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A Pinch of Salt: A Modern Variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
The only place she has ever worked is some dinky inn in a tourist town no one’s heard of, and she only has the job because her family owns it.
WHEN WILL DARCY ENTERS A COOKING SHOW for top chefs, he is seeking one to prove that he deserves the awards and accolades he has won because he is a gifted cook, not because of his family name.
ELIZABETH BENNET ENTERS THE COMPETITION with a similar goal. She has not had the training or the experience that the other competitors might possess but she knows she is a gifted chef. Furthermore the prize money will do a great deal to help her family restaurant stay afloat. Hearing Will Darcy slight her before they’ve ever even begun confirms for her that he is no better than any other rich, entitled restauranteur.
AS THE COMPETITION HEATS UP, friendships and family relations are tested and tried. Tensions rise as one after another, the less capable chefs are sent home and amid the heat of the kitchen, romance begins to blossom. Will and Elizabeth are both equally determined to become the Last Chef Standing, but they soon discover that, even if they lose, they might win a far greater prize.
WHEN WILL DARCY ENTERS A COOKING SHOW for top chefs, he is seeking one to prove that he deserves the awards and accolades he has won because he is a gifted cook, not because of his family name.
ELIZABETH BENNET ENTERS THE COMPETITION with a similar goal. She has not had the training or the experience that the other competitors might possess but she knows she is a gifted chef. Furthermore the prize money will do a great deal to help her family restaurant stay afloat. Hearing Will Darcy slight her before they’ve ever even begun confirms for her that he is no better than any other rich, entitled restauranteur.
AS THE COMPETITION HEATS UP, friendships and family relations are tested and tried. Tensions rise as one after another, the less capable chefs are sent home and amid the heat of the kitchen, romance begins to blossom. Will and Elizabeth are both equally determined to become the Last Chef Standing, but they soon discover that, even if they lose, they might win a far greater prize.
498 pages, Paperback
Published February 7, 2024
57 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Marin
26 books92 followersLucy Marin developed a love for reading at a young age and whiled away many hours imagining how stories might continue or what would happen if there was a change in the circumstances faced by the protagonists. After reading her first Austen novel, a life-long ardent admiration was borne. Lucy was introduced to the world of Austen variations after stumbling across one at a used bookstore while on holiday in London. This led to the discovery of the online world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction and, soon after, she picked up her pen and began to transfer the stories in her head to paper.
Lucy lives in Toronto, Canada surrounded by hundreds of books and a loving family. She teaches environmental studies, loves animals and trees and exploring the world around her.
Lucy lives in Toronto, Canada surrounded by hundreds of books and a loving family. She teaches environmental studies, loves animals and trees and exploring the world around her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 4, 2024
A perfect recipe for a modern Pride and Prejudice Variation.
I was delighted to find one of my favourite JAFF authors exploring a modern take on Pride and Prejudice. Lucy Marin cleverly plots her contemporary story through the lens of a competitive cooking show called Last Chef Standing and incorporates all the well-known primary characters of P&P as contestants, and adding new characters as judges to round out this engaging premise.
Elizabeth Bennet is a talented, self-taught head chef at Longbourn Inn, her family’s historic property in Meryton, Ontario. She would like to expand her horizons, but is tied to her responsibility to the family business. Will Darcy is the son of a well-known and very wealthy culinary family. He is the head chef of the Pemberley restaurant in Toronto. He is hoping to prove his success is based on his talent, not his name.
Unknown beforehand to the contestants, some will already know one another. In Elizabeth’s case, her friend Charlotte Lucas is one, and in Darcy’s case, his cousin Tom Fitzwilliam and cousin-in-law, Sterling Bramwell are included in the mix. Wickham, as ever, assumes the antagonist’s role, providing drama, while Caroline directs her jealousy towards Elizabeth, adding an extra measure of tension to the contest. Also present as contestants are Charles Bingley, Anne de Bourgh and Colin Collins, rounding out the diverse ensemble.
On the home fronts, with minor roles or brief mentions, the Bennet clan are all included, as are Will’s father and Georgiana, as well as mention of the Fitzwilliam Lucas families.
Lucy Marin brilliantly took me on quite the culinary journey, and created the perfect recipe for a modern P&P variation. I had some initial skepticism as to whether my interest could be sustained throughout such a long book, but it was quickly dispelled as she seamlessly combined vivid descriptions of the culinary challenges and dishes prepared with the engaging interpersonal dialogue. She manages to skillfully ‘direct and produce’ a cooking show, and balance it with the drama and and camaraderie among the contestants, while never losing sight of the blossoming attraction between Elizabeth and Darcy, keeping me enthralled from their first encounter. I admit I teared right up when the winner was announced. I’m such a cry baby. You’ll definitely want to take in this thrilling and excellent modern adaptation, as the contestants engage in a culinary battleground, navigating challenges and eliminations to determine the last chef standing.
Being from Canada, I also loved the various locations and cultural references I am familiar with, including the Acadian fricot, and was even more tickled when Will had to create his take on it for one of his challenges. Anne’s Kent (a county in New Brunswick) is just north of me.
I will definitely be purchasing the published version of this book. I would absolutely love to have this book also as an audiobook. I know it’s long, but there are so few good modern adaptations of Pride and Prejudice as audiobooks, and with the right narrator, it would be such a treat. There simply are not enough of them.
Content is mature due to some language, but implied sexual situations are off page only.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was delighted to find one of my favourite JAFF authors exploring a modern take on Pride and Prejudice. Lucy Marin cleverly plots her contemporary story through the lens of a competitive cooking show called Last Chef Standing and incorporates all the well-known primary characters of P&P as contestants, and adding new characters as judges to round out this engaging premise.
Elizabeth Bennet is a talented, self-taught head chef at Longbourn Inn, her family’s historic property in Meryton, Ontario. She would like to expand her horizons, but is tied to her responsibility to the family business. Will Darcy is the son of a well-known and very wealthy culinary family. He is the head chef of the Pemberley restaurant in Toronto. He is hoping to prove his success is based on his talent, not his name.
Unknown beforehand to the contestants, some will already know one another. In Elizabeth’s case, her friend Charlotte Lucas is one, and in Darcy’s case, his cousin Tom Fitzwilliam and cousin-in-law, Sterling Bramwell are included in the mix. Wickham, as ever, assumes the antagonist’s role, providing drama, while Caroline directs her jealousy towards Elizabeth, adding an extra measure of tension to the contest. Also present as contestants are Charles Bingley, Anne de Bourgh and Colin Collins, rounding out the diverse ensemble.
On the home fronts, with minor roles or brief mentions, the Bennet clan are all included, as are Will’s father and Georgiana, as well as mention of the Fitzwilliam Lucas families.
Lucy Marin brilliantly took me on quite the culinary journey, and created the perfect recipe for a modern P&P variation. I had some initial skepticism as to whether my interest could be sustained throughout such a long book, but it was quickly dispelled as she seamlessly combined vivid descriptions of the culinary challenges and dishes prepared with the engaging interpersonal dialogue. She manages to skillfully ‘direct and produce’ a cooking show, and balance it with the drama and and camaraderie among the contestants, while never losing sight of the blossoming attraction between Elizabeth and Darcy, keeping me enthralled from their first encounter. I admit I teared right up when the winner was announced. I’m such a cry baby. You’ll definitely want to take in this thrilling and excellent modern adaptation, as the contestants engage in a culinary battleground, navigating challenges and eliminations to determine the last chef standing.
Being from Canada, I also loved the various locations and cultural references I am familiar with, including the Acadian fricot, and was even more tickled when Will had to create his take on it for one of his challenges. Anne’s Kent (a county in New Brunswick) is just north of me.
I will definitely be purchasing the published version of this book. I would absolutely love to have this book also as an audiobook. I know it’s long, but there are so few good modern adaptations of Pride and Prejudice as audiobooks, and with the right narrator, it would be such a treat. There simply are not enough of them.
Content is mature due to some language, but implied sexual situations are off page only.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 25, 2024
I gained 5 pounds reading this. I am not happy about that.
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
>>Rating: MA: Mature Audience: due to language, adult content, and the unsavory actions of several characters [Okay, pun intended], trigger due to aggressive behavior, smarmy comments, and actions, [yuck].
>>Angst Level: varied: It was a reality show: a cooking competition. I was rooting for the winners and booing for the losers. There was also a near assault and that pushed my blood pressure into the red zone.
>>Source: I received a free copy via Booksprout [1-18-24] and volunteered to leave a review.
The thoughts and opinions are my own and were not artificially generated.
>>Trope: Modern: Inspired by cooking competitions that are popular on TV. What a unique twist to Austen’s P&P. Brilliant! Delicious! I devoured every page. [Yeah, pun intended]
Will Darcy had something to prove. He was not just his family’s name. His family had a dynasty that spread far and wide in the culinary world. They were a household name and Darcy did not want to fail or disgrace his family. He had big shoes to fill and people wondered if he had what it took or just skirted by on his family name.
