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The Jane Austen Dating Agency #1
The Jane Austen Dating Agency: An Uplifting Romantic Comedy
Does true romance really exist?
Sophie Johnson is young, intelligent and attractive. So, when she lands the dream position of Sales Executive at a leading fashion magazine, it appears she has it all. But in reality, she hates her job, is sick of her controlling mother and is a dating disaster.
Then she discovers The Jane Austen Dating Agency, an exclusive club for ladies who want to meet real gentlemen and believes her luck has changed. And when Sophie meets Darcy Drummond, she thinks her dreams have come true. That is until she discovers he is arrogant and hard-headed.
So, when Daniel Becks steps into her life, she thinks she’s found the one. But is he really all he seems?
The Jane Austen Dating Agency is for anyone who has ever dreamed of romance and wondered if it really exists.
Sophie Johnson is young, intelligent and attractive. So, when she lands the dream position of Sales Executive at a leading fashion magazine, it appears she has it all. But in reality, she hates her job, is sick of her controlling mother and is a dating disaster.
Then she discovers The Jane Austen Dating Agency, an exclusive club for ladies who want to meet real gentlemen and believes her luck has changed. And when Sophie meets Darcy Drummond, she thinks her dreams have come true. That is until she discovers he is arrogant and hard-headed.
So, when Daniel Becks steps into her life, she thinks she’s found the one. But is he really all he seems?
The Jane Austen Dating Agency is for anyone who has ever dreamed of romance and wondered if it really exists.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2020
103 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
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December 27, 2020
I LOVE AUSTEN BUT THIS WAS A HARD PASS FOR ME
I absolutely loved the idea of this book - a dating agency based on the romance of Jane Austen's novels! What's not to like about that?! I would sign up in a heartbeat. Sadly, that was the only thing I liked about this book.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Characters: Oh my god, the characters (every single one of them) were so unlikable I could hardly stand it. They were stereotypical, shallow and just annoying! None of them had any depth or character to them, nothing to endear them to me at all. And I really hated how Woodifield described them by writing 'she was this or he was that' in stead of showing what her characters were like. And, to top it off, too often her descriptions clashed with her character's behavior.
Darcy: Yes, Darcy gets his own category here because he was an affront to the Darcy name and character. He was arrogant and chauvinistic - and completely irredeemable! He did nothing to earn the name Darcy!
Austen remarks: It absolutely pissed me off every time Sophie or one of the other characters remarked how events or people reminded them af actual Jane Austen stories. If you're going to do a retelling, don't let your characters tell you, they know it's a retelling! Damn, that had me fuming more than once! I could have lived with it if it was some sort of plotline - if Sophie was so caught up in Austen that she could not tell fact from fiction. But that wasn't the case, so I just hated it.
Dialogue: I am a true Austen fan, so of course I can recognize Austen dialogue when I read it. I was absolutely appalled at how often Woodifield practically lifted dialogue verbatim from Pride and Prejudice only to modernize it slightly and use it for this book. It was terrible! If you're going to do a retelling, at least have the decency to write the dialogue yourself - adapt it, make it your own, make it fit your story and not the original. That's the mark of a great retelling. This was just... offensive.
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I absolutely loved the idea of this book - a dating agency based on the romance of Jane Austen's novels! What's not to like about that?! I would sign up in a heartbeat. Sadly, that was the only thing I liked about this book.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Characters: Oh my god, the characters (every single one of them) were so unlikable I could hardly stand it. They were stereotypical, shallow and just annoying! None of them had any depth or character to them, nothing to endear them to me at all. And I really hated how Woodifield described them by writing 'she was this or he was that' in stead of showing what her characters were like. And, to top it off, too often her descriptions clashed with her character's behavior.
Darcy: Yes, Darcy gets his own category here because he was an affront to the Darcy name and character. He was arrogant and chauvinistic - and completely irredeemable! He did nothing to earn the name Darcy!
Austen remarks: It absolutely pissed me off every time Sophie or one of the other characters remarked how events or people reminded them af actual Jane Austen stories. If you're going to do a retelling, don't let your characters tell you, they know it's a retelling! Damn, that had me fuming more than once! I could have lived with it if it was some sort of plotline - if Sophie was so caught up in Austen that she could not tell fact from fiction. But that wasn't the case, so I just hated it.
Dialogue: I am a true Austen fan, so of course I can recognize Austen dialogue when I read it. I was absolutely appalled at how often Woodifield practically lifted dialogue verbatim from Pride and Prejudice only to modernize it slightly and use it for this book. It was terrible! If you're going to do a retelling, at least have the decency to write the dialogue yourself - adapt it, make it your own, make it fit your story and not the original. That's the mark of a great retelling. This was just... offensive.
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March 16, 2020
Can a Jane Austen-themed dating agency do anything about a floundering career woman’s life- ahem love life? With trepidation and not just a few sharp pokes in the back from her friend, Sophie Johnson, long-time Jane Austen lover and dreamer of finding her own Mr. Darcy, is about to find out.
