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Meryton Medical Romances #1
First Impressions
Librarian Note: Alternate/new cover edition for ISBN-10: 1500920568 / ISBN-13: 978-1500920562.
Lizzy Bennett always told herself she was too busy for love, especially since she was working full-time as a nurse at Meryton Medical Center and helping to care for her young niece. When her sister Jane catches the attention of the young medical resident Dr. Charlie Bingley, Lizzy does everything she can to help her sister find happiness, even if it means enduring the presence of Charlie’s arrogant friend Dr. William Darcy.
In this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, familiar characters are reimagined but the overarching question remains: will Lizzy and Darcy overcome their personal and social contrivances to find true love?
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Contains sexual references and profanity, but no sexually explicit content.
Lizzy Bennett always told herself she was too busy for love, especially since she was working full-time as a nurse at Meryton Medical Center and helping to care for her young niece. When her sister Jane catches the attention of the young medical resident Dr. Charlie Bingley, Lizzy does everything she can to help her sister find happiness, even if it means enduring the presence of Charlie’s arrogant friend Dr. William Darcy.
In this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, familiar characters are reimagined but the overarching question remains: will Lizzy and Darcy overcome their personal and social contrivances to find true love?
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Contains sexual references and profanity, but no sexually explicit content.
258 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2014
25 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Cruz
13 books9 followersRuby Cruz has a masters degree in Chemical Biology and worked in the pharmaceutical industry before switching gears and obtaining her bachelors in nursing degree. In addition to her interests in science and healthcare, she's always had a passion for writing, scribbling short stories and novellas into spiral notebooks she would pass to her classmates in high school.
More recently, she has refocused her energies to incorporate her love of Jane Austen and her experience in healthcare into her first novel, First Impressions: a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Ruby is currently writing a sequel to First Impressions as well as developing other projects in the young adult and romance genres.
Ruby currently lives in West Virginia and is married to a wonderful husband who begrudgingly tolerates her love of Jane Austen and is the mother to two young girls who graciously allow Mommy to "play on her computer."
More recently, she has refocused her energies to incorporate her love of Jane Austen and her experience in healthcare into her first novel, First Impressions: a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Ruby is currently writing a sequel to First Impressions as well as developing other projects in the young adult and romance genres.
Ruby currently lives in West Virginia and is married to a wonderful husband who begrudgingly tolerates her love of Jane Austen and is the mother to two young girls who graciously allow Mommy to "play on her computer."
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 16, 2016
Pride and Prejudice in the world of medicine.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
March 12, 2019
This book is one of the best modern variations I have read. As another said it was well written with no spelling or grammatical errors popping out. I stayed up later than usual just to read...one more...then one more chapter. But in the end I did go to bed and finished today. It also has me very emotionally drawn in and on that proverbial edge of my seat.
Elizabeth, Jane and Lydia are all nurses. Darcy and Bingley are doctors. We spend most of our time either in the first two sisters' home or in Meryton Hospital. There is some time spent in NYC and some time with Elizabeth's Aunt Gardiner. Later we also have a day or two at the Pemberley Rehab Center.
It is told from Elizabeth's POV and at times I do have to say I found her to be more stubborn than I wished. When Darcy is told to back off and to only relate as their professions demand he goes overboard in arranging his schedule at the hospital where they both work so that it is rare that they run into each other. I was "dying" to have them encounter each other and have that sexual chemistry which jumped off the page in their first kiss push them to realize that they were both ignoring a good thing. But give him kudos for respecting her demands.
Darcy goes overboard in not only his generosity but also in "fixing" things that go wrong for the Bennets. Elizabeth's mother only has two daughters, Jane and Elizabeth; but Jane has a under-two toddler from an affair gone wrong. There is no father in the picture and the two sisters live together and arrange their schedules to take care of Chloe between them. Elizabeth and Jane do have a step-sister from their mother's present marriage to Hal. It is ironic that when this Lydia seems to have a man her step-mother whines about how it is Lydia and not her own daughters who is having success in what that mother considers to be the only goal worthwhile.
