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Pride and Prejudice and Passports: A Modern Retelling
For lovers of The Lizzy Bennet Diaries and other contemporary explorations of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, comes Pride and Prejudice and Passports, a delicious retelling of friendship, family, and fiercely strong women.
Elisa's sister is falling in love with a state representative for California , but he doesn't know she's an undocumented immigrant . His friend Will Darcy is also some kind of political powerhouse--born into it, of course--and a bit of a jerk.
Elisa wants to help her sister avoid heartbreak, but when their mother gets involved, Charles thinks they were all using him.
Darcy can't help his interest in Elisa, even when Charles backs off. Why is arguing with Elisa more interesting than agreeing with anyone else?
Elisa shoots him down hard, but Darcy's sister Giana, a Disney pop-star recovering from an addiction, has already bonded with her. She hires Elisa as her assistant and personal trainer on her concert tour, and if she happens to bring Elisa by Darcy's Washington D.C. campaign office... Well, what's a sister to do for her awkward big brother who doesn't know he's crazy in love, but to give him a second chance?
Elisa's sister is falling in love with a state representative for California , but he doesn't know she's an undocumented immigrant . His friend Will Darcy is also some kind of political powerhouse--born into it, of course--and a bit of a jerk.
Elisa wants to help her sister avoid heartbreak, but when their mother gets involved, Charles thinks they were all using him.
Darcy can't help his interest in Elisa, even when Charles backs off. Why is arguing with Elisa more interesting than agreeing with anyone else?
Elisa shoots him down hard, but Darcy's sister Giana, a Disney pop-star recovering from an addiction, has already bonded with her. She hires Elisa as her assistant and personal trainer on her concert tour, and if she happens to bring Elisa by Darcy's Washington D.C. campaign office... Well, what's a sister to do for her awkward big brother who doesn't know he's crazy in love, but to give him a second chance?
268 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2018
88 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Corrie Garrett
36 books58 followersHello! I'm Corrie Garrett, indie author of the Austen Ensemble trilogy and other romance novels. I'm currently working on a story about the characters of Mansfield Park, as well as an historical fantasy in the Byzantine Empire.
I love to read as well as write - mainly young adult (contemporary, dystopian, adventure, science fiction), romance (Christian, suspense, historical), science fiction, and urban fantasy.
Ask a question, make a recommendation, or just say hello - and thanks for stopping by!
I love to read as well as write - mainly young adult (contemporary, dystopian, adventure, science fiction), romance (Christian, suspense, historical), science fiction, and urban fantasy.
Ask a question, make a recommendation, or just say hello - and thanks for stopping by!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
April 30, 2019
This is a really well done, thoughtful modernization of Pride and Prejudice. It's 2016, and Elisa Benitez (Elizabeth Bennet) and her family are concerned about the upcoming Presidential election and its feared effect on U.S. immigration policies if Donald Trump wins. Elisa's parents are illegal aliens. She and her younger sister Letitia (Lydia) were born in the U.S., so they're anchor babies, but her older sister Noa (Jane) came from Mexico with their parents and is in the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program. Ben Leigh (Charles Bingley) is a California state representative, a true people-person, and Darcy is his friend, an influential Republican who works for politicians behind the scenes.
While helping their parents out with the family cleaning service, Elisa and Noa meet Ben, his sister Caroline, and Darcy, who are renting a lakeside cabin for a vacation getaway. (Elisa is actually a college student working towards her masters degree in kinesiology/fitness training.) As one would expect in a P&P story, Ben is immediately attracted to Noa, and Elisa overhears Darcy making a derogatory comment. The story takes off from there.
All the classic P&P elements are here. We have Wick (Mr. Wickham), who's a freelance photographer with no scruples about staging or agitating to create a photo opportunity and sell the misleading images. Collin (Mr. Collins) manages the apartment complex where Elisa lives. Giana/Gigi (Georgiana) Darcy is a Disney child star with a glorious singing voice and a pushy stage mother, Katherine de Bourgh (who either divorced the senior Mr. Darcy and remarried or retained her maiden name- this is never fully explained). Fitz (Colonel Fitzwilliam) is Giana's manager.
We're given a vivid portrayal of the productive, tight-knit Hispanic community surrounding Elisa and the palpable fear many have of being reported to government officials and deported. Even before learning details about Elisa's family, Darcy proves to be uncomfortable with some elements of his party's national campaign platform but is soldiering on as the staunch Republican he has always been.
With the difference in their backgrounds even wider than in canon, the misunderstandings between the two are understandable and certainly not trivial. The book doesn't attempt to suggest there's an easy solution to the immigration problem but instead points to the undeniable need for respectful debate on the issue. Darcy and Elisa are both devout Christians, and their prayerful, principled approach to life is that significant "something" they do have in common. Their romance is really nicely- and believably- done.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It pushes the boundaries beyond a traditional romance, giving readers more serious food for thought, with slave trafficking yet another hot topic touched on here. Ms. Garrett is an excellent storyteller who makes her characters feel real, and I didn't note any editing errors. The content is clean. Highly recommend!
While helping their parents out with the family cleaning service, Elisa and Noa meet Ben, his sister Caroline, and Darcy, who are renting a lakeside cabin for a vacation getaway. (Elisa is actually a college student working towards her masters degree in kinesiology/fitness training.) As one would expect in a P&P story, Ben is immediately attracted to Noa, and Elisa overhears Darcy making a derogatory comment. The story takes off from there.
All the classic P&P elements are here. We have Wick (Mr. Wickham), who's a freelance photographer with no scruples about staging or agitating to create a photo opportunity and sell the misleading images. Collin (Mr. Collins) manages the apartment complex where Elisa lives. Giana/Gigi (Georgiana) Darcy is a Disney child star with a glorious singing voice and a pushy stage mother, Katherine de Bourgh (who either divorced the senior Mr. Darcy and remarried or retained her maiden name- this is never fully explained). Fitz (Colonel Fitzwilliam) is Giana's manager.
We're given a vivid portrayal of the productive, tight-knit Hispanic community surrounding Elisa and the palpable fear many have of being reported to government officials and deported. Even before learning details about Elisa's family, Darcy proves to be uncomfortable with some elements of his party's national campaign platform but is soldiering on as the staunch Republican he has always been.
With the difference in their backgrounds even wider than in canon, the misunderstandings between the two are understandable and certainly not trivial. The book doesn't attempt to suggest there's an easy solution to the immigration problem but instead points to the undeniable need for respectful debate on the issue. Darcy and Elisa are both devout Christians, and their prayerful, principled approach to life is that significant "something" they do have in common. Their romance is really nicely- and believably- done.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It pushes the boundaries beyond a traditional romance, giving readers more serious food for thought, with slave trafficking yet another hot topic touched on here. Ms. Garrett is an excellent storyteller who makes her characters feel real, and I didn't note any editing errors. The content is clean. Highly recommend!
February 27, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars
This variation certainly included some up-to-date/modern AND hot topics: illegal immigrants and the whole Trump vs. Clinton presidential contest.
You might wonder at two people on opposite sides of those issues ever being able to come together...even just on dates. Elisa's stance is a personal one; affecting more than one member of her immediate family. While Darcy's is his family's business, a political action committee, Pemberley, which supports many Republican candidates. Benjamin Leigh (Bingley) is one of the newer State Representatives whom Darcy has seen as having potential and needing guidance. When he seems to be falling for Noa, who is in the US under DACA, (the executive order called Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals), Darcy sees her as possibly a deterrent to Ben's career. (You know where that is going.) There is also Letitia, a younger sister who is gaga about Giana and also is the "Lydia" of this story. Her part brings to our attention another hot political issue: sex trafficking! (There are no MA scenes, however.)
Then there is the attraction Darcy finds for Elisa. Ironically in the initial scenario she works as a cleaning lady in preparing vacation cabins which her parents maintain and rent out. When his sister, "who was an excellent musician in addition to being a Disney-made star", comes to stay in the rental she finds friendship with Elisa and also decides to hire her as her trainer. (Yes, Elisa has more than one iron in the fire as far as a career. She is also finishing her college career.) John Wick comes along and helps to further Elisa's distrust of Darcy and her opinion that he doesn't have a caring, human side. She sees him as only concerned about those from his own class.
Instead of the "Hunsford Proposal" we have Darcy stumbling through a proposal that the two of them begin dating...but it is with the same results as canon. Again (as in canon) Elisa is taken totally by surprise that he is even interested in her. As the story progresses both Giana and her manager, Fitz, relate to Elisa their view of Darcy and how people who know him well respect him, care about him.
Darcy's actions speak for themselves as the story progresses. The author did an admirable job of interweaving not only Jane Austen's story but relevant issues in today's world.
This variation certainly included some up-to-date/modern AND hot topics: illegal immigrants and the whole Trump vs. Clinton presidential contest.
You might wonder at two people on opposite sides of those issues ever being able to come together...even just on dates. Elisa's stance is a personal one; affecting more than one member of her immediate family. While Darcy's is his family's business, a political action committee, Pemberley, which supports many Republican candidates. Benjamin Leigh (Bingley) is one of the newer State Representatives whom Darcy has seen as having potential and needing guidance. When he seems to be falling for Noa, who is in the US under DACA, (the executive order called Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals), Darcy sees her as possibly a deterrent to Ben's career. (You know where that is going.) There is also Letitia, a younger sister who is gaga about Giana and also is the "Lydia" of this story. Her part brings to our attention another hot political issue: sex trafficking! (There are no MA scenes, however.)
