✨I too am a dirty little slut for libraries and dessert✨
This one was suuuper cute and I liked it a lot!! But after reading the summary and noting that✨I too am a dirty little slut for libraries and dessert✨
This one was suuuper cute and I liked it a lot!! But after reading the summary and noting that this was labeled romcom…I am CONFUSED! I originally thought the romance was just a subplot because I wanted MORE because BOY OH BOY was it rushed at the end ugh they deserved more (I’m so sad but also I will survive). I really loved Marnie's personal journey though and her friendship with Adhira was so good (there's even a redeemed enemy arc I loved). I also cried
Marnie is one of those characters who you may not like at the beginning of the novel. But I really really love when this happens. I have such a fondness for redeemed snooty/selfish characters. I use redeemed lightly because obviously she still remained firmly herself, but ended the book just a little bit more aware of how she can hurt others and how others have/haven't hurt her. I love witnessing the growth and acceptance these books normally work through. So while you may be disgruntled with her character at first, I really hope you see it through until the end.
- (My YA favs include If I'm Being Honest and A Midsummer's Nightmare.) (One I used to love is Before I Fall but I don't have the emotional capacity to read that book anymore, but I read the shit out of it when I was younger.)
I definitely wanted to shake Marnie A LOT when it came to Hayes, but even then, I get it. She's not the only one to have a very terrible, very messy crush and even though I was DISGUSTED with the man, I still understood Marnie. Also he was very sleazy and predatory so half of her mixed up emotions and feelings were because he was using and toying with her. He got his proper punishment though so I'm feeling good. Her family also got on my nerves, but I think they mainly made up for their initial shitty behavior. The mother, however, still needs to answer for giving away that lemon cupcake. That is a CRIME.
The animal shelter plot line was super cute and I liked the scope of her project. I also liked getting to know the San Fransisco area a bit more. The wedding was perfectly dramatic and I love Marnie for her flare. That scene alone was worth one star AT LEAST; I was so happy. I especially loved the wedding scene because so many times, characters are not able to go a little balls to the wall. Marnie did her fair share of fucking around and finding out and I loved watching her live her unhinged life. I too get seduced by chocolate desserts.
The romance between Marnie and Whit was like 15% of this book. I loved Marnie and had such a good time, but this was wayyyyy more centered on her relationship with her family, herself, Adhira, even Hayes, and then Whit. So much so that at the last chapter I didn’t actually know if they’d get together. We didn’t meet Whit until 25% into the book. I’m not saying this is a terribly terrible thing because I really did enjoy the book—I just wish we got more of Marnie and Whit because we don’t know much about him and I don’t know enough about them together to believe they love each other???
There was a SUPER swoony moment but it was immediately ruined by Marnie being plagued by lockjaw because Whit asked a very simple question and she simply could not answer it. (It was that type of moment where the main character just clams up even though they *think* about their response but ultimately say nothing.) It kinda spoiled the mood because again, the answer was SUPER simple. But still, that scene was SO good. I need to find myself a ball gown, ball, and enamored hero.
Overall, I had a really fun time re-imagining Mary Bennet's character. I laughed, I cried, I craved dessert. Marnie was nothing if not relatable—she's not always a great person, but I can't claim to always be either. She had enough of heart to keep me rooting for her. I liked the literary references and screeched at the Gilbert/Anne references, my heart! I also had a very fun time creeping on Will during this book because I will always have a hard-on for Darcy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to the publisher for giving me an arc via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are honest and my own.
CWs: Comments on main characters body/weight, car accident, miscarriage, predatory older men...more
This was cute! I’m honestly not ~quite~ sure what else to say? Like it had the vague makings of a Pride and Prejudice remix but✨Historical Elle Woods✨
This was cute! I’m honestly not ~quite~ sure what else to say? Like it had the vague makings of a Pride and Prejudice remix but it definitely didn’t abide by all the plot markers. The most surprising parts of this book were the moments it didn’t adhere to P&P. I was just going to say I’m excited to see where the characters go in book two because it seemed like there was more to say . . . but I suppose naturally it’s the characters from Sense and Sensibility. I dunno I thought we’d maybe get more? Like we didn’t truly get to see the mastermind get taken down? It just didn’t feel entirely completed.
I also needed more time with Lizzie and Darcy. I needed a botched proposal—if not marriage at least *something* to sate my soul. I needed him to look a little more bumbling and endearing. There was a bit of this! But I want moreee. I did appreciate his suave lil thumb move that mimicked 2005 Darcy hand flex a bit. Truly, Darcy was fine but he remained pretty surface level to me.
As far as the mystery, I feel like I really am dense because it took me by complete surprise and it really shouldn’t have lol. Lizzie definitely had her Elle Woods saves the day in court moment and I really did love that for her. I’ve seen this compared to Stalking Jack the Ripper but honestly it’s closer to Legally Blonde in my opinion. The ending did drag a bit for me but overall it was solid and I’ll be reading the second one for sure.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
P.S another not completed thing was Caroline and her lil love muffin? What’s up with that? Couldn’t tell ya. ...more
✨If Moira Rose wrote a book, it would speak this language.✨
I adored The League of Gentlewomen Witches even better than The Wisteria Society of Lady Sc✨If Moira Rose wrote a book, it would speak this language.✨
I adored The League of Gentlewomen Witches even better than The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels and I LOVED TWoLS! The main relationship in The League of Gentlewomen Witches was front and center and it was SO SWOONY!! Somebody get me a fainting couch and a stiff… drink. By drink I of course mean a stiff, tattooed pirate whom I’d love to down like a tall, dark, and handsome glass of water.
I would also definitely recommend reading book one first. If you like Jane Austen, The Princess Bride, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Fun Times, Good Times, Sexy Times, and myriad other Times, I’d say give it a bang.
The romance stole my unmentionables and burned them on the funeral pyre of my last shreds of dignity. I have come undone. I am messily in love with this book. I love Alex so hard.
I’m still reeling over these two pushing two beds together at an inn. Legendary behavior. And I want MY romantic ballroom moment such as Jane Austen herself might have composed. And I NEED a pirate in possession of a hefty sword and remarkable stamina. And when said pirate in possession of a certain set of skills first let it slip that he loved his wicked witch???? And when said wicked witch casually mentioned how she loved a certain skilled pirate??? End my misery for I will NEVER recover from those scenes.
I also just really relate to Charlotte’s way of thinking:
”Besides, she was merely being practical. It had become apparent the tension between them needed releasing on a regular basis, for the sake of their health—no, wait, for the sake of obtaining the amulet! Charlotte could not focus on that goal if constantly arguing with a pirate. It was her League duty to have sex with him.”
This book disturbed my peace in the most criminally delightful manner. The series is fantastic. I’m pining away for book three as we speak ✨
I think any modern retelling of a classic is going to have a divided audience: originalists and living constitutionalists. Both terms come from US hisI think any modern retelling of a classic is going to have a divided audience: originalists and living constitutionalists. Both terms come from US history of interpreting the constitution and frankly I couldn’t think of two better words so here are. Originalists read retellings to basically reread a classic novel written in modern times with not much else changed. Living constitutionalists (should they be living classicalists?) read a retelling to be loosely reminded of the original novel but to also learn something new about the characters or to explore different plot lines. For example, a living constitutionalist would not be bothered that Darcy and Liz Bennet had premarital sex because it fits with modern times—originalists not so much. Where is the sexual tension? They ask. Where is the heart of the original Pride and Prejudice? They cry.
I would say that I am pretty much a living constitutionalist. I enjoy a retelling because I can still see the shadow of Pride and Prejudice, but there’s a new body! Structurally similar but uniquely its own and at times unpredictable. Ultimately, you know how the story will end—most ardently—and yet you are still taken by surprise!
In ‘Eligible,’ Liz Bennet is a magazine writer and Jane is a yoga instructor. Bingley and Darcy are doctors and most other characters appear as well. With an ode to The Bachelor, Chip Bingley was recently featured on the really dating show ‘Eligible.’ It’s a very modern and saucy twist on the original classic in which premarital canoodling may or may not be involved. Scandal of the century! However, while there are some mildly drastic differences between ‘Eligible’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ the heart of the original characters is still firmly centered at the core of the novel.
I’ve seen many reviews that this novel isn’t true enough to the original. Im not all that sure I agree but also if I do, I don’t mind. I read retellings more because I know how the storyline will go but I want to meet new and diverse characters! ...more
I think this book was did something unique and very important: introduce historical romances to a YA audience! I would have loved to have found this bI think this book was did something unique and very important: introduce historical romances to a YA audience! I would have loved to have found this book when I was younger. I think I would have searched far and wide for similar titles and ended up at historical romance a lot faster. I do love my meet-cute with historicals but I have so much lost time to make up.
This was a reread and my first read was in the midst of a historical romance binge. Around that time last year I think I watched Pride and Prejudice (2005) four times in one night—at least one with the director’s commentary. I liked that this austenesque book mentioned all of Austen’s novels and wasn’t a strict retelling of just one. It was its own thing with its own characters. I did miss some adult novels angst but easily forgot about it when the mystery took another turn. There was a whole cast of characters and it all became quite theatric in the end.
If you’re a historical romance lover and have someone younger in your life, I’d definitely recommend this as a gift. It sounds bad to introduce children to gateway drugs, but that’s exactly what this one is: a gateway book. It will inspire a desire to read more and more and more and to find similar books. There aren’t many so savor it!
It also reads well for an older audience, especially for a lighter read in between more saucy numbers. It got a little long-winded at times and it was an investment, but when I first read it I ate it up and appreciate its individuality. I was a little less enchanted the second time, but thankfully I did forget the who in the whodunnit, so it was almost like it was my first read.