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The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp
A hilarious contemporary retelling of the classic society novel, VANITY FAIR, featuring the irrepressible Becky SharpBeautiful, brilliant, ruthless – nothing can stop Becky Sharp.
Becky Sharp has big dreams and no connections. Determined to swap the gutters of Soho for the glamorous, exclusive world behind the velvet rope, Becky will do anything to achieve fame, riches and status.
Whether it’s seducing society’s most eligible bachelors, or befriending silly debutantes and rich old ladies, Becky Sharp is destined for great things. Because it might be tough at the top but it’s worse at the bottom.
From London to Paris and beyond, Becky Sharp is going places – so get the hell out of her way…
Becky Sharp has big dreams and no connections. Determined to swap the gutters of Soho for the glamorous, exclusive world behind the velvet rope, Becky will do anything to achieve fame, riches and status.
Whether it’s seducing society’s most eligible bachelors, or befriending silly debutantes and rich old ladies, Becky Sharp is destined for great things. Because it might be tough at the top but it’s worse at the bottom.
From London to Paris and beyond, Becky Sharp is going places – so get the hell out of her way…
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2018
71 people are currently reading
890 people want to read
About the author
Sarra Manning
46 books1,935 followersSarra Manning is a teen queen extraordinaire. She spent five years working on the now sadly defunct J17, first as a writer and then as Entertainment Editor. She then joined the launch team of teen fashion bible Ellegirl, which she later went on to edit and has consulted on a wide range of youth titles including Bliss, The Face and More.
Sarra is now editor of What To Wear magazine. She's also been a regular contributor to ELLE, The Guardian, ES Magazine, Seventeen, Details and Heat and wrote the Shop Bitch column for Time Out. Sarra lives in North London with her dog Miss Betsy
Sarra is now editor of What To Wear magazine. She's also been a regular contributor to ELLE, The Guardian, ES Magazine, Seventeen, Details and Heat and wrote the Shop Bitch column for Time Out. Sarra lives in North London with her dog Miss Betsy
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
July 11, 2018
This modern updating of Vanity Fair is huge fun. Manning follows Thackeray’s plot exactly even keeping the same names for her characters: Becky and Amelia now meet on Big Brother; George is a Tory MP, the Pitt Crawleys are an acting dynasty, and Steyne is a Murdoch-alike media mogul. Funniest is Jos Sedley, re-located to California and owner of a power ball company (“How are your balls, Jos?”), his bulk now due to being over-muscled.
Manning skewers contemporary life through Becky’s Instagram fame-for-being-famous, and no-one really comes off well. All the same, it’s hard not to cheer on Becky, as we do with the original, as she schemes, manipulates and claws her way through life, ever irrepressible, no matter what life throws at her. Thackeray’s plotting seems more relevant and contemporary than ever in this amusing, scathing update.
Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC via NetGalley
Manning skewers contemporary life through Becky’s Instagram fame-for-being-famous, and no-one really comes off well. All the same, it’s hard not to cheer on Becky, as we do with the original, as she schemes, manipulates and claws her way through life, ever irrepressible, no matter what life throws at her. Thackeray’s plotting seems more relevant and contemporary than ever in this amusing, scathing update.
Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC via NetGalley
December 16, 2018
This was entertaining in an undemanding way but not really for me as I don't follow celebrity news or people on Instagram (unless they're posting pictures of books!). I didn't care much for, or about, any of the characters except perhaps Dame Matilda, although she was clearly a shameless rip-off of Dame Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey.
I found the name dropping of products a little tiresome and found the 'head hopping' in places rather distracting. It may be petty but it also really annoyed me that one of the loathsome Sir Pitt Crawley's children, a boy, was called Thisbe. (In Ovid's myth, Thisbe is female and Pyramus is the male character).
Having not read the original novel nor watched the recent TV adaptation, I couldn't say if the author was doing something really clever with Thackeray's characters and story or simply rehashing the plot but just relocated to the modern day. Is the book a satire of today's celebrity culture? Not sure...
I received the book in the Reading in Heels subscription box for September 2018. I can safely say it's not a book I would have chosen myself. The only plus point is that it MAY have made me want to read the original novel....
I found the name dropping of products a little tiresome and found the 'head hopping' in places rather distracting. It may be petty but it also really annoyed me that one of the loathsome Sir Pitt Crawley's children, a boy, was called Thisbe. (In Ovid's myth, Thisbe is female and Pyramus is the male character).
Having not read the original novel nor watched the recent TV adaptation, I couldn't say if the author was doing something really clever with Thackeray's characters and story or simply rehashing the plot but just relocated to the modern day. Is the book a satire of today's celebrity culture? Not sure...
I received the book in the Reading in Heels subscription box for September 2018. I can safely say it's not a book I would have chosen myself. The only plus point is that it MAY have made me want to read the original novel....
August 5, 2018
It had been a while since I last read a book by Sarra Manning but this book has certainly reminded my why I enjoy her books - even when I wasn't reading it my mind was on the characters and wondering just what they would get up to next.
I'm not sure how much I can say I particularly liked the characters or Becky herself but I was intrigued by them and with the authors clever writing, I certainly wanted to continue seeing how the story would play out. I love books where there is scandal, rich people behaving badly, at least one person out for revenge, and a large cast of storylines and character. I was never sure exactly how this story would end and i'm grateful as it made it so much more enjoyable.
I am under the impression this is a modern re-telling of Vanity Fair, having never read it I have no idea how it matches up and was judging this as a book on its own merits.
Despite my feelings towards some of the characters what they are though is memorable, and right from the first few pages I was enthralled by what was happening and the so called friendship between Becky and Emmy in the Big Brother house.
Becky Sharp is a master of disguising her true self, depending who she is with depends just how she will treat a situation, and what level of sincerity she exhibits. What you do get the impression of is the only person she cares about is herself and is using all of her wiles to improve her situation in all walks of life.
To me this is a perfect poolside read, and worked just as well as an entertainingly gripping story to be read in my garden over two hot sunny afternoons. A delightful way to spend some time and I'm really glad I read this.
Thanks to Harper and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I'm not sure how much I can say I particularly liked the characters or Becky herself but I was intrigued by them and with the authors clever writing, I certainly wanted to continue seeing how the story would play out. I love books where there is scandal, rich people behaving badly, at least one person out for revenge, and a large cast of storylines and character. I was never sure exactly how this story would end and i'm grateful as it made it so much more enjoyable.