Then there is the attraction Darcy finds for Elisa. Ironically in the initial scenario she works as a cleaning lady in preparing vacation cabins which her parents maintain and rent out. When his sister, "who was an excellent musician in addition to being a Disney-made star", comes to stay in the rental she finds friendship with Elisa and also decides to hire her as her trainer. (Yes, Elisa has more than one iron in the fire as far as a career. She is also finishing her college career.) John Wick comes along and helps to further Elisa's distrust of Darcy and her opinion that he doesn't have a caring, human side. She sees him as only concerned about those from his own class.
Instead of the "Hunsford Proposal" we have Darcy stumbling through a proposal that the two of them begin dating...but it is with the same results as canon. Again (as in canon) Elisa is taken totally by surprise that he is even interested in her. As the story progresses both Giana and her manager, Fitz, relate to Elisa their view of Darcy and how people who know him well respect him, care about him.
Darcy's actions speak for themselves as the story progresses. The author did an admirable job of interweaving not only Jane Austen's story but relevant issues in today's world.
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January 16, 2021I would like to thank netgalley and the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be racist.
The author is white with no Latino heritage, she is arrogant enough to state that she doesn't see why she can't write from a Latino pov because she has friends who are latino. She needs to learn to take a step back and realise that this isn't her story to tell. She also admits that she doesn't care if people have citizenship or not, that it's more important to go to heavon, all this tells me is that she doesn't see why citizenship is so important.
A lot of the Latino characters fall into stereotypes; cleaners, rapists, prostitutes. There is tone policing in the Trump valley scene, people of colour are allowed to be angry but not too angry about Trump's policies.
Darcy's opinions on immigration and Trump are appalling. He was considering funding Trump and did go to a rally in support of him. He thought that Trump just needed to be kept in check. He believes that undocumented immigrants are criminals and are taking some jobs from white citizens. White people in America are also immigrants, they stole the land from the Native Americans. He does begin to examine his privilege and racism, but I don't really believe the turn around or why Elisa would want to be with him.
Letitia is blamed for what happened to her and disregarded because she's a teenager. There also isn't a lot on Elisa's heritage, she could have been immigrant from anywhere. None of the main characters seem to make an effort to learn Spanish or about the families heritage.
I found this book to be racist.
The author is white with no Latino heritage, she is arrogant enough to state that she doesn't see why she can't write from a Latino pov because she has friends who are latino. She needs to learn to take a step back and realise that this isn't her story to tell. She also admits that she doesn't care if people have citizenship or not, that it's more important to go to heavon, all this tells me is that she doesn't see why citizenship is so important.
A lot of the Latino characters fall into stereotypes; cleaners, rapists, prostitutes. There is tone policing in the Trump valley scene, people of colour are allowed to be angry but not too angry about Trump's policies.
Darcy's opinions on immigration and Trump are appalling. He was considering funding Trump and did go to a rally in support of him. He thought that Trump just needed to be kept in check. He believes that undocumented immigrants are criminals and are taking some jobs from white citizens. White people in America are also immigrants, they stole the land from the Native Americans. He does begin to examine his privilege and racism, but I don't really believe the turn around or why Elisa would want to be with him.
Letitia is blamed for what happened to her and disregarded because she's a teenager. There also isn't a lot on Elisa's heritage, she could have been immigrant from anywhere. None of the main characters seem to make an effort to learn Spanish or about the families heritage.
May 16, 2022
Totally different
An interesting approach to the original story, this is an engaging tale that hits the critical points in it's own way.
An interesting approach to the original story, this is an engaging tale that hits the critical points in it's own way.
March 26, 2019
Our beloved Jane Austen classic gets a retelling in Pride and Prejudice and Passports. The story is set in the 2016 election that led to Trump becoming US President. Elisa is a hispanic born in the United States. Her parents are undocumented and her older sister Noa is a dreamer. As the election looms near, they become more weary of the threat of their family being torn apart.
It did not come as a surprise when Noa's romance with Ben did not last over the summer. Ben is a politician. When he discovers that Noa is a dreamer, he believes that they are not a good match. Unbeknownst to Elisa, she also caught the admiration of Darcy. Darcy is Ben's closest friend. Elisa did not like him at all. Not only is he a Republican, he is also arrogant.
The thought of retelling a classic doesn't suit me well but Corrie Garret's version gave me an entertainment that I was not expecting. While the classic navigates on social interaction, Garret's retelling focuses more on a political issue with a few touches of human trafficking and drug addiction.
Mrs. Benitez does not resonate much the air of Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet is a social climber whose only aim is for her daughters to marry well. Her interactions with other people are quite humorous and also embarrassing to the girls. Mrs. Benitez, however, simply wants her family intact. There are very few pages dedicated to her that her character seems rather flatter than the classic. Garret's version of Darcy and Elisa are still brilliant. They are both smart, proud to a fault but are willing to change when circumstances require them. P&P lovers and non-lovers alike will enjoy this read.
It did not come as a surprise when Noa's romance with Ben did not last over the summer. Ben is a politician. When he discovers that Noa is a dreamer, he believes that they are not a good match. Unbeknownst to Elisa, she also caught the admiration of Darcy. Darcy is Ben's closest friend. Elisa did not like him at all. Not only is he a Republican, he is also arrogant.
The thought of retelling a classic doesn't suit me well but Corrie Garret's version gave me an entertainment that I was not expecting. While the classic navigates on social interaction, Garret's retelling focuses more on a political issue with a few touches of human trafficking and drug addiction.
Mrs. Benitez does not resonate much the air of Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet is a social climber whose only aim is for her daughters to marry well. Her interactions with other people are quite humorous and also embarrassing to the girls. Mrs. Benitez, however, simply wants her family intact. There are very few pages dedicated to her that her character seems rather flatter than the classic. Garret's version of Darcy and Elisa are still brilliant. They are both smart, proud to a fault but are willing to change when circumstances require them. P&P lovers and non-lovers alike will enjoy this read.
March 29, 2019
I was very generously provided a free copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
2.5 Stars (I rounded up)
Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, I actively seek out retellings and I was excited to dive into this novel.
While the characters are familiar and the general story line stays true, this felt like slapping the name of a classic novel on a soapbox platform for politics.
Even when I agreed with opinions and views on many matters, it felt forced. The topic of immigration was shoved down my throat at every turn, the word 'Trump' was used throughout the book more than several prominent P&P characters.
I read through the authors notes at the end of the book stating that she wanted to share the story with arguments from both sides of this important issue, however that didn't ring true to me. Only one side was well represented, the other was either demeaned as irrational and hateful or needing to be changed. I also found it interesting that in the author's notes she mentioned the higher importance beyond the characters political beliefs to be their spiritual beliefs. However in the novel there are only two mentions to spirituality, once it is mentioned that a character attends church and another time it is mentioned that two characters are Christians. If this was actually an important topic for the author I would have expected it to take a larger role.
If this had been any other story with the politics thrown it I probably would have rated it down a star. As it stands I did not like Elisa as a character in this book and that is an issue for me as I love Elizabeth in just about every version I've ever read/watched.
2.5 Stars (I rounded up)
Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, I actively seek out retellings and I was excited to dive into this novel.
While the characters are familiar and the general story line stays true, this felt like slapping the name of a classic novel on a soapbox platform for politics.
Even when I agreed with opinions and views on many matters, it felt forced. The topic of immigration was shoved down my throat at every turn, the word 'Trump' was used throughout the book more than several prominent P&P characters.
I read through the authors notes at the end of the book stating that she wanted to share the story with arguments from both sides of this important issue, however that didn't ring true to me. Only one side was well represented, the other was either demeaned as irrational and hateful or needing to be changed. I also found it interesting that in the author's notes she mentioned the higher importance beyond the characters political beliefs to be their spiritual beliefs. However in the novel there are only two mentions to spirituality, once it is mentioned that a character attends church and another time it is mentioned that two characters are Christians. If this was actually an important topic for the author I would have expected it to take a larger role.
If this had been any other story with the politics thrown it I probably would have rated it down a star. As it stands I did not like Elisa as a character in this book and that is an issue for me as I love Elizabeth in just about every version I've ever read/watched.
April 21, 2019
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
Oh what a pleasant surprise this was! Those of you that know me know that I love me some JAFF! I’ve been reading it for about 3 years and this one was really special to me because I’m from California and I could identify with everything going on. And I also love DC. The modernization of this story was brilliant. I loved it!
It really worked for me the author set up the story with all the main characters of P&P. The angst and romance was wonderful and these two might be my favorites of JAFF.... If you haven’t had the chance to read this yet then let me just say that it’s worth the read.
Happy Reading! ❤️
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own!
Oh what a pleasant surprise this was! Those of you that know me know that I love me some JAFF! I’ve been reading it for about 3 years and this one was really special to me because I’m from California and I could identify with everything going on. And I also love DC. The modernization of this story was brilliant. I loved it!
It really worked for me the author set up the story with all the main characters of P&P. The angst and romance was wonderful and these two might be my favorites of JAFF.... If you haven’t had the chance to read this yet then let me just say that it’s worth the read.
Happy Reading! ❤️
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own!
March 6, 2019
This modern take on Pride and Prejudice goes in a very unique direction. The have and have nots are divided by citizenship status. Elisa Benitez was born in the US but her parents are illegal and her older sister is tentatively covered by the US DACA/Dreamer program. Their family cares for rental properties in the California mountains where the a state senator (Bingley), his sister and friend Darcy rent for a vacation.
