostest IS Emma's niche. But the 70s was an era of women's lib and women getting OUT of the traditional housewife role. Emma may be sheltered, but she's still a product of that time and too intelligent to settle for that. She is reported to eventually become an author of children's books but, at the point of the HEA and wedding, Emma still doesn't have a clue who she is or what she wants to do with her life beyond being George's wife. It's interesting that the Epilogue informs us that some of the pairs Jane Austen and Ms. Cox put together end in divorce. I actually would have expected Emma and George to be among them, based on my impressions of the two here.

Despite my misgivings, I must emphasize that the story is well developed and well told. The dialogue sounds natural for that time. I thoroughly enjoy the various '70s references, though I am disappointed not to find any "bell bottoms" and "hip huggers," which were all the rage throughout the decade.

This review may seem to fixate too much on the negatives. I recognize that my perspective is probably too personal to expect others to have the same reaction, and I know a really good variation when I read it. I recommend it to my JAFF friends, especially those who love Emma.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

Despite the fact that I am obsessed with P&P variations, this author's writing skills have earned my respect over the years. Then in reading other reviews I was prompted to add this book to those I wanted to read.

There is really no angst in this modern adaptation of Emma. Plus the fact that the names and the premise are very closely reflections of Jane Austen's book. It is however set in modern days so Emma Kate has more choices for her future. It is not just a matter of being well off and having friends with whom she can socialize in this story she goes to college and she takes on the role of caregiver when her father becomes ill. Oh, she could afford someone to provide that role and does...but she wants to oversee her father's care for herself.

As in canon, this Emma does not just sit back and watch what is going on in her friends' and relatives' lives, she offers advice or make arrangements to "help" them find what she has determines will be best for them.

The POV does change between George Knightley and Emma Woodhouse and that was an added bonus in my opinion. I liked reading when the "light bulb" turns on and that person's realization about certain truths comes to the fore.

This was well written, even though predictable. And even with that it caught my attention and I finished reading it quickly. Well done.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Reader,

Imagine,if you will,an independent,clever and determined young woman,living in an affluent neighbourhood,where every luxury is afforded her.

Emma,daughter,sister,niece and friend, delights in being the fulcrum around which her family,close friends and neighbours pivot.

Young,free and single,she happily applies herself to the care of her father and is a constant source of support and strength for those both of her social sphere and those bordering on its edges.

Applying her shrewd but oft times mistaken intellect,she seeks to improve the lot of those under her social influence aiming to elevate them in society's eyes.

Starved of and scarred by the lack of a mother's hands-on daily demonstrative love, she seeks to find a help meet,a partner and spouse for those lucky enough to orbit within her circle of influence.

Her childhood and family friend,George,oft times despairs of her matchmaking schemes,thus creating friction between them.

Emma dislikes such and laments his distrust of her Machiavellian type ways,while her abuse of such a keen intellect and her inability to apply herself to real life pursuits for her own happiness and future self fulfilment,pains him.

Believing herself a true proficient,she endeavours to continue on this path,thus inviting a comedy of errors, misunderstandings and grossly mismatched couples,into the fray.

Fate,however,has to have her share of the conversation,and quietly upends her calm self assurance and unfailing self-belief that she was doing good for her fellow man.

Following an epiphany of sorts,her new perspective and clarity of vision renders her justifiably full of self recrimination. Until then,she never knew herself.

Had she left it too late? So busy in her kindly interference in others' lives,she failed to see what had always been hiding in plain sight. No,not hiding,there as an ever present source of wisdom,strength and happiness,a presence she had always looked at but had never truly seen,appraised or appreciated... until now....blind to a potential love embodied in the one person that was a perfect match for her,the one constant in her life.

Was the object of her desire,the one she yearned to call husband and lover,to be cast in another role,so near and yet,so heartbreakingly,far away?

Had Fate played her final card and in revealing the 'joker',had the last laugh...at her expense?

Dear Reader,I loved this refreshing,modern take on 'Emma',and must admit to gaining a new perspective on this complex character and her motivations for her varying actions.

A slow burn romance cloaked warmly in the daily events of Emma's society of friends,I highly recommend this heartwarming, compelling and deeply satisfying book!

I received an ARC of this book,as a member of the launch team,for a fair and honest review.

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo Ms Cox for capturing 'Emma' so beautifully in this mid-century modern tale. As Jane Austen said, “I am going to write about a heroine that no one but me will like”. However, I do like Emma not only for her kind heart but her 'cringe-worthy' awkward moments as she meddles in the love lives of those near and dear to her. By Chapter Two, you brought me to tears.

"No, Emma's vanity is her absolute confidence that she knows what's best for all.'

You have provided a new setting for these delightful characters, again showing how human nature has not changed, only the political, cultural and historical environment have. The dialogue and characters jumped off the page, as they drew you into their lives. I kept saying in my head 'No, don't do it Emma!'

George Knightley was swoon-worthy and the steady but lecturing influence in Emma's life. Regardless of how busy he is, he always had time or made time to make sure all those he loved were looked after. I quite enjoyed Emma's nickname for him as well as 'the club' around him. No spoiler here...you will just have to read the book!

But let's not forget the others, Mr. Elton...shudders....the Mrs Elton to be, Edie Bitti...now there was 'cringe-worthy'! Mary Jo (aka Harriet) was so sweet and I kept calling her 'MJ'. Robert Martin...now he was swoon-worthy too and had a heart of gold! Frank Churchill...hmmm...I like him even less now! Jane Fairfax and her Aunt Delores and Helen (aka the Bates)...you were definitely channeling Miss Bates with her! The Westons, Emma's first foray into matchmaking, were delightful. Then, of course, there is the charm bracelet. It plays a small but very significant part in this story.

There is one 'character' for me that also played an important role in my utter enjoyment of this story...the time period. You have no idea how much of a trip down memory lane your story evoked... Mary Tyler Moore, Linda Ronstadt, Clapton, to name a few. It even brought memories forward that I had completely forgotten, Jaws...not a good movie to see on a blind date!

What I think I loved most of all in this story is Emma's deep and abiding love and compassion for her family. You did not portray a young woman who knew 'her duty and responsibility' but a young woman whose family was the center of her universe.

Yes, I highly recommend this story of discovery of a young woman learning about herself and finding her own place in it. 'I could write a book' on how much I loved it!

I received an ARC of this book as part of the launch team for a fair and honest review.

[Karen Cox]

I'm the author, so I'm not going to assign stars to this book - there's no way I could be objective anyway :) But I invite readers to jump into the world of the 1970s small Southern towns, which dovetail so nicely with Jane Austen's themes in "Emma". The subtitle of this story could be "Watch Emma Grow Up" or "Fall in love with George Knightley". I hope you enjoy this story!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author Karen M Cox for sending me a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I could write a book updates Jane Austen's Emma and places it in 70's southern America. This update works quite well, though it does follow the plot of the original very closely.

I loved George Knightly and all of his thoughtful speeches. I didn't quite click with Emma, but liked that she was looking after her farther, it brings more depth to her character and helps you to see more of her true character early on. I wasn't a fan of the first person pov's.

[OLT · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) I confess to avoiding variations/continuations/vagaries of Jane Austen's work, especially anything related to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. There is nothing that anyone can do to improve upon, IMO, Austen's canon and usually this fan fiction ends up to be amateur cheapening of the real thing.

But EMMA was never a particular favorite Austen novel for me, so I figured I might as well try this out, since it has a good reputation both here on Amazon and at Goodreads. After all, I have no dog in the fight between original Emma vs fan-fiction Emma. (Just don't ever mess with the original Elizabeth or Darcy or you're asking for a real brawl.)

In this modern retelling of EMMA we are transported to 1970s Kentucky. Characters and relationships remain basically true to the original story. There are slight variations, such as Mr. Elton being a rising politician; Harriet, renamed Mary Jo, being receptionist at the law offices of Woodhouse and Knightley; Jane Fairfax is an off-Broadway actress in NYC; Emma is a college student; brothers John and George Knightley are lawyers at the Woodhouse-Knightley law firm; Robert Martin is a paralegal at the firm; Emma's former governess who marries Frank Churchill's father in the original is now Emma's Aunt Nina.

