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Gruppenchat zum Frühstück
Willkommen in Rachel Weiss' Gruppenchat
Neues Jahr, neues Glück! Das kann Rachel nur hoffen. Sie hat einen ungeliebten Job und greift in Sachen Männer stets daneben. Zu allem Überfluss will ihre Mutter sie mit dem Tech-Millionär Christopher Butkus verkuppeln. Doch bereits bei der ersten Begegnung ist Rachel klar, dieser arrogante Typ und sie passen nicht zusammen – auch wenn ihre Mutter das nicht einsehen möchte. Aber Rachel hat ihre besten Freundinnen, die ihr beistehen, und den gemeinsamen Gruppenchat, der sie aufmuntert. Als es im Chat immer ruhiger wird und ihr Freundeskreis droht auseinanderzubrechen, bekommt sie Unterstützung von jemandem, mit dem sie nicht gerechnet hat …
Eine Heldin so unperfekt, dass man sie einfach ins Herz schließen muss.
Neues Jahr, neues Glück! Das kann Rachel nur hoffen. Sie hat einen ungeliebten Job und greift in Sachen Männer stets daneben. Zu allem Überfluss will ihre Mutter sie mit dem Tech-Millionär Christopher Butkus verkuppeln. Doch bereits bei der ersten Begegnung ist Rachel klar, dieser arrogante Typ und sie passen nicht zusammen – auch wenn ihre Mutter das nicht einsehen möchte. Aber Rachel hat ihre besten Freundinnen, die ihr beistehen, und den gemeinsamen Gruppenchat, der sie aufmuntert. Als es im Chat immer ruhiger wird und ihr Freundeskreis droht auseinanderzubrechen, bekommt sie Unterstützung von jemandem, mit dem sie nicht gerechnet hat …
Eine Heldin so unperfekt, dass man sie einfach ins Herz schließen muss.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2025
83 people are currently reading
8640 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 498 reviews
October 3, 2024
2.5⭐️
Bad Haiku on the Fly
Upside—not boring.
Down—unpleasant characters,
unconvincing plot.
Notes
Do not read this book for romance. The majority of it is chick lit that flirts dangerously close to, “With friends like these…”
Fulfills bingo square N° 14 ➛ ʟᴏᴡ-ʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋ.
【⭕️】【02】【03】 【⭕️】【05】
【06】【⭕️】【08】 【09】【10】
【⭕️】【12】 【🎰】 【⭕】【⭕】
【16】 【17】 【18】 【19】 【20】
【21】 【22】 【23】 【⭕️】【25】
Bad Haiku on the Fly
Upside—not boring.
Down—unpleasant characters,
unconvincing plot.
Notes
Do not read this book for romance. The majority of it is chick lit that flirts dangerously close to, “With friends like these…”
Fulfills bingo square N° 14 ➛ ʟᴏᴡ-ʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋ.
【⭕️】【02】【03】 【⭕️】【05】
【06】【⭕️】【08】 【09】【10】
【⭕️】【12】 【🎰】 【⭕】【⭕】
【16】 【17】 【18】 【19】 【20】
【21】 【22】 【23】 【⭕️】【25】
September 22, 2024
Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat by Lauren Applebaum
Contemporary chick lit, romance. Own voice.
It’s the year of turning thirty for Rachel and her group of besties. So they celebrate 29 win varying degrees of success. Rachel finds lots of attractive and intriguing men through parties, and dating apps, but none of them are worth long term efforts. She has a job that pays the bills but admits to often going in late and just calling it in some days. After mandated therapy at work and some self realization, Rachel feels like her friends are being successful but that she’s stuck. Maybe the one man she categorically said no to, and then befriends, has it right in helping to make the world a better place. Maybe Rachel needs to start giving back too.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was narrated by Dara Rosenberg who gives an absolutely fabulous performance. Different voices for the women, and a lower octave and husky voice for Christopher and her father and others. Really impressive conversations between male and female voices that have me now thinking must have been annotated ahead of time to get the timing down so well. The full POV is Rachel so hearing the confidence in her voice is a given, but we also clearly hear her slide to confusion and doubt and then remorse. I looked up the narrator and see there are more than 300 books recorded (a lot of humor and paranormal) and I can totally understand why she’s a success after hearing this book.
An entrancing performance.
I did listen at 1.5 which is my preferred speed to better match my reading and conversations.