The insult: “The only place she has ever worked is some dinky inn in a tourist town no one’s heard of, and she only has the job because her family owns it.” Quote from the book.
Yeah, our Darcy put his chef’s clogs in his mouth big time. As the challenges increased in difficulty, the claws and knives came out. It got pretty dicey there for a while. [Okay, enough with the puns]
Elizabeth Bennet also had something to prove. She was a gifted chef despite not holding a degree from a prestigious culinary school or having worked at a high-end restaurant.
“Yes, Chef!” Quote from the book.
One by one the contestants were eliminated. The tensions grew as our chefs worked their magic in the kitchen. I tried to anticipate which of the contestants would be the next to be booted off the show. I was soon forming a bond with certain characters and several became my favorites. It was like I was watching the show. I leaned in during every elimination to see which chef would hear those dreaded words. “You will not be…” I was a wreck.
I would love to see those dishes. I’ve watched several shows where I wouldn’t feed my dog what was on the plate. Other times, I would love to taste the confection. This was so much fun.
SPOILER ALERT: This review may contain *** SPOILERS ***
>>Rating: MA: Mature Audience: due to language, adult content, and the unsavory actions of several characters [Okay, pun intended], trigger due to aggressive behavior, smarmy comments, and actions, [yuck].
>>Angst Level: varied: It was a reality show: a cooking competition. I was rooting for the winners and booing for the losers. There was also a near assault and that pushed my blood pressure into the red zone.
>>Source: I received a free copy via Booksprout [1-18-24] and volunteered to leave a review.
The thoughts and opinions are my own and were not artificially generated.
>>Trope: Modern: Inspired by cooking competitions that are popular on TV. What a unique twist to Austen’s P&P. Brilliant! Delicious! I devoured every page. [Yeah, pun intended]
Will Darcy had something to prove. He was not just his family’s name. His family had a dynasty that spread far and wide in the culinary world. They were a household name and Darcy did not want to fail or disgrace his family. He had big shoes to fill and people wondered if he had what it took or just skirted by on his family name.
The insult: “The only place she has ever worked is some dinky inn in a tourist town no one’s heard of, and she only has the job because her family owns it.” Quote from the book.
Yeah, our Darcy put his chef’s clogs in his mouth big time. As the challenges increased in difficulty, the claws and knives came out. It got pretty dicey there for a while. [Okay, enough with the puns]
Elizabeth Bennet also had something to prove. She was a gifted chef despite not holding a degree from a prestigious culinary school or having worked at a high-end restaurant.
“Yes, Chef!” Quote from the book.
One by one the contestants were eliminated. The tensions grew as our chefs worked their magic in the kitchen. I tried to anticipate which of the contestants would be the next to be booted off the show. I was soon forming a bond with certain characters and several became my favorites. It was like I was watching the show. I leaned in during every elimination to see which chef would hear those dreaded words. “You will not be…” I was a wreck.
I would love to see those dishes. I’ve watched several shows where I wouldn’t feed my dog what was on the plate. Other times, I would love to taste the confection. This was so much fun.
July 12, 2024
A high drama cooking competition show is the setting for a slow burn enemies to lovers that gives more than a nod to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Lucy Marin leaves the bonnets and top hats behind to pen her first contemporary and I was salivating for the result.
Naturally, the fun part of reading a contemporary retelling of a classic is seeing the setting and how the author writes the familiar characters into her story. A Pinch of Salt isn’t so much as a retelling as a tribute to and is most definitely a foodie tale with a capital ‘F’. Loaded with cooking show set up, challenges, ingredients, and sizzling kitchen rivalry. You really get a deep dive into a Canadian cooking show and five-star international ingredients and creations which creates the bulk of the page time. I do love my food, but I’m no gourmet food connoisseur. Therefore, much of what they were using for ingredients and the dishes made up tended to fly right past me though some, my mouth actually watered a few times.
The characters are mainly the cooking show contestants and judging team. I enjoyed the camaraderie that formed- or was already present- among many of them. Will Darcy along with his two cousins get chosen for the show. Elizabeth is joined by her bestie Charlotte. There are a few other contestants among whom are some really bad sorts. As to the judging panel, there are two women and one man who were a curious blend of personalities.
I don’t know much about cooking shows, but I thought a couple of those judges were pretty outlandish and even the over the top ‘villain’ personalities of a couple of the contestants would seem weird choices if a cooking contest show wants to succeed. But, admittedly, these choices do bring the drama along with the added choice to have the contestants all staying in a dormitory setting where there are cameras filming their downtime too.
The romance pair gets off on the wrong foot when Will Darcy, the chef from a cooking dynasty and all the pressure to prove himself and not ride on his daddy’s coattails, insults small town cook, Elizabeth Bennet, who knows her worth cooking and catering events for her family’s inn which needs the financial boost from the prize money. The romance takes a back seat to the show contest most of the time because Will and Elizabeth tend to not spend much time in direct conversation. The reader gets their thoughts as they observe each other interacting with the others and have a growing respect as they watch each other perform for the contests.
Will fell for Elizabeth long before she let go of her grudge over his early insult and arrogance. She clung to those wounded feelings to the end delivering a wince-worthy slam when he did speak up about his feelings. This seemed an obvious enemies to lovers at quick glance, but was more a friends to lovers the way it developed. I don’t mind a sweet romance with focus often away from the romance itself, but I would have liked a bit more direct development between them before the I Love Yous.
The suspense as the contestants are eliminated and the challenges growing more intense as it went along was great and I liked seeing how the group tightened up and acted more as a team at times than rivals. Though yes, someone has to win and I was nervous to see who. All in all, I enjoyed diving into the food and contestant show world for a long game romance and recommend this for sweet contemporary romance fans who like a deep dive into that world.
I rec'd a finished print copy from Quills & Quartos to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 6.26.24.
Naturally, the fun part of reading a contemporary retelling of a classic is seeing the setting and how the author writes the familiar characters into her story. A Pinch of Salt isn’t so much as a retelling as a tribute to and is most definitely a foodie tale with a capital ‘F’. Loaded with cooking show set up, challenges, ingredients, and sizzling kitchen rivalry. You really get a deep dive into a Canadian cooking show and five-star international ingredients and creations which creates the bulk of the page time. I do love my food, but I’m no gourmet food connoisseur. Therefore, much of what they were using for ingredients and the dishes made up tended to fly right past me though some, my mouth actually watered a few times.
The characters are mainly the cooking show contestants and judging team. I enjoyed the camaraderie that formed- or was already present- among many of them. Will Darcy along with his two cousins get chosen for the show. Elizabeth is joined by her bestie Charlotte. There are a few other contestants among whom are some really bad sorts. As to the judging panel, there are two women and one man who were a curious blend of personalities.
I don’t know much about cooking shows, but I thought a couple of those judges were pretty outlandish and even the over the top ‘villain’ personalities of a couple of the contestants would seem weird choices if a cooking contest show wants to succeed. But, admittedly, these choices do bring the drama along with the added choice to have the contestants all staying in a dormitory setting where there are cameras filming their downtime too.
The romance pair gets off on the wrong foot when Will Darcy, the chef from a cooking dynasty and all the pressure to prove himself and not ride on his daddy’s coattails, insults small town cook, Elizabeth Bennet, who knows her worth cooking and catering events for her family’s inn which needs the financial boost from the prize money. The romance takes a back seat to the show contest most of the time because Will and Elizabeth tend to not spend much time in direct conversation. The reader gets their thoughts as they observe each other interacting with the others and have a growing respect as they watch each other perform for the contests.
Will fell for Elizabeth long before she let go of her grudge over his early insult and arrogance. She clung to those wounded feelings to the end delivering a wince-worthy slam when he did speak up about his feelings. This seemed an obvious enemies to lovers at quick glance, but was more a friends to lovers the way it developed. I don’t mind a sweet romance with focus often away from the romance itself, but I would have liked a bit more direct development between them before the I Love Yous.
The suspense as the contestants are eliminated and the challenges growing more intense as it went along was great and I liked seeing how the group tightened up and acted more as a team at times than rivals. Though yes, someone has to win and I was nervous to see who. All in all, I enjoyed diving into the food and contestant show world for a long game romance and recommend this for sweet contemporary romance fans who like a deep dive into that world.
I rec'd a finished print copy from Quills & Quartos to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 6.26.24.
May 26, 2024
This one is sure hard to rate. I'm struggling between 3,5 Stars or 4 Stars. You may wonder why? I'll tell you.
First, It took me a bit to finally dive in to the story. But it got better, gladly. Second, the book was long winded with almost 600 pages. Some things could have been written shorter instead in details I think. Third, the story is build up written in every contestant's POV, without that, it also would have been shorter. I mean I don't need to hear Collins speaking to LCdB (Called Catherine Hunsford) and at the end of the book hear the almost same thing again. Same for some other Contestant's. Fourth: Collins's comments about women. Fifth: One of the Judges later on called Marcus Benjamin. He is totally against women being chef's.