Sophie Johnson dreams of a grand career in the editing office of a posh magazine, a chic lifestyle, and a dashing rich handsome guy to lavish anything her heart desires on her because he is utterly devoted to her happiness. Of course, in real life, she’s stuck in a low level sales job at that posh magazine, a shabby chic lifestyle- and not the fashionable kind, and a pathetic serial texter who won’t believe she called it quits. She does nothing, but work her dead-end job and go home to her small shared flat for a book or a favorite rom com movie. Something has to give and fashion writer friend Mark, finds it- a dating agency right up Sophie’s alley.
Sophie loves Jane Austen and the thought of experiencing dates while engaging in themed balls, card parties, picnics, and lectures at various Jane Austen real life and movie sites makes it worth her jitters over putting herself out there to be matched. On her way out of her interview, Sophie spots a picture on the wall of gorgeous and obviously wealthy Darcy Drummond’s whose company is backing the agency and wonders what it would be liked to be matched with him.
Sophie encounters the man in real life and is unimpressed with his arrogant rich boy attitude when Darcy vocalizes his disapproval of her and others like her. After that, she bristles just being in the same room with his high and mighty, but soon she finds herself engaged in the new circle of people who have also joined the lower tier of the agency.
The group sorts into couples though Sophie notices some interesting dynamics between her new friends. Sophie thinks she’s destined for annoying Rob, who goes on and on about his connections with Darcy’s aunt and is a menace on the dance floor, until she gets paired up with charming Daniel for the Box Hill picnic.
As the engagements pile up and her world expands with experience in life and love, Sophie starts to really look at her own life with an eye for change and how to get where she really wants to be. That is until a devastating series of events force her to face reality as she never has before and see Darcy as more than an insufferable rich guy.
I had the mistaken impression about The Jane Austen Dating Agency after reading or watching movie adaptions of other modern Austen-flavored group events so hadn’t expected a modern retelling. I liked this one for its heroine’s character and her relationships with family, friends and watching her go for her dreams, but also ended up with some reservations. There were some wonderful surprises in this one. It took me a bit- too long really- to spot it, but the background cast and side plots are all from Austen’s other novels. This all blended easily into one coherent story because of the dating agency sponsored group events that leant itself to a large cast of characters and sub-plots.
When I said I had reservations, there are a few minor things. For someone who is fully aware they are living out the Pride & Prejudice story with uncanny parallels in characters and events, she made all the same mistakes Elizabeth made each step of the way like she couldn’t deviate no matter the mounting evidence that Daniel is a true Wickham. There was also a disconnect between what Sophie said and how she thought and acted though that resolved toward the end when her character was matured from the beginning.
I had a grand time with the dating agency group and seeing all the fun events they did- and yes, I was utterly jealous. I was also well pleased with Sophie and cheered her on as she became her own hero and make her dream come true.
While this contains a romance, actually several romances, and was centered around people looking for relationships, Sophie herself was the focus and not her romance. Those, particularly Janeites, who enjoy light women’s fiction blended with romantic comedy would be the target group for this one.
My thanks to Austenprose for providing this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie Johnson dreams of a grand career in the editing office of a posh magazine, a chic lifestyle, and a dashing rich handsome guy to lavish anything her heart desires on her because he is utterly devoted to her happiness. Of course, in real life, she’s stuck in a low level sales job at that posh magazine, a shabby chic lifestyle- and not the fashionable kind, and a pathetic serial texter who won’t believe she called it quits. She does nothing, but work her dead-end job and go home to her small shared flat for a book or a favorite rom com movie. Something has to give and fashion writer friend Mark, finds it- a dating agency right up Sophie’s alley.
Sophie loves Jane Austen and the thought of experiencing dates while engaging in themed balls, card parties, picnics, and lectures at various Jane Austen real life and movie sites makes it worth her jitters over putting herself out there to be matched. On her way out of her interview, Sophie spots a picture on the wall of gorgeous and obviously wealthy Darcy Drummond’s whose company is backing the agency and wonders what it would be liked to be matched with him.
Sophie encounters the man in real life and is unimpressed with his arrogant rich boy attitude when Darcy vocalizes his disapproval of her and others like her. After that, she bristles just being in the same room with his high and mighty, but soon she finds herself engaged in the new circle of people who have also joined the lower tier of the agency.
The group sorts into couples though Sophie notices some interesting dynamics between her new friends. Sophie thinks she’s destined for annoying Rob, who goes on and on about his connections with Darcy’s aunt and is a menace on the dance floor, until she gets paired up with charming Daniel for the Box Hill picnic.
As the engagements pile up and her world expands with experience in life and love, Sophie starts to really look at her own life with an eye for change and how to get where she really wants to be. That is until a devastating series of events force her to face reality as she never has before and see Darcy as more than an insufferable rich guy.
I had the mistaken impression about The Jane Austen Dating Agency after reading or watching movie adaptions of other modern Austen-flavored group events so hadn’t expected a modern retelling. I liked this one for its heroine’s character and her relationships with family, friends and watching her go for her dreams, but also ended up with some reservations. There were some wonderful surprises in this one. It took me a bit- too long really- to spot it, but the background cast and side plots are all from Austen’s other novels. This all blended easily into one coherent story because of the dating agency sponsored group events that leant itself to a large cast of characters and sub-plots.
