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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Before buying this book, I read a lot of reviews that essentially said "this book is not for me", which ended up convincing me that this book was, in fact, for me. I was right!!
First off, regarding all the reviews that said the characters were flat and unrelatable, I don't know what book they were reading. (Best to take that with a grain of salt when the main POV characters are a Black woman in STEM and a thriving trans woman.) I thought the characters were beautifully believable. I've never met a character like EJ who has as many hobbies and passions as me, each with a backstory of some kind. It all makes sense with EJ. She is a delight.
Other reviews said the conflict was quiet and nothing really happens. Well, the conflict is mostly interpersonal (the way I like it) and the solutions are reached by seeking guidance of others, good communication, and fitting retribution. Instead of being catalysed by circumstance, the characters often recognise the crossroads they face and make a conscious decision how to move forward. (I relate to this deeply; I often feel vividly as if I am at a crossroads and see clearly the trajectories before me.) The wisdom and presence of these moments is beautiful and refreshing.
I also want to address expectation. I personally don't care in the slightest how closely my retellings follow the original, and actually I found this book was way more faithful to Pride and Prejudice than the reviews gave me to expect. The characters and plot points were recognisable and fulfilled their rightful roles. I liked knowing the rough trajectory of the story while enjoying a twenty-first-century imagining of where such a story might go. And there were plenty of surprises! I keep using the word "beautiful" but it really is the word for how this book unfolded. It was tender and real. There were moments where I had to pause, sit and soak it in.
To sum up, this isn't your typical romance. It's closer to what I imagine when I think about all the exciting ways Gen Z are going to reinvent the genre in the (very near!) future. Read this book if you want a taste of what that could look like!
Anyway. Big fan. Will be recommending. Hope to read more books like this.
First off, regarding all the reviews that said the characters were flat and unrelatable, I don't know what book they were reading. (Best to take that with a grain of salt when the main POV characters are a Black woman in STEM and a thriving trans woman.) I thought the characters were beautifully believable. I've never met a character like EJ who has as many hobbies and passions as me, each with a backstory of some kind. It all makes sense with EJ. She is a delight.
Other reviews said the conflict was quiet and nothing really happens. Well, the conflict is mostly interpersonal (the way I like it) and the solutions are reached by seeking guidance of others, good communication, and fitting retribution. Instead of being catalysed by circumstance, the characters often recognise the crossroads they face and make a conscious decision how to move forward. (I relate to this deeply; I often feel vividly as if I am at a crossroads and see clearly the trajectories before me.) The wisdom and presence of these moments is beautiful and refreshing.
I also want to address expectation. I personally don't care in the slightest how closely my retellings follow the original, and actually I found this book was way more faithful to Pride and Prejudice than the reviews gave me to expect. The characters and plot points were recognisable and fulfilled their rightful roles. I liked knowing the rough trajectory of the story while enjoying a twenty-first-century imagining of where such a story might go. And there were plenty of surprises! I keep using the word "beautiful" but it really is the word for how this book unfolded. It was tender and real. There were moments where I had to pause, sit and soak it in.
To sum up, this isn't your typical romance. It's closer to what I imagine when I think about all the exciting ways Gen Z are going to reinvent the genre in the (very near!) future. Read this book if you want a taste of what that could look like!
Anyway. Big fan. Will be recommending. Hope to read more books like this.
{3.5 stars}
The Bennet Women is billed as a modern take on Pride and Prejudice. EJ, Jaime and Tessa are college girls living in a women's dorm at a prestigious college. EJ is an ambitious Black engineer who is more focused on her future than love. Tessa is a newly transitioned woman who is navigating the day to day of her new reality and what it means for her love life. The two end up dating friends, queue the drama.
This story was a like not a love for me. One, other than the naming within, there were not enough allusions to Pride and Prejudice for me. Two, contemporary romance needs to have amazing banter or some other deep emotional revelations to really grab me. Three, there were a lot of characters with impressive back stories and potential for starring stories but it was mainly EJ and Will that we followed from start to finish. Don't get me wrong, their story was cute and the most like Elizabeth and Darcy but the secondary characters here were so interesting. There was a ton of representation though and that was all done really well.
I did this one on audio and the narrator was fabulous.