Other little tweaks are made here and there in the characters' personalities, and I'm going to say that often these tweaks improved upon the original. (Oh, horror! Did I really say that?) I did not find Emma as obnoxious and annoying and managing as Austen's Emma. I found Knightley here to be super sexy and every woman's dream of a romantic partner. And the age gap between Knightley and Emma has been made more palatable, being approximately 7 years in this book as compared with almost 17 in the original.

So, if you like fan fiction of classics, this is a good one. It's well written, treats the original with respect, and improved upon Austen's romance.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five beautiful stars for this one! I've been so excited about this and it was really, really good.

The author did a fabulous job pulling me in, enriching my love of the main characters. I'll be honest here and just say that "Emma" is my least favorite of all of Austin's books. But this was really special. The story was so well developed and I loved the romance. Lots of great chemistry.

I will say that if you love JAFF the way I do, then you'll love this story. This is my second book by this author and she's very talented. I just bought my third book tonight and can't wait to get started on it.

I received a copy of this book for an honest review while participating in a fun launch of this book. If you want a fun, romantic book then this one is for you. Happy Reading :)

[Beau North · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully modernized take on Emma, this variation oozes sweetness, passion, and southern charm. Emma is a character I feel gets maligned unfairly (even by myself on occasion!) and this version puts the meddling high-mindedness aside in favor of the loving girl Emma really is. Out of all of Austen's Heroines, Emma is never in danger of reduced circumstances or society censure. Her greatest challenge is not overcoming the obstacles set before her through outside forces, but overcoming her own shortcomings--a much tougher challenge. This variation also allows us a peek into the thoughts of George Knightley, whose love for our heroine was seen for the reader for so long before his ultimate realization it had me shaking my head and saying "bless his heart."

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and highly recommend. The narrator, Emily Rahm, was new to me, but she captured the characters to perfection. I was in stitches every time she took on the Mrs. Bates character, or Emma's perfectly southern housekeeper.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this sweet and light retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Emma. I found the authors portrayal of the characters lovable and engaging and was excited by the various relationships!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my review.

[Abigail Bok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Woodhouse is a modern '70s girl: she's interested in college and a career; she's independent and not simply looking for a man. But her expectations get derailed when her father is taken ill and she comes home to take care of him, transferring to a local college to complete her degree. Home is a small village in Kentucky's horse country, where she's either intimately familiar with or related to everyone, so the change represents a significant narrowing of her life's prospects. But she's a loving and loyal person and refuses to repine.

This variation on Jane Austen's Emma doesn't stray very far from the canon, so for those readers familiar with the original, it doesn't hold many surprises. Sometimes there's pleasure and jolts of humor to be found in the ways a modern author adapts an Austen story, but here everything just felt predictable to me. I think I would have liked this book more if I had never read the original; it's certainly a competently written novel with good characters and the kind of life lessons I like to read about. Being so familiar with Austen's novel in this case only led me to invidious comparisons, sadly: the modern characters seemed more vulgar, the direction of the plot too broadly hinted at. The parallels only highlighted for me Austen's subtlety versus the relative obviousness of this tale. The setting was interesting--I haven't read many books set in the 1970s, when I too came of age--but the cultures of the American South hold little appeal for me. It doesn't help that Emma Woodhouse is the one Austen heroine I really loathe; this modern version was very true to the original and I couldn't warm to her, no matter how lovely she was to her father.

Rating this four stars for its skill and how I believe others will find it, rather than for the pleasure I derived. The is one scene for mature audiences.

[Christina Morland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Karen Cox made an inspired choice by setting her version of the book in 1970s Kentucky. This was a time and place where the ideas about gender, race, and class were rigid enough to resonate with the original Regency England setting--yet views were changing just enough to allow this new version of Emma to wrestle with her own thoughts on these issues. Cox also did a great job of developing her characters. This modern version of Emma maintains her charms -- and her flaws (both of which are central to her character). And I loved reading chapters from George Knightley's point of view. The age gap is this version is not so large (better fitting our modern mores), and George's background (particularly his time at college) plays an important role in helping both main characters grow. This was an enjoyable read!

[Nicole Barton Sasser]

Status: unread
*** Received an Advance Reader Copy, as part of the launch team, for a fair and honest review. ***

Rating:

Review:

My Library Notes:
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[Denise Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, delightful twist of Jane Austen's EMMA set in 1970s Kentucky. The well-written repartee will keep you entertained till the end! I can't recommend this book enough!

