Pride, Prejudice, and Push-Up Bras

The Bennet Sisters #1

by Mary Strand

College freshman Liz Bennet refuses to let her name--or Jane Austen, for that matter--define her. Even though she's one of five teenage sisters named after the Bennet sisters in "The Book," as Liz not-so-fondly calls it, she can't afford to let her life parallel The Book in any way. Period. Liz has big plans for her future, and they don't exactly mesh with the life laid out for a fictional young woman 200 years ago.

When two gorgeous guys, Charlie Bingham and Alex Darcy, arrive in Liz's Minnesota town, her whole world is turned upside down. Her sister Jane starts acting like a lunatic with Charlie. Alex is tempting but also a jerk. Seeing too many uncanny connections to The Book, Liz is afraid she can't win. Is this fate's little joke on her modern Bennet family? What's a girl to do? Fight? Or ... surrender?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Paperback

First published September 28, 2016

About the author

Mary Strand practiced law in a large Minneapolis firm until the day she set aside her pointy-toed shoes (or most of them) and escaped the world of mergers and acquisitions to write novels. The first manuscript she wrote, Cooper’s Folly, a romantic comedy, won RWA’s Golden Heart award and was her debut novel. Her love of Jane Austen prompted her four-book YA series, The Bennet Sisters.

Seemingly Perfect is her third novel in The Pendulum Trilogy of women's fiction novels.

Mary lives on a lake in Minneapolis with her family, too many Converse Chucks, and a stuffed monkey named Philip. When not writing books or songs, she lives for sports, travel, rocking out on guitar, dancing (badly), and ill-advised adventures (including dancing) that offer a high probability of injury to herself and others.

Mary writes YA, romantic comedy, women’s fiction, and children's sports novels. You can find her at www.marystrand.com, follow her on Twitter or Instagram (@Mary_Strand), or “like” her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marystrandauthor).

Reviews

[Susanne Leist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered a stack of Pride and Prejudice adaptations. I wasn't sure if I should order this one because of its silly name and cover. However, I was happily surprised by the antics of the Bennet family and friends in the present day.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book.

Pride, Prejudice and Push-Up Bras is an amusing modern retelling of Jane Austen's version of Pride and Prejudice. When put in the context of the 21st century, one realises that nothing much has changed when going through the growth pains of young adults. The young adult years have always been fraught with emotion and anxiety, when every disaster takes on the magnitude of an earth quake or tsunami! In the words of Maurice Chevalier in the song from Gigi, "I'm Glad I"m Not Young Anymore", I look back on those years with a shudder. However, when you have to grow up in a flawed family and unreasonable expectations are put on the "responsible" sibling, they become even more difficult.

Pride, Prejudice and Push-Up Bras will appeal to anyone who is able to accept a new take on Pride and Prejudice, and in particular to the younger reader, as there are many lessons to be learned.

[Nicole Kelleher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for anything Jane Austen, so I absolutely loved this modern, youthful take on Pride & Prejudice. Poor, poor Lydia. At least in modern times, scandal hasn’t forced her into marriage at the age of fifteen. Recommending to all of my girlfriends with daughters.

[Christine Gevas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review! I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the others! The Bennett sisters are named after the characters in the "The Book", Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. Elizabeth, the second oldest is enlisted by their father to help keep Jane, the older sister and a sweet girl that sees the good in everyone, from herself. In return Elizabeth "Liz" will get financial help to move out of their home and into an apartment for her and Jane. It seems at every turn that "The Book" is becoming their real life, though the family fights hard against it becoming their reality throughout. Funny, entertaining, great read!!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this entertaining variation. The older sisters are in college and they meet Darcy and Bingham at the pool. It really was hilarious that the mom named them after the book and that they were afraid of scenes happening in their lives like the book (which do occur in a very natural and clever way). I really really laughed at the Darcy and Elizabeth reactions. She really puts him in his place. I didn't mind the younger setting and time frame. I am interested in the next book but only as a continuation of Alex Darcy and Elizabeth. But, i'm not sure how much of that relationship is in the next book. So, maybe I'll take the plunge and post a review of that book. Either way, this is a hilarious fun take on our beloved classic in a refreshing and young adult way.

[WiLoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, in which a mother named her five daughters after the Bennett sisters. When Jane and Liz meet two guys with eerily similar names to the guys in The Book, they start to freak out. Great for Jane Austen fans of all ages.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable! Modern P&P variation

That was a fun book. This modern variation was witty and just plain fun. The characters were spot on an Austenesque way. Just read it! :)

[Ixchelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this modern day Pride and Prejudice story. Anyone who has read “The Book” will appreciate how this book follows the original story in a modern way.