When I said I had reservations, there are a few minor things. For someone who is fully aware they are living out the Pride & Prejudice story with uncanny parallels in characters and events, she made all the same mistakes Elizabeth made each step of the way like she couldn’t deviate no matter the mounting evidence that Daniel is a true Wickham. There was also a disconnect between what Sophie said and how she thought and acted though that resolved toward the end when her character was matured from the beginning.
I had a grand time with the dating agency group and seeing all the fun events they did- and yes, I was utterly jealous. I was also well pleased with Sophie and cheered her on as she became her own hero and make her dream come true.
While this contains a romance, actually several romances, and was centered around people looking for relationships, Sophie herself was the focus and not her romance. Those, particularly Janeites, who enjoy light women’s fiction blended with romantic comedy would be the target group for this one.
My thanks to Austenprose for providing this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2020
Regular readers of my blog know that I am a total fan of Jane Austen. She, (along with Mr Darcy!) is my total heroine. Having the opportunity to read this novel, it was impossible to reject it. With perfect parallels to Pride and Prejudice, Woodifield brings a modern twist to a timeless classic.
I honestly think that if you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice then this novel might be your way in! Woodifield cleverly creates a narrative that runs parallel to Austen and, whilst we don’t have the focus of the Bennet sisters, instead see Sophie and her friends at the hands of the Jane Austen Dating Agency. It’s a neat, romantic idea and Sophie sees it as her opportunity to end her doomed single existence once and for all. With frequent references to Austen and her craft, this was an ideal narrative to remind me of how much I love this writer. On the other hand, if you are new to Austen or have felt daunted by reading her classics, then this novel is a modern way to get immersed into the story!
All being said, I don’t want readers to think that the writer is merely imitating Austen. This is definitely not the case. The plot is entertaining with plenty of humour and romance. It is a brilliant chick-flick read and one you could easily immerse yourself into on the beach. In fact, I could see this as a pick-me-up for any time of the year. Personally, I enjoyed the escapism this book provided and happily imagined the Bath and Regency scenes that Woodifield describes.
I definitely could see a part of me in the protagonist, Sophie. I don’t tend to quote from novels in my review, but this could not be ignored:
“‘…when one has so many better things to do, there isn’t any necessity to read books’…
…I can’t be bothered to explain to this woman my absolute love of books; they are my friends, my refuge.”
Oh, it just summarises my thoughts exactly! Sophie is also a true Austen fan (akin to the author, who admits to being inspired by Austen in the closing Author’s note), and a typical bookworm. She is horrified when management haven’t read Austen and is trying to find her own Mr Darcy, whilst simultaneously avoiding Darcy Drummond. I could see so much of myself in Sophie: the romanticism, desire for a happy ending and satisfaction towards reading a good book. It made her character even more likeable and the plot all the more enjoyable.
This was a lovely romantic story. Admittedly, I was sold just from the title, but am so pleased to say that the novel reached my expectations. I couldn’t help but immerse myself in the narrative because, quite honestly, it left a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart and reminded myself that yes, there is a Mr Darcy out there for all of us.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly think that if you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice then this novel might be your way in! Woodifield cleverly creates a narrative that runs parallel to Austen and, whilst we don’t have the focus of the Bennet sisters, instead see Sophie and her friends at the hands of the Jane Austen Dating Agency. It’s a neat, romantic idea and Sophie sees it as her opportunity to end her doomed single existence once and for all. With frequent references to Austen and her craft, this was an ideal narrative to remind me of how much I love this writer. On the other hand, if you are new to Austen or have felt daunted by reading her classics, then this novel is a modern way to get immersed into the story!
All being said, I don’t want readers to think that the writer is merely imitating Austen. This is definitely not the case. The plot is entertaining with plenty of humour and romance. It is a brilliant chick-flick read and one you could easily immerse yourself into on the beach. In fact, I could see this as a pick-me-up for any time of the year. Personally, I enjoyed the escapism this book provided and happily imagined the Bath and Regency scenes that Woodifield describes.
I definitely could see a part of me in the protagonist, Sophie. I don’t tend to quote from novels in my review, but this could not be ignored:
“‘…when one has so many better things to do, there isn’t any necessity to read books’…
…I can’t be bothered to explain to this woman my absolute love of books; they are my friends, my refuge.”
Oh, it just summarises my thoughts exactly! Sophie is also a true Austen fan (akin to the author, who admits to being inspired by Austen in the closing Author’s note), and a typical bookworm. She is horrified when management haven’t read Austen and is trying to find her own Mr Darcy, whilst simultaneously avoiding Darcy Drummond. I could see so much of myself in Sophie: the romanticism, desire for a happy ending and satisfaction towards reading a good book. It made her character even more likeable and the plot all the more enjoyable.
