Ash & Olive

by Elle Pallmore

Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence becomes a YA contemporary drama in this bittersweet love story about two unlikely people and the forbidden romance that threatens to ignite an unforgivable scandal.

Seventeen-year-old Ashford Whitman is following a blueprint for success. He’ll graduate from a prestigious prep school, attend an Ivy League college, and eventually run his family’s global business. With the equally ambitious Poppy Barnes by his side, everything he wants is falling exactly into place.

Except for one complication. Olive Randall, Poppy’s unpredictable cousin, takes refuge on the Upper East Side after running away from her European boarding school. At first, Ashford sees Olive and her tattered reputation as trouble to avoid, and Olive sees Ashford as another judge and jury for her mistakes. He never expects her independent spirit to free him from the suffocating rules that govern his life, and she’s surprised when he becomes an ally, helping her navigate the hypocritical demands of New York elite society. Their growing attraction is dangerous—discovery would result in complete rejection by their families—but being apart is unbearable. Torn between true love and obligation, they must decide to follow their hearts, or walk away from each other forever. 

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2019

Reviews

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for modern retellings of classic literature so I knew immediately I wanted to read and review this book when it came across my potential ARC books. Admittedly, I haven't read Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence on which this book is based. However, I do own it and definitely plan on reading it when I get the chance. Since I haven't read the classic work, I can't speak to how closely it followed that story line, but I could tell the basic ideas were very much the same. Regardless, this was still a good book. You don't need to read the original to enjoy it. Elle Pallmore does a good job of getting across the arrogance of the wealthy families of New York that you follow throughout this book. You watch Ashford (or Ash) and Olive dance around each other for many pages as you see Ash fighting what he's always done and what he wants now. It's done in a way that kept me reading. I really felt myself cheering for them. I would definitely recommend this book, whether or not you like classic literature. I liked the hint of hope at the ending of the book. You don't get a 100% closure, but it was wrapped up enough to where you could fill it in to imagine a happy ending.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[ReadingInPyjamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting contemporary retelling of The Age of Innocence. Ashton is part of the high society of New York and his future is all planned out. Go to a prestigious college, graduate, take over the family business and mary Poppy (his high school sweetheart). Or so he thought until Poppy's cousin Olive makes an entrance and gives him a tantalizing glimpse of what "could" be. Despite the mess she has made of her life, or even, perhaps, because of it, Adam is drawn to Olive with a passion he has never known.
This book was easily readable and engaging. I found myself hooked within the first few pages and wasn't able to let go until I finished reading. I think fans of contemporary literature will enjoy this.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

To keep up appearances or not, that is the question!

I enjoyed this book. It felt kind of like a dry reading but taking into account it is a modern version or retelling of The Age Of Innocence, where high society has all these rules to follow, it makes sense why I felt that way.

Overall the story of Olive and Ash is a good book for any young adult. Society's perceptions of what others are up to is what the book delves into the most. When your family has money there are expectations of how to act and what is considered ecceptable.