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bookhoarding's review
3.0
As winter begins to bear down with rain and snow, you're probably already dreaming of summer reading by the beach (or pool). If you're like me, you don't want a heavy novel to peruse seaside. Instead you want something light and uncomplicated. Something with just enough drama to keep you guessing, and not so much romance that you feel nauseous just reading about the PDA.
If you're that kind of reader then “What Would Lizzy Bennet Do?” by Katie Oliver is a good choice. The Darcys are hosting the cast and crew of an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in their estate for the summer. Their neighbors, the Bennets, have always managed to intertwine their lives with the Darcy boys, and this summer won't be any different, though the children are all adults and haven't seen each other in awhile.
Hugh Darcy, heir to the Darcy estate, has come home and Lizzy couldn't be more thrilled. Her hopes of finally confessing her love for him are halted when she finds out his reason for visiting is to introduce his fiancé, Holly, to his family. While this love triangle develops, Ciaran Duncan, who plays Wickham in the production and is essentially the same playboy off the set, begins a flirtation with the youngest Bennet sister, Charlotte.
There's plenty of love, misunderstandings and drama (on the high seas, no less!), but the story frequently feels like major plot point were invented along the way. Revelations about Hugh’s past are plopped in and feel awkward with the pacing of the story.
Another flaw in the storytelling is that Jane Austen exists in their universe, with many characters referencing Austen or her works, but none of the characters seemed phased that their names, estates and boats all have names from her works. I feel like the story could have been just as entertaining without the heavy-handed nods to Austen.
There are a lot of unbelievable parts of the story (like any studio allowing one of the stars to participate in a race while still doing principal photography), but one of the worst comes at the end.
*spoilers ahead*
At the end of the book we are to believe that Holly and Hugh, though engaged and dating for a year, haven't had sex. Ever. Ummmm. There are tons of little hints at some kind of sexual aspect of their relationship, even if it is mostly initiated by Holly, but it's just too convenient that she's magically had a dry spell for a year despite dating a man she intends to marry.
*spoilers over*
Who should read this: People who are ready for beach reading season
What you should drink with this: mimosas, bloody Mary's and anything else acceptable to drink before noon
If you're that kind of reader then “What Would Lizzy Bennet Do?” by Katie Oliver is a good choice. The Darcys are hosting the cast and crew of an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in their estate for the summer. Their neighbors, the Bennets, have always managed to intertwine their lives with the Darcy boys, and this summer won't be any different, though the children are all adults and haven't seen each other in awhile.
Hugh Darcy, heir to the Darcy estate, has come home and Lizzy couldn't be more thrilled. Her hopes of finally confessing her love for him are halted when she finds out his reason for visiting is to introduce his fiancé, Holly, to his family. While this love triangle develops, Ciaran Duncan, who plays Wickham in the production and is essentially the same playboy off the set, begins a flirtation with the youngest Bennet sister, Charlotte.
There's plenty of love, misunderstandings and drama (on the high seas, no less!), but the story frequently feels like major plot point were invented along the way. Revelations about Hugh’s past are plopped in and feel awkward with the pacing of the story.
Another flaw in the storytelling is that Jane Austen exists in their universe, with many characters referencing Austen or her works, but none of the characters seemed phased that their names, estates and boats all have names from her works. I feel like the story could have been just as entertaining without the heavy-handed nods to Austen.
There are a lot of unbelievable parts of the story (like any studio allowing one of the stars to participate in a race while still doing principal photography), but one of the worst comes at the end.
*spoilers ahead*
At the end of the book we are to believe that Holly and Hugh, though engaged and dating for a year, haven't had sex. Ever. Ummmm. There are tons of little hints at some kind of sexual aspect of their relationship, even if it is mostly initiated by Holly, but it's just too convenient that she's magically had a dry spell for a year despite dating a man she intends to marry.
*spoilers over*
Who should read this: People who are ready for beach reading season
What you should drink with this: mimosas, bloody Mary's and anything else acceptable to drink before noon
clairereviews's review
3.0
Published by: Carina UK (13th January 2016)
ASIN: B0175WV0BI
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 3*
Synopsis:
When your name is Lizzy Bennet and Mr Darcy lives next door, romance is anything but simple…
Especially since a film crew has just arrived to shoot Pride and Prejudice at the Darcy estate! And when Hugh Darcy, the one who got away, arrives home after 8 years absence, Lizzy can’t help but think it’s fate. Until, that is, he introduces her to Holly – his fiancée…
What can Lizzy do but try not to feel too prejudiced against Hugh’s new woman – a city girl who knows nothing about country life, and seems more concerned with her film star ex than her current fiancé?
There’s no denying that there’s something suspicious about Holly’s interest in Hugh…and when he begins to have doubts about his high-maintenance fiancée, it seems a break up is on the cards. But is it too late for Lizzy to swallow her pride and get her Austen ending after all?
Review:
A quick and easy read, What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? is perfect for modern fans of Jane Austen and readers of chick lit. A contemporary twist brings this tale right up to date.
Although predictable, Katie Oliver's latest book is frothy with lots of interesting characters and plenty of fun and romance.
Thanks to Carina UK and Netgalley for the review copy I received in return for my honest review.