This was a lovely romantic story. Admittedly, I was sold just from the title, but am so pleased to say that the novel reached my expectations. I couldn’t help but immerse myself in the narrative because, quite honestly, it left a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart and reminded myself that yes, there is a Mr Darcy out there for all of us.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2020
Very busy plot. The point of view follows Sophie Johnson, the Elizabeth Bennet character, in a modern Pride and Prejudice-type storyline with Darcy Drummond the arrogant sod she overhears insulting her. Through the Jane Austen Dating Agency, she befriends Izzy Fenchurch, who's the very sensitive Marianne Dashwood type (Sense and Sensibility) and Maria Greaves, with an Anne Elliot kind of storyline (Persuasion). All these famous Jane Austen plots sort of get mashed in together, plus there's a nod to another, since Emma Woodtree is one of the partners running the agency.
However, the primary story is definitely Sophie's, and it gives the reader only her point of view throughout. She's a writer thrilled to have gotten a job at Modiste, a magazine that sets the standard for all that's hip and cool on the London scene. Unfortunately, it turns that her job is making cold calls to sell advertising space, but she hopes to work her way up to the Editorial department - even though that seems highly unlikely. Her flatmate Mel (Charlotte Lucas) is an aspiring fashion designer, and her sister Chloe (Jane Bennet) is unhappily married to Kian - a loser the reader never meets but hears much about. My favorite character is one who doesn't have an Austen counterpart - Mark, Sophie's best friend at Modiste, who's unapologetically gay.
Speaking of losers, that seems to be the only guys Sophie attracts. She spots an ad for The Jane Austen Dating Agency promising elite clientele as well as romantic Austenesque settings for meeting, getting to know others, and dating. As a major JA fan and in desperate need of a better dating pool, Sophie is eager to check it out. It's a bit jarring for her to overhear Emma's partner, Jessica Palmer-Wright, describing her as a "spinster type who lives in a book," and is further disillusioned when Darcy Drummond, the Agency's handsome CEO, assumes she's a "crazy feminist Austen fan." Fortunately, Emma is friendlier and more welcoming. The story describes Sophia's various Austenesque experiences through the dating agency, her discouraging job (making cold calls, being hung up on and insulted all day), and her quirky family.
Although it's all very cute, it has a forced quality, both in the way so many different Austen storylines get woven into it and in the way the major P&P plot points are modernized. I can't follow Mel's reasoning for moving in with Rob Bright (the Mr. Collins-ish character) at all. Nor do I feel comfortable about Chloe attending Jane Austen Society events when she's not single, or even separated, no matter how much of an a**hole her husband is. And even though Sophie is the only JA Dating Agency member, somehow she's able to bring Mel and Chloe along with her to members-only events. There are other plot devices and scenes that don't feel credible, which is why it was just a "meh" read for me.
However, the primary story is definitely Sophie's, and it gives the reader only her point of view throughout. She's a writer thrilled to have gotten a job at Modiste, a magazine that sets the standard for all that's hip and cool on the London scene. Unfortunately, it turns that her job is making cold calls to sell advertising space, but she hopes to work her way up to the Editorial department - even though that seems highly unlikely. Her flatmate Mel (Charlotte Lucas) is an aspiring fashion designer, and her sister Chloe (Jane Bennet) is unhappily married to Kian - a loser the reader never meets but hears much about. My favorite character is one who doesn't have an Austen counterpart - Mark, Sophie's best friend at Modiste, who's unapologetically gay.
Speaking of losers, that seems to be the only guys Sophie attracts. She spots an ad for The Jane Austen Dating Agency promising elite clientele as well as romantic Austenesque settings for meeting, getting to know others, and dating. As a major JA fan and in desperate need of a better dating pool, Sophie is eager to check it out. It's a bit jarring for her to overhear Emma's partner, Jessica Palmer-Wright, describing her as a "spinster type who lives in a book," and is further disillusioned when Darcy Drummond, the Agency's handsome CEO, assumes she's a "crazy feminist Austen fan." Fortunately, Emma is friendlier and more welcoming. The story describes Sophia's various Austenesque experiences through the dating agency, her discouraging job (making cold calls, being hung up on and insulted all day), and her quirky family.
Although it's all very cute, it has a forced quality, both in the way so many different Austen storylines get woven into it and in the way the major P&P plot points are modernized. I can't follow Mel's reasoning for moving in with Rob Bright (the Mr. Collins-ish character) at all. Nor do I feel comfortable about Chloe attending Jane Austen Society events when she's not single, or even separated, no matter how much of an a**hole her husband is. And even though Sophie is the only JA Dating Agency member, somehow she's able to bring Mel and Chloe along with her to members-only events. There are other plot devices and scenes that don't feel credible, which is why it was just a "meh" read for me.
February 24, 2021
Plot: 3/10 – We get it, everything is parallel to Pride & Prejudice. You don’t have to tell us every two pages. Did like the secret gambling going down, thought that was an interesting/unique twist but overall plot was very flat
Characters: 0/10 – Did not like one character. The main character kept pointing out how different they were to other women they work with, not wearing fancy clothes, or getting their hair/nails done, as if she was better than them just because she reads in her spare time. The Darcey character was nothing like Mr Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, and the two had about five conversations in total why on earth would he help her with anything towards the end of the novel?
