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Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute
New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta brings her trademark wit and insight to this bright and funny Sense and Sensibility retelling!
Eila Das is used to following her head, rather than her heart. When she meets Rahul at Rosewood, a summer camp where campers are being scouted for the hit Bridgerton-like TV show, she experiences…feelings. Between the drama of the show and the drama of the camp, Eila will have to keep her wits about her to make it through the summer. But when she has to choose between her head and her heart, what will she do?
Eila Das is used to following her head, rather than her heart. When she meets Rahul at Rosewood, a summer camp where campers are being scouted for the hit Bridgerton-like TV show, she experiences…feelings. Between the drama of the show and the drama of the camp, Eila will have to keep her wits about her to make it through the summer. But when she has to choose between her head and her heart, what will she do?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2023
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4761 people want to read
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April 25, 2023
Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute by Sayantani DasGupta
YA romance. Own voice. Retelling.
Elia Das and sister Millika spend the summer at Regency Camp hosted by the producers of Rosewood. All Regency clothing, all the time. Balls, training, and no cell phones allowed. Elia would have rather attended official Shakespeare training but her sister convinces her it’s the only place to be. There’s a rumor that the actor from the second season of the show will be at the camp in disguise. Apparently they hope to find someone with chemistry with the actor. Friends are made, cliques are formed while a romance blooms.
Interesting premise and sister conflict. Teen angst is maxed simply because the actor isn’t allowed to admit who he is. Entertaining Queen and formal balls and a shallow lake that handles drama scene after drama.
Cute. Romance level - Nothing more than kissing.
I received a copy of this from the publisher.
YA romance. Own voice. Retelling.
Elia Das and sister Millika spend the summer at Regency Camp hosted by the producers of Rosewood. All Regency clothing, all the time. Balls, training, and no cell phones allowed. Elia would have rather attended official Shakespeare training but her sister convinces her it’s the only place to be. There’s a rumor that the actor from the second season of the show will be at the camp in disguise. Apparently they hope to find someone with chemistry with the actor. Friends are made, cliques are formed while a romance blooms.
Interesting premise and sister conflict. Teen angst is maxed simply because the actor isn’t allowed to admit who he is. Entertaining Queen and formal balls and a shallow lake that handles drama scene after drama.
Cute. Romance level - Nothing more than kissing.
I received a copy of this from the publisher.
September 6, 2023
I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this one since I didn't read the synopsis, but it was an okay read. I think that if you're looking for Bridgerton vibes, but YA style this will be up your alley. It's also a loose retelling of Sense and Sensibility.
Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute is a mix between a YA romance, retelling, and realistic fiction that follows main character Eila who is passionate about the representation of women and gender roles in all forms of media. Things get interesting when her sister gets them spots in a regency camp that has them competing for roles on the well known TV show Rosewood (think Bridgerton). While there, Eila meets Rahul who makes her experience emotions that push against her typically behavior of using her head above her heart. What ensues is a tale of chaos and first love while breaking every stereotype when one thinks of regency romance.
What Worked: The representation in this one was great and didn't feel forced or "check-boxy." Honestly, I'm not even sure that's a word. The queer rep as well as having brown kids front and center competing for roles in a regency era TV show breaks the mold on what we typically expect when we think about that time period. I also appreciated and adored the relationship between Eila and Millika. Since the loss of their father, Eila has put it on her shoulders to step up and protect/shield her sister from everything. In response, Millika makes some moves that allow Eila to focus on herself for once. It's clear that they have a close bond and love each other dearly. I also enjoyed the weaving in of Austen and Shakespeare quotes that brought Eila and Rahul closer together.
What Didn't Work: There was too much going on in this novel to the point that it felt chaotic. The excess tropes and drama gave me whiplash. If the author would have stuck with one major issue that drove the plot, I would have enjoyed this a lot more. Honestly, part of me felt as though I couldn't keep up. I also felt like this one tried a little too hard to be like Bridgerton. The conversations around representation are valid. Many regency books and adaptations make it seem as though only White people existed. Nevertheless, this read like a Bridgerton adaptation for YA readers at times and I didn't like that. There were even "narration" scenes reminiscent of the Lady Whistledown interludes in Bridgerton. I just feel like this could have been great commentary on representation without the direct connection to Bridgerton.
Overall, this was a solid read. I know that Sayantani DasGupta writes middle grade books as well so I may be checking out some of those.
Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute is a mix between a YA romance, retelling, and realistic fiction that follows main character Eila who is passionate about the representation of women and gender roles in all forms of media. Things get interesting when her sister gets them spots in a regency camp that has them competing for roles on the well known TV show Rosewood (think Bridgerton). While there, Eila meets Rahul who makes her experience emotions that push against her typically behavior of using her head above her heart. What ensues is a tale of chaos and first love while breaking every stereotype when one thinks of regency romance.
What Worked: The representation in this one was great and didn't feel forced or "check-boxy." Honestly, I'm not even sure that's a word. The queer rep as well as having brown kids front and center competing for roles in a regency era TV show breaks the mold on what we typically expect when we think about that time period. I also appreciated and adored the relationship between Eila and Millika. Since the loss of their father, Eila has put it on her shoulders to step up and protect/shield her sister from everything. In response, Millika makes some moves that allow Eila to focus on herself for once. It's clear that they have a close bond and love each other dearly. I also enjoyed the weaving in of Austen and Shakespeare quotes that brought Eila and Rahul closer together.
What Didn't Work: There was too much going on in this novel to the point that it felt chaotic. The excess tropes and drama gave me whiplash. If the author would have stuck with one major issue that drove the plot, I would have enjoyed this a lot more. Honestly, part of me felt as though I couldn't keep up. I also felt like this one tried a little too hard to be like Bridgerton. The conversations around representation are valid. Many regency books and adaptations make it seem as though only White people existed. Nevertheless, this read like a Bridgerton adaptation for YA readers at times and I didn't like that. There were even "narration" scenes reminiscent of the Lady Whistledown interludes in Bridgerton. I just feel like this could have been great commentary on representation without the direct connection to Bridgerton.
Overall, this was a solid read. I know that Sayantani DasGupta writes middle grade books as well so I may be checking out some of those.
March 24, 2024
2024 reads: 69/250
2024 tbr: 36/120
the last thing eila das expected to do this summer was attend a camp hosted by a tv show she hates. secretly, though, she’s excited when she learns that her sister has signed the two of them up, as this might break her into the world of acting. as she finds friends, enemies, and maybe even love, she begins to realize that maybe the camp isn’t as bad as she thought it would be.
i’m going to be honest: i almost DNFd this not too far in. the dialogue and narrative were too cringey. this was my second book by the author so i wasn’t expecting this writing style going in. i had a feeling that it would get better, though, and it did! i’m glad i finished this book because it was so fun. i loved the regency vibes in a modern setting, all the overly dramatic theatre (and some non-theatre!) kids, and the relationship drama.
i would recommend this to any YA readers looking for a quick, mostly lighthearted (but check content warnings) book.
2024 tbr: 36/120
the last thing eila das expected to do this summer was attend a camp hosted by a tv show she hates. secretly, though, she’s excited when she learns that her sister has signed the two of them up, as this might break her into the world of acting. as she finds friends, enemies, and maybe even love, she begins to realize that maybe the camp isn’t as bad as she thought it would be.
i’m going to be honest: i almost DNFd this not too far in. the dialogue and narrative were too cringey. this was my second book by the author so i wasn’t expecting this writing style going in. i had a feeling that it would get better, though, and it did! i’m glad i finished this book because it was so fun. i loved the regency vibes in a modern setting, all the overly dramatic theatre (and some non-theatre!) kids, and the relationship drama.
i would recommend this to any YA readers looking for a quick, mostly lighthearted (but check content warnings) book.