With a backdrop of the US political scene of Trump's push to become the Republican candidate for presidency, Elisa and Darcy weave their way through the traditional story line to find their happily ever after.
Separate from the romance, I believe the author did a wonderful job expressing the fear that even those who are in the country legally must feel to even report crime and/or interact with the government unless absolutely necessary. As someone lucky enough to be comfortably situated, overall setting was a subtle reminder that things are most likely even more "gray" than I imagined related to immigration. I really enjoy stories that take me out of my comfort zone with my ideas even if it is wrapped up in my favorite characters.
With a backdrop of the US political scene of Trump's push to become the Republican candidate for presidency, Elisa and Darcy weave their way through the traditional story line to find their happily ever after.
Separate from the romance, I believe the author did a wonderful job expressing the fear that even those who are in the country legally must feel to even report crime and/or interact with the government unless absolutely necessary. As someone lucky enough to be comfortably situated, overall setting was a subtle reminder that things are most likely even more "gray" than I imagined related to immigration. I really enjoy stories that take me out of my comfort zone with my ideas even if it is wrapped up in my favorite characters.
April 21, 2019
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
This book felt like a retelling of Bridget Jone´s diary, but that is a Pride and Prejudice retelling so it makes a lot of sense. I loved the characters in this story, even I did not always agree with all of them on their actions I do feel that they were well written and full of personality.
This story follows Elisa and Darcy, who come from two different social backgrounds but they colide once Darcy spends a week on a cabin where Elisa´s family work.
The book is set up during US presidencial Elections where Trump is one of the candidates. He has an strong policy against inmigrants, which will be the main topic here. Darcy is a political advisor and his company is deciding where to send the support and which candidates to back up, and of course, Trump is between the options.
Elisa´s mother & father came into the US many many years ago on a tourist visa but they remained in the country and never left, so they are kind of ilegal and they may have problems staying in the country if Trum wins the election.
So, you may imagin where this starts from, they are on two opposite sides and they cannot reconcile their ideas. Darcy is super stubborn and full of pride, he knows he will never be with somebody like Elisa because that would not be a great image but he cant deny he feels something for her. Elisa hate him from the moment she met him because his super close and awefull with people and she has a huge pride for her roots and her family.
Theres another paralel story between Elisa´s sister and Darcy´s friend which I think it did add more to the plot and I really liked how it all worked out.
The only reason why I didn´t give 5 stars was because I think the end was a little rushed and I would have liked to know what happen after the election with Elisa´s parents, but anyway I think it was a good retelling and I liked a lot the writting style of Corrie Garrett.
This book felt like a retelling of Bridget Jone´s diary, but that is a Pride and Prejudice retelling so it makes a lot of sense. I loved the characters in this story, even I did not always agree with all of them on their actions I do feel that they were well written and full of personality.
This story follows Elisa and Darcy, who come from two different social backgrounds but they colide once Darcy spends a week on a cabin where Elisa´s family work.
The book is set up during US presidencial Elections where Trump is one of the candidates. He has an strong policy against inmigrants, which will be the main topic here. Darcy is a political advisor and his company is deciding where to send the support and which candidates to back up, and of course, Trump is between the options.
Elisa´s mother & father came into the US many many years ago on a tourist visa but they remained in the country and never left, so they are kind of ilegal and they may have problems staying in the country if Trum wins the election.
So, you may imagin where this starts from, they are on two opposite sides and they cannot reconcile their ideas. Darcy is super stubborn and full of pride, he knows he will never be with somebody like Elisa because that would not be a great image but he cant deny he feels something for her. Elisa hate him from the moment she met him because his super close and awefull with people and she has a huge pride for her roots and her family.
Theres another paralel story between Elisa´s sister and Darcy´s friend which I think it did add more to the plot and I really liked how it all worked out.
The only reason why I didn´t give 5 stars was because I think the end was a little rushed and I would have liked to know what happen after the election with Elisa´s parents, but anyway I think it was a good retelling and I liked a lot the writting style of Corrie Garrett.
February 19, 2019
Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, so I was eager to read this modern retelling of the tale. While Jane Austen’s classic dealt with issues of class and marriage in the 19th century, Corrie Garrett takes on the volatile issues of immigration and politics. Somehow, the problems faced by the main characters in both books don’t seem to occur 200 years apart. Set during the summer of 2016, Garrett’s story introduces Elisa Benitez, a college student who helps her parents clean mountain cabins during her school vacations. While she was born in the United States, she is considerably worried that her illegal immigrant parents and Dreamer elder sister will be deported. Enter Bingley and Darcy, two elegible bachelors who are staying at one of the mountain cabins for the summer. When her sister falls for Bingley, a guest who is a California state representative, Elisa thinks nothing good can come of it Even worse is Bingley’s friend Darcy. He runs a PAC that donates money to candidates whose immigration views are in direct contrast to Elisa and her family. Of course Darcy finds himself falling for Elisa and as much as he tries to fight the attraction, he can’t help but find her spirit, intellect, and beauty enticing.
Corrie Garrett does an excellent job of taking an age old story and creating a new setting for a love/hate relationship. It’s easy to see how the issue of immigration and prejudice can lead to conflict. The only thing I didn’t love was the point-of-view shifts. I liked that we weren’t usually privy to Darcy’s feelings in Austen’s work. It added to the mystery of the character and made him all the more endearing when he changed in order to win Elizabeth Bennett’s heart.
Overall , though, this was an enjoyable, topical read.
Corrie Garrett does an excellent job of taking an age old story and creating a new setting for a love/hate relationship. It’s easy to see how the issue of immigration and prejudice can lead to conflict. The only thing I didn’t love was the point-of-view shifts. I liked that we weren’t usually privy to Darcy’s feelings in Austen’s work. It added to the mystery of the character and made him all the more endearing when he changed in order to win Elizabeth Bennett’s heart.
Overall , though, this was an enjoyable, topical read.
February 11, 2019
The story is a modernPride & Prejudice story, set primarily in California before the recent US Presidential (Trump vs Hillary) election. Though it was different, you can tell there were scenes and statements from the original story. I thought they were cleverly blended into this contemporary version. The book tackled slightly about the US immigration issues as well as the views of different indviduals about the main political parties. So if you have strong opinions about certain issue/point of views, please keep in mind this is fiction and I don't think the author means to indoctrinate anyone to a different political view (though I would keep an open mind and hear some of the points presented :).
There were very few grammatical errors that are hardly noticeable. The characters are up to par with their original counterparts (though names had changed like Jane is Noa, Leticia was lydia and Carla is Charlotte). Wickham is still despicable and I hoped there was a sad ending for him. No Mary or Kitty. ( One question came to mind -I am just curious how they could own properties if they were illegal immigrants??? wouldn't that put them on radar?)
On a last note, the author had a message that was imparted and I loved this part. (I am just changing one word - " "there is no longer Jew or Gentile , slave or free, male or female...WE are all one in Christ Jesus"
A great book to read.
I also want to disclose that I was fortunate to be given the chance to have an ARC to review this book.
There were very few grammatical errors that are hardly noticeable. The characters are up to par with their original counterparts (though names had changed like Jane is Noa, Leticia was lydia and Carla is Charlotte). Wickham is still despicable and I hoped there was a sad ending for him. No Mary or Kitty. ( One question came to mind -I am just curious how they could own properties if they were illegal immigrants??? wouldn't that put them on radar?)
On a last note, the author had a message that was imparted and I loved this part. (I am just changing one word - " "there is no longer Jew or Gentile , slave or free, male or female...WE are all one in Christ Jesus"
A great book to read.
I also want to disclose that I was fortunate to be given the chance to have an ARC to review this book.
June 1, 2019
I'm a complete sucker for Pride & Prejudice retellings. I love the original characters so much that it's usually easy for me to look past a lackluster plot. But I'm not going to lie.. I had to force myself to keep reading this book. (Even with a great Darcy!)
The characters were all there along with the charm the original has.. But I think this book tried to do too much in a short amount of time that it wasn't completely believable. I appreciated the politics in this retelling but it just wasn't for me.
The characters were all there along with the charm the original has.. But I think this book tried to do too much in a short amount of time that it wasn't completely believable. I appreciated the politics in this retelling but it just wasn't for me.
December 4, 2018
I'm a sucker for all things P&P so when I saw the kindle of this as a Black Friday Freebie you can bet I snapped it up :)
Overall, this is an okay modernisation to the basic narrative. It's stronger in the first half than the second, but then I think it would be fair to say that of Austen's original work. Snarky P&P is the best P&P.
(Also, if you haven't watched The Lizzie Bennet Diaries yet, you should, because it is aces)
Overall, this is an okay modernisation to the basic narrative. It's stronger in the first half than the second, but then I think it would be fair to say that of Austen's original work. Snarky P&P is the best P&P.
(Also, if you haven't watched The Lizzie Bennet Diaries yet, you should, because it is aces)
January 29, 2021
Love in the time of Trump
This was a pretty unique take on Pride and Prejudice. Very modern and politically contemporary. It was a cute clean romance with so much issues and information about the Latin immigrants and their American citizenship issues and about Trump/Clinton election. I liked it a lot.
This was a pretty unique take on Pride and Prejudice. Very modern and politically contemporary. It was a cute clean romance with so much issues and information about the Latin immigrants and their American citizenship issues and about Trump/Clinton election. I liked it a lot.
January 25, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/01/...
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — Confession: I have never read Pride & Prejudice. *sigh* I know, throw stones, whatever… I don’t even have the desire to! *gasp* right? I have, however, watched and loved both the BBC 6-part mini series, and the more recent Keira Knightly edition. So I have a feel for the story and its characters.