Notes: Some parts of the plot were mildly entertaining, but generally I did not like this book and would not recommend it to anyone especially if they are a fan of Austen’s work
Characters: 0/10 – Did not like one character. The main character kept pointing out how different they were to other women they work with, not wearing fancy clothes, or getting their hair/nails done, as if she was better than them just because she reads in her spare time. The Darcey character was nothing like Mr Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, and the two had about five conversations in total why on earth would he help her with anything towards the end of the novel?
Notes: Some parts of the plot were mildly entertaining, but generally I did not like this book and would not recommend it to anyone especially if they are a fan of Austen’s work
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2020
I love a good P&P re-telling, but this one just confused me as the characters seemed aware that their lives were straight out of the book but then just played along with it? They would un-ironically spout dialogue that was almost identical to Pride and Prejudice in situations that were obviously the modern equivalent of the novel's plot... and then wonder afterwards at how all of a sudden their life seemed 'ripped from a Jane Austen novel'. The whole re-telling thing has been done so much better, so while this wasn't a terrible book by any means, I couldn't bring myself to give it more than two stars...
December 19, 2020
I kept on reading thinking it will get better, but I don't think it will.... DNF!
February 11, 2020
I feel like I'm living in a Jane Austen novel, just pure escapism for any Jane Austen fan. A delightful romance and also full of humour. Perfect for any Jane Austen fan or a modern introduction if you haven't read Austen. An enjoyable read.
February 14, 2020
Cute book
I enjoyed the people in this book. I chuckled a few times and found myself smiling while reading. Easy and fun
I enjoyed the people in this book. I chuckled a few times and found myself smiling while reading. Easy and fun
February 10, 2020
Bridgette Jones meets Jane Austen !! This book was a lovely little breather between my crime / psychological thrillers. It was funny , romantic and entertaining. I really enjoyed it 4 * from me .
February 18, 2020
You do not have to be a fan of Jane Austen to read this book, although having some knowledge of her novels does help. The story is based around Sophie who is, to say the least, very unlucky in love. She always seems to attract the wrong type of guy and is too nice to tell them where to go at times. Her job is unsatisfactory too and her parents especially her mother just want her to come home. She then comes across an advert for the Jane Austen Dating Agency and so , being a huge fan of her work, joins up only to discover that the majority of the members are from “high society” with plenty of money and includes an CEO called Darcy! Needles to say everything which might go awry, does!!
There were many times in the book that I could empathise with Sophie, as will most of the readers and it is a story that you can’t help smiling at. It was a quick read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So if you want a bit of romance to lighten your day, then this is the book for you.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
There were many times in the book that I could empathise with Sophie, as will most of the readers and it is a story that you can’t help smiling at. It was a quick read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So if you want a bit of romance to lighten your day, then this is the book for you.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
April 3, 2020
Loved it
Loved this story, sweet, intelligent, lovey dovey with a bit of drama, really liked the narrative and the touches of austen throughout.
Loved this story, sweet, intelligent, lovey dovey with a bit of drama, really liked the narrative and the touches of austen throughout.
December 27, 2020
After weeks of meaning to post this review, the Chrismas holidays have finally delivered the free time and headspace I've been seeking to do it! This was an entertaining read that I really enjoyed losing myself in. Sophie, the main character was someone I could definitely empathise with. She's trying to get a foot on the ladder in a very competitive industry that's ultimately not all it's cracked up to be and her dating life is a disaster. I'm sure many of us can relate to that! Sophie joins the Jane Austen Dating Agency because she's a diehard Austen fan and secretly craves her own regency style romance, but instead of being swept off her feet, she finds herself entangled in all sorts challenges and dilemmas involving both romance and friendships. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for some lighthearted escapasim.
February 15, 2020
Charming!
I found this book through a blog and decided to give it a try. If you love Jane Austen, then you will be charmed by this contemporary take. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I found this book through a blog and decided to give it a try. If you love Jane Austen, then you will be charmed by this contemporary take. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
February 14, 2020
A great and funny read with a big connection to Jane Austin characters.
February 10, 2020
I would like to thank Bloodhound Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie is stuck in a rut and looking for a way out, The Jane Austen Dating Agency seems the perfect idea. I loved the idea of the book, a dating agency based around the romance of Austen. The dates include picnics on Box Hill and a ball at Pemberley aka Chatsworth. There are a host of Jane Austen characters in this lovely novel, main characters and background. I liked that reading romance was defended, especially as it is something I use to escape real life.
Sophie seems to realise that her life is following Jane Austen’s work which is a little off-putting. The story line follows P and P very closely, a little too closely at times. Some of the plot points seem a little old fashioned and uncharacteristic for some of the characters. The writing is a little naive, words like yummy is used more than I would have liked. I would have liked to have more time with Darcy, I don’t feel like we get enough time to know him.
There is very little diversity in the book, nobodies skin colour is described so most will assume all the characters are white. There is one gay character and he is very stereotypical. There are also microaggressions throughout the book that I would not expect from a book published in 2020.
