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Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood
Abby McDonald gives L.A. the Jane Austen treatment in this contemporary take on Sense and Sensibility.
Hallie and Grace Weston have never exactly seen life eye to eye. So when their father dies and leaves everything to his new wife, forcing the girls to pack up and leave San Francisco for a relative’s house in shiny Beverly Hills, the two sisters take to their changing lot in typically different styles. Shy, responsible Grace manages to make friends with an upbeat, enterprising girl named Palmer but still yearns for her old life — and the maybe-almost-crush she left behind. Meanwhile, drama queen Hallie is throwing herself headlong into life — and love — in L.A., spending every second with gorgeous musician Dakota and warding off the attention of brooding vet Brandon. But is Hallie blinded by the stars in her eyes? And is Grace doomed to forever hug the sidelines?
Hallie and Grace Weston have never exactly seen life eye to eye. So when their father dies and leaves everything to his new wife, forcing the girls to pack up and leave San Francisco for a relative’s house in shiny Beverly Hills, the two sisters take to their changing lot in typically different styles. Shy, responsible Grace manages to make friends with an upbeat, enterprising girl named Palmer but still yearns for her old life — and the maybe-almost-crush she left behind. Meanwhile, drama queen Hallie is throwing herself headlong into life — and love — in L.A., spending every second with gorgeous musician Dakota and warding off the attention of brooding vet Brandon. But is Hallie blinded by the stars in her eyes? And is Grace doomed to forever hug the sidelines?
321 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2013
32 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
About the author
Abby McDonald
11 books549 followersAuthor of several YA and adult novels, including DANGEROUS GIRLS and DANGEROUS BOYS (written as Abigail Haas).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
February 5, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for a honest review. Thanks to Candlewick!
It is a universally acknowledged truth that if someone does a Jane Austen adaptation, I'm bound to read it or watch it, regardless of quality.
Sometimes, this blind allegiance leads to wonderful discoveries, like the lovely Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Other times, it leads to more questionable works, like the 2010 Camille Belle Film, From Prada to Nada.
Fortunately for me, Abby McDonald's Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood falls firmly into the former category. It's funny, clever, contains some unexpected and twists, and is a pure delight to read.
***
Plot overview:
After their father's untimely death, Hallie and Grace Weston are at a loss. They don't have the resources to stay in their beloved hometown of San Francisco, so together with their mom, they move into a relative's guest house in Beverly Hills.
Once they've settled into the 90210, Grace settles into classes at Beverly Hills High School. She makes friends with a quirky local girl, but continues to wonder about a romance that she left behind.
Hallie, determined to make a name for herself as an actress in Hollywood, throws herself into acting classes, friendships with the glossy elite of the Hills, and a new romance.
***
Because Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood is an adaptation, there is always a tendency to want to refer to the source material.
I'll give into that tendency, but with this disclaimer in mind: even if I hadn't known that this was an adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, I would have strongly enjoyed this book on its merits. I've always found Abby McDonald asa pleasant writer to read, and this book is no different.
***
Things that worked :
Characterization:
First and foremost, I liked the fact that Abby McDonald reversed the ages for Grace and Hallie. In S&S, Grace (or Elinor) is normally older, and Hallie (Marianne) is younger.
By reversing the age, McDonald immediately got rid of some the preconceived assumptions that people automatically make with the characters - e.g. the reason that the Elinor-equivalent is more mature is strictly due to age, or the Marianne-equivalent is hysterical, is because she's younger.
I also really liked the fact that Grace and Hallie are mixed-race. I'm pretty sure it's only mentioned once in the book, but the sentence jumped out at me when I read it. You don't get a lot of mixed-race heroines in teenage/contemporary fiction, so I liked that McDonald was making it a point to buck the trend.
McDonald's modernization of the other characters works, as well. You can tell she actually thought about how to both connect her characters to her source material and make it relevant for today's modern reading audience - e.g. her decision to make Brandon a returned Iraq war vet - is a very clever, thoughtful choice.