I thought the author did a really interesting job of incorporating so many of the characters into this modern story! It really impressed me how they all made sense in this modern version, and what kinds of relationships they would have with Elisa and Darcy in a 2016 USA. I also really appreciated all the little nods to “world events” happening in 2016 that Ms. Garrett incorporated into the story (even the introduction of Pokemon Go!). Basically, while I am by no means a P&P expert, from my perspective she did a great job with this retelling.
The thing about retelling a story is that you want to remain faithful, but you also want to have a purpose for the retelling…something that makes it unique and necessary. And this story tackled so many interesting issues, most particularly the immigration/illegals/DACA situation in the US. Now, saying all that, I’m Canadian. I really don’t have a grasp of this issue other than what I see on the news, or from watching Colbert. So again, from my perspective I thought the way it was handled in the story, and the things I learned, and the very real fears that Elisa’s family felt were thoughtfully portrayed.
And while that was most certainly the biggest issue tackled, the author also touched on the harsh trials of celebrity, human trafficking, elitism (obviously), and how far apart we’ve become from those who have different beliefs from us, among others.
Now, obviously going in I knew this was going to be a slow-burner…and also, likely not a steamy read, given what it was retelling. And while I loved the general plot and character development, and general storytelling, the romance was a bit lacking. I did feel some butterflies over the DC “date”, but I guess I had hoped for a good kissing scene. I don’t mind reading clean reads, but I still want some swoony kissing you know? The kisses were essentially described as “they kissed”. So if you’re hoping for a bit more in that area, tamp those hopes down.
As an aside, is it weird that the author’s note at the end, with it’s strong Christian bent, made me uncomfortable? I know lots of authors who are Christians, and they thank God, and that makes sense. This felt more preachy somehow, like life is only good if you walk with God. Sucks for those of us that don’t. But I’m sensitive like that.
So yeah. Faithful retelling that was thought provoking and relevant, just slightly short of swooniness. Initially I felt like the ending was rather abrupt, but after some thought it felt right.
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — Confession: I have never read Pride & Prejudice. *sigh* I know, throw stones, whatever… I don’t even have the desire to! *gasp* right? I have, however, watched and loved both the BBC 6-part mini series, and the more recent Keira Knightly edition. So I have a feel for the story and its characters.
I thought the author did a really interesting job of incorporating so many of the characters into this modern story! It really impressed me how they all made sense in this modern version, and what kinds of relationships they would have with Elisa and Darcy in a 2016 USA. I also really appreciated all the little nods to “world events” happening in 2016 that Ms. Garrett incorporated into the story (even the introduction of Pokemon Go!). Basically, while I am by no means a P&P expert, from my perspective she did a great job with this retelling.
The thing about retelling a story is that you want to remain faithful, but you also want to have a purpose for the retelling…something that makes it unique and necessary. And this story tackled so many interesting issues, most particularly the immigration/illegals/DACA situation in the US. Now, saying all that, I’m Canadian. I really don’t have a grasp of this issue other than what I see on the news, or from watching Colbert. So again, from my perspective I thought the way it was handled in the story, and the things I learned, and the very real fears that Elisa’s family felt were thoughtfully portrayed.
And while that was most certainly the biggest issue tackled, the author also touched on the harsh trials of celebrity, human trafficking, elitism (obviously), and how far apart we’ve become from those who have different beliefs from us, among others.
Now, obviously going in I knew this was going to be a slow-burner…and also, likely not a steamy read, given what it was retelling. And while I loved the general plot and character development, and general storytelling, the romance was a bit lacking. I did feel some butterflies over the DC “date”, but I guess I had hoped for a good kissing scene. I don’t mind reading clean reads, but I still want some swoony kissing you know? The kisses were essentially described as “they kissed”. So if you’re hoping for a bit more in that area, tamp those hopes down.
As an aside, is it weird that the author’s note at the end, with it’s strong Christian bent, made me uncomfortable? I know lots of authors who are Christians, and they thank God, and that makes sense. This felt more preachy somehow, like life is only good if you walk with God. Sucks for those of us that don’t. But I’m sensitive like that.
So yeah. Faithful retelling that was thought provoking and relevant, just slightly short of swooniness. Initially I felt like the ending was rather abrupt, but after some thought it felt right.
February 4, 2019
I haven't read Pride and Prejudice so I can't say what elements of this story are close to the original, but I still ended up really enjoying it! It was a really good mix of romance and discussion of serious topics.
That being said, I can't say I was that invested in the relationship. In all honesty, I don't believe people with such different viewpoints in life can just get along their whole lives, and not even that, but get married as soon as they did. I know Darcy changed in some aspects, but how much can someone actually alter their views?
That being said, I can't say I was that invested in the relationship. In all honesty, I don't believe people with such different viewpoints in life can just get along their whole lives, and not even that, but get married as soon as they did. I know Darcy changed in some aspects, but how much can someone actually alter their views?
June 28, 2019
I’ve read some modern re-tellings of classics that have just fallen flat. Sometimes classics are named classics because they are indeed just that: stories that transcend time. They shape our culture and understanding of the past. They also help us shape our future and in particular the way authors and readers write and engage with novels. I felt a bit skeptical about Corrie Garrett’s novel because I wasn’t sure how it could work. Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, has also never been a favorite of mine. In fact, I am not a huge Austen fan in general. I do, however, love Elizabeth Gaskell and George Eliot.
There are aspects of Garrett’s novel that are truly innovative and I do believe these innovations make the story of Austen’s novel accessible to a younger contemporary audience. It is set in 2016 in Southern California. It is a time in history that I believe many people will be talking about for decades to come, the U.S. election that saw Donald Trump come to power as U.S. president. In this time there are three Mexican sisters (some of the family is undocumented) who end up crossing paths with political royalty so to speak.
The love story of Darcy and Elisa mimics that of Austen’s original novel. At times, I felt the characterization was a little bit forced, but then also reading over Austen’s original novel I actually felt the same way about her writing. Darcy is one of the most annoying love interests I have read in a novel. I am infuriated every time by his actions whether it is in Garrett’s retelling or Austen’s original. Who knows though, maybe that was Austen’s point all along? But what I find even more infuriating is that many readers love Darcy’s character to the point where they say he is their literary fantasy boyfriend!
Tied up in this tempestuous love affair are the discussions of immigration, conservative politics, and Trump. From the beginning of the novel Darcy and Elisa identity as politically conservative. Yet their conservatism does not exactly meet eye to eye. Elisa’s parents and one of her sisters are undocumented immigrants in U.S. The family overstayed their visa and are now under the DACA program. A program that helps undocumented people, in particular children, to have a legal and safe path to permanent residency and/or citizenship in the United States. Elisa is concerned that if Trump is elected the DACA program will be revoked and her family will be at risk of deportation. Elisa struggles with standing up for her family and other Latinx people in the U.S. and falling into the trap of the model immigrant: someone who doesn’t step out of line or say the wrong thing.
Talking about immigration is hard. People are often unwilling to see different sides to stories or show compassion for the people hurt by immigration policies. Immigration has always been a concern for me because I am immigrant myself living in Switzerland and my partner has a South American passport meaning we have a mixed cultural/passport marriage. The misconceptions around the world from the general population have about how ‘easy’ it is to emigrate are sometimes laughable. And governments often do not correct these misconceptions because it makes it easier for them to create even more damaging and hardline policies surrounding immigration. Immigration is extremely tough and honestly, people need to show more compassion. Until you have given up your culture, language, lifestyle, climate, food, family, and friends you might want to just sit down and listen.
Garrett’s novel tries to show how undocumented immigrants feel about being undocumented along with the fears they have about their safety and security in the U.S. On the other side, she also shows people who are less understanding and who buy into the negative stereotypes about immigrants. In this regard, her discussions are balanced, but at times I felt a bit too safe.
Moreover, the discussions about Trump were also too safe. Trump’s mistreatment of women and sexual harassment history were completely overlooked in the novel. I know it is difficult to bring up sexual assault and misogyny as it probably means the novel has to be extended and the storyline has to be adapted to it, yet I felt this omission made it look like the characters of the novel were living under a rock. I don’t live in the U.S. and I was still aware of those allegations.
To be honest, I feel this book would be great to study for high school students and I think it could be a great starting point for people to have discussions about immigration. However, in order to do it correctly, I think the novel should be supplemented with other immigrant stories and a history of the United State’s immigration policies and attitudes towards immigrants.
I can see this novel sparking great book club discussions, but it also has the potential to be volatile based on the content. However, if you are brave readers then this can be a great thought provoking novel. What classic retellings do you love? As always, share the reading love.
Note: this novel was accessed through Netgalley for review purposes.
There are aspects of Garrett’s novel that are truly innovative and I do believe these innovations make the story of Austen’s novel accessible to a younger contemporary audience. It is set in 2016 in Southern California. It is a time in history that I believe many people will be talking about for decades to come, the U.S. election that saw Donald Trump come to power as U.S. president. In this time there are three Mexican sisters (some of the family is undocumented) who end up crossing paths with political royalty so to speak.
The love story of Darcy and Elisa mimics that of Austen’s original novel. At times, I felt the characterization was a little bit forced, but then also reading over Austen’s original novel I actually felt the same way about her writing. Darcy is one of the most annoying love interests I have read in a novel. I am infuriated every time by his actions whether it is in Garrett’s retelling or Austen’s original. Who knows though, maybe that was Austen’s point all along? But what I find even more infuriating is that many readers love Darcy’s character to the point where they say he is their literary fantasy boyfriend!