Between the ebook and audiobook, I would recommend the audiobook, simply to hear Rachel’s full personality.
Rachel grows up.
She’s super self confident to the point of arrogance. But aren’t we all in our 20’s?
I have mixed feelings about her. And have to pause and think back, isn’t that life what I did in my 20’s? I didn’t have concerns for anyone else outside my drinking and play buddies. If you didn’t marry your childhood or high school sweetheart, those years after school and first jobs are about enjoying life and the world. At least for me and most of my close friends. Yes, work becomes important just like it does for Rachel. Family and relationships become sacred as life throws curves.
I didn’t like Rachel. But I understood her. So that mimics the book. I didn’t care for the first half of the story but was rooting for her win by the end.
I did enjoy a lot of funny quips throughout the book, many of which I had to stop reading and highlight. These added a much needed lighter tone in the story.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and HachetteAudio.
Contemporary chick lit, romance. Own voice.
It’s the year of turning thirty for Rachel and her group of besties. So they celebrate 29 win varying degrees of success. Rachel finds lots of attractive and intriguing men through parties, and dating apps, but none of them are worth long term efforts. She has a job that pays the bills but admits to often going in late and just calling it in some days. After mandated therapy at work and some self realization, Rachel feels like her friends are being successful but that she’s stuck. Maybe the one man she categorically said no to, and then befriends, has it right in helping to make the world a better place. Maybe Rachel needs to start giving back too.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was narrated by Dara Rosenberg who gives an absolutely fabulous performance. Different voices for the women, and a lower octave and husky voice for Christopher and her father and others. Really impressive conversations between male and female voices that have me now thinking must have been annotated ahead of time to get the timing down so well. The full POV is Rachel so hearing the confidence in her voice is a given, but we also clearly hear her slide to confusion and doubt and then remorse. I looked up the narrator and see there are more than 300 books recorded (a lot of humor and paranormal) and I can totally understand why she’s a success after hearing this book.
An entrancing performance.
I did listen at 1.5 which is my preferred speed to better match my reading and conversations.
Between the ebook and audiobook, I would recommend the audiobook, simply to hear Rachel’s full personality.
Rachel grows up.
She’s super self confident to the point of arrogance. But aren’t we all in our 20’s?
I have mixed feelings about her. And have to pause and think back, isn’t that life what I did in my 20’s? I didn’t have concerns for anyone else outside my drinking and play buddies. If you didn’t marry your childhood or high school sweetheart, those years after school and first jobs are about enjoying life and the world. At least for me and most of my close friends. Yes, work becomes important just like it does for Rachel. Family and relationships become sacred as life throws curves.
I didn’t like Rachel. But I understood her. So that mimics the book. I didn’t care for the first half of the story but was rooting for her win by the end.
I did enjoy a lot of funny quips throughout the book, many of which I had to stop reading and highlight. These added a much needed lighter tone in the story.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and HachetteAudio.
September 29, 2024
Rachel’s mom is determined to set her up with the son of her new neighbours. Not only is he obscenely wealthy, but he’s a nice Jewish boy! Rachel is less enthused by the idea of dating a dull startup bro. Besides, she has enough on her plate: dealing with the rest of her unhinged family, attending work-mandated therapy (long story) and keeping up with her besties’ all-consuming group chat. But as Rachel gets to know the man her mom has picked out for her, she starts to discover that he’s not the soulless capitalist she imagined him to be. He might actually be…kind of cool?
I enjoyed this book! The main character is delightfully selfish and messy, yet she experiences tremendous growth over the course of the novel. The side characters were entertaining, and there were some super funny moments that wouldn’t be out of place in one of those iconic 2000s rom-coms. As a journalist, I had to suspend my disbelief when it came to many of the details of the subplot involving a local news station (picture me hunched over the book muttering “that’s not how it works!”), but overall I had a good time reading this. It wasn’t a favourite for me, but it was a quick and fun read. I think this would be a good pick for busting out of a reading slump!
I enjoyed this book! The main character is delightfully selfish and messy, yet she experiences tremendous growth over the course of the novel. The side characters were entertaining, and there were some super funny moments that wouldn’t be out of place in one of those iconic 2000s rom-coms. As a journalist, I had to suspend my disbelief when it came to many of the details of the subplot involving a local news station (picture me hunched over the book muttering “that’s not how it works!”), but overall I had a good time reading this. It wasn’t a favourite for me, but it was a quick and fun read. I think this would be a good pick for busting out of a reading slump!
September 1, 2024
I don't really know how to start this review, but I will be honest. It's been a full 12 hours since I finished this and I'm still so mad at it. Like yeah, sometimes comedy pokes fun at big topics and it might be hit or miss, but to have SO MANY in one book?? Unacceptable.
I could NEVER in good conscience, recommend this book to anyone. Not only because it is just Not Good and because it really misses on bringing what made Pride and Prejudice so adored into the mix, but because I would genuinely worry that anyone I recommended this book to, would maybe believe that I also have similar opinions to Big Topics presented in this novel. Some of those things being:
Anyway, there's more but I'm tired of thinking about it. The characters are just big fat caricatures who make absolutely stupid decisions at every opportunity, no one EVER suffers real consequences for their, often, awful actions, and tokenism is present with the token gay Eva and token diversity queen Sumira. Just - no thank you.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Forever publishing for this advanced copy, despite my misgivings of the material itself.
I could NEVER in good conscience, recommend this book to anyone. Not only because it is just Not Good and because it really misses on bringing what made Pride and Prejudice so adored into the mix, but because I would genuinely worry that anyone I recommended this book to, would maybe believe that I also have similar opinions to Big Topics presented in this novel. Some of those things being:
Anyway, there's more but I'm tired of thinking about it. The characters are just big fat caricatures who make absolutely stupid decisions at every opportunity, no one EVER suffers real consequences for their, often, awful actions, and tokenism is present with the token gay Eva and token diversity queen Sumira. Just - no thank you.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Forever publishing for this advanced copy, despite my misgivings of the material itself.
September 24, 2024
Rachel Weiss is about to turn thirty in this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice that focuses more on friendship and personal growth than romance. It’s light and humorous with the nostalgic elements of Sex And The City and the rom-coms of the early 2000’s.
At first, I really didn’t care for Rachel, although I suspect that was the point. She’s self-absorbed, a bit superficial, and quite hypocritical. Her mother is obsessed with setting her up with a handsome tech millionaire who defies all the rules of modern courtship either due to confidence or naivety. He knows her zodiac sign and tells her it’s because he read her IG bio. Okay, stalker. Anyway, you get my drift.
Second to Rachel’s personal growth, what I really liked most about the story was both the refuge and confinement of a besties group chat, particularly for younger women. The group chat is a place for Rachel’s friends to escape the monotony, but also becomes a bit of an echo chamber causing one of the friends to leave. Dara Rosenberg is an absolutely brilliant narrator and does a wonderful job.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Book Group for this arc.
At first, I really didn’t care for Rachel, although I suspect that was the point. She’s self-absorbed, a bit superficial, and quite hypocritical. Her mother is obsessed with setting her up with a handsome tech millionaire who defies all the rules of modern courtship either due to confidence or naivety. He knows her zodiac sign and tells her it’s because he read her IG bio. Okay, stalker. Anyway, you get my drift.
Second to Rachel’s personal growth, what I really liked most about the story was both the refuge and confinement of a besties group chat, particularly for younger women. The group chat is a place for Rachel’s friends to escape the monotony, but also becomes a bit of an echo chamber causing one of the friends to leave. Dara Rosenberg is an absolutely brilliant narrator and does a wonderful job.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Book Group for this arc.
September 19, 2024
2.5⭐️ rounded up: Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat is an interesting take on Pride and Prejudice, if Elizabeth Bennett was an aimless late 20-something trying to balance finding herself and pleasing her overbearing mother and if Darcy were a tech CEO with a misunderstood heart of gold. I feel that it does lean into its inspiration too obviously and without the nuance needed to make the story charming, and there are adaptations of P&P that explore the character archetypes in a more satisfying way. The characters here feel a bit try-hard and attempt to mash up Meryton and Manhattan through Sex and the City-esque dialogue that doesn’t always hit the mark. That being said, it’s a quick read that those looking for a casually written modern day romance with a bit of nostalgia might enjoy. This may be for you if you like exploring different ways to view an old favorite, it may not be for you if Pride and Prejudice is your favorite book. Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the ARC!
July 2, 2024
The main character goes viral for making fun of survivors of sexual assault and the guy who’s in love with her … gets the video scrubbed from the Internet? Ok.
I had to read this for work and ~I got a free copy~. Really truly bad.
I had to read this for work and ~I got a free copy~. Really truly bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2024
Rachel Weiss's Group Chat is a humorous women's fiction book with some romance. It is a modern Jewish Pride And Prejudice retelling.
There is a lot that I liked about this book. Rachel's family is so crazy and fun. I loved her sister Jane. And her mom is definitely a typical Jewish mom trying to find a Jewish husband for her daughter.
This book is listed as a romantic comedy. I really liked the romance aspect. But I wanted much more romance.
The book focuses a lot on friendship, which is wonderful. I really enjoyed Rachel's friend group. I also really appreciated the growth in the main character. She really does start out as a bit unlikeable. So it was amazing to see the character mature. Parts of the book actually reminded me a bit of Sex & The City. Women looking for love, with a focus on friendship and dating.
There is Jewish rep in the book, but I do wish that there was more. I also wish that the male romantic lead had been in the story even more.
The last chapters of the book are so good. And I honestly wish that the book had not ended there. There was so much more that I wanted to see. Overall I did enjoy this book.
Thanks to netgalley and Forever publishing for allowing me to read this book.
September 15, 2024
You're either going to love or hate this one. No surprise, the chaos was right up my alley! Rachel Weiss is the kind of character I love to read about. She's a brazen hot mess on a wildly entertaining and often hilariously bizarre journey toward maturity and independence.
I didn't always agree with the choices made by these characters, but I really enjoyed the messy, realistic dynamic of Rachel’s friend group. This story focuses on the inevitable missteps of navigating adulthood, that phase of life when priorities shift and friendships evolve—leaving Rachel feeling a bit lost in the midst of it all. It doesn't help that her meddling mother is constantly trying to set her up.
Though tech CEO Christopher Butkus was an unexpected delight, who is irresistibly drawn to Rachel’s bold personality and refreshing honesty, I'd say this was definitely more women’s fiction and coming-of-age. The romance was super subtle, but I didn't mind at all. I had a really good time with this one!
(heat level: closed door, language throughout)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
I didn't always agree with the choices made by these characters, but I really enjoyed the messy, realistic dynamic of Rachel’s friend group. This story focuses on the inevitable missteps of navigating adulthood, that phase of life when priorities shift and friendships evolve—leaving Rachel feeling a bit lost in the midst of it all. It doesn't help that her meddling mother is constantly trying to set her up.
Though tech CEO Christopher Butkus was an unexpected delight, who is irresistibly drawn to Rachel’s bold personality and refreshing honesty, I'd say this was definitely more women’s fiction and coming-of-age. The romance was super subtle, but I didn't mind at all. I had a really good time with this one!
(heat level: closed door, language throughout)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
July 23, 2025
Okay I REALLY enjoyed this book! It was just a cutie, light, and fast read— a bit predictable, but it had me laughing and smiling a lot 😊 just overall a fun summer read!
September 5, 2024
Thank you Net Galley and Hachette Audio for the advanced reader copy. The narration was great, The actor did a great job. The storyline was not for me.
The main character, Rachel, was a pretty horrible person who acted like she was out to save the world, except she had no morals and was incredibly annoying. Most of the characters in this book were awful, except Rachel’s love interest, whom she hated, for absolutely no reason. She would be enraged at this great guy who was kind, generous and saved her family member’s life, Though her best friend that betrayed her, she forgave instantly without even blinking an eye, I am all for forgiveness, but why did she hate the kind millionaire? Because he was rich and donated tons of money to great causes and repeatedly bailed her and her family out of messes? (Which made me disappointed in his character.) Her family members were even more annoying than Rachel. I don’t mind a flawed character that grows and develops and learns from her mistakes, but Rachel did not seem to change and it was very unrealistic that this wonderful guy would fall instantly in love with such an awful person. I wanted to scream at him, “run!”
I felt like this is another author wanting to press immoral lifestyles onto readers. To make it seem like it is acceptable to cheat on your husband and betray your friends is really disappointing. So many young authors are trying to normalize and romanticize bad behaviors and I am getting pretty tired of it.
