Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
emotional
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tense
medium-paced
Beginning was rough, like clutching pearls at the actions and attitude of characters. But definitely was the point, and it was smooth reading after that.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In general, this story fell a bit flat for me and I had a hard time getting invested in the characters and their story, even though I am familiar with the original and love that book. I like the diversity and how the story has been shaped for a modern retelling, but I had a hard time caring about either love interest because neither were super loveable. When gentrification is a huge topic in a story, I expect it to have more weight and emotion to it. I also felt like some of the plot didn't really make sense and was added in just to align with the original. I felt like using some of Austen's phrasing sprinkled throughout this book didn't really fit with the characters, especially when on the same page they talked about people banging. They were all just a bit too horny for me. Overall, the story dragged and the main plot (gentrification of the neighborhood) didn't get enough time.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
The setup sounded like catnip: let’s retell Pride & Prejudice but set it in modern DC and make it a story about affordable housing and gentrification. Loved the setting and who Payne chose to modernize these very familiar characters, but the writing was not great. Pacing and transitions need a much stronger editor’s guidance. Also I’m not sure all the lusting moves this particular version of the story forward. Austen was so masterful in her slow burn and I believed Lizzie and Darcy fell for one another because they were intellectually and spiritually suited; Lizzie’s “fine eyes” are just icing on the cake. Payne reverses this and it doesn’t work for me.