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broccoli_baz 's review for:
The Bennet Women
by Eden Appiah-Kubi
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.