I am under the impression this is a modern re-telling of Vanity Fair, having never read it I have no idea how it matches up and was judging this as a book on its own merits.
Despite my feelings towards some of the characters what they are though is memorable, and right from the first few pages I was enthralled by what was happening and the so called friendship between Becky and Emmy in the Big Brother house.
Becky Sharp is a master of disguising her true self, depending who she is with depends just how she will treat a situation, and what level of sincerity she exhibits. What you do get the impression of is the only person she cares about is herself and is using all of her wiles to improve her situation in all walks of life.
To me this is a perfect poolside read, and worked just as well as an entertainingly gripping story to be read in my garden over two hot sunny afternoons. A delightful way to spend some time and I'm really glad I read this.
Thanks to Harper and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 3, 2019
Trigger warnings: death of a loved one, manipulation, cheating, lying.
I was sold on this the second I saw the title, because I've been trash for Vanity Fair since the BBC miniseries aired in Australia in 1999. I love scheming Becky Sharp, I love to hate George Osborne, I have an unnatural soft spot for wet blanket Amelia Sedley and mooning clumsy William Dobbin. And I don't think Thackeray's satirical assessment of nineteenth century society gets anywhere near the love it deserves.
So the second I saw that a modernisation existed, I was on board. And I think Manning did a fairly phenomenal job of updating Thackeray's classic to the 21st century. I loved the idea of Becky scheming her way to the final two on Big Brother to start the story. I loved George being a snooty Conservative striving to be an MP. I loved Jos Sedley owning a protein ball company in LA. I loved the Crawleys being a family of award winning actors. I laughed out loud multiple times, and I really enjoyed the changes that Manning made to the story throughout. The ending was particularly entertaining, and I can definitely see myself rereading this into the future.
I was sold on this the second I saw the title, because I've been trash for Vanity Fair since the BBC miniseries aired in Australia in 1999. I love scheming Becky Sharp, I love to hate George Osborne, I have an unnatural soft spot for wet blanket Amelia Sedley and mooning clumsy William Dobbin. And I don't think Thackeray's satirical assessment of nineteenth century society gets anywhere near the love it deserves.
So the second I saw that a modernisation existed, I was on board. And I think Manning did a fairly phenomenal job of updating Thackeray's classic to the 21st century. I loved the idea of Becky scheming her way to the final two on Big Brother to start the story. I loved George being a snooty Conservative striving to be an MP. I loved Jos Sedley owning a protein ball company in LA. I loved the Crawleys being a family of award winning actors. I laughed out loud multiple times, and I really enjoyed the changes that Manning made to the story throughout. The ending was particularly entertaining, and I can definitely see myself rereading this into the future.
October 1, 2018
The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp ~ 'A hilarious contemporary retelling of the classic society novel, VANITY FAIR, featuring the irrepressible Becky Sharp’
Sarra Manning is an author and journalist and is currently Literary Editor with Red magazine. Her latest novel, The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp, is described as ‘a savagely funny, 21st century remix of Vanity Fair’ and has just been published with Harper Collins.
Having never read the original Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp. Any book described as ‘hilarious and contemporary’ is sure to delight, and it did.
‘Beautiful, brilliant, ruthless – nothing can stop Becky Sharp.’
Vanity Fair is a classic book and I always admire any writer who is willing to retell such a novel with a current twist and their own personal flair. Sarra Manning has taken Becky Sharp, a character originally penned in 1847/1848, and brought her to life in our modern day society in a very original and contemporary manner. Utilising reality TV and our current obsession with social media and social influencers, Sarra Manning’s novel is a very light-hearted and entertaining read.
Becky Sharp is in trouble. Orphaned quite young, she has always had to fend for herself. Toughened by all the challenges life has thrown at her, Becky is not one to lie down and take it, so she decides from a young age that she will climb out of the gutter and life will pay her her dues. Becky wants wealth. Becky wants status and nothing is going to stand in her way. She achieves the starring role she has dreamed of, by landing a slot in the Big Brother house and surviving, using her ingenuity and wily ways, to being one of the final two left in the house. Amelia Sedley, a wealthy socialite, is the other.
On leaving the Big Brother house Becky weaves herself into Amelia’s life and soon becomes Amelia’s ‘sister from another mister’. Amelia dotes on Becky and is in awe of her approach to life. Amelia sees a young girl with no home, no family and with such a ‘caring’ nature, that Becky soon finds herself becoming part of the Sedley household and immersing herself in the life of the well-to-do. Becky knows what she is doing. Her ambition is extremely focused and self-centred, with success her one and only goal.
Amelia is a gentle, shy girl lacking in confidence. She has a life-long crush on family friend George Wylie with her one dream in life being to marry him and have his children. It is how she expects her life to pan out. George has political aspirations and has his eye on a different prize but Amelia will wait for him. It is after all her destiny!
Becky uses people, neither age, creed nor gender mattering, once there is money and status involved and Becky can achieve another step closer in ascertaining her goal.
The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp is a witty and delightful read. The characters are all easily visualised, as Sarra Manning vividly portrays the personalities of each. We live in a world where image is everything for many. With the increased popularity of Instagram, Snapchat and many other forms of social media, we are exposed daily to a filtered world, where reality often becomes quite blurred. Stories can be fabricated creating enviable lifestyles, as we drool over the Pinterest posts and the sun-bleached images that barrage every minute of our lives.
Becky Sharp might be a character created over 150 years ago but how far have we really moved on as a society from then? The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp is a satirical look at our lives today and Sarra Manning has created the perfect player in Becky Sharp. She is quite a vindictive person, yet she also has some very redeeming traits, so by the end of the book you really don’t know whether to admire her or be appalled by her.
Whether or not you have read Vanity Fair has no baring on the pure escapism and fun aspects of this book. Becky Sharp is a fantastic character, with Sarra Manning bringing this classic tale to a new audience with a modern and highly amusing twist. A fun and charming read.
Whimsical. Charismatic. Satirical.
Sarra Manning is an author and journalist and is currently Literary Editor with Red magazine. Her latest novel, The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp, is described as ‘a savagely funny, 21st century remix of Vanity Fair’ and has just been published with Harper Collins.
Having never read the original Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp. Any book described as ‘hilarious and contemporary’ is sure to delight, and it did.