What I liked;
Will Darcy and Elizabeth's love story developement throughout the book and their friendship blossoming. Darcy being together in a contest with 2 cousins. And Elizabeth with her best friend Charlotte. What else, I love how most of them made friends and I bet they are for life. For Elizabeth's parents, for once in so many Jaffs Mrs Bennet isn't so ridiculous. She was actually okay. That's a +.
As for the contestant's, there is only one original character who is called Sterling. He was so cool. I loved him. He's one of Will's cousins. Then there's Tom Fitzwilliam (Otherwise known as Colonel Fitzwilliam). With all those dishes I'm now hungry too.
I loved that there were 3 women as Judges who decide and only 1 man. Females: Emma,Cherry and Maggie. Male: Gregor. I think there are also other things but they don't come to my mind right now.
I will warn you though, Wickham is also a participant and really up to no good. Same for Caroline. But they receive their rightful punishment.
It is very well written for a moden Jaff setting in Toronto.
Nevertheless I recommend the novel.
- 600 pages
- low Angst (Rather anxiety or nervousness with who gets eliminated etc..)
- Clean (Few kisses)
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
(Edit of my review because of some errors. Auto correct 🙄)
First, It took me a bit to finally dive in to the story. But it got better, gladly. Second, the book was long winded with almost 600 pages. Some things could have been written shorter instead in details I think. Third, the story is build up written in every contestant's POV, without that, it also would have been shorter. I mean I don't need to hear Collins speaking to LCdB (Called Catherine Hunsford) and at the end of the book hear the almost same thing again. Same for some other Contestant's. Fourth: Collins's comments about women. Fifth: One of the Judges later on called Marcus Benjamin. He is totally against women being chef's.
What I liked;
Will Darcy and Elizabeth's love story developement throughout the book and their friendship blossoming. Darcy being together in a contest with 2 cousins. And Elizabeth with her best friend Charlotte. What else, I love how most of them made friends and I bet they are for life. For Elizabeth's parents, for once in so many Jaffs Mrs Bennet isn't so ridiculous. She was actually okay. That's a +.
As for the contestant's, there is only one original character who is called Sterling. He was so cool. I loved him. He's one of Will's cousins. Then there's Tom Fitzwilliam (Otherwise known as Colonel Fitzwilliam). With all those dishes I'm now hungry too.
I loved that there were 3 women as Judges who decide and only 1 man. Females: Emma,Cherry and Maggie. Male: Gregor. I think there are also other things but they don't come to my mind right now.
I will warn you though, Wickham is also a participant and really up to no good. Same for Caroline. But they receive their rightful punishment.
It is very well written for a moden Jaff setting in Toronto.
Nevertheless I recommend the novel.
- 600 pages
- low Angst (Rather anxiety or nervousness with who gets eliminated etc..)
- Clean (Few kisses)
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
(Edit of my review because of some errors. Auto correct 🙄)
March 4, 2024
Will Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are both participants of a famous cooking show. They are there for different reasons: Will's goal is to prove that he is an excellent cook and has won the awards not only because of his family's name. Elizabeth is the gifted chef of the family inn but she has had no formal cooking training. She also hopes to prove her talent. Furthermore the money would help to stabilize the family inn. On their first evening Will utters his disgust of cooks without education, not knowing that Elizabeth overhears him.
Soon he is drawn to her but she is reserved because of his previous insult. In the course of the competition friendship and family bonds are tested and Will notices that he may be wrong about Elizabeth. She may be his biggest opponent despite having no formal cooking education. Maybe there is also a greater price to gain than being the winner of the competition. Will Will be able to convince Elizabeth, that he was wrong and that he is sorry for insulting her? Is there a chance of love in the middle of a competition? Is Elizabeth even interested in forming a relationship with Will?
This modern pride and prejudice variation is very well written by the author Lucy Marin. It is a very long book (500 pages) but I was hardly able to put it down. The story drew me in right from the start and I wanted to know what was next to come, through the cooking competition and the removal of the opponents one after another there were several highlights in the story. The cooking competition is described in much detail but in my opinion it was not too much. It added to the length but to gain a full inside into the competition and the interaction of the opponents it was necessary in exactly the way it was written. I think I know now how cooking competitions work 😉
I like the way the author included the characters of pride and prejudice in this modern version and the cooking competition. They are all recognizable because their main characteristics are the same but it fits in the modern world of cooking and competition. And also the basic story between Elizabeth and Darcy is recognizable, he insults her but is soon drawn to her, she overhears him and detests him for his insult and haughty manners and when he tells her of his feelings he is rejected.
The story leaves me with a warm feeling of friendship and belonging. Despite the competition most of the opponents work together and help another. I felt so much pity for this community every time a participant had to go. But I really liked that in the end the remaining "good" ones find ways to interact even in the future 😉.
If you like a modern version where Elizabeth and Darcy are both opponents in a cooking competition and therefore spending much time together and getting to know each other better, you should definitely read this book.
I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Soon he is drawn to her but she is reserved because of his previous insult. In the course of the competition friendship and family bonds are tested and Will notices that he may be wrong about Elizabeth. She may be his biggest opponent despite having no formal cooking education. Maybe there is also a greater price to gain than being the winner of the competition. Will Will be able to convince Elizabeth, that he was wrong and that he is sorry for insulting her? Is there a chance of love in the middle of a competition? Is Elizabeth even interested in forming a relationship with Will?
This modern pride and prejudice variation is very well written by the author Lucy Marin. It is a very long book (500 pages) but I was hardly able to put it down. The story drew me in right from the start and I wanted to know what was next to come, through the cooking competition and the removal of the opponents one after another there were several highlights in the story. The cooking competition is described in much detail but in my opinion it was not too much. It added to the length but to gain a full inside into the competition and the interaction of the opponents it was necessary in exactly the way it was written. I think I know now how cooking competitions work 😉
I like the way the author included the characters of pride and prejudice in this modern version and the cooking competition. They are all recognizable because their main characteristics are the same but it fits in the modern world of cooking and competition. And also the basic story between Elizabeth and Darcy is recognizable, he insults her but is soon drawn to her, she overhears him and detests him for his insult and haughty manners and when he tells her of his feelings he is rejected.
The story leaves me with a warm feeling of friendship and belonging. Despite the competition most of the opponents work together and help another. I felt so much pity for this community every time a participant had to go. But I really liked that in the end the remaining "good" ones find ways to interact even in the future 😉.
If you like a modern version where Elizabeth and Darcy are both opponents in a cooking competition and therefore spending much time together and getting to know each other better, you should definitely read this book.
I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2024
RATING: 4.5 (Rounded Up)
As a lover of all things Pride and Prejudice, I have read my fair share of Austen inspired variations. However, it has been a while since I have read one that takes place in a modern setting. So I was excited to hear that Lucy Marin's latest novel was a contemporary take on Austen's classic set against the backdrop of a Top Chef style competition. With the promised combination of so many things that I love, how could I not want to jump right into this story?!
In A Pinch of Salt, some of our favorite characters from Pride and Prejudice are facing off in a TV food competition called Last Chef Standing. Of course, we have our favorite couple, Darcy and Elizabeth, and they are joined by Charlotte, Collins, Wickham, Bingley, Caroline, Fitzwilliam and Sterling, another cousin of Darcy's through marriage. In the spirit of all the best food competitions, Marin throws all of these diverse and entertaining personalities into a townhouse where, when they are not on set competing, they have to live in close proximity and needless to say things get very interesting very quickly.
Darcy, who comes from a famous culinary background and has a reputation that precedes him, wants to silence the critics by showing everyone that his success as a chef is due solely to his hard work and honed skills. Also, I absolutely loved the added detail of Marin's Darcy having some lovely tattoos to add to his dark and broody chef vibes...yes please! On the other hand, as a self-taught chef from a smaller family business, Elizabeth is the dark horse that no one sees coming, including Darcy. Her passion and instincts make her a fierce competitor.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pride and Prejudice retelling if things didn’t start out a little rocky for our favorite couple as first impressions and misunderstandings cause chaos in and out of the kitchen. However, as the weeks go by, Darcy and Elizabeth each come to respect the talent of the other and find that it is becoming increasingly hard to deny the attraction building between them. It was touching to watch how both Darcy and Elizabeth learn from each other and the scene of Elizabeth singing Darcy's mother's favorite Christmas carol was chef's kiss (pun intended). How will things heat up for Darcy and Elizabeth as more than just the competition’s final prize is on the line? You will just have to go grab your copy to find out!
I love Marin's modern take on each of the characters. The camaraderie, ribbing and affection between Darcy and his cousins was touching and I appreciated the dose of perspective that both Fitzwilliam and Sterling provided to Darcy as he struggled to come to terms not only with his feelings about Elizabeth but also about who he truly wanted to be as a chef. Charlotte and Elizabeth's friendship and ability to cheer each other on in spite of competing against one another is a wonderful representation of women supporting other women's success and I know Austen would 100% love seeing it!
All in all, I really enjoyed Marin's fresh and modern take on this P&P classic, so if you are looking for a novel that puts a different twist on Darcy and Elizabeth's love story then definitely give this one a read!
As a lover of all things Pride and Prejudice, I have read my fair share of Austen inspired variations. However, it has been a while since I have read one that takes place in a modern setting. So I was excited to hear that Lucy Marin's latest novel was a contemporary take on Austen's classic set against the backdrop of a Top Chef style competition. With the promised combination of so many things that I love, how could I not want to jump right into this story?!
In A Pinch of Salt, some of our favorite characters from Pride and Prejudice are facing off in a TV food competition called Last Chef Standing. Of course, we have our favorite couple, Darcy and Elizabeth, and they are joined by Charlotte, Collins, Wickham, Bingley, Caroline, Fitzwilliam and Sterling, another cousin of Darcy's through marriage. In the spirit of all the best food competitions, Marin throws all of these diverse and entertaining personalities into a townhouse where, when they are not on set competing, they have to live in close proximity and needless to say things get very interesting very quickly.
Darcy, who comes from a famous culinary background and has a reputation that precedes him, wants to silence the critics by showing everyone that his success as a chef is due solely to his hard work and honed skills. Also, I absolutely loved the added detail of Marin's Darcy having some lovely tattoos to add to his dark and broody chef vibes...yes please! On the other hand, as a self-taught chef from a smaller family business, Elizabeth is the dark horse that no one sees coming, including Darcy. Her passion and instincts make her a fierce competitor.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pride and Prejudice retelling if things didn’t start out a little rocky for our favorite couple as first impressions and misunderstandings cause chaos in and out of the kitchen. However, as the weeks go by, Darcy and Elizabeth each come to respect the talent of the other and find that it is becoming increasingly hard to deny the attraction building between them. It was touching to watch how both Darcy and Elizabeth learn from each other and the scene of Elizabeth singing Darcy's mother's favorite Christmas carol was chef's kiss (pun intended). How will things heat up for Darcy and Elizabeth as more than just the competition’s final prize is on the line? You will just have to go grab your copy to find out!
I love Marin's modern take on each of the characters. The camaraderie, ribbing and affection between Darcy and his cousins was touching and I appreciated the dose of perspective that both Fitzwilliam and Sterling provided to Darcy as he struggled to come to terms not only with his feelings about Elizabeth but also about who he truly wanted to be as a chef. Charlotte and Elizabeth's friendship and ability to cheer each other on in spite of competing against one another is a wonderful representation of women supporting other women's success and I know Austen would 100% love seeing it!
All in all, I really enjoyed Marin's fresh and modern take on this P&P classic, so if you are looking for a novel that puts a different twist on Darcy and Elizabeth's love story then definitely give this one a read!
June 7, 2024
Awesome
A modern take on P&P wherein Elizabeth and Darcy are contestants on a cooking show called Last Chef Standing. Elizabeth is a small town cook, but talented and innovative. Darcy is from a famous family of restaurateurs, already well known, but wanting to prove that he's good in his own right. As usual they have a rocky start, but they each quickly learn about the other's better traits.
This book is populated with so many wonderful new characters that we can care about, a feature of any really great story. The author has incorporated many of P&P's characters, but also included some with interesting twists that completely reinvent them. It's great fun, and gives the story some extra ties to the original, even though it's a complete re-imagining. The main villains are Caroline and Wickham, and they're doozies. However, every negative character gets a very satisfying comeuppance.
In addition to the wonderful accessory characters, this is a swoon worthy Darcy, and a courageous, kind, and strong Elizabeth, just the way we like to see them. All of the cooking descriptions were fantastic, and the extreme pressures of a cooking competition came through clearly. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly for an engaging, romantic, and exciting story.
A modern take on P&P wherein Elizabeth and Darcy are contestants on a cooking show called Last Chef Standing. Elizabeth is a small town cook, but talented and innovative. Darcy is from a famous family of restaurateurs, already well known, but wanting to prove that he's good in his own right. As usual they have a rocky start, but they each quickly learn about the other's better traits.
This book is populated with so many wonderful new characters that we can care about, a feature of any really great story. The author has incorporated many of P&P's characters, but also included some with interesting twists that completely reinvent them. It's great fun, and gives the story some extra ties to the original, even though it's a complete re-imagining. The main villains are Caroline and Wickham, and they're doozies. However, every negative character gets a very satisfying comeuppance.
In addition to the wonderful accessory characters, this is a swoon worthy Darcy, and a courageous, kind, and strong Elizabeth, just the way we like to see them. All of the cooking descriptions were fantastic, and the extreme pressures of a cooking competition came through clearly. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly for an engaging, romantic, and exciting story.
March 7, 2024
An interesting modern variation
I very much enjoyed this variation set in a reality TV cooking show. The characters were engaging and well rounded and the book held my attention throughout.
The nature of the plot, with all the contestants living in one house, means that the cast list is not extensive and therefore the spotlight is on the contestants with minimal interaction with other family members. This made for a good variation. The slow build of the romance is believable in a modern variation which I very much appreciated this as this is not easy to get right. This author had her characters living a 21st century life whilst generally remaining true in nature to the Austen characters.
The dropped star? This is just too long. Whilst this is set in a cooking show and some mention of the food cooked would obviously be appropriate, there is too much made of every meal prepared and the judging of said meals. This was not necessary and distracted a little from the main plot. Similarly, having all of the contestants living in the same house doing the filming was not very realistic given the nature of the show (professionals other than wannabes) but I fully understand why the author did this.
All in all this is a very enjoyable variation and I happily recommend it.
I very much enjoyed this variation set in a reality TV cooking show. The characters were engaging and well rounded and the book held my attention throughout.
The nature of the plot, with all the contestants living in one house, means that the cast list is not extensive and therefore the spotlight is on the contestants with minimal interaction with other family members. This made for a good variation. The slow build of the romance is believable in a modern variation which I very much appreciated this as this is not easy to get right. This author had her characters living a 21st century life whilst generally remaining true in nature to the Austen characters.
The dropped star? This is just too long. Whilst this is set in a cooking show and some mention of the food cooked would obviously be appropriate, there is too much made of every meal prepared and the judging of said meals. This was not necessary and distracted a little from the main plot. Similarly, having all of the contestants living in the same house doing the filming was not very realistic given the nature of the show (professionals other than wannabes) but I fully understand why the author did this.
All in all this is a very enjoyable variation and I happily recommend it.
June 9, 2024
This was a very long book that felt even longer because of all the tedious and unnecessary details of the cooking show and the slowest of slow burns romance wise. In fact, I have trouble calling this a romance. Lizzy doesn't see the light until the very last moment (and then suddenly tells Darcy she loves him. Umm how, and why? She never had any positive feelings for him when they were in the house together and they never had private conversations / moments, other than the one that ended in disaster). Darcy is focused on winning for most of the competition and doesn't think a country bum like Elizabeth will ever be any real competition for him and he also takes his sweet time in falling for Lizzy.
The majority of the book is description after description of literally all the dishes every contestant made on the show, plus going over every challenge in great detail, which is basically the same every time: they go to the studio, get an assignment, have to wait in the lounge, do the challenge, have to wait for a long time in the lounge and then getting the verdict, which is 'you did a good job, some people were great, some could have done better'. At first it was okay, but it became so very tedious in the end. There was not enough variation and originality in the challenges, they almost never got out of the studio, and some of the contestants were such caricatures that it was unvelievable they were selected for the show (Anne, Colin, and even Caroline).
On that note: we really didn't need the pov of those three (or other contestants). Only Darcy and Lizzy would have been enough and would have cut the page count. Remove a lot of redundant food descriptions on top of that and there would be a much better story of 300 pages, instead of 500.
As much as I like foodie books and find it annoying when a main character is supposed to be a chef, but never cooks on page, this book was on the opposite of the spectrum. I wanted way more romance, Darcy and Lizzy opening up to each other, Darcy pining after Lizzy etc. That wasn't what I got, so unfortunately I can't give more than 2 stars.
The majority of the book is description after description of literally all the dishes every contestant made on the show, plus going over every challenge in great detail, which is basically the same every time: they go to the studio, get an assignment, have to wait in the lounge, do the challenge, have to wait for a long time in the lounge and then getting the verdict, which is 'you did a good job, some people were great, some could have done better'. At first it was okay, but it became so very tedious in the end. There was not enough variation and originality in the challenges, they almost never got out of the studio, and some of the contestants were such caricatures that it was unvelievable they were selected for the show (Anne, Colin, and even Caroline).
On that note: we really didn't need the pov of those three (or other contestants). Only Darcy and Lizzy would have been enough and would have cut the page count. Remove a lot of redundant food descriptions on top of that and there would be a much better story of 300 pages, instead of 500.