Read
May 24, 2023+ (mostly) intelligent Austen & Shakespeare references
+ decently appropriate & semi-believable romance
+ fun setting
+ easy & enjoyable to read
+ representation of various cultures in literature & theatre
+ cute cover
+ quotes from other books interspersed throughout
- explicit references (which I will continually argue do not belong in YA)
- requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief (oh yes, they totally cast a seventeen-year-old in this TV show that is definitely not just a Bridgerton ripoff & are obviously looking for more inexperienced teens to fill lead roles & a summer camp is clearly the best way to do that)
- heavy-handed attempt to push an agenda at the expense of the story
- little moral dimension to characters (antagonist never forgiven or redeemed, but protagonists' flaws are all overlooked in the end despite a lack of real repentance or change)
- no parental involvement
I won't deign this with a star rating because, well, it does what it was trying to do: a fast-paced flirty teenage romcom peppered with literary references & progressive agendas. It loses some points for its adult content (sex does not belong in YA) and heavy-handedness, but for what it is, it's decent.
However, YA contemporary and I do not get along, and I doubt we ever will. I try and I try, but even Shakespeare-meets-Austen has failed me. Shallow teenage romance just isn't my thing. I should probably stop trying to enjoy it.
This was loads better than Debating Darcy, though.
(In case it wasn't clear, I would only recommend this if you LIKE YA contemporary romances or, like me, care enough to forge your way through a slough of iffy content and foolish behavior for the literary references. It only took me a day.)
+ decently appropriate & semi-believable romance
+ fun setting
+ easy & enjoyable to read
+ representation of various cultures in literature & theatre
+ cute cover
+ quotes from other books interspersed throughout
- explicit references (which I will continually argue do not belong in YA)
- requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief (oh yes, they totally cast a seventeen-year-old in this TV show that is definitely not just a Bridgerton ripoff & are obviously looking for more inexperienced teens to fill lead roles & a summer camp is clearly the best way to do that)
- heavy-handed attempt to push an agenda at the expense of the story
- little moral dimension to characters (antagonist never forgiven or redeemed, but protagonists' flaws are all overlooked in the end despite a lack of real repentance or change)
- no parental involvement
I won't deign this with a star rating because, well, it does what it was trying to do: a fast-paced flirty teenage romcom peppered with literary references & progressive agendas. It loses some points for its adult content (sex does not belong in YA) and heavy-handedness, but for what it is, it's decent.
However, YA contemporary and I do not get along, and I doubt we ever will. I try and I try, but even Shakespeare-meets-Austen has failed me. Shallow teenage romance just isn't my thing. I should probably stop trying to enjoy it.
This was loads better than Debating Darcy, though.
(In case it wasn't clear, I would only recommend this if you LIKE YA contemporary romances or, like me, care enough to forge your way through a slough of iffy content and foolish behavior for the literary references. It only took me a day.)
March 12, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
A sweet and chaotic (and loose) retelling of Sense and Sensibility but with more diversity! Lots of literary references to Shakespeare and Austenland.
Eila and Mallika are quirky and fun gen-z sisters who could take their banter show on the road. Eila is the oldest daughter of immigrant parents and has had to sacrifice much of her energy and time to her sister's wellbeing after their father died. Got me with that one for sure.
Through shenanigans, they end up attending a regency camp over the summer in hopes of starring in the show that's sponsoring the camp. I absolutely love this premise!
Mallika is full chaos and I loved that for her. Eila on the other hand meets a really cool boy named Rahul, falls in love and gets her heart trampled on several times. Don't love that for her.
First half was great. The side characters made a great addition to the main plot points. The romance was also building up nicely and quite fast (they are teens after all).
The second half fell flat for me. It wasn't my fave in terms of pacing, but also I feel like the character development went out the window in favour of more chaotic events. The ending especially felt rushed for me which sucks because it was still a relatively positive one.
Overall, good vibes - and a fun story about teenagers going to a regency camp and having a great time and falling in love. Maybe I should find one like that but I fear it'd just be filled with freaky improv loving weirdos.
A sweet and chaotic (and loose) retelling of Sense and Sensibility but with more diversity! Lots of literary references to Shakespeare and Austenland.
Eila and Mallika are quirky and fun gen-z sisters who could take their banter show on the road. Eila is the oldest daughter of immigrant parents and has had to sacrifice much of her energy and time to her sister's wellbeing after their father died. Got me with that one for sure.
Through shenanigans, they end up attending a regency camp over the summer in hopes of starring in the show that's sponsoring the camp. I absolutely love this premise!
Mallika is full chaos and I loved that for her. Eila on the other hand meets a really cool boy named Rahul, falls in love and gets her heart trampled on several times. Don't love that for her.
First half was great. The side characters made a great addition to the main plot points. The romance was also building up nicely and quite fast (they are teens after all).
The second half fell flat for me. It wasn't my fave in terms of pacing, but also I feel like the character development went out the window in favour of more chaotic events. The ending especially felt rushed for me which sucks because it was still a relatively positive one.
Overall, good vibes - and a fun story about teenagers going to a regency camp and having a great time and falling in love. Maybe I should find one like that but I fear it'd just be filled with freaky improv loving weirdos.
March 26, 2023
rep: bengali-american MC, bangladeshi chinese singaporean british LI, bengali-american SC, hongki-british SC, f/f couple, m/m couple
with its whole setting, i thought it to be fun and light-hearted. eila and mallika entering the world of rosewood in hopes to be an actor of rosewood 2. well, mallika is working towards that while eila just followed along. while this is a retelling of sense and sensibility by jane austen, it doesn’t fully follow the original tale. it’s actually pretty chaotic as well. i thought the romance to be slightly unbelievable and their instant attraction was a little bit fast (maybe this is in tuned with the original novel?) so i didn’t like that. it made the pacing of the latter half when their third act conflict happened to be weird and rushed and didn’t really make sense. however, pushing that all aside, this is a light-hearted and chaotic retelling.
also, one thing i liked the most was the siblings relationship between mallika and eila. ever since their father’s death, eila started feeling protective about her younger sister and started to think that she needs to be responsible, forward-looking, and in control of everything. during this trip to rosewood, mallika is hoping her sister would let things go a bit and enjoy the smaller things in life without worrying too much.
with its whole setting, i thought it to be fun and light-hearted. eila and mallika entering the world of rosewood in hopes to be an actor of rosewood 2. well, mallika is working towards that while eila just followed along. while this is a retelling of sense and sensibility by jane austen, it doesn’t fully follow the original tale. it’s actually pretty chaotic as well. i thought the romance to be slightly unbelievable and their instant attraction was a little bit fast (maybe this is in tuned with the original novel?) so i didn’t like that. it made the pacing of the latter half when their third act conflict happened to be weird and rushed and didn’t really make sense. however, pushing that all aside, this is a light-hearted and chaotic retelling.
also, one thing i liked the most was the siblings relationship between mallika and eila. ever since their father’s death, eila started feeling protective about her younger sister and started to think that she needs to be responsible, forward-looking, and in control of everything. during this trip to rosewood, mallika is hoping her sister would let things go a bit and enjoy the smaller things in life without worrying too much.