‘Beautiful, brilliant, ruthless – nothing can stop Becky Sharp.’
Vanity Fair is a classic book and I always admire any writer who is willing to retell such a novel with a current twist and their own personal flair. Sarra Manning has taken Becky Sharp, a character originally penned in 1847/1848, and brought her to life in our modern day society in a very original and contemporary manner. Utilising reality TV and our current obsession with social media and social influencers, Sarra Manning’s novel is a very light-hearted and entertaining read.
Becky Sharp is in trouble. Orphaned quite young, she has always had to fend for herself. Toughened by all the challenges life has thrown at her, Becky is not one to lie down and take it, so she decides from a young age that she will climb out of the gutter and life will pay her her dues. Becky wants wealth. Becky wants status and nothing is going to stand in her way. She achieves the starring role she has dreamed of, by landing a slot in the Big Brother house and surviving, using her ingenuity and wily ways, to being one of the final two left in the house. Amelia Sedley, a wealthy socialite, is the other.
On leaving the Big Brother house Becky weaves herself into Amelia’s life and soon becomes Amelia’s ‘sister from another mister’. Amelia dotes on Becky and is in awe of her approach to life. Amelia sees a young girl with no home, no family and with such a ‘caring’ nature, that Becky soon finds herself becoming part of the Sedley household and immersing herself in the life of the well-to-do. Becky knows what she is doing. Her ambition is extremely focused and self-centred, with success her one and only goal.
Amelia is a gentle, shy girl lacking in confidence. She has a life-long crush on family friend George Wylie with her one dream in life being to marry him and have his children. It is how she expects her life to pan out. George has political aspirations and has his eye on a different prize but Amelia will wait for him. It is after all her destiny!
Becky uses people, neither age, creed nor gender mattering, once there is money and status involved and Becky can achieve another step closer in ascertaining her goal.
The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp is a witty and delightful read. The characters are all easily visualised, as Sarra Manning vividly portrays the personalities of each. We live in a world where image is everything for many. With the increased popularity of Instagram, Snapchat and many other forms of social media, we are exposed daily to a filtered world, where reality often becomes quite blurred. Stories can be fabricated creating enviable lifestyles, as we drool over the Pinterest posts and the sun-bleached images that barrage every minute of our lives.
Becky Sharp might be a character created over 150 years ago but how far have we really moved on as a society from then? The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp is a satirical look at our lives today and Sarra Manning has created the perfect player in Becky Sharp. She is quite a vindictive person, yet she also has some very redeeming traits, so by the end of the book you really don’t know whether to admire her or be appalled by her.
Whether or not you have read Vanity Fair has no baring on the pure escapism and fun aspects of this book. Becky Sharp is a fantastic character, with Sarra Manning bringing this classic tale to a new audience with a modern and highly amusing twist. A fun and charming read.
Whimsical. Charismatic. Satirical.
September 7, 2018
This story follows Becky Sharp - a runner up on Big Brother, nanny, Instagram influencer to eventually become a philanthropist. But Becky worked hard for all of this - or did she? Relying only on herself, that is until she senses a chance and someone with more money... or another someone, with even more money? Using other people or simply being ambitious? I haven't read the original "Vanity Fair" so I am probably in the minority that won't be comparing those two books, and also I didn't recognise any of the scenes and couldn't compare the characters, but I'm sure there are similarities, and also, even without reading the "first" book, I can assure you that I totally adored this modern take on "Vanity Fair".
Even though I was not particularly found of the characters! However, I fell for Becky and I felt sorry for her and in the next second I simply hated her. Becky was incredibly intriguing character, and Sarra Manning has so brilliantly captured all of her attributes! She was a champion of disguising her true self and so you could never be sure which of the faces you're going to see; she for sure knew how to behave in a particular company. It depended on the person she was with and how influential they were. I don't think we have ever come across Becky's true colours guys, she has provided regular doses of the level of sincerity and really, I think, no, I am sure that the only person she cared about was herself. She was a master of using people and sweet - talking them. Yet - she was likeable! I might have not loved her but I had feelings of warmth and somehow I wanted to protect her. Weird, no? She schemes and manipulates in a perfect way and yet you just want to cheer her on. She truly knows what she wants and doing anything just to get her way, actually almost always getting what she wanted. She's unbreakable.
Sarra Manning's writing style is brilliant. The pace of the novel in fast and there are twists and turns that you'll never see coming. The plot was hooking, I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what's going to happen. There were moment that it was ridiculous and hilarious, as well as some of the very colourful characters that really made me feel all kinds of emotions.
This book could go on and go, it was a kind of never - ending story, and personally I would love to see what Becky has got herself into - I think it ended in one of the most exciting moments, and our Becky implied that she's not to rest on her laurels, oh no. But also, this end was not satisfying for me - there was a huge build up but then I had a feeling that it turned into ... nothing. So really, if Ms Manning were to write a sequel to "The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp" I'd be probably the first one in the virtual queue to read it.
"The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp" was a book full of scandals, rich people and celebrities, revenge, coincidences. It was partly really bonkers crazy but this is why I enjoyed it so much, as it sat with this book so well. It was sharp and brutally honest about modern life and current priorities. It was juicy and relying strongly on social satire, and Sarra Manning has brilliantly portrayed this what makes it this satire - demeanours, the mentality, the greed and self - obsession in this Instagram era, celebrity obsessions, being famous because of being famous. It's full of sharp and so fitting and relevant observations - highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
October 5, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
This is such a fun, humorous novel which is extremely relevant to today's social-media, celebrity-obsessed world, but with an extra layer of bite - Becky is no silly airhead. She's mean, conniving and completely harsh in her treatment of other people to get to where to wants to be... and I both hated and sort-of-loved-her for it!
This is one of those novels that are perfect for when you want something that's easy to read but not too light and fluffy. The story joins Becky in her early adult life (she's only early twenties though at times feels a lot older) as she's just come out of the Big Brother House, of all places, and her sunsequent highs and lows...
I really enjoyed this modern twist on Vanity Fair (I didn't realise this was based on that story until after I'd finished it) and thought that the author, Sarra Manning, did an excellent job of crafting Becky as a mostly-likeable bitch! I really liked her long-suffering friend Amelia, despite her timid personality and meekness, and thought the characters were really amusing to read about.
It's a lot of fun and certainly kept me entertained as I raced through it!
Many thanks to HarperCollinsfor providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
This is such a fun, humorous novel which is extremely relevant to today's social-media, celebrity-obsessed world, but with an extra layer of bite - Becky is no silly airhead. She's mean, conniving and completely harsh in her treatment of other people to get to where to wants to be... and I both hated and sort-of-loved-her for it!
This is one of those novels that are perfect for when you want something that's easy to read but not too light and fluffy. The story joins Becky in her early adult life (she's only early twenties though at times feels a lot older) as she's just come out of the Big Brother House, of all places, and her sunsequent highs and lows...
I really enjoyed this modern twist on Vanity Fair (I didn't realise this was based on that story until after I'd finished it) and thought that the author, Sarra Manning, did an excellent job of crafting Becky as a mostly-likeable bitch! I really liked her long-suffering friend Amelia, despite her timid personality and meekness, and thought the characters were really amusing to read about.
It's a lot of fun and certainly kept me entertained as I raced through it!
Many thanks to HarperCollinsfor providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
January 19, 2019
Review to follow
September 13, 2018
I have never read Vanity Fair, or seen the movie/TV adaptations but I went into this novel and loved it anyways. I was hooked into it right from the word go. I loved the concept of Big Brother contestants, or any reality TV contestants for that matter and where are they now. This book also deals with what its like to be a celebrity on social media, what being insta-famous looks like and what that can mean to the person in question as well as those around them. This book also deals with issues of strong women and how they are perceived in society. What girl power looks like in concept and reality and what can happen when women support, or don't support each other-what's not to love?
Becky is a really interesting character, she is not someone who you will always be on the same side as but you really do warm to her and she is a truly intriguing person to read about. Another thing that I really loved about her is how how determined she is, she really will stop at nothing to better herself and I admired that about her, it was brave. It does obliviously alienate people and sometimes hurts people she cares about but the determination is definitely admirable. Becky is also incredibly manipulative, whilst this is a fairly negative quality, it really does take brains and guts to use this manipulation to get you where you want to be.
The structure of this book is also really interesting and refreshingly different. The book takes pace over quite a large span of time compared to other commercial fiction books on the market and I enjoyed getting to see the characters in more than one time frame, to see where are they now and where are they 3 years from now. This book also follows one of the other Big Brother contestant Amelia and how her life has been affected after the programme ends. It covers her relationship with Becky but also how her life changes and I really enjoyed a minor character being followed in this way.
I loved this book, I want to end with one of my favourite quotes from the book and also to urge you to pick this one up now, you are definitely in for a great read and just an all round good time: 'I've met enough strong, ambitious women who'd be admired and promoted a hell of a lot quicker if they were men. But because they have tits and two X chromosomes, they get called bitches.'
Becky is a really interesting character, she is not someone who you will always be on the same side as but you really do warm to her and she is a truly intriguing person to read about. Another thing that I really loved about her is how how determined she is, she really will stop at nothing to better herself and I admired that about her, it was brave. It does obliviously alienate people and sometimes hurts people she cares about but the determination is definitely admirable. Becky is also incredibly manipulative, whilst this is a fairly negative quality, it really does take brains and guts to use this manipulation to get you where you want to be.
The structure of this book is also really interesting and refreshingly different. The book takes pace over quite a large span of time compared to other commercial fiction books on the market and I enjoyed getting to see the characters in more than one time frame, to see where are they now and where are they 3 years from now. This book also follows one of the other Big Brother contestant Amelia and how her life has been affected after the programme ends. It covers her relationship with Becky but also how her life changes and I really enjoyed a minor character being followed in this way.
I loved this book, I want to end with one of my favourite quotes from the book and also to urge you to pick this one up now, you are definitely in for a great read and just an all round good time: 'I've met enough strong, ambitious women who'd be admired and promoted a hell of a lot quicker if they were men. But because they have tits and two X chromosomes, they get called bitches.'
October 2, 2018
I wang on a lot about how Vanity Fair is my favourite novel of all time and Becky Sharp is perfection (I hate being asked about favourite novels, but it’s as close to a truthful answer as I can provide). So Sarra Manning’s update of the book was destined to be read as soon as the proof was available on NetGalley. As far as rendering Thackeray’s events and characters contemporary goes, Manning does a flawless job: Becky and Amelia now meet on a reality TV show, Amelia’s father is an investment banker whose disgrace comes when he’s found to have made some dodgy deals, the Crawleys are an acting dynasty (Dame Matilda Crawley is clearly modeled on Maggie Smith, down to her role as the purse-lipped matriarch of an ITV costume drama about an aristocratic family), and Becky’s dazzling rise to fame is boosted by sponsored Instagram posts and charity fashion shows. Is the writing on Thackeray’s level? Nope. Does it matter? Not at all. Great, intelligently executed fun, and hopefully will push people to seek out the original too.
[Immediate initial review: "3 for the prose being a bit mehhh, but 5 if we're talking about how intelligently Manning translates Thackeray's nineteeth-century version of high society to the twenty-first century's (sponsored Instagram posts, protein balls, and black-tie charity galas all feature heavily.) So we'll split the difference and call it 4. Delightful."]
Originally published here.
[Immediate initial review: "3 for the prose being a bit mehhh, but 5 if we're talking about how intelligently Manning translates Thackeray's nineteeth-century version of high society to the twenty-first century's (sponsored Instagram posts, protein balls, and black-tie charity galas all feature heavily.) So we'll split the difference and call it 4. Delightful."]
Originally published here.
September 2, 2018
An interesting, modern take on Vanity Fair, surrounded by the latest trends of Instagram Influencers and reality TV game shows, namely Big Brother. You follow the life of the unlikeable but mesmerising Becky Sharp- always cunning, sometimes cruel, but always keeps you on your toes. This book shows the whirlwind of a girl who knows what she wants and almost always gets it no matter who gets hurt in the process. Author Sarra Manning writes beautifully in this well-paced novel with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
With The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp, I enjoyed reading about characters’ that in real life I would hate and friendship groups which are clearly there for the status. Amelia's ongoing heartbreak over her turbulent relationship status provides engrossing detail to a plot driven by Becky's ruthlessness and determination. Sarra’s character development shines through the writing.
I did enjoy this novel, however, I did find there to be a big build up which then fizzled out into nothing. It was a fab holiday read which was easy to dip in and out of.