This story has Wickham in all his true colors and it had Catherine DeBourgh but the latter is not the demanding shrew as in canon. I did enjoy reading about Elizabeth's best friend, Lucas Carlos, a gay nurse who finds the small community of Meryton limiting in job and boyfriend opportunities.
Elizabeth's reaction to his good fortune did not sit well with me as a reader or with those who know her close relationship with Lucas. And, of course, there is a Colin. His character has an interesting part but he also has that same lap-dog admiration for his boss, C. DeBourgh.
I am off to read the sequel. There is an excerpt at 94% in this Kindle version of that next story. I recommend this story to all JAFF lovers. Well done.
Elizabeth, Jane and Lydia are all nurses. Darcy and Bingley are doctors. We spend most of our time either in the first two sisters' home or in Meryton Hospital. There is some time spent in NYC and some time with Elizabeth's Aunt Gardiner. Later we also have a day or two at the Pemberley Rehab Center.
It is told from Elizabeth's POV and at times I do have to say I found her to be more stubborn than I wished. When Darcy is told to back off and to only relate as their professions demand he goes overboard in arranging his schedule at the hospital where they both work so that it is rare that they run into each other. I was "dying" to have them encounter each other and have that sexual chemistry which jumped off the page in their first kiss push them to realize that they were both ignoring a good thing. But give him kudos for respecting her demands.
Darcy goes overboard in not only his generosity but also in "fixing" things that go wrong for the Bennets. Elizabeth's mother only has two daughters, Jane and Elizabeth; but Jane has a under-two toddler from an affair gone wrong. There is no father in the picture and the two sisters live together and arrange their schedules to take care of Chloe between them. Elizabeth and Jane do have a step-sister from their mother's present marriage to Hal. It is ironic that when this Lydia seems to have a man her step-mother whines about how it is Lydia and not her own daughters who is having success in what that mother considers to be the only goal worthwhile.
This story has Wickham in all his true colors and it had Catherine DeBourgh but the latter is not the demanding shrew as in canon. I did enjoy reading about Elizabeth's best friend, Lucas Carlos, a gay nurse who finds the small community of Meryton limiting in job and boyfriend opportunities.
Elizabeth's reaction to his good fortune did not sit well with me as a reader or with those who know her close relationship with Lucas. And, of course, there is a Colin. His character has an interesting part but he also has that same lap-dog admiration for his boss, C. DeBourgh.
I am off to read the sequel. There is an excerpt at 94% in this Kindle version of that next story. I recommend this story to all JAFF lovers. Well done.
August 11, 2018
This is pretty much a perfectly perfect modern version of Pride and Prejudice in a hospital setting. I just finished reading it for the third time because I'm getting ready to start the sequel, Second Opinions, and I wanted to have all the details firmly in mind since it's been more than a year since my last reading.
First Impressions hits all the significant plot points spot on. Obviously, there are changes, too, but they're incorporated very logically into the story. For example, Jane is a single mother of a young child, Chloe, and Elizabeth and she share a home and childcare responsibilities. Lydia is their step-sister but is also a nurse working in the same unit as Elizabeth at Meryton Hospital. Luke, a gay male nurse, has been Elizabeth's best friend since childhood. Dr. Darcy is the new cardiologist who snaps at all the nurses; he's nicknamed "Dr. Doomsday" because of his scowl and unfriendly manner with the staff. He's sharing Netherfield mansion with Dr. Charlie Bingley, a new resident at the hospital, and Charlie's sister Caroline.
Ms. Cruz does a fine job making her characters feel real to the reader. She writes in first person so the book's perspective, even more than the original, sticks strictly to Elizabeth's. Lizzy is lovable without being perfect. You can't help but admire her loyalty to her sister and niece, but you can also tell she's really out of line when Luke accepts the job from Colin Richardson that she had rejected. Even though it's a good opportunity for Luke, she berates him for his decision and it causes a brief rift in their friendship.
