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Out, Proud, and Prejudiced
One’s proud, one’s prejudiced, and they can’t stand each other.
Quick-tempered Bennet Rourke dislikes Darius Lanniker on sight. Darius may be a hotshot city lawyer, but that doesn’t give him the right to sneer at Bennet, his friends, and their college. It doesn’t help that Bennet’s restaurant job has him waiting at Darius’s table. So when his tutor recommends him for an internship at Darius’s Pemberley estate, Bennet isn’t sure he wants it. He’s also not sure he can afford to turn it down.
Darius is a fish out of water in the small college town of Meriton, but something keeps pulling him back there. He’s helping out a friend with business advice, nothing more. If he’s interested in Bennet, it’s not serious. Sure, Bennet challenges him in a way no other man has. But they have nothing in common. Right?
Wrong. Their best friends are falling in love, and Bennet and Darius can’t seem to escape each other. Soon they’re sharing climbing ropes and birthday cake, and there’s a spark between them that won’t be denied. But betrayal is around the corner. Darius must swallow his pride and Bennet must drop his prejudices to see the rainbow shining through the storm clouds.
A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Quick-tempered Bennet Rourke dislikes Darius Lanniker on sight. Darius may be a hotshot city lawyer, but that doesn’t give him the right to sneer at Bennet, his friends, and their college. It doesn’t help that Bennet’s restaurant job has him waiting at Darius’s table. So when his tutor recommends him for an internship at Darius’s Pemberley estate, Bennet isn’t sure he wants it. He’s also not sure he can afford to turn it down.
Darius is a fish out of water in the small college town of Meriton, but something keeps pulling him back there. He’s helping out a friend with business advice, nothing more. If he’s interested in Bennet, it’s not serious. Sure, Bennet challenges him in a way no other man has. But they have nothing in common. Right?
Wrong. Their best friends are falling in love, and Bennet and Darius can’t seem to escape each other. Soon they’re sharing climbing ropes and birthday cake, and there’s a spark between them that won’t be denied. But betrayal is around the corner. Darius must swallow his pride and Bennet must drop his prejudices to see the rainbow shining through the storm clouds.
A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2018
15 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Megan Reddaway
12 books18 followersMegan Reddaway has been entertained by fictional characters acting out their stories in her head for as long as she can remember. She began writing them down as soon as she could.
Since she grew up (more or less), she’s worked as a secretary, driver, waitress, and flower-seller, among other things, but she always has a story bubbling away at the same time.
Since she grew up (more or less), she’s worked as a secretary, driver, waitress, and flower-seller, among other things, but she always has a story bubbling away at the same time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 27, 2018
3.5*
This is a MM version of Pride and Prejudice so if you've read the original, you know what's going to happen here.
I was pleasantly surprised though by the clever twists on the characters to make them fit into this new narrative and I think overall it worked well.
The pace is quite slow though, and it was a while before we got to the meat of the story and I have to say, I don't have the same feeling with the source material so I've knocked a star off for that.
It also felt quite a bit more angsty than the original and didn't have quite the same wry humour as Austen did poking fun at Georgian society.
But, taken together, this is a great retelling of a classic.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This is a MM version of Pride and Prejudice so if you've read the original, you know what's going to happen here.
I was pleasantly surprised though by the clever twists on the characters to make them fit into this new narrative and I think overall it worked well.
The pace is quite slow though, and it was a while before we got to the meat of the story and I have to say, I don't have the same feeling with the source material so I've knocked a star off for that.
It also felt quite a bit more angsty than the original and didn't have quite the same wry humour as Austen did poking fun at Georgian society.
But, taken together, this is a great retelling of a classic.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 9, 2018
ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE HAS THE SAME LEVEL OF ANGST AS THIS I CAN'T READ IT ANY TIME SOON BECAUSE I'M STILL RECOVERING FROM THIS ONE.
so, i don't know anything about pride and prejudice, so i can't compare this book to it or anything. but i really enjoyed it! there was a lot of romantic angst and drama, and not just romantic - there was just so much drama! i was kept on tenterhooks the whole time, even though i knew a HEA was on the horizon.
i knocked off a star because i thought it was a bit slow in places, and also because i'm kinda hard to please, but i definitely would recommend this. all the tension that had been simmering between bennet and darius just EXPLODES in the last couple of chapters and it's definitely worth the wait!
so, i don't know anything about pride and prejudice, so i can't compare this book to it or anything. but i really enjoyed it! there was a lot of romantic angst and drama, and not just romantic - there was just so much drama! i was kept on tenterhooks the whole time, even though i knew a HEA was on the horizon.
i knocked off a star because i thought it was a bit slow in places, and also because i'm kinda hard to please, but i definitely would recommend this. all the tension that had been simmering between bennet and darius just EXPLODES in the last couple of chapters and it's definitely worth the wait!
June 6, 2018
Classic Brit lit, retold and centered around queer characters? I love it!
I was keen to read Megan Reddaway’s Out, Proud, and Prejudiced because I knew the plot of Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Pejudice, could make an interesting gay romance. Reddaway keeps the story line fresh, and inserts some modern twists to make it relevant to twenty-first century readers. This book is so much fun; if you’re new to this plot I promise you’ll enjoy it. And for fans of the original? There are a few surprises here I’m sure you’re going to appreciate.
It’s been awhile since I read Pride and Prejudice, well over 20 years, but Reddaway’s version brought it all flooding back. Jane Austen’s protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, and her constant internal dialogue, second guessing herself and everything around her. As in the original, this version is also told entirely from the perspective of the new main character, Bennet Rourke. (Yes, very clever with the name, I agree.)
I couldn’t help chuckling over Bennet’s misinterpretations and snap judgments. He has the confidence of youth, believing he’s infallible and has it all figured out. As the story progresses, and Bennet is repeatedly brought face to face with his misconceptions, his inevitable “aha” moment is charming.
Darius Lanniker, the reincarnation of the misread hero, Mr. Darcy, winds Bennet up like no one else. Born into wealth and privilege, Darius fits the ideal picture of the upper class British gent. Add in his arrogance, good looks, and fancy car, and Bennet has no trouble casting Darius in the role of villain. Bennet goes to comical lengths to cultivate this animosity, never giving Darius the benefit of the doubt.
There’s an immediate attraction between Bennet and Darius. Constant bickering and traded insults just provide more fuel for the heat building between them. Each time they cross paths the sexual tension continues to increase… argh, will these boys ever work it out?!? It’s a slow burn, but it’s definitely worth the wait.
I don’t remember most of the melodrama surrounding the secondary characters in Pride and Prejudice, but their complexity in Reddaway’s novel is really something! No vice is left unexplored, and each misunderstanding just eclipses the one that came before. The story never stops moving.
Out, Proud, and Prejudiced is beautifully written, and I’m impressed by Megan Reddaway’s creativity and insight. She brings some interesting aspects of modern British culture to light in this one and it works well with the story line. I definitely recommend this one to fans of the classic novel, but if you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice you’ll be no worse off.
I was keen to read Megan Reddaway’s Out, Proud, and Prejudiced because I knew the plot of Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Pejudice, could make an interesting gay romance. Reddaway keeps the story line fresh, and inserts some modern twists to make it relevant to twenty-first century readers. This book is so much fun; if you’re new to this plot I promise you’ll enjoy it. And for fans of the original? There are a few surprises here I’m sure you’re going to appreciate.
It’s been awhile since I read Pride and Prejudice, well over 20 years, but Reddaway’s version brought it all flooding back. Jane Austen’s protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, and her constant internal dialogue, second guessing herself and everything around her. As in the original, this version is also told entirely from the perspective of the new main character, Bennet Rourke. (Yes, very clever with the name, I agree.)
I couldn’t help chuckling over Bennet’s misinterpretations and snap judgments. He has the confidence of youth, believing he’s infallible and has it all figured out. As the story progresses, and Bennet is repeatedly brought face to face with his misconceptions, his inevitable “aha” moment is charming.
Darius Lanniker, the reincarnation of the misread hero, Mr. Darcy, winds Bennet up like no one else. Born into wealth and privilege, Darius fits the ideal picture of the upper class British gent. Add in his arrogance, good looks, and fancy car, and Bennet has no trouble casting Darius in the role of villain. Bennet goes to comical lengths to cultivate this animosity, never giving Darius the benefit of the doubt.
There’s an immediate attraction between Bennet and Darius. Constant bickering and traded insults just provide more fuel for the heat building between them. Each time they cross paths the sexual tension continues to increase… argh, will these boys ever work it out?!? It’s a slow burn, but it’s definitely worth the wait.
I don’t remember most of the melodrama surrounding the secondary characters in Pride and Prejudice, but their complexity in Reddaway’s novel is really something! No vice is left unexplored, and each misunderstanding just eclipses the one that came before. The story never stops moving.
Out, Proud, and Prejudiced is beautifully written, and I’m impressed by Megan Reddaway’s creativity and insight. She brings some interesting aspects of modern British culture to light in this one and it works well with the story line. I definitely recommend this one to fans of the classic novel, but if you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice you’ll be no worse off.
December 6, 2019
I’ve tried to look at it objectively, but I can’t say if this book would’ve worked on its own or if I would’ve even been interested enough to pick it up, if it wasn’t a modern, m/m retelling of one of my favorite books. That was the biggest appeal for me and the curiosity of seeing how that plot and characters had been adapted and reinvented was what made me start and keep reading. I had some quibbles, but I wasn’t disappointed.
Read
June 7, 2020Unfortunately this was not the mm adaptation of Pride & Prejudice I was looking for. I ended up skimming a good amount of it. It was long and slow, strange and awkward. It left me feeling underwhelmed, disappointed and just kind of...meh. I’m not even sure how to rate it so I’m leaving it unrated for now. Oh well, can’t win them all. 🤷🏻♀️
June 21, 2018
A modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice but with it being M/M? Of course i had to snatch this up and read it.
