SOLVED (I think): Book about Tess of the D’Urbervilles

[Sarah]

I read a book a few years ago that featured a character hating the novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles. From what I remember, one character thought it was romantic, but the protagonist thought that it was awful. I can’t remember anything else and it is driving me crazy! What is the name of this book?

[Kris]

Sarah, what's the genre or tone - for teens (young adults) or older adults, contemporary romance, historical fiction, funny, sad/somber, etc.?

What's the location - country, region, big city/small town?

[Kris]

I Remember You by Harriet Evans?

Quotes from this book:

"Was your mother a fan of Thomas Hardy?"
"Um, I don't know," said Tess, alarmed. "Why?"
"Your name..."
"Oh," said Tess, enlightened. Well, I'm called Tessa, not Tess. I hate Tess of the d'Urbervilles, actually... She just lets things happen to her."

Google Books preview - https://books.google.com/books?id=Mqk...

[Sarah]

I don’t think I’ve ever read I Remember You, so it probably wasn’t that. I think Tess was a recurring theme in the book. Like maybe the love interest thought it was romantic and kept bringing it up? The book would have been adult fiction, but I don’t know what exact genre.

[Andria]

The Decent Proposal? I haven't read it but Tess of d'urbervilles is mentioned in the summary.

[Sarah]

No, The Decent Proposal doesn’t sound familiar. I’m thinking that the book wouldn’t have been a romance as that is the one genre I really don’t read.

[Andria]

The English Teacher has a several-pages-long scene where Tess is discussed, but that's all I've got.

[Sarah]

Not that one either. But I’m seriously impressed with how many titles you were able to come up with! Thanks for helping!

[Amanda]

50 Shades of Grey talked about it...

[Sarah]

Oooh, that might be it...kind of. I never actually read 50 Shades, but I did read a detailed takedown of it. I’ll have to skim back through the commentary to see if that is it.

This is the commentary:
http://jennytrout.com/?page_id=5720