Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I really wanted to like this one, but alas, nope.
Why? I struggle with stories where it seems like every other thought everyone has is sexual. Ya'll grocery shopping with erections? What are you, fourteen??
It literally felt like the "protest" aspect took a backseat to a bunch of horny teenagers, yet, everyone was supposed to be 30+ year old adults running companies and such.
I'll also add, the original is kind of a distant blur in my memory, so maybe there's that, but I found myself dozing off and thinking of other books to read while trying to finish this one.
Why? I struggle with stories where it seems like every other thought everyone has is sexual. Ya'll grocery shopping with erections? What are you, fourteen??
It literally felt like the "protest" aspect took a backseat to a bunch of horny teenagers, yet, everyone was supposed to be 30+ year old adults running companies and such.
I'll also add, the original is kind of a distant blur in my memory, so maybe there's that, but I found myself dozing off and thinking of other books to read while trying to finish this one.
fast-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
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
I didn't write this review right after I read it, so I honestly don't remember much which goes to show that I think this book is meh. I love the idea of a social justice warrior going head to head with a CEO just to find out the CEO wants to stop/change the plans as much as they do. The characters in this worked well together and the romance felt natural but unrealistic at the same time. How does a protester come in contact with the CEO at a community event? I'm not sure, but it could potentially happen. I have not read the original Pride and Prejudice, but I didn't feel like I had knowledge gaps or misunderstandings in the story because of it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Racism, Classism
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Pride and prejudice retelling. Family ties are strong!
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What I loved: Payne's dialogue! Bennett family drama was so well done, and she recasts the characters beautifully, capturing their absurdity and melodrama and even their earnestness (god love them). I also cheered through the set-up and meet-disaster for Lisa and Dorsey, because it perfectly conveys the cringey prejudices captured so well in the original social satire.
What didn't work as well for me: Occasionally this felt tied to the original in ways that made character arcs feel a bit forgotten (we have to fill in the gaps a bit with our knowledge of the original/the intention). The decision to make this a capital-R-Romance also means that we lean a lot more into the development of trust and rapport between Lisa/Lizzie and Dorsey/Darcy than the original does, making the awkward love triangle make less sense (it's not really believable that she would be hung up on anyone other than the guy she's literally texting all night long, especially one we rarely see on page). And a few characters felt a bit unmoored to me (particularly David/the Mr. Bingley of it all, who felt cringey in a lecherous way and not in a himbo way in some of those early scenes). I honestly wished we had dropped a few of the original characters to give Payne's story more room to exist independently, but that's just me.
Content note: I'm surprised by the extended Harry Potter dialogue. It's possible it was removed in reprints or other editions, but noting the content because it will be triggering for readers coming to this later.
What didn't work as well for me: Occasionally this felt tied to the original in ways that made character arcs feel a bit forgotten (we have to fill in the gaps a bit with our knowledge of the original/the intention). The decision to make this a capital-R-Romance also means that we lean a lot more into the development of trust and rapport between Lisa/Lizzie and Dorsey/Darcy than the original does, making the awkward love triangle make less sense (it's not really believable that she would be hung up on anyone other than the guy she's literally texting all night long, especially one we rarely see on page). And a few characters felt a bit unmoored to me (particularly David/the Mr. Bingley of it all, who felt cringey in a lecherous way and not in a himbo way in some of those early scenes). I honestly wished we had dropped a few of the original characters to give Payne's story more room to exist independently, but that's just me.
Content note: I'm surprised by the extended Harry Potter dialogue. It's possible it was removed in reprints or other editions, but noting the content because it will be triggering for readers coming to this later.