Sophie is stuck in a rut and looking for a way out, The Jane Austen Dating Agency seems the perfect idea. I loved the idea of the book, a dating agency based around the romance of Austen. The dates include picnics on Box Hill and a ball at Pemberley aka Chatsworth. There are a host of Jane Austen characters in this lovely novel, main characters and background. I liked that reading romance was defended, especially as it is something I use to escape real life.
Sophie seems to realise that her life is following Jane Austen’s work which is a little off-putting. The story line follows P and P very closely, a little too closely at times. Some of the plot points seem a little old fashioned and uncharacteristic for some of the characters. The writing is a little naive, words like yummy is used more than I would have liked. I would have liked to have more time with Darcy, I don’t feel like we get enough time to know him.
There is very little diversity in the book, nobodies skin colour is described so most will assume all the characters are white. There is one gay character and he is very stereotypical. There are also microaggressions throughout the book that I would not expect from a book published in 2020.
April 14, 2020
A fun book to read! I loved Sophie Johnson. She is flawed, funny and relatable. Sophie is lucky because she’s found her dream job, but…oops! She hates it! (Can you imagine? This actually happened to me once so I totally understood her.) She’s also a dating disaster, and the opening pages really set this up. This is a story about a girl trying to find love and happiness in all areas of her life. I can’t wait to read the author’s next books.
May 19, 2021
So cheesy and literally a retelling of pride and prejudice but sometimes you just have to indulge in a silly read, loved it ♥️
July 10, 2021
This story seemed to rub me the wrong way, at every corner. Pretty quickly, I realized that although Sophie is offended by the judgmental attitudes of the agency lady and her own coworkers, she has no problem ridiculing Rob the Geek (well before he reveals himself to be dreadful in ways completely unrelated to being a geek). Does the author realize that Star Trek fans will also read this book? And be stung by the continual ridicule?
She also refers to a man of 35 as “an older guy.” Seriously?
If you’ve read Austen (or even watched Bridget Jones), much of the plot will be familiar and predictable. Even some of the names (such as Daniel and Darcy) are the same.
The narrator of the audiobook is pretty awful, especially her voices for men. In particular, how she depicts a gay man is forcefully overdone.
All in all, I kept waiting for this story to redeem itself, but it clung to being dissatisfying until the very end.
She also refers to a man of 35 as “an older guy.” Seriously?
If you’ve read Austen (or even watched Bridget Jones), much of the plot will be familiar and predictable. Even some of the names (such as Daniel and Darcy) are the same.
The narrator of the audiobook is pretty awful, especially her voices for men. In particular, how she depicts a gay man is forcefully overdone.
All in all, I kept waiting for this story to redeem itself, but it clung to being dissatisfying until the very end.
October 18, 2020
It is clear that the author is a HUGE fan of Jane Austen. I hoped that the book would be something similar to Jane Austen's book club but it was more of retelling of Pride and Prejudice in a modern day and not well done. I mean there are scenes that are an exact copy of P&P which was tedious to read. And they are numerous! Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad but it did left a bitter aftertaste, especially when we are constantly reminded that it looks like P&P but couldn't be because nobody would behave like the characters... and I have to say that I started to hate Sophie along the road because she was so shallow unlike her inspiration Elizabeth Bennett. Just a taste - Sophie wants to have money because she craves glamorous life, expensive clothes, etc. I mean really?
January 11, 2021
A decent modern P&P retelling. At first, I enjoyed the various references to other Austen novels, but after awhile the multiple subplots began to muddle the P&P retelling.
The Charlotte Lucas / Mr. Collins portion of the retelling simply didn’t work. In the Regency era, Charlotte’s rather calculating, mercenary viewpoint is understandable. Marriage was truly her only option to relative independence.
I also felt that the ending for our MC and her Darcy was rushed—it was difficult to understand why her feelings had changed so dramatically.
I was quite pleased that the cute cover didn’t mask a NSFW story.
The Charlotte Lucas / Mr. Collins portion of the retelling simply didn’t work. In the Regency era, Charlotte’s rather calculating, mercenary viewpoint is understandable. Marriage was truly her only option to relative independence.
I also felt that the ending for our MC and her Darcy was rushed—it was difficult to understand why her feelings had changed so dramatically.
I was quite pleased that the cute cover didn’t mask a NSFW story.
April 28, 2020
DNF - didn’t like the heroine. She seemed to think that a man wearing women’s clothes and/or makeup was a terrible thing. I don’t see why men shouldn’t wear dresses, or makeup, or whatever they like (though I’d like them to use their own, not mine). She also seems a bit judgemental in other ways, so I concluded that this book is really not my cup of tea.
March 29, 2021
The characters in this are utterly irredeemable. I have no idea why anyone likes each other.
On top of that the works of Jane Austen exist in this world, yet characters have line for line conversations from Pride and Prejudice non-ironically multiple times. Winking at the fourth wall saying "huh, this sounds like it's straight out of Austen" is not a get out of jail free card.
On top of that the works of Jane Austen exist in this world, yet characters have line for line conversations from Pride and Prejudice non-ironically multiple times. Winking at the fourth wall saying "huh, this sounds like it's straight out of Austen" is not a get out of jail free card.