April 10, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
This was a fun YA romance featuring a diverse cast of Desi teens who spend the summer competing for a role on a reality TV show, Rosewood. The twist, they have to dress in Regency costume the entire time and aren't allowed access to social media. Perfect for fans of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, The Bridgertons or the book Austenland and good on audio too.
This was a fun YA romance featuring a diverse cast of Desi teens who spend the summer competing for a role on a reality TV show, Rosewood. The twist, they have to dress in Regency costume the entire time and aren't allowed access to social media. Perfect for fans of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, The Bridgertons or the book Austenland and good on audio too.
March 11, 2023
Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute is a delightful novel that follows Eila Das, a theatre and Shakespeare enthusiast. Her younger sister, Mallika, persuades Eila to attend Rosewood, a place where they can land roles in a popular regency-detective show. The book is a joyful romance filled with wit and humor that will keep you entertained from start to finish. The author has done an excellent job of crafting unique personalities for each character, and their goofiness is so charming that you will fall in love with all of them. Mallika's dramatics are a joy to read, and 'Wallika' is definitely something that will make you laugh. The romance between Eila and Rahul is swoon-worthy, and the Shakespearean and Austen quotes sprinkled throughout the book add an extra layer of depth to the story. In fact, the book is so well-written that it made me wish that I had read the works of these literary giants before.
One of the most remarkable things about Rosewood is the sibling relationship portrayed in the book. Eila and Mallika's bond is heartwarming and a breath of fresh air. This aspect of the book is something that readers will appreciate, especially if they are looking for representations of positive sibling relationship.
The pacing of the book is excellent, and I breezed through the pages in just a few hours. It is a perfect read for those who are looking for a young adult version of Bridgerton, but with much more fun and diverse characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, humor, Shakespeare, or anyone looking for a light and entertaining read.
Special thanks to the publisher and ColoredPagesTours for providing me with the finished copy.
One of the most remarkable things about Rosewood is the sibling relationship portrayed in the book. Eila and Mallika's bond is heartwarming and a breath of fresh air. This aspect of the book is something that readers will appreciate, especially if they are looking for representations of positive sibling relationship.
The pacing of the book is excellent, and I breezed through the pages in just a few hours. It is a perfect read for those who are looking for a young adult version of Bridgerton, but with much more fun and diverse characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, humor, Shakespeare, or anyone looking for a light and entertaining read.
Special thanks to the publisher and ColoredPagesTours for providing me with the finished copy.
November 18, 2023
I don't think I enjoyed a single second of this. The author can't seem to decide whether she's going to stick with Shakespearean language or modern stuff. It's disjointed to the point of frustration. I'm not one to dispel the way living with seniors/older people changes your vocab just because of the phrases/sayings you're more used to hearing at home - I catch myself saying things that make me seem like I'm a 50-something empty-nester who remembers Y2K like it was yesterday. BUT MY GOD. These teen characters speak like they are new to this century; specifically, anytime diversity is mentioned, they cannot stop referencing the multiculturalism of it all or how we need to be doing more feminist retellings of yaddayadda to increase the yaddayadda. Usually, I really like the inclusion of that stuff, but only when its done well. Can't tell if this is an older adult's attempt at interpreting how Gen Z views these topics or if this is just their legitimate inner monologue on these things. Either way, it translates poorly to the page and beats you over the head with exposition and characterization until you're having a miserable time.
I stand by what I said, Maya: there is nothing worse than a book that tries to be both intellectual and emotionally driven and fails at both in a simultaneous dumpster fire. The romance of this book (I mean, THE INTENDED BACKBONE OF THE WHOLE THING) is somehow even more non-existent than my patience with this book. We know nothing about Rahul except that he's rich and is really into Austen/Shakespeare texts. UGOJLHKJBKSBBJKBJKN
This is one of those texts where I really wish I could save and upload all my thoughts while reading because I simply can't articulate everything that made me mad and frustrated about this but GAHHKSHF.
I stand by what I said, Maya: there is nothing worse than a book that tries to be both intellectual and emotionally driven and fails at both in a simultaneous dumpster fire. The romance of this book (I mean, THE INTENDED BACKBONE OF THE WHOLE THING) is somehow even more non-existent than my patience with this book. We know nothing about Rahul except that he's rich and is really into Austen/Shakespeare texts. UGOJLHKJBKSBBJKBJKN
This is one of those texts where I really wish I could save and upload all my thoughts while reading because I simply can't articulate everything that made me mad and frustrated about this but GAHHKSHF.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2025
This book was cute, but it lost me as quickly as it hooked me.
I mean, a camp where you get to dress in Regency wear and act the whole time? That sounds awesome! But the charm was lost super fast, and the characters didn't live up to their expectations. It also just felt rushed at the end with no buildup.
The biggest flop was the romances. I loved Rahul and Eila at first, but when Eila stopped trusting Rahul and decided she was going to still use him to get a role on Rosewood, the motivation made no sense. And it made no sense why Rahul would play along with it. I'd just ditch her if she didn't believe me when I said I didn't call the reporters. And there was no rekindling really except for when they connected over the lanterns on the last few pages? But that was set up poorly, so it also didn't feel earned. The reader should be able to guess what Rahul had planned, and I truly had no idea where that scene was going when he told Eila and the friends to wait and look to the sky.
The romance between Will and John also came out of nowhere. John showed a lot of interest behind the scenes and to his friends, but Will showed nothing. Then suddenly he kisses John in the performance for the Queen? Which made Annie and Mallika realize they liked each other? That one was set up a bit better but there was nothing in the middle because Mallika and Will were pretending to date when they could've been honest at least to their friends? I don't know why that had to be a secret.
And don't even get me started on the scene when the Queen is offering roles to the friend group. Who do they think they are to be able to demand such things like "we have to be a couple" or "I don't trust the main actor, so I can't be with him" like, okay? I'll hire someone else. NEXT. It just was clumsy at the end and didn't have the charm the beginning brought with all the fun of arriving at the camp.
I mean, a camp where you get to dress in Regency wear and act the whole time? That sounds awesome! But the charm was lost super fast, and the characters didn't live up to their expectations. It also just felt rushed at the end with no buildup.
The biggest flop was the romances. I loved Rahul and Eila at first, but when Eila stopped trusting Rahul and decided she was going to still use him to get a role on Rosewood, the motivation made no sense. And it made no sense why Rahul would play along with it. I'd just ditch her if she didn't believe me when I said I didn't call the reporters. And there was no rekindling really except for when they connected over the lanterns on the last few pages? But that was set up poorly, so it also didn't feel earned. The reader should be able to guess what Rahul had planned, and I truly had no idea where that scene was going when he told Eila and the friends to wait and look to the sky.
The romance between Will and John also came out of nowhere. John showed a lot of interest behind the scenes and to his friends, but Will showed nothing. Then suddenly he kisses John in the performance for the Queen? Which made Annie and Mallika realize they liked each other? That one was set up a bit better but there was nothing in the middle because Mallika and Will were pretending to date when they could've been honest at least to their friends? I don't know why that had to be a secret.
And don't even get me started on the scene when the Queen is offering roles to the friend group. Who do they think they are to be able to demand such things like "we have to be a couple" or "I don't trust the main actor, so I can't be with him" like, okay? I'll hire someone else. NEXT. It just was clumsy at the end and didn't have the charm the beginning brought with all the fun of arriving at the camp.
December 24, 2023
Okayyyyy so.