[Brenda V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun take on a classic - enjoyable read with updated issues (cell phones!) set in the Twin Cities area.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fan fiction with a modern telling of pride and prejudice.

[Elizabeth Devan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this ebook for free from The Choosy Bookworm's read and review program. This has not altered my opinion in any way.

Okay, so two stars. I'm not going to lie, for a different kind of reader, this could easily be a higher rating. I just tend to like books with more of a character-centered premise than a 'plot'. For this story, it's the same Liz getting together with Darcy thing, but the characters honestly seemed rather... flat. I didn't really feel the connection between them, and it sort of just happened. Like one chapter she was trying to run away from him and the next they were making out.

Alright, that might be an exaggeration, but it's basically how I remembered it once I finished the book. And none of the characters being very likable or relatable didn't help much. Most could be described with the same one worded description throughout. There really wasn't any explanation as to why, background, or development, and I usually need at least one to 'buy' their personality. I would've liked an explanation as to why they were so afraid of 'The Book' and then the next chapter, why Jane suddenly started chasing after her 'intended partner' and Elizabeth going from 'The Book The Book The Book' to... I don't even know. Her feelings were honestly pretty confusing to follow, mostly because half the time I was shouting at her to do the opposite.

I think one reason may have been that the author expected the readers to have the background knowledge of the original book and so, left off with developing the characters into something more original (thus leaving them with a one dimensional characterization), and the author did very well in giving it a modern adaption (props for the self-awareness). A confusing point was whether or not they read the book themselves, because they seemed to act like with every minute that The Book was coming true, yet when all the important plot points and twists passed, none seemed to realize what was happening.

So two stars. Maybe I'm just not a teen fiction reader. I'm not going to lie, I am pretty picky reader for this genre. So if you like Pride and Prejudice and don't mind slow, one dimensional characters for the sake of a light and easy modernized version of a favorite classic, I say go for it.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorable book! This one was so much fun to read. I definitely could get into this series about the Bennet sisters. Five sisters, all with the names of the sisters in Pride and Prejudice. Their mother always thinks the Book is going to determine their love lives. When Liz (Elizabeth) and Jane meet two young men with the last names Darcy and Bingley...they all jump to conclusions, wondering if these are their matches. It's a sweet, funny, sometimes dramatic story, with Jane falling for her Charlie B., and Liz running as quick as possible from Alex Darcy. It's a cute book focused on young relationships and crazy families. The Bennet family is quite unusual, and I look forward to reading more about the sisters and their adventures. I highly recommend this book, Pride, Prejudice, and Push-Up Bras. The title tells it all...

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ᖇEᑕEIᐯEᗪ TᕼIᔕ ᗷOOK ᖴOᖇ ᖴᖇEE ᖴᖇOᗰ EᗷOOK ᗪIᔕᑕOᐯEᖇY. TᕼIᔕ Iᔕ ᗰY ᕼOᑎEᔕT ᖇEᐯIEᗯ.

I spent one night finish reading this book. Just wanna say ' Is there any normal beings in the book except Liz and Alex?' The Bennet sisters are OMG! Jane is so obsessed with her Mr Right that she had to keep changing numbers. Liz is on the Mission to save her sister from herself. Lydia and Cat is speechless whereby Lydia is on the way to damaged. As for Mary? The quirkiest of them all. And what's wrong with the parents? Especially their Mother??? Ewww. Mary Strand wrote a very nice book. I enjoy her writing but not the plot too much. Cos there's too many crazy characters in the book.

[Alex Haber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a ‘Pride and Prejudice’ retelling as the title indicates, if I am honest with myself I am not a person that enjoys classics but I think if Jane Austen had to write Pride and Prejudice today this is how she would write it. To be honest I found it easier to read than the original book. It is modern written to nowadays. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book.

[Toyenlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it reminds me so much of Jane Austen's pride and prejudice but it's a modern version of it with slight changes. It's an interesting read. "I got a copy of this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review".

[Keri Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this modern, YA take on Pride & Prejudice, particularly after the hero and heroine finally met and interacted. It was a bit slow to get there, but still cute. I'd recommend for when you're in the mood for some light, cute reading.

[Kathleen Crowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

very silly. not awful, but it doesn't translate well

[Lynn Lovegreen]

So much fun! If you're a Janeite, you'll love this book. But even if you're not, the spunky, slightly snarky heroine and the romantic comedy will make you enjoy this book.
A fun, quick read for both teens and adults

[Elin Eriksen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny, light and airy novel. Felt like it was written for an adolescent reader.
Lacked romance and was angst-free.
The author keeps this modern take on P&P quite close to canon but with a modern twist.
To me it doesn't work that well and feels forced.

I will not reread it because I struggled to finish it. It did not captivate or excite me.