All The Wrong Notes: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Improvisation

by Riana Everly

Elise Benzion has everything she wants. The arts centre that she’s built from the ground up is thriving. She has a circle of great friends. Her concert choir, the Eglinton Echoes, is in top form and gives her an artistic outlet to satisfy her musical side. What she does not want is an annoying, rude, and far too handsome man hovering around. But Will is her best friend’s new beau’s good friend, and she’ll play nice, for Janet’s sake.

Eventually she begins to discover the man beneath the unpleasant veneer, and tolerance warms into a tentative friendship, and possibly something more.

Then disaster strikes, and everything she loves, everything she’s worked so hard for, crumbles in an instant. With all her dreams dashed and her beloved arts centre destroyed, her biggest regret might just be losing Will.

Is there any hope? Or will a terrible memory from his own past keep them apart forever?

This musical reimagining of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice will have you cheering the characters on, pulling you into their world and into their hearts.

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2023

Reviews

[Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book One of an Austen series
The first book of this Austen-inspired modern series is a take on Pride and Prejudice. It’s nicely written with a good plot, if somewhat a little predictable with the Wickham angle, and has flavours of other modern variations I’ve previously read. Being Canadian, I appreciated the Toronto location and able to identify with some of the locations mentioned.

The characters were well portrayed. Our modern dear couple are named Elise Benzion and Will Pemberton. I’m always a sucker for a musical ‘Darcy’, even though that name was taken away from him in this book—my one quibble. I enjoyed the book though and will read the next in the series based on Emma when it is released.

Mildly mature content: non-graphic sex is implied. Kisses and caresses.

*Trigger warning: a sexual assault is referred to as part of the story (not Elise).

[H-e-l-e-n-a · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Inspirado en Orgullo y Prejuicio.

Elise y Will son los personajes de Elizabeth Bennet y Mr Darcy, traídos a Canadá del siglo XXI. Todos los puntos clave de la historia original están aquí de una forma y otra.

A pesar de ser una historia que podría parecer que ya conoces, la autora agrega unos giros y cambios que te mantienen leyendo sin sentir que aburre.

Agradecí que no estuviera la versión moderna de Lady Catherine o de Lydia Bennet. 🤣

Aparecen Charles y Jane como los personajes de Carlos y Janet. Todos lindos ellos. 🥰

Es una lectura rápida y ligera sin muchas complicaciones.👌


📖
He would control his impulses, his mad desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her like there was no tomorrow, and be everything her grandmother would approve of.
_
“Now that I know the real Will, I can’t imagine not being happy with you...

[Lesley Barklay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this second (after reading the Emma adaptation), and I enjoyed it, although I think I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been a P&P adaptation. I liked Will and Elise, and things started off with the usual beats--Will meets Elise at a speed dating event that Carlos (Bingley) forced him to attend. He is rude and mades a terrible first impression. Elise overhears him insulting her to Carlos, and the rest is history.

Kevin is introduced as the Wickham character, and feeds Elise stories about Will which she is all too willing to believe.

This version has been pared down to essential elements, so Elise has no sisters, Jane becomes Janet (a best friend, instead of sister). Caroline is relegated to her place as Will's gold-digging ex, and Lady Catherine (Berg) is Will's aunt, in charge of the charitable side of the Pemberton Foundation (Pemberley would have been too obvious). Georgiana is now Gwen, and the elopement has been switched to something more modern (and horrific).

I'm not sure quite what it was that didn't fully click for me with this one, since I love a P&P adaptation (even with a contemporary setting). I think it might have been that I was missing so many of the familiar characters that I love. Mr Bennet, in particular, is a favourite of mine, and I would have loved it if Elise's dad had played a role in the story. Mrs Bennet, too, is iconic, but Elise's mother is not featured in the story either. With no Charlotte or Collins, this story was perhaps lacking a little too much of the Pride and Prejudice goodness I was expecting.

If you haven't read P&P and wanted to get a little taste, this would be a great story to get started with, or if you want a story in which Lizzy overcomes her prejudice earlier, and we get to the swoony pining much earlier, you might really enjoy this book.

