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okevamae's review against another edition
5.0
Marnie Barnes, a seventeen-year-old boarding school student, has always preferred books to most people. Particularly classics – Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice, that sort of thing. But when she realizes (to her horror) that she’s more like the dour Mary Bennet than the heroine Lizzie, she decides to step out of her comfort zone and make a change.
Marnie really is a lot like Mary Bennet – and not just personality-wise. She’s got a frivolous and shallow mother, four sisters who look down their noses at her dour and pedantic behavior, and a father who clearly favors other sisters. Fortunately, Marnie has someone outside the family to rely on: her roommate, Adhira, who helps her broaden her horizons. UNfortunately, Marnie has a hopeless crush on a family friend, Hayes, who is engaged to her sister Lindy’s best friend. (Which makes him seem like the Mr. Collins of the story, but I’m pretty sure he’s the Wickham.)
Marnie also has ambitions: she has her heart set on attending Stanford, and the key to her admission (as she sees it) is winning the Hunt Prize, an award given out by her private school to the student who implements the best philanthropic project. (Plus, her sister Lindy won in spectacular fashion several years ago – and if Marnie can win, she can prove she’s just as good.) Marnie’s project revolves around rescue dogs, and she works closely with a handsome shelter employee named Whit. Whit, who appreciates her love of books. Who wants her project to succeed and seems to actually like her. But Marnie’s still smitten with Hayes... or is she?
A lot of Marnie’s anti-social tendencies ultimately stem from anxiety. Her family certainly doesn’t help matters. Marnie is super sensitive to every slight, perceived or real. But she also appears to be frequently oblivious to other people’s feelings, especially when their ideas or intentions clash with her own. Part of this is due to her anxiety – she's too busy worrying to realize when she’s being rude – but she’s also deeply self-focused and mistrustful, at least at first. But she’s also a perfectionist to a painful degree, in part because she thinks that’s what she needs to be in order to compete with her sisters, and when she never seems to measure up, it’s painful. She’s got pretty low self esteem, and it’s good to see that she meets people like Adhira and Whit who both genuinely like her and genuinely support her.
The character growth Marnie has over the course of the novel is fantastic, and many of the supporting characters are great too. I especially loved how Marnie and Lindy become closer and understand each other better. The romance between Marnie and Whit was really sweet, though I would have liked just a little more character development for Whit. Overall, it was an excellent P&P-based YA novel, and I’d happily read more from this author.
Representation: Major characters of color, lesbian characters, main character with anxiety
CW: emotionally abusive parenting, cheating, pregnancy loss
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Marnie really is a lot like Mary Bennet – and not just personality-wise. She’s got a frivolous and shallow mother, four sisters who look down their noses at her dour and pedantic behavior, and a father who clearly favors other sisters. Fortunately, Marnie has someone outside the family to rely on: her roommate, Adhira, who helps her broaden her horizons. UNfortunately, Marnie has a hopeless crush on a family friend, Hayes, who is engaged to her sister Lindy’s best friend. (Which makes him seem like the Mr. Collins of the story, but I’m pretty sure he’s the Wickham.)
Marnie also has ambitions: she has her heart set on attending Stanford, and the key to her admission (as she sees it) is winning the Hunt Prize, an award given out by her private school to the student who implements the best philanthropic project. (Plus, her sister Lindy won in spectacular fashion several years ago – and if Marnie can win, she can prove she’s just as good.) Marnie’s project revolves around rescue dogs, and she works closely with a handsome shelter employee named Whit. Whit, who appreciates her love of books. Who wants her project to succeed and seems to actually like her. But Marnie’s still smitten with Hayes... or is she?
A lot of Marnie’s anti-social tendencies ultimately stem from anxiety. Her family certainly doesn’t help matters. Marnie is super sensitive to every slight, perceived or real. But she also appears to be frequently oblivious to other people’s feelings, especially when their ideas or intentions clash with her own. Part of this is due to her anxiety – she's too busy worrying to realize when she’s being rude – but she’s also deeply self-focused and mistrustful, at least at first. But she’s also a perfectionist to a painful degree, in part because she thinks that’s what she needs to be in order to compete with her sisters, and when she never seems to measure up, it’s painful. She’s got pretty low self esteem, and it’s good to see that she meets people like Adhira and Whit who both genuinely like her and genuinely support her.
The character growth Marnie has over the course of the novel is fantastic, and many of the supporting characters are great too. I especially loved how Marnie and Lindy become closer and understand each other better. The romance between Marnie and Whit was really sweet, though I would have liked just a little more character development for Whit. Overall, it was an excellent P&P-based YA novel, and I’d happily read more from this author.
Representation: Major characters of color, lesbian characters, main character with anxiety
CW: emotionally abusive parenting, cheating, pregnancy loss
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
adrianoanne's review against another edition
1.0
DNF after the first 2 chapters.
I'm all about reimagining Mary Bennet so I was excited for this but it was disappointing. Tried reading further but I couldn't, just can't deal with the MC.
I'm all about reimagining Mary Bennet so I was excited for this but it was disappointing. Tried reading further but I couldn't, just can't deal with the MC.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I ADORED this. It was seriously so much fun to read. The humor in this was just so spot on, with such a fantastic story about finding out who you really are. And if that’s not enough, there was a sweet love story too.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
2/5
Almost gave this book 1.5 out of five but there are reasons. I felt bored reading how the main character was trying to fix into the mold of another character in a book where the mc is her own person and should be trying to categorize herself. I was utterly relieved when she stated that she will stop obsessing with that fact and make herself her own main character. Everyone is the main character in their life.
Almost gave this book 1.5 out of five but there are reasons. I felt bored reading how the main character was trying to fix into the mold of another character in a book where the mc is her own person and should be trying to categorize herself. I was utterly relieved when she stated that she will stop obsessing with that fact and make herself her own main character. Everyone is the main character in their life.
gdrake's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
rcarey18's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
moonlesbeams's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jaredrlopatin's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5