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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Loved this series. Well written, great characters. Eager for another series.
Ugh this series is so flipping good. Freddy and Griff are dynamite together, Maya was a sweetie, I want Charlie.
The Austen Playbook was yet another romance where it felt like there were so many different components of the plot that the actual romance didn't get much attention. The story focuses mostly on Freddy's journey to figure out how to stand up to her father and Griff's struggle to save his family's near-bankrupt estate. Throw in a huge handful of side characters, the legacy of Freddy's grandmother (a famous actress + writer), the actual "The Austen Playbook" production, and some other interpersonal conflicts and suddenly you have a very short book brimming to the gills with things that aren't the romance.
There were a few very cute moments between Freddy and Griff but they didn't manage to satisfy me. The potential for an electric connection between these characters was absolutely there and I'm still upset that it wasn't fully realized. I think this would've worked better if the book had either been a bit longer -- to better balance all of these elements while giving the romance space to develop -- or if something had been cut. Of course, it all probably boils down to personal preference. I read romance for great chemistry between characters and some feel-good moments so anything that hinders those things bugs me. If you don't mind the romance not being front-and-center, there was some very well-executed plotting in The Austen Playbook and lots of entertaining storylines.
C/W:sexual harassment, infidelity, death by car accident
There were a few very cute moments between Freddy and Griff but they didn't manage to satisfy me. The potential for an electric connection between these characters was absolutely there and I'm still upset that it wasn't fully realized. I think this would've worked better if the book had either been a bit longer -- to better balance all of these elements while giving the romance space to develop -- or if something had been cut. Of course, it all probably boils down to personal preference. I read romance for great chemistry between characters and some feel-good moments so anything that hinders those things bugs me. If you don't mind the romance not being front-and-center, there was some very well-executed plotting in The Austen Playbook and lots of entertaining storylines.
C/W:
This book didn't work for me as well as some of Parker's others. I found the relationship compelling, and the plot about the Velvet Room, but the plot about wicked Sadie who existed purely to be a chaos agent I found really profoundly weak. Her scenes were so uncompelling. Why did she do anything she did? Just to be horrid? That doesn't really wash for me! I found this part so distracting and annoying that I liked the book much less than I otherwise would have.
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 4/29/19.
Loved this one! I've heard so many good things about this series--now I know why :)
(And can I just say--I NEED this app and live-action TV event to be a real thing. Like so, so much...
Please?)
Freddy and Griff's story was absolutely wonderful. They started out firmly on the "enemies" side of an enemies-to-lovers romance--she's a stage actress who got started, at least, with a touch of nepotism; he's a critic who spares the feelings of no one in his reviews, even when encountering them face-to-face. They definitely got off to a wrong-footed start here, but Ms. Parker did an excellent job of showing how their changes of heart where each was concerned came about. I loved that both retained the essential parts of themselves, even as they learned to let the other person in (This quote from Freddy that made me LOL: "Unfortunately, she loved the acerbic, patronizing d*ckhead to bits" was from the second-to-last chapter! There was much snort-laughing during the reading of this one...)
I enjoyed the way that Ms. Parker took all the different story threads here and wove them together into an extremely satisfying ending for everyone (okay, almost everyone--Sabrina, Freddy's sister could use an HEA--hopefully soon!--but that cow Sadie doesn't, so...) even though things looked really, really bleak for quite some time there, I finished this one with a huge smile on my face.
The Austen Playbook is the fourth book in the series, but it worked just fine as a standalone. Of course, now I'm dying for the next book (Sab and Nick, please!!!) and already have the first three in my TBR just waiting for a free moment, so... ;)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Loved this one! I've heard so many good things about this series--now I know why :)
(And can I just say--I NEED this app and live-action TV event to be a real thing. Like so, so much...
Please?)
Freddy and Griff's story was absolutely wonderful. They started out firmly on the "enemies" side of an enemies-to-lovers romance--she's a stage actress who got started, at least, with a touch of nepotism; he's a critic who spares the feelings of no one in his reviews, even when encountering them face-to-face. They definitely got off to a wrong-footed start here, but Ms. Parker did an excellent job of showing how their changes of heart where each was concerned came about. I loved that both retained the essential parts of themselves, even as they learned to let the other person in (This quote from Freddy that made me LOL: "Unfortunately, she loved the acerbic, patronizing d*ckhead to bits" was from the second-to-last chapter! There was much snort-laughing during the reading of this one...)
I enjoyed the way that Ms. Parker took all the different story threads here and wove them together into an extremely satisfying ending for everyone (okay, almost everyone--Sabrina, Freddy's sister could use an HEA--hopefully soon!--but that cow Sadie doesn't, so...) even though things looked really, really bleak for quite some time there, I finished this one with a huge smile on my face.
The Austen Playbook is the fourth book in the series, but it worked just fine as a standalone. Of course, now I'm dying for the next book (Sab and Nick, please!!!) and already have the first three in my TBR just waiting for a free moment, so... ;)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker. (m/f, contp)
A family legacy to uphold, an impossible script & the cattiest of castmates won’t sink Freddy but falling for the most glacial of her critics will upend everything!
Absolutely fantastic. Fun, genuine & swoony. #bkbrk
A family legacy to uphold, an impossible script & the cattiest of castmates won’t sink Freddy but falling for the most glacial of her critics will upend everything!
Absolutely fantastic. Fun, genuine & swoony. #bkbrk
This was purchased on a whim from Amazon - I fell down a rabbit hole in their suggestions and found this. Let me just start by saying that if you give me just about anything that's tangentially related to Jane Austen, I'm probably going to love it. That said, I wasn't sold on the book from the first chapter. I knew I liked Freddy, but I wasn't invested. I half thought about abandoning the book and starting something else, but I decided to continue on and I'm glad I did.
I was reading this on a night with a bout of insomnia and ended up reading it from cover to cover - by the time I was about 75% done, I was tired, but I was not going to put it down until I was damn well finished, because I had become so invested in Freddy and Griff - their romance and the mysteries of The Velvet Room. By the end, I wanted to cheer... but couldn't, as it was 3:00 am. The only reason this has 4 stars is because I can't give a half star - this is so close to perfect that I would love to give it 4.5 stars.
I was reading this on a night with a bout of insomnia and ended up reading it from cover to cover - by the time I was about 75% done, I was tired, but I was not going to put it down until I was damn well finished, because I had become so invested in Freddy and Griff - their romance and the mysteries of The Velvet Room. By the end, I wanted to cheer... but couldn't, as it was 3:00 am. The only reason this has 4 stars is because I can't give a half star - this is so close to perfect that I would love to give it 4.5 stars.
Such a great book! I had a lot of fun reading it. The idea of the play where the people can decide the plot is so clever, I would definitely watch it.
I also enjoyed all the revelations and how they happened.
As for the main couple they were a great fit, I like their banter and how there wasn't any unnecessary drama.
I also enjoyed all the revelations and how they happened.
As for the main couple they were a great fit, I like their banter and how there wasn't any unnecessary drama.
Funny and tender. Two people who find tenderness, passion, support and love in the most unlikely person. Freddie and Griffin are adorable and not in a sticky, too cute way. I like Lucy Parker's plotting, writing. She writes comedy masterfully. This new novel in her London series is a good one. Her main characters are fun and act like grown ups, are there for each other, listen to each other. Short cut summary... Amy Pond meets Draco Malfoy theater AU. With Jane Austen characters thrown in for fun. This was a NetGalley ebook.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No