The main character, Rachel, was a pretty horrible person who acted like she was out to save the world, except she had no morals and was incredibly annoying. Most of the characters in this book were awful, except Rachel’s love interest, whom she hated, for absolutely no reason. She would be enraged at this great guy who was kind, generous and saved her family member’s life, Though her best friend that betrayed her, she forgave instantly without even blinking an eye, I am all for forgiveness, but why did she hate the kind millionaire? Because he was rich and donated tons of money to great causes and repeatedly bailed her and her family out of messes? (Which made me disappointed in his character.) Her family members were even more annoying than Rachel. I don’t mind a flawed character that grows and develops and learns from her mistakes, but Rachel did not seem to change and it was very unrealistic that this wonderful guy would fall instantly in love with such an awful person. I wanted to scream at him, “run!”
I felt like this is another author wanting to press immoral lifestyles onto readers. To make it seem like it is acceptable to cheat on your husband and betray your friends is really disappointing. So many young authors are trying to normalize and romanticize bad behaviors and I am getting pretty tired of it.
July 24, 2024
I've been a Pride & Prejudice fangirl since my teens, so when Lauren Appelbaum's Rachel Weiss's Group Chat was billed as a "Jewish millenial Pride & Prejudice retelling with Broad City vibes," I was onboard to be an early reader!
This debut has a lot going for it, but it is a Pride & Prejudice retelling that is more in the Bridget Jones's Diary vein than in the Jane Austen classic. One of the things I enjoyed seeing was the amount of character growth in Rachel. At the outset, Rachel is a self-absorbed party girl, more concerned with her appearance, wardrobe, and complaining about her job and random hookups to her friends than with anyone else's life or circumstances. I honestly had a very hard time rooting for and even liking Rachel initially, but the softer, more loyal side she showed with her older sister Jane and her closest friend, Sumira, as well as her quest to better herself and invest more time and care in others, touched my heart. I appreciated her change of heart with Christopher, as well, and thought the aspect of her volunteering her time with the elderly residents was admirable, too.
What I wished had worked a bit better were some of the Pride & Prejudice nuances Appelbaum tried to weave into this story. While I absolutely recognized the anxiety of Mrs. Bennet mirrored in Mrs. Weiss, as well as the flightiness and selfishness of the younger Bennet girls in both Abby and Ollie, it was sometimes too much. That being said, I really did love how loyal and wonderful Jane, Sumira, and Mr. Weiss were to Rachel, even in her biggest mess-ups, and felt like Lauren nailed that!
Another tough plot point was the #metoo situation. I felt it was timely and relevant to this modernized retelling, but I wish it had been handled a bit differently. I felt the resolution was very far-fetched, and while it served for some character growth for Rachel, I think more could have been done with it. However, I liked how strong Rachel's beliefs were, especially concerning voting and politics, and I feel like that is especially relevant and important as we head into the next presidential election in November, so bravo for that, Lauren!
The romantic nature of Christopher and his many grand gestures toward Rachel and her family did touch my heart, and his letter to her still gave me all the Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy feels. I also appreciated how Christopher and Rachel's dynamic changed throughout the book, and loved that he was there for Sumira's big day.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this debut and think Appelbaum shows a lot of promise and potential! I'm excited for her sophomore novel, coming in 2025, and I can't wait to see how her voice and writing style continue to develop and mature! Thank you so much to @grandcentralpub @readforeverpub and Lauren for my #gifted e-ARC of Rachel Weiss's Group Chat! This book hits shelves in exactly two months, so if you're a Bridget Jones and Pride & Prejudice fan, give this one a try!
#rachelweisssgroupchat #laurenappelbaum #grandcentralpub #readforeverpub #booksta #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish
This debut has a lot going for it, but it is a Pride & Prejudice retelling that is more in the Bridget Jones's Diary vein than in the Jane Austen classic. One of the things I enjoyed seeing was the amount of character growth in Rachel. At the outset, Rachel is a self-absorbed party girl, more concerned with her appearance, wardrobe, and complaining about her job and random hookups to her friends than with anyone else's life or circumstances. I honestly had a very hard time rooting for and even liking Rachel initially, but the softer, more loyal side she showed with her older sister Jane and her closest friend, Sumira, as well as her quest to better herself and invest more time and care in others, touched my heart. I appreciated her change of heart with Christopher, as well, and thought the aspect of her volunteering her time with the elderly residents was admirable, too.