It actually ended up surprising me, because the first 30% or so was...slow. Frustrating to get through for me. I get that it's following the basic outline of P & P, which is no doubt a veryyy slow burn indeed, but for this is was just...too slow for me. It ended up being a little boring at times, and Darius (Darcy) wasn't there enough and their interactions weren't enough for me.
But then something changed, the story started to pick up, and as the juicy bits of P&P started to get retold in this story as well, it sucked me in. Darius and Bennett (Elizabeth) didn't have the greatest chemistry at first either, I felt. And I know Bennett is supposed to hate Darius and all that, but he's also, in this modern version, clearly attracted to him even though he doesn't want to be, but I didn't really feel that attraction. Until Bennett really started to fall for Darius.
Things happen in a similar fashion to P & P, just in a modern setting and with the names changed what (but still cleverly close to the originals in most cases). Like Whyndam (for Whyckam int he original, however you spell it) didn't run off with Darcy's sister, but he did do something even worse to Darius' half-brother - well his half-brother too. And I mean, for today's standards, running off with someone isn't quite as scandalous today as it was back then, so the change makes sense, but it sucks and it makes the guy even more scummy than in the original.
Jaime (Jane) is sweet and pretty and kind, and Tim (Bingley) falls for him, but all that stuff with Darius having a part in their separation but getting back together too was all there.
Plus, as it is modern times, we didn't get quite a bit more steam. It still wasn't great, but it's more than in the original book that's for sure lol (i think they don't even kiss it.)
So overall, a good retelling of the classic P&P, just pretty slow in the beginning, I think. Worth a read though! :D
It actually ended up surprising me, because the first 30% or so was...slow. Frustrating to get through for me. I get that it's following the basic outline of P & P, which is no doubt a veryyy slow burn indeed, but for this is was just...too slow for me. It ended up being a little boring at times, and Darius (Darcy) wasn't there enough and their interactions weren't enough for me.
But then something changed, the story started to pick up, and as the juicy bits of P&P started to get retold in this story as well, it sucked me in. Darius and Bennett (Elizabeth) didn't have the greatest chemistry at first either, I felt. And I know Bennett is supposed to hate Darius and all that, but he's also, in this modern version, clearly attracted to him even though he doesn't want to be, but I didn't really feel that attraction. Until Bennett really started to fall for Darius.
Things happen in a similar fashion to P & P, just in a modern setting and with the names changed what (but still cleverly close to the originals in most cases). Like Whyndam (for Whyckam int he original, however you spell it) didn't run off with Darcy's sister, but he did do something even worse to Darius' half-brother - well his half-brother too. And I mean, for today's standards, running off with someone isn't quite as scandalous today as it was back then, so the change makes sense, but it sucks and it makes the guy even more scummy than in the original.
Jaime (Jane) is sweet and pretty and kind, and Tim (Bingley) falls for him, but all that stuff with Darius having a part in their separation but getting back together too was all there.
Plus, as it is modern times, we didn't get quite a bit more steam. It still wasn't great, but it's more than in the original book that's for sure lol (i think they don't even kiss it.)
So overall, a good retelling of the classic P&P, just pretty slow in the beginning, I think. Worth a read though! :D
June 15, 2018
It has been many years since I read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, but reading Megan Reddaway’s modern version, Out, Proud, and Prejudiced, was so much fun. There have been numerous adaptations and retellings over the years of this much-loved book, both in print and on the screen, and it’s amazing to see how well the story and characters hold up even two hundred years later. Reddaway’s is a clever, modern retelling that follows the basic storyline of the original, with the most obvious nods being the character and place names. Here the main characters are Bennett and Darius, and just as with the beloved Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, they most certainly do not immediately hit it off!
The enemies-to-lovers trope is a favorite of many romance readers, and Reddaway nailed it with Bennett and Darius. When word gets around that there is a mysterious new gallery owner in town, and that he’s rumored to be young and hot, Bennett’s roommates are all atwitter. They convince Bennett to go with them to Rush, the once-a-month LGBTQ night at Meriton’s only nightclub, so that they can check him out. Tim, the new owner of the gallery, is lovely, but the friend he brought with him? Not so much. Darius comes off as such a shit at first. Seemingly looking down his nose at Bennett, his friends, the town, their college, even Bennett’s best friend, Jamie, who Tim is instantly taken with. Bennett decides on that first meeting that Darius is a pretentious asshole, and he does everything he can to avoid him.
Because Jamie and Tim are quickly falling for each other, however, the two men are constantly thrown together, eventually forcing them to acknowledge their attraction to each other, and surprising them with the things they have in common. I loved the super slow-burn between these guys. Reddaway did a great job easing them from intense dislike, to tolerance, to possible friendship and finally admitting their fondness for each other. I liked when Bennett had his epiphany that he perhaps judged Darius a bit too harshly, if not entirely incorrectly. And, when they figure things out at the end, it’s so satisfying and perfect.
I loved the settings of Meriton college, Longbourn Manor, and Pemberley Hall, and I enjoyed what Reddaway did with the characters. Bennett’s roommates Leon and Kofi were ridiculous and entertaining. I LOVED sweet sensitive Jamie, and Tim as well; they were so wonderful together. And, I could tell who the villain was going to be from the get-go. Red flags going up left and right with that one!
When Bennett finally lets go of his pride in order to solicit Darius’s help at the end…Or…was he too prejudice and Darius was too proud…? (Bonus points to everyone who gets my silly You’ve Got Mail reference. Ha! 😊) I think we can all agree that they each have elements of both pride and prejudice to overcome but, as I said, the ending was wonderfully done. I think, whether you’re familiar with the original or not, there are many fabulous things to enjoy about Out, Proud, and Prejudiced.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
The enemies-to-lovers trope is a favorite of many romance readers, and Reddaway nailed it with Bennett and Darius. When word gets around that there is a mysterious new gallery owner in town, and that he’s rumored to be young and hot, Bennett’s roommates are all atwitter. They convince Bennett to go with them to Rush, the once-a-month LGBTQ night at Meriton’s only nightclub, so that they can check him out. Tim, the new owner of the gallery, is lovely, but the friend he brought with him? Not so much. Darius comes off as such a shit at first. Seemingly looking down his nose at Bennett, his friends, the town, their college, even Bennett’s best friend, Jamie, who Tim is instantly taken with. Bennett decides on that first meeting that Darius is a pretentious asshole, and he does everything he can to avoid him.
Because Jamie and Tim are quickly falling for each other, however, the two men are constantly thrown together, eventually forcing them to acknowledge their attraction to each other, and surprising them with the things they have in common. I loved the super slow-burn between these guys. Reddaway did a great job easing them from intense dislike, to tolerance, to possible friendship and finally admitting their fondness for each other. I liked when Bennett had his epiphany that he perhaps judged Darius a bit too harshly, if not entirely incorrectly. And, when they figure things out at the end, it’s so satisfying and perfect.
I loved the settings of Meriton college, Longbourn Manor, and Pemberley Hall, and I enjoyed what Reddaway did with the characters. Bennett’s roommates Leon and Kofi were ridiculous and entertaining. I LOVED sweet sensitive Jamie, and Tim as well; they were so wonderful together. And, I could tell who the villain was going to be from the get-go. Red flags going up left and right with that one!
When Bennett finally lets go of his pride in order to solicit Darius’s help at the end…Or…was he too prejudice and Darius was too proud…? (Bonus points to everyone who gets my silly You’ve Got Mail reference. Ha! 😊) I think we can all agree that they each have elements of both pride and prejudice to overcome but, as I said, the ending was wonderfully done. I think, whether you’re familiar with the original or not, there are many fabulous things to enjoy about Out, Proud, and Prejudiced.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
June 5, 2018
Two secrets spilt here.
The first is that ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is one of my favourite books, and reading the innumerable variations on that great story is one of the guiltiest of all my guilty pleasures. Stressed and tired? Read a P&P variation. Need refreshing entertainment? Read a P&P variation. Going on a journey? Read a P&P variation. You get the drift. I follow a couple of fanfic sites with religious fervour, lapping up the myriad ways in which Elizabeth Bennet meets and eventually marries Fitzwilliam Darcy. P&P related stories are my **jam**.
Riffs on famous books depend for their impact on the reader’s familiarity with the source. I’ll admit a bit of the delight for me was taking Megan Reddaway’s characters and matching them up with the P&P originals, and comparing the events of her book against Austen’s plot. I was thoroughly impressed by how she has taken the well-loved story and brought it into the 21st century and yet how well the characterisation and plotting points mesh with the original. I admit to squealing whenever I recognised a character, chuckling over the scene where the infamous Assembly insult is graphically and profanely updated, and laughing aloud (and scaring the dogs) at the Lady Catherine/Elizabeth confrontation remastered as Catherine/Bennet.
But let me hasten to reassure you that Reddaway isn’t just slavishly copying Austen here. Yes, the links to the source are strong, but the whole book – characters, dialogue, plot – are infused with a freshness and vitality that reflect how unconstrained, mobile and diverse society now is compared to Austen’s time. It has life, a joie-de-vivre that’s almost palpable, it has potential tragedy and heartbreak, laughs and tears, with strong, quick-witted, sharp characters and a dextrous plot, all pulled together in Reddaway’s skilful prose. This isn’t a mere pastiche. This is a clever, intelligent and creative retelling of a beloved classic.