Things don't really heat up between Elizabeth and Dr. Darcy until he declares himself to her, although they do have both professional interactions regarding patient care and a dance at a fundraising ball that send sparks flying. Things definitely do heat up, though, and you can sense the chemistry between them. That first kiss is HOT! While Darcy's aunt, Dr. DeBourgh, is still condescending and unpleasant, this retelling does not use her character to get them together at the end. I have the feeling I'll be reading more about her in the sequel!
There's much more than this that goes on, of course, but I encourage you to read the book to enjoy it all for yourself. The writing is excellent and draws you into the challenging world of patient care with zero grammar or spelling errors that I noticed. It's a wonderful book all around.
First Impressions hits all the significant plot points spot on. Obviously, there are changes, too, but they're incorporated very logically into the story. For example, Jane is a single mother of a young child, Chloe, and Elizabeth and she share a home and childcare responsibilities. Lydia is their step-sister but is also a nurse working in the same unit as Elizabeth at Meryton Hospital. Luke, a gay male nurse, has been Elizabeth's best friend since childhood. Dr. Darcy is the new cardiologist who snaps at all the nurses; he's nicknamed "Dr. Doomsday" because of his scowl and unfriendly manner with the staff. He's sharing Netherfield mansion with Dr. Charlie Bingley, a new resident at the hospital, and Charlie's sister Caroline.
Ms. Cruz does a fine job making her characters feel real to the reader. She writes in first person so the book's perspective, even more than the original, sticks strictly to Elizabeth's. Lizzy is lovable without being perfect. You can't help but admire her loyalty to her sister and niece, but you can also tell she's really out of line when Luke accepts the job from Colin Richardson that she had rejected. Even though it's a good opportunity for Luke, she berates him for his decision and it causes a brief rift in their friendship.
Things don't really heat up between Elizabeth and Dr. Darcy until he declares himself to her, although they do have both professional interactions regarding patient care and a dance at a fundraising ball that send sparks flying. Things definitely do heat up, though, and you can sense the chemistry between them. That first kiss is HOT! While Darcy's aunt, Dr. DeBourgh, is still condescending and unpleasant, this retelling does not use her character to get them together at the end. I have the feeling I'll be reading more about her in the sequel!
There's much more than this that goes on, of course, but I encourage you to read the book to enjoy it all for yourself. The writing is excellent and draws you into the challenging world of patient care with zero grammar or spelling errors that I noticed. It's a wonderful book all around.
August 8, 2018
I'm a sucker for modern retellings of Pride and Prejudice so this was no exception. Lizzy is a nurse and Darcy (Dr. Darcy) is the new doctor at her hospital. Right off the bat, I have to say that the author packed a LOT into 243 pages. I expected this to be a breezier book than it was. It took me five days to finish this deceptively short book. The author's writing doesn't flow like a normal fast read does.
Besides THAT, I enjoyed it. She updated the characters into the hospital setting well and it was obvious that she did her research with medical issues and everything.
As always, Charles is an idiot because he's too easily influenced. I like that Charlotte was updated to a gay best friend instead so he is Luke. He was a nice addition. I wish there could have been more Georgiana, especially with her being a little older that the average Gigi in order adaptations and her career choice. She was quite interesting for how much we got of her.
It was entertaining but a bit of a chore to get through towards the end. The chemistry didn't exactly leap off the pages. I still enjoyed reading how the big events were adapted and changed to the setting.
Besides THAT, I enjoyed it. She updated the characters into the hospital setting well and it was obvious that she did her research with medical issues and everything.
As always, Charles is an idiot because he's too easily influenced. I like that Charlotte was updated to a gay best friend instead so he is Luke. He was a nice addition. I wish there could have been more Georgiana, especially with her being a little older that the average Gigi in order adaptations and her career choice. She was quite interesting for how much we got of her.
It was entertaining but a bit of a chore to get through towards the end. The chemistry didn't exactly leap off the pages. I still enjoyed reading how the big events were adapted and changed to the setting.