Tied up in this tempestuous love affair are the discussions of immigration, conservative politics, and Trump. From the beginning of the novel Darcy and Elisa identity as politically conservative. Yet their conservatism does not exactly meet eye to eye. Elisa’s parents and one of her sisters are undocumented immigrants in U.S. The family overstayed their visa and are now under the DACA program. A program that helps undocumented people, in particular children, to have a legal and safe path to permanent residency and/or citizenship in the United States. Elisa is concerned that if Trump is elected the DACA program will be revoked and her family will be at risk of deportation. Elisa struggles with standing up for her family and other Latinx people in the U.S. and falling into the trap of the model immigrant: someone who doesn’t step out of line or say the wrong thing.
Talking about immigration is hard. People are often unwilling to see different sides to stories or show compassion for the people hurt by immigration policies. Immigration has always been a concern for me because I am immigrant myself living in Switzerland and my partner has a South American passport meaning we have a mixed cultural/passport marriage. The misconceptions around the world from the general population have about how ‘easy’ it is to emigrate are sometimes laughable. And governments often do not correct these misconceptions because it makes it easier for them to create even more damaging and hardline policies surrounding immigration. Immigration is extremely tough and honestly, people need to show more compassion. Until you have given up your culture, language, lifestyle, climate, food, family, and friends you might want to just sit down and listen.
Garrett’s novel tries to show how undocumented immigrants feel about being undocumented along with the fears they have about their safety and security in the U.S. On the other side, she also shows people who are less understanding and who buy into the negative stereotypes about immigrants. In this regard, her discussions are balanced, but at times I felt a bit too safe.
Moreover, the discussions about Trump were also too safe. Trump’s mistreatment of women and sexual harassment history were completely overlooked in the novel. I know it is difficult to bring up sexual assault and misogyny as it probably means the novel has to be extended and the storyline has to be adapted to it, yet I felt this omission made it look like the characters of the novel were living under a rock. I don’t live in the U.S. and I was still aware of those allegations.
To be honest, I feel this book would be great to study for high school students and I think it could be a great starting point for people to have discussions about immigration. However, in order to do it correctly, I think the novel should be supplemented with other immigrant stories and a history of the United State’s immigration policies and attitudes towards immigrants.
I can see this novel sparking great book club discussions, but it also has the potential to be volatile based on the content. However, if you are brave readers then this can be a great thought provoking novel. What classic retellings do you love? As always, share the reading love.
Note: this novel was accessed through Netgalley for review purposes.
June 16, 2020
Ben was a state representative with family money. Darcy was a near-celebrity looking into real estate investment. Noa was a high-school graduate. She had no college degree, no visa, and no potential to get one.
(In case you were wondering, this book contains brief mentions of human trafficking, drug addition, and anxiety/depression)
This is a modern, emphasis on modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. If you didn't read the summary and didn't realize this takes place during the summer of 2016, Garrett will make sure that you know it. I mean, the pervasive references to Trump's campaign (though a bit much) at least make sense contextually, but the constant reminders that the Rio Olympics and Pokemon Go's release are happening? Completely unnecessary.
And you know how Technology Ruins Romance? I'm starting to think technology ruins writing too. I mean, it's bad enough that I have to read texts with emojis in my books but descriptions of gifs seems like a bit too much.
The premise actually isn't bad. Elisa's parents manage the cabin Darcy and co. are staying in. She's the (temporary) young Hispanic cleaning girl with a mixed status family. Darcy the leader of a pro-Republican political action committee trying to stay neutral so when Trump might still donate after he loses. I get the need and desire to start discussions about immigration and racism, especially in modern-day America-and I even think it works with a modern P&P backdrop-but I find reading a story from a predominantly Lantina POV written by a non-Hispanic white author a little weird. And while I appreciate the intent, it was a bit preachy and convoluted at times.
There are a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies throughout the book. Like, he has no cell service, but is able to send out emails before getting the wi-fi password? Also, why would Darcy's sister call him "Darcy" when that's his last name?? They're simple things, really, but that just makes it more disappointing that they weren't caught. I’m also having a hard time believing people just hang out with their rental managers all the time.
Speaking of mistakes missed...I'm not trying to nitpick, but there were a few formatting issues. Also, please use commas properly! I mean I wasn't trying to read this like an editor, but there was a point where I noticed she didn't use them when needed but stuck them in when it was grammatically incorrect. The fact that I happened to notice this in back-to-back sentences didn't exactly inspire my confidence in Garret's writing ability.
Though this is a book by a self-identified Christian author, it doesn't hit you over the head with the faith aspect. It's certainly better than the last Christian Austen I read and doesn't hold Christians up as paradigms of virtue or as Pollyannas who live perfect lives. My only complain is that the attempt to "swear without swearing" came across as a bit juvenile at times. Like, "Fitz said a bad word," really? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the PG language, but couldn't Garret have use a better verb like "swore" or "cursed under his breath"? It's such a simple thing, but it sounds like I'm listening to a five-year-old tell a story. Diction matters. Tone matters. Choose words carefully, friends.
I guess that's the theme for this review. Simple, almost unremarkable misses really bring a story down. There's probably a metaphor there if you look hard enough.
October 27, 2019
The immigration plot was interesting but I didn’t feel the characters were as passionate or as polarised as I have experienced speaking to Americans, especially just prior to this election (when I happened to be in the US). I am not American myself and I am not an immigrant, illegal or otherwise, so this is just my impression. I thought that the Republican side was probably a fairly accurate portrayal of those who were anti Trump but unsure how to marry that with their other beliefs. There was also some soul searching on Darcy’s behalf where he realised not saying something is basically the same as support and that being mostly good doesn’t mean that it’s ok to treat people badly or accept dodgy ideas/behaviour. Elisa’s behaviour and beliefs could have been authentic, most people do wish to fit in and don’t want to be violent, but she was very much portrayed as an ‘acceptable immigrant’ who wants to assimilate and will change her name to make people comfortable. All the female characters ended up with ‘good’ white men. All of the Latino men, apart from Mr Bennet, were criminals and layabouts. When the author’s notes said she doesn’t really care about the issue of immigration I wasn’t surprised because the end of the book had completely swept the issue under the carpet.
As for the romance, it wasn’t focused on enough. Darcy did have to consider his views and make some changes, and that felt fairly reasonable that he would
do that because he liked her. However, I don’t think it was enough or that it was portrayed well enough to explain why Elisa would want to be with him. I thought the author managed to explain that Darcy changed his views enough on the immigration issue to allow for friendship, and in other areas Elisa realised he was a good person, but to jump from that to marriage was huge and just not realistic. The scene before he proposes is only their second kiss, which he is actually too embarrassed to do initially. This is a modern variation, people just don’t marry that soon, it’s not necessary. And especially when there is such a huge divide between their politics (not to mention the racist mother), it was too quick a jump. It felt at the end that Noa and Ben were marrying for immigration reasons, which I know doesn’t mean they don’t love each other, but the way it was talked about felt really mercenary. Plus their gratitude over Wick seemed to be a bit too important to the relationship with Darcy. I prefer modern variations where they get together and have a normal length pre-engagement relationship, at least a year.
As for the romance, it wasn’t focused on enough. Darcy did have to consider his views and make some changes, and that felt fairly reasonable that he would
do that because he liked her. However, I don’t think it was enough or that it was portrayed well enough to explain why Elisa would want to be with him. I thought the author managed to explain that Darcy changed his views enough on the immigration issue to allow for friendship, and in other areas Elisa realised he was a good person, but to jump from that to marriage was huge and just not realistic. The scene before he proposes is only their second kiss, which he is actually too embarrassed to do initially. This is a modern variation, people just don’t marry that soon, it’s not necessary. And especially when there is such a huge divide between their politics (not to mention the racist mother), it was too quick a jump. It felt at the end that Noa and Ben were marrying for immigration reasons, which I know doesn’t mean they don’t love each other, but the way it was talked about felt really mercenary. Plus their gratitude over Wick seemed to be a bit too important to the relationship with Darcy. I prefer modern variations where they get together and have a normal length pre-engagement relationship, at least a year.
February 27, 2023
With this title, I really thought that this was going to be a modern day Pride and Prejudice retelling about travel. Turns out, it was about politics. I really felt like Pride and Prejudice and Politics would have been a much more accurate title, and would not have left me felt like I had been subjected to a bait and switch. Be prepared to relive the politics of illegal immigration that were prevalent in the U.S. during the 2016 Election in this book. The analogy of the characters from cannon P&P mapped onto to modern US society worked well. Their backgrounds leave them farther away economically than in cannon P&P, but in some ways that has to be true in order for today's readers to feel the challenges in a couple working in the same way it would have in regency times.
Things That Worked:
- I thought that the analogy of the characters from cannon P&P to modern US society worked really well. The idea that Mr. Darcy, hailing from old money and political influence would be behind much of the funding of the Republican party makes sense. Mr. Bingley as one of the political upstarts he has helped to grow fits right into that idea. With Noa (Jane's character) as a dreamer, it provider the perfect set up for issues with them being a couple beyond just their feelings for each other.
- To that end, Mr. Darcy sitting around working on his laptop while the Benitez family, including Elisa (Elizabeth's character) cleaned his cabin felt like a perfect analogy to Mr. Darcy in cannon P&P.