As much as I like foodie books and find it annoying when a main character is supposed to be a chef, but never cooks on page, this book was on the opposite of the spectrum. I wanted way more romance, Darcy and Lizzy opening up to each other, Darcy pining after Lizzy etc. That wasn't what I got, so unfortunately I can't give more than 2 stars.
October 28, 2025
Orgullo y prejuicio reinventado. Una competencia de cocina, redención y segundas oportunidades en el mundo culinario, que puede salir mal? Nada, es una historia tierna, ingeniosa, perfecta. No le pongo 5 estrellas porque se hizo larga innecesariamente.
May 5, 2024
I usually prefer to read the Regency set P&P variations, but when one of my favourite authors released this modern version, I decided to give it a try. Wow! The 486 pages flew by as I couldn't put the book down. This is my favourite modern variation - the characters and settings of the original are seamlessly and intriguingly placed into a tv cooking competition. The new characters are well-developed and contribute nicely to the plot. The quality of the writing is such that I can almost smell the food created. I'm definitely going to be re-reading this any time I want to have a fairly low-angst and fun time.
My caveat to my praise for this story is that I've lived in or visited most of the real cities mentioned, and I'm fond of watching tv cooking competitions.
My caveat to my praise for this story is that I've lived in or visited most of the real cities mentioned, and I'm fond of watching tv cooking competitions.
March 14, 2024
In truth, this book likely deserves 1 star, but I’m such a fan of Lucy Marin’s other works, that even 2 stars feels sacrilegious.
I was so excited to see this title get published because I remember loving it when it was originally posted online. I don’t know if I had rose colored glasses at the time, if the book was far better served by being read in a serial format, or if poor editing choices is the cause of this discrepancy. I’m so frustrated at how bad this book is, I wish I had the previous version to compare to get an answer. I would like to understand who the heck edited this and allowed this version to see the light of day! I’m so devastated that this ruined my (perhaps unearned) memory of a far better story.
~~~
The good:
- Honestly, at this point: nothing. If you had asked me after page 100, I’m sure I would’ve had a handful of positives but I’m so drained by my frustration and boredom, I can’t come up with any at this time. I wish I had DNF’ed early on.
~~~
The bad:
- This book didn’t know if it was JAFF or a master chef style tv show FF. It completely lost the plot - there was an absurd level of detail of every second of the show no matter how little it had any bearing on the actual story arc. I might’ve forgiven it if the show was compelling, but truthfully, it wasn’t. A lot was over explained, yet threads were dropped left and right. For being this allegedly being an acclaimed, multi-season show, the filming and logistics were a mess. The dating reality tv show-esque filming of the townhouse didn’t make sense for the type of show this was supposed to be. Also, the embarrassingly bad early departure contestants were frustrating. Have one mediocre chef. Not 2 horrid ones and 2 barely passable ones. If this was a real show, the entire casting department deserves to be fired for the illogical mess of contestants. I don’t think most of this would’ve bothered me, except I was forced to read about the show in excruciating detail so I couldn’t gloss past all of the odd choices in the world building of the show. Instead I was left asking, “what? Why though?” and wanting to shout, “oh my god. I don’t care” at my Kindle intermittently.
- Relatedly, the book was in dire need of culling. There was so much extraneous detail and conversations that made reading this a slog. There is absolutely no reason this book should have been 485 pages and 92 chapters long. A far more engaging story could have been told in just about half the length.
- The “romance” between Darcy and Elizabeth. Beyond my issues with the plot and pacing mentioned above, there was really no connection between them. This book relied too much on him mentally waxing poetic about her at random intervals and her having occasional intrusive thoughts about him being hot before a random about face near the end. The classic Hunsford moment was jarring because it felt both randomly placed and not earned. For the bulk of the book, they were just two people who happened to exist near each other, and any progression of their relationship felt out of left field. The immense slow burn into happily ever after can work in a historical setting, but in a modern setting it made me feel like I missed the part that would convince me of their HEA. Very “happiness in [a relationship] is entirely a matter of chance” of this book.
- The writing - awkward, dry, and ever so dull; overwritten to the nth degree. I think all of the strengths that serve Marin in her regency novels fall flat in this book. It’s like she forgot this isn’t a historical novel and that modern novels need a different style of voice.
~~~
And the nitpicky - aka things I wouldn’t have complained about if this book hadn’t already enraged me so much:
- At one point I got derailed for a solid 5 minutes because of the sentence “Then and now, Elizabeth had to purposely remind herself…” (page 96). How the sentence reads makes it seem like the phrase “then and now” is a substitute for the word “occasionally”… which is not a thing... “Now and then” means occasionally. “Then and now” means “in the past and now”. I even spent a few minutes googling to make sure that this isn’t a regional difference and no results came up suggesting that is the case. If I’m wrong, then maybe it should still be changed for clarity, but at least I’d accept that answer. Or, more likely, either the wrong phrase was used and needs editing to not send another reader into a spiral or the right phrase was used and the entire paragraph needs more editing for clarity. I spent far too long trying to parse it and honestly that should have been when I closed the book for good.
- The first time the word “tweenager” was used, I physically cringed. I’m not saying that hyperbolically, I actually bodily cringed. Who says that word’s “full government name”?!?! Just say tween like the rest of the world… or avoid it altogether. But the incredible thing is that it wasn’t used once, it was used three separate times! Yikes. (Yes, I do realize that that’s a personal preference, not a real critique. Alas, I reached a certain point where I only had anger in my veins as I continued to read, so things like this had to keep me going.)
~~~~
My rant, like this book, went on for too long so TL;DR: Spare yourself and skip this book!!! That being said, I will be the first in line to read future Regency books by Marin.
I was so excited to see this title get published because I remember loving it when it was originally posted online. I don’t know if I had rose colored glasses at the time, if the book was far better served by being read in a serial format, or if poor editing choices is the cause of this discrepancy. I’m so frustrated at how bad this book is, I wish I had the previous version to compare to get an answer. I would like to understand who the heck edited this and allowed this version to see the light of day! I’m so devastated that this ruined my (perhaps unearned) memory of a far better story.
~~~
The good:
- Honestly, at this point: nothing. If you had asked me after page 100, I’m sure I would’ve had a handful of positives but I’m so drained by my frustration and boredom, I can’t come up with any at this time. I wish I had DNF’ed early on.
~~~
The bad:
- This book didn’t know if it was JAFF or a master chef style tv show FF. It completely lost the plot - there was an absurd level of detail of every second of the show no matter how little it had any bearing on the actual story arc. I might’ve forgiven it if the show was compelling, but truthfully, it wasn’t. A lot was over explained, yet threads were dropped left and right. For being this allegedly being an acclaimed, multi-season show, the filming and logistics were a mess. The dating reality tv show-esque filming of the townhouse didn’t make sense for the type of show this was supposed to be. Also, the embarrassingly bad early departure contestants were frustrating. Have one mediocre chef. Not 2 horrid ones and 2 barely passable ones. If this was a real show, the entire casting department deserves to be fired for the illogical mess of contestants. I don’t think most of this would’ve bothered me, except I was forced to read about the show in excruciating detail so I couldn’t gloss past all of the odd choices in the world building of the show. Instead I was left asking, “what? Why though?” and wanting to shout, “oh my god. I don’t care” at my Kindle intermittently.
- Relatedly, the book was in dire need of culling. There was so much extraneous detail and conversations that made reading this a slog. There is absolutely no reason this book should have been 485 pages and 92 chapters long. A far more engaging story could have been told in just about half the length.
- The “romance” between Darcy and Elizabeth. Beyond my issues with the plot and pacing mentioned above, there was really no connection between them. This book relied too much on him mentally waxing poetic about her at random intervals and her having occasional intrusive thoughts about him being hot before a random about face near the end. The classic Hunsford moment was jarring because it felt both randomly placed and not earned. For the bulk of the book, they were just two people who happened to exist near each other, and any progression of their relationship felt out of left field. The immense slow burn into happily ever after can work in a historical setting, but in a modern setting it made me feel like I missed the part that would convince me of their HEA. Very “happiness in [a relationship] is entirely a matter of chance” of this book.
- The writing - awkward, dry, and ever so dull; overwritten to the nth degree. I think all of the strengths that serve Marin in her regency novels fall flat in this book. It’s like she forgot this isn’t a historical novel and that modern novels need a different style of voice.
~~~
And the nitpicky - aka things I wouldn’t have complained about if this book hadn’t already enraged me so much:
- At one point I got derailed for a solid 5 minutes because of the sentence “Then and now, Elizabeth had to purposely remind herself…” (page 96). How the sentence reads makes it seem like the phrase “then and now” is a substitute for the word “occasionally”… which is not a thing... “Now and then” means occasionally. “Then and now” means “in the past and now”. I even spent a few minutes googling to make sure that this isn’t a regional difference and no results came up suggesting that is the case. If I’m wrong, then maybe it should still be changed for clarity, but at least I’d accept that answer. Or, more likely, either the wrong phrase was used and needs editing to not send another reader into a spiral or the right phrase was used and the entire paragraph needs more editing for clarity. I spent far too long trying to parse it and honestly that should have been when I closed the book for good.
- The first time the word “tweenager” was used, I physically cringed. I’m not saying that hyperbolically, I actually bodily cringed. Who says that word’s “full government name”?!?! Just say tween like the rest of the world… or avoid it altogether. But the incredible thing is that it wasn’t used once, it was used three separate times! Yikes. (Yes, I do realize that that’s a personal preference, not a real critique. Alas, I reached a certain point where I only had anger in my veins as I continued to read, so things like this had to keep me going.)
~~~~
My rant, like this book, went on for too long so TL;DR: Spare yourself and skip this book!!! That being said, I will be the first in line to read future Regency books by Marin.
December 1, 2024
Fantastic
A really good modern variation. I usually avoid them but the reviews were so good, I decided to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. The food descriptions were so good, Marin caught the tone of judges on cooking shows perfectly, and the interpersonal dynamics rang very true.
A really good modern variation. I usually avoid them but the reviews were so good, I decided to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. The food descriptions were so good, Marin caught the tone of judges on cooking shows perfectly, and the interpersonal dynamics rang very true.
October 28, 2024
Yummy!
Nice modernisation with great descriptions of the food and the contest.
There are nice characters and good flow of the story.
Nice modernisation with great descriptions of the food and the contest.
There are nice characters and good flow of the story.
February 11, 2024
This long novel is a modern Pride and Prejudice variation built around a fictitious Canadian cooking television program called "Last Chef Standing." Elizabeth Bennet, executive chef at her parents' Longbourn Inn, has never cooked anywhere else and didn't go to a top culinary school. Her good friend Charlotte is a local pastry chef who wanted to compete on the show herself and dared Elizabeth to try out for it with her. To Elizabeth's surprise, they have both been cast and will be part of the same multi-week competition.
They face seven competitors, six of whom JAFF lovers will readily attach to the appropriate P&P character: Will Darcy, Tom Fitzwilliam (Will’s cousin), Charles Bingley, George Wickham, Caroline Hurst (NOT Charles’s sister), Colin Collins (devoted to Catherine Hunsford), and Anne de Bourgh (no relation to Colin’s employer). The other contestant is Sterling Bramwell, who is married to another of Will’s cousins. Unlike Elizabeth and Charlotte, Will, Tom, and Sterling had no idea their cousins would be on the show. The three men are appalled to find Wickham among the contestants.
Will is well-known nationally, having risen to great heights in his father’s culinary empire. He’s competing to prove that he attained his reputation on his own merits rather than having it handed to him; however, he considers the show and most of his competitors to be beneath him (except his cousins, of course). Elizabeth’s unimpressive background particularly galls him, and he isn’t subtle about expressing this opinion to his cousins, which Elizabeth overhears.
The chefs are filmed cooking on a soundstage, where they are judged, one being eliminated at the end of each program. In addition, they must share a house during the weeks of filming, with each leaving immediately upon elimination. There are cameras in various parts of the house, sort of like USA’s "Big Brother" reality show.
Personality clashes abound. Anne is convinced of her superiority and doesn’t deign to speak except on camera unless it’s absolutely necessary. Caroline is obsessed with healthy foods and Will Darcy for the fame she could garner with him, and she’s jealous of any attention he shows for Elizabeth. Colin just flat never shuts up, which irritates everyone else. And George is lazy, looking for shortcuts to victory, including hooking up with one of the ladies for some help to beat the others and some fun in the sack.
My son has been in the culinary world more than a decade and is now an executive chef. Interestingly, a friend of his once competed on a Food Network seasonal competition, and a few weeks after filming wrapped and before the series aired, I chatted with him at length about his experience. He couldn't tell me how he or his competitors did, but I did learn about the exhaustive selection process he went through to get on the show.
As much as I recognize Ms. Marin's admirable writing chops and enjoy the basic idea of this story, I struggled with credibility issues throughout.
First and foremost, contestants on a national cooking show would be thoroughly vetted, and four of these chefs would never have been chosen. The author could have retained their personalities while still showing competency and basic restaurant kitchen etiquette to make their presence more plausible. Two “judges” are similarly unbelievable: Chef Emma Lemon behaves more like an immature teenager than a chef, and Chef Marcus Benjamin is too obviously misogynistic. Neither makes sense as a potential television personality.
The author’s love of fine food is apparent, but it's given excessive emphasis, and the storytelling suffers as a result. Her cooking scenes may be of interest to a true foodie, but I had no idea what most of the dishes were and skimmed through the various descriptions of ingredients and unfamiliar culinary terms trying to pick out the relevant plot developments. Most of the cooking challenges could have been covered briefly, and some could have been eliminated altogether aside from the announcements of each episode’s winners and losers.
That would have helped shorten the book, as it is very, VERY long (92 chapters, 592 pages) and at times tedious. The constantly changing point of view among various characters makes it choppy and also contributes to the length. Limiting the narrative to Elizabeth’s and Will’s perspectives would be sufficient.
Presence of the cameras in the competitors’ living space also doesn’t feel right, especially since the producers intentionally don’t use the most dramatic moments. Wouldn’t a behind-the-scenes romance be exactly the sort of thing they’d be hoping to capture?
I repeat - Ms. Marin’s writing is lovely. There’s nothing wrong with the premise, either, but it could have been better researched and executed. And the meat here has an awful lot of fat.
Content is suggestive but not graphic with adult situations. Trigger warning: unwelcome sexual advances leading to a man aggressively cornering a woman. Strong language/cursing.
I received a free copy via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
They face seven competitors, six of whom JAFF lovers will readily attach to the appropriate P&P character: Will Darcy, Tom Fitzwilliam (Will’s cousin), Charles Bingley, George Wickham, Caroline Hurst (NOT Charles’s sister), Colin Collins (devoted to Catherine Hunsford), and Anne de Bourgh (no relation to Colin’s employer). The other contestant is Sterling Bramwell, who is married to another of Will’s cousins. Unlike Elizabeth and Charlotte, Will, Tom, and Sterling had no idea their cousins would be on the show. The three men are appalled to find Wickham among the contestants.
Will is well-known nationally, having risen to great heights in his father’s culinary empire. He’s competing to prove that he attained his reputation on his own merits rather than having it handed to him; however, he considers the show and most of his competitors to be beneath him (except his cousins, of course). Elizabeth’s unimpressive background particularly galls him, and he isn’t subtle about expressing this opinion to his cousins, which Elizabeth overhears.
The chefs are filmed cooking on a soundstage, where they are judged, one being eliminated at the end of each program. In addition, they must share a house during the weeks of filming, with each leaving immediately upon elimination. There are cameras in various parts of the house, sort of like USA’s "Big Brother" reality show.
Personality clashes abound. Anne is convinced of her superiority and doesn’t deign to speak except on camera unless it’s absolutely necessary. Caroline is obsessed with healthy foods and Will Darcy for the fame she could garner with him, and she’s jealous of any attention he shows for Elizabeth. Colin just flat never shuts up, which irritates everyone else. And George is lazy, looking for shortcuts to victory, including hooking up with one of the ladies for some help to beat the others and some fun in the sack.
My son has been in the culinary world more than a decade and is now an executive chef. Interestingly, a friend of his once competed on a Food Network seasonal competition, and a few weeks after filming wrapped and before the series aired, I chatted with him at length about his experience. He couldn't tell me how he or his competitors did, but I did learn about the exhaustive selection process he went through to get on the show.
As much as I recognize Ms. Marin's admirable writing chops and enjoy the basic idea of this story, I struggled with credibility issues throughout.
First and foremost, contestants on a national cooking show would be thoroughly vetted, and four of these chefs would never have been chosen. The author could have retained their personalities while still showing competency and basic restaurant kitchen etiquette to make their presence more plausible. Two “judges” are similarly unbelievable: Chef Emma Lemon behaves more like an immature teenager than a chef, and Chef Marcus Benjamin is too obviously misogynistic. Neither makes sense as a potential television personality.
The author’s love of fine food is apparent, but it's given excessive emphasis, and the storytelling suffers as a result. Her cooking scenes may be of interest to a true foodie, but I had no idea what most of the dishes were and skimmed through the various descriptions of ingredients and unfamiliar culinary terms trying to pick out the relevant plot developments. Most of the cooking challenges could have been covered briefly, and some could have been eliminated altogether aside from the announcements of each episode’s winners and losers.
That would have helped shorten the book, as it is very, VERY long (92 chapters, 592 pages) and at times tedious. The constantly changing point of view among various characters makes it choppy and also contributes to the length. Limiting the narrative to Elizabeth’s and Will’s perspectives would be sufficient.
Presence of the cameras in the competitors’ living space also doesn’t feel right, especially since the producers intentionally don’t use the most dramatic moments. Wouldn’t a behind-the-scenes romance be exactly the sort of thing they’d be hoping to capture?
I repeat - Ms. Marin’s writing is lovely. There’s nothing wrong with the premise, either, but it could have been better researched and executed. And the meat here has an awful lot of fat.
Content is suggestive but not graphic with adult situations. Trigger warning: unwelcome sexual advances leading to a man aggressively cornering a woman. Strong language/cursing.
I received a free copy via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 12, 2024
3.5
I really liked this fresh idea, not one I’ve seen in JAFF before. It requires some suspension of disbelief in how all the connected characters are put in one place, but the interactions are definitely interesting and engaging. I particularly liked Charlotte/Lizzy and the three cousins, especially OC Sterling.
I did feel like it was unnecessary and a bit of a stretch to make the baddies poor chefs as well: I think I would have been more invested in the competition if they were good chefs but undermined their work by being bad people. This would also explain how they got on a show for professionals.
The first half of the book was very engaging and closer to a four. I did need to occasionally google as not a foodie! My favourite was seeing what could be made out of the random ingredients game. Eventually though, I thought the lists of food and very similar judging discussions got a bit tedious and could have been cut down or at least changed about to provide more interest to the reader. I got bored in the second half, which I thought as a 2-3 in places.
I did enjoy that the rules were outlined often and I particularly liked the reminders of being filmed and trying to navigate between behaving normally and being aware of the audience. The house scenes when they all lived together were the best parts of the book IMO. In later chapters I would have liked slightly more info on exactly what of the drama was broadcast and on audience reactions to the characters, maybe switching up between that and what the characters thought rather than just repeating what had happened with the food. When reading in book format rather than online instalments the reminders are unnecessary.
The romance aspect between ODC is very slow burn with an almost unbelievable about-turn by Elizabeth at the end. In terms of actions it matches canon, but because we are given Elizabeth’s inner monologue it feels abrupt. I thought she could have been more torn earlier, or as its a modern done exactly as she did but without the ‘I love you’ so early on. I felt it showed she was sexually attracted to him, later intrigued by his character, but love was a stretch. The relationships between other characters were often talked about as a stand in and all very sweet. I loved Charles’ ending the most - it was teased almost from the start and was super satisfying when eventually decided!
I’ve landed on 3.5 because I enjoyed so many aspects, even though the second half couldn’t really keep my interest.
I really liked this fresh idea, not one I’ve seen in JAFF before. It requires some suspension of disbelief in how all the connected characters are put in one place, but the interactions are definitely interesting and engaging. I particularly liked Charlotte/Lizzy and the three cousins, especially OC Sterling.
I did feel like it was unnecessary and a bit of a stretch to make the baddies poor chefs as well: I think I would have been more invested in the competition if they were good chefs but undermined their work by being bad people. This would also explain how they got on a show for professionals.
The first half of the book was very engaging and closer to a four. I did need to occasionally google as not a foodie! My favourite was seeing what could be made out of the random ingredients game. Eventually though, I thought the lists of food and very similar judging discussions got a bit tedious and could have been cut down or at least changed about to provide more interest to the reader. I got bored in the second half, which I thought as a 2-3 in places.
I did enjoy that the rules were outlined often and I particularly liked the reminders of being filmed and trying to navigate between behaving normally and being aware of the audience. The house scenes when they all lived together were the best parts of the book IMO. In later chapters I would have liked slightly more info on exactly what of the drama was broadcast and on audience reactions to the characters, maybe switching up between that and what the characters thought rather than just repeating what had happened with the food. When reading in book format rather than online instalments the reminders are unnecessary.
The romance aspect between ODC is very slow burn with an almost unbelievable about-turn by Elizabeth at the end. In terms of actions it matches canon, but because we are given Elizabeth’s inner monologue it feels abrupt. I thought she could have been more torn earlier, or as its a modern done exactly as she did but without the ‘I love you’ so early on. I felt it showed she was sexually attracted to him, later intrigued by his character, but love was a stretch. The relationships between other characters were often talked about as a stand in and all very sweet. I loved Charles’ ending the most - it was teased almost from the start and was super satisfying when eventually decided!
I’ve landed on 3.5 because I enjoyed so many aspects, even though the second half couldn’t really keep my interest.
March 1, 2024
If you love cooking shows and you love Pride & Prejudice, then this is a must read! This was a really fun modern variation. I do love competitive cooking and baking shows, so I really enjoyed this merging of two of my favorite things whose paths usually do not cross.
Most of the gang are here in the roles of chefs who are competing to win a Canadian cooking show called Last Chef Standing. Their characters match their canon counterparts pretty well. There are also some new characters to love. I will admit that for it was a bit of a stretch that a couple of these characters would ever have made it through the rigorous process of weeding through countless talented chefs to make it to the actual competition, but it worked for the story, so it wasn't difficult to just go along with it. It was fun an interesting to get to know the characters as contestants of a cooking competition and I enjoyed their backgrounds and their stories. While we got to see their strengths and weakness in the kitchen, we also got to be a part of their personal and social interactions and the ups and downs that would inevitably come when you throw a group of people together in tight quarters. The dynamics were interesting and entertaining. There was a little bit of everything. Jokes and fun, deceit and sabotage, attraction and romance, anger and tempers. My only complaint is that the book dragged a bit too much. The pace could have been faster with a little less detail about the dishes being prepared and the process of preparing them. It's one thing to watch a cooking show, but reading about one isn't quite as exciting pertaining to some of the more mundane details of the process. It made the book longer than it needed to be.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved the premise of the cooking competition. It was fun and I found myself, as when watching real cooking shows, feeling all the anxiety and suspense while waiting for the winners of each round to be revealed as well as the fear of elimination for the contestants. It was a great idea and the execution was really well done save being a little too wordy. I can see me picking this up again in the future!
Most of the gang are here in the roles of chefs who are competing to win a Canadian cooking show called Last Chef Standing. Their characters match their canon counterparts pretty well. There are also some new characters to love. I will admit that for it was a bit of a stretch that a couple of these characters would ever have made it through the rigorous process of weeding through countless talented chefs to make it to the actual competition, but it worked for the story, so it wasn't difficult to just go along with it. It was fun an interesting to get to know the characters as contestants of a cooking competition and I enjoyed their backgrounds and their stories. While we got to see their strengths and weakness in the kitchen, we also got to be a part of their personal and social interactions and the ups and downs that would inevitably come when you throw a group of people together in tight quarters. The dynamics were interesting and entertaining. There was a little bit of everything. Jokes and fun, deceit and sabotage, attraction and romance, anger and tempers. My only complaint is that the book dragged a bit too much. The pace could have been faster with a little less detail about the dishes being prepared and the process of preparing them. It's one thing to watch a cooking show, but reading about one isn't quite as exciting pertaining to some of the more mundane details of the process. It made the book longer than it needed to be.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved the premise of the cooking competition. It was fun and I found myself, as when watching real cooking shows, feeling all the anxiety and suspense while waiting for the winners of each round to be revealed as well as the fear of elimination for the contestants. It was a great idea and the execution was really well done save being a little too wordy. I can see me picking this up again in the future!
March 13, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. 485 pages on my Kindle for PC.
I am not a gourmet. Reared in a "blue-collar" home, we rarely went out to eat and then it was mainly a buffet type restaurant my father loved. So I was not familiar with all the fancy dishes with names and ingredients foreign to me. There are pages after pages of such listed and described.
Ten people are competing for the title of "Last Chef Standing", a TV series, set in Canada, which features various cooking contests. The characters are ones with whom we are familiar from canon, with several exceptions. We have Elizabeth Bennet, Anne de Bourgh, Colin Collins, Caroline Hurst, Tom Fitzwilliam (cousin to Darcy), Sterling Bramwell, (also a cousin through marriage), Will Darcy, Charles Bingley, Charlotte Lucas and George Wickham.
Although isolated from the world during the competition there are several events occurring which reflect what we know about some of these characters, i.e., Wickham, Caroline.
A woman has never earned this title. And Elizabeth also had no background training under a mentor or culinary institute. She is the head chef at her family's restaurant in Meryton.
The story does describe why various foods or meals won or lost: this was lost on me. I did not recognize many of the herbs, spices, cultural connections. etc. I would enjoy knowing if the author has a talent as a "chef" herself or if she drew on a friend or acquaintance' knowledge.
Despite not knowing the foods, etc. discussed I did enjoy the story, which has an "insult" and a near proposal as in canon.
I am not a gourmet. Reared in a "blue-collar" home, we rarely went out to eat and then it was mainly a buffet type restaurant my father loved. So I was not familiar with all the fancy dishes with names and ingredients foreign to me. There are pages after pages of such listed and described.
Ten people are competing for the title of "Last Chef Standing", a TV series, set in Canada, which features various cooking contests. The characters are ones with whom we are familiar from canon, with several exceptions. We have Elizabeth Bennet, Anne de Bourgh, Colin Collins, Caroline Hurst, Tom Fitzwilliam (cousin to Darcy), Sterling Bramwell, (also a cousin through marriage), Will Darcy, Charles Bingley, Charlotte Lucas and George Wickham.