The same goes for having Theo (Edward) as a student of philosophy. It remains true to the source material of Edward wanting to be a minister, and also shows a clever understanding of contemporary culture.
(Because let's face it: who hasn't assumed that philosophy is a "worthless" major, when you can actually learn some pretty cool things?)
Setting:
Transferring the setting of the book from the coasts of England to San Francisco and Los Angeles, was also an inspired choice.
I know that part of the reason McDonald made the choice to set the book in these locatoins was because she lives in the L.A. area, but it's also just clever in general. In the original S&S, the Dashwood sisters move from their large home, to the more isolated Devonshire. The girls feel physically isolated and alone.
By having Grace and Hallie move to chaotic LA, McDonald is subtly exploring what it's like to be emotionally isolated rather than physically isolated. It's clever, and actually forces the reader to think about how proximity to crowds doesn't necessarily mean you won't feel isolated.
Plot:
There are no real surprises on the main plot: if you've read S&S, you know what happens. It's written in very engaging tones, and it's fun to read.
For me, it's the small touches that count - e.g. Hallie standing up for herself when her friends treat her poorly; Grace making friends and doing things like participating in alternative Hollywood tours; and Hallie even getting therapy. These touches round the story out in a way that the original didn't necessarily have.
Final verdict:
This is a fun, thoughtful read that I would highly recommend to Jane Austen fans, but to fans of YA and contemporary fiction in general.
It is a universally acknowledged truth that if someone does a Jane Austen adaptation, I'm bound to read it or watch it, regardless of quality.
Sometimes, this blind allegiance leads to wonderful discoveries, like the lovely Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Other times, it leads to more questionable works, like the 2010 Camille Belle Film, From Prada to Nada.
Fortunately for me, Abby McDonald's Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood falls firmly into the former category. It's funny, clever, contains some unexpected and twists, and is a pure delight to read.
***
Plot overview:
After their father's untimely death, Hallie and Grace Weston are at a loss. They don't have the resources to stay in their beloved hometown of San Francisco, so together with their mom, they move into a relative's guest house in Beverly Hills.
Once they've settled into the 90210, Grace settles into classes at Beverly Hills High School. She makes friends with a quirky local girl, but continues to wonder about a romance that she left behind.
Hallie, determined to make a name for herself as an actress in Hollywood, throws herself into acting classes, friendships with the glossy elite of the Hills, and a new romance.
***
Because Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood is an adaptation, there is always a tendency to want to refer to the source material.
I'll give into that tendency, but with this disclaimer in mind: even if I hadn't known that this was an adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, I would have strongly enjoyed this book on its merits. I've always found Abby McDonald asa pleasant writer to read, and this book is no different.
***
Things that worked :
Characterization:
First and foremost, I liked the fact that Abby McDonald reversed the ages for Grace and Hallie. In S&S, Grace (or Elinor) is normally older, and Hallie (Marianne) is younger.
By reversing the age, McDonald immediately got rid of some the preconceived assumptions that people automatically make with the characters - e.g. the reason that the Elinor-equivalent is more mature is strictly due to age, or the Marianne-equivalent is hysterical, is because she's younger.
I also really liked the fact that Grace and Hallie are mixed-race. I'm pretty sure it's only mentioned once in the book, but the sentence jumped out at me when I read it. You don't get a lot of mixed-race heroines in teenage/contemporary fiction, so I liked that McDonald was making it a point to buck the trend.
McDonald's modernization of the other characters works, as well. You can tell she actually thought about how to both connect her characters to her source material and make it relevant for today's modern reading audience - e.g. her decision to make Brandon a returned Iraq war vet - is a very clever, thoughtful choice.
The same goes for having Theo (Edward) as a student of philosophy. It remains true to the source material of Edward wanting to be a minister, and also shows a clever understanding of contemporary culture.
(Because let's face it: who hasn't assumed that philosophy is a "worthless" major, when you can actually learn some pretty cool things?)
