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Flawed
When Mia Baker begins at an elite school on a scholarship, she’s instantly besotted with the hot but arrogant Finn Davis. But when she overhears him commenting on her attractiveness compared to her beautiful sister Jade, Mia takes an instant dislike to him.
When Finn’s best friend Charlie takes an interest in Jade and invites both sisters to his family’s lake house for the weekend, Mia and Finn are forced into close proximity. Despite their differences, their attraction to each other continues to grow.
But Finn’s not about to admit he might actually like Mia. She’s on a scholarship, and she’s failing English. Then there’s Grayson Wang, his mortal enemy, who Mia can’t seem to get enough of.
When Charlie starts dating Mia’s sister, Finn begins to doubt just how genuine Jade’s feelings are for him, so he warns his friend to cut Jade loose. When Mia finds out Finn is to blame for her sister’s heartbreak, it only continues to fuel her harsh judgments of him.
But, if there is to be a happily ever after, Mia must overcome her pride, and Finn, Mia’s socioeconomic status.
When Finn’s best friend Charlie takes an interest in Jade and invites both sisters to his family’s lake house for the weekend, Mia and Finn are forced into close proximity. Despite their differences, their attraction to each other continues to grow.
But Finn’s not about to admit he might actually like Mia. She’s on a scholarship, and she’s failing English. Then there’s Grayson Wang, his mortal enemy, who Mia can’t seem to get enough of.
When Charlie starts dating Mia’s sister, Finn begins to doubt just how genuine Jade’s feelings are for him, so he warns his friend to cut Jade loose. When Mia finds out Finn is to blame for her sister’s heartbreak, it only continues to fuel her harsh judgments of him.
But, if there is to be a happily ever after, Mia must overcome her pride, and Finn, Mia’s socioeconomic status.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 20, 2019
I received this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books so I was keep to read a YA book based on the novel. This book is set in high school where the rich kids rule and the kids like Emilia and Jade who are there on a scholarship are beneath them.
I did like the idea of the story, and enjoyed it. There are lots of similarities between the original and this book, like characters being given names starting with the original characters. For instance Emilia instead of Elizabeth and Jade instead of Jane. I am sure by bringing the book into the modern world the author may find some younger readers who love this 'gossip girl' style world. But for those of us reading it as adults it just didn't quite get there for me.
I think the thing I love it about the original is that Darcy was misunderstood through the book but in this instalment Finn is just rich and rude. The character doesn't quite develop enough for his behaviour to be overlooked for me.
All in all a pleasant read and I would read other books the author.
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books so I was keep to read a YA book based on the novel. This book is set in high school where the rich kids rule and the kids like Emilia and Jade who are there on a scholarship are beneath them.
I did like the idea of the story, and enjoyed it. There are lots of similarities between the original and this book, like characters being given names starting with the original characters. For instance Emilia instead of Elizabeth and Jade instead of Jane. I am sure by bringing the book into the modern world the author may find some younger readers who love this 'gossip girl' style world. But for those of us reading it as adults it just didn't quite get there for me.
I think the thing I love it about the original is that Darcy was misunderstood through the book but in this instalment Finn is just rich and rude. The character doesn't quite develop enough for his behaviour to be overlooked for me.
All in all a pleasant read and I would read other books the author.
October 15, 2019
I received a free copy for an honest review. As soon as I saw this was a retelling of Pride & Prejudice, I knew I had to read it. While I do like this book, I wish there had been more to it. More details, more character development, and the like. Just more. I do like the differences between this and the OG P&P, like how Mia’s mom encompasses both Lizzy’s mom and dad. But my favorite thing about this is the irony of it all. Mia just can’t get into reading P&P meanwhile her life is imitating it.
November 17, 2022
This was just so good!
i Really love Pride and Prejudice both in book and movie, and this as a sort of modern day remake of that.
And, you guessed it i am not mad. Soo good! Absolutely LOVED it!
I got this eARC from Netgalley
i Really love Pride and Prejudice both in book and movie, and this as a sort of modern day remake of that.
And, you guessed it i am not mad. Soo good! Absolutely LOVED it!
I got this eARC from Netgalley
November 19, 2019
*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I always enjoy a good Austen retelling, but this book didn't quite hit the mark. However, the author named the book quite well, as it was flawed.
One thing that prevented this book from working, in my opinion, was that instead of taking Pride and Prejudice and reinventing it, the author basically just translated it in to a modern-day high school setting, changed the characters' names (mostly keeping the first letters of their names, though), and merging a few of them. There wasn't really much originality to the story or the characters. Even some of the dialogue was taken from the source material or very closely resembled it. In addition, the events in this book unfolded at the same rate that Mia read Pride and Prejudice--when she was 3/4 of the way through the book and reading about what happened at that point, I was also 3/4 done with Flawed and reading about the same events in this book. I'm sure it was meant to be clever, but it really just felt like the author was trying to push, push, push the similarities between the books, as if I was too dumb to draw my own conclusions. (The second-to-last paragraph of the book drove that point home even further, with Mia comparing her and Finn to Elizabeth and Darcy.)
I struggled with the characters, as well. Bird took their worst qualities and magnified them. Mia and Jade's mother was rather sleazy. Lila was . . . okay, perhaps Lila was pretty close to Lydia. Jade was kind of an idiot. Charlie was vain and stupid. (I think the author must only have watched the 2005 movie, as Charles Bingley was portrayed very much as an idiot, when in fact he is not.) Finn was an antisocial jerk, far more extremely so than Darcy. Camila was quite evil, not just the stuck up snob that Carolina Bingley is. Mia was . . . I dunno. But she wasn't as likable as Elizabeth Bennett. Not a single character in this book was as likable as the characters they were based on. Wait, I take that back. The kid who took Mr. Collins's place was nerdy but not creepy. He only had like two lines in the book, but he was rather sweet.
Even the characters' interactions were extreme. Mia and Finn were downright hostile to each other--their romantic feelings were rather out of place within the context of their interactions. Twice he kisses her (and she kisses back) when the timing is way off and no real person would actually kiss. (Yes, you feel tension between Elizabeth and Darcy in the 2005 film and think, "If only . . ." But if they actually had, it would have been really weird.) Charlie's treatment of Jade shouldn't have resulted in the ending the book gave them, either. He treated her downright cruelly.
Oh, and it was quite obvious that the book was written by someone who was not from the area in which it takes place (around San Francisco). I'm from the East Bay, so these things were especially obvious to me but would likely be noticed by anyone living in the United States. The author used terms that are natural to her (she's from Australia), but would never be used by someone in the Bay Area. For example, she used "bitumen" instead of "asphalt," "lift" instead of "elevator," "numeral" where Americans would say "number," and "catch some tan" instead of a variety of other things we Californians would say. Those are just a few. And who on earth is Hiera? I'm wondering if that was a type meant to be "Hera," the Greek goddess. Since I'm being picky, I'll mention there were some other typos here and there. Within one paragraph, Mia's house number is given as "sixty-eight" and "six-one-eight"--yes, spelled out like that. In other words, some serious editing was necessary, as well as more research into how people in that setting actually speak.
How it ends:
Note: A little swearing.
I always enjoy a good Austen retelling, but this book didn't quite hit the mark. However, the author named the book quite well, as it was flawed.
One thing that prevented this book from working, in my opinion, was that instead of taking Pride and Prejudice and reinventing it, the author basically just translated it in to a modern-day high school setting, changed the characters' names (mostly keeping the first letters of their names, though), and merging a few of them. There wasn't really much originality to the story or the characters. Even some of the dialogue was taken from the source material or very closely resembled it. In addition, the events in this book unfolded at the same rate that Mia read Pride and Prejudice--when she was 3/4 of the way through the book and reading about what happened at that point, I was also 3/4 done with Flawed and reading about the same events in this book. I'm sure it was meant to be clever, but it really just felt like the author was trying to push, push, push the similarities between the books, as if I was too dumb to draw my own conclusions. (The second-to-last paragraph of the book drove that point home even further, with Mia comparing her and Finn to Elizabeth and Darcy.)