[Lisa Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the thoroughly modern adaptation of Emma!! Knighley's "girl of the month" was a very interesting twist on his character. The language fit the modern story beautifully. I don't want to give away any spoilers...I will just say that the Q&A at the end was extremely insightful and added greater depth to the understanding of the plot. I loved it when it was suggested to Emma that she knows everything about everyone in her community...and the title of this lovely novel flows from her answer to that statement. For anyone not familiar with Austen's Emma (which I personally could not imagine), this book can be read as a modern stand-alone novel...truly a GREAT read! I highly recommend it!!! Once I started reading it, I simply could not put it down!!!

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! It is a novel well written and entertaining about a smart, rich and loving young lady, Emma Woodhouse and a man of the world Emma calls, Professor George Knightley. This is a modern day novel of Jane Austen's, "Emma."
I won't go into the plot but the antics of matchmaking by Emma and George watching her perform these antics and sometimes tries to warn her of the trouble she might cause. However, Emma has a caring heart not only for the family but for all her friends.
This truly evolves into a love story that is delightful to follow.
I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do as you watch George from the age of seven when he meets Emma when she was a bald headed baby and her mother is showing George her in the crib. They grow into great young people and find their way to each other in the long run of things.

[Judith Barrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Retelling  a classic in modern times is an interesting concept and one that has worked really well here.  Karen Cox clearly has a talent for this genre and I enjoyed reading this re-working of Jane Austen’s Emma.

I must admit, though, I found I Could Write a Book impossible to review as I normally would review a book. This is a  canonical classic; it is difficult for me to criticise the story of a novel I have long admired.

But here goes...

Told through alternating perspectives of Emma and George Knightley the different depiction of the personalities of each character is well rounded and follows closely to that of Austen's, though naturally adapted to the setting of Kentucky, during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The juxtaposition of  humour and poignant tenderness is threaded throughout. Nevertheless the actions of the modern strong-willed Emma still brought out the same feelings of exasperation in me as it had in the original Emma. Yet, as before,  I felt empathy and compassion for the character; there is still the underlying naivety there. Though cosseted by her family I also felt protective of her when George Knightley, battling his own feelings towards her, attempts to 'open her eyes' to herself.

Good characterisation of both and I also found the supporting characters to be multi-layered, adding to the background and action within the plot. And brought right up to date by the emphasis as much on religion and race as on the class divisions in the original story.

Both the spoken and internal dialogue adds to an understanding of these two friends as the friendship grows into a burgeoning romance- (I liked the way Emma is shown almost as the omniscient narrator through her free indirect language - much in the way Jane Austen shows)

I liked the author's style of writing and the steady easy pace of the story was reassuringly similar Austen's.

I Could Write a Book works well and I would urge both readers who are admirers of Jane Austen and those curious to see how a classic can reappear as a contemporary read to discover this book for themselves.

[Elin Eriksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterly executed adaption to the modern world of Jane Austen's "Emma".

I loved it! From start to finish, the epilogue in Mr Knightly's POV gave me goosebumps...
The only drawback, as I see it, was the predictableness. Being very familiar with Emma as I have read the book more times than I can count, it did not have the thrill of the unknown.
That said it was a beautifully written book that left me with a warm and fussy feeling.

Emma Woodhouse lost her mother early, after suffering a long time with the aftermath of an anurism. When her father had a stroke while she was away at college, the decision of returning home was an easy one.
Struggling to find her purpose, she takes her "helpfulness" a little too far with Mary Jo, was a little too easy charmed by the handsome Mr Churchill and wrote off Jane with a little too much haste.
The foundation of her life was the long time, family friend, George Knightly. Always around to scold or comfort when needed.
Her aunt, that raised her, got married and so did her elder sister. Leaving Emma alone to care for her father on the daily basis. Her realising the true worth of her friend took her a long time but the moment of awakening was deliciously emotional.

Heartily recommend this book!

[Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Modern Emma
A very good modern retelling of Emma. Her modern portrayal stays true to canon, with her well-intentioned meddling and occasional misunderstandings. George Knightley is intelligent, mature and principled. Oh, and quite swoon worthy. For lover’s of good dialogue, the writer doesn’t hold back. It is engaging and there’s plenty of it. I also loved that the time period of the book was my coming of age generation too, and I always enjoy a southern setting. Well written and edited. Recommend.