[Craftyhj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant modern novella

I really enjoy modern takes on the classic P&P and this is a well edited and pleasing addition to the field. The modernisation is generally realistic and compatible with 21st century living. The cast list was also kept tight which I appreciated as too many novella length books attempt to pack too many people inside like a busy train carriage in rush hour. The "Wickham" wrinkle was well handled if rather signposted but I did feel that the "Georgiana" element was a little disappointing. It has become a bit of a "go-to" for modern variations.

At times the descriptions were a little too flat with too much detail of local geography and of clothing but this is a minor niggle in an otherwise well-written book.

All in all an enjoyable book which will be popular with fans of the genre.

[Anna Shenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author. I was intrigued to see the modern version of Pride and Prejudice written in novella length. Elisa and Will played the perfect part in portraying their version via individual viewpoints thanks to the great skills of Riana Everly. I absolutely adored the arts centre theme that Elisa had worked so hard on to build from scratch. What fab friends she has too, helping her to enhance on her musical side. As the story unfolds and all the things she loves take a turn for the worst I’m was gripped to read on, as I was desperate to see if Will comes good in the end. The story is well-written, with fine detail of local geography, and gives just enough insight to clothing worn by the well fleshed out characters considering the length of the novella. If Pride and Prejudice is your genre this could be a new take and refreshing delight you will enjoy.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely modern-day take on Pride and Prejudice. The characters were close enough to canon as to be completely recognizable and understandable. It was fun to see a few names like Mrs. Jennings and Anne Eliot thrown in there also. I liked the way that Elise gradually saw the real Will behind the mask and awkwardly non-existent social skills. The romance was lovely and I felt that both Elise and Will were great. Having Will be excellent at piano & loving old jazz music was a nice touch.

I highly recommend this book. It is written and edited well; I didn't notice anything glaring. You don't need to know the story behind Pride and Prejudice to enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Sofia's Cowboy Romance Lovers and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will hits the wrong note with Elise when he first meets her speed dating with his grumpy judgmental attitude. Her best friend Janet is dating his best friend Carlos so they are forced to spend time together. Unlike the original book he doesn’t try to break them up but a character appear that instantly had me suspicious about their motivations and I was shocked she didn’t perform a background check. Elise starts to realize that Will isn’t who she thought and they act on their attraction but something comes up that could ruin everything. This was a nice take on a classic. I would have liked an epilogue but maybe the characters will make appearances in a future book.

[Sarah Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Elise is tricked into a speed dating event with her friend. It’s there that she meets Will. He is stand offish and boarder line rude. Luckily she won’t have to see him after tonight, except her friend seems to have fallen for his friend. Will and Elise keep finding themselves together thanks to their friends. Will invites his friends and by extension Elise to his cottage for Thanksgiving, where she realizes her first impression of will wasn’t just a little wrong but completely wrong.

[Faustine]

DNF at 24%. I should have loved this book because it has everything I love: modern variation, fast pace, smart funny comments, a good plausible background story and universe. It sounds silly, but I got disappointed with the fact Elise doesn’t hold her dislike for Will long enough. I love when she hates him and is not at all interested in him for a long long time. And I’m this version, Darcy got nice and smiley way too quickly.

[Lori Hammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elise and Will have an enemy to lovers relationship based on misconceptions. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship develop, misconceptions bashed, and being there for each other in some amazing ways.

[Genoveva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern take of the classic pride and prejudice. Their first interaction had me chuckling definitely a modern time meeting. Held the same push and pull elements of the classic that I love.

I received a free copy of this book via Sofia's Cowboy Romance Lovers and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[RoseyLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elise and Will's story is such a fun read. Will is just as insufferable as the Darcy we all know and love. And Elise gives as good as she gets. All The Wrong Notes is a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice that hit all the right notes!

[Rachel Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the story of Elise and Will. I liked how it was told from both points of view. Looking forward to the next books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Sofia's Cowboy Romance Lovers and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda K Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tastefully good.

Tastefully good.
An array of emotions, that were kept clean. Beautiful thought as on music and arts.
Just enough angst to make it more interesting.