Also appears on my blog: https://hopelesslylucy.com/
With The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp, I enjoyed reading about characters’ that in real life I would hate and friendship groups which are clearly there for the status. Amelia's ongoing heartbreak over her turbulent relationship status provides engrossing detail to a plot driven by Becky's ruthlessness and determination. Sarra’s character development shines through the writing.
I did enjoy this novel, however, I did find there to be a big build up which then fizzled out into nothing. It was a fab holiday read which was easy to dip in and out of.
Also appears on my blog: https://hopelesslylucy.com/
February 17, 2020
As a book this was a weird one. Usually I would say that none of the characters had any redeeming features and the story rewarded those terrible characters for their awful actions and despicable choices.
BUT this was a fairly faithful modern day adaption of Vanity Fair and I was impressed with that. It’s a fairly tough book to adapt for modern audiences and it was done well.
The book gets an extra star for being a strong interpretation of the original text, but as a modern story it isn’t perfect.
Becky Sharp is just awful.
BUT this was a fairly faithful modern day adaption of Vanity Fair and I was impressed with that. It’s a fairly tough book to adapt for modern audiences and it was done well.
The book gets an extra star for being a strong interpretation of the original text, but as a modern story it isn’t perfect.
Becky Sharp is just awful.
Read
October 12, 2018I haven't read Vanity Fair - or if I did it was so many years ago I've forgotten. Do you need to have read it to enjoy this? Probably not, but I felt as though I was missing a whole element because I hadn't read the original. I didn't like Becky at all and I know we are supposed to like and loathe her but I do need a character to root for and I didn't really get one. She seemed too cruel and uncaring to me and the moments when she wasn't - felt odd. I LOVE Sarra Manning. Unsticky is one of my favourite books but this one - I wouldn't reread and I won't keep.
September 28, 2018
A very very entertaining retelling of the classic Vanity Fair for the 21st Century.
Fast, always funny and very readable, I thoroughly enjoyed it and by the end I was more than a little in love with our fascinating perennial anti-heroine, Miss Becky Sharp.
Fast, always funny and very readable, I thoroughly enjoyed it and by the end I was more than a little in love with our fascinating perennial anti-heroine, Miss Becky Sharp.
August 28, 2018
So sharp and funny and deliciously scathing about so much of modern life. I do wish I was a little bit like Becky, though.
October 16, 2018
'People tell me that you're one to watch,' Laura said starring George right in the eye. 'That you're a man who's going places. So I'd think twice before you start labelling women as evil bitches. I get called that a lot, or words to that effect.'
'But you've never met the woman. if you had then - '
'I've met enough strong, ambitious women who'd be admired and promoted a hell of a lot quicker if they were men. But because they have tits and two X chromosomes, they get called bitches instead,'
Yes ,Yes and Yes! This is the part of the book where I did the totally cheesy fist pump in the air and actually cried 'Yes, you go girl!'. I loved this little speech that Laura Steyne gives to (not so) Gorgeous George after she has pulled of a 'bloodless coup' of her Father's publishing company. Unfortunately, Laura Steyne is not our main character and this speech does not happen until 89% of the way through the book and up until then I was '80% through, but 100% done with this story' as I told a friend.
Our main character is an enterprising young woman called Becky Sharpe who claws her way to the top of society, or at least to the upper echelons of social media fame, only to have it all fall down around her, and then of course she re-builds again. Becky is certainly not lacking in gumption or determination but she does seem to be lacking in morals and truth be told common decency, the more I read the more I felt myself channelling The Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey and thinking of Becky Sharpe as a 'jumped up little strumpet'.
As for the epilogue , well I shuddered at the thought of that as you just know she would find away to cut Wills and Harry and everyone else from the line of succession and become Queen Becky.
Becky's one time BFF and the second female lead is Amelia Sedley who quite frankly is lacking a back bone for the majority of the tale and you just want to give her a good shake and tell her to wake up and realise what is going on. Thankfully, she does get a backbone around 80% of the way through the book and becomes a worthwhile character but for the main part you wonder why you are even reading about her???
Now, I know this is a modern re-telling of Vanity Fair, which in all truthfulness, I have never read. I watched the Reese Witherspoon movie once as a teenager and thought the whole thing was awfully dreary and dull so was never inclined to read the book. Therefore, I can't help but wonder if I have missed the point of this updated retelling? Or, because I know the barebones from the movie, would someone who has no knowledge of Vanity Fair find it much more enjoyable as then certain aspects of the book would be a surprise?
Ordinarily, I am a HUGE Sarra Manning fan! 'Unsticky' and 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' are two of my all time favourite books and I think I managed to finish both of them within 24 hours of getting them, while 'After The Last Dance' and 'Lets Get Lost' never fail to leave me in floods of tears as Sarra's writing weaves such a magic tale that you can't wait to know the ending but at the same time you never want it to end.
However, for me, this book was no where near as good as the others and until the end I didn't detect Sarra's sparkle and flair. It felt more to me that the first 80% of the book was too focused on being true to the original Vanity Fair that Sarra's voice got lost amongst William Thackery's and it was only in the last 20% or so of the book when current events such as the phone hacking scandal, the Times Up movement and the Women's Marchs were included that I felt I could hear Sarra again.
Would I read this again - Yes, I think I would re-read to see if I liked it better on a second go round, but I won't be rushing to recommend it to friends.
'But you've never met the woman. if you had then - '
'I've met enough strong, ambitious women who'd be admired and promoted a hell of a lot quicker if they were men. But because they have tits and two X chromosomes, they get called bitches instead,'
Yes ,Yes and Yes! This is the part of the book where I did the totally cheesy fist pump in the air and actually cried 'Yes, you go girl!'. I loved this little speech that Laura Steyne gives to (not so) Gorgeous George after she has pulled of a 'bloodless coup' of her Father's publishing company. Unfortunately, Laura Steyne is not our main character and this speech does not happen until 89% of the way through the book and up until then I was '80% through, but 100% done with this story' as I told a friend.
Our main character is an enterprising young woman called Becky Sharpe who claws her way to the top of society, or at least to the upper echelons of social media fame, only to have it all fall down around her, and then of course she re-builds again. Becky is certainly not lacking in gumption or determination but she does seem to be lacking in morals and truth be told common decency, the more I read the more I felt myself channelling The Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey and thinking of Becky Sharpe as a 'jumped up little strumpet'.