March 12, 2019
This is a modern versions of P&P set in a hospital. it's well written and the characters seem very true to original. The reason I don't rate it higher is because the story continues to another novel and for me it sorta drags at times. I also think Darcy is way too aloof and there are many time where his character is just not explained. But we are clearly in Lizzy's head so that may be the reason. I enjoyed this modern tale and the twists and turns. I do wish there was a bit more romance and sizzle between ODC but maybe that's in book 2.
September 24, 2019
Almost no romance, and Lizzy lived her life through Jane. Disappointing.
November 2, 2017
So, this one might be the best Pride and Prejudice retelling i've ever laid my eyes upon!
June 27, 2019
Charming Pride and Prejudice Variation
I just love modern retelling soft Pride and Prejudice. This story was delightful, filled with angst and romance. The only con would be Lizzy was a bit too hateful for my tastes but eventually got over it. Great story!
I just love modern retelling soft Pride and Prejudice. This story was delightful, filled with angst and romance. The only con would be Lizzy was a bit too hateful for my tastes but eventually got over it. Great story!
February 7, 2020
3.5 stars
October 23, 2020
Entertaining, but....
An enjoyable modern day variation, wherein Elizabeth is a nurse, Darcy is a cardiology doctor, and they work at the same hospital. Darcy has no people skills, and quickly alienates the nurses by insulting them and being condescending, and Elizabeth isn't afraid to confront him when she thinks he's mistaken in his opinions, or has gone too far with the insults.
Obviously, modern day versions cannot closely follow the original P&P, but the author here attempts to insinuates a fair amount of dialogue lifted almost verbatim from the original. Most of the time it works out okay, but some of it just doesn't translate very well into a different era. A lot of Darcy's speech seems stilted and too formal, more like the way a Regency era gentleman would talk.
I like the idea of a medical setting. However, I didn't really feel any chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy. There wasn't much evidence of any attraction growing between them, on either side, and it's just suddenly happening when Darcy sees Elizabeth in New York. The story is told in the first person, completely from Elizabeth's POV, so we know she has no feelings for him. It's hard to fathom what leads to his admiration, after she's been nothing but snarky and confrontational.
The story goes off of the rails for me, into the realm of contrivance, when it gets to the Wickham/Lydia debacle, and then the Aunt Jo crisis. Up until then I could accept everything as pretty realistic, but then it falls apart. I couldn't accept that in current times, Elizabeth and Darcy would be involved at all in bailing Lydia out of a bad situation, instead of her parents handling it. The same is true with the Aunt Jo crisis.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it with reservations.
An enjoyable modern day variation, wherein Elizabeth is a nurse, Darcy is a cardiology doctor, and they work at the same hospital. Darcy has no people skills, and quickly alienates the nurses by insulting them and being condescending, and Elizabeth isn't afraid to confront him when she thinks he's mistaken in his opinions, or has gone too far with the insults.
Obviously, modern day versions cannot closely follow the original P&P, but the author here attempts to insinuates a fair amount of dialogue lifted almost verbatim from the original. Most of the time it works out okay, but some of it just doesn't translate very well into a different era. A lot of Darcy's speech seems stilted and too formal, more like the way a Regency era gentleman would talk.
I like the idea of a medical setting. However, I didn't really feel any chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy. There wasn't much evidence of any attraction growing between them, on either side, and it's just suddenly happening when Darcy sees Elizabeth in New York. The story is told in the first person, completely from Elizabeth's POV, so we know she has no feelings for him. It's hard to fathom what leads to his admiration, after she's been nothing but snarky and confrontational.
The story goes off of the rails for me, into the realm of contrivance, when it gets to the Wickham/Lydia debacle, and then the Aunt Jo crisis. Up until then I could accept everything as pretty realistic, but then it falls apart. I couldn't accept that in current times, Elizabeth and Darcy would be involved at all in bailing Lydia out of a bad situation, instead of her parents handling it. The same is true with the Aunt Jo crisis.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it with reservations.