I struggled with the characters, as well. Bird took their worst qualities and magnified them. Mia and Jade's mother was rather sleazy. Lila was . . . okay, perhaps Lila was pretty close to Lydia. Jade was kind of an idiot. Charlie was vain and stupid. (I think the author must only have watched the 2005 movie, as Charles Bingley was portrayed very much as an idiot, when in fact he is not.) Finn was an antisocial jerk, far more extremely so than Darcy. Camila was quite evil, not just the stuck up snob that Carolina Bingley is. Mia was . . . I dunno. But she wasn't as likable as Elizabeth Bennett. Not a single character in this book was as likable as the characters they were based on. Wait, I take that back. The kid who took Mr. Collins's place was nerdy but not creepy. He only had like two lines in the book, but he was rather sweet.
Even the characters' interactions were extreme. Mia and Finn were downright hostile to each other--their romantic feelings were rather out of place within the context of their interactions. Twice he kisses her (and she kisses back) when the timing is way off and no real person would actually kiss. (Yes, you feel tension between Elizabeth and Darcy in the 2005 film and think, "If only . . ." But if they actually had, it would have been really weird.) Charlie's treatment of Jade shouldn't have resulted in the ending the book gave them, either. He treated her downright cruelly.
Oh, and it was quite obvious that the book was written by someone who was not from the area in which it takes place (around San Francisco). I'm from the East Bay, so these things were especially obvious to me but would likely be noticed by anyone living in the United States. The author used terms that are natural to her (she's from Australia), but would never be used by someone in the Bay Area. For example, she used "bitumen" instead of "asphalt," "lift" instead of "elevator," "numeral" where Americans would say "number," and "catch some tan" instead of a variety of other things we Californians would say. Those are just a few. And who on earth is Hiera? I'm wondering if that was a type meant to be "Hera," the Greek goddess. Since I'm being picky, I'll mention there were some other typos here and there. Within one paragraph, Mia's house number is given as "sixty-eight" and "six-one-eight"--yes, spelled out like that. In other words, some serious editing was necessary, as well as more research into how people in that setting actually speak.
How it ends:
Note: A little swearing.
January 6, 2021
A delightful and hugely engaging tale
5 stars
Young Adult novels aren’t normally my thing. In fact, I don’t actually think I’ve ever read one before. Well, since I was a young adult myself, anyway. But being a fan of Jane Austen - and of film remakes of classic books in a modern/teen setting, I thought this Pride and Prejudice retelling sounded like a fun diversion.
What I got was so much more.
Almost from the first page I was sucked into the story although I didn’t necessarily think it was in a good way at first! Our heroine Mia has been given a copy of Pride and Prejudice to read as part of a school assignment. And she doesn’t want to read it because “mind-numbing” “so called literature belongs in yesteryear”. *Clutches pearls in shock* Was I going to like this girl? Kudos to the author of making me feel for a character within the first 2 pages, and then turn those feelings right up on their head in the next.
Mia was opinionated and happy to tell people her thoughts - whether they wanted to hear them or not. She was determined to believe her first impressions of people and didn’t believe in second chances. Everything was black and white for her yet she still was able to grow, learn and apologise if she was found to be in the wrong. Simply - she was the perfect, modern day Elizabeth and I ended up loving her.
I already liked Finn before he even appeared on the page since he has one of my top 5 hot hero names. The reasons behind his grumpy, arrogant demeanour is explained well in this book - but Finn is still the perfect aloof, standoffish man who is brought to his knees when he falls for Mia.
The author cleverly parallels the social situations found in Pride and Prejudice, transposing the situations to modern settings. So it’s not a straight rewrite but has all the key elements of how Elizabeth and Darcy (and therefore Mia and Finn) felt at key points in the novel. I loved this element of the book and found myself feeling quite pleased with myself when I saw a direct parallel between scenes/situations.
I loved Finn and Mia’s antagonistic relationship and I actually got butterflies in my stomach as the pair began to realise that the other might not be what they first thought - and then notice their feelings for each other change and grow. And while the focus was clearly on our main couple, we’ve also got other characters who come alive and bring interest to our tale. People like Charlie (Bingley), Jade (Jane), Camila (Caroline), Lottie (Charlotte) and Lila (Lydia). And extra points for Grayson Wang (Wickham). Wang! *giggles* (I’m obviously less mature than the majority of young adults!) As it’s not a straight retelling, some characters don’t appear, new ones pop up, and some details and relationships aren’t as they are in the original text. I’m not saying this as a criticism, just to explain the premise to potential readers to help them decide whether they’ll like the book.
And I personally can’t see why you wouldn’t love this book. It’s a refreshing, interesting and sweet retelling of Pride and Prejudice with characters you’ll love - and in some instances love to hate. The writing is clever and gets you hooked into the story from the first. It’s not long before you forget you’re reading as you fall into the story and start to root for Mia and Finn to get over themselves and fall in love!
As this is a young adult (YA) novel, and the main characters are around 16-17, we only ever get up to kissing - and not too descriptive kissing at that. That means this book is equally perfect for all ages. And don’t worry if, like me, you normally love a bit of raunch in your stories. I still felt the happiness and emotion - and hell, it’s got more kissing in it than the original P&P, which I obviously also love!
Overall, this book really surprised me. I woke up the morning after finishing it, excited to read more. Talk about a book hangover when I realised I’d already finished it. It’s stayed with me and I’ve been thinking about it ever since I finished the last page. I’ve even gone back and re-read the end. All in all, a huge 5 stars from me and I look forward to reading more from Becky Bird. Delightful.
September 2, 2019
Amy's Review
4.5 Stars
Flawed is a modern retelling of Pride and Predjudice. I've never read Pride and Predjudice. I haven't seen the movies either. The closest I've come is watching Pride, Predjudice, and Zombies. So I get the gist of how the storyline goes. From what little I know Becky nailed it.
The tension between Mia and Finn filled this book from start to finish. It made me itch for more to happen between them. The wait was a sweet kind of torture that made the pay off all the more worth it. Between Finn's antisocial, guarded attitude, and Mia's quick to judge, slow to trust personalities this book was filled with misunderstandings.
The side story of Finn's best friend Charlie and Mia's sister Jade added another layer to the story that kept the book flowing and tension high. The differences in personalities between both Mia and Jade, and Finn and Charlie really helped make each character stand out and brought out their individual personalities.
The development of Becky Bird's writing between this book in the last was huge. I am beyond ready to see what she has in store for us next.
4.5 Stars
Flawed is a modern retelling of Pride and Predjudice. I've never read Pride and Predjudice. I haven't seen the movies either. The closest I've come is watching Pride, Predjudice, and Zombies. So I get the gist of how the storyline goes. From what little I know Becky nailed it.
The tension between Mia and Finn filled this book from start to finish. It made me itch for more to happen between them. The wait was a sweet kind of torture that made the pay off all the more worth it. Between Finn's antisocial, guarded attitude, and Mia's quick to judge, slow to trust personalities this book was filled with misunderstandings.
The side story of Finn's best friend Charlie and Mia's sister Jade added another layer to the story that kept the book flowing and tension high. The differences in personalities between both Mia and Jade, and Finn and Charlie really helped make each character stand out and brought out their individual personalities.
The development of Becky Bird's writing between this book in the last was huge. I am beyond ready to see what she has in store for us next.
December 29, 2019
*Received ARC in exchange for an honest review*
This short YA story is a retelling of Jane Austen's famous "Pride and Prejudice".
Mia Baker got a scholarship to a prestigious school. Here, she and her sister meet the two best friends - who couldn't be more different - Charlie and Finn. Charlie instantly falls for Mia's sister Jade and tries to win her over. Because of that Mia and Finn are forced to see each other often. Even though, they'd rather not.
The story follows the main characteristics of "Pride and Prejudice". The coincidental parallels are discussed in Mia's English class as they are currently reading Jane Austen's masterpiece - which Mia greatly dislikes.
I really enjoyed this quick read. I think my favorite characters were probably Lotti and Eli and I would've loved to hear more from them. In general, I thought that the story lacked something. Possibly greater character development and a little more detail. At times it felt a little rushed.