As for the epilogue , well I shuddered at the thought of that as you just know she would find away to cut Wills and Harry and everyone else from the line of succession and become Queen Becky.
Becky's one time BFF and the second female lead is Amelia Sedley who quite frankly is lacking a back bone for the majority of the tale and you just want to give her a good shake and tell her to wake up and realise what is going on. Thankfully, she does get a backbone around 80% of the way through the book and becomes a worthwhile character but for the main part you wonder why you are even reading about her???
Now, I know this is a modern re-telling of Vanity Fair, which in all truthfulness, I have never read. I watched the Reese Witherspoon movie once as a teenager and thought the whole thing was awfully dreary and dull so was never inclined to read the book. Therefore, I can't help but wonder if I have missed the point of this updated retelling? Or, because I know the barebones from the movie, would someone who has no knowledge of Vanity Fair find it much more enjoyable as then certain aspects of the book would be a surprise?
Ordinarily, I am a HUGE Sarra Manning fan! 'Unsticky' and 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' are two of my all time favourite books and I think I managed to finish both of them within 24 hours of getting them, while 'After The Last Dance' and 'Lets Get Lost' never fail to leave me in floods of tears as Sarra's writing weaves such a magic tale that you can't wait to know the ending but at the same time you never want it to end.
However, for me, this book was no where near as good as the others and until the end I didn't detect Sarra's sparkle and flair. It felt more to me that the first 80% of the book was too focused on being true to the original Vanity Fair that Sarra's voice got lost amongst William Thackery's and it was only in the last 20% or so of the book when current events such as the phone hacking scandal, the Times Up movement and the Women's Marchs were included that I felt I could hear Sarra again.
Would I read this again - Yes, I think I would re-read to see if I liked it better on a second go round, but I won't be rushing to recommend it to friends.
February 14, 2019
A fantastic modern take on the much loved classic, Vanity Fair.
In Sara Manning’s retelling she tackles the contemporary lifestyles of those who seek fame and fortune via reality shows and Instagram (rather than high society balls and marrying up).
It’s hilariously funny and sarcastically tongue in cheek at times. It’d be perfect for fans of Keris Stainton or Holly Bourne.
In Sara Manning’s retelling she tackles the contemporary lifestyles of those who seek fame and fortune via reality shows and Instagram (rather than high society balls and marrying up).
It’s hilariously funny and sarcastically tongue in cheek at times. It’d be perfect for fans of Keris Stainton or Holly Bourne.
September 20, 2018
The final of Big Brother is coming to an end and life is about to change dramatically for Becky Sharp.
I have a couple of confessions. Firstly, I have never been able to read Vanity Fair as I found Becky Sharp so intensely irritating I never finished it so that I am unable to make any comparisons with Thackery’s narrative and secondly I thought the first chapter to The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp was going to lead to a contrived retelling of someone else’s ideas. I was wrong. I think I got off on the wrong reader foot because I loathe Big Brother but as soon as that episode was completed I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s vicious, witty and very very clever.
Becky Sharp is an absolute triumph. Sarra Manning made me hate her and admire her in equal measure. I completely understood her driving force and empathised with it whilst abhorring her methodology so that I found her utterly fascinating. Becky Sharp epitomises all that is wrong in modern society in a glorious, vituperative package that I couldn’t help but admire.
All the characters work so well together. And it is the brilliant manipulation by Becky that orchestrates the entire novel incredibly effectively. I felt sorry for those in her thrall and quite gratified if any of them managed to outwit her, however briefly.
I loved the modern setting of this story. Our reliance on the superficiality of social media and branding is brilliantly handled and woven throughout, making the events absolutely believable.
So, having begun The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp with sceptical trepidation, I found I was enormously entertained by Sarra Manning’s faultless, effervescent style and lively writing so that I thoroughly enjoyed Becky’s adventures. I’d love to know what she gets up to next in any sequel as I’m sure she hasn’t finished her adventures yet!
I have a couple of confessions. Firstly, I have never been able to read Vanity Fair as I found Becky Sharp so intensely irritating I never finished it so that I am unable to make any comparisons with Thackery’s narrative and secondly I thought the first chapter to The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp was going to lead to a contrived retelling of someone else’s ideas. I was wrong. I think I got off on the wrong reader foot because I loathe Big Brother but as soon as that episode was completed I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s vicious, witty and very very clever.
Becky Sharp is an absolute triumph. Sarra Manning made me hate her and admire her in equal measure. I completely understood her driving force and empathised with it whilst abhorring her methodology so that I found her utterly fascinating. Becky Sharp epitomises all that is wrong in modern society in a glorious, vituperative package that I couldn’t help but admire.
All the characters work so well together. And it is the brilliant manipulation by Becky that orchestrates the entire novel incredibly effectively. I felt sorry for those in her thrall and quite gratified if any of them managed to outwit her, however briefly.
I loved the modern setting of this story. Our reliance on the superficiality of social media and branding is brilliantly handled and woven throughout, making the events absolutely believable.
So, having begun The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp with sceptical trepidation, I found I was enormously entertained by Sarra Manning’s faultless, effervescent style and lively writing so that I thoroughly enjoyed Becky’s adventures. I’d love to know what she gets up to next in any sequel as I’m sure she hasn’t finished her adventures yet!
September 14, 2018
Delightful, well written and very clever. I have often wondered how do you write a "social novel" (which is what Thackeray's original Vanity Fair was) for our modern society - and this is how. It holds the mirror up - to politics, to the class system, to gender inequality, to the ridiculousness of social media's "famous for being famous" celebrities, to the unethical practices of the financial sector and modern media, and the lengths people will go to to claw and manipulate their way to the top. Becky Sharp is not particularly likeable but nor is she unlikeable, you end up admiring her resilience and ability to manipulate a situation to her advantage. I really enjoyed it.
August 15, 2018
This is a very modern take on the classic tale vanity fair. Which I throughly enjoyed. It is funny and lots of fun and you can’t help but cheer on Becky as the story progresses it is a really easy book to get into and it continues to be that throughout the book. It really is such a fabulous fun read that I enjoyed reading.
September 22, 2018
Thoroughly contemporary-feeling Vanity Fair, fits character and plot to the modern world seamlessly.
