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Accomplished
Georgiana Darcy gets the Pride & Prejudice retelling she deserves in Accomplished, a sparkling contemporary YA featuring a healthy dose of marching band romance, endless banter, and Charles Bingley as a ripped frat boy.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Georgiana Darcy should have been expelled after The Incident with Wickham Foster last year – at least if you ask any of her Pemberley Academy classmates. She may have escaped expulsion because of her family name, but she didn’t escape the disappointment of her big brother Fitz, the scorn of the entire school, or, it turns out, Wickham’s influence.
But she’s back for her junior year, and she needs to prove to everyone—Fitz, Wickham, her former friends, and maybe even herself—that she’s more than just an embarrassment to the family name. How hard can it be to become the Perfect Darcy? All she has to do is:
– Rebuild her reputation with the marching band (even if it kills her)
– Forget about Wickham and his lies (no matter how tempting they still are), and
– Distract Fitz Darcy—helicopter-sibling extraordinaire—by getting him to fall in love with his classmate, Lizzie Bennet (this one might be difficult…)
Sure, it’s a complicated plan, but so is being a Darcy. With the help of her fellow bandmate, Avery, matchmaking ideas lifted straight from her favorite fanfics, and a whole lot of pancakes, Georgie is going to see every one of her plans through. But when the weight of being the Perfect Darcy comes crashing down, Georgie will have to find her own way before she loses everything permanently—including the one guy who sees her for who she really is.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Georgiana Darcy should have been expelled after The Incident with Wickham Foster last year – at least if you ask any of her Pemberley Academy classmates. She may have escaped expulsion because of her family name, but she didn’t escape the disappointment of her big brother Fitz, the scorn of the entire school, or, it turns out, Wickham’s influence.
But she’s back for her junior year, and she needs to prove to everyone—Fitz, Wickham, her former friends, and maybe even herself—that she’s more than just an embarrassment to the family name. How hard can it be to become the Perfect Darcy? All she has to do is:
– Rebuild her reputation with the marching band (even if it kills her)
– Forget about Wickham and his lies (no matter how tempting they still are), and
– Distract Fitz Darcy—helicopter-sibling extraordinaire—by getting him to fall in love with his classmate, Lizzie Bennet (this one might be difficult…)
Sure, it’s a complicated plan, but so is being a Darcy. With the help of her fellow bandmate, Avery, matchmaking ideas lifted straight from her favorite fanfics, and a whole lot of pancakes, Georgie is going to see every one of her plans through. But when the weight of being the Perfect Darcy comes crashing down, Georgie will have to find her own way before she loses everything permanently—including the one guy who sees her for who she really is.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2022
57 people are currently reading
10011 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 619 reviews
September 28, 2022
As a die hard fan Austen fan, I am always open to read any kind of creative retelling of her all time favorite classics!
So when I know my favorite classic Pride and Prejudice and having an opportunity to be introduced to the Darcy siblings, how I could reject that offer! I was all in!
The first quarter of the book started a little slow and I had hard time to get drawn into academy world but thankfully Georgie was such a lovely character to root for! She was characterized even better than her brother Fitz.
The changes and adaptation of the classic into young adult universe was quiet good enough. Only Fitz was not so exceptional. I liked him but he is not the best developed version of my all time favorite character ( still Mr. Firth’s brilliant image is on my head makes me smile)
Georgie is black sheep of her family, social parish, smart, insightful, genuine girl who suffers from her own insecurities returning back to school for her junior year after struggling from the scandal she got involved with sleazy bastard Wickham ( yeap, still the most despicable character of the book)
She wants to make things right with a fresh start, doing everything she can to make her family proud of her. But sleazy Wickham has no intention to let her go easily. Georgie is forced to make a beat him: if her brother Fitz admits she is the real perfect Darcy of the family, she will finally get rid of Wickham’s dirty schemes but if she can’t succeed her plan, she will be forced to be accomplice of Wickham for some kind of illegal scheming.
Poor Georgie needs distraction to get her brother off her back. Luckily Lizzie Bennett starts enchanting that struggling young man and Georgie does everything to push that girl into her brother’s arms.
I mostly liked the last third of the book and Georgie was ideal heroine to chant for! It was not the best retelling I’ve read but it’s quite good enough to enjoy! I highly recommend to the genre lovers and true fans of Austen books.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
So when I know my favorite classic Pride and Prejudice and having an opportunity to be introduced to the Darcy siblings, how I could reject that offer! I was all in!
The first quarter of the book started a little slow and I had hard time to get drawn into academy world but thankfully Georgie was such a lovely character to root for! She was characterized even better than her brother Fitz.
The changes and adaptation of the classic into young adult universe was quiet good enough. Only Fitz was not so exceptional. I liked him but he is not the best developed version of my all time favorite character ( still Mr. Firth’s brilliant image is on my head makes me smile)
Georgie is black sheep of her family, social parish, smart, insightful, genuine girl who suffers from her own insecurities returning back to school for her junior year after struggling from the scandal she got involved with sleazy bastard Wickham ( yeap, still the most despicable character of the book)
She wants to make things right with a fresh start, doing everything she can to make her family proud of her. But sleazy Wickham has no intention to let her go easily. Georgie is forced to make a beat him: if her brother Fitz admits she is the real perfect Darcy of the family, she will finally get rid of Wickham’s dirty schemes but if she can’t succeed her plan, she will be forced to be accomplice of Wickham for some kind of illegal scheming.
Poor Georgie needs distraction to get her brother off her back. Luckily Lizzie Bennett starts enchanting that struggling young man and Georgie does everything to push that girl into her brother’s arms.
I mostly liked the last third of the book and Georgie was ideal heroine to chant for! It was not the best retelling I’ve read but it’s quite good enough to enjoy! I highly recommend to the genre lovers and true fans of Austen books.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
April 5, 2023
3.5 Stars
I love P&P so was keen to read this YA book from Georgiana Darcy's point of view as she navigates life in her elite present day high school, Pemberley. I love reimaginings or retellings as it's fun to see how writers take the original story and characters and twist it into something new and fresh. In this novel Amanda lightly merges the themes of Pride and Prejudice into a teen setting along with all the angst that comes with modern day struggles. An enjoyable book and I would like to read the next in the series which is based on Northanger Abbey.
I love P&P so was keen to read this YA book from Georgiana Darcy's point of view as she navigates life in her elite present day high school, Pemberley. I love reimaginings or retellings as it's fun to see how writers take the original story and characters and twist it into something new and fresh. In this novel Amanda lightly merges the themes of Pride and Prejudice into a teen setting along with all the angst that comes with modern day struggles. An enjoyable book and I would like to read the next in the series which is based on Northanger Abbey.