But still, I'm convinced "Pride and Prejudice" fans and YA readers would enjoy this book.
This short YA story is a retelling of Jane Austen's famous "Pride and Prejudice".
Mia Baker got a scholarship to a prestigious school. Here, she and her sister meet the two best friends - who couldn't be more different - Charlie and Finn. Charlie instantly falls for Mia's sister Jade and tries to win her over. Because of that Mia and Finn are forced to see each other often. Even though, they'd rather not.
The story follows the main characteristics of "Pride and Prejudice". The coincidental parallels are discussed in Mia's English class as they are currently reading Jane Austen's masterpiece - which Mia greatly dislikes.
I really enjoyed this quick read. I think my favorite characters were probably Lotti and Eli and I would've loved to hear more from them. In general, I thought that the story lacked something. Possibly greater character development and a little more detail. At times it felt a little rushed.
But still, I'm convinced "Pride and Prejudice" fans and YA readers would enjoy this book.
November 24, 2019
This is a re-telling of "Pride and Prejudice", set in our modern time. If you've read this classic (or seen any of the movies/TV-series) you'll know what will happen. It would have been nice with a surprise along the way.
However, I really liked the characters. Well, except for Camila, Charlie's sister. (Do people like that actually exsist?!) I also like that both Mia and Finn play basketball, I would have loved to have seen more of that. I DO love that we get both Mia's and Finn's POV, it makes me feel like I get to know them.
I noticed some errors in the editing, but not enough to bother me. I truly enjoyed reading "Flawed", the only thing not making this a 5 star review is that it's a bit too predictable.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However, I really liked the characters. Well, except for Camila, Charlie's sister. (Do people like that actually exsist?!) I also like that both Mia and Finn play basketball, I would have loved to have seen more of that. I DO love that we get both Mia's and Finn's POV, it makes me feel like I get to know them.
I noticed some errors in the editing, but not enough to bother me. I truly enjoyed reading "Flawed", the only thing not making this a 5 star review is that it's a bit too predictable.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 23, 2019
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
This book is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice and it was a very enjoyable read. It wasn’t a perfect story, but definitely a cute one.
The story is quite superficial (not in a bad way) and sometimes feels like a parody, especially with the Bell siblings. Charlie is described as kind and vain, which I think was quite endearing and funny and his sister Camila is your typical Queen bee, Both depictions of the characters are an exaggeration of the original characters, but hey it works quite well!
It was a quick read and I think it was the perfect length, but at the same time I’m sad it wasn’t longer😅
This book is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice and it was a very enjoyable read. It wasn’t a perfect story, but definitely a cute one.
The story is quite superficial (not in a bad way) and sometimes feels like a parody, especially with the Bell siblings. Charlie is described as kind and vain, which I think was quite endearing and funny and his sister Camila is your typical Queen bee, Both depictions of the characters are an exaggeration of the original characters, but hey it works quite well!
It was a quick read and I think it was the perfect length, but at the same time I’m sad it wasn’t longer😅
November 23, 2019
This is the kind of book that, when you finish reading, makes you close your eyes and lean back in your chair with a satisfied sigh and bask in the feeling you only get from finishing a book that was just right in every way.
May 31, 2020
This is such a captivating modern P & P variation. An entertaining love story/ies of Emilia “Mia” Baker (EB) and Fin Davis (FD) and Jade Baker (JB) and Charles Bell (CB). (We also have the other casts Lila Baker (LB) and their mom, Camila, Gwen Davis (GD), Grayson Wang (GW) and Lotti who all depicted their regency counterparts).
EB and JB got scholarships to go to a private school. There they met their love interests and also met the harsh reality of the distinction in social classes. Mia was made aware of it first hand and she tried to prevail upon it. (I feel ) JB was so naive (as the typical Jane) and she suffered the most for it. (Spoiler: In the end I was hoping she will end up with anyone except for CB)
Loved it for the story. Though set in modern times, it followed main points of the original and kept each character's persona . It is P & P blended with the present reality: bullying, queen bees and wanna bees and the disparity between social classes. Love it when they triumphed over the obstacles/humiliation (JB did something highly commendable). It is a must -read for P & P fans.
“I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.”
EB and JB got scholarships to go to a private school. There they met their love interests and also met the harsh reality of the distinction in social classes. Mia was made aware of it first hand and she tried to prevail upon it. (I feel ) JB was so naive (as the typical Jane) and she suffered the most for it. (Spoiler: In the end I was hoping she will end up with anyone except for CB)
Loved it for the story. Though set in modern times, it followed main points of the original and kept each character's persona . It is P & P blended with the present reality: bullying, queen bees and wanna bees and the disparity between social classes. Love it when they triumphed over the obstacles/humiliation (JB did something highly commendable). It is a must -read for P & P fans.
“I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.”
March 28, 2020
I got an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this book. I read Slumber and it was OK, so I thought I'd give Flawed a chance. It was almost exactly as I imagined, a not very good "retelling" of a classic. My main issue is the lack of effort in making this story her own. Bridget Jones is a great retelling of P&P, you can see the influence but it is its own tale.
Flawed doesn't even use its own characters names: Jane becomes Jade, Charles becomes Charlie. It's just a bit obvious.
I also think that even super rich kids don't buy each other cars. There's such things as paperwork and legality!
I'll be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this book. I read Slumber and it was OK, so I thought I'd give Flawed a chance. It was almost exactly as I imagined, a not very good "retelling" of a classic. My main issue is the lack of effort in making this story her own. Bridget Jones is a great retelling of P&P, you can see the influence but it is its own tale.
Flawed doesn't even use its own characters names: Jane becomes Jade, Charles becomes Charlie. It's just a bit obvious.
I also think that even super rich kids don't buy each other cars. There's such things as paperwork and legality!
January 24, 2023
This story is about two sisters, Mia and Jade who are transferred to an elite school on scholarships. While Jade falls for the hot popular Charlie Bell, Mia falls for his best friend Finn Grant until she overhears his opinion of her. This is an adorable story of first love, of prejudice, of pride and how they affect our choices and a twist on our most famous Pride & Prejudice story in a modern age. I loved the story so much I was even able to overlook a few errors within the story. All the characters have to overcome their own drama. I especially loved Lila n her obsession with Lightning man. This book will bring you back in time and captivate you. It a wonderful story
March 24, 2020
Love the modern take on Pride and Prejudice. Loved the authors say of paying homage by having the character read the book by Jane Austen. If you love YA books this is a must read. I think it would appeal to older readers too.
June 19, 2020
This was a cute story with some resemblance to P&P, but in a modern day setting.
I think what is hard to believe is that a “poor” Mia and a “rich” Finn would get together nowadays.
I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think what is hard to believe is that a “poor” Mia and a “rich” Finn would get together nowadays.
I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2022
• Modern Fay Retelling of Pride & Prejudice.
• Set in High School
• Fluff Read - very close to Original, but mild version !
Rated 3 🌟 !
• Set in High School
• Fluff Read - very close to Original, but mild version !
Rated 3 🌟 !
February 22, 2020
I admit that I am a sucker for a Pride and Prejudice adaptation. I have read so many of the books that have changed the story to fit the characters into so many different walks of life. Unlike the previous adaptations that I have read, I hadn't heard of this one until recently. But like every other version of Pride and Prejudice that I have read before, I enjoyed this one.
Though this book isn't the most well written or even the best adaptation that I have read, I still had so much fun reading it. The fact that you get to read both Finn and Mia's views in this book is what makes it different. You are able to see how Finn (or Darcy) is feeling in the moments that he is seen as judgemental and even just awkward. The author portrays Finn, as a character who struggles with social anxiety. Though this is hinted at in Pride and Prejudice, it is interesting to see Finn actually experiences these feelings as the events take place.
Mia's character is the same supportive sister that you see in Elizabeth Bennett. But, you will also see her make some of the same mistakes that Elizabeth makes. Mia's relationship with her sister Jade shows that she is more than just the harsh exterior she portrays in some areas. It is also fun to see her supporting her sister Jane in her fashion designing endeavors throughout the story.