What I wished had worked a bit better were some of the Pride & Prejudice nuances Appelbaum tried to weave into this story. While I absolutely recognized the anxiety of Mrs. Bennet mirrored in Mrs. Weiss, as well as the flightiness and selfishness of the younger Bennet girls in both Abby and Ollie, it was sometimes too much. That being said, I really did love how loyal and wonderful Jane, Sumira, and Mr. Weiss were to Rachel, even in her biggest mess-ups, and felt like Lauren nailed that!
Another tough plot point was the #metoo situation. I felt it was timely and relevant to this modernized retelling, but I wish it had been handled a bit differently. I felt the resolution was very far-fetched, and while it served for some character growth for Rachel, I think more could have been done with it. However, I liked how strong Rachel's beliefs were, especially concerning voting and politics, and I feel like that is especially relevant and important as we head into the next presidential election in November, so bravo for that, Lauren!
The romantic nature of Christopher and his many grand gestures toward Rachel and her family did touch my heart, and his letter to her still gave me all the Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy feels. I also appreciated how Christopher and Rachel's dynamic changed throughout the book, and loved that he was there for Sumira's big day.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this debut and think Appelbaum shows a lot of promise and potential! I'm excited for her sophomore novel, coming in 2025, and I can't wait to see how her voice and writing style continue to develop and mature! Thank you so much to @grandcentralpub @readforeverpub and Lauren for my #gifted e-ARC of Rachel Weiss's Group Chat! This book hits shelves in exactly two months, so if you're a Bridget Jones and Pride & Prejudice fan, give this one a try!
#rachelweisssgroupchat #laurenappelbaum #grandcentralpub #readforeverpub #booksta #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish
September 1, 2024
I’ve read a few modern retellings of Pride & Prejudice lately but none with a Jewish twist! I enjoyed this debut from Lauren Appelbaum, but some of the characters in this one irked me terribly - I know that was kind of the point but it got to be a little much at times. That being said, I’m still really excited to see what she writes next!
3.75 stars
Thank you to Forever for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
3.75 stars
Thank you to Forever for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 18, 2024
I was laughing my ass off from the moment I started reading this book… definitely a page-turner! The author captures the exaggerated hilarity of every character, the uncomfortable experience of dating nearing 30 (which I know too well), of having an overbearing mother… with a delightfully flawed main character, Rachel, who kinda reminds me of Ilana from Broad City. She’s ridiculous, bold & brave - saying all sorts of things most of us would never say out loud but wish we could… She has such a good heart, putting her family, friends, and ethics at the forefront and it’s satisfying to feel her character growth as she gets put through the ringer.
I was pleasantly surprised that the book focuses even more on community than it does on romance, and as a Seattle resident I loved how well it captured the PNW culture and places mentioned, like how a lazy river float in Leavenworth can turn chaotic, or the freeing experience of biking nude at the Fremont Solstice Parade. This book made me feel so seen, and I’m eager to read more by this author—please write more books!
I was pleasantly surprised that the book focuses even more on community than it does on romance, and as a Seattle resident I loved how well it captured the PNW culture and places mentioned, like how a lazy river float in Leavenworth can turn chaotic, or the freeing experience of biking nude at the Fremont Solstice Parade. This book made me feel so seen, and I’m eager to read more by this author—please write more books!
September 1, 2024
I am a sucker for a pride and prejudice adaptation always, but it does more than just give you the “oh that’s the Wickham character” moment. It has a lot to say on it’s own. I don’t think I’ve read a something that has ever really captured what the threshold of your thirties feels like until now. You wake up one day and wonder “how did I get here?” You question your relationships and try to show up for them in different ways. This book gets that it’s uncomfortable but is also optimistic and hilarious about it (no spoilers but the bridal shop scene is the first time a book has made me laugh out loud in ages). Don’t get me wrong, I started this book hating Rachel Weiss- I don’t get extroverts- but I think it’s a real testament to the writing that I was unabashedly rooting for her at the end and maybe even seeing a little of myself in her. My favorite read of the year so far.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
December 20, 2024
To be 100% honest, I didn’t finish this. But it was going very poorly and I genuinely did not like what I was reading so I feel pretty confident in giving this a one star.