The Bennet Women is billed as a modern take on Pride and Prejudice. EJ, Jaime and Tessa are college girls living in a women's dorm at a prestigious college. EJ is an ambitious Black engineer who is more focused on her future than love. Tessa is a newly transitioned woman who is navigating the day to day of her new reality and what it means for her love life. The two end up dating friends, queue the drama.
This story was a like not a love for me. One, other than the naming within, there were not enough allusions to Pride and Prejudice for me. Two, contemporary romance needs to have amazing banter or some other deep emotional revelations to really grab me. Three, there were a lot of characters with impressive back stories and potential for starring stories but it was mainly EJ and Will that we followed from start to finish. Don't get me wrong, their story was cute and the most like Elizabeth and Darcy but the secondary characters here were so interesting. There was a ton of representation though and that was all done really well.
I did this one on audio and the narrator was fabulous.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
very cute! a good adaption in terms of themes and growth but still transformative. kicked my feet and giggled on occasion (“have you seen you in the moonlight?”) a good representation of the issues that various marginalized groups face- one character was a little flat though. also too many pop culture references
I truly enjoyed reading this one.
Diversity and inclusivity were put to the fore through amazing characters who were not afraid to discuss important subject matters and voice their opinions. No really, the character-building was so refreshing. Each choice that was made throughout the story always felt right and realistic. I did not feel like some obstacles were thrown at the characters only to create useless drama (something that happens pretty often in contemporaries).
Another thing that made my reading experience so nice was how easy it was to fly through the story. The book is fast-paced thanks to the structure of the novel, which follows the unfolding of a classic college year.
As for the retelling aspect of the story, I thought it was well done. I noticed several similarities with p&p, but it was done in a subtle way. It set the tone for the entire story while still letting room for the author to discuss important issues regarding today's society.
Diversity and inclusivity were put to the fore through amazing characters who were not afraid to discuss important subject matters and voice their opinions. No really, the character-building was so refreshing. Each choice that was made throughout the story always felt right and realistic. I did not feel like some obstacles were thrown at the characters only to create useless drama (something that happens pretty often in contemporaries).
Another thing that made my reading experience so nice was how easy it was to fly through the story. The book is fast-paced thanks to the structure of the novel, which follows the unfolding of a classic college year.
As for the retelling aspect of the story, I thought it was well done. I noticed several similarities with p&p, but it was done in a subtle way. It set the tone for the entire story while still letting room for the author to discuss important issues regarding today's society.
A really good modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed seeing this story address the social issues today, much like the original Jane Austen version addressed issues of her day.
I don't know if I would've enjoyed this book even more not knowing it was a pride & predjudice retelling. This way the hunt for parallels and the awareness of the plot development shifted my focus a little from this very charming story itself. EJ is a fantastic protagonist, perfectly balanced between confidence and wisdom and the possibility of growth and relatablity. all of the characters felt complex and authentic despite being modeled after quite old prototypes. The modernization of the story felt absolutley natural, be it the diversity or the lovestory, the celebrity status of the love interest and the university setting.
The language was overall very easy to read and was humerous and serious depending on the situation with some very wise words sprinkeled around the life lessons the characters are facing.
The language was overall very easy to read and was humerous and serious depending on the situation with some very wise words sprinkeled around the life lessons the characters are facing.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a perfectly fine YA/New Adult modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice. The problem with retellings for me is that they really need to be something exceptional to be anything other than "just ok" for me...and this wasn't. It's nice but it didn't blown me away...there's nothing here that makes me feel like EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS. That doesn't mean it doesn't have a place...it's well written with nice characters and I do like the way everything was adapted and modernized. I think for people who have not read Pride and Prejudice and for those who will never read Pride and Prejudice...this is probably a GREAT way for them to consume that basic story in a modern way. I would recommend it for that. If you LOVE retellings and you LOVE Pride and Prejudice...I would also recommend this because I think it's well done. But for me personally...it was just ok.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Nice breezy reimagining. Pride and Prejudice in college, and for some reason, college settings don’t really do it for publishers. A shame, because personally college was better than high school, and the characters have more freedom to do what they wish because they’re adults.
Oh and an interracial romance where both characters are POC…all in! Will is Chinese-Korean and EJ is Black (though they didn’t capitalize the B in this book
Oh and an interracial romance where both characters are POC…all in! Will is Chinese-Korean and EJ is Black (though they didn’t capitalize the B in this book