November 3, 2020
It is really rare for me to rank a book this low. But this book was absolutely painfully terrible. I finally gave up and I've only done that about 3 times ever - in 45 years of reading.
April 5, 2020
I happened to stumble across this book a few nights ago as I was browsing through Amazon for a new book to read. I was in the mood for something light and romantic and funny, and when I saw the cover of this book and read the blurb, I knew this was the book I had to get. And I was not disappointed at all. Sophie is a sweet girl who is stuck in a job that she hates selling advertising space in a fashion magazine, in the hopes that one day it may lead her to a job on the editorial team instead. She also happens to have the worst luck when it comes to dating. At the start of the novel she is being harassed by an ex-boyfriend who won’t stop calling or texting – and who has a strange obsession with taxidermy animals. Her friends and family all tease her about her bad luck with men, and she can’t deny that they might have a point.
So, Sophie decides to try and change her track record when it comes to bad dates – and when she finds an advert in a magazine for the Jane Austen Dating Agency, she thinks she has found the right way to do just that. It is an exclusive agency that tries to keep the romance alive, using the novels of Jane Austen as their inspiration. They hold regency balls and host regency game nights, all in an attempt to bring happy couples together.
There are a whole host of comical characters brought together through the dating agency in this book. Although, perhaps a little too many as there were times when I had trouble keeping track of who was who. But it was fun to watch the interactions between all the characters as they all searched for love – there was enough drama and love and heartbreak to keep any reader gripped. And, as Sophie herself observed, a lot of the people she meets through the dating agency bear uncanny similarities to characters in the novels of Jane Austen. It has been a very long time since I read any of Austen’s books, but this novel has made me feel the need to have a re-read again very soon to see if I can recognise Sophie and her friends in any of the characters.
And, to be truthful, Sophie still doesn’t have the best of luck even once she has joined the dating agency. First of all, she falls for the CEO of the agency – a very handsome and successful man named Darcy Drummond. It seems as though she has found the man of her dreams – until she actually meets Darcy and realises that the dream is so much better than the reality. The two of them are polar opposites and they seem to clash right from the very start. It doesn’t help that he is very arrogant and looks down on Sophie for being a feminist bookworm. They come to blows several times through the book, even though the fights seem to be hiding some deeper feelings that they are both experiencing. And then she meets Daniel Becks through the agency. At first, he seems to be the perfect man – kind and romantic and incredibly handsome – with no interest in taxidermy animals at all. But when Sophie introduces him to family and friends, they suspect there may be more to him than meets the eye, and not in a good way.
I want to keep this review spoiler free, so I won’t say anything about how it ends or who Sophie gets her happily ever after with, but I did love how things all came together at the end. My one and only complaint with this book is that Sophie does not actually find love until the very end of the story and, besides one conversation, we do not get to see Sophie with her beloved. I would have loved for the book to be a bit longer so that we could see more of them together as a couple.
Overall, this was a fun and light-hearted read and I would recommend it as the perfect way to escape for a little while from all the craziness in the world right now. There are plenty of characters to fall in love with, and more than enough drama and humour to get lost in. If you are a fan of romantic comedies, then you will love this one.
So, Sophie decides to try and change her track record when it comes to bad dates – and when she finds an advert in a magazine for the Jane Austen Dating Agency, she thinks she has found the right way to do just that. It is an exclusive agency that tries to keep the romance alive, using the novels of Jane Austen as their inspiration. They hold regency balls and host regency game nights, all in an attempt to bring happy couples together.
There are a whole host of comical characters brought together through the dating agency in this book. Although, perhaps a little too many as there were times when I had trouble keeping track of who was who. But it was fun to watch the interactions between all the characters as they all searched for love – there was enough drama and love and heartbreak to keep any reader gripped. And, as Sophie herself observed, a lot of the people she meets through the dating agency bear uncanny similarities to characters in the novels of Jane Austen. It has been a very long time since I read any of Austen’s books, but this novel has made me feel the need to have a re-read again very soon to see if I can recognise Sophie and her friends in any of the characters.
And, to be truthful, Sophie still doesn’t have the best of luck even once she has joined the dating agency. First of all, she falls for the CEO of the agency – a very handsome and successful man named Darcy Drummond. It seems as though she has found the man of her dreams – until she actually meets Darcy and realises that the dream is so much better than the reality. The two of them are polar opposites and they seem to clash right from the very start. It doesn’t help that he is very arrogant and looks down on Sophie for being a feminist bookworm. They come to blows several times through the book, even though the fights seem to be hiding some deeper feelings that they are both experiencing. And then she meets Daniel Becks through the agency. At first, he seems to be the perfect man – kind and romantic and incredibly handsome – with no interest in taxidermy animals at all. But when Sophie introduces him to family and friends, they suspect there may be more to him than meets the eye, and not in a good way.
I want to keep this review spoiler free, so I won’t say anything about how it ends or who Sophie gets her happily ever after with, but I did love how things all came together at the end. My one and only complaint with this book is that Sophie does not actually find love until the very end of the story and, besides one conversation, we do not get to see Sophie with her beloved. I would have loved for the book to be a bit longer so that we could see more of them together as a couple.