Although isolated from the world during the competition there are several events occurring which reflect what we know about some of these characters, i.e., Wickham, Caroline.
A woman has never earned this title. And Elizabeth also had no background training under a mentor or culinary institute. She is the head chef at her family's restaurant in Meryton.
The story does describe why various foods or meals won or lost: this was lost on me. I did not recognize many of the herbs, spices, cultural connections. etc. I would enjoy knowing if the author has a talent as a "chef" herself or if she drew on a friend or acquaintance' knowledge.
Despite not knowing the foods, etc. discussed I did enjoy the story, which has an "insult" and a near proposal as in canon.
March 6, 2024
I read this book on a JAFF site years ago. I was sad when it was taken down. I’m so happy to be able to read it again.
I think the author said it went from 600 pages to 500. I would have been glad for the longer version.
It’s set in Calgary, in the west. Most of the protagonists are from the other side of the country- the Toronto area and Nova Scotia. I would have liked a contestant from Quebec because I think the French influence would have been interesting.
I loved how the dynamics of everyone are so close to canon. I.E. Darcy insults Elizabeth as a nobody.
I loved Darcy and his cousins. Wickham and Caroline are their usual obnoxious selves but we get rid of Wickham without any drama with Lydia.
I love in the pop-up restaurant challenge Caroline’s spatula had an orange dot. A nice nod to a JAFF convention.
Chef Emma was a humorous delight.
I can’t recommend this book enough!
I think the author said it went from 600 pages to 500. I would have been glad for the longer version.
It’s set in Calgary, in the west. Most of the protagonists are from the other side of the country- the Toronto area and Nova Scotia. I would have liked a contestant from Quebec because I think the French influence would have been interesting.
I loved how the dynamics of everyone are so close to canon. I.E. Darcy insults Elizabeth as a nobody.
I loved Darcy and his cousins. Wickham and Caroline are their usual obnoxious selves but we get rid of Wickham without any drama with Lydia.
I love in the pop-up restaurant challenge Caroline’s spatula had an orange dot. A nice nod to a JAFF convention.
Chef Emma was a humorous delight.
I can’t recommend this book enough!
March 1, 2024
Add a modern Pride and Prejudice to a Chef contest and voila. I liked how she chose her chefs and their personalities. Each character is recognizable from canon. The contests are fun and creative. Much thought and research went into this story.
Each chef comes to the chef contest from different areas in Canada. They are dumped into a house together to coexist and interact with one another. I loved the chemistry among the chefs. There are some combustible times. Each elimination increases the angst. There is a "Hunsford" moment which enriches the story.
I encourage those to give this modern a try with several cups of tea which may be read over several days. I binge read it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Each chef comes to the chef contest from different areas in Canada. They are dumped into a house together to coexist and interact with one another. I loved the chemistry among the chefs. There are some combustible times. Each elimination increases the angst. There is a "Hunsford" moment which enriches the story.
I encourage those to give this modern a try with several cups of tea which may be read over several days. I binge read it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 9, 2024
Really love a good modern P&P variation and this one didn't disappoint.
I've read several other books by this author and think they are a talented writer but sometimes their books can be a little long-winded. I have to admit that when I opened up the table of contents and saw it was over 90 chapters I was hesitant...but the story grabbed me from the beginning and I really enjoyed it! Despite the length, the ending felt somewhat rushed. I would have liked a little less of the food descriptions and a little more time spent on direct interactions between the main characters and the evolution of their romance.
I've read several other books by this author and think they are a talented writer but sometimes their books can be a little long-winded. I have to admit that when I opened up the table of contents and saw it was over 90 chapters I was hesitant...but the story grabbed me from the beginning and I really enjoyed it! Despite the length, the ending felt somewhat rushed. I would have liked a little less of the food descriptions and a little more time spent on direct interactions between the main characters and the evolution of their romance.
March 8, 2024
Delightful!
Very enjoyable and entertaining modern variation. Kept me reading from the first page to last. The storyline was unique to me since I enjoy the Regency era stories, but this book took the modern day twist to another level. The combination of P&P and the cooking drama had the challenge of incorporating our favourite characters into an interesting story and adding the culinary delights that could actually make you hungry while reading. The many additional secondary characters needed to complete the storyline enriched the whole. Very well written. Enjoy!
Very enjoyable and entertaining modern variation. Kept me reading from the first page to last. The storyline was unique to me since I enjoy the Regency era stories, but this book took the modern day twist to another level. The combination of P&P and the cooking drama had the challenge of incorporating our favourite characters into an interesting story and adding the culinary delights that could actually make you hungry while reading. The many additional secondary characters needed to complete the storyline enriched the whole. Very well written. Enjoy!
September 15, 2024
A reasonably fun read, but I was always surprised whenever we skipped over a cooking scene. This is a cooking show romance. I want every single cooking scene. Describe the foods and the process. Give me Gourmet Hound, but for P&P. If I didn't want cooking scenes, I would pick a different adaptation.
And I expected Lizzy to call out Wickham's harassment way longer. We had like three separate instances of her saying "if you say one more thing like that, I'm telling the producers." But then he'd say something again and she'd warn him again.
But overall, I enjoyed the book.
And I expected Lizzy to call out Wickham's harassment way longer. We had like three separate instances of her saying "if you say one more thing like that, I'm telling the producers." But then he'd say something again and she'd warn him again.
But overall, I enjoyed the book.
Read
November 4, 2025DNF at 17%. May come back to it at some point, but my TBR list is too long to waste time on something I'm not enjoying at the moment.
Writing is very tedious. Extremely detailed descriptions of everything that is happening during the filming of the show. Several characters have clearly Zero talent and somehow made it on a popular cooking show + are extremely cringe-worthy personality-wise. Chapters flip POV between multiple characters, not just the mains.
If it was shorter, I'd probably push through to finish, but I've only made it to chapter 15 of 92 so moving on to something else.
Writing is very tedious. Extremely detailed descriptions of everything that is happening during the filming of the show. Several characters have clearly Zero talent and somehow made it on a popular cooking show + are extremely cringe-worthy personality-wise. Chapters flip POV between multiple characters, not just the mains.
If it was shorter, I'd probably push through to finish, but I've only made it to chapter 15 of 92 so moving on to something else.
March 11, 2024
Loved this book
I had read this on AHA and I'm so glad to see it back as a book!
Pride and Prejudice wrapped into a cooking competition was never on my radar, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Elizabeth and Charlotte meet up with Darcy and Charles in the competition, along with Caroline, Wickham and Collins. They and the rest of the characters made a very enjoyable read.
I had read this on AHA and I'm so glad to see it back as a book!
Pride and Prejudice wrapped into a cooking competition was never on my radar, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Elizabeth and Charlotte meet up with Darcy and Charles in the competition, along with Caroline, Wickham and Collins. They and the rest of the characters made a very enjoyable read.
March 19, 2024
Amazing
I think it is incredible how the author could grasp the whole concept of the original story and for it in not just a modern setting, but in such a restricted one and make it work, maintaining the interest and managing an excellent level of anticipation. A very worthy book!
I think it is incredible how the author could grasp the whole concept of the original story and for it in not just a modern setting, but in such a restricted one and make it work, maintaining the interest and managing an excellent level of anticipation. A very worthy book!
April 4, 2024
Loved it
I absolutely loved this book! Each contestant in the challenge was interesting. Bringing P & P to this modern variation was beautifully done. It Works! The food challenges and menu descriptions was so yummy! I hope this book goes to Audible (hint hint).
I absolutely loved this book! Each contestant in the challenge was interesting. Bringing P & P to this modern variation was beautifully done. It Works! The food challenges and menu descriptions was so yummy! I hope this book goes to Audible (hint hint).
July 2, 2024
Meet Cute in the Best Way!
Honestly didn’t expect this book to be good, but I’m soooo glad I was wrong. Learning about different dishes, enjoying the characters, and different point of views was 10 out of 10. I would recommend!
Honestly didn’t expect this book to be good, but I’m soooo glad I was wrong. Learning about different dishes, enjoying the characters, and different point of views was 10 out of 10. I would recommend!
October 17, 2024
4.5 Stars
It was a fun read that entertained me from the beginning until the end.
- I loved all the characters and appreciated that Austen's characters were recognizable.
- Who would have thought reading about cooking show contestants could be so enjoyable? Good job!
It was a fun read that entertained me from the beginning until the end.
- I loved all the characters and appreciated that Austen's characters were recognizable.
- Who would have thought reading about cooking show contestants could be so enjoyable? Good job!
December 10, 2024
Great variation Navigated all the relationship well in an interesting way, with some new characters. For me it was a little over heavy on the cooking/food descriptions, obviously needed some of this to carry the theme, but at times it felt a little too much.
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