There's a reason Austen is still read and enjoyed two hundred years after her death. Her wit, her characterization, her stories... Her works are exciting and lovable and insightful in all the best ways. Attempting an Austen retelling against that love and support is intimidating. You need to balance including the characters and situations that fans love and adore with a twist that brings something fresh to the story and makes the adaptation worth reading in its own right. As a lifelong devotee of Austen, I have high expectations for a retelling. Did the authors keep the characters true to their namesakes? Are the modernizations true to the spirit of the original? Is there enough different that the adaptation is justified (or is this a glorified money grab)?

In this Pride and Prejudice retelling, Bellezza and Harding definitely hit the mark. Even though I knew was was going to happen, I loved watching the story unfold. The tension was great and I enjoyed the characters grow through the drama. The deviations from the original make sense and feel well grounded in the new parameters. A fun read that I will recommend to the other Austen lovers in my circle. 

Many thanks to Gallery Books for providing an advanced reader copy for review.

A note on my reading experience: a summer cold swept through my house this week and claimed me as its latest victim. Picked up this book to fill the day and basically devoured it in one sitting. While I don't recommend the germ infestation, I do recommend reading this all in one go. What a delightful way to spend the morning.