The Audible version breezed by me, I could have listened to it in one go if life (children, school runs, etc) would have let me. Having read Vanity Fair more than a decade ago, the language, characters, etc. weren't vividly clear, but I could recall a lot of the plot and protagonists from Manning's new take on the story.
It's brilliant. A totally recognisable social media and reality TV world sees Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley cementing their friendship on a Celebrity Big Brother programme. Vying through fair means (or foul), the TV show sees their lives take off on various trajectories, as the wholesome and irreproachable Amelia and the worldly, Machiavellian Becky leave the House and both attempt to make their way in the world.
As times have changed and women are allowed to succeed without the desperate need for a man by their sides to provide for them, Manning needs to recreate situations in which both women still require their novel's romantic interests. I loved the current manifestations of the men, their occupations and links to Thackeray's originals.
But it is the women's story, Becky's AND Amelia's - I was glad Amelia featured so strongly. And both character arcs were believable and easy to throw myself into as a listener. Becky's background and lack of connection/support leaves her very much as Vanity Fair's Becky, living off her wiles, and in a modern context, using social media as her way into notoriety and affluence. Amelia remains a meek woman, blind to the faults of her beloved until she develops insight and is able to grow as a character.
Very cleverly constructed to recreate scenes, lines and a cast that Thackeray might recognise. A world that a new generation will feel familiar with that fits the classic very well indeed.
I loved this on audiobook, it could be one I revisit, which I don't say very often at all. A spirited narrator to portray Becky, and 12 hours just flew by. I now want to rewatch the BBC adaptation and the novel.
I hope this encourages some readers to discover the Thackeray, which itself is a very accessible classic. This reimagining of it could be recommended to teenager readers as well as adults, I would hope fans would like this adaptation as well. It could make a nice TV series.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
The Audible version breezed by me, I could have listened to it in one go if life (children, school runs, etc) would have let me. Having read Vanity Fair more than a decade ago, the language, characters, etc. weren't vividly clear, but I could recall a lot of the plot and protagonists from Manning's new take on the story.
It's brilliant. A totally recognisable social media and reality TV world sees Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley cementing their friendship on a Celebrity Big Brother programme. Vying through fair means (or foul), the TV show sees their lives take off on various trajectories, as the wholesome and irreproachable Amelia and the worldly, Machiavellian Becky leave the House and both attempt to make their way in the world.
As times have changed and women are allowed to succeed without the desperate need for a man by their sides to provide for them, Manning needs to recreate situations in which both women still require their novel's romantic interests. I loved the current manifestations of the men, their occupations and links to Thackeray's originals.
But it is the women's story, Becky's AND Amelia's - I was glad Amelia featured so strongly. And both character arcs were believable and easy to throw myself into as a listener. Becky's background and lack of connection/support leaves her very much as Vanity Fair's Becky, living off her wiles, and in a modern context, using social media as her way into notoriety and affluence. Amelia remains a meek woman, blind to the faults of her beloved until she develops insight and is able to grow as a character.
Very cleverly constructed to recreate scenes, lines and a cast that Thackeray might recognise. A world that a new generation will feel familiar with that fits the classic very well indeed.
I loved this on audiobook, it could be one I revisit, which I don't say very often at all. A spirited narrator to portray Becky, and 12 hours just flew by. I now want to rewatch the BBC adaptation and the novel.
I hope this encourages some readers to discover the Thackeray, which itself is a very accessible classic. This reimagining of it could be recommended to teenager readers as well as adults, I would hope fans would like this adaptation as well. It could make a nice TV series.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
May 28, 2021
I had to remind myself that this was a contemporary reimagining of a classic story, and if you haven't read Vanity Fair (I thought I had, moons ago, but either my memory resembles a colander, or I am completely mistaken), this bitingly ruthless portrayal of one 20 year old scheming, ex Big Brother runner up Becky Sharp, who will do anything for fame and fortune, might seem less clever and wittily observed and more like a modern day, scathingly funny commentary on media hungry, celebrity status desperate wannabes.
I oscillated between finding this humorous and being intensely irritated by the shallow nature of a female determined to leave her disastrous childhood behind to climb ever upwards and over anyone foolish enough to get in her way. I would hate to have a 'friend' like Becky Sharp who does and says everything with a hidden agenda and her eye on the ultimate prize. The trouble is, Becky Sharp is never satisfied and clearly left her moral compass at nursery school. Thieving, lying, manipulating and always using her sex appeal to blind men to what she is really capable of, Becky will befriend, work for and compliment anyone who can line her pockets and fulfil her desire to be noticed.
None of the other characters have much ethical depth to them either, from Gorgeous George Wylie, keen to be Prime Minister, the Pitt Crawleys and their 5 unruly offspring, Briggs who looks after Dame Matilda an ageing actress and Babs Pinkerton, two-faced alcohol riddled PR executive.
Becky Sharp rises, falls and rises again as other characters move between wealthy fame and celebrity back stabbing as fortunes are made and lost. Only Amelia Sedley seems to have any good in her, and Dobbin, a big eared, large footed, clumsy war hero.
I am off to read the real classic and will be back to add more to this review should it alter my views on this contemporary re-telling.
I oscillated between finding this humorous and being intensely irritated by the shallow nature of a female determined to leave her disastrous childhood behind to climb ever upwards and over anyone foolish enough to get in her way. I would hate to have a 'friend' like Becky Sharp who does and says everything with a hidden agenda and her eye on the ultimate prize. The trouble is, Becky Sharp is never satisfied and clearly left her moral compass at nursery school. Thieving, lying, manipulating and always using her sex appeal to blind men to what she is really capable of, Becky will befriend, work for and compliment anyone who can line her pockets and fulfil her desire to be noticed.
None of the other characters have much ethical depth to them either, from Gorgeous George Wylie, keen to be Prime Minister, the Pitt Crawleys and their 5 unruly offspring, Briggs who looks after Dame Matilda an ageing actress and Babs Pinkerton, two-faced alcohol riddled PR executive.
Becky Sharp rises, falls and rises again as other characters move between wealthy fame and celebrity back stabbing as fortunes are made and lost. Only Amelia Sedley seems to have any good in her, and Dobbin, a big eared, large footed, clumsy war hero.
I am off to read the real classic and will be back to add more to this review should it alter my views on this contemporary re-telling.
October 4, 2018
The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp is a contemporary retelling of Vanity Fair, which unfortunately I haven't read and am not the slightest bit familiar with which is a real shame as I'd love to be able to compare them!
