What do you think?
Bag a Boyfriend
Having devoted all her time to work Lizzy doesn’t have much of a life, but it takes something unexpected to make her realise it.
Lizzy’s mother signed her up for a dating show but she’s determined her new friend Jane will win “the boyfriend” even if she has to fight the production itself. There isn’t a lot of reality in reality TV, manipulation is the name of the game.
The terribly named “Bag a Boyfriend” consumes Lizzy; she swings between mocking every aspect and enchanted with the love story developing … till it comes crashing down effecting her life behind the cameras. Out in the real world she keeps running into reminders; fellow contestants…and a pesky, possibly cute, producer.
When the show finally screens she has no idea how she’ll be portrayed and her new friends don’t know the whole truth. Turns out life away from the cameras can be just as dramatic.
Austenite Frances Duncan’s reimagining of Pride and Prejudice set in New Zealand is an amusing romp through reality TV clichés where everyone gets a happy ending.
Lizzy’s mother signed her up for a dating show but she’s determined her new friend Jane will win “the boyfriend” even if she has to fight the production itself. There isn’t a lot of reality in reality TV, manipulation is the name of the game.
The terribly named “Bag a Boyfriend” consumes Lizzy; she swings between mocking every aspect and enchanted with the love story developing … till it comes crashing down effecting her life behind the cameras. Out in the real world she keeps running into reminders; fellow contestants…and a pesky, possibly cute, producer.
When the show finally screens she has no idea how she’ll be portrayed and her new friends don’t know the whole truth. Turns out life away from the cameras can be just as dramatic.
Austenite Frances Duncan’s reimagining of Pride and Prejudice set in New Zealand is an amusing romp through reality TV clichés where everyone gets a happy ending.
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 14, 2023
About the author
Frances Duncan
8 books9 followersAuthor, Austenite, Life Coach
Frances (she/they) writes Austen-inspired fiction, offers Austen-inspired Life Coaching, hosts The Amateur Austenite Podcast and founded the Jane Austen Society of Aotearoa New Zealand. (Obsessive, much?)
Based near the capital Frances can often be found at local theatre productions or online discussing Jane Austen and her novels with fans around the world.
A newspaper article quoted Frances on Jane Austen saying she's "a snarky b*tch and I love that about her."
Frances (she/they) writes Austen-inspired fiction, offers Austen-inspired Life Coaching, hosts The Amateur Austenite Podcast and founded the Jane Austen Society of Aotearoa New Zealand. (Obsessive, much?)
Based near the capital Frances can often be found at local theatre productions or online discussing Jane Austen and her novels with fans around the world.
A newspaper article quoted Frances on Jane Austen saying she's "a snarky b*tch and I love that about her."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 8, 2023
Just finished this book and ???????
First off, Lizzy realised halfway through the book she had two crushes on girls and she was having a minor crisis about it. Understandable I guess, but kind of weird that it was just for one chapter and that she went back to her happy heteronormative relationship after that.
Second, Lizzy’s mother was plain rude, toxic and passive aggressive towards everyone, especially her daughter. I thought Lizzy would come to her senses and the book would ultimately be about accepting your mommy and daddy issues and learning how to deal with them, but it ended up just being comic relief. Kind of a red flag if you ask me.
Third, saying ‘fuck the patriarchy’ three times on one page doesn’t actually mean anything. It’s not a feminist agenda if you don’t actually discuss an aspect of the dating show and substantiate it with coherent arguments.
And fourth, the only thing poor William (the love interest) had going for him was the fact that he was based on Mr Darcy. As a matter of fact, all of the characters were so one dimensional that if you haven’t read or watched Pride & Prejudice, the story is just absurd. There wasn’t a lot of character development, and everything was so rushed and jumbled that I genuinely wondered what I was reading at times.
That being said, I enjoyed the reality TV show setting. I think it’s the closest thing in modern society to resemble early 19th century Britain (what with the whole eligible bachelor and obsession with marriage/romantic relationships/happily ever after). Interesting comparison!
First off, Lizzy realised halfway through the book she had two crushes on girls and she was having a minor crisis about it. Understandable I guess, but kind of weird that it was just for one chapter and that she went back to her happy heteronormative relationship after that.
Second, Lizzy’s mother was plain rude, toxic and passive aggressive towards everyone, especially her daughter. I thought Lizzy would come to her senses and the book would ultimately be about accepting your mommy and daddy issues and learning how to deal with them, but it ended up just being comic relief. Kind of a red flag if you ask me.
Third, saying ‘fuck the patriarchy’ three times on one page doesn’t actually mean anything. It’s not a feminist agenda if you don’t actually discuss an aspect of the dating show and substantiate it with coherent arguments.
And fourth, the only thing poor William (the love interest) had going for him was the fact that he was based on Mr Darcy. As a matter of fact, all of the characters were so one dimensional that if you haven’t read or watched Pride & Prejudice, the story is just absurd. There wasn’t a lot of character development, and everything was so rushed and jumbled that I genuinely wondered what I was reading at times.
That being said, I enjoyed the reality TV show setting. I think it’s the closest thing in modern society to resemble early 19th century Britain (what with the whole eligible bachelor and obsession with marriage/romantic relationships/happily ever after). Interesting comparison!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2026
Good for Grades: 11+
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: LGBTQ+
Recommended for a school library: maybe
Reason(s) for choosing the book: exploring New Zealand fiction
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: What does the Bachelor on a budget look like?!?
Review:
I am not sure if I should even be writing a review as I haven't read the source material;) Pride and Prejudice
Lizzy is leaving a rather mundane and solitary life as an admin for a design firm when her mother drops a bomb: she has entered Lizzy into a contest to be a contestant in a local reality bachelor show.
The novel is separated almost into scenes or acts highlighting pre-production, production, and post-production happenings.
This is a cute take on reality TV, but not much meat. I also didn't get much of what I was hoping for - more insight into New Zealand.
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: LGBTQ+
Recommended for a school library: maybe
Reason(s) for choosing the book: exploring New Zealand fiction
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: What does the Bachelor on a budget look like?!?
Review:
I am not sure if I should even be writing a review as I haven't read the source material;) Pride and Prejudice
Lizzy is leaving a rather mundane and solitary life as an admin for a design firm when her mother drops a bomb: she has entered Lizzy into a contest to be a contestant in a local reality bachelor show.
The novel is separated almost into scenes or acts highlighting pre-production, production, and post-production happenings.
This is a cute take on reality TV, but not much meat. I also didn't get much of what I was hoping for - more insight into New Zealand.
February 24, 2024
This book is absurd. If you didn't read P&P, the story would not make any sense. The characters are without depth and act weird. The main character has a different personal issue every chapter, but only for three sentences. Sexuality preferences and womens rights are thrown in, but it feels forced.
The book made me question my love for reading.
The book made me question my love for reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews