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A review by lbarsk
Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg
4.0
This was an enjoyable adaptation that was a really solid queer take on Pride and Prejudice. My only gripes are a) needed more Steamy Scenes between Liz and Daria; b) needed a longer ending (more on that in a second); and c) needed some balance with the non-binary characters (more on that in a second as well).
Re: the ending, I know that actual P&P ends right as Darcy and Lizzie get together, but that’s the point of an adaptation… we can give the readers more than the original! I love that they got their HEA, but it just felt so sudden and I wanted a little more time with both of them.
Re: balance and non-binary characters, I didn’t love the fact that one of the two Main Antagonists, both of whom aren’t redeemed in this retelling, was the main non-binary character in the book. Yes, there are a couple non-binary side characters, but they barely feature in the way this Main Antagonist does. I’m not saying that this Main Antagonist needed to be cis, but maybe there could’ve been one more prominently featured non-binary person so that it didn’t feel so skewed? I think the author unintentionally played into some tropes about how non-binary people present and carry themselves sexually when writing this character, which stunk.
HOWEVER, Liz and Daria’s gender thoughts were handled with care and sweetness, and I would’ve loved even more of that! All in all a solid read.
Re: the ending, I know that actual P&P ends right as Darcy and Lizzie get together, but that’s the point of an adaptation… we can give the readers more than the original! I love that they got their HEA, but it just felt so sudden and I wanted a little more time with both of them.
Re: balance and non-binary characters, I didn’t love the fact that one of the two Main Antagonists, both of whom aren’t redeemed in this retelling, was the main non-binary character in the book. Yes, there are a couple non-binary side characters, but they barely feature in the way this Main Antagonist does. I’m not saying that this Main Antagonist needed to be cis, but maybe there could’ve been one more prominently featured non-binary person so that it didn’t feel so skewed? I think the author unintentionally played into some tropes about how non-binary people present and carry themselves sexually when writing this character, which stunk.
HOWEVER, Liz and Daria’s gender thoughts were handled with care and sweetness, and I would’ve loved even more of that! All in all a solid read.