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lizshayne's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
"Are the flaws of the main character(s) a main focus of the book?" is the story of Emma.
Here's the problem and I have this problem every single time I read a retelling of Emma and the problem is that, while I love Emma, I LOATHE Emma.
So any character based on her...I will slowly seethe at the entire book and, if I don't, I will judge the author for failing to capture the book's nature. So, you know, there's that. Rosen does a very good job under the constraints of making Emmett and, in particular, Mr. Woodhouse, sympathetic even as the book hews quite closely to the arc of Emma. Emma is a book that soars because Austen's prose is so good and she's very deft even when she's not being subtle. Rosen is not that subtle and any time you shift from free indirect discourse to tight first person, the subtlety of the text inevitably shifts.
Basically, I judge every Austen retelling by the standards of the original and then complain about it, which is very silly and this book, as its own thing, is very sweet and Emmett is an excellent heir to Cher Horowitz as a contemporary reflection of Emma Woodhouse.
Here's the problem and I have this problem every single time I read a retelling of Emma and the problem is that, while I love Emma, I LOATHE Emma.
So any character based on her...I will slowly seethe at the entire book and, if I don't, I will judge the author for failing to capture the book's nature. So, you know, there's that. Rosen does a very good job under the constraints of making Emmett and, in particular, Mr. Woodhouse, sympathetic even as the book hews quite closely to the arc of Emma. Emma is a book that soars because Austen's prose is so good and she's very deft even when she's not being subtle. Rosen is not that subtle and any time you shift from free indirect discourse to tight first person, the subtlety of the text inevitably shifts.
Basically, I judge every Austen retelling by the standards of the original and then complain about it, which is very silly and this book, as its own thing, is very sweet and Emmett is an excellent heir to Cher Horowitz as a contemporary reflection of Emma Woodhouse.
aamisura's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kabbyblue's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
3.75
izzyrbell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
jlynne's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
felicitydisco's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-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
4.5
A pitch-perfect queer contemporary YA Emma retelling.
spetestar's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
The pacing for the majority of the book was solid, until Christmas Eve, where the events and realization happen in this crazy rush, and voila, all problems are solved and Emmett understands everything now! It made the conclusion feel almost trite, and not at all worthy of the build-up before it.