I LOVED the first part of this book and I literally could not put it down! I loved the romance and the characters. The second part of the book however, started to really annoy me. The main character Eila suddenly becomes the worst communicator ever even though before she seemed logical and put together. She gets with Rahul like halfway through then gets mad at him without even knowing the whole truth and insists that he’s lied to her even tho she don’t actually know! Ugh! It was so enfuriating! Like I get it when you’re mad, but it needs to be for actually good reason. Anyways, then Eila agrees to do the fake dating and that was just about the most half baked fake dating scenario I’ve ever read! And the Regency era flirting was SO BAD. Like SO cringey.
Overall, I thought it was a cute read, I just got really annoyed with all the characters halfway through.
I LOVED the first part of this book and I literally could not put it down! I loved the romance and the characters. The second part of the book however, started to really annoy me. The main character Eila suddenly becomes the worst communicator ever even though before she seemed logical and put together. She gets with Rahul like halfway through then gets mad at him without even knowing the whole truth and insists that he’s lied to her even tho she don’t actually know! Ugh! It was so enfuriating! Like I get it when you’re mad, but it needs to be for actually good reason. Anyways, then Eila agrees to do the fake dating and that was just about the most half baked fake dating scenario I’ve ever read! And the Regency era flirting was SO BAD. Like SO cringey.
Overall, I thought it was a cute read, I just got really annoyed with all the characters halfway through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2023
A thoroughly fun read! This book was described to me as Sense & Sensibility meets Bridgerton, and I was hooked. I read this book in a single day. While you need to suspend your disbelief over some of the events in the novel, it's not so over the top that it's not enjoyable. I loved all the literary references and the representation. I would hand this to fans of Bridgerton and contemporary romance.
April 5, 2023
This was fun, if predictable and overly melodramatic. The author stuffed in maybe a few too many tropes. But I did enjoy all the Shakespeare and Jane Austen references thrown in. And I found the relationship between the sisters to be the glue of this novel. The romance was fine, but the sisters were the most interesting.
September 18, 2023
The first half of this book deserved five stars but sadly it just went downhill from there 🫠
Full review to come :)
Full review to come :)
March 10, 2023
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
From the very beginning, I fell in love with Rosewood. Not only is the representation at the forefront in the book, but also the attention to representation in the media, but Eila is charming. You might not agree with everything she does, but she gave me serious Kate Sharma vibes mixed with a Jane Austen heroine all in once. Loosely based on Sense and Sensibility, Rosewood is a story that plays with fiery Austen heroines, Shakespearen vibes, and tons of contemporary flair.
Eila and her sister's relationship is one of my favorite elements of Rosewood. The ways in which she is fiercely protective of her, feels like a stand-in mother figure, but also sometimes the baby bird just needs to fly alone. We can be so focused on protecting the ones we love, we can fail to realize they need to flounder a bit, to be given a chance to figure out who they are. What they can do. If you love those kinds of older sister characters - who also feel the weight of being the eldest - then Rosewood is for you.
full review; https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/blog...
From the very beginning, I fell in love with Rosewood. Not only is the representation at the forefront in the book, but also the attention to representation in the media, but Eila is charming. You might not agree with everything she does, but she gave me serious Kate Sharma vibes mixed with a Jane Austen heroine all in once. Loosely based on Sense and Sensibility, Rosewood is a story that plays with fiery Austen heroines, Shakespearen vibes, and tons of contemporary flair.
Eila and her sister's relationship is one of my favorite elements of Rosewood. The ways in which she is fiercely protective of her, feels like a stand-in mother figure, but also sometimes the baby bird just needs to fly alone. We can be so focused on protecting the ones we love, we can fail to realize they need to flounder a bit, to be given a chance to figure out who they are. What they can do. If you love those kinds of older sister characters - who also feel the weight of being the eldest - then Rosewood is for you.
full review; https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/blog...
April 2, 2023
sooo freaking cute 💞 4.25 stars rounded up!
May 6, 2023
A perfect teenage love story that mimics literary greats. I can’t wait to see what this author has in store next.
May 2, 2025
Sense and Sensibility meets A Midsummer Night's Dream meets Bridgerton? SIGN ME UP. This book is so much fun and also very cute.
August 20, 2023
bro the writing was so bad. from the dialogue to the general plot line it just wasn’t it.
June 13, 2023
The blending of tropes was super fun and kept me on my toes! Rosewood is a light and easy read that is simple pleasure, something hard to come by with diverse representation. If you're looking for sweet story that reads like a warm hug to all people who struggle to be seen in fiction, this one's for you.
August 24, 2023
Unlikable FMC makes book hard to love.
This is a retelling of a classic, and maybe I would have liked it more if I had read said classic. (Sense & Sensibility) As it stands the main character, Eila, was just so incredibly annoying and privileged to me. (Seriously y'all, my eye roll at the fact that she is "only" upper middle class almost made me DNF) It was really hard to like her. In the beginning I was definitely getting inner misogyny vibes, especially pertaining to how she thinks of her sister. All of her thoughts and actions were much come off as just a "performative ally" and "stereotypical feminist". You know the ones. They put a rainbow flag in their bio or BLM and that's kinda it. Maybe they speak up at and interject but don't actually try to make change. (Such as when she accused them of upholding the gender binary of bonnets and breeches, yet made sure her face was hidden) The kind of person who just isn't an ally, is more of someone who wants to complain but never actually actively participates and engages in change. She also gives a bad name to feminists everywhere, seemingly less of searching for equal rights and more for attacking and insulting and being overall an unpleasant and rude person. (Seriously- this is not what an actual feminist does/stands for)
These traits are incredibly highlighted by what I mentioned earlier, her having issues with a rich boy because she is "only" upper middle class. (Only 14% of Americans identify as upper middle class, just so y'all get a better idea) I think overall an apt description of her would be a snob. In my deepest darkest heart I kinda wished she would end up alone.
A lot of the writing didn't allow the reader to draw their own obvious conclusions, and instead made it very clear what was happening at all times. I think the author needs to trust her readers more, and not explain why the characters are feeling point by point as much.
A lot of the plot moves along pretty quickly and you kind of have to suspend belief over so many things. (Plot holes are many and varied)
Would I recommend this book? I say give it a try for yourself and see what you think! If you are on the fence though....maybe try a different book.
This is a retelling of a classic, and maybe I would have liked it more if I had read said classic. (Sense & Sensibility) As it stands the main character, Eila, was just so incredibly annoying and privileged to me. (Seriously y'all, my eye roll at the fact that she is "only" upper middle class almost made me DNF) It was really hard to like her. In the beginning I was definitely getting inner misogyny vibes, especially pertaining to how she thinks of her sister. All of her thoughts and actions were much come off as just a "performative ally" and "stereotypical feminist". You know the ones. They put a rainbow flag in their bio or BLM and that's kinda it. Maybe they speak up at and interject but don't actually try to make change. (Such as when she accused them of upholding the gender binary of bonnets and breeches, yet made sure her face was hidden) The kind of person who just isn't an ally, is more of someone who wants to complain but never actually actively participates and engages in change. She also gives a bad name to feminists everywhere, seemingly less of searching for equal rights and more for attacking and insulting and being overall an unpleasant and rude person. (Seriously- this is not what an actual feminist does/stands for)
These traits are incredibly highlighted by what I mentioned earlier, her having issues with a rich boy because she is "only" upper middle class. (Only 14% of Americans identify as upper middle class, just so y'all get a better idea) I think overall an apt description of her would be a snob. In my deepest darkest heart I kinda wished she would end up alone.