June 15, 2015
Let me begin by saying that this is a modern Pride and Prejudice set in a medical hospital. Charlotte Lucas is replaced by Luke who just happens to be gay. Colin Richardson who is the Mr Collins of this story also happens to be gay but is still mostly in the closet about it. I love how Jane in this story picks up her life after Bingley leaves because she has this adorable two year old girl to take care of. Her daughter is the child of her ex boyfriend who denied that the child was his when she found out she was pregnant. I really enjoyed the roller coaster that Lizzy and Darcy take us on in their path to love. Lydia in this version is just Lizzy and Jane's stepsister. I hated how she turned into this weak ass woman after George got his claws into her.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm going to look into seeing if Ms. Cruz has written anymore Austen related stories. I recommend this book to any JAFF fan who enjoys modern set stories.
Rating: 4 ½ stars out of 5
I really enjoyed this book and I'm going to look into seeing if Ms. Cruz has written anymore Austen related stories. I recommend this book to any JAFF fan who enjoys modern set stories.
Rating: 4 ½ stars out of 5
March 1, 2015
First Impressions: A modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
A good modern variation of Jane Austen's original Pride and Prejudice. At first I was a little taken aback by the 21st century Lizzy's verbally abusive prejudiced manner to Dr. William Darcy compared to Austen's original version, but remembered that the original Lizzy would have been more ladylike compared to a young women of today. Lydia, Wickham, and Caroline were still their evil characters, but the 21st century Lydia had the benefit of ending her marriage. Held my interest throughout the book that I had to finish reading it in one daY. Since it has been snowing all day, this was not difficult.
A good modern variation of Jane Austen's original Pride and Prejudice. At first I was a little taken aback by the 21st century Lizzy's verbally abusive prejudiced manner to Dr. William Darcy compared to Austen's original version, but remembered that the original Lizzy would have been more ladylike compared to a young women of today. Lydia, Wickham, and Caroline were still their evil characters, but the 21st century Lydia had the benefit of ending her marriage. Held my interest throughout the book that I had to finish reading it in one daY. Since it has been snowing all day, this was not difficult.
December 4, 2015
Original Darcy is and will always be the best Darcy. This doctor Darcy was nice, but he was too laconic in my opinion.
Original Darcyyyy:
Original Darcyyyy:
September 13, 2016
Excellent!
Thank you for writing a riveting modern-day version of our Lizzy and Darcy. I look forward to reading Second Impressions!
Thank you for writing a riveting modern-day version of our Lizzy and Darcy. I look forward to reading Second Impressions!
September 28, 2016
This retelling of Pride & Prejudice was okay... it was a bit too modern for me and the characters a bit too worldly for my taste.
June 29, 2020
(In case you were wondering, this book contains language, LGBT characters, suggestive content and alcohol use)
Rating: 4-4.5 stars
YOU GUYS. This book. I wasn’t exactly expecting quality when I saw the book cover, but boy was I wrong. Seriously, it’s such a good thing I’m trying to make the most of my Kindle Unlimited trial in terms of quantity and not quality by indiscriminately choosing any and every modern Austen. Sure, I would’ve been spared a couple of duds, but I also would’ve missed out on things like this. I might be a bit biased because this book has so many things I know and love all rolled up together. You have been warned.
I started this at 2 AM when I should’ve gone to bed but figured I’d read one chapter to really solidify the fatigue before going to sleep. Every good reader knows “one more chapter” is the world’s biggest lie since the invention of the printing press, but after over a dozen retellings, I’ve learned the first chapter is usually a dull intro and thought I’d be safe. That’s was a mistake. Before the first chapter was over, I knew 1) Ruby Cruz knew her medical stuff and 2) Ruby Cruz knew P&P.
Medical dramas and medical fiction are all the rage, but when you work it’s a little harder to turn off the clinical part of your brain when you suspend disbelief, so to read a story where someone not only knows what they’re talking about but can speak to the nuances of hospital life? That’s rare. So forgive me while I fangirl for a moment. I later learned that Ruby Cruz is a nurse, which makes so much sense because she writes about healthcare with the familiarity that can only come from firsthand experience or (ostensibly) hours and hours of intensive research. I’m not sure if some of the medical terminology was a bit too jargon-heavy for the average lay reader, but I was geeking out the whole time.
