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A review by sandlynn
The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker
4.0
Lucy Parker’s The Austen Playbook, published in 2019, is the fourth in Parker’s series set in London’s theater district, which is one of my favorite settings. In this one, we follow Freddie Carlton, a young actress from an illustrious theater family, who is struggling to define herself in her craft. On the one hand, her father — who had his own acting aspirations before an accident ended his dreams and who is also her manager -- has been pushing Freddie to carry on family tradition by becoming the West End’s next big dramatic actress. On the other hand, her own personal preference is song, dance, and comedy. This professional conflict has not gone unnoticed. J. Griffin-Ford, one of London's most difficult and acerbic theater critics has been pointing out Freddie’s dramatic deficiencies for years to her utter annoyance. Unfortunately, a role Freddie does want depends on her performance in a one off, live production of a play being performed at the private theater owned by the Griffin-Ford family which will thrust her in Griff’s orbit at this crucial time.
This up close up and personal interaction will not be the first time a Ford and a Carlton will be thrown together at Highbrook, the Ford’s debt-laden country estate. Many years in the past, Freddie’s famous grandmother, actress Henrietta Carlton, had an affair with Griff’s grandfather, who built the theater for her. However, the affair ended abruptly and only now are Freddie and Griff beginning to learn why. A long held secret, which could lead to a terrible scandal, is threatening to overwhelm both their families. Can the two of them manage to reveal this information without destroying their loved ones, their professional reputations, as well as their new found, fragile relationship.
I started this book just as I was leaving for a dream trip to Scotland, so I must admit, my attention wasn’t totally focused on the story, it took me longer to finish it, and this might have done a disservice to the book. As I mentioned, I love stories set in the entertainment industry, so this is like catnip to me, and I’ve also enjoyed all of Lucy Parker’s books thus far. However, I have to say that this particular book suffered a bit from pacing. The big secret, which led to the potential scandal, was hinted at for far too many pages than necessary, frustrating me a bit. Then, once the secret began to be revealed, the fall-out went on a little too long. Although I enjoyed the romance between Freddie and Griff, there wasn’t much of a build up, so the romantic tension I expected never really materialized and took a backseat to the other machinations and developments from the various subplots, which were aplenty. It seemed like everything but the kitchen sink was tossed into this story. I’d give it a B+.
This up close up and personal interaction will not be the first time a Ford and a Carlton will be thrown together at Highbrook, the Ford’s debt-laden country estate. Many years in the past, Freddie’s famous grandmother, actress Henrietta Carlton, had an affair with Griff’s grandfather, who built the theater for her. However, the affair ended abruptly and only now are Freddie and Griff beginning to learn why. A long held secret, which could lead to a terrible scandal, is threatening to overwhelm both their families. Can the two of them manage to reveal this information without destroying their loved ones, their professional reputations, as well as their new found, fragile relationship.
I started this book just as I was leaving for a dream trip to Scotland, so I must admit, my attention wasn’t totally focused on the story, it took me longer to finish it, and this might have done a disservice to the book. As I mentioned, I love stories set in the entertainment industry, so this is like catnip to me, and I’ve also enjoyed all of Lucy Parker’s books thus far. However, I have to say that this particular book suffered a bit from pacing. The big secret, which led to the potential scandal, was hinted at for far too many pages than necessary, frustrating me a bit. Then, once the secret began to be revealed, the fall-out went on a little too long. Although I enjoyed the romance between Freddie and Griff, there wasn’t much of a build up, so the romantic tension I expected never really materialized and took a backseat to the other machinations and developments from the various subplots, which were aplenty. It seemed like everything but the kitchen sink was tossed into this story. I’d give it a B+.