A lot of the writing didn't allow the reader to draw their own obvious conclusions, and instead made it very clear what was happening at all times. I think the author needs to trust her readers more, and not explain why the characters are feeling point by point as much.
A lot of the plot moves along pretty quickly and you kind of have to suspend belief over so many things. (Plot holes are many and varied)
Would I recommend this book? I say give it a try for yourself and see what you think! If you are on the fence though....maybe try a different book.
May 17, 2023
"There were thing we had to discuss. There were things I didn't understand. There were arguments still to be had. But for the moment, the magic of the theater had made all of that fall away, and all I knew was how to let my emotions lead me. Because the best magic is woven in the theater with the truest threads."
Verdict: 3.5 stars, rounded up.
TBH, if I was rating purely objectively, on the merits of the book, I'd round down. But this is a true YA, and I would definitely recommend it, and I'd probably even buy a copy for our home library.
There were things that bugged me about this story -- more in a second -- but at the end of the day, there were just a few things that this book really did well, so I'm rounding up.
✓ -- Representation. Our MC, Eila, is a Bengali American (as is her younger sister) and the rest of the cast is wonderfully diverse not only in terms of race & ethnicity, but also in sexual orientation. The main romance is M/F, but there are 2 queer relationships portrayed. DasGupta is a board member of We Need Diverse Books, so this makes sense, and that matters a lot to me in terms of rating -- that teens and other readers can see themselves reflected in the pages and the story. There's also nary a white man in sight, so kudos for that.
The representation -- particularly in stories or settings where white characters typically dominate -- is something that both Bridgerton and Hamilton have both done, with varying degrees of successful critical commentary. DasGupta gets a bit heavy-handed here at times, having her teenage protagonists engage in "enlightening" conversations with their white friend -- again, a little cringey for older readers, but probably the right level of directness for younger/teenage readers who may have never encountered these alternate perspectives before.
✓-- Structure. I also really enjoyed how short DasGupta kept her chapters, and the way she broke them up, offering quotes from relevant texts and Regency Fun Facts and historical context in between. I'm a 19th Century BritLit girl, though -- the one who voluntarily read *all* of Jane Eyre in middle school when it was assigned -- so this definitely appealed to me.
My one quibble was that some of the historical etiquette came from (I'm assuming a real) book -- from 1847. Which...my nitpicky self was kinda irked by, because 1847 is a decade *after* the Regency ended. The Victorian era started in England with the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837, so 1847 is firmly in the Victorian period -- and the same year that Jane Eyre was published -- so more Bronte than Austen.
There were some really frustrating aspects which again, if I'd been rating solely for my own reading experience, would have lowered this down to 3 stars.
✖️ -- Mean Girls. Oh, I was not a fan of this. At the beginning, Eila self identifies as a feminist, and she makes several sharp comments about gender binaries and colonization and systemic & internalized misogyny because patriarchy. But...she acts like a Mean Girl herself, sometimes, and the character of Lucy is a really, really flat awful caricature of a Mean Girl. She serves no narrative purpose other than to create drama -- and if her parents worked in the industry, would she really have been allowed to attend the camp? -- and she has no depth or nuance to her character.
Given that DasGupta says she loves Austen's novels, and given how nuanced Austen's portrayals of the upper classes were, I expected a bit more here. The Mean Girl Drama as a source of conflict is something that just seems to perpetuate harmful ideas of how girls should interact with each other, and I really wish DasGupta had done better by Lucy.
✖️ -- Literary Elitism. As someone who did graduate work in Children's Literature, this is something I'm *very* familiar with. So I was really disappointed to see Eila be so dismissive of Jane Austen's works at the beginning, and so in love with Shakespeare. Don't get me wrong -- Shakespeare's great and so delightfully subversive & transgressive at times -- but he's also a Dead White Man, which the majority of the (Western) Literary Canon revolves around. A self-proclaimed feminist such as Eila *should* have been championing female authors (and authors of color) and so her dislike of Austen -- who was herself sharp-witted and subversive, within the confines of the domestic / romance novel! -- just irritated me. Especially since Eila based her dislike off of film adaptations -- which is ridiculous because Clueless and 10 Things and all the others are effin brilliant -- and not on the actual prose.
✖️ -- Shallow Characters. All the characters are a bit flat -- given that this is a Regency summer camp, I know very little about why any of the characters, aside from Eila & Mal (and Annie) are there. Why are John and Will and Penny and Brandon there?
✖️ -- Pacing. A bunch of other people have pointed this out, but the pacing was really off. I almost feel like this could have been a duology -- and that would have fixed some of the shallower characters and helped us understand them better. I get that at the end of the day this is a romance, but especially with the allusions to Shakespeare and Austen, more time & textual space would have fixed a lot of my issues with the text. Especially because the ending felt really rushed -- bam! play; bam! ball; bam! resolution -- it all happened in about 15-20 pages.
Lots of personal quirks & irritations for me, but I'd definitely recommend it, and I'd probably even check DasGupta's Debating Darcy out of the library for a beach / lake weekend read. Something light and fluffy.
Verdict: 3.5 stars, rounded up.
TBH, if I was rating purely objectively, on the merits of the book, I'd round down. But this is a true YA, and I would definitely recommend it, and I'd probably even buy a copy for our home library.
There were things that bugged me about this story -- more in a second -- but at the end of the day, there were just a few things that this book really did well, so I'm rounding up.
✓ -- Representation. Our MC, Eila, is a Bengali American (as is her younger sister) and the rest of the cast is wonderfully diverse not only in terms of race & ethnicity, but also in sexual orientation. The main romance is M/F, but there are 2 queer relationships portrayed. DasGupta is a board member of We Need Diverse Books, so this makes sense, and that matters a lot to me in terms of rating -- that teens and other readers can see themselves reflected in the pages and the story. There's also nary a white man in sight, so kudos for that.
The representation -- particularly in stories or settings where white characters typically dominate -- is something that both Bridgerton and Hamilton have both done, with varying degrees of successful critical commentary. DasGupta gets a bit heavy-handed here at times, having her teenage protagonists engage in "enlightening" conversations with their white friend -- again, a little cringey for older readers, but probably the right level of directness for younger/teenage readers who may have never encountered these alternate perspectives before.
✓-- Structure. I also really enjoyed how short DasGupta kept her chapters, and the way she broke them up, offering quotes from relevant texts and Regency Fun Facts and historical context in between. I'm a 19th Century BritLit girl, though -- the one who voluntarily read *all* of Jane Eyre in middle school when it was assigned -- so this definitely appealed to me.
My one quibble was that some of the historical etiquette came from (I'm assuming a real) book -- from 1847. Which...my nitpicky self was kinda irked by, because 1847 is a decade *after* the Regency ended. The Victorian era started in England with the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837, so 1847 is firmly in the Victorian period -- and the same year that Jane Eyre was published -- so more Bronte than Austen.
There were some really frustrating aspects which again, if I'd been rating solely for my own reading experience, would have lowered this down to 3 stars.
✖️ -- Mean Girls. Oh, I was not a fan of this. At the beginning, Eila self identifies as a feminist, and she makes several sharp comments about gender binaries and colonization and systemic & internalized misogyny because patriarchy. But...she acts like a Mean Girl herself, sometimes, and the character of Lucy is a really, really flat awful caricature of a Mean Girl. She serves no narrative purpose other than to create drama -- and if her parents worked in the industry, would she really have been allowed to attend the camp? -- and she has no depth or nuance to her character.