November 5, 2023 - Audiobook
An enjoyable narration by Emily Rahm.

[victoria_tonks · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Austen herself said about Emma that only she would much care for her. However; I do believe that Karen Cox has surpassed even Austen in that she has written an Emma that everyone will love. This modern retelling of the beloved classic Emma is worth the read as well as the late nights in order to finish it. You will want to live in this American Southern version of Highbury, hobknob with the Woodhouses, the Knightly's and dare I say it the Elton's! Fall in love with George Knightly over and over again as Karen has written a hero that will leave you swooning and longing for your own Mr. Knightly.
*Mild adult content near the end of the book*

[Anji · Rating 5 out of 5]

I COULD WRITE A BOOK

Can a lifelong friendship ever become anything more? If you're familiar with the plot of Jane Austen's Emma, you'll know the answer, as this book is a re-telling of that story updated to the 1970s and moved to horse country in the state of Kentucky in the USA. The name of Churchill from canon is rather neatly tied in with the Churchill Downs race course. It's rather good to see a book based on one of Jane Austen's other works for a change!

Some of the names and roles have been changed a little to reflect the changed setting but the story hasn't lost anything with that. You'll still want to smack "Mrs. Elton" for her presumptions and give "Frank Churchill" a really good shake for his behaviour. "Miss Bates" is just as garrulous as ever and there's a believable modern-day explanation as to why Mr. Woodhouse is so particular about his health and that of others. The age gap between Emma and George (Mr. Knightley) has also been reduced to a more realistic seven or eight years for more modern times. It's slightly surreal, to me anyway, to realise that this Emma and George are almost the exact age that myself and my future husband were at the time the majority of this book is set.

The plot follows the original reasonably closely all the way through but it's fascinating to see how certain elements of the story have been updated to accommodate such things as divorce and the increasing freedom of women to go to college, to determine their own futures and to have their own careers. The latter is definitely an improvement over the lot of women two hundred years ago, when Jane Austen published her first four books as by "A Lady".

A lovely touch that isn't canon is in the first part of the book where we see some of Emma's earlier life and she has to deal with the eventual loss of her mother. One scene in particular is rather a tear-jerker and I recommend having a box of tissues to hand! One of the things I loved about this book was the use of alternating points of view. Emma's is told in first person, George in third person and it enables the reader to really get inside the head of our two protagonists. Emma's sense of family and duty comes over really strongly and although she's very much a "modern woman", she manages to keep her loyalty to family and friends very much a focal point in her life.

For the most part, this book could be read by anyone of any age, but there are some quite intimate scenes towards the end which those who prefer to avoid such things should be aware of.

As to the title? You'll have to read the book to find out why it fits so well!

I received a copy of this quite wonderful book as part of the author's launch team and this is my honest opinion of it.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karen Cox is one of the very brave, perhaps audacious, contemporary authors who has accepted the challenge of writing a contemporary version of a Jane Austen classic. I COULD WRITE A BOOK presents the reader with a 20th Century Emma Woodhouse.

Emma is my favorite Austen novel, so this reader has set the bar very high for Ms. Cox. Her novel is very entertaining and eminently readable. It is also exceedingly faithful to the original book and that is, perhaps, my primary criticism of this adaptation. The author diligently and faithfully brought the plot and characters in to the 20th Century, but it was not a fresh book inspired by EMMA, it was closer to a translation of EMMA.

I really appreciated Ms. Cox's descriptions of Kentucky society, with its traditions, prejudices, and charm. She brought Kentucky "horse country" to life and Emma fit in perfectly as a young Society woman. The idea to set the novel in this region, at this time, was well-conceived and I enjoyed Emma's struggle to be a modern woman in a region that has so much respect for traditional roles and responsibilities.

This book could be a great introduction to Austen for young readers who are not inclined to pick up "old books." An initial experience reading I COULD WRITE A BOOK could easily be followed by EMMA---and stimulate a discussion on the two books, the two Emma's, and what has changed and what remains the same in our society.

NET GALLEY provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.