Which brings me on to the second secret: I don’t read many contemporary stories. Mostly I want escapism, something far away from today. Hence the P&P variations, along with period detective/mysteries, historicals and, of course, sci-fi and fantasy. I don’t naturally reach for a contemporary for entertainment. Few grab my attention to the point where I’m cross I have to put down the Kindle to take the dogs out or make lunch or do the laundry. But this contemporary, gay take on P&P? Couldn’t put it down and truly resented Molly and Mavis today and their insistence on exercise just as I got to the exciting bit. I couldn’t wait to get back to see what happens next.
Oh here. Have a bonus confession: I don’t often keep the ARCs I’m sent when I do one of my (rare) reviews. Many books don’t wear well, don’t stand up to constant rereading. But this one? Yeah. I’ll be buying this one for keeps.
All in all, this is a wonderful, funny, and touching book. I really can’t recommend it highly enough.
The first is that ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is one of my favourite books, and reading the innumerable variations on that great story is one of the guiltiest of all my guilty pleasures. Stressed and tired? Read a P&P variation. Need refreshing entertainment? Read a P&P variation. Going on a journey? Read a P&P variation. You get the drift. I follow a couple of fanfic sites with religious fervour, lapping up the myriad ways in which Elizabeth Bennet meets and eventually marries Fitzwilliam Darcy. P&P related stories are my **jam**.
Riffs on famous books depend for their impact on the reader’s familiarity with the source. I’ll admit a bit of the delight for me was taking Megan Reddaway’s characters and matching them up with the P&P originals, and comparing the events of her book against Austen’s plot. I was thoroughly impressed by how she has taken the well-loved story and brought it into the 21st century and yet how well the characterisation and plotting points mesh with the original. I admit to squealing whenever I recognised a character, chuckling over the scene where the infamous Assembly insult is graphically and profanely updated, and laughing aloud (and scaring the dogs) at the Lady Catherine/Elizabeth confrontation remastered as Catherine/Bennet.
But let me hasten to reassure you that Reddaway isn’t just slavishly copying Austen here. Yes, the links to the source are strong, but the whole book – characters, dialogue, plot – are infused with a freshness and vitality that reflect how unconstrained, mobile and diverse society now is compared to Austen’s time. It has life, a joie-de-vivre that’s almost palpable, it has potential tragedy and heartbreak, laughs and tears, with strong, quick-witted, sharp characters and a dextrous plot, all pulled together in Reddaway’s skilful prose. This isn’t a mere pastiche. This is a clever, intelligent and creative retelling of a beloved classic.
Which brings me on to the second secret: I don’t read many contemporary stories. Mostly I want escapism, something far away from today. Hence the P&P variations, along with period detective/mysteries, historicals and, of course, sci-fi and fantasy. I don’t naturally reach for a contemporary for entertainment. Few grab my attention to the point where I’m cross I have to put down the Kindle to take the dogs out or make lunch or do the laundry. But this contemporary, gay take on P&P? Couldn’t put it down and truly resented Molly and Mavis today and their insistence on exercise just as I got to the exciting bit. I couldn’t wait to get back to see what happens next.
Oh here. Have a bonus confession: I don’t often keep the ARCs I’m sent when I do one of my (rare) reviews. Many books don’t wear well, don’t stand up to constant rereading. But this one? Yeah. I’ll be buying this one for keeps.
All in all, this is a wonderful, funny, and touching book. I really can’t recommend it highly enough.
July 7, 2018
This was a very interesting gay retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It’s so much more of a slow burn than the original and has a very modern twist on the side characters and their lives. But there is also very less romance and I thought by the end, Bennett and Darius just started to get to know each other better.
The writing is very easy flowing and I finished it in a single sitting but despite the enjoyable characters, I just felt that spark missing.
I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern takes on P&P. You will not be disappointed.
The writing is very easy flowing and I finished it in a single sitting but despite the enjoyable characters, I just felt that spark missing.
I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern takes on P&P. You will not be disappointed.
August 2, 2022
Thanks to Wild Romance Books for providing a copy of an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Ooh, this one was quite disappointing!
I loved the premise behind it - a modern, gay retelling of Pride and Prejudice (aka my favourite novel ever) - but the execution was lacking, and a lot of the changes the author made were upsetting.
I'll start with the things I really liked:
- Bennet (our Elizabeth) was a great protagonist. He was a lot like the original Lizzie, in that he's headstrong, prejudiced and very intelligent.
- Darius (our Darcy) was fantastic, very like the original Darcy. He was arrogant, proud, haughty, but he has a wry sense of humour that isn't apparent until Bennet, and the reader, gets to know him better.
- I loved the way the story was loosely based on and followed the original one, with it's own ... unique take on events. But it always went in the same direction, and for the most part, I enjoyed the author's modern takes (Bennet and Darcy bonding over rock climbing) and it was exciting to see beloved quotes remade but still recognisable.
- Jamie (our Jane) was just as sweet and lovely as the original, and Tim (our Mr Bingley) was cute and head over heels for Jamie.
The things I didn't like:
A lot of the plot, to be honest. While I appreciate that every author can make whatever changes they see fit in a retelling and can take the story down a different path, I really didn't like or appreciate the changes Reddaway made here - and that's not because I love Pride and Prejudice. It's because of the character of Giorgi (our Georgiana, Darcy's sister made brother in this novel).
I obviously can't go into much detail because a lot of my issues are considered spoilers but I will state what they are for other readers under the spoiler cut, because one would not typically expect to find these topics in a Romance book, of all genres.
Trigger warnings:
I'll also mention my disappointment with one of the only three female characters of the novel. I know Catherine (Lady Catherine) and Annabel (Lady Anne) are not likeable characters in the original story, but Charlotte - who has always been my favourite - was vilified. At the beginning of the book, she was one of Bennet's best friends, but the decisions she makes in the novel were disappointing and angering - and something I see in so many m/m novels written by women: the female character acting in a way that makes the reader hate her, while we are pushed to love the male characters. Ugh.
I didn't understand the importance or need for Bennet's ex-boyfriend in the book. At all. He served no purpose. None. Unless ... was he supposed to be Mr Collins? Because that's what this book sorely lacked and needed: a Mr Collins.
Anyway, to say I was disappointed by this novel would be an understatement. I can't recommend this novel, not even to diehard P&P fans.
Ooh, this one was quite disappointing!
I loved the premise behind it - a modern, gay retelling of Pride and Prejudice (aka my favourite novel ever) - but the execution was lacking, and a lot of the changes the author made were upsetting.
I'll start with the things I really liked:
- Bennet (our Elizabeth) was a great protagonist. He was a lot like the original Lizzie, in that he's headstrong, prejudiced and very intelligent.
- Darius (our Darcy) was fantastic, very like the original Darcy. He was arrogant, proud, haughty, but he has a wry sense of humour that isn't apparent until Bennet, and the reader, gets to know him better.
- I loved the way the story was loosely based on and followed the original one, with it's own ... unique take on events. But it always went in the same direction, and for the most part, I enjoyed the author's modern takes (Bennet and Darcy bonding over rock climbing) and it was exciting to see beloved quotes remade but still recognisable.
- Jamie (our Jane) was just as sweet and lovely as the original, and Tim (our Mr Bingley) was cute and head over heels for Jamie.
The things I didn't like:
A lot of the plot, to be honest. While I appreciate that every author can make whatever changes they see fit in a retelling and can take the story down a different path, I really didn't like or appreciate the changes Reddaway made here - and that's not because I love Pride and Prejudice. It's because of the character of Giorgi (our Georgiana, Darcy's sister made brother in this novel).
I obviously can't go into much detail because a lot of my issues are considered spoilers but I will state what they are for other readers under the spoiler cut, because one would not typically expect to find these topics in a Romance book, of all genres.
Trigger warnings:
I'll also mention my disappointment with one of the only three female characters of the novel. I know Catherine (Lady Catherine) and Annabel (Lady Anne) are not likeable characters in the original story, but Charlotte - who has always been my favourite - was vilified. At the beginning of the book, she was one of Bennet's best friends, but the decisions she makes in the novel were disappointing and angering - and something I see in so many m/m novels written by women: the female character acting in a way that makes the reader hate her, while we are pushed to love the male characters. Ugh.
I didn't understand the importance or need for Bennet's ex-boyfriend in the book. At all. He served no purpose. None. Unless ... was he supposed to be Mr Collins? Because that's what this book sorely lacked and needed: a Mr Collins.
Anyway, to say I was disappointed by this novel would be an understatement. I can't recommend this novel, not even to diehard P&P fans.
May 29, 2018
3.5 stars
Solid story. I must confess I skipped pages... yes I’m bad :(
Half way my attention drifted off, it had to much story.
I wanted more Darius and Bennett. O they were there, only not enough for me.
Again there was so much story around them, they almost drowned by it.
They didn’t even fit together throughout 98% Sometimes a little here and there in the story. There was tension but it I would have loved more intensity.
In short: a good written story, on the slow side, al the personalities were well put down.
Even though Darius and Bennett were the main it didn’t felt like it. There was so much going on.
I think there are others who will love and appreciate this story.
Kindly received an arc from the publisher
Solid story. I must confess I skipped pages... yes I’m bad :(
Half way my attention drifted off, it had to much story.
I wanted more Darius and Bennett. O they were there, only not enough for me.
Again there was so much story around them, they almost drowned by it.
They didn’t even fit together throughout 98% Sometimes a little here and there in the story. There was tension but it I would have loved more intensity.
In short: a good written story, on the slow side, al the personalities were well put down.
Even though Darius and Bennett were the main it didn’t felt like it. There was so much going on.
I think there are others who will love and appreciate this story.
Kindly received an arc from the publisher
December 11, 2020
So much drama!
June 4, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
This story is a modern reinterpretation of one of my favorite books, Pride and Prejudice. Like many books that try to re-imagine Austen’s classic characters and the themes of money, reputation, and social standing, it would have been a better story had the author not tried to follow the source material so closely. This is not a horrible book, but nor is it a really good one; it lies somewhere between a quick, light read and a character study of a truly unpleasant young man, but by using the framing of Pride and Prejudice, it becomes clumsy and dully predictable with nothing the characters say or do having any weight because their paths are already laid out for them. So, knowing the story as we do, it’s up to the characters themselves to be interesting and… it almost works.
Bennet Rourke is living paycheck to paycheck to put himself through college, along with a small student loan. Work, his college classes, his friends, and his lack of a boyfriend are his primary concerns until he comes face to face with Darius. It’s not love at first sight or even lust at first sight. When Bennet sees Darius being rude to the staff at the gay club, he’s offended and instantly turned off. Studying for a career in hospitality himself, he knows just how hard those people work — and this being a small town, he knows those people, personally. When he overhears Tim and Darius talking about the club it’s a nod to the famous scene in Pride and Prejudice: “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
This story is a modern reinterpretation of one of my favorite books, Pride and Prejudice. Like many books that try to re-imagine Austen’s classic characters and the themes of money, reputation, and social standing, it would have been a better story had the author not tried to follow the source material so closely. This is not a horrible book, but nor is it a really good one; it lies somewhere between a quick, light read and a character study of a truly unpleasant young man, but by using the framing of Pride and Prejudice, it becomes clumsy and dully predictable with nothing the characters say or do having any weight because their paths are already laid out for them. So, knowing the story as we do, it’s up to the characters themselves to be interesting and… it almost works.
Bennet Rourke is living paycheck to paycheck to put himself through college, along with a small student loan. Work, his college classes, his friends, and his lack of a boyfriend are his primary concerns until he comes face to face with Darius. It’s not love at first sight or even lust at first sight. When Bennet sees Darius being rude to the staff at the gay club, he’s offended and instantly turned off. Studying for a career in hospitality himself, he knows just how hard those people work — and this being a small town, he knows those people, personally. When he overhears Tim and Darius talking about the club it’s a nod to the famous scene in Pride and Prejudice: “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
June 5, 2018
4.5 stars
I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen and in general of that era literature. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all the time fave books. I saw and read everything related to the novel. More or less I liked them all. That’s why of course I had to read this new release by Megan Reddaway, a new to me author. I thought I could enjoy the story but I wasn’t expecting to love it so much. It was a lovely surprise.
I’m not going to focus my review on the plot cause the blurb tells you what you have to know and well, since it’s about Pride and Prejudice, you know what to expect. That said, the book is really well done, written so well my reading flew easily, and to me, being English is not my first language, this happens only when the writing is great. The greatest surprise were the characters, apart from the fact I adore coral stories like this one, when there are quite a few characters to meet and love, the author did a good job and she let me know a little about all the second characters, some of them I loved, others I despised as I did in the original novel. Some true gems like Giorgio and Jamie caught my heart deeply with their pureness. And then Bennet and Darius with their parts followed the enemies to lovers trope and made my heart beating like Elizabeth and Darcy always do.
I want to highly recommend Out, Pride and Prejudiced, it’s not just a simple retelling, through all the reading I felt connected to Jane Austen’s work, I could find all the elements I needed and everything was just right and fitting. I loved it.
I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen and in general of that era literature. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all the time fave books. I saw and read everything related to the novel. More or less I liked them all. That’s why of course I had to read this new release by Megan Reddaway, a new to me author. I thought I could enjoy the story but I wasn’t expecting to love it so much. It was a lovely surprise.
I’m not going to focus my review on the plot cause the blurb tells you what you have to know and well, since it’s about Pride and Prejudice, you know what to expect. That said, the book is really well done, written so well my reading flew easily, and to me, being English is not my first language, this happens only when the writing is great. The greatest surprise were the characters, apart from the fact I adore coral stories like this one, when there are quite a few characters to meet and love, the author did a good job and she let me know a little about all the second characters, some of them I loved, others I despised as I did in the original novel. Some true gems like Giorgio and Jamie caught my heart deeply with their pureness. And then Bennet and Darius with their parts followed the enemies to lovers trope and made my heart beating like Elizabeth and Darcy always do.
I want to highly recommend Out, Pride and Prejudiced, it’s not just a simple retelling, through all the reading I felt connected to Jane Austen’s work, I could find all the elements I needed and everything was just right and fitting. I loved it.
May 5, 2018
I am a huge fan of both Pride and Prejudice and M/M books so a P&P retelling with a LGBTQ twist? No brainer :)
And Out, Proud, and Prejudiced really was a lot of fun. We get pretty much all of the original characters in one way or another. We have Bennet and Darius as Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, Jamie and Tim are Jane and Mr Bingley (who is the only character where I couldn't figure out how the original name relates to the new one) but we also have Lydia and Kitty (Bennet's silly and slightly annoying roommates Leon and Kofi), Charlotte (who got to keep her name), Mr Collins (Callum) and many, many more. I loved how they all were definitely similar to the Jane Austen originals but were still also their own persons.
The basic story, too, follows pretty closely to the original but in the modern world with modern equivalents which I loved. There were definitely a few surprises along the way so it will still never get boring, even if you know Pride and Prejudice.
I loved the enemies to lovers dynamic between Bennet and Darius that was always at the forefront and that created some really intense scenes. I also really liked how honest Bennet was with himself in regards to Darius.
There are only two details I didn't love about this book. The first is Charlotte, who is just as practical with her life as you would expect from her but who also turned out to be a shitty friend in my opinion. And the second one is our villain's (whom I won't name in case someone hasn't read P&P yet ;) great scheme. That felt a little much and over the top. I admit it made for an exciting finale but yeah, maybe a tad too much.
Still, Out, Proud, and Prejudiced was so much fun! A must read for Jane Austen fans!
And Out, Proud, and Prejudiced really was a lot of fun. We get pretty much all of the original characters in one way or another. We have Bennet and Darius as Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, Jamie and Tim are Jane and Mr Bingley (who is the only character where I couldn't figure out how the original name relates to the new one) but we also have Lydia and Kitty (Bennet's silly and slightly annoying roommates Leon and Kofi), Charlotte (who got to keep her name), Mr Collins (Callum) and many, many more. I loved how they all were definitely similar to the Jane Austen originals but were still also their own persons.
The basic story, too, follows pretty closely to the original but in the modern world with modern equivalents which I loved. There were definitely a few surprises along the way so it will still never get boring, even if you know Pride and Prejudice.
I loved the enemies to lovers dynamic between Bennet and Darius that was always at the forefront and that created some really intense scenes. I also really liked how honest Bennet was with himself in regards to Darius.
There are only two details I didn't love about this book. The first is Charlotte, who is just as practical with her life as you would expect from her but who also turned out to be a shitty friend in my opinion. And the second one is our villain's (whom I won't name in case someone hasn't read P&P yet ;) great scheme. That felt a little much and over the top. I admit it made for an exciting finale but yeah, maybe a tad too much.
Still, Out, Proud, and Prejudiced was so much fun! A must read for Jane Austen fans!
May 11, 2018
3.5 stars
I'm a big lover of all things Pride and Prejudice, so when I so a MM romance based off of P&P I knew I needed to read it. I loved seeing some of the little details from the the original. There were some thing, or characters that I didn't love quite as much as other, but overall I really enjoyed this retelling.
I loved how the setting followed closely to the the original, but had a much more modern edge to it. There was still all the angst, drama, and misunderstandings. It was fun seeing some of the characters come to life in new ways. My favorite thing about this one was the hate to love story between Bennet and Darius. It was done so well. This was a really slow burn (if you've read P&P then you probably understand why) but we do get a little steam from them in the end.
One of the biggest issues I had with this one: Charlotte. She was the worst "best" friend ever! What she did was pretty unforgivable in my opinion, but it all gets swept under the rug like it's no big deal. She takes a new man's side of the story and basically tells Bennet to just deal with it. No! Not cool. The fact that she even went after Bennet's ex is pretty messed up too. He explained the bad blood between them before they even got together.
Even with my little pet peeve with Charlotte's character, I still really enjoyed this story. It was fun to read one of my stories in a new way. I'm excited to read more from this author.
*I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *
I'm a big lover of all things Pride and Prejudice, so when I so a MM romance based off of P&P I knew I needed to read it. I loved seeing some of the little details from the the original. There were some thing, or characters that I didn't love quite as much as other, but overall I really enjoyed this retelling.
I loved how the setting followed closely to the the original, but had a much more modern edge to it. There was still all the angst, drama, and misunderstandings. It was fun seeing some of the characters come to life in new ways. My favorite thing about this one was the hate to love story between Bennet and Darius. It was done so well. This was a really slow burn (if you've read P&P then you probably understand why) but we do get a little steam from them in the end.
One of the biggest issues I had with this one: Charlotte. She was the worst "best" friend ever! What she did was pretty unforgivable in my opinion, but it all gets swept under the rug like it's no big deal. She takes a new man's side of the story and basically tells Bennet to just deal with it. No! Not cool. The fact that she even went after Bennet's ex is pretty messed up too. He explained the bad blood between them before they even got together.
Even with my little pet peeve with Charlotte's character, I still really enjoyed this story. It was fun to read one of my stories in a new way. I'm excited to read more from this author.
*I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *
June 9, 2018
"Pride and Prejudice" is without a doubt the one book I have read the most often. So when I heard this was going to be part of the Classics queered project, I was as excited as I was worried - because those are some big footsteps to follow in.
And when I started reading this, it took me a while to be able to enjoy this mostly on its own - the first fifty pages I kept trying to figure who everyone was and what was going to happen there, and I was starting to get afraid I wouldn't be able to stop doing that, but then I found myself pulled into the story - so much so that I almost was gnawing on my nails trying to find the time to read on.
This is a modern, gay take on P&P, and I found it well done. Not all the original's plot points can be found "translated" here, but the important ones certainly are, and while I liked some parts better than others, I absolutely loved Bennet and Darius and the way their relationship developed in a current setting. Megan Reddaway definitely hit all the right notes there.
This was the first time in a while I couldn't stop reading, so this in itself is high praise. I really enjoyed it, and it made me happy, which is a very good thing.
(It also made me think about reading and the way I engage with texts, which is also a good thing.)
And when I started reading this, it took me a while to be able to enjoy this mostly on its own - the first fifty pages I kept trying to figure who everyone was and what was going to happen there, and I was starting to get afraid I wouldn't be able to stop doing that, but then I found myself pulled into the story - so much so that I almost was gnawing on my nails trying to find the time to read on.
This is a modern, gay take on P&P, and I found it well done. Not all the original's plot points can be found "translated" here, but the important ones certainly are, and while I liked some parts better than others, I absolutely loved Bennet and Darius and the way their relationship developed in a current setting. Megan Reddaway definitely hit all the right notes there.
This was the first time in a while I couldn't stop reading, so this in itself is high praise. I really enjoyed it, and it made me happy, which is a very good thing.
(It also made me think about reading and the way I engage with texts, which is also a good thing.)
June 4, 2018
4 Stars
I really enjoyed this book and while I’ve never read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (I’m not really a Classics kinda Gal), I had fun following Bennet and Darius’s story.
I loved Bennet’s dedication to his schooling and friends. How responsible he was for a twenty-year-old was refreshing. While he still made a little time for fun, his mind was always on what he needed to do to succeed in life.
Darius was a little harder to like (which, I guess, was the point) but he did have his moments. His dedication to his loved one was commendable, but that didn’t excuse his attitude.
I wasn’t attached to Bennet’s friends or his family. I did enjoy the town and the visual that Megan created as she told this story, though.
The pacing was spot on and made it so easy to flow from chapter to chapter. There was no excess of extra descriptions like some authors are known to do. I hope to enjoy more of Megan’s work in the future. Her work has made a very good impact on me and I sincerely hope others will enjoy it as well.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I really enjoyed this book and while I’ve never read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (I’m not really a Classics kinda Gal), I had fun following Bennet and Darius’s story.
I loved Bennet’s dedication to his schooling and friends. How responsible he was for a twenty-year-old was refreshing. While he still made a little time for fun, his mind was always on what he needed to do to succeed in life.
Darius was a little harder to like (which, I guess, was the point) but he did have his moments. His dedication to his loved one was commendable, but that didn’t excuse his attitude.
I wasn’t attached to Bennet’s friends or his family. I did enjoy the town and the visual that Megan created as she told this story, though.
The pacing was spot on and made it so easy to flow from chapter to chapter. There was no excess of extra descriptions like some authors are known to do. I hope to enjoy more of Megan’s work in the future. Her work has made a very good impact on me and I sincerely hope others will enjoy it as well.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
May 29, 2018
Out, Proud, and Prejudiced is a contemporary romance novel by Megan Reddaway. It’s also a gay adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and as soon as I saw the description, I knew that I had to read this book.
If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s literary classic, the basic storyline should be familiar to you, with the notable exception of most of the characters being gay men. Bennet Rourke meets Darius Lanniker, and their mutual dislike is almost palpable. They are forced to endure each other because their friends are dating. Misunderstandings occur, mostly due to the machinations of the villainous Wyndham. Can Bennet and Darius see beyond their initial impressions of each other, or are their differences far too great?
I could spend several hundred words gushing about all the ways Reddaway took the original story and modernized it, but that would spoil so many of the lovely surprises. Needless to say, Wyndham does the most Wickham-ish thing ever, and the big Lady Catherine speech was utterly hilarious.
I would absolutely recommend Out, Proud, and Prejudiced to fans of m/m romance. This is definitely one of my favorite P&P adaptations. The beginning was a little slow, but the pacing increased, and I found myself reading quickly to find out what was going to happen next. This is such a sweet story, and I am definitely going to check out more of Reddaway’s books in the future!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book.
If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s literary classic, the basic storyline should be familiar to you, with the notable exception of most of the characters being gay men. Bennet Rourke meets Darius Lanniker, and their mutual dislike is almost palpable. They are forced to endure each other because their friends are dating. Misunderstandings occur, mostly due to the machinations of the villainous Wyndham. Can Bennet and Darius see beyond their initial impressions of each other, or are their differences far too great?
I could spend several hundred words gushing about all the ways Reddaway took the original story and modernized it, but that would spoil so many of the lovely surprises. Needless to say, Wyndham does the most Wickham-ish thing ever, and the big Lady Catherine speech was utterly hilarious.
I would absolutely recommend Out, Proud, and Prejudiced to fans of m/m romance. This is definitely one of my favorite P&P adaptations. The beginning was a little slow, but the pacing increased, and I found myself reading quickly to find out what was going to happen next. This is such a sweet story, and I am definitely going to check out more of Reddaway’s books in the future!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book.
May 16, 2018
Ok. I have to admit it first. I am a Jane Austen addict so Austen fan fiction is like the edge pieces of brownies to me, what I want most. And just like the edge pieces of brownies, some are oh so good, some are alright, and some are terrible.
This book is edging on the oh so good. It had enough of Pride and Prejudice elements to keep me happy to connect it to the original. Not only that but it was funny and interesting enough in its own right. I just wonder if there are really gay men who act like the young men do in this book.
This book is edging on the oh so good. It had enough of Pride and Prejudice elements to keep me happy to connect it to the original. Not only that but it was funny and interesting enough in its own right. I just wonder if there are really gay men who act like the young men do in this book.
June 3, 2018
Really enjoyed this retelling. <3 <3 <3 Full review coming to www.thenovelapproachreviews.com
June 4, 2018
Reviewed for Just Love
4 stars
When I saw that was a queer re-telling of Pride & Prejudice, I couldn’t request this book fast enough. I love P&P and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the original and best enemies-to-lovers story. Yes yes, I know others came first but *for me* this is it.
I’m happy to say that Out, Proud, and Prejudiced was not only more or less faithful to the original, with all the necessary modern updates, but it was more fun than I thought it would be. Which is not to say that you have to be an Austen fan to enjoy this story. On the contrary. Sometimes it helps going into a book like this without any preconceived notions. Dare I say, without any….prejudice?
Hey, I’m not too proud to pun ;)
Much like the original, there is a good deal of drama and the kind of misunderstandings and dirty dealings that only get resolved at the very end. But getting there is half the fun, even when you’re already familiar with the basic premise of the story, because the characters are great no matter what era they’re from.
In this version of P&P, Elizabeth Bennett has become Bennett Rourke and Mr. Darcy is now Darius Lanniker. They still can’t stand each other, of course, but are reluctantly supportive when both of their bf’s, Jamie and Tim (Jane and Mr. Bingley in the original) are introduced and instantly attracted to one another.
I loved how the source material blended seamlessly with all the updated elements of the story, without losing the charm of the original book. This is especially true of the characters, who are allowed to retain their original personalities (actually, some of them are way more personable here) but are thoroughly modern in every way.
The other supporting players in this drama are Leon and Kofi (Lydia and Kitty), Callum (Mr. Collins) and Wyndham (Wickam), among others. One of the very few things I found disappointing was Bennett’s mother, who is pretty much drab and lifeless. In the original she’s basically nasty and horrible but at least she’s interesting in a cringe-inducing sort of way. Here, she has lost all of her personality and could have easily been edited out without affecting the story at all.
Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, entertaining book. This was my first time reading this author, but it has intrigued me enough to check out her back catalogue.
In the meantime, I feel a P&P movie marathon coming on!
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4 stars
When I saw that was a queer re-telling of Pride & Prejudice, I couldn’t request this book fast enough. I love P&P and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the original and best enemies-to-lovers story. Yes yes, I know others came first but *for me* this is it.
I’m happy to say that Out, Proud, and Prejudiced was not only more or less faithful to the original, with all the necessary modern updates, but it was more fun than I thought it would be. Which is not to say that you have to be an Austen fan to enjoy this story. On the contrary. Sometimes it helps going into a book like this without any preconceived notions. Dare I say, without any….prejudice?
Hey, I’m not too proud to pun ;)
Much like the original, there is a good deal of drama and the kind of misunderstandings and dirty dealings that only get resolved at the very end. But getting there is half the fun, even when you’re already familiar with the basic premise of the story, because the characters are great no matter what era they’re from.
In this version of P&P, Elizabeth Bennett has become Bennett Rourke and Mr. Darcy is now Darius Lanniker. They still can’t stand each other, of course, but are reluctantly supportive when both of their bf’s, Jamie and Tim (Jane and Mr. Bingley in the original) are introduced and instantly attracted to one another.
I loved how the source material blended seamlessly with all the updated elements of the story, without losing the charm of the original book. This is especially true of the characters, who are allowed to retain their original personalities (actually, some of them are way more personable here) but are thoroughly modern in every way.
The other supporting players in this drama are Leon and Kofi (Lydia and Kitty), Callum (Mr. Collins) and Wyndham (Wickam), among others. One of the very few things I found disappointing was Bennett’s mother, who is pretty much drab and lifeless. In the original she’s basically nasty and horrible but at least she’s interesting in a cringe-inducing sort of way. Here, she has lost all of her personality and could have easily been edited out without affecting the story at all.
Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, entertaining book. This was my first time reading this author, but it has intrigued me enough to check out her back catalogue.
In the meantime, I feel a P&P movie marathon coming on!
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 18, 2021
All right, this seems weird, but another stellar 5-star retelling of P&P, with gender roles changed to be M/M.