I won’t pretend to be as much of an expert on Pride and Prejudice, but having read the book multiple times and countless modern retellings, it’s usually pretty easy to spot a good one fairly quickly. It’s less about how faithful it is to the original storyline and more about how much the author understands the spirit behind Austen’s characters and the social context of the time. So when I see someone nailing Mary Bennet in the first chapter of a modern retelling, I know it’s going to be a good one.
This is probably going to be all over the place, so I apologize in advance. It’s written in first person POV but doesn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out. The modern interpretations were pretty much spot-on. Even before my shelter-in-place marathon, I’d read my fair share of P&P retellings, and I feel like I’ve seen it all—the good, the bad, the overused tropes, the ugly. Despite the seemingly clichéd premise, this was refreshingly original. Mrs. Bennett’s heart palpitations, Jane’s migraines leaving her stranded at Netherfield, Pemberley as a rehab center, it all worked brilliantly. I wasn’t totally sold on the whole Jane and Lizzy co-parenting thing initially—I just didn’t really get why it was included—but when the Jane/Bingley single mother fiasco happened, it all made sense. It was actually one of the better modernizations of Darcy’s interference. Speaking of Jane, I love that we get to see her show some spine without losing her overall sweet demeanor. It’s Jane 2.0. All the important features of the original with a few updates. Charolette is transformed into Lizzy’s gay BFF seemed like a rom-com bit, but Luke was surprisingly endearing. Jo Gardiner as the crotchety, non-compliant patient WAS MY FAV. And of course Darcy’s “insufferable know-it-all armor” when he feels uncomfortable. (If I ever start some sort of rubric for good modern adaptations, Awkward Darcy is definitely going on the list). Like any good author, Cruz takes a few creative liberties with her source material. There were some I didn’t care for, but most added to the story. I’ll take Dr. Darcy’s bedside manner over Mrs. Reynolds (lovely as she is,) any day. The moment of Lizzy’s Emma epiphany was great, and Darcy overhearing her conversation with Caroline made much more sense than an ambush by Lady Catherine. I personally could’ve done without Lizzy’s little journey to self-discovery, but her “what do I want from my life?” moment didn’t overshadow the rest of the story. didn’t sit well with me initially, but actually makes sense as a nod to her fate in the original.
This is not a perfect book. Like many of her predecessors, Cruz relied too heavily on the original dialogue during major scenes, making some lines awkward and stilted. The piano scene Rosings is horribly outdated (people need to stop trying to force that into their retellings), and the Les Misérables scene was a little weird (I saw Russel Crowe sing, I don’t really care about a fictional character’s reaction to it). Still, this is way better than the retellings I’ve read and deserves (almost) all the stars.
Rating: 4-4.5 stars
YOU GUYS. This book. I wasn’t exactly expecting quality when I saw the book cover, but boy was I wrong. Seriously, it’s such a good thing I’m trying to make the most of my Kindle Unlimited trial in terms of quantity and not quality by indiscriminately choosing any and every modern Austen. Sure, I would’ve been spared a couple of duds, but I also would’ve missed out on things like this. I might be a bit biased because this book has so many things I know and love all rolled up together. You have been warned.
I started this at 2 AM when I should’ve gone to bed but figured I’d read one chapter to really solidify the fatigue before going to sleep. Every good reader knows “one more chapter” is the world’s biggest lie since the invention of the printing press, but after over a dozen retellings, I’ve learned the first chapter is usually a dull intro and thought I’d be safe. That’s was a mistake. Before the first chapter was over, I knew 1) Ruby Cruz knew her medical stuff and 2) Ruby Cruz knew P&P.
Medical dramas and medical fiction are all the rage, but when you work it’s a little harder to turn off the clinical part of your brain when you suspend disbelief, so to read a story where someone not only knows what they’re talking about but can speak to the nuances of hospital life? That’s rare. So forgive me while I fangirl for a moment. I later learned that Ruby Cruz is a nurse, which makes so much sense because she writes about healthcare with the familiarity that can only come from firsthand experience or (ostensibly) hours and hours of intensive research. I’m not sure if some of the medical terminology was a bit too jargon-heavy for the average lay reader, but I was geeking out the whole time.
