Scan barcode
ce_gunning12's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
yonic_boom's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
ameserole's review
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Certain Appeal was such a fun Pride & Prejudice retelling. I might be a little bias here because I absolutely love that book and the movies. So I didn't really hesitate to jump into this wonderful book one bit. It also didn't take long for me to fall in love with the characters either. Someone might call it insta-book-love, I guess?
Liz and Will were basically amazing (in my eyes). Their chemistry was very easy to devour and I couldn't help myself when it came to their bantering. I definitely had a huge smile on my face and I kept thinking to the bantering in the original book. Oh man - I feel like I need to reread that book now.
I totally get the whole enemies to lovers vibes these two were steaming my way. It also didn't take long for their own feelings or emotions to develop for one another. I mean.. it would be quite hard not to since their friends like one another and they are constantly hanging around.
Oh Charles and Jane were equally adorable too. These two definitely helped the romance blossom between Liz and Will. They deserve a drink or two for all the hard work that they basically didn't do but in some weird way they did.
In the end, I definitely devoured this book and I can't wait for the next pride and prejudice retelling to come my way.
A Certain Appeal was such a fun Pride & Prejudice retelling. I might be a little bias here because I absolutely love that book and the movies. So I didn't really hesitate to jump into this wonderful book one bit. It also didn't take long for me to fall in love with the characters either. Someone might call it insta-book-love, I guess?
Liz and Will were basically amazing (in my eyes). Their chemistry was very easy to devour and I couldn't help myself when it came to their bantering. I definitely had a huge smile on my face and I kept thinking to the bantering in the original book. Oh man - I feel like I need to reread that book now.
I totally get the whole enemies to lovers vibes these two were steaming my way. It also didn't take long for their own feelings or emotions to develop for one another. I mean.. it would be quite hard not to since their friends like one another and they are constantly hanging around.
Oh Charles and Jane were equally adorable too. These two definitely helped the romance blossom between Liz and Will. They deserve a drink or two for all the hard work that they basically didn't do but in some weird way they did.
In the end, I definitely devoured this book and I can't wait for the next pride and prejudice retelling to come my way.
_mikenyikes's review
3.0
• this is a retelling of pride and prejudice set in modern day NYC involving a burlesque club, a random tech company, and interior design.
• I have never read p&p (and won’t — classics bore me) and only vaguely remember watching the movie over a decade ago.
• but this was a fun time. The romance was not even in the back seat, the trunk maybe, so that was disappointing. But the story of the burlesque club was interesting enough to keep me into it.
• the writing felt clunky at times; I assume they ripped some lines straight from the original and tried to make them work in a modern day vernacular. It wasn’t done well though. I feel like if you’re going to do that it needs to be in a fun campy way like romeo + juliet. This just felt cringey because I had to imagine being fed some of those lines.
• overall it was cute, I can’t say it was a good *retelling* but it was a cute fun story on its own.
• I have never read p&p (and won’t — classics bore me) and only vaguely remember watching the movie over a decade ago.
• but this was a fun time. The romance was not even in the back seat, the trunk maybe, so that was disappointing. But the story of the burlesque club was interesting enough to keep me into it.
• the writing felt clunky at times; I assume they ripped some lines straight from the original and tried to make them work in a modern day vernacular. It wasn’t done well though. I feel like if you’re going to do that it needs to be in a fun campy way like romeo + juliet. This just felt cringey because I had to imagine being fed some of those lines.
• overall it was cute, I can’t say it was a good *retelling* but it was a cute fun story on its own.
lauren_soderberg's review
3.0
A Certain Appeal puts a unique, contemporary spin on the classic Pride and Prejudice story. Set in the world of New York City’s burlesque scene, this story revolves around stage kitten Liz Bennet and wealth manager Will Darcy.
I’m a fan of the source material, and greatly enjoy reading retellings. This particular version utilizes a lot of similar phraseology and plot elements of the original, but in a thoroughly modern context. I appreciated the way that the author reimagined the world to encompass a varied cast of characters. I also enjoyed the introduction into the burlesque world and all its nuances. I just craved more romantic tension and chemistry between the protagonists. (Because the original Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are the queen and king of the slow burn.) And I wanted there to be a few more surprises to the plot.
In all, it’s fun, it’s entertaining, and it’s worth a read.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I’m a fan of the source material, and greatly enjoy reading retellings. This particular version utilizes a lot of similar phraseology and plot elements of the original, but in a thoroughly modern context. I appreciated the way that the author reimagined the world to encompass a varied cast of characters. I also enjoyed the introduction into the burlesque world and all its nuances. I just craved more romantic tension and chemistry between the protagonists. (Because the original Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are the queen and king of the slow burn.) And I wanted there to be a few more surprises to the plot.
In all, it’s fun, it’s entertaining, and it’s worth a read.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
bargerel's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
90sinmyheart's review
5.0
This was cute, I learned a lot about burlesque, and I’m still never reading p&p.
labarrec's review
2.0
As far as P&P retellings go, this *might* be someone’s Darcy and Lizzy…but all the “do I have permission”(x’s 100) does not equate to mine.