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steph01924's review against another edition
2.0
This was a pretty bad book. I can wave away a lot of plot contrivances in books as long as the books are fun, awesome, and engaging. This was none of that, and it was needlessly long to boot.
The two biggest problems:
Reality TV
We have all seen plenty of reality TV over the last fifteen years. I'm sure we've also heard of enough behind-the-scene stuff to sort of know how they work. So why did this book, which has its entire premise BASED on reality TV, seem like it was written by someone who'd never watched any?
Ridiculousness:
* The overall horribly laid out premise of the show (no way any network would ever air this).
* The painstaking detail to Regency-era everything, plus who the hell the 'servants' were who surrounded the 'contestants'. They were all just run-of-the-mill actors? I just didn't understand how these people were prepped to know all these old-timey terms and ways of doing things. There's no way a show would shell out the money to be that 'authentic' in the slightest.
* The stupid Accomplishment Points, which had nothing to do with anything. They seemed to get 'points' and then still not get their outings
* The fact that Chloe was, for some reason, magically allowed onto the show when it had already been taping for weeks (huh?)
* The mention at the invitation ceremony that though Chloe had only been there for two days, she was already winning in the internet/twitter polls (implying that people were watching this...live? This was being taped, edited, and aired all in the same week? WHAT?). Then the finale was suddenly aired weeks later?
All of this took me out of the story because I was rolling my eyes too hard. I would've believed the whole story a lot more if Chloe just fell back into real Regency time because she tripped over a rock and hit her head during a tour of an old English castle. THAT is how much this sucked.
Chloe
Really lame, cliched character. I didn't care one bit about her daughter, her custody woes, anything. The whole back and forth between the two love interests, when any reader with a brain could guess the 'twist' at the end and the fact that Sebastian was a brainless dolt made her look even stupider (well, fine, not because of the twist issue I suppose, but seriously? She thought she was falling in love with Sebastian? Please.). And then when she was so indignant and self-righteous at the end when was saying he loved her and blah? No point. Way to cheat the reader out of any ending moment when all you get is a epilogue letter.
I hated the little asides about her being *gasp* seven pounds overweight, and isn't it so convenient that for some reason the food is so disgusting looking that she's suddenly not eating at all and loses the weight, turning out to be much more beautiful looking? SO much emphasis on her not eating and the 'Regency diet'. What? Why was this necessary? It wasn't entertaining or interesting.
I'm planning my wedding currently, and when I got to the line about nobody wanting letterpress anymore I laughed out loud. Letterpress is always super popular in that market and people will pay out the ass for it.
I powered through this because I was away on the holiday vacation and hoped that it might get better as it went on, but please, save yourself the time and don't bother.
The two biggest problems:
Reality TV
We have all seen plenty of reality TV over the last fifteen years. I'm sure we've also heard of enough behind-the-scene stuff to sort of know how they work. So why did this book, which has its entire premise BASED on reality TV, seem like it was written by someone who'd never watched any?
Ridiculousness:
* The overall horribly laid out premise of the show (no way any network would ever air this).
* The painstaking detail to Regency-era everything, plus who the hell the 'servants' were who surrounded the 'contestants'. They were all just run-of-the-mill actors? I just didn't understand how these people were prepped to know all these old-timey terms and ways of doing things. There's no way a show would shell out the money to be that 'authentic' in the slightest.
* The stupid Accomplishment Points, which had nothing to do with anything. They seemed to get 'points' and then still not get their outings
* The fact that Chloe was, for some reason, magically allowed onto the show when it had already been taping for weeks (huh?)
* The mention at the invitation ceremony that though Chloe had only been there for two days, she was already winning in the internet/twitter polls (implying that people were watching this...live? This was being taped, edited, and aired all in the same week? WHAT?). Then the finale was suddenly aired weeks later?
All of this took me out of the story because I was rolling my eyes too hard. I would've believed the whole story a lot more if Chloe just fell back into real Regency time because she tripped over a rock and hit her head during a tour of an old English castle. THAT is how much this sucked.
Chloe
Really lame, cliched character. I didn't care one bit about her daughter, her custody woes, anything. The whole back and forth between the two love interests, when any reader with a brain could guess the 'twist' at the end and the fact that Sebastian was a brainless dolt made her look even stupider (well, fine, not because of the twist issue I suppose, but seriously? She thought she was falling in love with Sebastian? Please.). And then when she was so indignant and self-righteous at the end when
Spoiler
HenryI hated the little asides about her being *gasp* seven pounds overweight, and isn't it so convenient that for some reason the food is so disgusting looking that she's suddenly not eating at all and loses the weight, turning out to be much more beautiful looking? SO much emphasis on her not eating and the 'Regency diet'. What? Why was this necessary? It wasn't entertaining or interesting.
I'm planning my wedding currently, and when I got to the line about nobody wanting letterpress anymore I laughed out loud. Letterpress is always super popular in that market and people will pay out the ass for it.