I think, again, like AJ Michaels's version, I love the way the Author stored away a bunch of hidden callbacks to the original.
So many things in P&P of what I love is organized unfolding of the storytelling; I kind of want re-tellings, variations and adaptions to have at least some semblance of familiarity... I want characters I recall, I want to see certain things Lizzie says or does, things that happen to her, especially from Darcy's hands - oh, and sometimes I do wish some of the background minor stuff to still exist, too.
I don't know how Megan did it but she gave Bennet, our "Lizzie", all the telltale earmarking-s of what Lizzie went through...down to an Ex-boyfriend, CULLEN, who was scummy and weaselly, like MR. COLLINS...to an even a more dastardly liar of an a-hole in WYNDHAM MOORHOUSE, who was our GEORGE WICKHAM.
There was not just a lot to unpack but a lot to admire about this setting, too. I wanted to see more of it. This is Meriton College which is a technical/trade college who specializes in Hospitality /Hosting/
Hostessing, which is what Bennet wanted a career in, while some did serving, cooking, sommelier, maitre d-ing... it was a lovely experience to be immersed in and kind of fascinating.
Longbourne is the "house/dorm" Bennet and four other gay men live in off-campus, or on-campus, I can't recall...but there is even a gay couple who mirrors THE BENNETs, an older Professor-type and then a middle-aged man who runs the house dorm of Longbourne.
There's even a Jamie ["JANE"] who falls for Tim Wilson ["BINGLEY"].
Our "Darcy" was a Darius Lanniker...and Pemberley Hall existed but it was run for catering events and it was managed by a Catherine and her wane, pale daughter, Anne.
Bennet even has best girl friend, Charlotte, who is straight and manages to start seeing his Ex, Cullen [Mr. Collins]. Everything was amazingly similar in little ways that made me smile giddily, like re-watching your favorite childhood TV show.
Even better...again, I LOVED Bennet, as my "Lizzie POV"; he is wise beyond his years and he may have one of the most gut-wrenching and raw-est, saddest childhoods I have seen an Author give their MC...he broke my heart and I wanted to hug him so fiercely.
There was so much to respect and admire as it mirrored the OG text to such a degree that was really enjoyable.
September 24, 2018
3.5 stars. Overall I enjoyed this in the way that I enjoy basically any half-way decent Pride and Prejudice adaptation. Which sounds like damning this with faint praise, but honestly I've read/watched a LOT of shitty P&P adaptations, and this one was pretty good. I mean, as an actual adaptation, I had some issues with some things, but tbh the thing I always care most about with P&P adaptations is how the Darcy/Lizzy dynamic goes — if it works for me, then I'll ultimately enjoy it, and it did here. There were a couple of moments/scenes that just got me between Bennet and Darius that pushed this over the edge for me.
To address the negatives first, I think this actually might've been too close an adaptation, in terms of following all the same plot beats. I was expecting a much looser adaptation considering it stars two gay men, and many of the side characters are also gay men, and Bennet isn't related to Jamie/Leon/etc., and you don't have Mr. and Mrs. Bennet around really. And I think this might've done better if some things from the original had been cut. For example, the Charlotte/Callum (Collins) stuff just felt completely unnecessary and like a total afterthought. Charlotte's barely a character (I don't think she's even supposed to be Bennet's bff, or at least it didn't seem like she was), and having her engaged and pregnant at the end didn't feel right for this story, it felt more like the author wanted to do that because of the original. But really, the entire storyline could've been cut. I mean, it's not even really a storyline — it's like 3 scenes! Those scenes could've been cut out entirely and changed nothing.
The adaptation of Lydia's fall, on the other hand, was very different, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. idk, it was a weird combo of some things feeling like they were too constrained to following the original and then some things not being anywhere near close and also feeling weird.
I liked Giorgio, but I was very confused about how old he's supposed to be because he reads as like, 12, but the thing with Wyndham occurred when he was 16, and it didn't seem like it was SUPER recent, so he had to be at least 17 or 18 at this point, and Bennet's 20 but keeps referring to him as a boy, so it just seemed… odd. Also, I get why if the Darcy/Lizzy characters are both gay males that it makes sense to make a lot of the secondary characters gay males as well, but I will say that it felt very strange to have so few women in a P&P adaptation.
In terms of the positives, it was basically all Bennet/Darius. I liked having them connect over climbing. There's no real comparison there to the original, which is part of why I think it worked. It gave them a reason to spend a little more time around each other and gave them an excuse to interact more even when they shouldn't have been. A lot of the reviews I read mentioned how slow the pacing of this book was, and… I guess? But it's really just the same pacing as the original. Well, faster, since this is a shorter book and there's much less time spent with the non-Darius/Bennet stuff, but basically the same things happen in the same order. I was fine with the pacing, anyways, although I did kind of want them to hook up sooner just because I wanted to see them in an actual relationship and I was rooting for them to kiss in pretty much every scene, especially after the voicemails (which were a fun way of adapting the letter).
Anyways, some spoilery flailing about my favorite scenes:
Basically, as an adaptation this definitely had issues, but Darius and Bennet were super swoony, and that's all that really matters, so I was ultimately really glad I read this.
To address the negatives first, I think this actually might've been too close an adaptation, in terms of following all the same plot beats. I was expecting a much looser adaptation considering it stars two gay men, and many of the side characters are also gay men, and Bennet isn't related to Jamie/Leon/etc., and you don't have Mr. and Mrs. Bennet around really. And I think this might've done better if some things from the original had been cut. For example, the Charlotte/Callum (Collins) stuff just felt completely unnecessary and like a total afterthought. Charlotte's barely a character (I don't think she's even supposed to be Bennet's bff, or at least it didn't seem like she was), and having her engaged and pregnant at the end didn't feel right for this story, it felt more like the author wanted to do that because of the original. But really, the entire storyline could've been cut. I mean, it's not even really a storyline — it's like 3 scenes! Those scenes could've been cut out entirely and changed nothing.
The adaptation of Lydia's fall, on the other hand, was very different, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. idk, it was a weird combo of some things feeling like they were too constrained to following the original and then some things not being anywhere near close and also feeling weird.
I liked Giorgio, but I was very confused about how old he's supposed to be because he reads as like, 12, but the thing with Wyndham occurred when he was 16, and it didn't seem like it was SUPER recent, so he had to be at least 17 or 18 at this point, and Bennet's 20 but keeps referring to him as a boy, so it just seemed… odd. Also, I get why if the Darcy/Lizzy characters are both gay males that it makes sense to make a lot of the secondary characters gay males as well, but I will say that it felt very strange to have so few women in a P&P adaptation.
In terms of the positives, it was basically all Bennet/Darius. I liked having them connect over climbing. There's no real comparison there to the original, which is part of why I think it worked. It gave them a reason to spend a little more time around each other and gave them an excuse to interact more even when they shouldn't have been. A lot of the reviews I read mentioned how slow the pacing of this book was, and… I guess? But it's really just the same pacing as the original. Well, faster, since this is a shorter book and there's much less time spent with the non-Darius/Bennet stuff, but basically the same things happen in the same order. I was fine with the pacing, anyways, although I did kind of want them to hook up sooner just because I wanted to see them in an actual relationship and I was rooting for them to kiss in pretty much every scene, especially after the voicemails (which were a fun way of adapting the letter).
Anyways, some spoilery flailing about my favorite scenes:
Basically, as an adaptation this definitely had issues, but Darius and Bennet were super swoony, and that's all that really matters, so I was ultimately really glad I read this.
June 19, 2018
A good story.
Out, Proud and Prejudiced is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and believe it or not, I never read that classic so I had no idea what to expect from this story.
I enjoyed reading this book, my first by Ms. Reddaway. It rambled on a bit in spots but it mostly kept me interested and I wanted to find out how it ended.
Bennet is a college student trying to make ends meet. His friend Jamie meets and falls for a new man in town, Tim, who has bought an art gallery. Tim's friend Darius is a jerk. He doesn't think Jamie is good enough for Tim and he looks down his nose at Bennet, too.
The story had a lot of back and forth to it. The romance between Jamie and Tim is almost as important as the one between Bennet and Darius. Darius seems to run hot and cold when it comes to Bennet but when they get together the chemistry and sex is HOT!
This isn't one of my better written reviews. I read the book while on vacation and didn't have an easy way to jot down a review at that time so I'm writing this a few weeks after the fact. I hate it when that happens because no matter how much I enjoy a book, once I've moved on to the next one it's hard for me to remember everything I would normally like to say in a review.
Now that I've rambled on I'll conclude by saying I enjoyed Out, Proud and Prejudiced and would definitely read more of this author's work.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Out, Proud and Prejudiced is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and believe it or not, I never read that classic so I had no idea what to expect from this story.
I enjoyed reading this book, my first by Ms. Reddaway. It rambled on a bit in spots but it mostly kept me interested and I wanted to find out how it ended.
Bennet is a college student trying to make ends meet. His friend Jamie meets and falls for a new man in town, Tim, who has bought an art gallery. Tim's friend Darius is a jerk. He doesn't think Jamie is good enough for Tim and he looks down his nose at Bennet, too.
The story had a lot of back and forth to it. The romance between Jamie and Tim is almost as important as the one between Bennet and Darius. Darius seems to run hot and cold when it comes to Bennet but when they get together the chemistry and sex is HOT!
This isn't one of my better written reviews. I read the book while on vacation and didn't have an easy way to jot down a review at that time so I'm writing this a few weeks after the fact. I hate it when that happens because no matter how much I enjoy a book, once I've moved on to the next one it's hard for me to remember everything I would normally like to say in a review.
