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cassandra67b07's review against another edition
5.0
I "read" this on Audible with a fantastic narrator, but had to switch to kindle 3/4 through because I HAD to know what happened.
This was a long-anticipated book for me since first being introduced to Freddie in Pretty Face and it really surpassed my expectations. Griff is the acerbic, but witty and quite accurate theater reviewer whom the actors live in fear of and when Freddie flubs her line during press night, she fears the worst. But they meet again under more equal circumstances when Freddie is cast as Lydia Bennett in a light reality tv show staging of a murder plot with Jane Austen's characters. I would actually like to see and vote in a production like that. It's very clever.
The show is set on Griff's family estate where his grandfather built a theater, especially for Freddie's grandmother while they were in the midst of a torrid affair. Freddie is torn by her family history of famous dramatic actors while her talents lie in light comedy and musical theater. Griff is torn by his family history and the need to keep the estate going. Once they start meeting on equal ground they discover they really have a lot in common--mostly the ability to really engage in witty banter and demonstrate a surprising physical attraction that appalls and intrigues them at the same time. And it gets pretty damn hot.
As much as I loved the main couple and I really did, what captivated me about the book is the sense that Parker has created an entire world here. Her characters all know each other in various ways and share a history together that never overwhelms the reader but feels organic because it's how you know people who work in your field and you collaborate with.
What really hit me in the feels though was Violet's story which was slowly revealed through the course of the book. How often have women's voices and stories been silenced by a kind of betrayal? The twist here is that the betrayal is not at the hands of the men in her life but of a more appalling kind. Her story broke my heart and made me think of Virginia Woolf's famous essay on women writers. Since she also wrote about Austen and how Austen had to hide her genius and her authorship behind the name-A Lady-, it all tied together beautifully.
The structure of this book was just brilliant--it's a country house mystery, a family feud, a romance, a Bildungsroman, and a gothic all in one book. Plus theater people in all their assorted craziness! I just adored it and can't wait for Sabrina and Nigel who had better be coming up next.
This was a long-anticipated book for me since first being introduced to Freddie in Pretty Face and it really surpassed my expectations. Griff is the acerbic, but witty and quite accurate theater reviewer whom the actors live in fear of and when Freddie flubs her line during press night, she fears the worst. But they meet again under more equal circumstances when Freddie is cast as Lydia Bennett in a light reality tv show staging of a murder plot with Jane Austen's characters. I would actually like to see and vote in a production like that. It's very clever.
The show is set on Griff's family estate where his grandfather built a theater, especially for Freddie's grandmother while they were in the midst of a torrid affair. Freddie is torn by her family history of famous dramatic actors while her talents lie in light comedy and musical theater. Griff is torn by his family history and the need to keep the estate going. Once they start meeting on equal ground they discover they really have a lot in common--mostly the ability to really engage in witty banter and demonstrate a surprising physical attraction that appalls and intrigues them at the same time. And it gets pretty damn hot.
As much as I loved the main couple and I really did, what captivated me about the book is the sense that Parker has created an entire world here. Her characters all know each other in various ways and share a history together that never overwhelms the reader but feels organic because it's how you know people who work in your field and you collaborate with.
What really hit me in the feels though was Violet's story which was slowly revealed through the course of the book. How often have women's voices and stories been silenced by a kind of betrayal? The twist here is that the betrayal is not at the hands of the men in her life but of a more appalling kind. Her story broke my heart and made me think of Virginia Woolf's famous essay on women writers. Since she also wrote about Austen and how Austen had to hide her genius and her authorship behind the name-A Lady-, it all tied together beautifully.
The structure of this book was just brilliant--it's a country house mystery, a family feud, a romance, a Bildungsroman, and a gothic all in one book. Plus theater people in all their assorted craziness! I just adored it and can't wait for Sabrina and Nigel who had better be coming up next.
themaritimereader14's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, I love this series. It is set in such a different world than most contemporary romance novels and it is SO fun to be continually learning more about the London theater scene. Of course, the Austen themes in this one were especially appealing to me. I will absolutely write whatever Lucy Parker writes in the future because her books are so well done!! I think there are plans for a 5th in this series (can't wait).
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this 4th book in the London Celebrities series which is out now!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this 4th book in the London Celebrities series which is out now!!
petraperusesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
4,5*
Lucy Parker has never let me down. The plot of this one is more dramatic and action-filled than her previous works. The dialogs remained witty, insightful, the character development was spectacular.
Lucy Parker has never let me down. The plot of this one is more dramatic and action-filled than her previous works. The dialogs remained witty, insightful, the character development was spectacular.
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I loved this so much. Lucy Parker, never stop writing because your romances always make me so happy.
As a huge Austen fan, I was pleased with how the premise of this work. Basically Freddy Carlton is playing Lydia in a murder mystery hodge-podge live audience participation extravaganza based on the characters from all of Austen's novels. (Seriously, where is the real life well-executed version of this British Television???) The whole thing is being shot at the country estate of London's most snarly theater critic, Griff. Freddy and Griff are amazing together. No one nails the grumpy, responsible man who falls in love with a ray of literal sunshine woman quite as well as Lucy Parker does. And she just keeps making it amazing. I love their banter, their back and forth, the way they get to know each other, and the family history that complicates all of that. Even when they have the expected romance-novel misunderstanding, it is not overplayed, overdramatized, or dragged out for too long. There are thing that are full of high drama, but that mostly comes from so many egos being contained in such a small space for the filming of a live broadcast. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the secondary characters in this one as well. (I'm really hoping both Freddy's sister and Griff's brother will be seen again in future books.)