- In this story, Mrs. Benitez (Mrs. Bennet) came to America with her husband to make a better life for her daughters, and she is going to do that no matter what. She isn't concerned about saying something that someone might think wasn't appropriate, and she's not even concerned for her own or her husband's well-being if it will help her daughters. Even though her personality was very different from Mrs. Bennet in the book, she similarly ended up setting back her daughters' interests when all she was trying to do was what was best for them.
- Giana Darcy, knows by her family as Gigi (Georgiana Darcy's character) has a significantly bigger role in this story than cannon P&P that helps to augment the standings of the Bingley/Darcy families as compared to the Benitez family. She is a former Disney star who has become a pop sensation. When Letitia (Lydia's character) learns that she will be staying in the cabins that her family cleans and maintains, we know that she is going to finagle a way to fan-girl all over her idol.
Things That Didn't Work:
- As I mentioned above, I thought the title could have been more accurate. I guess I should have paid closer attention to the description of this story, but sometimes they can give away too much there that I try to avoid them.
- This is a really tough topic to navigate, and it often lacked grace. Parts felt forced, and I found myself cringing as a reader.
- The topic of was maybe a bit much, but it did provide one of the better modern analogies for in modern times.
Things That Worked:
- I thought that the analogy of the characters from cannon P&P to modern US society worked really well. The idea that Mr. Darcy, hailing from old money and political influence would be behind much of the funding of the Republican party makes sense. Mr. Bingley as one of the political upstarts he has helped to grow fits right into that idea. With Noa (Jane's character) as a dreamer, it provider the perfect set up for issues with them being a couple beyond just their feelings for each other.
- To that end, Mr. Darcy sitting around working on his laptop while the Benitez family, including Elisa (Elizabeth's character) cleaned his cabin felt like a perfect analogy to Mr. Darcy in cannon P&P.
- In this story, Mrs. Benitez (Mrs. Bennet) came to America with her husband to make a better life for her daughters, and she is going to do that no matter what. She isn't concerned about saying something that someone might think wasn't appropriate, and she's not even concerned for her own or her husband's well-being if it will help her daughters. Even though her personality was very different from Mrs. Bennet in the book, she similarly ended up setting back her daughters' interests when all she was trying to do was what was best for them.
- Giana Darcy, knows by her family as Gigi (Georgiana Darcy's character) has a significantly bigger role in this story than cannon P&P that helps to augment the standings of the Bingley/Darcy families as compared to the Benitez family. She is a former Disney star who has become a pop sensation. When Letitia (Lydia's character) learns that she will be staying in the cabins that her family cleans and maintains, we know that she is going to finagle a way to fan-girl all over her idol.
Things That Didn't Work:
- As I mentioned above, I thought the title could have been more accurate. I guess I should have paid closer attention to the description of this story, but sometimes they can give away too much there that I try to avoid them.
- This is a really tough topic to navigate, and it often lacked grace. Parts felt forced, and I found myself cringing as a reader.
- The topic of was maybe a bit much, but it did provide one of the better modern analogies for in modern times.
May 5, 2019
Contemporary variation of Pride and Prejudice
Intriguing, politically bent story that was well adapted in to the modern era. It felt like the author had thorough knowledge of PnP by the way she had incorporated a few of the more subtle traits from PnP, in a new and interesting way, like the relationship between Darcy and Caroline.
The Benitez family was Mexican immigrants, some legal, some not and I thought the plot highly relevant today, (although the American political system is a huge mystery to me) it was set around the time of Trump's election.
It had one major flaw though, which I have noticed in a lot of the modern variations I have read. Elizabeth, or Elisa as she was called in this story, was too mean and cutting, making it hard to believe Darcy could fall for her. When the "Jane sick at Netherfield" is missing and the "liking Wickham" is elaborated, I just cannot see the reason for attraction...
Despite of this flaw, I really liked the book. It was interesting, engaging and well written.
The Benitez was managing lodges for rent and Elisa was visiting to help them out as her father had a broken ankle. Ben (Bingley) had rented a cabin and brought his sister Carolin, his friend Darcy and eventually Darcy's sister Giana.
The insult while Elisa was cleaning their cabin was delivered and Noa, Elisa's usually shy older sister was hitting it off with Ben until the Benitez mother put her foot in it a party. Revealing Noa as a DACA which meant she only had a temporary permission to stay in the country and needling Ben to get her a more permanent solution, made Ben run...
Back in LA, Elisa got a job as PT for the famous Giana while going on Rally with Wickham who had a history with the Darcy's. Letitia (Lydia), the third and final sister does have a debacle with Wickham and Darcy saved the day.
Ends in a HEA.
This was not a sweet and romantic story but an engaging story that left me with a lot of food for thought and a little more insight in to the immigration issues in the US.
Recommend
Intriguing, politically bent story that was well adapted in to the modern era. It felt like the author had thorough knowledge of PnP by the way she had incorporated a few of the more subtle traits from PnP, in a new and interesting way, like the relationship between Darcy and Caroline.
The Benitez family was Mexican immigrants, some legal, some not and I thought the plot highly relevant today, (although the American political system is a huge mystery to me) it was set around the time of Trump's election.
It had one major flaw though, which I have noticed in a lot of the modern variations I have read. Elizabeth, or Elisa as she was called in this story, was too mean and cutting, making it hard to believe Darcy could fall for her. When the "Jane sick at Netherfield" is missing and the "liking Wickham" is elaborated, I just cannot see the reason for attraction...
Despite of this flaw, I really liked the book. It was interesting, engaging and well written.
The Benitez was managing lodges for rent and Elisa was visiting to help them out as her father had a broken ankle. Ben (Bingley) had rented a cabin and brought his sister Carolin, his friend Darcy and eventually Darcy's sister Giana.
The insult while Elisa was cleaning their cabin was delivered and Noa, Elisa's usually shy older sister was hitting it off with Ben until the Benitez mother put her foot in it a party. Revealing Noa as a DACA which meant she only had a temporary permission to stay in the country and needling Ben to get her a more permanent solution, made Ben run...
Back in LA, Elisa got a job as PT for the famous Giana while going on Rally with Wickham who had a history with the Darcy's. Letitia (Lydia), the third and final sister does have a debacle with Wickham and Darcy saved the day.
Ends in a HEA.
This was not a sweet and romantic story but an engaging story that left me with a lot of food for thought and a little more insight in to the immigration issues in the US.
Recommend
October 2, 2019
Not gonna lie, I love Pride and Prej, and I'll read pretty much any Jane Austen retelling. In the latest one, Pride & Prejudice and Passports, the Benitez family are semi-documented immigrants. Noa, the oldest daughter, was brought to the US as a baby, so she works under-the-table and waits for legalization. Elisa and the other girls were born in the US, so Elisa has a shot at college and upperclass work, but of course that can't be investigated too closely without revealing her family's status. When Noa helps out her parents by cleaning their rental cabins, she meets the handsome republican politician, Bingley, and they fall almost immediately in love. It's just the sort of meet-cute and effortless romance that perfectly modernized Jane and Bingley. Naturally, Caroline Bingley is not impressed by her brother dating the housekeeper, which also modernizes the original very well.
This worked on one level, because you could actually see class differences between the Benitez family and the Darcy/ Bingley contingent. But it was hard to sympathize with the republicans or really care very much about the entitled, wealthy class. As republicans veer more and more from being people who'd quite like lower taxes, to being people who want lower taxes for themselves, at literally any cost to other humans, and are willing to ally themselves with the lowest of the low in hope of saving a couple bucks... It's harder and harder to have a sympathetic republican character, let alone a republican politician who inherited his position from his dad. Sure, it's pretty realistic to have a young man who's a republican because his dad told him that democrats are lazy takers or bleeding hearts or whatever, but it still made Darcy completely unappealing. It takes a LOT to make Mr. Darcy unattractive, but hey, this book managed it.
Clever retelling of the Benitez sisters' stories, but attempts at political messaging just made Darcy and Bingly into unsympathetic, entitled bros and killed the romance.
This worked on one level, because you could actually see class differences between the Benitez family and the Darcy/ Bingley contingent. But it was hard to sympathize with the republicans or really care very much about the entitled, wealthy class. As republicans veer more and more from being people who'd quite like lower taxes, to being people who want lower taxes for themselves, at literally any cost to other humans, and are willing to ally themselves with the lowest of the low in hope of saving a couple bucks... It's harder and harder to have a sympathetic republican character, let alone a republican politician who inherited his position from his dad. Sure, it's pretty realistic to have a young man who's a republican because his dad told him that democrats are lazy takers or bleeding hearts or whatever, but it still made Darcy completely unappealing. It takes a LOT to make Mr. Darcy unattractive, but hey, this book managed it.
Clever retelling of the Benitez sisters' stories, but attempts at political messaging just made Darcy and Bingly into unsympathetic, entitled bros and killed the romance.
February 16, 2019
I have always loved adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, but I've also always had issues with parts of the story.
This retelling was simply wonderful.
Giving us insight into Darcy? Check. More Gigi? Check. Endearing and inherently likeable characters? Check. Darcy playing Pokemon Go? Check.
I didn't take many notes while reading because I loved it so much. I liked that it really delved into the politics of modern issues - especially immigration - in a sensitive and realistic way.
In the original, I'd always dismissed Mrs Bennet as a marriage-minded mama, obsessed with finding rich husbands for her children to boost her social standing. But through Mrs Benitez's matchmaking, I realised that all both characters wanted was for their children to be safe and secure in society.
I always liked Darcy as a character but never really felt any strong connection with him and never really understood his thoughts. This book made him a lot less obnoxious and a lot more likeable - he has his issues, but he's self-reflective! ("He realized with humiliation that his shock only confirmed her claim that he was arrogant and out of touch.”) I also admit as a political science nerd, I totally got it when Elisa said, "He had a kind of Captain America civic leadership vibe right now, that… was kind of attractive."
I also found Elisa a lot more likeable and less prejudiced than Elizabeth. Maybe it's because I share a lot of her prejudice? Her reasoning and her actions seemed understandable, even when they weren't likeable.
The romance(s) were slowly-developed, enjoyable and all based on a similarity of character.
I just simply loved it. Not only am I going to go out and read everything else by this author, I'm going to tell everyone I know to do the same.
*An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This retelling was simply wonderful.
Giving us insight into Darcy? Check. More Gigi? Check. Endearing and inherently likeable characters? Check. Darcy playing Pokemon Go? Check.
I didn't take many notes while reading because I loved it so much. I liked that it really delved into the politics of modern issues - especially immigration - in a sensitive and realistic way.
In the original, I'd always dismissed Mrs Bennet as a marriage-minded mama, obsessed with finding rich husbands for her children to boost her social standing. But through Mrs Benitez's matchmaking, I realised that all both characters wanted was for their children to be safe and secure in society.
I always liked Darcy as a character but never really felt any strong connection with him and never really understood his thoughts. This book made him a lot less obnoxious and a lot more likeable - he has his issues, but he's self-reflective! ("He realized with humiliation that his shock only confirmed her claim that he was arrogant and out of touch.”) I also admit as a political science nerd, I totally got it when Elisa said, "He had a kind of Captain America civic leadership vibe right now, that… was kind of attractive."
I also found Elisa a lot more likeable and less prejudiced than Elizabeth. Maybe it's because I share a lot of her prejudice? Her reasoning and her actions seemed understandable, even when they weren't likeable.
The romance(s) were slowly-developed, enjoyable and all based on a similarity of character.
I just simply loved it. Not only am I going to go out and read everything else by this author, I'm going to tell everyone I know to do the same.
*An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2019
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adore Jane Austen and I think she'd be flattered by all the retellings out there! I've read my fair share and while some are less-than-great, this one was FANTASTIC! I could not read it fast enough.
I think the casting and general plot were incredibly innovative and refreshing. The framework of the original story lends itself quite well to this idea. It takes a polarising, popular topic and gives voice to a side many people wouldn't consider. It forces the reader to think about the situation from circumstances that are likely not their own. And I think Corrie Garrett handles things appropriately in her narrative. Great job, striking that balance!
The characters are wonderful. Never once was I put off by a character's portrayal. It all fit with the story - this one and the original. Elisa is just as fiesty and independent and loyal as Elizabeth; Noa is just as sweet, kind, and caring as Jane; Letitia is just as stupid and immature as Lydia. I really appreciated the expansion of Georgiana's role. I felt like it added another element and a unique twist that helped this story stand on its own.
It was difficult to read at times because I knew the outcome of the election (it's set in 2016). I kept wanting to reach through the pages and shake them all because they seemed to have their heads in the sand. Also, on a separate note: I struggled with the age difference a little, too. While Darcy's age is never explicitly specified, he has the air of someone significantly older than Elisa. It seems a little weird, that's all.
All in all, this was such a good book!
I'd happily recommend this to anyone who:
- loves Jane Austen
- falls on Darcy/Ben/Caroline's side of the political spectrum
- should feel seen in today's climate
- needs another book to read
I adore Jane Austen and I think she'd be flattered by all the retellings out there! I've read my fair share and while some are less-than-great, this one was FANTASTIC! I could not read it fast enough.
I think the casting and general plot were incredibly innovative and refreshing. The framework of the original story lends itself quite well to this idea. It takes a polarising, popular topic and gives voice to a side many people wouldn't consider. It forces the reader to think about the situation from circumstances that are likely not their own. And I think Corrie Garrett handles things appropriately in her narrative. Great job, striking that balance!
The characters are wonderful. Never once was I put off by a character's portrayal. It all fit with the story - this one and the original. Elisa is just as fiesty and independent and loyal as Elizabeth; Noa is just as sweet, kind, and caring as Jane; Letitia is just as stupid and immature as Lydia. I really appreciated the expansion of Georgiana's role. I felt like it added another element and a unique twist that helped this story stand on its own.
It was difficult to read at times because I knew the outcome of the election (it's set in 2016). I kept wanting to reach through the pages and shake them all because they seemed to have their heads in the sand. Also, on a separate note: I struggled with the age difference a little, too. While Darcy's age is never explicitly specified, he has the air of someone significantly older than Elisa. It seems a little weird, that's all.
All in all, this was such a good book!
I'd happily recommend this to anyone who:
- loves Jane Austen
- falls on Darcy/Ben/Caroline's side of the political spectrum
- should feel seen in today's climate
- needs another book to read
May 30, 2021
This is an excellent idea for a Pride and Prejudice modernization. The Bennets (Benitez) are an immigrant family: Elisa and her younger sister Leticia are an “anchor babies,” their parents and older sister, Noa, are undocumented. The Darcys and Binglys (Darcy and Leighs) are Republican politicians and political operatives during the Trump run for the presidency in 2016. There is some very real conflict in this story. The stakes are very high and very realistic.
I could see that Garrett was trying to be respectful to both sides of the immigration issue. But I can also see how a lot of people may not be able to connect with this story because of that.
One of the things I thought Garrett did exceptionally well was how she wove this story through the structure of Jane Austen’s original work. There are a lot of differences in relationships between characters, size of characters’ parts, the timeline of events, etc, but pretty much every significant thing that happens in the original P&P happens here, too, and even some less significant things—including some conversations that are nearly identical to the original in content if not exactly wording, And it’s done almost seamlessly—if you haven’t read or watched P&P before you would never guess. I was amazed at how naturally it all seemed to happen—only a couple of times did I think it felt forced.
The characters were likable and had a good rapport with each other. Sometimes when people do modernizations, the Elizabeth character can be a little too mean in her judgmentalism—not that Lizzy isn’t judgmental, but she’s never outright mean when speaking to the person—she may tease or talk circles around the person, but she’s not biting or insulting. Garrett did a good job sticking to that aspect of Elisa’s personality—she judged, but she wasn’t mean to the person about it.
Overall, this was a very well done modernization.
I could see that Garrett was trying to be respectful to both sides of the immigration issue. But I can also see how a lot of people may not be able to connect with this story because of that.
One of the things I thought Garrett did exceptionally well was how she wove this story through the structure of Jane Austen’s original work. There are a lot of differences in relationships between characters, size of characters’ parts, the timeline of events, etc, but pretty much every significant thing that happens in the original P&P happens here, too, and even some less significant things—including some conversations that are nearly identical to the original in content if not exactly wording, And it’s done almost seamlessly—if you haven’t read or watched P&P before you would never guess. I was amazed at how naturally it all seemed to happen—only a couple of times did I think it felt forced.
The characters were likable and had a good rapport with each other. Sometimes when people do modernizations, the Elizabeth character can be a little too mean in her judgmentalism—not that Lizzy isn’t judgmental, but she’s never outright mean when speaking to the person—she may tease or talk circles around the person, but she’s not biting or insulting. Garrett did a good job sticking to that aspect of Elisa’s personality—she judged, but she wasn’t mean to the person about it.
Overall, this was a very well done modernization.
November 8, 2025
The word of the night at my book club a couple of weeks ago, and not related to this book, was contrived. And sadly, I feel like it applies here as well. Pride and Prejudice and Passports just felt very contrived. It was much more political than I expected, but how do you reconcile the seriousness of a mixed immigrant family with a staunch republican, who does come out against Trump, but too little too late?
That said, there were a couple of gem-like moments that I would have highlighted if this physical copy were mine.
Pg. 67: ““This guy, though,” Ben said, “doesn’t have any trouble making up his mind. I don’t think he’s ever struggled with indecision.”
“The trick is to know where indecision waits and then sucker punch it as you pass by,” Darcy said.”
Pg. 110: “ “… that sounds manipulative to me. I always get suspicious when people council fear.”
[Gigi] twisted her mouth. “But is it fear, or a helpful warning? How would I know the difference?” “The difference is whether they’re preventing danger or just preventing change.…””
Pg. 264: “ “… our disgust with unsavory practices goes way down when we think it’s necessary. Or when it’s on our side. There’s this great quote by de Tocqueville – he was a Frenchman who wrote about early American democracy – and he said, ‘There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.’”
Darcy had an earnest look on his face and for the first time, Elisa could see the political science nerd he probably was in high school. He continued, “Now, both parties are just shouting, “Shame!” at the other. Our principles have become so different, we don’t even give people the dignity of their convictions.””
That said, there were a couple of gem-like moments that I would have highlighted if this physical copy were mine.
Pg. 67: ““This guy, though,” Ben said, “doesn’t have any trouble making up his mind. I don’t think he’s ever struggled with indecision.”
“The trick is to know where indecision waits and then sucker punch it as you pass by,” Darcy said.”
Pg. 110: “ “… that sounds manipulative to me. I always get suspicious when people council fear.”
[Gigi] twisted her mouth. “But is it fear, or a helpful warning? How would I know the difference?” “The difference is whether they’re preventing danger or just preventing change.…””
Pg. 264: “ “… our disgust with unsavory practices goes way down when we think it’s necessary. Or when it’s on our side. There’s this great quote by de Tocqueville – he was a Frenchman who wrote about early American democracy – and he said, ‘There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.’”