Now that I've rambled on I'll conclude by saying I enjoyed Out, Proud and Prejudiced and would definitely read more of this author's work.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
September 30, 2021
Darius looked him up and down and said, "Just about fuckable, I suppose, but hardly up to my standards." [p. 13]
M/M modern AU of Pride and Prejudice. Bennet Rourke is a hospitality student: Darius Lanniker is a wealthy lawyer, slumming it with his friend Tim who's just bought an art gallery in Meriton. Tim falls in love with Bennet's housemate Jamie, but Bennet and Darius -- despite a frisson of sexual attraction between them, and a shared interest in rock-climbing -- do not get along. Bennet would rather hang out with Darius's stepbrother, Wyndham, and support his friends when drama strikes. Only gradually does he revisit his prejudices and assumptions, and realise that Darius is not the villain here.
This was fun, though there were a few plot threads that seemed to be left dangling (Bennet's family, for instance), and some characters who could have been more developed. I enjoyed spotting the parallels between this and Austen, and I like the way in which Reddaway kept the essential plot while giving it a thoroughly modern setting. Perhaps the enormity of Wyndham's crimes has, after all, the impact that Wickham's behaviour would have had in Austen's time -- though Wyndham is considerably more destructive to more people.
April 29, 2020
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Descubrí este libro en una lista de GR y la idea de un retelling LGBT de Orgullo y prejuicio me pareció de lo más interesante. Por suerte, no me ha defraudado en lo más mínimo.
Megan se apaña a las mil maravillas para adaptar todas las tramas a la era moderna. Conocemos a Bennet, el personaje que interpreta el papel de Elizabeth; a Jamie, que interpreta a Jane; Darius sería Darcy; Tim su amigo Bingley; no puede faltar Wyndham interpretando a Wickham, ni Giorgio interpretando a Georgiana. También tenemos otra serie de personajes secundarios que se solapan con mayor o menor veracidad a los personajes de Jane Austen.
Es maravilloso cuando en un retelling todos los personajes están tan bien definidios y, al mismo tiempo, son tan diferentes. Definir bien los personajes no siempre es fácil, yo he leído retellings en los que no me quedaba muy claro quién se suponía que era quién en la obra original. Aquí esto no pasa, pero al mismo tiempo son totalmente diferentes a los orginales: tienen la esencia de sus personajes pero al adaptarse a la vida actual (y en un contexto LGBT), es como leer a personajes totalmente nuevos.
En lo que a retellings se refiere, mis gustos son muy amplios: a veces me gusta que la historia solo tenga ese halo a la trama original, otras veces me gusta que se mantenga la estructura de la historia. Megan se decanta por la segunda opción (siempre con sus giritos para hacer de las historia algo diferente y creativo), pero si conocéis Orgullo y prejuicio eso significa que hay partes que sabéis cómo se van a desarrollar a grandes rasgos (sobre todo en lo que a Tim y Jamie se refiere o a Charlotte y Callum).
Para mí el personaje que más se distancia del original es Darius/Darcy. Sí, empieza siendo estirado, esnob y prejuicioso, pero no en la misma medida del original. La relación entre Bennet y Darius tarda en arrancar (por eso de que se odian, ya sabéis) pero mientras tanto podemos ver por parte de ambos chispazos de interés, sentimos que las cosas tal vez no sean como parecen... y yo es algo que en Darcy nunca he sentido.
Es una lectura que me ha dejado con ganas de más, para qué mentiros. Me he quedado con la necesidad de ver más de los protagonistas juntos, más de Giorgio, que es un personaje encantador. Para mí la lectura ha sido rapidísima, aunque había leído que el comienzo es algo lento a mí no me ha parecido como tal. A ver, también aquí entran en juego las preferencias de cada uno... Yo disfruto de ese momento en el que las cosas se van poniendo en marcha y lo veo necesario para un buen desarrollo posterior; los encuentros entre los personajes en esta primera fase son menos habituales que en la segunda mitad, obviamente, pero la situación de "te odio pero me atraes" en la que está Bennet a mí me ha parecido muy divertida y me ha dejado con ganas de seguir.
Supongo que lo que más cambia en cuanto a la historia original es lo que hace Wyndham/Wickham para ganarse la enemistad de Darcy y de todos los lectores... se mantiene fiel en cierto punto a la original aunque claro, intentar fugarse con la hermana de Darcy (hermano en este caso) no tiene tanto tirón en un retelling moderno porque hoy no sería tan escandaloso... El cambio es bastante fuerte y le da un giro algo macabro a la historia que nos da un punto álgido en la trama muy interesante.
En definitiva, si os gusta la historia de Orgullo y prejuicio, si os gustan esas historia en las que al principio los personajes no se pueden ni ver pero las cosas van cambiando, no descartéis este título. Es muy interesante desde el principio hasta el fin y me quedo con ganas de leer más de ellos. No, no me importaría otro libro para saber cómo les van las cosas, la verdad.
Descubrí este libro en una lista de GR y la idea de un retelling LGBT de Orgullo y prejuicio me pareció de lo más interesante. Por suerte, no me ha defraudado en lo más mínimo.
Megan se apaña a las mil maravillas para adaptar todas las tramas a la era moderna. Conocemos a Bennet, el personaje que interpreta el papel de Elizabeth; a Jamie, que interpreta a Jane; Darius sería Darcy; Tim su amigo Bingley; no puede faltar Wyndham interpretando a Wickham, ni Giorgio interpretando a Georgiana. También tenemos otra serie de personajes secundarios que se solapan con mayor o menor veracidad a los personajes de Jane Austen.
Es maravilloso cuando en un retelling todos los personajes están tan bien definidios y, al mismo tiempo, son tan diferentes. Definir bien los personajes no siempre es fácil, yo he leído retellings en los que no me quedaba muy claro quién se suponía que era quién en la obra original. Aquí esto no pasa, pero al mismo tiempo son totalmente diferentes a los orginales: tienen la esencia de sus personajes pero al adaptarse a la vida actual (y en un contexto LGBT), es como leer a personajes totalmente nuevos.
En lo que a retellings se refiere, mis gustos son muy amplios: a veces me gusta que la historia solo tenga ese halo a la trama original, otras veces me gusta que se mantenga la estructura de la historia. Megan se decanta por la segunda opción (siempre con sus giritos para hacer de las historia algo diferente y creativo), pero si conocéis Orgullo y prejuicio eso significa que hay partes que sabéis cómo se van a desarrollar a grandes rasgos (sobre todo en lo que a Tim y Jamie se refiere o a Charlotte y Callum).
Para mí el personaje que más se distancia del original es Darius/Darcy. Sí, empieza siendo estirado, esnob y prejuicioso, pero no en la misma medida del original. La relación entre Bennet y Darius tarda en arrancar (por eso de que se odian, ya sabéis) pero mientras tanto podemos ver por parte de ambos chispazos de interés, sentimos que las cosas tal vez no sean como parecen... y yo es algo que en Darcy nunca he sentido.
Es una lectura que me ha dejado con ganas de más, para qué mentiros. Me he quedado con la necesidad de ver más de los protagonistas juntos, más de Giorgio, que es un personaje encantador. Para mí la lectura ha sido rapidísima, aunque había leído que el comienzo es algo lento a mí no me ha parecido como tal. A ver, también aquí entran en juego las preferencias de cada uno... Yo disfruto de ese momento en el que las cosas se van poniendo en marcha y lo veo necesario para un buen desarrollo posterior; los encuentros entre los personajes en esta primera fase son menos habituales que en la segunda mitad, obviamente, pero la situación de "te odio pero me atraes" en la que está Bennet a mí me ha parecido muy divertida y me ha dejado con ganas de seguir.
Supongo que lo que más cambia en cuanto a la historia original es lo que hace Wyndham/Wickham para ganarse la enemistad de Darcy y de todos los lectores... se mantiene fiel en cierto punto a la original aunque claro, intentar fugarse con la hermana de Darcy (hermano en este caso) no tiene tanto tirón en un retelling moderno porque hoy no sería tan escandaloso... El cambio es bastante fuerte y le da un giro algo macabro a la historia que nos da un punto álgido en la trama muy interesante.
En definitiva, si os gusta la historia de Orgullo y prejuicio, si os gustan esas historia en las que al principio los personajes no se pueden ni ver pero las cosas van cambiando, no descartéis este título. Es muy interesante desde el principio hasta el fin y me quedo con ganas de leer más de ellos. No, no me importaría otro libro para saber cómo les van las cosas, la verdad.
November 29, 2020
Obligatory I didn't read Pride and Prejudice, so I can't compare this novel to the original.
What a ride! I can't remember the last book that made me feel so anxious and so frustrated with the characters. I knew where this was heading, of course I did, but that didn't take away from the frustration. Most of it was because of misunderstanding and while I would normally have a huge issue with the characters not talking about what was going on, it made perfect sense here. It fit the story, and it fit the character's personalities so I have no complaints.
What I may complain about is that some things were superficially explained—some of the situations and a part of Jamie and Tim's relationship—but the frustration kept me occupied enough to not be too bothered by it. And, boy, I can't express just how much of that there is. I literally had to remind myself that there are always two sides of a story otherwise I would have dropped the book so hard. (No, I wouldn't have, at this point I was so into it, I had no option but find out what happens next.)
I didn't like almost anyone except for Jamie, Bennet and, only later, Darius. I didn't see much of Tim, he seems like an okay guy, but he was a fool.
I liked Jamie and Bennet's friendship, Bennet was the only one out of their friends who actually got Jamie, who didn't make any idiot jokes and just accepted his principles. They all should have. He also was willing to give up on what he wanted in order to not hurt Jamie.
I didn't like Bennet so much at first, but after the first five chapters or so I warmed up to him. He's clever and a generally good guy, despite deeply prejudiced. Luckily there is a cure to prejudice, so no harm done.
Darius was by far the most frustrating character. Not knowing why he acted the way he did or what he was thinking made it really easy to misjudge him. I still wanted his side of the story, but man, it was tough.
As for the other characters, Philippe and Nigel were great, I instantly disliked Leon and Kofi (and I mean instantly) and while I kind of liked-but-not-really Charlotte in the beginning, in the end she was having a bad attitude and making bad decisions. I'm surprised some of the characters weren't bothered by it.
Overall I liked the take on the plot (if I didn't read the original it doesn't mean I don't know what's going on there), it was good. I liked the rock climbing as a means for the characters to interact more, and for most part it made sense. It also mentioned some heavy themes (tw ) and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Normally it's not an issue for me reading about this kind of themes, but in this case I think it could have been replaced with something less weighty. I'm 50/50 on this.
I would still say to give the book a try if only for the anxiety and the frustration. And, obviously, if you are a fan of the original and would like to try a retelling of it. Might not make it to your favourites, but it's still a pretty good read.
What a ride! I can't remember the last book that made me feel so anxious and so frustrated with the characters. I knew where this was heading, of course I did, but that didn't take away from the frustration. Most of it was because of misunderstanding and while I would normally have a huge issue with the characters not talking about what was going on, it made perfect sense here. It fit the story, and it fit the character's personalities so I have no complaints.
What I may complain about is that some things were superficially explained—some of the situations and a part of Jamie and Tim's relationship—but the frustration kept me occupied enough to not be too bothered by it. And, boy, I can't express just how much of that there is. I literally had to remind myself that there are always two sides of a story otherwise I would have dropped the book so hard. (No, I wouldn't have, at this point I was so into it, I had no option but find out what happens next.)
I didn't like almost anyone except for Jamie, Bennet and, only later, Darius. I didn't see much of Tim, he seems like an okay guy, but he was a fool.
I liked Jamie and Bennet's friendship, Bennet was the only one out of their friends who actually got Jamie, who didn't make any idiot jokes and just accepted his principles. They all should have. He also was willing to give up on what he wanted in order to not hurt Jamie.
I didn't like Bennet so much at first, but after the first five chapters or so I warmed up to him. He's clever and a generally good guy, despite deeply prejudiced. Luckily there is a cure to prejudice, so no harm done.
Darius was by far the most frustrating character. Not knowing why he acted the way he did or what he was thinking made it really easy to misjudge him. I still wanted his side of the story, but man, it was tough.
As for the other characters, Philippe and Nigel were great, I instantly disliked Leon and Kofi (and I mean instantly) and while I kind of liked-but-not-really Charlotte in the beginning, in the end she was having a bad attitude and making bad decisions. I'm surprised some of the characters weren't bothered by it.
Overall I liked the take on the plot (if I didn't read the original it doesn't mean I don't know what's going on there), it was good. I liked the rock climbing as a means for the characters to interact more, and for most part it made sense. It also mentioned some heavy themes (tw ) and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Normally it's not an issue for me reading about this kind of themes, but in this case I think it could have been replaced with something less weighty. I'm 50/50 on this.
I would still say to give the book a try if only for the anxiety and the frustration. And, obviously, if you are a fan of the original and would like to try a retelling of it. Might not make it to your favourites, but it's still a pretty good read.
June 3, 2018
Another 5-star read! I've been wallowing in reading pleasure lately :)
Here we have a mostly-male remake of Pride and Prejudice, with a feisty college student named Bennet and an arrogant lawyer named Darius who thinks Bennet and his friends and their whole darn town are so far beneath him ... and actually says so, which Bennet does not like one little bit. And things get a lot worse before they get better.
If you know Pride and Prejudice you can have a huge amount of fun figuring out how the characters and events map to the originals. Places too. Like, Pemberley is still standing, and Netherfield (under a different name) and so is Longbourn where Bennet lives. But life inside the buildings is nothing like it was 200 years ago. I can't say much more without spoilers ... but one of them is the location for a TV show that I'm sure is meant to be Downton Abbey :)
There is angst here. Bad stuff happens. I think to us today it seems worse than what happened in the original, but maybe we don't realize how threatening and ruinous some of the events of Pride and Prejudice could have been at the time. Still, I would say this is a darker book, and the humor isn't so obvious. It's funny, but the humor is in the comparison with the original, so you'd miss it if you didn't know Pride and Prejudice very well.
What if you didn't know P&P at all? I know I'd still have enjoyed it, but it would seem darker. You might not think it was funny, and for example I see in some other reviews people don't like Charlotte because she's not the classic best friend. She's not the greatest friend in P&P either, that's the thing. She stole the sisters' chance of keeping their house in the family. But if you didn't know that, you might go into this expecting the awesome female friend that you get in the typical MM romance, you know, the one that you want to be, and Charlotte isn't it. In fact, no character like that has a part in this book.
I'm going to make a sweeping generalization here and say that IMO British MM romance tends to be darker than American. Thinking over the last few books I've read, all British writers, and they all have villains who do seriously bad things.
So if you want light, fluffy, undemanding stories where everyone is nice, don't pick these Brits. But if you're in the mood for the snarky, angsty, tense type of romance that they do so well, you'll love this one.
Here we have a mostly-male remake of Pride and Prejudice, with a feisty college student named Bennet and an arrogant lawyer named Darius who thinks Bennet and his friends and their whole darn town are so far beneath him ... and actually says so, which Bennet does not like one little bit. And things get a lot worse before they get better.
If you know Pride and Prejudice you can have a huge amount of fun figuring out how the characters and events map to the originals. Places too. Like, Pemberley is still standing, and Netherfield (under a different name) and so is Longbourn where Bennet lives. But life inside the buildings is nothing like it was 200 years ago. I can't say much more without spoilers ... but one of them is the location for a TV show that I'm sure is meant to be Downton Abbey :)
There is angst here. Bad stuff happens. I think to us today it seems worse than what happened in the original, but maybe we don't realize how threatening and ruinous some of the events of Pride and Prejudice could have been at the time. Still, I would say this is a darker book, and the humor isn't so obvious. It's funny, but the humor is in the comparison with the original, so you'd miss it if you didn't know Pride and Prejudice very well.
What if you didn't know P&P at all? I know I'd still have enjoyed it, but it would seem darker. You might not think it was funny, and for example I see in some other reviews people don't like Charlotte because she's not the classic best friend. She's not the greatest friend in P&P either, that's the thing. She stole the sisters' chance of keeping their house in the family. But if you didn't know that, you might go into this expecting the awesome female friend that you get in the typical MM romance, you know, the one that you want to be, and Charlotte isn't it. In fact, no character like that has a part in this book.
I'm going to make a sweeping generalization here and say that IMO British MM romance tends to be darker than American. Thinking over the last few books I've read, all British writers, and they all have villains who do seriously bad things.
So if you want light, fluffy, undemanding stories where everyone is nice, don't pick these Brits. But if you're in the mood for the snarky, angsty, tense type of romance that they do so well, you'll love this one.
June 5, 2018
Quick confession first—I’ve never read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, so for me I wasn’t comparing this story to anything, just reading and reviewing it on its own merits. As far as the story goes, it was an interesting one with a good group of characters but I did find that the pace was slower than I would have liked. That means that at times my attention did wander a bit, but in the end I was still satisfied with the story.
Bennet was a great character, responsible for the most part (at least he is now…a couple of years prior—not so much) and supportive of his friends—in particular his best friend Jamie. Darius comes across as a bit snobbish and aloof, and it takes quite a while before you start to see through that. When it comes to the supporting characters, most of them I liked. I was a bit on the fence about Bennet’s housemates and their flippant attitudes towards many things, but Charlotte? Wow, no one needs a “friend” like her.
The story takes a while to build up and develop, and it’s told solely from Bennet’s point of view. I think if we could have had Darius’s POV as well it would have helped me fall more deeply into the story since for the majority of the book he seems distant from the others with his attitude. Understanding his thoughts behind his words and actions would have gone a long way towards making his character more likable sooner in the story.
Bennet and Darius dance around each other for most of the story, with a few points that could have sparked more. Once they finally do give in, it’s quite far into the book, so there’s plenty of unresolved tension until then…and together they do steam things up quite a bit.
There is a bit of drama brought up involving Wyndham—a character that I didn’t care for almost from the moment he was introduced. It winds up actually being resolved quickly, and without much ado at all.
This story was a good read, if a bit slow for my taste, and gets 3.5-stars from me. There is some adult language, mentions of disturbing past abuse of a minor, and sexual content so this book is meant for readers 18+.
Bennet was a great character, responsible for the most part (at least he is now…a couple of years prior—not so much) and supportive of his friends—in particular his best friend Jamie. Darius comes across as a bit snobbish and aloof, and it takes quite a while before you start to see through that. When it comes to the supporting characters, most of them I liked. I was a bit on the fence about Bennet’s housemates and their flippant attitudes towards many things, but Charlotte? Wow, no one needs a “friend” like her.
The story takes a while to build up and develop, and it’s told solely from Bennet’s point of view. I think if we could have had Darius’s POV as well it would have helped me fall more deeply into the story since for the majority of the book he seems distant from the others with his attitude. Understanding his thoughts behind his words and actions would have gone a long way towards making his character more likable sooner in the story.
Bennet and Darius dance around each other for most of the story, with a few points that could have sparked more. Once they finally do give in, it’s quite far into the book, so there’s plenty of unresolved tension until then…and together they do steam things up quite a bit.
There is a bit of drama brought up involving Wyndham—a character that I didn’t care for almost from the moment he was introduced. It winds up actually being resolved quickly, and without much ado at all.
This story was a good read, if a bit slow for my taste, and gets 3.5-stars from me. There is some adult language, mentions of disturbing past abuse of a minor, and sexual content so this book is meant for readers 18+.
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