Becky Sharp is an orphan, "cared" for since her parents death by her father's old drinking buddy, Barbara Pinkerton who is also an agent. The book starts with Becky in the final two at the Big Brother house, alongside privileged bankers daughter, Amelia Sedley. On leaving the house, she spends some time living with Amelia and her parents before outstaying her welcome and being packed off to be the nanny for the 5 children of legendary, lecherous old actor Pitt Crawley. Soon, she befriends Pitt's sister Matilda Crawley, becomes her carer and friend before marrying her nephew and Pitt's son, Rawdon.
I love how completely out for herself Becky is. She steals and lies and is pretty horrible to everyone she meets but for some reason I really warmed to her and was cheering her on! I've had a quick look at the story of Vanity Fair and the characters all have the same names and the plot is similar but told in the present day instead of Victorian Times. Becky finds fame in her own right as an Instagram star, and although she receives plenty of knockbacks, she always lands on her feet. This is a fun and light-hearted read - Becky is the anti-heroine whom I'm sure plenty of people would aspire to!
Funny and clever, I really enjoyed this - a real breath of fresh air!
Thank you to Harper Fiction for my copy.
Becky Sharp is an orphan, "cared" for since her parents death by her father's old drinking buddy, Barbara Pinkerton who is also an agent. The book starts with Becky in the final two at the Big Brother house, alongside privileged bankers daughter, Amelia Sedley. On leaving the house, she spends some time living with Amelia and her parents before outstaying her welcome and being packed off to be the nanny for the 5 children of legendary, lecherous old actor Pitt Crawley. Soon, she befriends Pitt's sister Matilda Crawley, becomes her carer and friend before marrying her nephew and Pitt's son, Rawdon.
I love how completely out for herself Becky is. She steals and lies and is pretty horrible to everyone she meets but for some reason I really warmed to her and was cheering her on! I've had a quick look at the story of Vanity Fair and the characters all have the same names and the plot is similar but told in the present day instead of Victorian Times. Becky finds fame in her own right as an Instagram star, and although she receives plenty of knockbacks, she always lands on her feet. This is a fun and light-hearted read - Becky is the anti-heroine whom I'm sure plenty of people would aspire to!
Funny and clever, I really enjoyed this - a real breath of fresh air!
Thank you to Harper Fiction for my copy.
January 3, 2019
Over Christmas I’ve managed to catch up with the TV adaptation of Vanity Fair in which the intrepid Becky Sharp manipulates her way through Georgian society. With the same kind of flair, this fun re-imagining of the original sees Becky Sharp transformed into one of those minor celebrities who make their name by appearing on a popular reality show. Always with an eye on the main chance, Becky is as unscrupulous as ever in her search for wealth and power.
The author has captured the essence of Becky Sharp and has used this to her advantage so that those who are familiar with the way the original story unfolds will see similarities and yet, those readers who come new to Vanity Fair will discover something fresh, witty and decidedly modern. The similarities to the original are cleverly crafted, keeping similar themes but updating the overall effect for a more contemporary audience of readers.
I know that re-imagining an original classic can be controversial, and perhaps those purists who love Thackeray’s original will not be over-enamoured by this re-recreation, but I thought that The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp was entertaining, and that as a fun, light-hearted story, about a modern day Becky Sharp, it worked just fine.
The author has captured the essence of Becky Sharp and has used this to her advantage so that those who are familiar with the way the original story unfolds will see similarities and yet, those readers who come new to Vanity Fair will discover something fresh, witty and decidedly modern. The similarities to the original are cleverly crafted, keeping similar themes but updating the overall effect for a more contemporary audience of readers.
I know that re-imagining an original classic can be controversial, and perhaps those purists who love Thackeray’s original will not be over-enamoured by this re-recreation, but I thought that The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp was entertaining, and that as a fun, light-hearted story, about a modern day Becky Sharp, it worked just fine.
September 29, 2018
No one, NO ONE writes a lovable bitch as good as Sarra Manning so I was super excited to read this.
Becky brilliantly toes the line between being an awful human being and someone I want to hug. Bonus points for her getting the perfect ending. She uses people and lets them use her without shame and I often wasn't sure if I should be rooting for or against her. A really 10/10 character.
A few minor gripes which is why I haven't rated it as highly as some of Manning's other books. Abrupt change in perspective a couple of times that took me out of it. And the other protagonist Amelia and her boyfriend(s) were at times insufferable...I think maybe that was the point of them but I really didn't care, I just wanted to get back to Becky's long cons.
I read it in one sitting because I have no self-control and finished at 3am. As always, something about Manning's prose is addictive.
Becky brilliantly toes the line between being an awful human being and someone I want to hug. Bonus points for her getting the perfect ending. She uses people and lets them use her without shame and I often wasn't sure if I should be rooting for or against her. A really 10/10 character.
A few minor gripes which is why I haven't rated it as highly as some of Manning's other books. Abrupt change in perspective a couple of times that took me out of it. And the other protagonist Amelia and her boyfriend(s) were at times insufferable...I think maybe that was the point of them but I really didn't care, I just wanted to get back to Becky's long cons.
I read it in one sitting because I have no self-control and finished at 3am. As always, something about Manning's prose is addictive.
February 13, 2019
Some parts of this book were clever satire and a tongue in cheek look at modern society’s obsession with being famous for the sake of it, other parts were a little try hard. Although Becky is unlikeable and downright awful to others you do find yourself cheering her on at times with her various schemes and manipulations. Although Thackeray’s Becky was a truly shocking character there are so many ‘Beckys’ nowadays all wanting their fifteen minutes so the book loses a lot of the impact the original had. It’s an entertaining read though with some genuinely funny moments that perfectly mock instant fame and all its trappings
December 2, 2020
Really fun and I enjoyed it sooo much so why not 5 stars!!
September 2, 2024
Filing this under not my cup of tea but the overall execution is also fairly dated
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December 9, 2025
An interesting and digestible update to the original work, this book was highly enjoyable. I was torn between liking and disliking Becky continuously, which makes you question your own motivations. This is definitely worth a read if the original may be a bit too tough.
February 4, 2022
Always difficult to rate a book when the character are loathsome. I probably wouldn’t have finished it but I really was curious to know how It all unfolded so I skipped bits and read bits to get the general story. It’s a missable book.
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