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All the Things I Know: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Lizzie Venetidis is confident in her decisions. Moving to Seattle with her sister Jane after she graduated from Stanford, for instance, was a no‑brainer. Adult life, however, turns out to be more difficult to navigate than she expected. What career should she pursue with a bachelor’s degree in art history and no marketable experience amongst a tech-heavy job market? How responsible is it to drink that fourth cocktail while out with friends? And what should she do about Darcy — the aloof yet captivating guy she met her first night in town? "All the Things I Know" is a one-mistake-at-a-time retelling of "Pride & Prejudice" set against the backdrop of modern-day, techie Seattle. Full of wry observations, heartache, and life lessons, "All the Things I Know" shares the original’s lessons of correcting ill-conceived first impressions and learning who you really are.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2017
32 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Ryan
2 books59 followersAudrey Ryan is the nom de plume of Andrea Pangilinan: daydreamer, wife and step-mother, and obsessive story consumer. When she’s not reading and writing, Andrea works as a bookstore where she lovingly tends to the Romance section. She enjoys talking crazy to her weirdo cat, consuming copious amount of wine and coffee with her girlfriends, and record shopping with her husband. Oh yeah, and there’s that small Jane Austen obsession. That doesn’t take up any time at all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 13, 2017
4 stars!
Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway at Of Pens and Pages.
New Adult plus Pride and Prejudice is my idea of a happy read. By now, I think it’s obvious how much I love P&P, so to read a modern-day adaptation in this genre was such a fun experience. Relatable, fresh yet still so familiar, All the Things I Know offers a loyal telling of the classic, but with its own twists and tales to share.
Fresh out of college, art history major Lizzie Venetidis moves a few states away to Seattle to live with her lawyer sister Jane, and take control of her life. Turns out adulting is not a walk in the park, and with distractions along the way, Lizzie’s even more unsure of what path she should choose or if she’d fail is she actually chose a path.
Along the way they meet Fitzwilliam Darcy, an arrogant yet irresistible man, and his best friend Chip Bishop, making the Venetidis’ lives more complicated than they need. Lizzie and Darcy’s attraction grows each day they see each other, but with misunderstandings and issues here and there, it might take this couple a long time to see eye to eye.
Of course, I loved the modern-day interpretation of what happens between Darcy and Lizzie. The misunderstandings, the ‘Hunsford’ proposal, everything. The banters and interactions perfectly showed the progress in their relationship, and while the story is written in Lizzie’s perspective, we can still see glimpses of when Darcy fell in love with her. And y’all know Darcy falls hard. My man. Ugh.
While I loved the bumbling courtship/romance between Lizzie and Darcy, I think my favorite about this book was the growth Lizzie—and even Jane—had to go through. I don’t agree with some of Lizzie’s thoughts and decisions, but I enjoyed reading her thoughts, seeing how she goes on. I think it was a very authentic look inside a 22-year-old’s brain.
The characters were well-written, and they all managed to escape becoming one-dimensional. Lizzie’s parents especially. Their personalities and background were huge factors in how Lizzie and Jane navigated adulthood.
A lot of people will relate to this story. Lizzie and her doubts and wrong impressions, her relationship with her mother, the siblings' relationship with their parents, the effects of a messy divorce on children, and many more.
Ms. Ryan did a great job of translating the classic into the present with timely changes making All the Things I Know unique to the original. The characters stayed true to their roots, but the story still found its own voice.
Tropes: Hate to Love, Friends with Benefits
POV: First Person, Female POV
Standalone: Yes
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway at Of Pens and Pages.
New Adult plus Pride and Prejudice is my idea of a happy read. By now, I think it’s obvious how much I love P&P, so to read a modern-day adaptation in this genre was such a fun experience. Relatable, fresh yet still so familiar, All the Things I Know offers a loyal telling of the classic, but with its own twists and tales to share.
Fresh out of college, art history major Lizzie Venetidis moves a few states away to Seattle to live with her lawyer sister Jane, and take control of her life. Turns out adulting is not a walk in the park, and with distractions along the way, Lizzie’s even more unsure of what path she should choose or if she’d fail is she actually chose a path.
Along the way they meet Fitzwilliam Darcy, an arrogant yet irresistible man, and his best friend Chip Bishop, making the Venetidis’ lives more complicated than they need. Lizzie and Darcy’s attraction grows each day they see each other, but with misunderstandings and issues here and there, it might take this couple a long time to see eye to eye.
Of course, I loved the modern-day interpretation of what happens between Darcy and Lizzie. The misunderstandings, the ‘Hunsford’ proposal, everything. The banters and interactions perfectly showed the progress in their relationship, and while the story is written in Lizzie’s perspective, we can still see glimpses of when Darcy fell in love with her. And y’all know Darcy falls hard. My man. Ugh.
What am I going to do with you?” I say, rubbing my thumb over his knuckles.
“Keep me, I hope,” he sleepily replies in my ear. Like there’s any doubt.
While I loved the bumbling courtship/romance between Lizzie and Darcy, I think my favorite about this book was the growth Lizzie—and even Jane—had to go through. I don’t agree with some of Lizzie’s thoughts and decisions, but I enjoyed reading her thoughts, seeing how she goes on. I think it was a very authentic look inside a 22-year-old’s brain.
The characters were well-written, and they all managed to escape becoming one-dimensional. Lizzie’s parents especially. Their personalities and background were huge factors in how Lizzie and Jane navigated adulthood.
A lot of people will relate to this story. Lizzie and her doubts and wrong impressions, her relationship with her mother, the siblings' relationship with their parents, the effects of a messy divorce on children, and many more.
Ms. Ryan did a great job of translating the classic into the present with timely changes making All the Things I Know unique to the original. The characters stayed true to their roots, but the story still found its own voice.
Tropes: Hate to Love, Friends with Benefits
POV: First Person, Female POV
Standalone: Yes
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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June 13, 2018
A heartfelt take on a classic that brings new life into a genre that can get a little tired at times. Audrey Ryan gives us a millennial spin on Pride and Prejudice, a story that isn't always easy to translate into modern times. Here the transition is nearly seamless, accounting for the goals and aspirations of modern women while still giving us a Lizzie and Darcy that sizzle every time they're on the page together. I can't wait to see what this author does next!
May 15, 2018
NOT ONE ERROR. NOT ONE. Amazing editing. NOT ONE BORING SPOT. NOT ONE. Amazing flow.
Light and pleasing; realistic relationship development, characterization, scene setting; classic New Adult themes though light on the sex scenes compared to some; easy, fast read; would recommend to others. I'm a Regency reader and this modern does it for me.
Please note that a conflict of interest exists as I have the same publisher. But I'm a reader first.
Light and pleasing; realistic relationship development, characterization, scene setting; classic New Adult themes though light on the sex scenes compared to some; easy, fast read; would recommend to others. I'm a Regency reader and this modern does it for me.
Please note that a conflict of interest exists as I have the same publisher. But I'm a reader first.
January 25, 2018
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
This is one of those books which draws you in a.s.a.p. I had been reading another book, which was more addressed to teen/young adult years when I opened this up and I was caught. I will go back to that book but first...
My daughter and her husband lived in Seattle, Washington for a number of years so when the overcast weather or the fact that Elizabeth's and Jane's apartment had no A/C came up in the story I smiled and thought that it was obvious this author knows the Seattle area. Actually the 2 sisters were reared in CA but came to WA after Elizabeth's college degree was earned and Jane was embarking on her law career. One night out at a bar they meet Chip and Darcy. It's love-at-first-sight for Jane but Darcy's remark about "babysitting the kid sister" to Chip (who wants to concentrate on getting to know Jane) creates a black mark against Darcy in Elizabeth's mind. And this Elizabeth is not shy to let him know just what she thinks of him.
Time is spent as both Jane and Elizabeth attempt to get their goals in life in order. Jane finds her soft heart is not ready to attack the "enemy"/the other side of her law cases. While Elizabeth flounders trying to decide where to go with an Art History degree; a Master's degree seems to be a prerogative but meanwhile she needs money for room and board. Then there is the sisters' relationship: 1.) with their mother who has definite ideas about how their lives should be planned and 2.) with their father who has remarried and moved with his husband to Chicago. Both parents have a favorite but Mom is more obvious in her stance.
In this modern variation (which is MA) the sexual chemistry explodes before ODC come to really know each other and then it is the old cliché about "one step forward and two steps back" as the story progresses. It also turns out to be a small world when Elizabeth boldly strides into one art gallery with her resume.
I enjoyed this story but felt short-changed in the end. Oh, the lovers come to an agreement but we leave it there. We don't learn if Elizabeth's career becomes a reality nor if Jane is successful in mediation. And we also don't really find out how long the courting stage lasts before a final commitment is reached.
This does have some bedroom scenes which are not long and graphic, but they are there. I enjoyed this story even though I wanted more at the end.
This is one of those books which draws you in a.s.a.p. I had been reading another book, which was more addressed to teen/young adult years when I opened this up and I was caught. I will go back to that book but first...
My daughter and her husband lived in Seattle, Washington for a number of years so when the overcast weather or the fact that Elizabeth's and Jane's apartment had no A/C came up in the story I smiled and thought that it was obvious this author knows the Seattle area. Actually the 2 sisters were reared in CA but came to WA after Elizabeth's college degree was earned and Jane was embarking on her law career. One night out at a bar they meet Chip and Darcy. It's love-at-first-sight for Jane but Darcy's remark about "babysitting the kid sister" to Chip (who wants to concentrate on getting to know Jane) creates a black mark against Darcy in Elizabeth's mind. And this Elizabeth is not shy to let him know just what she thinks of him.
Time is spent as both Jane and Elizabeth attempt to get their goals in life in order. Jane finds her soft heart is not ready to attack the "enemy"/the other side of her law cases. While Elizabeth flounders trying to decide where to go with an Art History degree; a Master's degree seems to be a prerogative but meanwhile she needs money for room and board. Then there is the sisters' relationship: 1.) with their mother who has definite ideas about how their lives should be planned and 2.) with their father who has remarried and moved with his husband to Chicago. Both parents have a favorite but Mom is more obvious in her stance.
In this modern variation (which is MA) the sexual chemistry explodes before ODC come to really know each other and then it is the old cliché about "one step forward and two steps back" as the story progresses. It also turns out to be a small world when Elizabeth boldly strides into one art gallery with her resume.
I enjoyed this story but felt short-changed in the end. Oh, the lovers come to an agreement but we leave it there. We don't learn if Elizabeth's career becomes a reality nor if Jane is successful in mediation. And we also don't really find out how long the courting stage lasts before a final commitment is reached.
This does have some bedroom scenes which are not long and graphic, but they are there. I enjoyed this story even though I wanted more at the end.
March 5, 2018
Modern interpretation of P&P. The writing was excellent and twist with characters from canon believable.
I enjoyed the growth and development of both Jane and Elizabeth.
The ending was a bit abrupt. It left many unanswered questions. I wouldn’t mind another 100-150 pages to give the story some more depth or even an epilogue to wrap things up.
I enjoyed the growth and development of both Jane and Elizabeth.
The ending was a bit abrupt. It left many unanswered questions. I wouldn’t mind another 100-150 pages to give the story some more depth or even an epilogue to wrap things up.
July 7, 2018
This modern Pride and Prejudice variation hit all the right notes once I figured out where it started. Elizabeth Venetidis moves to Seattle, WA to move in with her sister Jane after graduating with a degree in Art History from Stanford. She must learn to navigate finding a job, making friends, and dealing with guys. The reader will find Charlotte, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia in the story as co-workers and relatives. Jane and Lizzy meet Chip Bingley and Darcy at a bar, complete with insult to start. The two couples must navigate Bingley's sisters, and modern expressions of relationships. Add in a mother with very traditional ideas of marriage, family, and a women's place and a father on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, and it is easy to empathize with Lizzy as she tries to find her place.
December 15, 2018
Millennials and Modern Jane Austen
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
In a debut release that translates Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to modern-day Seattle with millennial-aged characters, Audrey Ryan tells the story of two sisters that are reuniting to live together after college and law school, find gainful employment, and figure out their directions in life. It is an exciting/confusing/frustrating time. And with uncertainties about their chosen fields and the complications of new relationships, both Lizzie and Jane Venetidis have some difficult lessons to learn and discover about themselves…
One big reason I completely fell in love with this modernization of Pride and Prejudice is because it is modern and New Adult. Making Jane and Lizzie in their early twenties (instead of older) places them in the same time of life of Regency Jane and Elizabeth Bennet – their futures are unknown. On the brink of the next chapter and unsure which path will end up being the one they take. However, unlike Jane Austen’s characters, these modern-day counterparts have many more paths to choose from! In addition, I enjoyed how the relationships in this story represent real modern relationships – with casual hook-ups, the struggle to balance career, friends, and love, and what happens when people in a relationship aren’t on the same page/want the same things. It felt so wonderfully relevant, and it was so easy to understand and relate to each character’s experiences and feelings.
Another part of this story I enjoyed was how how Audrey Ryan found such clever ways to reinterpret and modernize elements from Pride and Prejudice. Each character has a new twist to them – Mr. and Mrs. Venetidis are divorced, Lydia is Jane’s and Lizzie’s cousin with overbearing parents, Charlotte is Lizzie’s co-worker from the coffee house, etc. All the twists and creative updates made the story feel more original and unpredictable. However, my favorite update was with Lizzie’s and Jane’s parents. It was interesting to see how the failed marriage effected both daughters, and I appreciated how both Mr. and Mrs. Veneditis shared some similarities with their Regency counterparts but were also very different. Super inventive and perceptive of Ms. Ryan to translate Jane Austen’s characters this way!
Speaking of the characters, I was quick to fall in love with Ms. Ryan’s portrayals of Darcy and Lizzie. I loved seeing Darcy fall hard for Lizzie and all the adorable little ways he reached out to her, and I just loved Lizzie, period – she is the type of character you want for a best friend. Similar to Pride and Prejudice there are several misunderstandings and mistaken assumptions between these two, but added to that is poor communication and hang-ups about relationships. It was an interesting combination and dynamic and refreshing change from a heavier focus on pride and prejudice. While I may have wanted a little something more during the “Hunsford Parsonage” confrontation, I really appreciate what happened following that event and the unique and satisfying direction Ms. Ryan steered the story.
With her authentic characterizations, innovative updates, and fresh voice Audrey Ryan delivers an intelligent and well-crafted homage to Pride and Prejudice. Readers who appreciate rewarding stories of finding oneself and discovering your own path will love this story, even if they have never read Jane Austen!
Note: I would recommend this novel for Mature Audiences. There are a few intimate scenes and some profanity.
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
In a debut release that translates Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to modern-day Seattle with millennial-aged characters, Audrey Ryan tells the story of two sisters that are reuniting to live together after college and law school, find gainful employment, and figure out their directions in life. It is an exciting/confusing/frustrating time. And with uncertainties about their chosen fields and the complications of new relationships, both Lizzie and Jane Venetidis have some difficult lessons to learn and discover about themselves…
One big reason I completely fell in love with this modernization of Pride and Prejudice is because it is modern and New Adult. Making Jane and Lizzie in their early twenties (instead of older) places them in the same time of life of Regency Jane and Elizabeth Bennet – their futures are unknown. On the brink of the next chapter and unsure which path will end up being the one they take. However, unlike Jane Austen’s characters, these modern-day counterparts have many more paths to choose from! In addition, I enjoyed how the relationships in this story represent real modern relationships – with casual hook-ups, the struggle to balance career, friends, and love, and what happens when people in a relationship aren’t on the same page/want the same things. It felt so wonderfully relevant, and it was so easy to understand and relate to each character’s experiences and feelings.
Another part of this story I enjoyed was how how Audrey Ryan found such clever ways to reinterpret and modernize elements from Pride and Prejudice. Each character has a new twist to them – Mr. and Mrs. Venetidis are divorced, Lydia is Jane’s and Lizzie’s cousin with overbearing parents, Charlotte is Lizzie’s co-worker from the coffee house, etc. All the twists and creative updates made the story feel more original and unpredictable. However, my favorite update was with Lizzie’s and Jane’s parents. It was interesting to see how the failed marriage effected both daughters, and I appreciated how both Mr. and Mrs. Veneditis shared some similarities with their Regency counterparts but were also very different. Super inventive and perceptive of Ms. Ryan to translate Jane Austen’s characters this way!
Speaking of the characters, I was quick to fall in love with Ms. Ryan’s portrayals of Darcy and Lizzie. I loved seeing Darcy fall hard for Lizzie and all the adorable little ways he reached out to her, and I just loved Lizzie, period – she is the type of character you want for a best friend. Similar to Pride and Prejudice there are several misunderstandings and mistaken assumptions between these two, but added to that is poor communication and hang-ups about relationships. It was an interesting combination and dynamic and refreshing change from a heavier focus on pride and prejudice. While I may have wanted a little something more during the “Hunsford Parsonage” confrontation, I really appreciate what happened following that event and the unique and satisfying direction Ms. Ryan steered the story.
With her authentic characterizations, innovative updates, and fresh voice Audrey Ryan delivers an intelligent and well-crafted homage to Pride and Prejudice. Readers who appreciate rewarding stories of finding oneself and discovering your own path will love this story, even if they have never read Jane Austen!
Note: I would recommend this novel for Mature Audiences. There are a few intimate scenes and some profanity.
Austenesque Reviews
February 14, 2018
Enjoyed this story and the writing up until the end. It was so abrupt and there was no resolution about their relationship in the future. For that, I only gave it 4 stars. But, the writing is excellent and and love story is great!
January 8, 2018
What a lovely book! How many different variations of Pride and Prejudice could I possibly read? The limit does not exist! Modernizing this classic story may be my favorite kind of read, especially when you throw it into the New Adult genre. Adding in a bit of sexiness is always a good thing. What I really enjoyed about this version is that the story felt full. The author really understands the characters and makes them her own. She gives them new life and you actually get to see the relationship of Lizzie and Darcy grow more past the initial stages. I liked the changes to the families and Lizzie's passion for art. Geoff (George) is still an awful person and he makes you want to reach into the book and slap him...or throw him over a cliff. What I liked about Darcy, and always will, is that he listens and changes for the better. He's there for support and to help when help is needed.
This book was unique and does well to stand out amongst the numerous versions of Pride and Prejudice retellings. This is one that I will happily recommend to any Pride and Prejudice enthusiast.
This book was unique and does well to stand out amongst the numerous versions of Pride and Prejudice retellings. This is one that I will happily recommend to any Pride and Prejudice enthusiast.
March 23, 2020
All the Things I Know is the cleverly written debut novel from Audrey Ryan and is a fan fiction-style interpretation of Pride and Prejudice. Set in the tech scene of Seattle, Ryan seamlessly incorporates elements of my beloved original and spins them in a fresh and modern way.
The story follows the life of Elizabeth, but features all of our favorite (and not so favorite love-to-hate) characters through similar, yet updated for the current year, situations.
Elizabeth Venetidis is a recent college graduate grappling with all of the uncertainties and unknowns that come along with navigating life after college. She moves to Seattle to live with her sister, Jane, a recent law school grad, with plans to be an art curator. Until that happens, Lizzie ends up in menial jobs with no prospects for better employment.
Being in Seattle forces Lizzie to navigate the waters of becoming an adult, with plenty of pitfalls and trials along the way. Not having an established identity weighs heavily on her esteem and being around others who are secure in theirs only makes her feel worse.
Meeting Chip (the Bingley of the story) and Darcy, and later their friends and family, adds another twist to Lizzie’s already difficult journey into adulthood. Between expectations, uncertainties, and judgments, Lizzie has to fight to maintain her independence and making the best choices for her happiness.
I enjoyed this intelligently-written and engaging adaptation, and it’s one of the better modern updates I have read in recent years. The names and situations translate well, with several liberties taken to update the story into modern times. The difficult family life, friends who make bad decisions, and a fiery Elizabeth are all there. I’m a big fan of retellings and this is one that I would recommend to anyone who loves them as much as I do.
The story follows the life of Elizabeth, but features all of our favorite (and not so favorite love-to-hate) characters through similar, yet updated for the current year, situations.
Elizabeth Venetidis is a recent college graduate grappling with all of the uncertainties and unknowns that come along with navigating life after college. She moves to Seattle to live with her sister, Jane, a recent law school grad, with plans to be an art curator. Until that happens, Lizzie ends up in menial jobs with no prospects for better employment.
Being in Seattle forces Lizzie to navigate the waters of becoming an adult, with plenty of pitfalls and trials along the way. Not having an established identity weighs heavily on her esteem and being around others who are secure in theirs only makes her feel worse.
Meeting Chip (the Bingley of the story) and Darcy, and later their friends and family, adds another twist to Lizzie’s already difficult journey into adulthood. Between expectations, uncertainties, and judgments, Lizzie has to fight to maintain her independence and making the best choices for her happiness.
I enjoyed this intelligently-written and engaging adaptation, and it’s one of the better modern updates I have read in recent years. The names and situations translate well, with several liberties taken to update the story into modern times. The difficult family life, friends who make bad decisions, and a fiery Elizabeth are all there. I’m a big fan of retellings and this is one that I would recommend to anyone who loves them as much as I do.
October 31, 2021
Good Modern Variation
Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2019
Enjoyable modern variation, with Jane and Lizzy as the only two sisters. There are other recognizable characters. I thought Lizzy wasn’t as mature as most depictions of her, even in the moderns I’ve read. I did like Darcy. There is mature content.
Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2019
Enjoyable modern variation, with Jane and Lizzy as the only two sisters. There are other recognizable characters. I thought Lizzy wasn’t as mature as most depictions of her, even in the moderns I’ve read. I did like Darcy. There is mature content.
April 9, 2020
I read what could be described as a ridiculous amount of Pride and Prejudice Reinvisionings. I think that it very challenging to set Pride and Prejudice in modern times and make it both true to Austen's tale as well as modern life. Ryan is a strong writer who skillfully and innovatively translates the beloved P&P characters into their modern equivalents.
I wrestled with whether to rate this 4 or 5 stars- 4.5 would have been my preference. I think that Ryan does an excellent job of portraying the uncertainty of life immediately after college. Some found her portrayal of Lizzie annoying. Quite frankly, I think I was even more obnoxious at that age, torn between thinking I knew everything and panicking to find myself thrust into an adulthood that I was completely unprepared for. Its because Ryan explores that aimless, rootless post-college life so well that the seven-year age difference between Lizzie and Darcy stretched my credibility at times. I would anticipate more conflict between them as they are in such different developmental places.
But I am quibbling. The writing is high quality, the story engaging, the translation to a modern-day setting is strong, and I enjoyed this immensely. Off to check out more of her titles.
I wrestled with whether to rate this 4 or 5 stars- 4.5 would have been my preference. I think that Ryan does an excellent job of portraying the uncertainty of life immediately after college. Some found her portrayal of Lizzie annoying. Quite frankly, I think I was even more obnoxious at that age, torn between thinking I knew everything and panicking to find myself thrust into an adulthood that I was completely unprepared for. Its because Ryan explores that aimless, rootless post-college life so well that the seven-year age difference between Lizzie and Darcy stretched my credibility at times. I would anticipate more conflict between them as they are in such different developmental places.
But I am quibbling. The writing is high quality, the story engaging, the translation to a modern-day setting is strong, and I enjoyed this immensely. Off to check out more of her titles.
January 2, 2018
I am impressed by the brilliant way the author adapted P&P into this modern variation.
Very cleverly done with both framework and timeline easily recognisable but modernised in a way that felt natural and plausible, giving it a lovely flow. I absolutely loved it!
Jane and Elizabeth moves to Seattle to find work. Jane has studied the law and Elizabeth has studied art. Meeting Darcy and Chip Bishop at a bar, Darcy disparages Elizabeth while Jane and Chip hook up.
Elizabeth is a bit adrift and insecure after graduating and a bad break up with her last boy friend. Working as a barista while searching for a position in an art gallery, she is vulnerable to the barely veiled insults from Chips sister Emmeline and misinterpret both Darcy's intentions and her own attraction to the silent but passionate man.
Loved how they eventually worked out their problems and how their relationship developed.
There is a Wickham/Lydia debacle but with a lot of twist and turns compared to canon.
Heartily recommend this book!
Very cleverly done with both framework and timeline easily recognisable but modernised in a way that felt natural and plausible, giving it a lovely flow. I absolutely loved it!
Jane and Elizabeth moves to Seattle to find work. Jane has studied the law and Elizabeth has studied art. Meeting Darcy and Chip Bishop at a bar, Darcy disparages Elizabeth while Jane and Chip hook up.
Elizabeth is a bit adrift and insecure after graduating and a bad break up with her last boy friend. Working as a barista while searching for a position in an art gallery, she is vulnerable to the barely veiled insults from Chips sister Emmeline and misinterpret both Darcy's intentions and her own attraction to the silent but passionate man.
Loved how they eventually worked out their problems and how their relationship developed.
There is a Wickham/Lydia debacle but with a lot of twist and turns compared to canon.
Heartily recommend this book!
August 17, 2024
Just further solidifying that I would give this particular human my kidney if she needs it
February 14, 2018
This is my second read of this book (if you count reading the initial version on the JAFF fanfic site AHA as my first read). On both occasions, I appreciated how well Audrey Ryan was able to transform our favorite Regency characters into 21st-century urbanites. While Ryan makes some changes to the Pride and Prejudice story beyond the setting (most notably, she alters the Bennet family structure and name), she holds on to the spirit of the original. At the core of this book (and P&P) is the importance of understanding oneself -- and how desire for another cannot be the key to that understanding. Love, however, can emerge from the journey toward self discovery, much to the eventual, hard-won happiness of this modern Lizzie and Darcy.
December 4, 2017
A fresh take on modern JAFF, mashed up with New Adult conventions. Lizzie is very relatable - full of bravado but also full of the insecurities that come with being a newly graduated, newly minted capital-A Adult. I love how Audrey Ryan applies the New Adult framework seamlessly over the P&P story - New Adult is all about the heroine finding out who she is and what she knows, and both Ryan's Lizzie and Austen's Elizabeth go on that journey. Ryan's Darcy is as much of an enigma as Austen's is, but also has the same capacity for love and adoration and the same awe for his Lizzie. This is a fab modern adaptation.
Full disclosure: I am the editor of All the Things I Know.
Full disclosure: I am the editor of All the Things I Know.
December 14, 2017
review soon :)
4,5 stars
4,5 stars
July 28, 2020
Pride and Prejudice in modern day Seattle. What more could I ask! Very well written and it was a delight to read something set in Seattle.
January 27, 2021
3 1/2 ⭐️
June 3, 2024
Very well-written dialogue and an entertaining book, especially if you’ve lived in Seattle. It felt true to the experience of being in your early 20s in modern times.
August 30, 2020
In the world of Jane Austen fanfic novels, this falls decidedly into the P&P as romance novel subgenre. As such, don't expect to come away from this novel with new insights into P&P.
That isn't bad though! This novel was not trying to be more than a lightweight, entertaining read. It did entertain. And, as a Seattleite myself, I appreciated the setting and the call outs to real local places.
That isn't bad though! This novel was not trying to be more than a lightweight, entertaining read. It did entertain. And, as a Seattleite myself, I appreciated the setting and the call outs to real local places.
January 3, 2018
What a pleasant read! Particularly if you’re in Seattle- it’s fun to read a book set in a familiar place. This book is a little bit of “50 Shades of Grey” meets “Where’d you go Bernadette.” Well done on your first publication, Audrey!
February 18, 2018
Loved this modern adaptation of P&P! The characters and setting all felt authentic, and the plot moved quickly along the familiar arc with enough of its own unique flavor to keep me interested. There's a little more heat than Jane Austen could've handled, but I think we all wanted to see Darcy undressed anyway ;)
February 13, 2018
All the Things to Know
22 is such a young age. Life is just beginning for college graduates. Lizzie and Jane have many adventures. They meet Darcy and Chip, and things progress from there. Of course, HEA happens for our couples, but the storylines are somewhat different than others. There are steamy scenes between ODC. Great writing!
22 is such a young age. Life is just beginning for college graduates. Lizzie and Jane have many adventures. They meet Darcy and Chip, and things progress from there. Of course, HEA happens for our couples, but the storylines are somewhat different than others. There are steamy scenes between ODC. Great writing!
May 15, 2020
I can see myself and all my decisions with hard realism.
Here I am, hurtling into adulthood, confident in my own sophomoric wisdom, yet stagnant and still challenging the world to not be impressed with me.
But who am I, seriously?
I don't know.
Rating: 2.5-3 stars
(In case you were wondering, this book contains language, references to drug use, explicit content, the morning-after pill, LGBT relationships, and alcohol use)
This is actually not a terrible P&P variation (especially compared to some of the horrors I've read recently,) but the fact that I had to skip pages of sex scenes lowered my rating considerably.
I think I love modern adaptations because I like seeing how Regency culture is interpreted and transposed into a contemporary context. Let's be real, most of it is terrible (or maybe I've just had a recent string of bad luck,) but when it works, it's great. I'm a little torn because the first half of this was great. It was clever and original and actually decently written. Lizzie overhears Darcy complaining about "babysitting the kid sister," Jane struggles to balance her new demanding career and her relationship with Chip, Lizzie can't help but feel defensive about working as a barista despite being a Stanford grad, Lydia is the epileptic college student who's finally escaped her overprotective parents, and Colin is persistent customer who think he's entitled to a date after setting Lizzie and Charlotte up with contract jobs. It's Pride and Prejudice for Millennials with Lizzie and Jane tackle adulting, and the struggle is so real. Plus, there were detailed nods to the original, like CEO de Boer's daily "Quotes by Cathy," which were a nice touch. I thought this was going to end up pretty high up on my list of P&P retellings until around the 40% mark (which is, admittedly, also when the sex starts) when the Lizzie/Darcy plotline took an unexpected turn. The whole didn't work for me as the main source of conflict. The subsequent progression of Lizzie/Darcy relationship felt a little too starry-eyed for me, and Lizzie's journey to "find herself," while very Millennial, felt a little forced.
Here I am, hurtling into adulthood, confident in my own sophomoric wisdom, yet stagnant and still challenging the world to not be impressed with me.
But who am I, seriously?
I don't know.
Rating: 2.5-3 stars
(In case you were wondering, this book contains language, references to drug use, explicit content, the morning-after pill, LGBT relationships, and alcohol use)
This is actually not a terrible P&P variation (especially compared to some of the horrors I've read recently,) but the fact that I had to skip pages of sex scenes lowered my rating considerably.
I think I love modern adaptations because I like seeing how Regency culture is interpreted and transposed into a contemporary context. Let's be real, most of it is terrible (or maybe I've just had a recent string of bad luck,) but when it works, it's great. I'm a little torn because the first half of this was great. It was clever and original and actually decently written. Lizzie overhears Darcy complaining about "babysitting the kid sister," Jane struggles to balance her new demanding career and her relationship with Chip, Lizzie can't help but feel defensive about working as a barista despite being a Stanford grad, Lydia is the epileptic college student who's finally escaped her overprotective parents, and Colin is persistent customer who think he's entitled to a date after setting Lizzie and Charlotte up with contract jobs. It's Pride and Prejudice for Millennials with Lizzie and Jane tackle adulting, and the struggle is so real. Plus, there were detailed nods to the original, like CEO de Boer's daily "Quotes by Cathy," which were a nice touch. I thought this was going to end up pretty high up on my list of P&P retellings until around the 40% mark (which is, admittedly, also when the sex starts) when the Lizzie/Darcy plotline took an unexpected turn. The whole didn't work for me as the main source of conflict. The subsequent progression of Lizzie/Darcy relationship felt a little too starry-eyed for me, and Lizzie's journey to "find herself," while very Millennial, felt a little forced.
December 12, 2017
All I know is... I LOVED this book! An original spin on a beloved classic. It was brilliant!
October 11, 2020
Entertaining
An Elizabeth of Greek descent, with frizzy hair, and just one sister, Jane, who is, or course, beautiful and blond. The setting is Seattle, and the sisters take an apartment together after Lizzie graduates from Stanford. They meet Chip and Darcy at a bar, and Lizzie starts a sexual relationship with Darcy after a short time. Lizzie wants to be an art curator, but has to settle for drudge work until she can get her Master's degree. Darcy is famous is the tech world through his father's company.
This modern day tale is very well written, and embraces the characteristics that a 22 year old college grad, with divorced parents and a gay father, would have, worlds away from the prim and proper Regency era behavior of young ladies. Lizzie swears like a sailor, and has casual sex with guys she's attracted to, and you just know that she can take care of herself.
Modern day versions are, by their nature, far from canon, but this is made even more clear by a different last name for Elizabeth and Jane, but the story still begins with the obligatory insult that Darcy delivers to Elizabeth, which starts them off on the wrong foot. However, thankfully, the author doesn't dwell on this too much, and the apology is given quickly.
Wickham is a thorny presence, but isn't a central character. Elizabeth's mom also has her bit of negative influence, but it's far different, and far less powerful. Some other familiar names are introduced in creative ways, just enough to keep the story connected to the original.
My only issues with the book were the rather abrupt ending, and the annoyingly excessive use of hipster slang and acronyms. The ending seemed rushed, as if the author was required to wrap it up quickly. The slang used is presumptuous, hard to follow at times, and will probably make this work seem outdated by next month.
Still, the book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
An Elizabeth of Greek descent, with frizzy hair, and just one sister, Jane, who is, or course, beautiful and blond. The setting is Seattle, and the sisters take an apartment together after Lizzie graduates from Stanford. They meet Chip and Darcy at a bar, and Lizzie starts a sexual relationship with Darcy after a short time. Lizzie wants to be an art curator, but has to settle for drudge work until she can get her Master's degree. Darcy is famous is the tech world through his father's company.
This modern day tale is very well written, and embraces the characteristics that a 22 year old college grad, with divorced parents and a gay father, would have, worlds away from the prim and proper Regency era behavior of young ladies. Lizzie swears like a sailor, and has casual sex with guys she's attracted to, and you just know that she can take care of herself.
Modern day versions are, by their nature, far from canon, but this is made even more clear by a different last name for Elizabeth and Jane, but the story still begins with the obligatory insult that Darcy delivers to Elizabeth, which starts them off on the wrong foot. However, thankfully, the author doesn't dwell on this too much, and the apology is given quickly.
Wickham is a thorny presence, but isn't a central character. Elizabeth's mom also has her bit of negative influence, but it's far different, and far less powerful. Some other familiar names are introduced in creative ways, just enough to keep the story connected to the original.
My only issues with the book were the rather abrupt ending, and the annoyingly excessive use of hipster slang and acronyms. The ending seemed rushed, as if the author was required to wrap it up quickly. The slang used is presumptuous, hard to follow at times, and will probably make this work seem outdated by next month.