April 26, 2022
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I absolutely adore the idea of retelling Pride and Prejudice from Georgiana Darcy perspective and since this one puts a modern spin on the classic by setting the action in the Pemberley High School and Meryton Collage somewhere in the New York state I was hoping for a fun and fluffy read. Especially that the cover and blurb promised me something easy and lighthearted.
Unfortunately what I got was a depressing story with Georgiana constantly obsessing about how everybody hates her after her brother busted Wickham for selling drugs to kids in Pemberley. The amount of ostracism she is facing is absolutely overblown and only made worse by her constant self-loathing statements. I don't know how many times Georgiana is calling herself worthless but I was managing to read maybe 30 pages at a time before I had enough of this self-pity and self-doubt. Especially that low self-esteem is not preventing her from being judgemental towards other people which made me like her even less. There is some character growth involved and in the end Georgiana manages to redeem herself a bit but I am not sure it's worth to read 200+ pages of whining that someone hates you because they didn't say "Goodbye", just to find out that she is not whining anymore.
I absolutely adore the idea of retelling Pride and Prejudice from Georgiana Darcy perspective and since this one puts a modern spin on the classic by setting the action in the Pemberley High School and Meryton Collage somewhere in the New York state I was hoping for a fun and fluffy read. Especially that the cover and blurb promised me something easy and lighthearted.
Unfortunately what I got was a depressing story with Georgiana constantly obsessing about how everybody hates her after her brother busted Wickham for selling drugs to kids in Pemberley. The amount of ostracism she is facing is absolutely overblown and only made worse by her constant self-loathing statements. I don't know how many times Georgiana is calling herself worthless but I was managing to read maybe 30 pages at a time before I had enough of this self-pity and self-doubt. Especially that low self-esteem is not preventing her from being judgemental towards other people which made me like her even less. There is some character growth involved and in the end Georgiana manages to redeem herself a bit but I am not sure it's worth to read 200+ pages of whining that someone hates you because they didn't say "Goodbye", just to find out that she is not whining anymore.
July 9, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review
Inspired by the characters of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, this is a contemporary YA tale centered on Georgiana Darcy( sister of Fitzwilliam Darcy). Pemberley Academy is still reeling from all the drama when Georgie got caught in the arms of drug dealing Wickham Foster last spring. As a result, older brother, Fitz has become super vigilant in his little sister's life. Georgie just wishes everyone could move on and stop treating her like a social pariah. Amanda Quain provides readers with plenty of romance and bad boy banter.
What I liked:
(1) Giving a very likeable Austen secondary character( Georgie Darcy) the spotlight. Quain's Georgie was an extremely likeable teen protagonist who has her own desires and aspirations. This is not a P& P retelling.
(2) Charles Bingley as a frat boy- HILARIOUS! He NEEDS a book!
(3)Wickham- I mean, I don't think that even Jane Austen couldn't help but love this guy and I loved his contemporary rendering.
(4) The sibling relationship between Georgie and Fitz- it was absolutely golden and I loved every encounter they had in the book.
What I didn't like:
(1) Boarding school romances are not one of my favorite types and I admit they were cute but Georgie and her love interest didn't grip me.
(2) Aside from the fact they were characters from Pride and Prejudice, the rest of the novel was pretty much like any other rom-com YA book.
Overall, I do believe that the positives are enough to sway any P& P fan to give it a read.
Expected Publication Date 26/07/22
Goodreads Review Published 23/05/22
Inspired by the characters of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, this is a contemporary YA tale centered on Georgiana Darcy( sister of Fitzwilliam Darcy). Pemberley Academy is still reeling from all the drama when Georgie got caught in the arms of drug dealing Wickham Foster last spring. As a result, older brother, Fitz has become super vigilant in his little sister's life. Georgie just wishes everyone could move on and stop treating her like a social pariah. Amanda Quain provides readers with plenty of romance and bad boy banter.
What I liked:
(1) Giving a very likeable Austen secondary character( Georgie Darcy) the spotlight. Quain's Georgie was an extremely likeable teen protagonist who has her own desires and aspirations. This is not a P& P retelling.
(2) Charles Bingley as a frat boy- HILARIOUS! He NEEDS a book!
(3)Wickham- I mean, I don't think that even Jane Austen couldn't help but love this guy and I loved his contemporary rendering.
(4) The sibling relationship between Georgie and Fitz- it was absolutely golden and I loved every encounter they had in the book.
What I didn't like:
(1) Boarding school romances are not one of my favorite types and I admit they were cute but Georgie and her love interest didn't grip me.
(2) Aside from the fact they were characters from Pride and Prejudice, the rest of the novel was pretty much like any other rom-com YA book.
Overall, I do believe that the positives are enough to sway any P& P fan to give it a read.
Expected Publication Date 26/07/22
Goodreads Review Published 23/05/22
December 15, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, I really enjoyed anything related to Pride & Prejudice. So, I'm really happy that I got the chance to dive into another retelling of it. Entering into the world of Accomplished, I was pretty excited to get to know more about Georgiana. Mostly because we don't know much about her. Unless it was her aunt or brother praising her for being a good piano player.
So, getting this complete opposite version of the perfect Georgie was perfectly amazing. She was real and went through realistic problems that kids go through. Whether it's family, school, or guy problems - there's something easy to relate to.
I also really enjoyed her friendship with Avery. He just seemed like a guy that would help balance out Georgie. He was also on the team of hating all things Wickham. Heck, he's probably the president of the club. It sucks that him and Georgie hit some rough spots but I'm glad that they made up towards the end.
Then there's her brother, Fitz. I loved seeing his college life for a bit but also how him and Lizzie bantered. It was cute and made me smile. So, when Georgie sort of manipulates these two to being together like all the time. Well, I was definitely on board with them falling in love with one another.
In the end, the drama came, and I still despise Wickham. I'm also really happy that everyone made up towards the end too. If another book about Georgie ever becomes a thing, I would definitely like to volunteer as tribute to read it. Pretty please!
Honestly, I really enjoyed anything related to Pride & Prejudice. So, I'm really happy that I got the chance to dive into another retelling of it. Entering into the world of Accomplished, I was pretty excited to get to know more about Georgiana. Mostly because we don't know much about her. Unless it was her aunt or brother praising her for being a good piano player.
So, getting this complete opposite version of the perfect Georgie was perfectly amazing. She was real and went through realistic problems that kids go through. Whether it's family, school, or guy problems - there's something easy to relate to.
I also really enjoyed her friendship with Avery. He just seemed like a guy that would help balance out Georgie. He was also on the team of hating all things Wickham. Heck, he's probably the president of the club. It sucks that him and Georgie hit some rough spots but I'm glad that they made up towards the end.
Then there's her brother, Fitz. I loved seeing his college life for a bit but also how him and Lizzie bantered. It was cute and made me smile. So, when Georgie sort of manipulates these two to being together like all the time. Well, I was definitely on board with them falling in love with one another.
In the end, the drama came, and I still despise Wickham. I'm also really happy that everyone made up towards the end too. If another book about Georgie ever becomes a thing, I would definitely like to volunteer as tribute to read it. Pretty please!
August 28, 2022
Accomplished is probably not one for the Austen purists, or even for grown-ups who find adolescent angst and harebrained schemes exhausting. But teenage readers who enjoyed The Princess Diaries or Fangirl will absolutely love it. This swoony, slow-burn teen romance is convoluted, but fun.
My full review of Accomplished can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Accomplished can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
May 15, 2021
I can't even begin to tell you all the ways in which this book is perfect. First, it pays exquisite homage to Pride and Prejudice while still being a wholly original story (including a wonderful and endearing love interest for Georgie who is not based on the original book). Second, it's HILARIOUS. I love when a book can make me laugh--I think it's such a difficult skill as a writer, and BOY, does Amanda Quain have it in spades. Georgie's narration is witty and funny, and the banter between her and Avery is a delight. (Don't even get me started on the comedy gold that is Charlie Bingley.) Other highlights include Georgie's fanfic, matchmaking her brother and Lizzie Bennet, the marching band... I could keep going, but I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that you will love this book whether you're a fan of Jane Austen or not. And this is the most clever and engaging (but also slightly emotionally devastating) contemporary YA novel I've read in years.
December 13, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy to read; unfortunately, this was not for me.
The opening line made my eye twitch, and I should have known then this wouldn't be for me. I hope some Pride and Prejudice enthusiasts who pick this up find a way to enjoy it.
I'm DNFing this at fifteen percent because it's just reading as a bunch of nonsense to me. Why would a wealthy student not transfer schools entirely after a huge scandal? Why be sent back to be bullied? How can someone with bad grades simply switch all their classes to AP levels? In my day, you needed a sign-off to switch to even one AP. I just can't.
To compound the nonsense, Georgiana is not a character that stood out to me in Pride & Prejudice in a manner that I'd recognize her in a retelling. Not the way you recognize stiff Darcy or gutsy Elizabeth. So this bratty dialogue and the poor behavior could have been Any YA Protagonist, with the Darcy surname thrown on.
I'm on to my next book.
The opening line made my eye twitch, and I should have known then this wouldn't be for me. I hope some Pride and Prejudice enthusiasts who pick this up find a way to enjoy it.
I'm DNFing this at fifteen percent because it's just reading as a bunch of nonsense to me. Why would a wealthy student not transfer schools entirely after a huge scandal? Why be sent back to be bullied? How can someone with bad grades simply switch all their classes to AP levels? In my day, you needed a sign-off to switch to even one AP. I just can't.
To compound the nonsense, Georgiana is not a character that stood out to me in Pride & Prejudice in a manner that I'd recognize her in a retelling. Not the way you recognize stiff Darcy or gutsy Elizabeth. So this bratty dialogue and the poor behavior could have been Any YA Protagonist, with the Darcy surname thrown on.
I'm on to my next book.
July 24, 2022
Accomplished by Amanda Quain is a cute, young adult romance that is also a Pride and Prejudice retelling. And I adored these characters and their story and enjoyed the P&P references throughout the book.
Georgiana Darcy is a student at the prestigious boarding high school, Pemberly. She lives in her brother’s shadow after he graduated a couple of years ago. Georgiana is now in her junior year, and she’s lucky she was able to come back after her disastrous sophomore year. It was only her last name Darcy that kept her from being expelled. If only she could live up to her brother’s perfect legacy and prove to him that she can manage herself without his help.
Her trouble last year started with her brother's friend Wickham, and she knows her brother hasn’t forgiven her. So she decides to save her reputation at school and with her older brother Fitz by 1. Rebuild her reputation with the high school band. 2. Forget all about her first crush, Wickham, and all his lies. 3. Distract Fitz by helping him to fall in love with his college study partner, Lizzie Bennet. She enlists the only friend she has left at Pemberly, Avery, to help her with her list.
I enjoyed this book very much. I liked that this P&P retelling is from Georgia’s point of view. I also felt like I knew these characters already, even in their modern personas, as they had similar characteristics to the characters from P&P. The romance was a very slow burn, but I enjoyed their friendship very much as they worked together to get Fitz and Lizzie together.
I liked the relationship between Fitz and Georgie, even the troubles between them. Fitz tries so hard to be the guardian of Georgie, but he has trouble communicating how much he cares for her. I also enjoyed Fitz as a younger cooler character than the Darcy of P&P. Especially his relationship with Charles Bingley, a fun-loving frat boy!
The only negative is Georgie was down on herself quite a bit for most of the book, and there was a lot of angst. But, I grew to enjoy her and when she finally came out of her funk, she was delightful.
I recommend Accomplished to anyone who enjoys Young Adult Romances. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Georgiana Darcy is a student at the prestigious boarding high school, Pemberly. She lives in her brother’s shadow after he graduated a couple of years ago. Georgiana is now in her junior year, and she’s lucky she was able to come back after her disastrous sophomore year. It was only her last name Darcy that kept her from being expelled. If only she could live up to her brother’s perfect legacy and prove to him that she can manage herself without his help.
Her trouble last year started with her brother's friend Wickham, and she knows her brother hasn’t forgiven her. So she decides to save her reputation at school and with her older brother Fitz by 1. Rebuild her reputation with the high school band. 2. Forget all about her first crush, Wickham, and all his lies. 3. Distract Fitz by helping him to fall in love with his college study partner, Lizzie Bennet. She enlists the only friend she has left at Pemberly, Avery, to help her with her list.
I enjoyed this book very much. I liked that this P&P retelling is from Georgia’s point of view. I also felt like I knew these characters already, even in their modern personas, as they had similar characteristics to the characters from P&P. The romance was a very slow burn, but I enjoyed their friendship very much as they worked together to get Fitz and Lizzie together.
I liked the relationship between Fitz and Georgie, even the troubles between them. Fitz tries so hard to be the guardian of Georgie, but he has trouble communicating how much he cares for her. I also enjoyed Fitz as a younger cooler character than the Darcy of P&P. Especially his relationship with Charles Bingley, a fun-loving frat boy!
The only negative is Georgie was down on herself quite a bit for most of the book, and there was a lot of angst. But, I grew to enjoy her and when she finally came out of her funk, she was delightful.
I recommend Accomplished to anyone who enjoys Young Adult Romances. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 8, 2022
Oof. A huge miss for me. I’ll try to gather my thoughts…But just not as good as I was hoping for.
Thanks, Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.
Thanks, Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.
October 30, 2021
Accomplished is one of the most delightful and lively contemporary YA I've read in a long time! I liked so much Georgie and Avery, they felt so real and complex. Synopsis makes this sound like a Pride & Prejudice retelling, but it's not. The names are an homage, but the plot is its own original thing, and I enjoyed it so much more for that! I will be first in line to see what Amanda Quain writes next!
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2023
Ich hatte mich so gefreut auf Georgianas Geschichte. Leider habe ich etwas anderes erwartet, wurde enttäuscht. 🥺
Die Geschichte ist eine moderne Adaption, was man vorher aus dem Klapptext nicht herauslesen konnte. Über Drogendealer und Verkupplungen...
So wie sich die Geschichte entwickelt hat, war es für mich als ein großer Bennet-Darcy Fan leider nicht so toll...
Ich hoffe, dass anderen die Geschichte mögen werden. Vllt liegt es daran, weil ich zu große Erwartungen für das Buch hatte.
Die Geschichte ist eine moderne Adaption, was man vorher aus dem Klapptext nicht herauslesen konnte. Über Drogendealer und Verkupplungen...
So wie sich die Geschichte entwickelt hat, war es für mich als ein großer Bennet-Darcy Fan leider nicht so toll...
Ich hoffe, dass anderen die Geschichte mögen werden. Vllt liegt es daran, weil ich zu große Erwartungen für das Buch hatte.
December 30, 2021
Thank you to St Martin's Press & Netgally for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was so cute, really enjoyed this one. I would love a sequel!
You might think this is a cozy mystery or mystery based on that cover, but it's actually a modern contemporary! It's not exactly a Pride & Prejudice retelling, though it has that going on in the background. Instead, Accomplished is the story of Georgie Darcy. After finding out her ex-boyfriend, Wickham, was dealing drugs out of her dorm room, Georgie has enemies all around and she doesn't know how to fix her reputation. She's on the last string of her tense relationship with her brother Fitz too.
What she definitely doesn't need is Wickham coming back again. But when he does, the two come to an agreement: Georgie gets her brother to admit he's proud of her and Wickham will disappear from her life forever. Georgie has a plan to win over the school and her brother, though she's going to need help making that happen.
This book really brought it with the feels. Georgie's relationship with Wickham was one where she had none of the power. Really this whole relationship had intense All Too Well Red Taylor's version vibes. Some of the scenes between these two really made me want to hug Georgie. She so deserved better and the trauma from this abusive relationship affected her other relationships.
Georgie was so adorable, a bit of a doofus and extremely relatable. She is not perfect by any means, but she spends so much of this book trying to make herself perfect to others. The Darcy's are ridiculously wealthy and Georgie really never thinks about this. But throughout the book multiple characters point out her privilege and how she definitely should NOT use it. Fitz also gives her some good advice about using her privilege for good which I really liked.
Then there's Georgie's relationship with Avery. Oh my god, these two were so cute. I loved how easy these two fell into each other's orbits. Their scenes together were so much fun and almost always left a smile on my face. I also really loved seeing Georgie develop a friendship with Emily again. More female friendship always please!!
Overall, this book was a ton of fun and had some really great messages in it.
Rep: wealthy white cishet female MC with anxiety, side WLW relationship.
CWs: Abandonment, underage alcohol consumption, bullying, past mentions of emotional abuse and gaslighting, toxic relationship, panic attacks, mental illness (anxiety). Moderate: past death of parent and grief.
This was so cute, really enjoyed this one. I would love a sequel!
You might think this is a cozy mystery or mystery based on that cover, but it's actually a modern contemporary! It's not exactly a Pride & Prejudice retelling, though it has that going on in the background. Instead, Accomplished is the story of Georgie Darcy. After finding out her ex-boyfriend, Wickham, was dealing drugs out of her dorm room, Georgie has enemies all around and she doesn't know how to fix her reputation. She's on the last string of her tense relationship with her brother Fitz too.
What she definitely doesn't need is Wickham coming back again. But when he does, the two come to an agreement: Georgie gets her brother to admit he's proud of her and Wickham will disappear from her life forever. Georgie has a plan to win over the school and her brother, though she's going to need help making that happen.
This book really brought it with the feels. Georgie's relationship with Wickham was one where she had none of the power. Really this whole relationship had intense All Too Well Red Taylor's version vibes. Some of the scenes between these two really made me want to hug Georgie. She so deserved better and the trauma from this abusive relationship affected her other relationships.
Georgie was so adorable, a bit of a doofus and extremely relatable. She is not perfect by any means, but she spends so much of this book trying to make herself perfect to others. The Darcy's are ridiculously wealthy and Georgie really never thinks about this. But throughout the book multiple characters point out her privilege and how she definitely should NOT use it. Fitz also gives her some good advice about using her privilege for good which I really liked.
Then there's Georgie's relationship with Avery. Oh my god, these two were so cute. I loved how easy these two fell into each other's orbits. Their scenes together were so much fun and almost always left a smile on my face. I also really loved seeing Georgie develop a friendship with Emily again. More female friendship always please!!
Overall, this book was a ton of fun and had some really great messages in it.
Rep: wealthy white cishet female MC with anxiety, side WLW relationship.
CWs: Abandonment, underage alcohol consumption, bullying, past mentions of emotional abuse and gaslighting, toxic relationship, panic attacks, mental illness (anxiety). Moderate: past death of parent and grief.
November 14, 2021
Georgianna Darcy is arguably one of the most under appreciated characters in Pride and Prejudice (I mean, she had to deal with an angsty Darcy pining over Elizabeth for who knows how long). I have always loved the glimpses of Big Brother Darcy, and I feel like this relationship with his sister really explains his prideful image. Let me just tell you that Accomplished did not disappoint on this front. To quote Georgie, she has, "A fairly excellent big brother."
Let's just start with the modern setting. I have not laughed this hard over a book in basically forever. Reading about Wickham 'sliding into DMs,' Fitz Darcy loving to send Google Calendar invites, and Georgie ranting about the patriarchy that prevented her dress from having pockets was something I didn't know I wanted until now. The way she modernized each character was remarkably on point, and it was fun to see what they would look like today. On top of this, Amanda's writing style is a beautiful blend of deeply introspective commentary and snarky, sarcastic wit, and I loved it.
Another aspect of this book that I deeply appreciated was how Amanda's fangirl status came out. Little things like Dad!Fitz and Georgie referencing AO3 and Tumblr, all the way up to Camp Sanditon and the Sage Hall tv show, which was notably similar to Downton Abbey. She did a great job pulling in the original story and fangirling alongside her readers, while creating something entirely her own.
There were really only two things that I didn't love about this book. The first was the frequent use of expletives, along with the underaged use of drugs and alcohol. While it was an accurate portrayal of most American high schools, I just wish that that it hadn't been made out to be quite so normal, especially since this book is being marketed to teens. The second thing that I questioned was Fitz's and Georgie's relationship. While the tension between them fits this plot, it didn't seem that consistent with their relationship in Pride and Prejudice. Obviously this was a retelling, and not everything has to be spot on, but it did seem a bit odd since Darcy was originally such a doting brother.
Overall I thought this was one of the best Pride and Prejudice spin offs that I've read!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, and I am writing a voluntary review.
Let's just start with the modern setting. I have not laughed this hard over a book in basically forever. Reading about Wickham 'sliding into DMs,' Fitz Darcy loving to send Google Calendar invites, and Georgie ranting about the patriarchy that prevented her dress from having pockets was something I didn't know I wanted until now. The way she modernized each character was remarkably on point, and it was fun to see what they would look like today. On top of this, Amanda's writing style is a beautiful blend of deeply introspective commentary and snarky, sarcastic wit, and I loved it.
Another aspect of this book that I deeply appreciated was how Amanda's fangirl status came out. Little things like Dad!Fitz and Georgie referencing AO3 and Tumblr, all the way up to Camp Sanditon and the Sage Hall tv show, which was notably similar to Downton Abbey. She did a great job pulling in the original story and fangirling alongside her readers, while creating something entirely her own.
There were really only two things that I didn't love about this book. The first was the frequent use of expletives, along with the underaged use of drugs and alcohol. While it was an accurate portrayal of most American high schools, I just wish that that it hadn't been made out to be quite so normal, especially since this book is being marketed to teens. The second thing that I questioned was Fitz's and Georgie's relationship. While the tension between them fits this plot, it didn't seem that consistent with their relationship in Pride and Prejudice. Obviously this was a retelling, and not everything has to be spot on, but it did seem a bit odd since Darcy was originally such a doting brother.
Overall I thought this was one of the best Pride and Prejudice spin offs that I've read!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own, and I am writing a voluntary review.
January 2, 2023
Dieses Buch haben wir vorab vom Verlag bekommen und es klang echt interessant. Ich hatte zwar damals mit Stolz & Vorurteil meine Probleme, aber das Buch spielt in der heutigen Zeit. In den ersten Seiten musste ich viel lachen, da einige lustige Szenen dabei waren. Doch irgendwann zwischendurch ließ es sich zwar noch immer gut lesen, aber es konnte mich trotzdem nicht so fesseln. Dennoch eine interessante Sichtweise auf die Darcys.
4 Sterne
4 Sterne
July 31, 2022
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*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Georgiana Darcy is the most hated girl at Pemberly Academy when she avoided being expelled after being caught up in a drug scam last year with popular boy Wickham Foster. She now must prove to her older brother, Fitz that she can make him proud, without tarnishing the family name during her Junior year. She thinks it shouldn't be too hard, until Wickham tries to weasel his way back into her heart.
I was really disappointed in this one... I found it to be slow, and a bit boring through out the whole story. I never felt truly invested in Georgiana's story, and she rubbed me the wrong way for the majority of the book. She gave off poor, little rich girl vibes and it got annoying pretty quickly - she was called out by the end of the book which was nice. I do think she went through some character growth, but I think by that point I was too fed up with her to care about it.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Georgiana Darcy is the most hated girl at Pemberly Academy when she avoided being expelled after being caught up in a drug scam last year with popular boy Wickham Foster. She now must prove to her older brother, Fitz that she can make him proud, without tarnishing the family name during her Junior year. She thinks it shouldn't be too hard, until Wickham tries to weasel his way back into her heart.
I was really disappointed in this one... I found it to be slow, and a bit boring through out the whole story. I never felt truly invested in Georgiana's story, and she rubbed me the wrong way for the majority of the book. She gave off poor, little rich girl vibes and it got annoying pretty quickly - she was called out by the end of the book which was nice. I do think she went through some character growth, but I think by that point I was too fed up with her to care about it.
August 2, 2022
This was a fun, heartfelt YA reimagining featuring Jane Austen's beloved Darcy siblings, Georgie and Fitzwilliam "Fitz" from Pride and prejudice. Told from Georgie's POV, we get to see her trying to redeem her damaged reputation at a posh boarding school and fix her strained relationship with her brother after a scandal involving drugs and former schoolmate/boyfriend Wickham.
I really loved Georgie and how she tried to help her brother by setting him up with Elizabeth Bennett with the hopes of getting him to relax his overprotective tendencies. Original and full of creative license, I enjoyed this one for its lighthearted charm. Great on audio too narrated by Deva Marie Gregory. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
I really loved Georgie and how she tried to help her brother by setting him up with Elizabeth Bennett with the hopes of getting him to relax his overprotective tendencies. Original and full of creative license, I enjoyed this one for its lighthearted charm. Great on audio too narrated by Deva Marie Gregory. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
August 3, 2021
I cannot say enough about how much I loved this book.
I’m such a sucker for characters dealing with the fallout from their own bad decisions, especially bad decisions made with the best intentions. And everything Georgie does is with the best intentions - protecting her brother from herself, protecting herself from Wickham, both while trying to build her own life at Pemberley in the midst of being Public Enemy #1. Which is why you constantly want to root for her, even when one thing after the next goes sideways. You never stop wanting to see Georgie win.
We get what happened between her and Wickham seeded almost through the entire novel, with small details in the beginning and bigger details as we get deeper. In the beginning, it really does seem like a girl who got too wrapped up in her boyfriend and let all of her friendships and responsibilities fall by the wayside. But the deeper we go with Wickham, the worse he gets. I hated him from the jump, but I was ready to fight him in the street by the end. (Not that Georgie would ever even need me going to bat for her, but just saying - I totally would.)
As for Fitz, 10/10 would Die for him. He is such an interesting character filling so many roles in Georgie’s life. And yes, I cried. And yes, he did it. I don’t know what else to even say about Fitz to explain how much I love him.
Also, Avery is a sweet darling angel. Nothing else to it.
I can’t wait for everyone to read this book. It’s such a delight, and so perfectly frustrating at times (obviously in the best way). I couldn't put it down, even when I really, really needed to. But who needs clean laundry when there are Darcys getting emotional with each other? Obviously not me.
I’m such a sucker for characters dealing with the fallout from their own bad decisions, especially bad decisions made with the best intentions. And everything Georgie does is with the best intentions - protecting her brother from herself, protecting herself from Wickham, both while trying to build her own life at Pemberley in the midst of being Public Enemy #1. Which is why you constantly want to root for her, even when one thing after the next goes sideways. You never stop wanting to see Georgie win.
We get what happened between her and Wickham seeded almost through the entire novel, with small details in the beginning and bigger details as we get deeper. In the beginning, it really does seem like a girl who got too wrapped up in her boyfriend and let all of her friendships and responsibilities fall by the wayside. But the deeper we go with Wickham, the worse he gets. I hated him from the jump, but I was ready to fight him in the street by the end. (Not that Georgie would ever even need me going to bat for her, but just saying - I totally would.)