I read this in one sitting. It's going into my rotation of pick-me-up rereads immediately.
I loved this so much. Lucy Parker, never stop writing because your romances always make me so happy.
As a huge Austen fan, I was pleased with how the premise of this work. Basically Freddy Carlton is playing Lydia in a murder mystery hodge-podge live audience participation extravaganza based on the characters from all of Austen's novels. (Seriously, where is the real life well-executed version of this British Television???) The whole thing is being shot at the country estate of London's most snarly theater critic, Griff. Freddy and Griff are amazing together. No one nails the grumpy, responsible man who falls in love with a ray of literal sunshine woman quite as well as Lucy Parker does. And she just keeps making it amazing. I love their banter, their back and forth, the way they get to know each other, and the family history that complicates all of that. Even when they have the expected romance-novel misunderstanding, it is not overplayed, overdramatized, or dragged out for too long. There are thing that are full of high drama, but that mostly comes from so many egos being contained in such a small space for the filming of a live broadcast. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the secondary characters in this one as well. (I'm really hoping both Freddy's sister and Griff's brother will be seen again in future books.)
I read this in one sitting. It's going into my rotation of pick-me-up rereads immediately.
ameretet's review against another edition
3.0
This would have been five bright as heck stars if the romance was in the forefront of the story.
tessisreading2's review
3.0
Light, witty, and easy to read, but there was so much plot and heroine self-discovery that the romance felt like the least interesting part of the book to me.
lalaexni19's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute. Fun mystery and Austen backdrop. Nice fluff to cozy up with at the end of a stressful day.
jen286's review against another edition
4.0
Oh I loved this story! This was by far my favorite of the series, even though I enjoyed them all. I love big, grumbly Griff and sunshine and rainbows Freddy and the mystery of what happened (even though I read the next book before this one so I knew what happens), it was so much fun. I loved how these two were together, how right from the start they could be open with each other and be themselves and oh it was wonderful.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
Being a Austen fan I do admit to wanting more actual Austen stuff. They kept rehearsing for this play that I wanted to know more about.
And as for our characters, hmm, maybe he is price and she prejudice ;)
Freddy is a rising star of the east end, just as her father wanted. To carry own the legacy of his mother. But all these drama roles are just so so, meh. Freddy carried this stupid guilt around and I wanted to tell her to let it go and do what she wanted!
'
Griff is a critique, and he is feared by all. Someone has to say what others do not. You go Griff.
Anyway, Freddy takes part in an Austen mingle play, it takes place at Griff's estate. He is doing a movie about her gran. They meet, they argue, they fall in love. Other cast members cause havoc, family members cause havoc and there is a scandal brewing.
Like I said, more Austen please. Not we got a mystery surrounding her gran instead. And I did not actually feel these two fall in love. It just suddenly happened, chemistry was rather low.
But it was a amusing one and it did not feel US romance like, more Britain romance wise (the author seems to be NZ so I guess that makes sense then).
Narrator
I did like the narrator. She did a great job keeping my attention on things , and she played different characters well. She really made the book better for me.
And as for our characters, hmm, maybe he is price and she prejudice ;)
Freddy is a rising star of the east end, just as her father wanted. To carry own the legacy of his mother. But all these drama roles are just so so, meh. Freddy carried this stupid guilt around and I wanted to tell her to let it go and do what she wanted!
'
Griff is a critique, and he is feared by all. Someone has to say what others do not. You go Griff.
Anyway, Freddy takes part in an Austen mingle play, it takes place at Griff's estate. He is doing a movie about her gran. They meet, they argue, they fall in love. Other cast members cause havoc, family members cause havoc and there is a scandal brewing.
Like I said, more Austen please. Not we got a mystery surrounding her gran instead. And I did not actually feel these two fall in love. It just suddenly happened, chemistry was rather low.
But it was a amusing one and it did not feel US romance like, more Britain romance wise (the author seems to be NZ so I guess that makes sense then).
Narrator
I did like the narrator. She did a great job keeping my attention on things , and she played different characters well. She really made the book better for me.
balletbookworm's review
4.0
Super-cute contemporary romance between a frosty, Jason Isaacs look-alike theatre critic and a bubbly, musical-theatre actress at a career crossroads. I really liked how Griff and Freddy worked out the mystery and that what looked vaguely like a love-triangle in the making did NOT go there. However, the resolution of the novel is a bit overstuffed with extra side-plots, especially the one about the sister and her hideous boyfriend.
Now, I had been hoping that we would see more of this actual “Jane Austen characters smashed together in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure whodunnit” but wound up disappointed (although I’d fire the casting director of that fictional TV production bc holy cats was that some bad choices).
Edit on re-read after reading Book 5: you need Sabs and Ferren here otherwise it's a bit tricky getting across their relationship in Headliners on it's own.
Now, I had been hoping that we would see more of this actual “Jane Austen characters smashed together in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure whodunnit” but wound up disappointed (although I’d fire the casting director of that fictional TV production bc holy cats was that some bad choices).
Edit on re-read after reading Book 5: you need Sabs and Ferren here otherwise it's a bit tricky getting across their relationship in Headliners on it's own.