Overall, I think one of my favorite things about this book is that it also includes some of the famous lines with slight variations to them. Even though this book is predictable, it is exciting to see how some of your favorite scenes will be portrayed. So if you want a light and fluffy read, with a Pride and Prejudice feel I would highly recommend this book to you.
I give this book 3.5 Stars.
Though this book isn't the most well written or even the best adaptation that I have read, I still had so much fun reading it. The fact that you get to read both Finn and Mia's views in this book is what makes it different. You are able to see how Finn (or Darcy) is feeling in the moments that he is seen as judgemental and even just awkward. The author portrays Finn, as a character who struggles with social anxiety. Though this is hinted at in Pride and Prejudice, it is interesting to see Finn actually experiences these feelings as the events take place.
Mia's character is the same supportive sister that you see in Elizabeth Bennett. But, you will also see her make some of the same mistakes that Elizabeth makes. Mia's relationship with her sister Jade shows that she is more than just the harsh exterior she portrays in some areas. It is also fun to see her supporting her sister Jane in her fashion designing endeavors throughout the story.
Overall, I think one of my favorite things about this book is that it also includes some of the famous lines with slight variations to them. Even though this book is predictable, it is exciting to see how some of your favorite scenes will be portrayed. So if you want a light and fluffy read, with a Pride and Prejudice feel I would highly recommend this book to you.
I give this book 3.5 Stars.
November 6, 2019
**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author.**
Title Flawed
Author Becky Bird
Description
When Mia Baker begins at an elite school on a scholarship, she’s instantly besotted with the hot but arrogant Finn Davis. But when she overhears him commenting on her attractiveness compared to her beautiful sister Jade, Mia takes an instant dislike to him. When Finn’s best friend Charlie takes an interest in Jade and invites both sisters to his family’s lake house for the weekend, Mia and Finn are forced into close proximity. Despite their differences, their attraction to each other continues to grow. But Finn’s not about to admit he might actually like Mia. She’s on a scholarship, and she’s failing English. Then there’s Grayson Wang, his mortal enemy, who Mia can’t seem to get enough of. When Charlie starts dating Mia’s sister, Finn begins to doubt just how genuine Jade’s feelings are for him, so he warns his friend to cut Jade loose. When Mia finds out Finn is to blame for her sister’s heartbreak, it only continues to fuel her harsh judgments of him. But, if there is to be a happily ever after, Mia must overcome her pride, and Finn, Mia’s socioeconomic status.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoyed Slumber by Becky Bird and was super excited when she contacted me about reviewing her new work, Flawed. I love her writing and when she mentioned that it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, I was totally sold.
Some Things I Liked
Pride and Prejudice – it’s literally my favorite Jane Austen novel and I loved this modernization. Retellings can be difficult to tackle as they are always directly compared to the original, but this book, while paying homage to the original, is an incredibly unique retelling.
Elements changed for the modernization – I really loved that there were fewer “Bennett” sisters and that the love triangle with “Darcy” was left out. I thought it made the overall story more believable in its modern setting.
The length – I also really enjoyed that this was a shorter work. I thought the whole retelling fit nicely into the length of this story.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
I found the brand name dropping and general opulence of the setting to be a little over the top. While it did serve its purpose to distinguish the classes, it was a little too much.
Final Thoughts
I loved this retelling. I don’t normally read contemporary works, especially modern contemporary, but I really loved this one. I am excited to read more of Becky’s writing in the future and would definitely recommend this story to anyone who likes Jane Austen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date September 30, 2019
Recommendations for Further Reading
Slumber by Becky Bird – if you liked the writing style in this book, definitely check out Becky Bird’s other work, Slumber.
Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman – this book isn’t out yet but if you enjoyed the setting and characters in Flawed, definitely give this new release a try. They’re actually both coming out 1 day apart, so there’s no waiting necessary.
Anything by Cindy Anstey – if you liked the Pride and Prejudice element, do yourself a favor and look up Cindy Antsey’s works.
Title Flawed
Author Becky Bird
Description
When Mia Baker begins at an elite school on a scholarship, she’s instantly besotted with the hot but arrogant Finn Davis. But when she overhears him commenting on her attractiveness compared to her beautiful sister Jade, Mia takes an instant dislike to him. When Finn’s best friend Charlie takes an interest in Jade and invites both sisters to his family’s lake house for the weekend, Mia and Finn are forced into close proximity. Despite their differences, their attraction to each other continues to grow. But Finn’s not about to admit he might actually like Mia. She’s on a scholarship, and she’s failing English. Then there’s Grayson Wang, his mortal enemy, who Mia can’t seem to get enough of. When Charlie starts dating Mia’s sister, Finn begins to doubt just how genuine Jade’s feelings are for him, so he warns his friend to cut Jade loose. When Mia finds out Finn is to blame for her sister’s heartbreak, it only continues to fuel her harsh judgments of him. But, if there is to be a happily ever after, Mia must overcome her pride, and Finn, Mia’s socioeconomic status.
Initial Thoughts
I really enjoyed Slumber by Becky Bird and was super excited when she contacted me about reviewing her new work, Flawed. I love her writing and when she mentioned that it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, I was totally sold.
Some Things I Liked
Pride and Prejudice – it’s literally my favorite Jane Austen novel and I loved this modernization. Retellings can be difficult to tackle as they are always directly compared to the original, but this book, while paying homage to the original, is an incredibly unique retelling.
Elements changed for the modernization – I really loved that there were fewer “Bennett” sisters and that the love triangle with “Darcy” was left out. I thought it made the overall story more believable in its modern setting.
The length – I also really enjoyed that this was a shorter work. I thought the whole retelling fit nicely into the length of this story.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
I found the brand name dropping and general opulence of the setting to be a little over the top. While it did serve its purpose to distinguish the classes, it was a little too much.
Final Thoughts
I loved this retelling. I don’t normally read contemporary works, especially modern contemporary, but I really loved this one. I am excited to read more of Becky’s writing in the future and would definitely recommend this story to anyone who likes Jane Austen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date September 30, 2019
Recommendations for Further Reading
Slumber by Becky Bird – if you liked the writing style in this book, definitely check out Becky Bird’s other work, Slumber.
Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman – this book isn’t out yet but if you enjoyed the setting and characters in Flawed, definitely give this new release a try. They’re actually both coming out 1 day apart, so there’s no waiting necessary.
Anything by Cindy Anstey – if you liked the Pride and Prejudice element, do yourself a favor and look up Cindy Antsey’s works.
November 27, 2019
An okay reimagining of Pride and Prejudice with teens in high school
I love Jane Austen and have read all her books. I’ve enjoyed all the miniseries and movies. I’m not a purist and have enjoyed sequel regency romance novels. I’ve also loved Austen storylines reimagined movies. My favorites are “Bride and Prejudice” and “Clueless” (Emma). So when I read this book was “Pride and Prejudice” reimagined with teens in the modern world, I was fully prepared to love it. Unfortunately, I had some major problems with it.
It’s cute and sometimes amusing. I had no problem finishing it. I wasn’t bored, and it didn’t drag on. The writing was okay. I kinda liked it. But you can tell I’m not really excited by it.
These were my major problems with it:
1. Dialogue straight from Austen, some of the most memorable quotes, did not sound realistic coming from modern teenagers. It felt forced and fake.
2. Overused clichés – mean girls, the destruction of a dress right before a fashion show, a prom-like climax, and others. It felt too “Gossip Girl”.
3. The “Bingham” character was far too shallow and narcissistic. He also punched out his windshield, twice, which indicated anger control issues. It made me worry Jade (Jane) would be abused later.
4. The entire book takes place within the time “Pride and Prejudice” is being discussed and quizzed on in Mia’s class (Elizabeth Bennet). The timing wasn’t clear. I don’t know how many weeks passed between the start and the end. But it felt way too long to be discussing one book. At least my English teachers never would have taken that long on a single book.
5. Along with the last point, the action unfolds so the class talks about the plot points in P&P as they correspond to what’s going on in Mia’s life. This forced the comparison, as if I wouldn’t get it otherwise, when it was blatantly obvious all along. It also made me doubt Mia’s intelligence as she doesn’t see the similarities between the book and her life.