As for Fitz, 10/10 would Die for him. He is such an interesting character filling so many roles in Georgie’s life. And yes, I cried. And yes, he did it. I don’t know what else to even say about Fitz to explain how much I love him.
Also, Avery is a sweet darling angel. Nothing else to it.
I can’t wait for everyone to read this book. It’s such a delight, and so perfectly frustrating at times (obviously in the best way). I couldn't put it down, even when I really, really needed to. But who needs clean laundry when there are Darcys getting emotional with each other? Obviously not me.
September 17, 2022
Accomplished
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 7/26/22
Author: Amanda Quain
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: Deva Marie Gregory
GR: 3.69
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Georgiana Darcy may have escaped expulsion because of her family name, but she didn’t escape the scorn of the entire school. But she’s back for her junior year, and she needs to prove to everyone—Fitz, Wickham, her former friends, and maybe even herself—that she’s more. With the help of her fellow bandmate, Avery, matchmaking ideas lifted straight from her favorite fanfics. But when the weight of being the Perfect Darcy comes crashing down, Georgie will have to find her own way before she loses everything permanently—including the one guy who sees her for who she really is.
My Thoughts: The story starts a little slow but started to pick up around 25% into the story. Georgie is such an amazing character and the perfect heroine, it is not hard to connect to her, and root for her throughout the story. This is a fantastic spin on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with a boarding school romance trope. The narrator does a really amazing job enhancing the character voices and creating emotion in the characters. The characters were developed well with depth, witty banter, charisma, and creatively explored. The author’s writing style was complex, endearing, funny, and kept me engaged for the entire story. Quain does an excellant job on expanding on a secondary character from Pride and Prejudice. If you are a fan of Austen’s work, or even if you aren’t not, I believe you would enjoy this fun contemporary YA book. It is already out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 7/26/22
Author: Amanda Quain
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: Deva Marie Gregory
GR: 3.69
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Georgiana Darcy may have escaped expulsion because of her family name, but she didn’t escape the scorn of the entire school. But she’s back for her junior year, and she needs to prove to everyone—Fitz, Wickham, her former friends, and maybe even herself—that she’s more. With the help of her fellow bandmate, Avery, matchmaking ideas lifted straight from her favorite fanfics. But when the weight of being the Perfect Darcy comes crashing down, Georgie will have to find her own way before she loses everything permanently—including the one guy who sees her for who she really is.
My Thoughts: The story starts a little slow but started to pick up around 25% into the story. Georgie is such an amazing character and the perfect heroine, it is not hard to connect to her, and root for her throughout the story. This is a fantastic spin on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with a boarding school romance trope. The narrator does a really amazing job enhancing the character voices and creating emotion in the characters. The characters were developed well with depth, witty banter, charisma, and creatively explored. The author’s writing style was complex, endearing, funny, and kept me engaged for the entire story. Quain does an excellant job on expanding on a secondary character from Pride and Prejudice. If you are a fan of Austen’s work, or even if you aren’t not, I believe you would enjoy this fun contemporary YA book. It is already out!
October 6, 2022
Accomplished
By Amanda Quain
When I found out that this was a Pride and Prejudice retelling focused on Georgiana Darcy, I was over the moon excited, as a die-hard Austen fan. In ACCOMPLISHED, Georgiana is a junior at Pemberley Academy as a junior and up to the task of rebuilding her reputation after an incident with Wickham. Now, Georgiana has to forget about Wickham, and get her brother’s focus away from her and into the eyes of one Lizzie Bennet. I found the writing good, and I did enjoy many moments of the story, that gave a nod to our favorite and beloved characters.
I thought it was a fun read that would be enjoyed by Austenites.
By Amanda Quain
When I found out that this was a Pride and Prejudice retelling focused on Georgiana Darcy, I was over the moon excited, as a die-hard Austen fan. In ACCOMPLISHED, Georgiana is a junior at Pemberley Academy as a junior and up to the task of rebuilding her reputation after an incident with Wickham. Now, Georgiana has to forget about Wickham, and get her brother’s focus away from her and into the eyes of one Lizzie Bennet. I found the writing good, and I did enjoy many moments of the story, that gave a nod to our favorite and beloved characters.
I thought it was a fun read that would be enjoyed by Austenites.
August 8, 2022
3.5/5 stars
Accomplished is heartfelt and emotional! I love Georgie's relationships with her brother (Fitz), Elizabeth, and Avery. Georgie's and Avery's relationship was just so adorable and made me feel so giddy.
However, there were also aspects of the novel that put me off. Georgie was constantly pitying herself and all of her negative self-talk made me feel gloomy. The conflict with Wickham was almost nonsensical, I understand that you may not have known his antics from the start but the fact that you can't stay away from him makes no sense. Especially because Wickham showed no affection or care for her except for flashbacks of their relationship, making it hard for me to believe that he's 'irresistible'. While the ending conflict was necessary, I felt that it could've been handled better as it felt sudden and rushed. With that said, the bond between Fitz and Georgie was heartwarming. The fact that they cried in separate rooms broke me!
Fitz and Elizabeth's relationship seemed cute as well but I wished we got to see it develop more. It would've been fun to see Georgie and Avery meddle in their affairs while also developing their own relationship with one another.
In conclusion, Accomplished was an emotional experience and I'm glad I got to give it a try! Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Accomplished is heartfelt and emotional! I love Georgie's relationships with her brother (Fitz), Elizabeth, and Avery. Georgie's and Avery's relationship was just so adorable and made me feel so giddy.
However, there were also aspects of the novel that put me off. Georgie was constantly pitying herself and all of her negative self-talk made me feel gloomy. The conflict with Wickham was almost nonsensical, I understand that you may not have known his antics from the start but the fact that you can't stay away from him makes no sense. Especially because Wickham showed no affection or care for her except for flashbacks of their relationship, making it hard for me to believe that he's 'irresistible'. While the ending conflict was necessary, I felt that it could've been handled better as it felt sudden and rushed. With that said, the bond between Fitz and Georgie was heartwarming. The fact that they cried in separate rooms broke me!
Fitz and Elizabeth's relationship seemed cute as well but I wished we got to see it develop more. It would've been fun to see Georgie and Avery meddle in their affairs while also developing their own relationship with one another.
In conclusion, Accomplished was an emotional experience and I'm glad I got to give it a try! Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2022
I'm not the biggest fan of Pride and Prejudice, so maybe it wasn't a good decision to read a retelling but I honestly don't think it would have made a difference. I didn't care about the main character and the plot was mediocre.
July 26, 2022
Georgie Darcy ended last school year as the social outcast of Pemberley Academy and an epic Darcy failure because of her naivety and her privilege.