Setting:
Transferring the setting of the book from the coasts of England to San Francisco and Los Angeles, was also an inspired choice.
I know that part of the reason McDonald made the choice to set the book in these locatoins was because she lives in the L.A. area, but it's also just clever in general. In the original S&S, the Dashwood sisters move from their large home, to the more isolated Devonshire. The girls feel physically isolated and alone.
By having Grace and Hallie move to chaotic LA, McDonald is subtly exploring what it's like to be emotionally isolated rather than physically isolated. It's clever, and actually forces the reader to think about how proximity to crowds doesn't necessarily mean you won't feel isolated.
Plot:
There are no real surprises on the main plot: if you've read S&S, you know what happens. It's written in very engaging tones, and it's fun to read.
For me, it's the small touches that count - e.g. Hallie standing up for herself when her friends treat her poorly; Grace making friends and doing things like participating in alternative Hollywood tours; and Hallie even getting therapy. These touches round the story out in a way that the original didn't necessarily have.
Final verdict:
This is a fun, thoughtful read that I would highly recommend to Jane Austen fans, but to fans of YA and contemporary fiction in general.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2013
The Weston sisters are penniless when their wealthy father dies, and they go to live with rich Uncle Augie and his wife since there is no will from the dad,and the new wife takes everything including their home. The older sister is a drama queen who wants to be an actress and the younger one is organized and shy. They have issues and angst galore. The characters are fleshed out, the story is well organized and interesting. It suffers from a basic flaw below, and since I'm nitpicking the editor left lounge in instead of living room a lapse in American English (I am reviewing from a hardback First Edition).
ASIDE:
However, the Weston sisters are minors when the story starts, and in California they cannot be disinherited; it is doubtful if the County of San Francisco under emergency housing rules would allow the two sisters to be evicted with their custodial mom from the family home until the youngest was eighteen. Their mom could also collect the father's social security for surviving minors, in addition to child support from the estate; and if she was too out of it from grief San Francisco County's child protective services would deal with the court orders and financial matters.
ASIDE:
However, the Weston sisters are minors when the story starts, and in California they cannot be disinherited; it is doubtful if the County of San Francisco under emergency housing rules would allow the two sisters to be evicted with their custodial mom from the family home until the youngest was eighteen. Their mom could also collect the father's social security for surviving minors, in addition to child support from the estate; and if she was too out of it from grief San Francisco County's child protective services would deal with the court orders and financial matters.
May 31, 2013
I have no clue where to start. I really wanted to at the very least like this book. Hallie and Gracie loose their father. Hallie is completely distraught while Grace is trying to keep it together to keep her mother and sister from loosing it. Unfortunately their mother has set into such a deep depression that they can't to get a coherent sentence out of her. Their evil step mother strips everything away from them and they are forced to leave their home and move to L.A. Before they move Grace meets Theo and slowly falls in love.
While living in L.A. Hallie falls in love and then gets her heart broken and then falls in love again. I can't stand her character. She is beyond obnoxious. All she ever did was shove her nose where it didn't belong and create drama for everyone else. Every time she tried to interfere with her sisters love life I wanted to kick her in the throat.Grace was stuck on Theo. Even when he showed up and acted all weird she couldn't help but still dream of a happily ever after with him.
The sister go back to NY on a trip and get invited to a party at their step mothers house. While there, Grace has to endure hearing about Lucy's love story with her Theo. (Crushing I know). After this Grace is devastated and ready to try and move on. While trying to forget Theo Hallie and Grace receive news about Lucy eloping.
I loved Sense and Sensibility and pretty much all of Jane Austen's books. I am normally a fan of rendition's from the classics but this one just didn't do it for me. I couldn't relate to the characters and just didn't like them. Maybe if the ending would have been drawn out more, it would have helped but I don't know. Hallie just drove me insane. If you feel differently let me know.