Still, the book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
February 27, 2023
3 1/2 Stars - When Lizzie graduates from Standford with a degree in Art History, she moved to live with Jane in Seattle, where Jane similarly just finished law school. Jane starts out at a law firm, but Lizzie isn't ready yet to do the graduate school she knows that she needs in order to become a curator for an art gallery. She also isn't ready to give up her dream by taking a 9-5 job in the tech world, like her mother would like for her to do. Instead she finds herself working at a coffee shop, which she is happy to tell herself is temporary until she is ready to be on the path towards her future. Does Lizzie still wants the future she had once dreamed of, if she isn't going after it? And is she ready to step into adult life?
Things That Worked:
- We get to see both Lizzie and Jane's grow in this book. The both have times of not being sure what they want out of their life professionally, and struggling with their current path.
- We all knew that Lizzie and Jane's parents weren't met to be together, and in today's world they would have likely gotten a divorce. We see how their disagreements shaped Lizzie and Jane and led to some of their current issues with having a relationship.
- Lydia is a cousin of Jane and Lizzie's who is in undergrad in Seattle. She has health problems that caused her parents to be strict, and that has made her do everything to break out of their overprotectiveness as she lives out of the house for the first time in college.
- Darcy starts out by insulting Lizzie's age, but then finds himself intrigued by her. Their relationship suffers from mistaken assumptions and communication on both sides. I appreciated how the author had this come to a head and have a discussion, where they were clearly not on the same page.
Things That Didn't Work:
- I would have liked a little more at the end... an epilogue at least.
Maybe the Audrey Ryan will write a book focusing on Lydia, and we will get to see more of this world. I look forward to reading more of her book.
Things That Worked:
- We get to see both Lizzie and Jane's grow in this book. The both have times of not being sure what they want out of their life professionally, and struggling with their current path.
- We all knew that Lizzie and Jane's parents weren't met to be together, and in today's world they would have likely gotten a divorce. We see how their disagreements shaped Lizzie and Jane and led to some of their current issues with having a relationship.
- Lydia is a cousin of Jane and Lizzie's who is in undergrad in Seattle. She has health problems that caused her parents to be strict, and that has made her do everything to break out of their overprotectiveness as she lives out of the house for the first time in college.
- Darcy starts out by insulting Lizzie's age, but then finds himself intrigued by her. Their relationship suffers from mistaken assumptions and communication on both sides. I appreciated how the author had this come to a head and have a discussion, where they were clearly not on the same page.
Things That Didn't Work:
- I would have liked a little more at the end... an epilogue at least.
Maybe the Audrey Ryan will write a book focusing on Lydia, and we will get to see more of this world. I look forward to reading more of her book.
March 11, 2021
What a nice surprise!
I had low expectations about this book after starting - and not finishing - so many P&P variations. Moreover the ratings weren’t fabulous and I usually don’t like young adults book.
But... apart from a few slow and long sections not useful and not directly related to Lizzie and Darcy relationship, the plot is interesting and original, the characters are smart (a welcome change from the usual stupid, childish and/or conventional characters in other books).
The description of Seattle allows the readers to imagine what the city is like and to imagine it easily.
The plot follows loosely the original P&P, which was a bonus for me. Darcy is really cute and Lizzie not childish. They evolve throughout the book.
Well done to the author, I hope she will write other books.
I had low expectations about this book after starting - and not finishing - so many P&P variations. Moreover the ratings weren’t fabulous and I usually don’t like young adults book.
But... apart from a few slow and long sections not useful and not directly related to Lizzie and Darcy relationship, the plot is interesting and original, the characters are smart (a welcome change from the usual stupid, childish and/or conventional characters in other books).
The description of Seattle allows the readers to imagine what the city is like and to imagine it easily.
The plot follows loosely the original P&P, which was a bonus for me. Darcy is really cute and Lizzie not childish. They evolve throughout the book.
Well done to the author, I hope she will write other books.
November 30, 2017
Good modern retelling of P&P
This was good update of P&P that kept the feel and essence of the original characters and their relationships without slavishly copying from the original nor awkwardly cramming Georgian mores into a modern time.
The modern setting in Seattle felt integral to the plot. The characters’ behavior, including their mistakes made sense and fit what we knew about them. The writing was well done and fun to read.
We didn’t get to spend as much time with all the characters and this story was not exactly P&P, but The author’s changes and updates were appropriate and well done. This is one of the best P&P updates I’ve read, much, much better than de la Cruz or P.D. James’
This was good update of P&P that kept the feel and essence of the original characters and their relationships without slavishly copying from the original nor awkwardly cramming Georgian mores into a modern time.
The modern setting in Seattle felt integral to the plot. The characters’ behavior, including their mistakes made sense and fit what we knew about them. The writing was well done and fun to read.
We didn’t get to spend as much time with all the characters and this story was not exactly P&P, but The author’s changes and updates were appropriate and well done. This is one of the best P&P updates I’ve read, much, much better than de la Cruz or P.D. James’
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