I powered through this because I was away on the holiday vacation and hoped that it might get better as it went on, but please, save yourself the time and don't bother.
lamom77's review against another edition
3.0
Okay this is probably more like 3.5 stars (debated on rounding it up to 4 or not??). The premise of the story was really fun and the details of the setting and characters were great; however, the main character was pretty ridiculous. She was all over - independent woman but naïve at 39, Regency historical accuracy but freaking out about no toilet, etc... - very annoying. But on the other hand, I couldn't put it down. Ending was fine, had potential for a much better one, but it ended up being okay.
gonewiththebooks's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely Not Mr. Darcy, by Karen Doornebos, was basically exactly what I thought it would be, except for a few details.
Chloe Parker was born two centuries too late. A thirty-nine-year-old divorced mother, she runs her own antique letterpress business, is a lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society, and gushes over everything Regency. But her business is failing, threatening her daughter’s future. What’s a lady to do?
Why, audition for a Jane Austen-inspired TV show set in England, of course.
What Chloe thinks is a documentary turns out to be a reality dating show set in 1812. Eight women are competing to snare Mr. Wrightman, the heir to a gorgeous estate, along with a $100,000 prize. So Chloe tosses her bonnet into the ring, hoping to transform from stressed-out Midwest mom to genteel American heiress and win the money. With no cell phones, indoor plumbing, or deodorant to be found, she must tighten her corset and flash some ankle to beat out women younger, more cutthroat, and less clumsy than herself. But the witty and dashing Mr. Wrightman proves to be a prize worth winning, even if it means the gloves are off…
I am giving this book a 3. The ending was extremely disappointing. I like knowing what happens, and I know I have gone on and on about how much I appreciate a good epilogue, this book did not have one at all. There were also quite a few parts that got to be tedious and boring, but I think they were there to give it a bit more substance. If I had a choice, I would have gone with more of an ending and les of the stuff in the middle. I also think we were really let down with character development and places that could have used more detail (like the divorce for instance). The bad stuff aside, this book had its moments where it was really funny, and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. I liked the idea of the book, the story in general, but I think it would make a funnier movie than a book (and I know what I’m saying, but if you read it, you’ll understand too).
Chloe Parker was born two centuries too late. A thirty-nine-year-old divorced mother, she runs her own antique letterpress business, is a lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society, and gushes over everything Regency. But her business is failing, threatening her daughter’s future. What’s a lady to do?
Why, audition for a Jane Austen-inspired TV show set in England, of course.
What Chloe thinks is a documentary turns out to be a reality dating show set in 1812. Eight women are competing to snare Mr. Wrightman, the heir to a gorgeous estate, along with a $100,000 prize. So Chloe tosses her bonnet into the ring, hoping to transform from stressed-out Midwest mom to genteel American heiress and win the money. With no cell phones, indoor plumbing, or deodorant to be found, she must tighten her corset and flash some ankle to beat out women younger, more cutthroat, and less clumsy than herself. But the witty and dashing Mr. Wrightman proves to be a prize worth winning, even if it means the gloves are off…
I am giving this book a 3. The ending was extremely disappointing. I like knowing what happens, and I know I have gone on and on about how much I appreciate a good epilogue, this book did not have one at all. There were also quite a few parts that got to be tedious and boring, but I think they were there to give it a bit more substance. If I had a choice, I would have gone with more of an ending and les of the stuff in the middle. I also think we were really let down with character development and places that could have used more detail (like the divorce for instance). The bad stuff aside, this book had its moments where it was really funny, and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. I liked the idea of the book, the story in general, but I think it would make a funnier movie than a book (and I know what I’m saying, but if you read it, you’ll understand too).
lisawreading's review against another edition
2.0
This is a story about a single mother whose brilliant idea for saving her failing business is... to go on a Regency-themed dating show and win the grand prize? If that concept strikes you as just plain dumb... well, that gives you a pretty good picture of the entire book. The plot doesn't make sense, the Regency competition has odd rules and plenty of inconsistencies, there are slapstick moments that just aren't funny, and the main character makes decision that are just downright baffling. I picked up a copy of this book at a used book sale and finally picked it up off my shelf on a whim. Can't say I actually recommend it.
lifeand100books's review against another edition
4.0
What better way to honor Jane Austen’s 236th birthday, then with a review of a contemporary version of Pride and Prejudice? Karen Doornebos’s Definitely Not Mr. Darcy is just this novel, complete with rakish gentleman, misconstrued personalities, mistaken identities, and a good dose of scandal!
Chloe Parker is in a slump. She’s quite close to 40, divorced, and her antique letterpress business, which she started and runs herself, is failing. Fearing that this loss will make the financial future for her and her daughter too unbearable, she must do something quickly to right their financial ship and save them. Relying on her love for all things Jane Austen, Chloe decides to sign up for a Jane Austen inspired reality show set in England, for which she will be paid and have the chance to win a grand prize. She’s in for a shock, however, when she discovers that what she thought was an innocuous documentary-style show is actually a dating contest set in 1812 a la The Bachelor style format. The man of the hour is a Mr. Wrightman, and she must battle eight other women for his hand. Upon arrival she finds 2 Mr. Wrightman’s and realizes quickly that she is falling for the wrong one. Will she be able to win despite the numerous setbacks against her? Will following her heart lead her down the wrong road?