Given that DasGupta says she loves Austen's novels, and given how nuanced Austen's portrayals of the upper classes were, I expected a bit more here. The Mean Girl Drama as a source of conflict is something that just seems to perpetuate harmful ideas of how girls should interact with each other, and I really wish DasGupta had done better by Lucy.
✖️ -- Literary Elitism. As someone who did graduate work in Children's Literature, this is something I'm *very* familiar with. So I was really disappointed to see Eila be so dismissive of Jane Austen's works at the beginning, and so in love with Shakespeare. Don't get me wrong -- Shakespeare's great and so delightfully subversive & transgressive at times -- but he's also a Dead White Man, which the majority of the (Western) Literary Canon revolves around. A self-proclaimed feminist such as Eila *should* have been championing female authors (and authors of color) and so her dislike of Austen -- who was herself sharp-witted and subversive, within the confines of the domestic / romance novel! -- just irritated me. Especially since Eila based her dislike off of film adaptations -- which is ridiculous because Clueless and 10 Things and all the others are effin brilliant -- and not on the actual prose.
✖️ -- Shallow Characters. All the characters are a bit flat -- given that this is a Regency summer camp, I know very little about why any of the characters, aside from Eila & Mal (and Annie) are there. Why are John and Will and Penny and Brandon there?
✖️ -- Pacing. A bunch of other people have pointed this out, but the pacing was really off. I almost feel like this could have been a duology -- and that would have fixed some of the shallower characters and helped us understand them better. I get that at the end of the day this is a romance, but especially with the allusions to Shakespeare and Austen, more time & textual space would have fixed a lot of my issues with the text. Especially because the ending felt really rushed -- bam! play; bam! ball; bam! resolution -- it all happened in about 15-20 pages.
Lots of personal quirks & irritations for me, but I'd definitely recommend it, and I'd probably even check DasGupta's Debating Darcy out of the library for a beach / lake weekend read. Something light and fluffy.
March 12, 2023
Austenland meets Bridgerton meets Shakespeare? ❤️
↓ Similar Reads ↓
1. Sayantani Dasgupta’s Debating Darcy
2. Shannon Hale’s Austenland
3. Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility
Eila Das is furious with her younger sister, Mallika, when she learns that she not only applied to Regency Camp on Eila’s behalf but the two sisters have also been accepted. Hosted by the hit Bridgerton-meets-Murder-She-Wrote TV series, Rosewood, the camp offers the opportunity for attendees to get cast as background extras and, for a lucky few, even a dead body! Naturally, in this very loose reimagining of Sense & Sensibility, our Elinor-inspired protagonist struggles to give into her emotions and relieve herself of the many responsibilities she has adopted after the passing of their father. Will Regency Camp and the chance to be on Rosewood finally help Eila let loose and have a little fun?
Dasgupta makes this reimagining her own while still including a lovely variety of hints and nods to Jane Austen as well as William Shakespeare, since Eila is a character who adores Shakespearean theater. The diverse cast of characters is complemented by their open dialogue about the ongoing struggle to include storylines with BIPOC and/or LGBT+ leading protagonists in the entertainment industry. I particularly appreciated the indirect commentary on the very popular TV series Bridgerton which is praised for its inclusivity, but the main family we follow are white heteronormative characters…so the central coupling for each season seems destined to be mixed at best, always featuring at least one white romantic lead, and probably a straight happily ever after. It’s exciting to know that these critical discussions will be absorbed by teens who hopefully can continue pushing the industry toward more progress.
Incidentally, I am taking a Shakespeare course during my final semester in graduate school, studying the playwright’s histories and comedies. It definitely helped me gain a higher level of enjoyment and connection with the book having read Austen and, just recently, Shakespeare. Full disclosure: I’ve only read a few Austen titles, and fortunately Sense & Sensibility is one of them (and it’s my favorite thus far!). And I only have read/watched Much Ado About Nothing a mere week before reading this book, which I suppose proves that Fate exists. This Shakespearean comedy, among others, is referenced quite a bit, and I can attest that my background knowledge enhanced my reading experience. With that said, I think this would be an enjoyable read for anyone who adores modern takes on Regency themes and culture. It is just all the more fun when you are in on the jokes and nods to these classic works!
Silly at times and heartwarming at others, this YA contemporary romance gave me the swoons, the giggles, and the feminist feels. A lovely read, for sure!
↓ Similar Reads ↓
1. Sayantani Dasgupta’s Debating Darcy
2. Shannon Hale’s Austenland
3. Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility
Eila Das is furious with her younger sister, Mallika, when she learns that she not only applied to Regency Camp on Eila’s behalf but the two sisters have also been accepted. Hosted by the hit Bridgerton-meets-Murder-She-Wrote TV series, Rosewood, the camp offers the opportunity for attendees to get cast as background extras and, for a lucky few, even a dead body! Naturally, in this very loose reimagining of Sense & Sensibility, our Elinor-inspired protagonist struggles to give into her emotions and relieve herself of the many responsibilities she has adopted after the passing of their father. Will Regency Camp and the chance to be on Rosewood finally help Eila let loose and have a little fun?
Dasgupta makes this reimagining her own while still including a lovely variety of hints and nods to Jane Austen as well as William Shakespeare, since Eila is a character who adores Shakespearean theater. The diverse cast of characters is complemented by their open dialogue about the ongoing struggle to include storylines with BIPOC and/or LGBT+ leading protagonists in the entertainment industry. I particularly appreciated the indirect commentary on the very popular TV series Bridgerton which is praised for its inclusivity, but the main family we follow are white heteronormative characters…so the central coupling for each season seems destined to be mixed at best, always featuring at least one white romantic lead, and probably a straight happily ever after. It’s exciting to know that these critical discussions will be absorbed by teens who hopefully can continue pushing the industry toward more progress.
Incidentally, I am taking a Shakespeare course during my final semester in graduate school, studying the playwright’s histories and comedies. It definitely helped me gain a higher level of enjoyment and connection with the book having read Austen and, just recently, Shakespeare. Full disclosure: I’ve only read a few Austen titles, and fortunately Sense & Sensibility is one of them (and it’s my favorite thus far!). And I only have read/watched Much Ado About Nothing a mere week before reading this book, which I suppose proves that Fate exists. This Shakespearean comedy, among others, is referenced quite a bit, and I can attest that my background knowledge enhanced my reading experience. With that said, I think this would be an enjoyable read for anyone who adores modern takes on Regency themes and culture. It is just all the more fun when you are in on the jokes and nods to these classic works!
Silly at times and heartwarming at others, this YA contemporary romance gave me the swoons, the giggles, and the feminist feels. A lovely read, for sure!
March 5, 2025
Actual rating: 1.45 stars
This book...on a positive note I liked the diversity. The one thing that compelled me to read this was the fact that Eila was a Bengali girl just like me. Seeing Bengali culture represented in media is always a rare occurrence, so I would like to support and digest any media of Bengali heritage immediately. That being said, the only thing that I read this book for was not expressed very well.
Eila and Mallika Das are sisters, and they both are Bengali. But for some reason, I feel like their culture was very disregarded, I can't tell if the characters themselves were white washed, or if the actual book did a horrible job portraying it. There was supposed "diversity" but the book barely scratches the surface of that.
Another downside was, this book heavily lacked emotional depth. Eila and Mallika's father passed away, but I feel like the book barely scratches the surface of the true grief of losing a parent, especially as a teenager. Not only that, but I couldn't feel the emotions in this book at all, in a way it kind of felt flat???