On My Blog
While living in L.A. Hallie falls in love and then gets her heart broken and then falls in love again. I can't stand her character. She is beyond obnoxious. All she ever did was shove her nose where it didn't belong and create drama for everyone else. Every time she tried to interfere with her sisters love life I wanted to kick her in the throat.Grace was stuck on Theo. Even when he showed up and acted all weird she couldn't help but still dream of a happily ever after with him.
The sister go back to NY on a trip and get invited to a party at their step mothers house. While there, Grace has to endure hearing about Lucy's love story with her Theo. (Crushing I know). After this Grace is devastated and ready to try and move on. While trying to forget Theo Hallie and Grace receive news about Lucy eloping.
I loved Sense and Sensibility and pretty much all of Jane Austen's books. I am normally a fan of rendition's from the classics but this one just didn't do it for me. I couldn't relate to the characters and just didn't like them. Maybe if the ending would have been drawn out more, it would have helped but I don't know. Hallie just drove me insane. If you feel differently let me know.
On My Blog
September 16, 2017
A fun and satisfying novel about two sisters finding their way after an unexpected move to Los Angeles. Although I'm sure that knowing the source material adds another interesting layer to the story, I have never read Sense and Sensibility and found that JAGTH can stand on its own with no difficulty. The only noticeable issue is that some plot points seem very extreme by modern standards, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable to watch them develop.
June 21, 2018
A Sense and Sensibility retelling taking place in my backyard? How could I resist?
All in all, many of the modernizations worked fine. The Dashwood's financial plight transfers well, the celebrity culture of Hollywood wannabes is a decent approximation of the nineteenth century British class system, and Willoughby's betrayal of Marianne could totally go down like an aspiring rockstar dating someone for publicity's sake.
But there just wasn't a lot of depth. Hallie/Marianne is 100% selfish and twitty, while the original Marianne is more than just a spoiled brat. In S&S, the sisters truly love each other, and I can't understand how Grace/Elinor could even stand her sister. Edward's prior engagement to Lucy is understandable because he got entangled with her because he hadn't met Elinor yet; to have him casually go off for the summer and date Lucy after knowing Grace/Elinor makes him kindof a cad. Brandon had potential as an Iraq vet recovering from PTSD, but he never really developed. Elinor/Grace is supposedly a STEM genius, but other than a throwaway comment about how her science class is easy, we don't SEE that at all. Her personality is "sensible sister who holds her family together," but she doesn't hold her own against Hallie's dramatics. Oh, and speaking as a townie, the Malibu sections read like they were written by someone who watched a few 90's teen movies and has never actually been to Malibu Lagoon or Grom Gelato.
At the end of the day, the only thing I particularly liked about it was the S&S references, but nothing in this book gave me a deeper understanding of or appreciation for the source material. On its own merits, it's just a meh contemporary YA book.
All in all, many of the modernizations worked fine. The Dashwood's financial plight transfers well, the celebrity culture of Hollywood wannabes is a decent approximation of the nineteenth century British class system, and Willoughby's betrayal of Marianne could totally go down like an aspiring rockstar dating someone for publicity's sake.
But there just wasn't a lot of depth. Hallie/Marianne is 100% selfish and twitty, while the original Marianne is more than just a spoiled brat. In S&S, the sisters truly love each other, and I can't understand how Grace/Elinor could even stand her sister. Edward's prior engagement to Lucy is understandable because he got entangled with her because he hadn't met Elinor yet; to have him casually go off for the summer and date Lucy after knowing Grace/Elinor makes him kindof a cad. Brandon had potential as an Iraq vet recovering from PTSD, but he never really developed. Elinor/Grace is supposedly a STEM genius, but other than a throwaway comment about how her science class is easy, we don't SEE that at all. Her personality is "sensible sister who holds her family together," but she doesn't hold her own against Hallie's dramatics. Oh, and speaking as a townie, the Malibu sections read like they were written by someone who watched a few 90's teen movies and has never actually been to Malibu Lagoon or Grom Gelato.
At the end of the day, the only thing I particularly liked about it was the S&S references, but nothing in this book gave me a deeper understanding of or appreciation for the source material. On its own merits, it's just a meh contemporary YA book.
June 4, 2018
Cute. Jane Austen + YA + Hollywood. http://spooklights.blogspot.com/2018/...
June 3, 2017
A modern take on Sense and Sensibility. Hallie (Marianne Dashwood) and Grace (Elinor Dashwood) move from San Francisco to Los Angeles after the unexpected death of their recently remarried dad. Complications ensue as both girls try to adjust to their new city. Grace falls for her step-brother/uncle (Edward Ferrars) but doesn’t reveal her feelings. Hallie is saved from drowning by a mysterious guitar-playing LA insider (Willoughby) but ultimately winds up with an Iraq war veteran (Col. Brandon). Although the parallels with Sense and Sensibility are extremely apparent (and that makes it enjoyable), the rest is typical Chick Lit YA romance.
The superficiality of the LA scene—shallow friends, beach party drinking, hooking up—and the complete absence of any adults with an ounce of common sense create a world that is cheap. Grace and Hallie are likeable characters with their own flaws. Grace doesn’t show emotion, Hallie shows nothing else, but the overall plot doesn’t give much more than both girls “learning” that love is, at its best, emotional and uncontestably physical (nothing is explicit, but sex is assumed).
The genius of Jane Austen goes way beyond creating a good love story. Unfortunately, this contemporary take on her work just wallows in the relationships.
www.goodreadingguide.com
The superficiality of the LA scene—shallow friends, beach party drinking, hooking up—and the complete absence of any adults with an ounce of common sense create a world that is cheap. Grace and Hallie are likeable characters with their own flaws. Grace doesn’t show emotion, Hallie shows nothing else, but the overall plot doesn’t give much more than both girls “learning” that love is, at its best, emotional and uncontestably physical (nothing is explicit, but sex is assumed).
The genius of Jane Austen goes way beyond creating a good love story. Unfortunately, this contemporary take on her work just wallows in the relationships.
www.goodreadingguide.com
May 29, 2013
*Review to be published on Page Turners Blog on 5/31/13*
2.5 stars out of 5
I adore Jane Austen re-tellings mostly because I love the original stories, and I always look for that familiar plot rhythm and beloved characters to show up. But what I look forward to the most is the way the author is going to play with the plot points and what they will take away/add to the existing characters. Sometimes, it’s the minor characters that the authors have the most fun re-writing and I admit to enjoying it all.
Unfortunately, Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood just didn't excite me the way I expected a Sense & Sensibility plotline to move me. I think, in part, it was the characters themselves. Quietly contemplative Grace and overly dramatic Hallie just seemed flat to me. And the minor characters were amusing, but also predictable.
But what did translate well is the sisters love for one another and their very different approach to love interests.
If you’re looking for a poolside, romantic read and love a nod to Austen, then don’t hesitate to pick up this book. I only wish that, character-wise, it had delivered a little more depth.
2.5 stars out of 5
I adore Jane Austen re-tellings mostly because I love the original stories, and I always look for that familiar plot rhythm and beloved characters to show up. But what I look forward to the most is the way the author is going to play with the plot points and what they will take away/add to the existing characters. Sometimes, it’s the minor characters that the authors have the most fun re-writing and I admit to enjoying it all.
Unfortunately, Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood just didn't excite me the way I expected a Sense & Sensibility plotline to move me. I think, in part, it was the characters themselves. Quietly contemplative Grace and overly dramatic Hallie just seemed flat to me. And the minor characters were amusing, but also predictable.
But what did translate well is the sisters love for one another and their very different approach to love interests.
If you’re looking for a poolside, romantic read and love a nod to Austen, then don’t hesitate to pick up this book. I only wish that, character-wise, it had delivered a little more depth.