If Doornebos’s debut novel is any indication of what she’s capable of as a writer, then we’re in for following her long career. She creates characters that you can relate to. Chloe is the epitome of an Austen fan. She’s in love with Regency England, wishes (like most of the rest of us) that we could step back into that time of gentlemanly manners and courting. While most of us would love to take a trip back in time, Doornebos does a god job at reminding us of how wonderful technology and progress is. With the talk of chamber pots, chaperones, and the low social standing of women, Doornebos reminds us of how romanticized the period is.
While the ending of the novel isn’t really a surprise, the steps to conclude the story were as gratifying as I thought they would be. The ending lived up to my expectations. I’m excited to see what Doornebos comes up with in the future. Regardless if she writes Jane Austen fan fiction or not, I think we’ll be intrigued by her stories and her funny and snarky characters. If you’re looking for a fresh, contemporary take on the “Austen” genre, then look no further than Karen Doornebos.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Ib
Chloe Parker is in a slump. She’s quite close to 40, divorced, and her antique letterpress business, which she started and runs herself, is failing. Fearing that this loss will make the financial future for her and her daughter too unbearable, she must do something quickly to right their financial ship and save them. Relying on her love for all things Jane Austen, Chloe decides to sign up for a Jane Austen inspired reality show set in England, for which she will be paid and have the chance to win a grand prize. She’s in for a shock, however, when she discovers that what she thought was an innocuous documentary-style show is actually a dating contest set in 1812 a la The Bachelor style format. The man of the hour is a Mr. Wrightman, and she must battle eight other women for his hand. Upon arrival she finds 2 Mr. Wrightman’s and realizes quickly that she is falling for the wrong one. Will she be able to win despite the numerous setbacks against her? Will following her heart lead her down the wrong road?
If Doornebos’s debut novel is any indication of what she’s capable of as a writer, then we’re in for following her long career. She creates characters that you can relate to. Chloe is the epitome of an Austen fan. She’s in love with Regency England, wishes (like most of the rest of us) that we could step back into that time of gentlemanly manners and courting. While most of us would love to take a trip back in time, Doornebos does a god job at reminding us of how wonderful technology and progress is. With the talk of chamber pots, chaperones, and the low social standing of women, Doornebos reminds us of how romanticized the period is.
While the ending of the novel isn’t really a surprise, the steps to conclude the story were as gratifying as I thought they would be. The ending lived up to my expectations. I’m excited to see what Doornebos comes up with in the future. Regardless if she writes Jane Austen fan fiction or not, I think we’ll be intrigued by her stories and her funny and snarky characters. If you’re looking for a fresh, contemporary take on the “Austen” genre, then look no further than Karen Doornebos.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Ib
fireth's review against another edition
3.0
A fluffy chick lit story about a reality show set in 1812.
heartofoak1's review against another edition
4.0
LOVED IT! smart, witty, funny plus it taught me a few things about regency england.
gaderianne's review against another edition
2.0
This book had so much potential. Jane Austen fan thinks she is stuck in the wrong century and is asked to be in an Austen documentary (that really turns out to be a "19th century" dating show).
Okay - first, this woman signed a contract with the show and shouldn't have been surprised.
Second - all of the things she didn't know and acted so stupid about? A true Austen fan would have known them.
Third - for all this character whined about being born in the wrong century she whined even more about not having a cell phone and giving up on real tea.
Forth - plot points were just thrown in and weren't explained or came completely out of now where. And they were thrown in like - oh you didn't know about this before? Well you should have. (And not in a suspenseful kind of way).
It was a good idea for a book but not well executed.
Okay - first, this woman signed a contract with the show and shouldn't have been surprised.
Second - all of the things she didn't know and acted so stupid about? A true Austen fan would have known them.
Third - for all this character whined about being born in the wrong century she whined even more about not having a cell phone and giving up on real tea.
Forth - plot points were just thrown in and weren't explained or came completely out of now where. And they were thrown in like - oh you didn't know about this before? Well you should have. (And not in a suspenseful kind of way).
It was a good idea for a book but not well executed.
livrad's review against another edition
4.0
I really like modern Janeite books, and even though this one had its issues, I still really enjoyed it. It was a mix of Austenland + Lost in Austen + The Bachelor. I enjoyed all of the historical tidbits that you wouldn’t get in a historical regency, because this could actually explain them (regency deodorant and cleanliness habits, avoiding getting your shoes and hems muddy, anything to do with a chamber pot). The ending left me hanging a bit too much, and there were some definite plot holes, but I still had fun reading it.
autumnleeves's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fluffy book, but it was what I was in the mood for this week. It was not particularly well-written, which pulled me out of the story a few times, but it had just enough Austentastic/Regency fun in it to keep me reading to the end.