I sometimes enjoy books written about unlikeable people doing mean things to each other but those books better have a fantastic plot to make up for it. This one did not. This is a romance and the reader needs to like the main characters in a romance so that we root for them to end up together. I was actively hoping Christopher would find someone who deserves him more than Rachel (who is very selfish and self-centered). I’m sure that Rachel will have her redemption in the end but I didn’t feel motivated to stick around and read about it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I sometimes enjoy books written about unlikeable people doing mean things to each other but those books better have a fantastic plot to make up for it. This one did not. This is a romance and the reader needs to like the main characters in a romance so that we root for them to end up together. I was actively hoping Christopher would find someone who deserves him more than Rachel (who is very selfish and self-centered). I’m sure that Rachel will have her redemption in the end but I didn’t feel motivated to stick around and read about it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2024
A woman in my climate club’s daughter wrote this (I’m hoping it isn’t super autobiographical). I liked that it was very Seattle but wasn’t too sure about the plot. Started potentially strong and petered out. The me too subplot was weird and the ending was really rushed?
September 27, 2024
Rachel Weiss is a hot mess and I loved her for it. This book was a fun reading journey and I found myself laughing at or relating to Rachel's actions. The Jewish rep was great and I liked that it was a big part of Rachel and her family. I thought the group chat as a plot point was a nice touch and exploring the different aspects of female friendship was well done. While I wouldn't classify this as a romance, I did like the exploration Rachel went on to understand her own worth and happiness. I do have to note that I thought the twins were completely irrelevant and annoying. Rachel's mother was also pretty terrible and that took me slightly out of the story. Other than that this was such a fun debut and I enjoyed the story immensely.
September 7, 2024
P and P plus Jewish millennials = my kind of book!
July 15, 2024
This story is a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but of the Bridget Jones’s Diary variety. The FMC is often at times obnoxious, arrogant, self-centered, and quite the disaster. However, the plot focuses on her growth as she learns to center those around her and focuses on bettering herself. While I personally felt the story started out strong, it was overall underwhelming and lackluster.
I loved the focus on Rachel’s family and friendships. Even her work dynamic is a well fleshed out piece of the story. The romance, though? It was a major flop. Granted I know Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth don’t spend THAT much time together before his failed proposal, but in Austen’s story there were balls and run ins and dinners. Not Instagram comments and passing greetings. In this story after the proposal, they spend even less time together while she obsesses over him and the fact he liked her. It felt like she was settling for someone she was told to like and didn’t completely find boring. The chemistry, to me, was lacking.
I did appreciate the author writing a very authentic character - someone who makes mistakes, doesn’t have herself pulled together, isn’t quite sure what she wants from life, and only starts learning from her mistakes after finding herself in a situation with fairly severe consequences. I often have trouble relating to characters that are portrayed as pure sunshine. The characters that are oftentimes a mess just seem more genuine and realistic to me.
I think fans of Austen and Bridget Jone’s Diary will appreciate this retelling, but for me its strengths are in its family and friendship dynamics, not the romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the focus on Rachel’s family and friendships. Even her work dynamic is a well fleshed out piece of the story. The romance, though? It was a major flop. Granted I know Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth don’t spend THAT much time together before his failed proposal, but in Austen’s story there were balls and run ins and dinners. Not Instagram comments and passing greetings. In this story after the proposal, they spend even less time together while she obsesses over him and the fact he liked her. It felt like she was settling for someone she was told to like and didn’t completely find boring. The chemistry, to me, was lacking.
I did appreciate the author writing a very authentic character - someone who makes mistakes, doesn’t have herself pulled together, isn’t quite sure what she wants from life, and only starts learning from her mistakes after finding herself in a situation with fairly severe consequences. I often have trouble relating to characters that are portrayed as pure sunshine. The characters that are oftentimes a mess just seem more genuine and realistic to me.
I think fans of Austen and Bridget Jone’s Diary will appreciate this retelling, but for me its strengths are in its family and friendship dynamics, not the romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2024
Rachel is months away from turning thirty and her life is stagnant. She’s a serial dater, hates her low level tech job taken to pay rent and never moved on, and can’t seem to figure out how everyone around her is becoming a grown up with fiancées, careers, and goals.
Her mom is trying to fix her up with the new neighbor’s son, Christopher, but she’s dismissed him out of pocket because he’s rich.
She has a group of girlfriends, each with her own set of problems and a group text among them that appears occasionally.
There’s a SAT cheating scandal, a family vacation, a viral video, and ten other subplots.