August 14, 2013
Sense and Sensibility is probably my favorite of Jane Austen's books, so of course I wanted to read this modern adaption, but having completed it, it probably wasn't worth my time. I like Grace okay, but Hallie is annoying (although I always get annoyed by the "Marianne" character, so maybe that was to be expected.) I just didn't get pulled in by it. Also, as a side note, I don't like the cover; who is the blond girl supposed to be? Grace and Hallie are supposed to be black (although that's not something the author developed at all; it just seemed like an arbitrary decision to have them be black in order to be PC or something). Anyway, diehard Austen fans who have to read every adaptation might want to read this one, but it pales in comparison to a lot of the other adaptations and definitely to the originals.
June 13, 2018
The plot of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, this book tries to do what the movie Clueless did to the book Emma.
How the relationship connections were adapted to modern-day was pretty clever; however, it hurt my soul a little bit to think of Elinore and MaryAnn as Grace and Hallie of present day. I have never been part of the party scene: underage drinking, "hooking up" with people, general frivolity without thought of consequences, etc... but I'm not blind to teens that do live in that world, it's just not my world; I don't believe in it.
A quick, fairly fun read (probably more enjoyed by teens than adult Austen admirerers) that is a pretty good representation of the general plot of Sense and Sensibility.
How the relationship connections were adapted to modern-day was pretty clever; however, it hurt my soul a little bit to think of Elinore and MaryAnn as Grace and Hallie of present day. I have never been part of the party scene: underage drinking, "hooking up" with people, general frivolity without thought of consequences, etc... but I'm not blind to teens that do live in that world, it's just not my world; I don't believe in it.
A quick, fairly fun read (probably more enjoyed by teens than adult Austen admirerers) that is a pretty good representation of the general plot of Sense and Sensibility.
September 27, 2017
Hallie and Grace are sisters. Their father has just died, so they and their mother are forced to find a new place to live, so they move to L.A. to live with family there. The overly dramatic sister Hallie wants to be an actress so it excited to be in L.A. The serious sister, Grace, has to leave the boy she has fallen for.
This was an ARC I obtained a couple of years ago. It has, of course, been published since, so I'm not sure what – if anything – was changed. I enjoyed this. It was light and fluffy YA/chick lit. The book alternated viewpoints between Hallie and Grace, and given that Grace was so much more like me, I enjoyed her sections more, but Hallie did (somewhat) grow on me – or at least her storyline did!
This was an ARC I obtained a couple of years ago. It has, of course, been published since, so I'm not sure what – if anything – was changed. I enjoyed this. It was light and fluffy YA/chick lit. The book alternated viewpoints between Hallie and Grace, and given that Grace was so much more like me, I enjoyed her sections more, but Hallie did (somewhat) grow on me – or at least her storyline did!
February 17, 2014
This was such a cute book! In this retelling of Sense and Sensibility, McDonald updates the story to feature sisters Grace and Hallie and moves them to Hollywood. Think S&S meets Clueless. What I really loved about this book was that it was loyal to the original source but there were still enough changes to make the story refreshing and fun and not boring and predictable. This is probably my favorite S&S retelling so far and I could not put the book down.
My only quip is that the title is kind of misleading since Jane Austen is not a character in the book and the cover makes it seem more like a tween book but look beyond that and you will be pleasantly surprised!
My only quip is that the title is kind of misleading since Jane Austen is not a character in the book and the cover makes it seem more like a tween book but look beyond that and you will be pleasantly surprised!
January 11, 2014
2 stars = it was okay.
I have yet to find a modern retelling of Jane Austen that does her justice. This a retelling of Sense and Sensibility. The biggest problem with this book is: I really really didn't like Hallie (Marianne) and was completely indifferent to Grace (Elinor.) Which is exactly how you are supposed to feel - even in the original - except I didn't even want to root for them. By the end, I came around. If I was being generous, I would bump this up to 3.
On the bright side, I'm now free to watch Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet tell this story.