1st person present tense with alternating chapters from the two main characters. I did like getting into the mind of Finn (Darcy).
Clean romance appropriate for young readers. Nothing beyond kissing. No foul language. Little violence – mainly the punching windshields thing. No OM/OW drama.
HFN, which felt more appropriate than a HEA.
Grammar:
Dialogue is very often separated from the action sequence that identifies the speaker. Sometimes one character speaks twice, in two separate paragraphs. This made knowing who was speaking difficult to figure out in places. There weren’t any unnecessary dialogue tags, but there were places where necessary tags were missing.
Commas weren’t routinely missing, so not using them wasn’t a choice. There were 9 missing commas.
Other error count: 15 (misspelled, wrong, extra, and missing words, and missing punctuation marks)
So it was readable but not a good job.
My favorite quote comes from the school principal as she is about to announce the king and queen of the winter formal dance:
I love Jane Austen and have read all her books. I’ve enjoyed all the miniseries and movies. I’m not a purist and have enjoyed sequel regency romance novels. I’ve also loved Austen storylines reimagined movies. My favorites are “Bride and Prejudice” and “Clueless” (Emma). So when I read this book was “Pride and Prejudice” reimagined with teens in the modern world, I was fully prepared to love it. Unfortunately, I had some major problems with it.
It’s cute and sometimes amusing. I had no problem finishing it. I wasn’t bored, and it didn’t drag on. The writing was okay. I kinda liked it. But you can tell I’m not really excited by it.
These were my major problems with it:
1. Dialogue straight from Austen, some of the most memorable quotes, did not sound realistic coming from modern teenagers. It felt forced and fake.
2. Overused clichés – mean girls, the destruction of a dress right before a fashion show, a prom-like climax, and others. It felt too “Gossip Girl”.
3. The “Bingham” character was far too shallow and narcissistic. He also punched out his windshield, twice, which indicated anger control issues. It made me worry Jade (Jane) would be abused later.
4. The entire book takes place within the time “Pride and Prejudice” is being discussed and quizzed on in Mia’s class (Elizabeth Bennet). The timing wasn’t clear. I don’t know how many weeks passed between the start and the end. But it felt way too long to be discussing one book. At least my English teachers never would have taken that long on a single book.
5. Along with the last point, the action unfolds so the class talks about the plot points in P&P as they correspond to what’s going on in Mia’s life. This forced the comparison, as if I wouldn’t get it otherwise, when it was blatantly obvious all along. It also made me doubt Mia’s intelligence as she doesn’t see the similarities between the book and her life.
1st person present tense with alternating chapters from the two main characters. I did like getting into the mind of Finn (Darcy).
Clean romance appropriate for young readers. Nothing beyond kissing. No foul language. Little violence – mainly the punching windshields thing. No OM/OW drama.
HFN, which felt more appropriate than a HEA.
Grammar:
Dialogue is very often separated from the action sequence that identifies the speaker. Sometimes one character speaks twice, in two separate paragraphs. This made knowing who was speaking difficult to figure out in places. There weren’t any unnecessary dialogue tags, but there were places where necessary tags were missing.
Commas weren’t routinely missing, so not using them wasn’t a choice. There were 9 missing commas.
Other error count: 15 (misspelled, wrong, extra, and missing words, and missing punctuation marks)
So it was readable but not a good job.
My favorite quote comes from the school principal as she is about to announce the king and queen of the winter formal dance:
“Pipe down, you pompous—” Potter lets out a loud whistle. There’s dead silence as she finishes her sentence with “…little turdfaces!” More awkward silence follows, and Principal Potter gives a wry smile. “Firstly, I want to say I’m drunk.”
Read
February 27, 2025* I received this book free from BookSirens with the promise of a completely honest review. *
How appropriately named, after all the book is majorly flawed.
This is supposed to be a modern day remake of “Pride and Prejudice” and although I was initially intrigued with the concept, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed once completing this novel.
I have several problems with this story which I will try to address in a way that leaves no spoilers but allows you to understand the content.
Firstly, I struggled to find any of the characters remotely likable. The author deliberately took the negative trait of each individual and amplified it to the point of unnatural. (Ex. Camilla was beyond being the average “mean girl”, she was plain evil.) Mia’s mom and younger sister were beyond unbearable. I cringed every time they made themselves relevant. Mia’s mom was obnoxiously a tart, however whenever any of her children needed advice, she suddenly became Gandhi. I found her to be two totally different characters in one which had my head spinning.
My next problem, often times I found the characters doing and saying things that were completely unnatural. I understand that the author was attempting to make this into a modern version of “Pride and Prejudice”, however, I found it completely odd when a character that was supposed to be from this decade, was saying things like, “have you no compassion?” Setting aside how the author struggled to make the book similar, the characters were still doing off things. In one instance, Mia’s little sister runs out of the house because there was a basic model Audi in their driveway. She proceeded to take selfies on the hood with no regards to the people around her. Who does that? Honestly.
As if these issues weren’t enough, I found the novel to move along painfully slow. If you ever want to read about how to play the game of “cat and mouse”, this is your go-to instruction manual. I really can’t elaborate more or provide specific examples because the entire book itself represent this.
My last problem with this novel is that I felt like I was reading a Frankenstein version of Twilight, gossip girl, and fifty shades of grey. Camilla was the epitome of Blair Waldorf. And if you’re needing more evidence to my accusation, the model of the Audi previously mentioned was the “submissive special”. Need I say more?
Now clearly I have a ton of negative things to say about this novel, however, there was a few things I found enjoyable. First of all, I loved how Mia was portrayed as a strong female character. She always stood her ground when it came to Camilla and was not afraid to tell Finn how she felt even if she was wrongly judging him. The second and last thing I appreciated was the authors ability to flawlessly jump between the perspectives of Finn and Mia without hindering the telling of the story. That was probably the most impressive part of the entire book.
I don’t think I would recommend this book. Just save yourself the disappointment and read the original.
How appropriately named, after all the book is majorly flawed.
This is supposed to be a modern day remake of “Pride and Prejudice” and although I was initially intrigued with the concept, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed once completing this novel.
I have several problems with this story which I will try to address in a way that leaves no spoilers but allows you to understand the content.
Firstly, I struggled to find any of the characters remotely likable. The author deliberately took the negative trait of each individual and amplified it to the point of unnatural. (Ex. Camilla was beyond being the average “mean girl”, she was plain evil.) Mia’s mom and younger sister were beyond unbearable. I cringed every time they made themselves relevant. Mia’s mom was obnoxiously a tart, however whenever any of her children needed advice, she suddenly became Gandhi. I found her to be two totally different characters in one which had my head spinning.
My next problem, often times I found the characters doing and saying things that were completely unnatural. I understand that the author was attempting to make this into a modern version of “Pride and Prejudice”, however, I found it completely odd when a character that was supposed to be from this decade, was saying things like, “have you no compassion?” Setting aside how the author struggled to make the book similar, the characters were still doing off things. In one instance, Mia’s little sister runs out of the house because there was a basic model Audi in their driveway. She proceeded to take selfies on the hood with no regards to the people around her. Who does that? Honestly.
As if these issues weren’t enough, I found the novel to move along painfully slow. If you ever want to read about how to play the game of “cat and mouse”, this is your go-to instruction manual. I really can’t elaborate more or provide specific examples because the entire book itself represent this.
My last problem with this novel is that I felt like I was reading a Frankenstein version of Twilight, gossip girl, and fifty shades of grey. Camilla was the epitome of Blair Waldorf. And if you’re needing more evidence to my accusation, the model of the Audi previously mentioned was the “submissive special”. Need I say more?
Now clearly I have a ton of negative things to say about this novel, however, there was a few things I found enjoyable. First of all, I loved how Mia was portrayed as a strong female character. She always stood her ground when it came to Camilla and was not afraid to tell Finn how she felt even if she was wrongly judging him. The second and last thing I appreciated was the authors ability to flawlessly jump between the perspectives of Finn and Mia without hindering the telling of the story. That was probably the most impressive part of the entire book.