I won’t pretend to be as much of an expert on Pride and Prejudice, but having read the book multiple times and countless modern retellings, it’s usually pretty easy to spot a good one fairly quickly. It’s less about how faithful it is to the original storyline and more about how much the author understands the spirit behind Austen’s characters and the social context of the time. So when I see someone nailing Mary Bennet in the first chapter of a modern retelling, I know it’s going to be a good one.
This is probably going to be all over the place, so I apologize in advance. It’s written in first person POV but doesn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out. The modern interpretations were pretty much spot-on. Even before my shelter-in-place marathon, I’d read my fair share of P&P retellings, and I feel like I’ve seen it all—the good, the bad, the overused tropes, the ugly. Despite the seemingly clichéd premise, this was refreshingly original. Mrs. Bennett’s heart palpitations, Jane’s migraines leaving her stranded at Netherfield, Pemberley as a rehab center, it all worked brilliantly. I wasn’t totally sold on the whole Jane and Lizzy co-parenting thing initially—I just didn’t really get why it was included—but when the Jane/Bingley single mother fiasco happened, it all made sense. It was actually one of the better modernizations of Darcy’s interference. Speaking of Jane, I love that we get to see her show some spine without losing her overall sweet demeanor. It’s Jane 2.0. All the important features of the original with a few updates. Charolette is transformed into Lizzy’s gay BFF seemed like a rom-com bit, but Luke was surprisingly endearing. Jo Gardiner as the crotchety, non-compliant patient WAS MY FAV. And of course Darcy’s “insufferable know-it-all armor” when he feels uncomfortable. (If I ever start some sort of rubric for good modern adaptations, Awkward Darcy is definitely going on the list). Like any good author, Cruz takes a few creative liberties with her source material. There were some I didn’t care for, but most added to the story. I’ll take Dr. Darcy’s bedside manner over Mrs. Reynolds (lovely as she is,) any day. The moment of Lizzy’s Emma epiphany was great, and Darcy overhearing her conversation with Caroline made much more sense than an ambush by Lady Catherine. I personally could’ve done without Lizzy’s little journey to self-discovery, but her “what do I want from my life?” moment didn’t overshadow the rest of the story. didn’t sit well with me initially, but actually makes sense as a nod to her fate in the original.
This is not a perfect book. Like many of her predecessors, Cruz relied too heavily on the original dialogue during major scenes, making some lines awkward and stilted. The piano scene Rosings is horribly outdated (people need to stop trying to force that into their retellings), and the Les Misérables scene was a little weird (I saw Russel Crowe sing, I don’t really care about a fictional character’s reaction to it). Still, this is way better than the retellings I’ve read and deserves (almost) all the stars.
October 12, 2018
I think that I have a weakness for Pride and Prejudice retellings, I've enjoyed more or less all the one I've read so far x)
This one could have been a 5 stars if the 3rd part wasn't a little underwhelming. I don't know It was a little dragging and at the same time a little but rushed for some parts, but still overall I really did enjoy it.
There were some interesting change in the family dynamic and also Charlotte being a gay man. I really like the fact that he didn't take any of Lizzy's bullshit. Jane was a lot less black and white than she is in the original story. I was so happy when she turned down Charlie's proposal.
One of the little drawbacks is that in the end we didn't have that much interaction between Darcy and Lizzy, she spent more time complaining about him than anything else 😂 There's a sequel apparently so hopefully it's not some useless drama and more time with them together as a couple.
The mom was annoying but nothing new there. I'm glad Lydia had a slightly more common sense than in the book to at least get a divorce from that idiot. And the portrayal of Mary was so much better, she's always seen as the annoying character that everyone wants to avoid. Here she's still annoying to most people but at least she has a purpose and do things.