I have yet to find a modern retelling of Jane Austen that does her justice. This a retelling of Sense and Sensibility. The biggest problem with this book is: I really really didn't like Hallie (Marianne) and was completely indifferent to Grace (Elinor.) Which is exactly how you are supposed to feel - even in the original - except I didn't even want to root for them. By the end, I came around. If I was being generous, I would bump this up to 3.
On the bright side, I'm now free to watch Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet tell this story.
April 16, 2018
If you aren't obsessed with Jane Austen, don't read any further. However, for those of us who are obsessive, "Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood" is a fun read. If you can imagine "Sense and Sensibility" set in California with the Dashwood girls cast as biracial daughters of a flaky artist, then you can enjoy this book. It's written for a YA audience, so it moves along quickly. Literature it ain't. But it's a lot of fun to read by the pool (or in my case as a way to force myself onto my exercise bike.)
July 13, 2013
I really tried to like this book, but by about 60 pages in I had to give up. The adults were all driving me crazy and the characterizations all around were really frustrating - little more than caricatures in many cases (I thought the step-mom could have been copied more or less directly from Cruella DeVil). I also had the distinct impression that the story was going to make 180 degree turn and become something completely different soon, which would have driven me crazy.
July 27, 2017
So cute retelling of Sense and Sensibility. Although I feel like maybe they could have done a little work on the title.
As usual, Brandon is one of Jane's best heroes. And Abby McDonald did a really good job of modernizing the story, especially him.
I don't read a lot of S&S retellings, but this one was really well done. Bravo!
As usual, Brandon is one of Jane's best heroes. And Abby McDonald did a really good job of modernizing the story, especially him.
I don't read a lot of S&S retellings, but this one was really well done. Bravo!
August 25, 2018
Meh. Although interesting as an adaptation of Sense and Sensibility instead of Pride and Prejudice, this was not my favorite. It felt ... a little plastic - stereotypical characters, and WAY too much emphasis was on the "Marianne" sister. Some major plot elements were glossed over, but it was a good attempt. Quick read.
December 10, 2022
3.5 stars.
Third read:
Just a lovely Sense and Sensibility modern adaptation! No, there's nothing incredibly groundbreaking about it, but it's a very solid adaptation, and I have enjoyed it each time I've read it.
Third read:
Just a lovely Sense and Sensibility modern adaptation! No, there's nothing incredibly groundbreaking about it, but it's a very solid adaptation, and I have enjoyed it each time I've read it.
August 7, 2016
I've read this book in a day. It's soooo amazing! I love it
August 13, 2022
As an adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility”, this YA title brings in some interesting, i.e. Palmer, and updated, i.e. biracial, characters. Unfortunately, the super-rich lifestyles that were described were just a bunch of selfish, drug-taking, alcohol-drinking teens living off of their family wealth. The nicest character of the book, Amber, who did the most for Hallie and Grace, did not even get her own paragraph in the “Postscript.” A star from the rating was dropped because of that (hey, if almost every character in the book can be so superficial, this reviewer can be too).
Do not take any of the characters too seriously (especially thinking of the neglect shown by both parents), and enjoy this as a beach read and nothing else. Although, this will not be read 211 years later such as the masterpiece which inspired it, it is harmless enough.
Do not take any of the characters too seriously (especially thinking of the neglect shown by both parents), and enjoy this as a beach read and nothing else. Although, this will not be read 211 years later such as the masterpiece which inspired it, it is harmless enough.
Read
August 21, 2017Kind of cute. A couple of issues: one is that the author is British, but trying to write American teenagers, so the tone is a little off. Among other things, we don't have Agas, and we don't call those things "cookers."
A lot of this could have been smoothed out if the editing had been better. Besides the Aga cooker, I would have like to have seen a little less of the word "saunter." And the choice to spell out things like "twenty four seven" and "nineteen fifty two" was odd.
Another thing is that the author makes a point to mention early in the book that the main characters are mixed-race, but then never really mentions it again. Seemed like a way to claim credit for writing diverse character without actually examining what it might mean to these characters.
A lot of this could have been smoothed out if the editing had been better. Besides the Aga cooker, I would have like to have seen a little less of the word "saunter." And the choice to spell out things like "twenty four seven" and "nineteen fifty two" was odd.
Another thing is that the author makes a point to mention early in the book that the main characters are mixed-race, but then never really mentions it again. Seemed like a way to claim credit for writing diverse character without actually examining what it might mean to these characters.
June 7, 2021
I didn’t know how to rate this book. So many characters I disliked. I didn’t care for Hallie once, not even when the gossip writers were trying to get her story. She spent all her time being a bitchy drama queen and with Dakota.
The mom sucked throughout the whole book, the girls never talked, really talked, with their stepmom after Grace tried to get her to not kick them out of the house-which is completely the moms fault for being so...incapable of getting anything in writing and taking care of her and her 2 kids.
I liked Amber. Just a upbeat and helpful person.
And this book seems like it was written at a much early date than 2013.
The mom sucked throughout the whole book, the girls never talked, really talked, with their stepmom after Grace tried to get her to not kick them out of the house-which is completely the moms fault for being so...incapable of getting anything in writing and taking care of her and her 2 kids.
I liked Amber. Just a upbeat and helpful person.
And this book seems like it was written at a much early date than 2013.
July 21, 2025
Notwithstanding some of the earlier reviews of this book, I was looking forward to reading a Hollywood setting of Sense and Sensibility. Having just watched "Clueless" on its 30th birthday, I was in the mood to finish this book, perfect timing.
It really grew on me as I moved through the arc of the story. I was intrigued by the author's adjustments to the story, especially Dakota, and how he evolved. I really came to like the Westons and also Hallie and Grace.
As it is YA, it made sense that the couples would still be finding themselves and not getting married at the end. That made sense to me, though I wish there were a little more before the story ended!
It really grew on me as I moved through the arc of the story. I was intrigued by the author's adjustments to the story, especially Dakota, and how he evolved. I really came to like the Westons and also Hallie and Grace.
As it is YA, it made sense that the couples would still be finding themselves and not getting married at the end. That made sense to me, though I wish there were a little more before the story ended!
October 16, 2017
I thought the book was okay. I think it moved very slow and all of the characters were very dramatic and they made a big deal about everything. For example when Dakota and Hallie broke up, Hallie wouldn’t leave th couch for weeks and was always in a bad mood. When Grace and Hallie’s dad died Hallie made a big deal abou his wife speaking at the funeral because she didn’t believe they were family. I thought the book had a good message and and showed different perspectives to the stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2020
O carte fără mari pretenții literare dar scrisă cursiv, cu intriga, personaje, dialoguri care nu suna fals, în fine, genul de scriere de tip Sandra Brown dar, cine nu are nevoie de o Sandra Brown la un moment dat? Citind-o, am realizat că e o mare diferență între genul acesta de scriitura - care chiar are calitățile expuse mai sus - și marile succese literare ale unor asa ziși autori romani contemporani care zgârie, pur și simplu, la ureche.
June 26, 2019
A very well done 1-for-1 transpose of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility to today. And, as we get into the socio-economic issues of life at various levels in New York and Los Angeles, we see not much has changed as characters chase both love and economic security.
My favorite part was the epilogue in which everyone gets the exact karma they deserve.
January 28, 2020
This modern-day YA take on Sense & Sensibility is witty, funny and has much to recommend it. Although it sometimes ventures into caricature, the characters are well developed and the plot moves along quickly. Fans of Jane Austen will appreciate some of the in-jokes regarding character names and circumstances. But it stands alone as a YA romance that should appeal to fans of the genre.
March 6, 2020
I love modern takes on Jane Austen. This was a fresh take on Sense and Sensibility. It was pretty easy to follow the classic-inspired plot. My only real beef is the amount of drinking and partying for the under-age characters.
May 27, 2019
But this was a GREAT opportunity to look at classism and...there was none of that.
September 15, 2019
Cute take on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. Enjoyable for a light read.
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