This one has vague Pride and Prejudice vibes: a mom obsessed with appearances and marrying off her daughters, oldest sister in a bland but happy relationship, youngest girls twins who are a chaotic mess, and Rachel, who makes bad choices, drives away anyone who might be good for her, and sabotaging everything with self centered choices.
But it’s like everything was turned up to 11. And let’s be clear, that wasn’t a good choice.
I didn’t enjoy this one. Rachel is vapid, childish, and obsessed with looks. She doesn’t show growth and is unlikable. There’s absolutely no reason Christopher would fall for her (it’s a ridiculous insta love to boot). And on top of that, there are too many things happening and each subplot seems to spiral for 10% of the book and then is either resolved or forgotten.
In fact, I liked this less and less the deeper I got into it. It tries to do too much, doesn’t present anyone to root for, and Rachel is no Elizabeth Bennett.
Her mom is trying to fix her up with the new neighbor’s son, Christopher, but she’s dismissed him out of pocket because he’s rich.
She has a group of girlfriends, each with her own set of problems and a group text among them that appears occasionally.
There’s a SAT cheating scandal, a family vacation, a viral video, and ten other subplots.
This one has vague Pride and Prejudice vibes: a mom obsessed with appearances and marrying off her daughters, oldest sister in a bland but happy relationship, youngest girls twins who are a chaotic mess, and Rachel, who makes bad choices, drives away anyone who might be good for her, and sabotaging everything with self centered choices.
But it’s like everything was turned up to 11. And let’s be clear, that wasn’t a good choice.
I didn’t enjoy this one. Rachel is vapid, childish, and obsessed with looks. She doesn’t show growth and is unlikable. There’s absolutely no reason Christopher would fall for her (it’s a ridiculous insta love to boot). And on top of that, there are too many things happening and each subplot seems to spiral for 10% of the book and then is either resolved or forgotten.
In fact, I liked this less and less the deeper I got into it. It tries to do too much, doesn’t present anyone to root for, and Rachel is no Elizabeth Bennett.
August 21, 2024
This was a hilarious book. The humor in the book is top tier. Its not a romance and it only has a loose plot so its hard to describe this book but I enjoyed my time! The ending was a little abrupt for my liking though.
January 25, 2025
4.5⭐️
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book but I ended up really loving it. I just y how messy Rachel was!
It was so much fun seeing this modern take on the classic Pride and Prejudice. I think it was a great modernization of the story.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book but I ended up really loving it. I just y how messy Rachel was!
It was so much fun seeing this modern take on the classic Pride and Prejudice. I think it was a great modernization of the story.
October 12, 2024
this book felt like a love letter to your future self. there’s just something so endearing about a woman wanting to be a better person and actually putting in the work of being a better person. not a romcom but something i loved so much more
Read
September 23, 2024no joke this book is straight insanity
October 9, 2024
I honestly did not like this one very much. The main character was not very likeable and did a lot of things that were questionable. She apologizes and makes up for it in some ways but I felt like she was immature. I also felt like the whole friendship plot twist felt too immature too. Maybe my bad friendship experience is at play here but I just couldn’t bring myself to like this one.
May 5, 2024
Not very well written, (e.g Rachel at one point makes a very basic joke and then says “clearly I had startled him with my cunning political satire.” What!?!)
Main character is also really annoying and hypocritical / rude.
Main character is also really annoying and hypocritical / rude.
January 6, 2025
I love this book. I stayed up late reading to finish. Great friendships (and group chat), great humor (Bachelor franchise jokes!), and so much quirky Jewish girl in Seattle energy I felt so seen and, also, horrified. A plus plus, no notes.
This is *not* a Romance, but it does contain multiple love stories. Like the best women's fiction does - P&P? Bridget Jones? Applebaum nailed the book's own pitch in the acknowledgements. It's 100% correct.
This is *not* a Romance, but it does contain multiple love stories. Like the best women's fiction does - P&P? Bridget Jones? Applebaum nailed the book's own pitch in the acknowledgements. It's 100% correct.
October 3, 2024
Incredibly weak authorial voice. pathetic, annoying, unrealistic characters. genre confused (romcom..? seriously?) and completely unfocused. just awful, definitely one of the worst books ive read this year
November 28, 2024
Honestly just bad. Not well written, characters were not likable, and for a book with group chat in the title, it barely had any parts with the group chat
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