She put her trust into the charming Wickham Foster and he betrayed her by selling drugs out of her dormitory. This year, her brother Fitz Darcy is breathing down her neck while she’s trying to redeem herself to him, recover socially, and prove that she’s impressive without her brother or Wickham’s stamp of approval. Oh and Wickham is back and up to his old tricks.
While I enjoyed this read I have to say that I’ve never actually read Pride and Prejudice, so can I compare it to the inspiration, no. On it’s own Accomplished is a fun coming of age, where our 16-year-old MC spends a lot of time trying to fix her past while learning some hard lessons and seeing herself and her life through the eyes of the few she trusts.
At some times Georgie comes off as hard to relate to, but I think that’s on purpose. She’s realizing that her life is not the norm, and her being hard to relate to sort of reinforces that realization. I enjoyed her interactions with her brother and Lizzie most. The moments with Avery were great as well. The dichotomy between them as humans and their experiences were a great lesson to Georgie in the end.
Anyway. I think if you want a YA coming of age story, that’s set in an elite private school, then you will love Accomplished.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
She put her trust into the charming Wickham Foster and he betrayed her by selling drugs out of her dormitory. This year, her brother Fitz Darcy is breathing down her neck while she’s trying to redeem herself to him, recover socially, and prove that she’s impressive without her brother or Wickham’s stamp of approval. Oh and Wickham is back and up to his old tricks.
While I enjoyed this read I have to say that I’ve never actually read Pride and Prejudice, so can I compare it to the inspiration, no. On it’s own Accomplished is a fun coming of age, where our 16-year-old MC spends a lot of time trying to fix her past while learning some hard lessons and seeing herself and her life through the eyes of the few she trusts.
At some times Georgie comes off as hard to relate to, but I think that’s on purpose. She’s realizing that her life is not the norm, and her being hard to relate to sort of reinforces that realization. I enjoyed her interactions with her brother and Lizzie most. The moments with Avery were great as well. The dichotomy between them as humans and their experiences were a great lesson to Georgie in the end.
Anyway. I think if you want a YA coming of age story, that’s set in an elite private school, then you will love Accomplished.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
Read
February 14, 2022I've become very wary of Austen cash-ins, though I'm still sympathetic to the idea of novels in conversation with famous novels that still work after generations. Not sure why I grabbed this one--I read it months ago, when we were hibernating from the latest plague swarm, and now I've got to catch up on all that reading.
I swallowed this book right down. I loved the way Quain riffed off of P&P with recognizable names, places, and plot points, but took things in her own direction without remaining in an arid lockstep with Austen's novel--or distorting P&P beyond recognition.
Georgie Darcy is our main character, and she starts out in deep trouble. (A lot like Georgiana Darcy, though Austen skims lightly over what was nearly a scandal that would have ruined a girl in her mid teens for life.) In this novel, Wickham is hot, and daring, and morally despicable. Georgie's older brother Fitz is sour and dour and doesn't deal well with the world, though his new girlfriend Elizabeth (lightly and intriguingly introduced, rather the way Austen introduced Georgiana, in fact) is helping him become a bit more socially adept.
Georgie spends most of the book dealing with her ambivalent feeling about Wickham who had gaslighted her with his charisma. Like her namesake, she came close to forsaking her friends, family and her academic standing for him and for what she thought was love.
The novel is all about her working her way back to ground zero from the pits, painfully, slowly, and earning each new insight, while trying to rescue her academic standing in junior year of high school--which would be where our original Georgiana would have been, had there been high schools in the early nineteenth C.
It was a real pleasure seeing Quain come to grips with the emotional fallout and subsequent growth of a girl in her teens who has to learn the difference between love and lust. And trust. I really enjoyed it.
Copy provided by NetGalley
I swallowed this book right down. I loved the way Quain riffed off of P&P with recognizable names, places, and plot points, but took things in her own direction without remaining in an arid lockstep with Austen's novel--or distorting P&P beyond recognition.
Georgie Darcy is our main character, and she starts out in deep trouble. (A lot like Georgiana Darcy, though Austen skims lightly over what was nearly a scandal that would have ruined a girl in her mid teens for life.) In this novel, Wickham is hot, and daring, and morally despicable. Georgie's older brother Fitz is sour and dour and doesn't deal well with the world, though his new girlfriend Elizabeth (lightly and intriguingly introduced, rather the way Austen introduced Georgiana, in fact) is helping him become a bit more socially adept.
Georgie spends most of the book dealing with her ambivalent feeling about Wickham who had gaslighted her with his charisma. Like her namesake, she came close to forsaking her friends, family and her academic standing for him and for what she thought was love.
The novel is all about her working her way back to ground zero from the pits, painfully, slowly, and earning each new insight, while trying to rescue her academic standing in junior year of high school--which would be where our original Georgiana would have been, had there been high schools in the early nineteenth C.
It was a real pleasure seeing Quain come to grips with the emotional fallout and subsequent growth of a girl in her teens who has to learn the difference between love and lust. And trust. I really enjoyed it.
Copy provided by NetGalley
January 13, 2022
2022 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: A book published in 2022
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I think I received a different book that the people who giving this one four or five stars. I would much rather have read their version then the one I ended up skipping 40% of.
This book is a mess and not in a good way. Georgie is a completely unsympathetic character. She keeps saying that she's going to stop doing things, and then keeps on doing them anyhow. She doesn't want to be treated differently because she's rich, but she keeps doing things that only rich people can do. She magically transfers from non-AP classes to all AP classes, which as a teacher, I know doesn't happen without parental consent.
I was about 10% in, and I was already done with her shit. I just honestly didn't care. I think this book would have been better without the characters from Pride and Prejudice because then I wouldn't have gone in with high expectations. I would have expected another YA drama fest and, honestly, probably wouldn't have asked for the ARC.
I ended up skipping the middle of the book because I was tired of being whined at by a child, and it turns out, I missed nothing! The author provided a nice recap for the chunk of the book I skipped. Which, realistically, is not a good thing.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I think I received a different book that the people who giving this one four or five stars. I would much rather have read their version then the one I ended up skipping 40% of.
This book is a mess and not in a good way. Georgie is a completely unsympathetic character. She keeps saying that she's going to stop doing things, and then keeps on doing them anyhow. She doesn't want to be treated differently because she's rich, but she keeps doing things that only rich people can do. She magically transfers from non-AP classes to all AP classes, which as a teacher, I know doesn't happen without parental consent.
I was about 10% in, and I was already done with her shit. I just honestly didn't care. I think this book would have been better without the characters from Pride and Prejudice because then I wouldn't have gone in with high expectations. I would have expected another YA drama fest and, honestly, probably wouldn't have asked for the ARC.