ASIN: B0175WV0BI
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 3*
Synopsis:
When your name is Lizzy Bennet and Mr Darcy lives next door, romance is anything but simple…
Especially since a film crew has just arrived to shoot Pride and Prejudice at the Darcy estate! And when Hugh Darcy, the one who got away, arrives home after 8 years absence, Lizzy can’t help but think it’s fate. Until, that is, he introduces her to Holly – his fiancée…
What can Lizzy do but try not to feel too prejudiced against Hugh’s new woman – a city girl who knows nothing about country life, and seems more concerned with her film star ex than her current fiancé?
There’s no denying that there’s something suspicious about Holly’s interest in Hugh…and when he begins to have doubts about his high-maintenance fiancée, it seems a break up is on the cards. But is it too late for Lizzy to swallow her pride and get her Austen ending after all?
Review:
A quick and easy read, What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? is perfect for modern fans of Jane Austen and readers of chick lit. A contemporary twist brings this tale right up to date.
Although predictable, Katie Oliver's latest book is frothy with lots of interesting characters and plenty of fun and romance.
Thanks to Carina UK and Netgalley for the review copy I received in return for my honest review.
authorheatherw's review
3.0
Sometimes I just need a book that leaves me with lots of warm and fuzzy feelings. I picked up What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? because I wanted to turn my brain off for the night and just go along with a sweet, silly romance. Although the book worked for me on some levels, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped.
I adore anything and everything Pride & Prejudice related. Although the setup for this novel was a little corny, I still went with it. I immediately liked the two Darcy brothers and Lizzy provided a lot of comic relief. I would have preferred that most of the story focused on the love triangle between Holly, Lizzy, and Hugh, but the book became riddled with subplots. If the novel was more focused and didn’t seem to throw in strange and unnecessary plot twists, I would have loved it so much more.
If you’re looking for chick lit that is funny and sweet, then I suggest you pick up What Would Lizzy Bennet Do?
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
I adore anything and everything Pride & Prejudice related. Although the setup for this novel was a little corny, I still went with it. I immediately liked the two Darcy brothers and Lizzy provided a lot of comic relief. I would have preferred that most of the story focused on the love triangle between Holly, Lizzy, and Hugh, but the book became riddled with subplots. If the novel was more focused and didn’t seem to throw in strange and unnecessary plot twists, I would have loved it so much more.
If you’re looking for chick lit that is funny and sweet, then I suggest you pick up What Would Lizzy Bennet Do?
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
leahmichelle_13's review
3.0
Katie Oliver seems to have made it her authorly mission to bring Jane Austen into the twenty-first century. She's written seven novels up to now, and all have revolved around Jane Austen in some way. In her newest trilogy, she's taken the names of Austen's characters and made them her own, in a very confusing manner, since there's also a Jane Austen adaptation being filmed next door to the Bennet house, in the Darcy Manor. To be perfectly honest, the novel would have worked just as well with simple characters not named after Austen characters, it would have worked if Lizzy was plain old Sarah, or something.
I quite enjoyed What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? it was a harmless piece of fiction, and I whizzed through it at quite a pace, although I did roll my eyes many times at the way the characters spoke and acted. Lizzy was in love with Hugh Darcy, simply because he helped her with her grief in regards to her mothers death EIGHT YEARS PREVIOUSLY? When she was sixteen? It wasn't love, it was infatuation, the kind of thing you get with doctors when they help you, and it kind of irritated me that she was so obsessed, it wasn't as if they met up weekly in London (where they both lived for a time!!!!). It just didn't really make sense.
Will I read the other books in the series, I do not know. It was an okay read, I read it, but I do think it would have been a far superior novel if it wasn't a re-telling of Austen. Loads of people do re-tellings of Austen, and that's fine, but there's only one Jane Austen, ya know? It seems to be Katie's USP, though, which is up to her, but I would definitely read something different, like the love story of the very normal Samantha and Ben, or something. I tell you which character was my favourite of What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? and that was Harry. Harry was awesome, and reminded me of a certain ginger prince. This wasn't a bad read by any means, I enjoyed it and it whiled away an evening full of cold.
I quite enjoyed What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? it was a harmless piece of fiction, and I whizzed through it at quite a pace, although I did roll my eyes many times at the way the characters spoke and acted. Lizzy was in love with Hugh Darcy, simply because he helped her with her grief in regards to her mothers death EIGHT YEARS PREVIOUSLY? When she was sixteen? It wasn't love, it was infatuation, the kind of thing you get with doctors when they help you, and it kind of irritated me that she was so obsessed, it wasn't as if they met up weekly in London (where they both lived for a time!!!!). It just didn't really make sense.
Will I read the other books in the series, I do not know. It was an okay read, I read it, but I do think it would have been a far superior novel if it wasn't a re-telling of Austen. Loads of people do re-tellings of Austen, and that's fine, but there's only one Jane Austen, ya know? It seems to be Katie's USP, though, which is up to her, but I would definitely read something different, like the love story of the very normal Samantha and Ben, or something. I tell you which character was my favourite of What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? and that was Harry. Harry was awesome, and reminded me of a certain ginger prince. This wasn't a bad read by any means, I enjoyed it and it whiled away an evening full of cold.
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