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Rockin' Austen Series #1
Brit with the Pink Hair
Don't let the pink hair fool you. Brit Byers means business. A modern Emma Woodhouse, Brit can spot a potential pop star from a kilometer away, and if she happens to make a match in the process, even better. Too bad her relationship radar needs serious re-calibrating. Between shopping for more designer labels to fill her closet—all black, of course, it’s slimming—and planning the next exclusive, fabulous social gathering, Brit zeroes in on her new pet project. She’s going to groom the next big act for her father’s nightclub. With a humorous and sometimes cringeworthy entourage, and one stuffy yet super cute accountant, Brit hopes to flex her girl power and impress her father enough to someday run his empire. Brit with the Pink Hair is an "opposites attract" romantic comedy with a slow burn sure to delight fans of Jane Austen, sassy female leads, and love stories with a dash of spice. Start reading and fall in love today!
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2018
67 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Rebekah N. Bryan
10 books31 followersRebekah lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two daughters, and a dog. She enjoys going to concerts even though she's only getting older and more tired, wandering around shopping malls with latte in hand, and indulging in junk food and wine. She's a city girl at heart but also finds joy in remote waterfalls and bridges.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 15, 2020
Emma Approved excepted, this was one of the best retellings of Jane Austen's Emma I've found. It does a great job translating socio-economic status and social norms to modern day Canada. The Emma character (Brit) is annoying as all get-out but it works well. This is the confident but not always correct heroine we love. The Knightley character won me over immediately. The Mr. Elton character was so properly creepy. I truly enjoyed it.
It remixes Austen a bit and that works well too. Brit's mother is still alive, Jane Fairfax's character becomes a younger step-sister, and Mr. Woodhouse's absentmindedness is, ah, explained. With drugs. It all mixes well with the former rockstar/night club/party girl vibe.
For a freebie, I was impressed with how developed everything was.
Except...a few plot points never got addressed and it drove the story down.
Namely, throughout the story Brit gets roofied, her car broken into, her phone stolen, nude pics posted to the internet, and I don't know what all else and no one seems fazed. No one follows up on the crimes or does anything. At most they're like, 'wow, girl. What a hard day. Movie night?'
I kept expecting some twist or villain in the story the reader doesn't know about. SOMETHING to explain these random, intense plot moments. But nothing ever came of it. So, that dropped it a star.
Then, serious spoiler here, at the end Emma and Knightley finally confess their love and basically their next action is to hop in the sack. Like, what. I think it was fade to back but still. There was so much potential cuteness in their relationship and taking it that direction was just kind of....meh. The point of their relationship was sort of that while she dated all these meatheads, they had actual chemistry and he actually appreciated who she was. Making it immediately about sex with those two just felt like dropping their relationship to the same level as her former ones.
I also found the resolution of Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill's characters rather anticlimactic.
So...it didn't end strong. It could have been so much more. But I was pleasantly surprised overall, nonetheless.
It remixes Austen a bit and that works well too. Brit's mother is still alive, Jane Fairfax's character becomes a younger step-sister, and Mr. Woodhouse's absentmindedness is, ah, explained. With drugs. It all mixes well with the former rockstar/night club/party girl vibe.
For a freebie, I was impressed with how developed everything was.
Except...a few plot points never got addressed and it drove the story down.
Namely, throughout the story Brit gets roofied, her car broken into, her phone stolen, nude pics posted to the internet, and I don't know what all else and no one seems fazed. No one follows up on the crimes or does anything. At most they're like, 'wow, girl. What a hard day. Movie night?'
I kept expecting some twist or villain in the story the reader doesn't know about. SOMETHING to explain these random, intense plot moments. But nothing ever came of it. So, that dropped it a star.
Then, serious spoiler here, at the end Emma and Knightley finally confess their love and basically their next action is to hop in the sack. Like, what. I think it was fade to back but still. There was so much potential cuteness in their relationship and taking it that direction was just kind of....meh. The point of their relationship was sort of that while she dated all these meatheads, they had actual chemistry and he actually appreciated who she was. Making it immediately about sex with those two just felt like dropping their relationship to the same level as her former ones.
I also found the resolution of Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill's characters rather anticlimactic.
So...it didn't end strong. It could have been so much more. But I was pleasantly surprised overall, nonetheless.
March 17, 2019
As a huge fan of Austen I went in with doubts, but they were blown away. Bryan brings "Emma" completely into the modern era.
Brit Byers and I don't have a lot in common...that said, she is written in such a way that I felt with and for her throughout the book! There were a few twists that I wasn't quite expecting, and was pleasantly surprised each time!
Would love to see more of Brit and Cord in the future!!
Brit Byers and I don't have a lot in common...that said, she is written in such a way that I felt with and for her throughout the book! There were a few twists that I wasn't quite expecting, and was pleasantly surprised each time!
Would love to see more of Brit and Cord in the future!!
February 6, 2019
Romcom a classic with good results.
Brit with the Pink Hair - The Rockin' Austen Series, Volume 1, by author Rebekah N. Bryan is set mostly in Toronto. It was fun to read a quirky interpretation of one of my favorite books and to get to know some really well developed characters. Kudos to Ms Bryan for a great vol one.
I am leaving this review for your consideration. Peace.
Brit with the Pink Hair - The Rockin' Austen Series, Volume 1, by author Rebekah N. Bryan is set mostly in Toronto. It was fun to read a quirky interpretation of one of my favorite books and to get to know some really well developed characters. Kudos to Ms Bryan for a great vol one.
I am leaving this review for your consideration. Peace.
February 23, 2019
A book based on one of Jane Austen's book and yet with so much more to offer, Brit with pink hair stole the show. With witty dialogue and vivid imagery I could almost see the story unfolding before my very eyes.
Beautifully written and executed this was one of the top 5 books I read this month.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Beautifully written and executed this was one of the top 5 books I read this month.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2020
Unique adaptation of Emma!
This was a cute, unique modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. It took a bit for me to get into it, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I look forward to reading more by the author.
This was a cute, unique modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. It took a bit for me to get into it, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I look forward to reading more by the author.
February 21, 2019
Everyone needs a good romcom in their kindle and this Jane Austen retelling is certainly that and more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 19, 2020
The following book contains language, suggestive content, LGBT characters, references to drug/alcohol use, and mentions of date rape drugs
Pride and Prejudice. Emma. Persuasion.
The Austen trifecta. (Sense and Sensibility is vastly overrated).
In my journey to Austenland (no Shannon Hale reference intended,) I've stumbled across a a decent number of modern Persuasion retellings and found some decent ones. P&P retellings are a dime a dozen, so I've found a couple I enjoy. Emma, however, remains elusive.
I love Emma because stories about childhood friends, whether platonic or romantic, are my favorite and because Emma and Knightley are a couple of dorks and I love them.
"Brit knows best." I was actually fairly impressed with Brit's characterization here. We finally get an author who understands Emma's capricious tendencies. Brit's a college dropout (she changed her major in the first year and made it halfway through her second year,) can't commit to kickboxing class, and has yet to find any kind of job or purpose in life. I appreciated the moments when some of her insecurities shine through, though I could've done without the constant references to how she "wasn't exactly sample sized." And I did like that she's described as being standoffish and intimating when she doesn't feel like socializing and playing nice.
As far as modern Emma's go, I think Brit was a fairly good one; Cord, however, was bashful and boring and too eager to please. And I don't mean strait-laced, "I'm an accountant," kind of boring. I mean, vanilla, cardboard-cutout-of-a-character kind of boring. It was quite disappointing.
The setting is original, and the story certainly had potential, but it was a bit lacking in terms of execution. The packing was jerky, and there were some weird continuity issues with the plot sometimes Some of the descriptions were unnecessarily wordy or made no sense. (How can eyes read frosty and teasing at the same time?) Speaking of things that made no sense, the book was full of weird descriptions like, "that flash of skin below his neck was enough to make any woman want to see more," or "his [lips] were soft pillows, so comfortable and perfect that she didn’t want to pull away." I mean, I know I'm not the most romantic person, but this is supposed to be attractive?? Oh and let's not forget how "Cord’s narrow hips fit perfectly next to Brit’s round ones," or my personal favorite: "It was weird, but Brit wanted to curl up in his armpit whenever she smelled it." (Yes Brit, it IS weird.)
Other minor notes, the weird names were a little distracting (I mean Crazy and Saffron, really?) Props, I guess for a somewhat diverse cast (Daisy's Asian and Lander's black.) The detailed wardrobe descriptions were a little much, though.
Anyway, I'm still on the lookout for a good modern Emma. Let me know if you have one.
Pride and Prejudice. Emma. Persuasion.
The Austen trifecta. (Sense and Sensibility is vastly overrated).
In my journey to Austenland (no Shannon Hale reference intended,) I've stumbled across a a decent number of modern Persuasion retellings and found some decent ones. P&P retellings are a dime a dozen, so I've found a couple I enjoy. Emma, however, remains elusive.
I love Emma because stories about childhood friends, whether platonic or romantic, are my favorite and because Emma and Knightley are a couple of dorks and I love them.
"Brit knows best." I was actually fairly impressed with Brit's characterization here. We finally get an author who understands Emma's capricious tendencies. Brit's a college dropout (she changed her major in the first year and made it halfway through her second year,) can't commit to kickboxing class, and has yet to find any kind of job or purpose in life. I appreciated the moments when some of her insecurities shine through, though I could've done without the constant references to how she "wasn't exactly sample sized." And I did like that she's described as being standoffish and intimating when she doesn't feel like socializing and playing nice.
As far as modern Emma's go, I think Brit was a fairly good one; Cord, however, was bashful and boring and too eager to please. And I don't mean strait-laced, "I'm an accountant," kind of boring. I mean, vanilla, cardboard-cutout-of-a-character kind of boring. It was quite disappointing.
The setting is original, and the story certainly had potential, but it was a bit lacking in terms of execution. The packing was jerky, and there were some weird continuity issues with the plot sometimes Some of the descriptions were unnecessarily wordy or made no sense. (How can eyes read frosty and teasing at the same time?) Speaking of things that made no sense, the book was full of weird descriptions like, "that flash of skin below his neck was enough to make any woman want to see more," or "his [lips] were soft pillows, so comfortable and perfect that she didn’t want to pull away." I mean, I know I'm not the most romantic person, but this is supposed to be attractive?? Oh and let's not forget how "Cord’s narrow hips fit perfectly next to Brit’s round ones," or my personal favorite: "It was weird, but Brit wanted to curl up in his armpit whenever she smelled it." (Yes Brit, it IS weird.)
Other minor notes, the weird names were a little distracting (I mean Crazy and Saffron, really?) Props, I guess for a somewhat diverse cast (Daisy's Asian and Lander's black.) The detailed wardrobe descriptions were a little much, though.
Anyway, I'm still on the lookout for a good modern Emma. Let me know if you have one.
February 18, 2020
I read this in order to fulfill a challenge.
Otherwise, I don't normally read contemporary romance. The writing was okay, however I felt like I had been dropped in the middle of the story. It was okay, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Otherwise, I don't normally read contemporary romance. The writing was okay, however I felt like I had been dropped in the middle of the story. It was okay, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
February 24, 2021
A fun, contemporary twist on Jane Austen's "Emma." Bryan creates a nightclub world full of rock stars (past and up incoming), family drama, matchmaking (good and not so good), and highlights the romantic in all of us.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews