A review by bookforthought
My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It's no secret by now that I adore retellings and I will read almost any of them, and the less overdone the original material, the better. So, I was really excited to hear that My Fair Lady was getting a retelling, especially since I loved the film version!

My Fine Fellow is a charming gender-flipped loose version of My Fair Lady, with a focus on cooking rather than language, in an alternate 1830s England where Culinarians are at the top of the social pyramid. I found the premise really intriguing, and this alternate version of society was fascinating and definitely reminded me of Netflix's Bridgerton in many ways.

This was a quick and easy read that definitely had a lot of sweet moments. At the same time though, I was left feeling like I wanted more of everything. The premise and setting were interesting, but I felt like I didn't get enough of them to really, properly understand the society, its structures and how these affected the characters. There were nonetheless some interesting reflections and representations (Elijah is Jewish and Penelope is of Filipina heritage) and I appreciated how these themes were inserted in the narrative.

Despite that, I just couldn't grow to care about the characters, which for me is a major issue when reading a book. They all felt quite flat and superficial, with no real depth and very limited growth arcs. The romance was cute, but all other relationships felt quite bland. The cooking and the trio's passion for it were interesting, but at times I was a bit confused by what was happening and I wasn't too sure of what the final dish was.

Overall, it's an easy, fun and charming read that's great if you're looking for a simple, entertaining read without much depth. 
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