Darcy had an earnest look on his face and for the first time, Elisa could see the political science nerd he probably was in high school. He continued, “Now, both parties are just shouting, “Shame!” at the other. Our principles have become so different, we don’t even give people the dignity of their convictions.””
March 11, 2019
Pride and Prejudice and Passports is a new take on the Jane Austen classic centered in today's political climate. Elisa is the daughter of "illegal" immigrants with 2 sisters: Letitia and Noa; Noa being a DACA recipient. Elisa is very opposed to the politics of Donald Trump due to his stance on immigration and can't see how anyone can support him or vote Republican. Enter Darcy: the head of a conservative PAC inherited from his father, deeply entrenched in the Republican Party, and a bit socially awkward. Life keeps forcing them together through mutual acquaintances such as a pop star sister, best friends dating, and a reckless younger sister. Can they see past their political differences to the person underneath?
I really enjoyed this retelling of the story and the fresh take by the author. Darcy was lovably shy and awkward and Noa and Ben were absolutely adorable together. The only issue I had with the story has Elisa. I had trouble rooting for her because she was so judgmental that I found her unlikable. While that is a major theme in all Pride and Prejudice stories, it seemed over the top with Elisa. She harshly judged Darcy (and Collin) and never really met him in the middle on any issues. He moved heaven and earth to help her and explain his political views but she did not change her mind on anything it seemed. The chemistry between Darcy and Elisa was also lacking for me. I wanted more fire and spark, but it fell a bit flat.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it if you are interested in politics and love Jane Austen. While Elisa was unlikable, the story made up for that and made it a fun read.
I really enjoyed this retelling of the story and the fresh take by the author. Darcy was lovably shy and awkward and Noa and Ben were absolutely adorable together. The only issue I had with the story has Elisa. I had trouble rooting for her because she was so judgmental that I found her unlikable. While that is a major theme in all Pride and Prejudice stories, it seemed over the top with Elisa. She harshly judged Darcy (and Collin) and never really met him in the middle on any issues. He moved heaven and earth to help her and explain his political views but she did not change her mind on anything it seemed. The chemistry between Darcy and Elisa was also lacking for me. I wanted more fire and spark, but it fell a bit flat.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it if you are interested in politics and love Jane Austen. While Elisa was unlikable, the story made up for that and made it a fun read.
February 17, 2019
I am definitely a sucker for modern interpretations of Austen's works. I was drawn to this title based on the very timely interpretation in which the main character, Elisa Benitez, has an undocumented sibling and parents. The story takes place during the Trump election of 2016. It was educational in the sense that I learned more about the DACA policies and how they affect undocumented immigrants, even those who have been in the states for decades.
Though knowing the story ahead of time makes it obviously predictable, I did find the first half of the story quite flat. Elisa was immediately judgmental of Darcy-hence the prejudice, and he wasn't all that interesting. Neither of them were. I would have liked to see a bit more humanity to the both of them, though that did come out in the second half of the book, which I enjoyed a bit more. Conversely, I appreciated getting into the head of the conservative politician (Darcy), whose judgment and opinion of illegal immigrants is altered by his experience with the Benitez family. To me, this was what the story was really all about-the characters opening their minds to new ways of seeing inherently controversial issues.
This is also a great read for students and children of immigrants who are looking for something they can relate to. Undocumented immigrants have to consider things that most of us citizens do not. Over the years I have taught many students of undocumented immigrants and I know the caution and apprehension with which they approach their American lives. I appreciated this new take on a classic novel.
Though knowing the story ahead of time makes it obviously predictable, I did find the first half of the story quite flat. Elisa was immediately judgmental of Darcy-hence the prejudice, and he wasn't all that interesting. Neither of them were. I would have liked to see a bit more humanity to the both of them, though that did come out in the second half of the book, which I enjoyed a bit more. Conversely, I appreciated getting into the head of the conservative politician (Darcy), whose judgment and opinion of illegal immigrants is altered by his experience with the Benitez family. To me, this was what the story was really all about-the characters opening their minds to new ways of seeing inherently controversial issues.
This is also a great read for students and children of immigrants who are looking for something they can relate to. Undocumented immigrants have to consider things that most of us citizens do not. Over the years I have taught many students of undocumented immigrants and I know the caution and apprehension with which they approach their American lives. I appreciated this new take on a classic novel.
April 21, 2019
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
This book felt like a retelling of Bridget Jone´s diary, but that is a Pride and Prejudice retelling so it makes a lot of sense. I loved the characters in this story, even I did not always agree with all of them on their actions I do feel that they were well written and full of personality.
This story follows Elisa and Darcy, who come from two different social backgrounds but they colide once Darcy spends a week on a cabin where Elisa´s family work.
The book is set up during US presidencial Elections where Trump is one of the candidates. He has an strong policy against inmigrants, which will be the main topic here. Darcy is a political advisor and his company is deciding where to send the support and which candidates to back up, and of course, Trump is between the options.
Elisa´s mother & father came into the US many many years ago on a tourist visa but they remained in the country and never left, so they are kind of ilegal and they may have problems staying in the country if Trum wins the election.
So, you may imagin where this starts from, they are on two opposite sides and they cannot reconcile their ideas. Darcy is super stubborn and full of pride, he knows he will never be with somebody like Elisa because that would not be a great image but he cant deny he feels something for her. Elisa hate him from the moment she met him because his super close and awefull with people and she has a huge pride for her roots and her family.
Theres another paralel story between Elisa´s sister and Darcy´s friend which I think it did add more to the plot and I really liked how it all worked out.
The only reason why I didn´t give 5 stars was because I think the end was a little rushed and I would have liked to know what happen after the election with Elisa´s parents, but anyway I think it was a good retelling and I liked a lot the writting style of Corrie Garrett.
This book felt like a retelling of Bridget Jone´s diary, but that is a Pride and Prejudice retelling so it makes a lot of sense. I loved the characters in this story, even I did not always agree with all of them on their actions I do feel that they were well written and full of personality.
This story follows Elisa and Darcy, who come from two different social backgrounds but they colide once Darcy spends a week on a cabin where Elisa´s family work.
The book is set up during US presidencial Elections where Trump is one of the candidates. He has an strong policy against inmigrants, which will be the main topic here. Darcy is a political advisor and his company is deciding where to send the support and which candidates to back up, and of course, Trump is between the options.
Elisa´s mother & father came into the US many many years ago on a tourist visa but they remained in the country and never left, so they are kind of ilegal and they may have problems staying in the country if Trum wins the election.
So, you may imagin where this starts from, they are on two opposite sides and they cannot reconcile their ideas. Darcy is super stubborn and full of pride, he knows he will never be with somebody like Elisa because that would not be a great image but he cant deny he feels something for her. Elisa hate him from the moment she met him because his super close and awefull with people and she has a huge pride for her roots and her family.
Theres another paralel story between Elisa´s sister and Darcy´s friend which I think it did add more to the plot and I really liked how it all worked out.
The only reason why I didn´t give 5 stars was because I think the end was a little rushed and I would have liked to know what happen after the election with Elisa´s parents, but anyway I think it was a good retelling and I liked a lot the writting style of Corrie Garrett.
July 5, 2020
I made the mistake of reading a couple of reviews before reading this book, most of them were a little negative, referring to the author as racist and closed-minded. However, I never felt that vibe from the story.
First, I recognize that some characters filled the bias of latinos having blue-collar jobs and criminals, but the main character was latina and with a great career ahead of her as a personal trainer after finishing college. This shows that Latinos can be at any stage just like any other race.
Second, the informative content from this book is a vital relevance even a few years after the election from 2016. Many parts open up about the context of a two-party system, that sometimes people can't seem to fit in either. Also, many controversial terms are explained implicitly through the story in a way that seems not only to inform the reader but to show both sides.
Apart from that, this book made me realize how times have become more complicated. Before, Mr. Darcy would only worry about Bennet's Honor if Lydia ran away with Wickham, oh cry me a river. Now worst aspects are at stake. Mr. Darcy would no longer be a simple feudal lord trying to manage his lands.
Overall, I could not stop reading until I finished. Clean ending and a great message.
"Being a teenager is like.. . having a bad eyesight. Everybody does. And you get to have all these experiences and find out your weaknesses. And hopefully as an adult you come out of it with an idea of how you need to filter the wold to make good decisions. You know what kind of glasses you need."
First, I recognize that some characters filled the bias of latinos having blue-collar jobs and criminals, but the main character was latina and with a great career ahead of her as a personal trainer after finishing college. This shows that Latinos can be at any stage just like any other race.
Second, the informative content from this book is a vital relevance even a few years after the election from 2016. Many parts open up about the context of a two-party system, that sometimes people can't seem to fit in either. Also, many controversial terms are explained implicitly through the story in a way that seems not only to inform the reader but to show both sides.
Apart from that, this book made me realize how times have become more complicated. Before, Mr. Darcy would only worry about Bennet's Honor if Lydia ran away with Wickham, oh cry me a river. Now worst aspects are at stake. Mr. Darcy would no longer be a simple feudal lord trying to manage his lands.
Overall, I could not stop reading until I finished. Clean ending and a great message.
"Being a teenager is like.. . having a bad eyesight. Everybody does. And you get to have all these experiences and find out your weaknesses. And hopefully as an adult you come out of it with an idea of how you need to filter the wold to make good decisions. You know what kind of glasses you need."
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