This whole book is a supposed "summer meet-cute" but there was actually no romance until the last 20 pages and that shouldn't even be considered romance. Absolutely horrible.
Eila was also a very annoying main character, like I get your an older sister, but that doesn't mean your whole entire life is ruined because you'll be overshadowed by your younger sister. why does she act so...I can't even explain it lolol but she genuinely made me want to rip my eyes out. The reason on why she was mad at Rahul genuinely is so stupid, like girl get the flip over it, it's not that hard to be understanding.
Rahul had no flaws whatsoever, that being said his character was written so flat, he was literally the whitest plain bread ever. Not a well written character at all.
And on the biggest issue of all: the actual premise of this book was ridiculously stupid. Like the conflicts didn't even feel like conflicts, Lucy is literally not even that bad, the flip? Everything is written so dramatically for no reason whatsoever, and the "plot twists" shouldn't even be considered plot twists.
And it was so so so boring, literally the most boring book I ever read. I had to force myself to read it, which I usually never have to do.
I would definitely not reccomend this book to anybody, please do not read unless you want to waste your time.
This book...on a positive note I liked the diversity. The one thing that compelled me to read this was the fact that Eila was a Bengali girl just like me. Seeing Bengali culture represented in media is always a rare occurrence, so I would like to support and digest any media of Bengali heritage immediately. That being said, the only thing that I read this book for was not expressed very well.
Eila and Mallika Das are sisters, and they both are Bengali. But for some reason, I feel like their culture was very disregarded, I can't tell if the characters themselves were white washed, or if the actual book did a horrible job portraying it. There was supposed "diversity" but the book barely scratches the surface of that.
Another downside was, this book heavily lacked emotional depth. Eila and Mallika's father passed away, but I feel like the book barely scratches the surface of the true grief of losing a parent, especially as a teenager. Not only that, but I couldn't feel the emotions in this book at all, in a way it kind of felt flat???
This whole book is a supposed "summer meet-cute" but there was actually no romance until the last 20 pages and that shouldn't even be considered romance. Absolutely horrible.
Eila was also a very annoying main character, like I get your an older sister, but that doesn't mean your whole entire life is ruined because you'll be overshadowed by your younger sister. why does she act so...I can't even explain it lolol but she genuinely made me want to rip my eyes out. The reason on why she was mad at Rahul genuinely is so stupid, like girl get the flip over it, it's not that hard to be understanding.
Rahul had no flaws whatsoever, that being said his character was written so flat, he was literally the whitest plain bread ever. Not a well written character at all.
And on the biggest issue of all: the actual premise of this book was ridiculously stupid. Like the conflicts didn't even feel like conflicts, Lucy is literally not even that bad, the flip? Everything is written so dramatically for no reason whatsoever, and the "plot twists" shouldn't even be considered plot twists.
And it was so so so boring, literally the most boring book I ever read. I had to force myself to read it, which I usually never have to do.
I would definitely not reccomend this book to anybody, please do not read unless you want to waste your time.
dnf
May 5, 2025DNF’d pretty much immediately. Awhile ago I saw a Reddit post on some bookish subreddit asking people for the pettiest reason they’d ever DNF’d a book. I think I have a new answer. Though in my own defense, I firmly stand behind it.
On pretty much the first page (I’m listening to the audio so I’m not sure exactly which page it fell on) the FMC and her sister are talking about a multicultural regency-era Netflix show (think Bridgerton). The FMC is trashing it, saying Jane Austen would not approve. Then the sister calls her out, saying that she doesn’t even like Jane Austen. The FMC denies that, saying, “I do not hate Jane Austen. I just prefer more literary writers like Shakespeare.”
I’m sorry. What? Listen, I’m not here to bash Shakespeare. I’ve read, analyzed, and enjoyed many of his plays in the past. Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorite stories. And I’m not saying that his works aren’t considered literature, because they obviously are. But how is Shakespeare “more literary” than Jane Austen? I absolutely reject that assertion, but to get into it in more detail would make this review longer than the amount of the book than I actually read, so I’ll leave it at that.
I also thought the dialogue and prose were far too…trendy? I’m not sure if that’s exactly the right word, but I have a couple of examples. The sisters are talking about the Bollywood adaptation of P&P, Bride and Prejudice. The FMC says, “Yes, hashtag representation matters, but just because…” I’m sorry, who talks like that unironically? Later we’re told that a scene in the show they’re watching is ‘N-S-F-W’ (Not Safe For Work). It’s definitely possible my eyes would’ve skimmed over those moments if I was reading the physical copy, but hearing it spoken aloud just highlighted how silly it was.
I’m in too much of a book slump to push through something that is already annoying me to this extent, just to give it a 2 or 3 star rating.
On pretty much the first page (I’m listening to the audio so I’m not sure exactly which page it fell on) the FMC and her sister are talking about a multicultural regency-era Netflix show (think Bridgerton). The FMC is trashing it, saying Jane Austen would not approve. Then the sister calls her out, saying that she doesn’t even like Jane Austen. The FMC denies that, saying, “I do not hate Jane Austen. I just prefer more literary writers like Shakespeare.”
I’m sorry. What? Listen, I’m not here to bash Shakespeare. I’ve read, analyzed, and enjoyed many of his plays in the past. Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorite stories. And I’m not saying that his works aren’t considered literature, because they obviously are. But how is Shakespeare “more literary” than Jane Austen? I absolutely reject that assertion, but to get into it in more detail would make this review longer than the amount of the book than I actually read, so I’ll leave it at that.
I also thought the dialogue and prose were far too…trendy? I’m not sure if that’s exactly the right word, but I have a couple of examples. The sisters are talking about the Bollywood adaptation of P&P, Bride and Prejudice. The FMC says, “Yes, hashtag representation matters, but just because…” I’m sorry, who talks like that unironically? Later we’re told that a scene in the show they’re watching is ‘N-S-F-W’ (Not Safe For Work). It’s definitely possible my eyes would’ve skimmed over those moments if I was reading the physical copy, but hearing it spoken aloud just highlighted how silly it was.
I’m in too much of a book slump to push through something that is already annoying me to this extent, just to give it a 2 or 3 star rating.
February 4, 2023
Eila Das loves the theatre, especially acting in plays by Shakespeare. When her younger sister Mallika begs her to attend Rosewood’s Regency Camp this summer, she begrudgingly agrees. At least it’s acting, and she’ll be with Mallika. The camp is said to be choosing the principal actors for Rosewood’s upcoming Regency era romance/murder mystery television series from among the campers of color. Campers must act and dress like Regency era elite, which entails lessons in riding, fencing, dining, dancing, manners and more. Eila is prepared to find it all a bit much, but then she meets handsome Bangladeshi/Chinese/Singaporean/British Rahul Lee. He loves Shakespeare, and introduces Eila to Austen. Despite her reticence to like anything about the camp, Eila comes to more-than-like Rahul. But will jealous Lucy come between them? And, what is Rahul hiding?
Eila’s first person narration is an entertaining portrait of a smart girl falling in love for the first time, among the affected manners and dress of a Regency era romance. I liked the epigraphs between chapters – they set the tone with Regency fun facts, quotations and what seem to be excerpts from books on manners. (Since the ARC didn’t include the upcoming back matter, I’m not sure.) With copious lines lifted from Shakespeare and Austen, this is a theatre and literature lover’s dream romance. It’s such fun to re-imagine Sense and Sensibility or A Midsummer Night’s Dream with brown-skinned actors and romantic attraction that includes LGBTQ+ characters. It’s like a summer of Bridgerton, without the sex, and with mostly South Asian teens.
Eila’s first person narration is an entertaining portrait of a smart girl falling in love for the first time, among the affected manners and dress of a Regency era romance. I liked the epigraphs between chapters – they set the tone with Regency fun facts, quotations and what seem to be excerpts from books on manners. (Since the ARC didn’t include the upcoming back matter, I’m not sure.) With copious lines lifted from Shakespeare and Austen, this is a theatre and literature lover’s dream romance. It’s such fun to re-imagine Sense and Sensibility or A Midsummer Night’s Dream with brown-skinned actors and romantic attraction that includes LGBTQ+ characters. It’s like a summer of Bridgerton, without the sex, and with mostly South Asian teens.
January 31, 2023
Rosewood A Midsummer Meet Cute gives you all the Bridgerrton vibes in a modern setting. Elila Das is the Shakespeare-loving, responsible and practical whereas her younger sister Malika is more carefree and is a huge Jane Austen fan. Malika enters them into a contest to go to Rosewood Regency Camp and compete to be an extra on the hit show Rosewood. They get selected to join the camp and Eila agrees to attend thinking she will just go and watch over Malika, but the experience helps her learn and grow.
Rahul is the love interest of Eila and a member of the Regency camp. Besides being physically attracted to each other, Rahul and Eila had a strong intellectual attraction as well. While their love story was pretty predictable, I still found myself turning the page quickly to find out if I was right.
It's no surprise that the Regency era was not diverse. Eila points it out often in the story. Kudos to author Sayantani Dagupta for making sure that the cast of characters in this book are racially and LGBTQ-diverse.
I enjoyed reading the book because it was sprinkled with Shakespearean and Jane Austen quotes. The Regency vocabulary lists at the end of some chapters were helpful. While I knew most of the phrases, I learned some new ones as well.
Rosewood is a book for lovers of Jane Austen and Shakespeare who also like a pinch of Bridgerton thrown in.
This review first appeared on yabookcentral.com and can be found here https://www.yabookscentral.com/rosewo...
Rahul is the love interest of Eila and a member of the Regency camp. Besides being physically attracted to each other, Rahul and Eila had a strong intellectual attraction as well. While their love story was pretty predictable, I still found myself turning the page quickly to find out if I was right.
It's no surprise that the Regency era was not diverse. Eila points it out often in the story. Kudos to author Sayantani Dagupta for making sure that the cast of characters in this book are racially and LGBTQ-diverse.
I enjoyed reading the book because it was sprinkled with Shakespearean and Jane Austen quotes. The Regency vocabulary lists at the end of some chapters were helpful. While I knew most of the phrases, I learned some new ones as well.
Rosewood is a book for lovers of Jane Austen and Shakespeare who also like a pinch of Bridgerton thrown in.
This review first appeared on yabookcentral.com and can be found here https://www.yabookscentral.com/rosewo...
August 11, 2023
This novel was a very fun read! Although some of the happenings in it truly were over-the-top and some plot points just as fluffy and cliche as you would expect:
- I really related to Eila and her character background.
- I liked this novel even though I too am not much for Jane Austen or smut. I'm sorry if Eila and I are just snobs.
- I highly agreed with the #RepresentationMatters theme promoted in the novel.
- I cheered for the happily-ever-afters that finally came together during the Pyramus and Thisbe play.
- Even if you don't care about any of the previous selling points, it's a fun parody, rom-com, and celebration of Regency and Shakespeare nerdery!
Some specific humour from it I feel the need to highlight:
- "Jane Austen fight club" is sketch comedy gold we need to see happen!
- Lucy's "resting murderer face."
- No book lover will ever be mad at enough at their love interest to destroy a nice book they gave them.
- And just look at how badly Eila messed up her relationship with Rahul beforehand when it could've been so easy and nice and normal...!
Also: feminist boys are indeed the most attractive!
Overall, I think this novel helps to shed light on giving everyone and their specialties the spotlight that they deserve, from the intricacies of costuming, to your loud but well-meaning sister, to a variety of diversities and demographics. And I look forward to reading more from DasGupta!
- I really related to Eila and her character background.
- I liked this novel even though I too am not much for Jane Austen or smut. I'm sorry if Eila and I are just snobs.
- I highly agreed with the #RepresentationMatters theme promoted in the novel.
- I cheered for the happily-ever-afters that finally came together during the Pyramus and Thisbe play.
- Even if you don't care about any of the previous selling points, it's a fun parody, rom-com, and celebration of Regency and Shakespeare nerdery!
Some specific humour from it I feel the need to highlight:
- "Jane Austen fight club" is sketch comedy gold we need to see happen!
- Lucy's "resting murderer face."
- No book lover will ever be mad at enough at their love interest to destroy a nice book they gave them.
- And just look at how badly Eila messed up her relationship with Rahul beforehand when it could've been so easy and nice and normal...!
Also: feminist boys are indeed the most attractive!
Overall, I think this novel helps to shed light on giving everyone and their specialties the spotlight that they deserve, from the intricacies of costuming, to your loud but well-meaning sister, to a variety of diversities and demographics. And I look forward to reading more from DasGupta!
January 25, 2023
Imagine that you could attend a Bridgerton-esque summer camp for teens with the possibility of being cast in the upcoming season of the show (or the show re-framed as a "Sexy Regency Era Detective Show"). And, imagine that one of the campers has already been cast and camp staff are on the lookout for a second actor who might have good chemistry with this unknown individual. That's the general premise of the book.
I was surprised at (and a little annoyed by) how closely the novel follows the actual plot of the first season of B. And, I totally didn't buy the problem that drives a wedge between the main character (Eila) and her love interest, Rahul. It all seemed much too contrived.
However... I loved the between-chapter asides, quotes, and information about Regency Era authors and customs, I loved all of the references to Shakespeare and Jane Austen (it does help to be familiar with their work), the reworking of the play-within-the-play in Midsummer's Night's Dream that Eila and her friends perform at the end of the novel is genuinely funny, and I appreciated DasGupta's inclusivity in terms of race (which the show does well) and sexual orientation (which the show skirts around).
I was surprised at (and a little annoyed by) how closely the novel follows the actual plot of the first season of B. And, I totally didn't buy the problem that drives a wedge between the main character (Eila) and her love interest, Rahul. It all seemed much too contrived.
However... I loved the between-chapter asides, quotes, and information about Regency Era authors and customs, I loved all of the references to Shakespeare and Jane Austen (it does help to be familiar with their work), the reworking of the play-within-the-play in Midsummer's Night's Dream that Eila and her friends perform at the end of the novel is genuinely funny, and I appreciated DasGupta's inclusivity in terms of race (which the show does well) and sexual orientation (which the show skirts around).
June 27, 2023
Sayantani Dasgupta was one of the speakers at JASP 2023 so after hearing her panel I had to immediately buy both of her Austen-esque books she was promoting at the program. I started with this one and I do want to preface that it is very much a YA book but in such a nice fluffy fun way. The whole time I wished I was at Rosewood regency summer camp where teenagers are dressed in full regency wear everyday all while vying for possible casting roles on a Bridgerton style TV show. The book has inspiration from Sense and Sensibility while also drawing heavily on Shakespeare references as well. While Eila the elder sister was the main character I couldn’t decide if I’d prefer to be her or her sister Mallika while reading. I could listen to Sayantani speak at length on her complex feelings about being a Desi writer who also loves reading Austen or other English classics and will continue to look for her books and editorial writing on the subject.
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