Overall, this was a fun and light-hearted read and I would recommend it as the perfect way to escape for a little while from all the craziness in the world right now. There are plenty of characters to fall in love with, and more than enough drama and humour to get lost in. If you are a fan of romantic comedies, then you will love this one.
February 28, 2020
Easy read. Nice references to Jane Austen novels.
:( :( :(
But why to make a gay friend such a stereotype, he's like Deux ex machine, just there to please and help heroine.
Another thing is "feminism" in this novel. Heroine talks about it all the time but she is dreaming about being rich and about finding a rich husband and it is ok for feminist to just accept gifts such as agency itself just because Darcy, the f** rich guy wants to please her. Yeah, biatch I'm totally feminist just because I READ Jane Austen and rich people calls me feminist(honestly, couldn't find any other reason why she thinks she's feminist, any of her actions or life style doesn't show nothing of what feminist would value). And because I'm working... yeah, if you work, girl, if you have a gay best friends/fairy godmother and and...and you dream of rich guy who are willing to give you expensive gifts (like a house of Jane Austen so you could work there, because it's exactly what feminists wanted to achieve - some rich guy giving you everything so you could cultivate feminism)...
In my opinion author have a bit of mix mash of what feminism is. I liked the book, the idea, but gay stereotype from 90s and quasi feminism in this novel are just not in the place.
4* because I really had a good time with the book, I just ignored things I thought were mixed up.
:( :( :(
But why to make a gay friend such a stereotype, he's like Deux ex machine, just there to please and help heroine.
Another thing is "feminism" in this novel. Heroine talks about it all the time but she is dreaming about being rich and about finding a rich husband and it is ok for feminist to just accept gifts such as agency itself just because Darcy, the f** rich guy wants to please her. Yeah, biatch I'm totally feminist just because I READ Jane Austen and rich people calls me feminist(honestly, couldn't find any other reason why she thinks she's feminist, any of her actions or life style doesn't show nothing of what feminist would value). And because I'm working... yeah, if you work, girl, if you have a gay best friends/fairy godmother and and...and you dream of rich guy who are willing to give you expensive gifts (like a house of Jane Austen so you could work there, because it's exactly what feminists wanted to achieve - some rich guy giving you everything so you could cultivate feminism)...
In my opinion author have a bit of mix mash of what feminism is. I liked the book, the idea, but gay stereotype from 90s and quasi feminism in this novel are just not in the place.
4* because I really had a good time with the book, I just ignored things I thought were mixed up.
June 6, 2020
The Mr. Darcy of the modern world, is exactly what I have imagine it would be...
The idea of how hard life is for the middle class is well presented in this rom-com, how hard it is to find the one, when most of the boys are actual j*rks. And lets not start when your standards are so high cause you have been living a life between pages of books, and your romance knowledge comes from Jane Austen’s books, which face it girl, they do.
This book is hilarious and even tho, is a little unrealistic to say the least, but at the same time very relatable, the inferiority, the low self esteem, but at the same time bot caring for it, and catching the billionaire handsome guy.
How the main character is a Jane Austen lover and the love interest is a Mr. Darcy who even has the name.
Such a good book that leaves you dreaming about love, London, good old fashion love...
The idea of how hard life is for the middle class is well presented in this rom-com, how hard it is to find the one, when most of the boys are actual j*rks. And lets not start when your standards are so high cause you have been living a life between pages of books, and your romance knowledge comes from Jane Austen’s books, which face it girl, they do.
This book is hilarious and even tho, is a little unrealistic to say the least, but at the same time very relatable, the inferiority, the low self esteem, but at the same time bot caring for it, and catching the billionaire handsome guy.
How the main character is a Jane Austen lover and the love interest is a Mr. Darcy who even has the name.
Such a good book that leaves you dreaming about love, London, good old fashion love...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2020
I am normally a reader of crime thrillers, so this was a completely different genre for me. I was unsure what to expect but was genuinely delighted with this book. It was charming and witty with wonderful characters.
It had definitely comparisons to Bridget Jones which I really enjoyed. After reading this, I would definitely read more of this style of writing and would definitely read more of this author's books.
It had definitely comparisons to Bridget Jones which I really enjoyed. After reading this, I would definitely read more of this style of writing and would definitely read more of this author's books.
March 8, 2020
For fans of Jane Austen
A really fun read. It would be so much fun to follow the future lives of the supporting characters too. I really ended up caring about them- I would love to read more about them too.
A really fun read. It would be so much fun to follow the future lives of the supporting characters too. I really ended up caring about them- I would love to read more about them too.
May 17, 2020
Good fun
As a fan of romance novels and Jane Austen I found I really enjoyed this. I love how the author managed to work the various characters from Austen's novels in to the book in their more modern guises. Good fun all round!
As a fan of romance novels and Jane Austen I found I really enjoyed this. I love how the author managed to work the various characters from Austen's novels in to the book in their more modern guises. Good fun all round!
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