I don’t think I would recommend this book. Just save yourself the disappointment and read the original.
February 7, 2020
Actual rating (3.5/4 stars)
I received this book from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
So I absolutely loved the concept behind this book. Modern YA telling of Pride and Prejudice? YES please!
But when I started reading it, I thought I’d made a mistake. The dialogue is caught somewhere between modern and 18th century speech which is definitely a bit jarring at first, and I think the prose definitely falls in the lower YA bracket.
But, as I kept reading, I got used to the voice, and got into the story. I was pleasantly surprised to find the story told from both the modern day Elizabeth and the modern Darcy’s point of view, and I thought ALL the characters were rendered very well. (The Darcy/Bingley bromance was absolutely fabulous.) The book is mostly faithful to the source with some excellent updates for the timeline, but is super fast-paced (another plus in my book).
I finished the book in less than a day, and I have to admit, though some scenes/exchanges didn’t jive for me, the ending gave me tons of warm fuzzies. All together, I’d have to compare it to a Disney Original Movie. Definitely cheesy and not everything I hoped for, but I would totally have fun watching it.
Overall, I would recommend this book to any Disney nerds out there (especially in the middle school age group) looking for a quick and accessible modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
I received this book from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
So I absolutely loved the concept behind this book. Modern YA telling of Pride and Prejudice? YES please!
But when I started reading it, I thought I’d made a mistake. The dialogue is caught somewhere between modern and 18th century speech which is definitely a bit jarring at first, and I think the prose definitely falls in the lower YA bracket.
But, as I kept reading, I got used to the voice, and got into the story. I was pleasantly surprised to find the story told from both the modern day Elizabeth and the modern Darcy’s point of view, and I thought ALL the characters were rendered very well. (The Darcy/Bingley bromance was absolutely fabulous.) The book is mostly faithful to the source with some excellent updates for the timeline, but is super fast-paced (another plus in my book).
I finished the book in less than a day, and I have to admit, though some scenes/exchanges didn’t jive for me, the ending gave me tons of warm fuzzies. All together, I’d have to compare it to a Disney Original Movie. Definitely cheesy and not everything I hoped for, but I would totally have fun watching it.
Overall, I would recommend this book to any Disney nerds out there (especially in the middle school age group) looking for a quick and accessible modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
November 18, 2019
Title: Flawed
Author: Becky Bird
Pub. Date: September 30, 2019
Rating: 4
This will be a spoiler free review.
I stayed up until 4:30 AM reading this the other night – that wasn’t my intention. I’d intended to start it and then finish it during daylight hours…
I legitimately just couldn’t bring myself to stop reading. This is my second Becky Bird book, and just like with Slumber, I loved Flawed. You can check out my review for Slumber, here.
It’s pretty much your typical contemporary romance, a little predictable (in a good way) and full of moments that make you giddy and excited! There are even a few moments that may make your jaw drop and you might whisper yell, “what!” I like I did. I was able to just turn my every analytical mind off and just enjoy and as someone who reads all of the time, it’s so nice when I can just simply enjoy and book and its characters. I didn’t realize how much I needed this kind of read and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I should’ve read it sooner, but I’m so thrilled I finally was able to.
I really liked how while this was an adaptation/retelling of Pride & Prejudice the main character Mia, is also reading the book for a class at school. It made for a really interesting dynamic, and I totally understand where Mia was coming from in the beginning about reading classics.
I was the same way – more so in college, but that’s being English Major for ya. I definitely understood her frustration. There have been classics that have taken me forever to read, and held no interest for me, apart from a good grade.
If you love Pride & Prejudice and Darcy and Elizabeth, you’re going to want to check out this adorable, quick contemporary romance. I don’t feel like you need to know the plot of P&P to enjoy this – but it does help, (as does any kind of background knowledge when it comes to adaptations/retellings). Though, Becky makes it pretty evident who these characters are supposed to be, and the traits they have. I’ve never read P&P and I honestly don’t know if I’ve seen either movie version in full, and my extent into P&P (besides knowing the basic plot) is the Austenland movie – which you should watch if you haven’t – and I didn’t have any trouble understanding what was going on in the book.
I cannot wait to see what Becky writes next and I’m super excited to read it when it’s out! Flawed is out now, so make sure you check it out!
This review will be published on my blog (linked below) on November 18, 2019 at 8AM EST
Author: Becky Bird
Pub. Date: September 30, 2019
Rating: 4
This will be a spoiler free review.
I stayed up until 4:30 AM reading this the other night – that wasn’t my intention. I’d intended to start it and then finish it during daylight hours…
I legitimately just couldn’t bring myself to stop reading. This is my second Becky Bird book, and just like with Slumber, I loved Flawed. You can check out my review for Slumber, here.
It’s pretty much your typical contemporary romance, a little predictable (in a good way) and full of moments that make you giddy and excited! There are even a few moments that may make your jaw drop and you might whisper yell, “what!” I like I did. I was able to just turn my every analytical mind off and just enjoy and as someone who reads all of the time, it’s so nice when I can just simply enjoy and book and its characters. I didn’t realize how much I needed this kind of read and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I should’ve read it sooner, but I’m so thrilled I finally was able to.
I really liked how while this was an adaptation/retelling of Pride & Prejudice the main character Mia, is also reading the book for a class at school. It made for a really interesting dynamic, and I totally understand where Mia was coming from in the beginning about reading classics.
I was the same way – more so in college, but that’s being English Major for ya. I definitely understood her frustration. There have been classics that have taken me forever to read, and held no interest for me, apart from a good grade.
If you love Pride & Prejudice and Darcy and Elizabeth, you’re going to want to check out this adorable, quick contemporary romance. I don’t feel like you need to know the plot of P&P to enjoy this – but it does help, (as does any kind of background knowledge when it comes to adaptations/retellings). Though, Becky makes it pretty evident who these characters are supposed to be, and the traits they have. I’ve never read P&P and I honestly don’t know if I’ve seen either movie version in full, and my extent into P&P (besides knowing the basic plot) is the Austenland movie – which you should watch if you haven’t – and I didn’t have any trouble understanding what was going on in the book.
I cannot wait to see what Becky writes next and I’m super excited to read it when it’s out! Flawed is out now, so make sure you check it out!
This review will be published on my blog (linked below) on November 18, 2019 at 8AM EST
November 18, 2019
You can check out this review and my other reviews at Writing the Universe
Title: Flawed
Author: Becky Bird
Pub. Date: September 30, 2019
Rating: 4
This will be a spoiler free review.
I stayed up until 4:30 AM reading this the other night – that wasn’t my intention. I’d intended to start it and then finish it during daylight hours…
I legitimately just couldn’t bring myself to stop reading. This is my second Becky Bird book, and just like with Slumber, I loved Flawed.
It’s pretty much your typical contemporary romance, a little predictable (in a good way) and full of moments that make you giddy and excited! There are even a few moments that may make your jaw drop and you might whisper yell, “what!” I like I did. I was able to just turn my every analytical mind off and just enjoy and as someone who reads all of the time, it’s so nice when I can just simply enjoy and book and its characters. I didn’t realize how much I needed this kind of read and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I should’ve read it sooner, but I’m so thrilled I finally was able to.
I really liked how while this was an adaptation/retelling of Pride & Prejudice the main character Mia, is also reading the book for a class at school. It made for a really interesting dynamic, and I totally understand where Mia was coming from in the beginning about reading classics.
I was the same way – more so in college, but that’s being English Major for ya. I definitely understood her frustration. There have been classics that have taken me forever to read, and held no interest for me, apart from a good grade.
If you love Pride & Prejudice and Darcy and Elizabeth, you’re going to want to check out this adorable, quick contemporary romance. I don’t feel like you need to know the plot of P&P to enjoy this – but it does help, (as does any kind of background knowledge when it comes to adaptations/retellings). Though, Becky makes it pretty evident who these characters are supposed to be, and the traits they have. I’ve never read P&P and I honestly don’t know if I’ve seen either movie version in full, and my extent into P&P (besides knowing the basic plot) is the Austenland movie – which you should watch if you haven’t – and I didn’t have any trouble understanding what was going on in the book.
I cannot wait to see what Becky writes next and I’m super excited to read it when it’s out! Flawed is out now, so make sure you check it out!
Title: Flawed
Author: Becky Bird
Pub. Date: September 30, 2019
Rating: 4
This will be a spoiler free review.
I stayed up until 4:30 AM reading this the other night – that wasn’t my intention. I’d intended to start it and then finish it during daylight hours…
I legitimately just couldn’t bring myself to stop reading. This is my second Becky Bird book, and just like with Slumber, I loved Flawed.
It’s pretty much your typical contemporary romance, a little predictable (in a good way) and full of moments that make you giddy and excited! There are even a few moments that may make your jaw drop and you might whisper yell, “what!” I like I did. I was able to just turn my every analytical mind off and just enjoy and as someone who reads all of the time, it’s so nice when I can just simply enjoy and book and its characters. I didn’t realize how much I needed this kind of read and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I should’ve read it sooner, but I’m so thrilled I finally was able to.
I really liked how while this was an adaptation/retelling of Pride & Prejudice the main character Mia, is also reading the book for a class at school. It made for a really interesting dynamic, and I totally understand where Mia was coming from in the beginning about reading classics.
I was the same way – more so in college, but that’s being English Major for ya. I definitely understood her frustration. There have been classics that have taken me forever to read, and held no interest for me, apart from a good grade.
If you love Pride & Prejudice and Darcy and Elizabeth, you’re going to want to check out this adorable, quick contemporary romance. I don’t feel like you need to know the plot of P&P to enjoy this – but it does help, (as does any kind of background knowledge when it comes to adaptations/retellings). Though, Becky makes it pretty evident who these characters are supposed to be, and the traits they have. I’ve never read P&P and I honestly don’t know if I’ve seen either movie version in full, and my extent into P&P (besides knowing the basic plot) is the Austenland movie – which you should watch if you haven’t – and I didn’t have any trouble understanding what was going on in the book.
I cannot wait to see what Becky writes next and I’m super excited to read it when it’s out! Flawed is out now, so make sure you check it out!
February 18, 2020
So I picked this up immediately after finishing Pride and Prejudice. I was quite afraid that this book would taint my love for the former but it was far from that. It's easy to follow and a quick read.
Quite bold of the author to sell the book as the modern retelling of a popular and much loved classic when all it has to offer, is a cheap copy. The main characters share the initials and their character descriptions match albeit being modern. There is zero world-building or any depth to characters. Random situations are thrown in to bring parallels. Suddenly the dialogues would be in Old English, blatantly lifted from the original.
There are a lot of mistakes not corrected while editing. A lot of phrases such as smarmy smirk, get-real look are repeated so often it got on my nerves. Then there is the absurd mistake of referring to Finn as Finn Baker lmao. But my having read P&P made me quite forgiving of this book to be able to overlook and hence complete it.
This book surely had its fair share of moments but nothing here was solid. I'd have loved the book had the author not forced it to be an exact copy of the original. Situations were being so absurdly brought up and with almost no emotion that they made zero sense. I had a complete disconnect with the characters, none of them were likable. Charlie was over the top stupid, Camila was Class A mean girl. Finn was a total jerk and Mia, god alone knows how I endured her!
I thank NetGalley for the ARC but seriously, this could have been much better :/
Quite bold of the author to sell the book as the modern retelling of a popular and much loved classic when all it has to offer, is a cheap copy. The main characters share the initials and their character descriptions match albeit being modern. There is zero world-building or any depth to characters. Random situations are thrown in to bring parallels. Suddenly the dialogues would be in Old English, blatantly lifted from the original.
There are a lot of mistakes not corrected while editing. A lot of phrases such as smarmy smirk, get-real look are repeated so often it got on my nerves. Then there is the absurd mistake of referring to Finn as Finn Baker lmao. But my having read P&P made me quite forgiving of this book to be able to overlook and hence complete it.
This book surely had its fair share of moments but nothing here was solid. I'd have loved the book had the author not forced it to be an exact copy of the original. Situations were being so absurdly brought up and with almost no emotion that they made zero sense. I had a complete disconnect with the characters, none of them were likable. Charlie was over the top stupid, Camila was Class A mean girl. Finn was a total jerk and Mia, god alone knows how I endured her!
I thank NetGalley for the ARC but seriously, this could have been much better :/
August 21, 2019
(I received a free eARC from NetGalley for a voluntary and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own)
Book review: Flawed by Becky Bird (3 stars)
Flawed by Becky Bird
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3/5 stars
(Synopsis from Goodreads)
A quick read, this sweet YA romance is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
When Mia Baker begins at an elite school on a scholarship, she’s instantly besotted with the hot but arrogant Finn Davis. But when she overhears him commenting on her attractiveness compared to her beautiful sister Jade, Mia takes an instant dislike to him.
When Finn’s best friend Charlie takes an interest in Jade and invites both sisters to his family’s lake house for the weekend, Mia and Finn are forced into close proximity. Despite their differences, their attraction to each other continues to grow.
But Finn’s not about to admit he might actually like Mia. She’s on a scholarship, and she’s failing English. Then there’s Grayson Wang, his mortal enemy, who Mia can’t seem to get enough of.
When Charlie starts dating Mia’s sister, Finn begins to doubt just how genuine Jade’s feelings are for him, so he warns his friend to cut Jade loose. When Mia finds out Finn is to blame for her sister’s heartbreak, it only continues to fuel her harsh judgments of him.
But, if there is to be a happily ever after, Mia must overcome her pride, and Finn, Mia’s socioeconomic status.
(Review)
(DISCLAIMER: All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
This book plays on the enemies to lovers, but I did find it slow paced and insta-lovey. It is also a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice (which I have never read but know the characters).
It was okay and a fast read, but I did not connect to the characters or the story.
Book review: Flawed by Becky Bird (3 stars)
Flawed by Becky Bird
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3/5 stars
(Synopsis from Goodreads)
A quick read, this sweet YA romance is a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
When Mia Baker begins at an elite school on a scholarship, she’s instantly besotted with the hot but arrogant Finn Davis. But when she overhears him commenting on her attractiveness compared to her beautiful sister Jade, Mia takes an instant dislike to him.
When Finn’s best friend Charlie takes an interest in Jade and invites both sisters to his family’s lake house for the weekend, Mia and Finn are forced into close proximity. Despite their differences, their attraction to each other continues to grow.
But Finn’s not about to admit he might actually like Mia. She’s on a scholarship, and she’s failing English. Then there’s Grayson Wang, his mortal enemy, who Mia can’t seem to get enough of.
When Charlie starts dating Mia’s sister, Finn begins to doubt just how genuine Jade’s feelings are for him, so he warns his friend to cut Jade loose. When Mia finds out Finn is to blame for her sister’s heartbreak, it only continues to fuel her harsh judgments of him.
But, if there is to be a happily ever after, Mia must overcome her pride, and Finn, Mia’s socioeconomic status.
(Review)
(DISCLAIMER: All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
This book plays on the enemies to lovers, but I did find it slow paced and insta-lovey. It is also a modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice (which I have never read but know the characters).
It was okay and a fast read, but I did not connect to the characters or the story.
December 4, 2019
Thanks to Book Sirens and Becky Bird for giving me to read and review FLAWED. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Although I am WAY past the targeted demographic for YA novels, I have read a fair number in recent years, The hype for the Twilight series entranced and entertained me, as well as a very serious "book snob" who was in a book club at the time. The Divergent series was another wonderful YA series.
I am so thrilled to see the huge market for YA readers these days. Back in the "dark ages" when I was young there was really nothing between juvenile chapter books and adult fiction.
I picked FLAWED to review after seeing it had a link to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. For a good many years there have been novels and movies that had relationships to the Austen canon. It seemed a few years ago my book journal had many titles that were Austen themed.
I loved how author Becky Bird had alternating points of view between the two main characters, Mia and Finn. The plot would not have been the same without this feature.