This one could have been a 5 stars if the 3rd part wasn't a little underwhelming. I don't know It was a little dragging and at the same time a little but rushed for some parts, but still overall I really did enjoy it.
There were some interesting change in the family dynamic and also Charlotte being a gay man. I really like the fact that he didn't take any of Lizzy's bullshit. Jane was a lot less black and white than she is in the original story. I was so happy when she turned down Charlie's proposal.
One of the little drawbacks is that in the end we didn't have that much interaction between Darcy and Lizzy, she spent more time complaining about him than anything else 😂 There's a sequel apparently so hopefully it's not some useless drama and more time with them together as a couple.
The mom was annoying but nothing new there. I'm glad Lydia had a slightly more common sense than in the book to at least get a divorce from that idiot. And the portrayal of Mary was so much better, she's always seen as the annoying character that everyone wants to avoid. Here she's still annoying to most people but at least she has a purpose and do things.
November 18, 2017
An enjoyable modern day telling of our favorite romance. Lizzy is a nurse and the proud, disagreeable Darcy is the newest doctor in her hospital. With slight changes to our beloved and favorite supporting characters, this story is fun, flirty, and leaves me wanting to see what happens after!
December 4, 2018
Cute twist to an old classic.
July 14, 2019
3.5 stars. Pleasantly surprised.
May 26, 2021
It’s weird because somehow this story focused on everything except Lizzy and Darcy. Where was the romance, the spark, the chemistry?
November 6, 2024
Status: Read September 20-21, 2016
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Edition Read:
First Impressions: A Modern Retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (Meryton Medical Romances, #1)
by Ruby Cruz
Kindle Edition, Second Edition, 259 pages
(first published August 15, 2014)
ASIN: B00MRO6Z6U
[ kindle unlimited ]
Librarian Note: Alternate/new cover edition for ASIN: B00MRO6Z6U.
Lizzy Bennett always told herself she was too busy for love, especially since she was working full-time as a nurse at Meryton Medical Center and helping to care for her young niece. When her sister Jane catches the attention of the young medical resident Dr. Charlie Bingley, Lizzy does everything she can to help her sister find happiness, even if it means enduring the presence of Charlie’s arrogant friend Dr. William Darcy.
In this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, familiar characters are reimagined but the overarching question remains: will Lizzy and Darcy overcome their personal and social contrivances to find true love?
Contains sexual references and profanity, but no sexually explicit content.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Edition Read:
First Impressions: A Modern Retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (Meryton Medical Romances, #1)
by Ruby Cruz
Kindle Edition, Second Edition, 259 pages
(first published August 15, 2014)
ASIN: B00MRO6Z6U
[ kindle unlimited ]
Librarian Note: Alternate/new cover edition for ASIN: B00MRO6Z6U.
Lizzy Bennett always told herself she was too busy for love, especially since she was working full-time as a nurse at Meryton Medical Center and helping to care for her young niece. When her sister Jane catches the attention of the young medical resident Dr. Charlie Bingley, Lizzy does everything she can to help her sister find happiness, even if it means enduring the presence of Charlie’s arrogant friend Dr. William Darcy.
In this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, familiar characters are reimagined but the overarching question remains: will Lizzy and Darcy overcome their personal and social contrivances to find true love?
Contains sexual references and profanity, but no sexually explicit content.
October 28, 2014
I always wondered what would happen if 'pride&prejudice' would go scrubs! I had my bets on being Mr Darcy being exactly the specialist he is in this nice modern retelling. It surely made me having a good time. Austenesque read that I surely approve of!
October 14, 2014
not a bad retelling. 3.5. I find it hard to believe Darcy would still speak so formally I. contemporary times, but I liked what RC did with the updated characters.
April 26, 2017
Nice
I have to say that I liked Jane reading Bingley the riot act for disappearing, and the fact that Lydia was forced to live with her bad decision to marry Wickham. It was nice, but not great.
I have to say that I liked Jane reading Bingley the riot act for disappearing, and the fact that Lydia was forced to live with her bad decision to marry Wickham. It was nice, but not great.
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