Much like the Bennet family in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Mia's family is managing. Mia and her sister are fortunate to receive scholarships to a prestigious private school. The students there are more like Darcy and his friends in the fact they are quite wealthy. When Mia first meets Finn, she finds him aloof and arrogant. She and her sister, Jade, also have to deal with the "mean girls" at the school.
There is a good bit of angst that you would expect with a story about teenagers, but there are some lovely universal themes that readers of all ages can empathize with.
I recommend this book to readers in their high school years, as well as readers who are Jane Austen fans. I wish the author all the best in her future endeavors.
Although I am WAY past the targeted demographic for YA novels, I have read a fair number in recent years, The hype for the Twilight series entranced and entertained me, as well as a very serious "book snob" who was in a book club at the time. The Divergent series was another wonderful YA series.
I am so thrilled to see the huge market for YA readers these days. Back in the "dark ages" when I was young there was really nothing between juvenile chapter books and adult fiction.
I picked FLAWED to review after seeing it had a link to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. For a good many years there have been novels and movies that had relationships to the Austen canon. It seemed a few years ago my book journal had many titles that were Austen themed.
I loved how author Becky Bird had alternating points of view between the two main characters, Mia and Finn. The plot would not have been the same without this feature.
Much like the Bennet family in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Mia's family is managing. Mia and her sister are fortunate to receive scholarships to a prestigious private school. The students there are more like Darcy and his friends in the fact they are quite wealthy. When Mia first meets Finn, she finds him aloof and arrogant. She and her sister, Jade, also have to deal with the "mean girls" at the school.
There is a good bit of angst that you would expect with a story about teenagers, but there are some lovely universal themes that readers of all ages can empathize with.
I recommend this book to readers in their high school years, as well as readers who are Jane Austen fans. I wish the author all the best in her future endeavors.
January 12, 2020
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review*
When I read the synopsis what immediately grabbed me was the fact it’s a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice which I absolutely love!
Initial Thoughts:
It was a sweet love story and just about the right length given the story and predictability element. You know what you get with Pride and Prejudice. Yes the author could have done more and did a true retelling than basically the same story story plonked in a high school and the characters basically the same just names changed (but same initial).
What especially worked was the cutting down of a lot of characters as you are going into subplots and complications. The tension and wait between the two main characters Mia and Finn was perfect as you read through do they/don’t they.
Little Niggles:
The language – in some places Austen’s words were transposed verbatim when it didn’t really fit in with the characters or the tone of the book.
Characters: Some were a bit over the top yes Charles/Bingley is an affable nice guy but this version he was sickly sweet and stalkerish. Don’t get me wrong I still loved him but it was a bit much.
Overall Becky Bird’s version was a well written sweet story that I recommend to those who needs a mindless predictable romance read to lose themselves in.
When I read the synopsis what immediately grabbed me was the fact it’s a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice which I absolutely love!
Initial Thoughts:
It was a sweet love story and just about the right length given the story and predictability element. You know what you get with Pride and Prejudice. Yes the author could have done more and did a true retelling than basically the same story story plonked in a high school and the characters basically the same just names changed (but same initial).
What especially worked was the cutting down of a lot of characters as you are going into subplots and complications. The tension and wait between the two main characters Mia and Finn was perfect as you read through do they/don’t they.
Little Niggles:
The language – in some places Austen’s words were transposed verbatim when it didn’t really fit in with the characters or the tone of the book.
Characters: Some were a bit over the top yes Charles/Bingley is an affable nice guy but this version he was sickly sweet and stalkerish. Don’t get me wrong I still loved him but it was a bit much.
Overall Becky Bird’s version was a well written sweet story that I recommend to those who needs a mindless predictable romance read to lose themselves in.
December 11, 2019
A quick, enjoyable read. Great if you read YA and love adaptations/retellings of Jane Austen novels.
Pros: It was a lot of fun to see where the plot mapped on to the original Pride and Prejudice plot, and which characters became which high schoolers. I enjoyed the thread of being forced to read Pride and Prejudice in English class. Becky Bird did a better job than I expected of adapting the setting of Jane Austen's original to high school in California. (Thank goodness she didn't borrow their names, though!) Actual romantic interest between the characters, not just lust, is also a plus; they weren't just interested in looks.
Cons: When teenagers are serious, do they even talk like that? (How many times does Finn think or say "socioeconomic status"?) Some of Finn's inner dialogue (and outer dialogue) felt stilted to me, and I would have liked the things he said to feel more authentic to the 2010s - more colloquial. Finn's voice wasn't exactly identical to Mia's voice, but I wish it had been more distinct.
No surprises or big twists in this book. Straightforward with a happy ending, exactly what I want out of a 2-evening read.
I received a review copy of this book for free via BookSirens. I am leaving this review voluntarily; all opinions are my own.
Pros: It was a lot of fun to see where the plot mapped on to the original Pride and Prejudice plot, and which characters became which high schoolers. I enjoyed the thread of being forced to read Pride and Prejudice in English class. Becky Bird did a better job than I expected of adapting the setting of Jane Austen's original to high school in California. (Thank goodness she didn't borrow their names, though!) Actual romantic interest between the characters, not just lust, is also a plus; they weren't just interested in looks.
Cons: When teenagers are serious, do they even talk like that? (How many times does Finn think or say "socioeconomic status"?) Some of Finn's inner dialogue (and outer dialogue) felt stilted to me, and I would have liked the things he said to feel more authentic to the 2010s - more colloquial. Finn's voice wasn't exactly identical to Mia's voice, but I wish it had been more distinct.
No surprises or big twists in this book. Straightforward with a happy ending, exactly what I want out of a 2-evening read.
I received a review copy of this book for free via BookSirens. I am leaving this review voluntarily; all opinions are my own.
November 8, 2019
I received this free eARC novel from BookSirens and the author. This is my honest review.
I've always adored Pride and Prejudice, so i was very happy to see a YA book based on this novel :) Mia is a great character. She is a little angry and a lot judgmental most of the time, so she is always jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst of everything. I loved the way Mia and Finn met and had this insane attraction, and then the insults and sarcasm started - on both ends.
This is a very good depiction of Austen's book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that they were reading the original novel during this book. I really wanted Mia to realize that her life IS Pride and Prejudice, but she only thought part of it was similar.
I also loved Jade and how creative she was with designing clothes. Camilia was a nasty girl and I'm glad she got what happened in the end, though I feel like she could have gotten a worse ending it still would have left her off the hook.
I'm really glad I got a chance to read this and I'll definitely be looking out for more novels by this author!
I've always adored Pride and Prejudice, so i was very happy to see a YA book based on this novel :) Mia is a great character. She is a little angry and a lot judgmental most of the time, so she is always jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst of everything. I loved the way Mia and Finn met and had this insane attraction, and then the insults and sarcasm started - on both ends.
This is a very good depiction of Austen's book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that they were reading the original novel during this book. I really wanted Mia to realize that her life IS Pride and Prejudice, but she only thought part of it was similar.
I also loved Jade and how creative she was with designing clothes. Camilia was a nasty girl and I'm glad she got what happened in the end, though I feel like she could have gotten a worse ending it still would have left her off the hook.
I'm really glad I got a chance to read this and I'll definitely be looking out for more novels by this author!
August 28, 2019
this is the second book i have read by Becky Bird and i really enjoyed reading it. We meet Mia and Jade Baker who are sisters and they have both won scholarships to a very elite school shall we say for the rich children and there backgrounds are very different from the kids they will now be going to school with. they meet charlie and his friend Finn now charlies is very attracted to Jade and invites them to a party he is having at his parents lake house but Jade will only go if Mia goes. But before they go Mia over heard the two lads taking about her and her sister and Finn makes a comment that Mia over hears and she takes an instant dislike to him. As the story unfolds you see the struggles that the girls go through with there feeling for charlie and finn and also how they are made to feel that they don't belong in there world. I loved reading this book it was a very nice change off style from the books that i would normally read and i fell in love with Jade , Mia , charlie and Finn i just wished it was longer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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