I ended up skipping the middle of the book because I was tired of being whined at by a child, and it turns out, I missed nothing! The author provided a nice recap for the chunk of the book I skipped. Which, realistically, is not a good thing.
April 1, 2022
ACCOMPLISHED: A GEORGIE DARCY NOVEL
by Amanda Quain
St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books
Out Jul 26
Loved it!
Finally, Georgiana (Georgie) Darcy gets her place in the sun in this charming YA retelling of Pride & Prejudice.
She's a junior at Pemberley Academy, and she's trying to redeem herself after That incident with Wickham Foster last year. Gasp! Plus, she hopes her big brother Fitz will stop helicoptering her and fall for his classmate, Lizzie Bennett. (Good luck with that!)
Then there's marching band (yes, this is a contemporary reworking), her schoolmates (can't they just forget That incident?), and a matchmaking scheme with band friend Avery.
But trying to be a Perfect Darcy could prove disastrous, with her newly constructed life threatening to tumble down, taking all she's worked for, including the only guy who really "gets" her.
Charming, funny, the perfect one-sit read for Austen lovers and new Janeites in the making. Did I say I loved it?
Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#AccomplishedAGeorgieDarcyNovel #AmandaQuain #NetGalley #StMartinsPressWednesdayBooks
#PrideAndPrejudiceRetelling #bookstagramcommunity
by Amanda Quain
St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books
Out Jul 26
Loved it!
Finally, Georgiana (Georgie) Darcy gets her place in the sun in this charming YA retelling of Pride & Prejudice.
She's a junior at Pemberley Academy, and she's trying to redeem herself after That incident with Wickham Foster last year. Gasp! Plus, she hopes her big brother Fitz will stop helicoptering her and fall for his classmate, Lizzie Bennett. (Good luck with that!)
Then there's marching band (yes, this is a contemporary reworking), her schoolmates (can't they just forget That incident?), and a matchmaking scheme with band friend Avery.
But trying to be a Perfect Darcy could prove disastrous, with her newly constructed life threatening to tumble down, taking all she's worked for, including the only guy who really "gets" her.
Charming, funny, the perfect one-sit read for Austen lovers and new Janeites in the making. Did I say I loved it?
Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#AccomplishedAGeorgieDarcyNovel #AmandaQuain #NetGalley #StMartinsPressWednesdayBooks
#PrideAndPrejudiceRetelling #bookstagramcommunity
January 29, 2023
In "Stolz und Vorurteil" von Jane Austen taucht Georgiana Darcy kaum auf, daher habe ich mich auf eine Geschichte aus ihrer Perspektive gefreut. Am Anfang habe ich etwas Zeit gebraucht, um mich zu orientieren, weil der Klappentext ja eher vage gehalten ist. Es spielt in der modernen Zeit und hier hat der allseits beliebte Wickham die nichtsahnende Georgie in seine Drogengeschäfte verwickelt. Nachdem er fort ist, versucht Georgie nun ihren Ruf an der Schule wiederherzustellen und ihrem Bruder Fitz zu beweisen, dass auch sie eine perfekte Darcy sein kann.
Aber das ist gar nicht so leicht, denn Georgie weiß nicht wirklich, wo sie anfangen soll, abgesehen davon, dass ihre schulischen Leistungen sich verbessern müssen. Jeder an der Schule hasst sie, außer Marschkapellenmitglied Avery, der trotz allem zu ihr hält. In ihrem ersten Schuljahr hat sie sich zu sehr an ihren kühlen, zielorientierten Bruder gehalten und verpasst, Freundschaften zu schließen, und nun hängt sie immer noch an der toxischen Beziehung zu Wickham, der lange Zeit der einzige war, der ihr wirklich Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt hat.
Die wichtigste Beziehung ist aber die zu ihrem Bruder. Er ist mehr als nur ihr Vorbild, da sie kaum andere Menschen in ihrem Leben hat, ist Fitz fast alles was sie hat und entsprechend niedergeschlagen ist sie jetzt, da er so enttäuscht von ihr ist und sie wie ein kleines Kind behandelt. Durch seine sachliche und distanzierte Art ist Fitz auch nicht gerade jemand, der seine Gefühle besonders gut zeigen kann, also glaubt Georgie, dass sie nur eine Last für ihn ist.
Leider fand ich Georgie ziemlich anstrengend. Sie zerfließt in Selbstmitleid, ist immer überzeugt, dass alle - vor allem ihr Bruder - sie hassen, scheint kaum zu wissen, wie man mit anderen Menschen umgeht und trifft fragwürdige Entscheidungen. Man kann zwar erkennen, warum sie so handelt und fühlt, und wie äußere Umstände sie zu der unsicheren jungen Frau geformt haben, die sie ist. So hatte ich aber eher Mitleid mit ihr, als dass sie mir dadurch sympathischer geworden wäre.
Ich habe "Stolz und Vorurteil" erst vor wenigen Monaten gelesen, daher hatte ich das Original natürlich auch noch ziemlich frisch im Gedächtnis und auch Lust darauf, mehr von den Charakteren zu sehen. Ich würde schon empfehlen, die Vorlage zu kennen, denn so machen die Nebencharaktere mehr Spaß und man ist auch bereit, dem distanzierten Bruder Fitz einen Vertrauensvorschuss zu gewähren. Ansonsten käme einem die Handlung sicherlich auch viel chaotischer vor.
Letztendlich war schon etwas viel los, besonders weil man auch die Geschichten der anderen Charaktere eingebaut hat, die alle ihre kleinen Auftritte haben, aber gleichzeitig tritt die Handlung auch etwas auf der Stelle, weil Georgie einfach feststeckt mit ihren Gefühlen. Avery, der Georgie unterstützt, motiviert und dadurch die Handlung etwas vorantreibt, war da immer ein Lichtblick für mich.
Aber das ist gar nicht so leicht, denn Georgie weiß nicht wirklich, wo sie anfangen soll, abgesehen davon, dass ihre schulischen Leistungen sich verbessern müssen. Jeder an der Schule hasst sie, außer Marschkapellenmitglied Avery, der trotz allem zu ihr hält. In ihrem ersten Schuljahr hat sie sich zu sehr an ihren kühlen, zielorientierten Bruder gehalten und verpasst, Freundschaften zu schließen, und nun hängt sie immer noch an der toxischen Beziehung zu Wickham, der lange Zeit der einzige war, der ihr wirklich Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt hat.
Die wichtigste Beziehung ist aber die zu ihrem Bruder. Er ist mehr als nur ihr Vorbild, da sie kaum andere Menschen in ihrem Leben hat, ist Fitz fast alles was sie hat und entsprechend niedergeschlagen ist sie jetzt, da er so enttäuscht von ihr ist und sie wie ein kleines Kind behandelt. Durch seine sachliche und distanzierte Art ist Fitz auch nicht gerade jemand, der seine Gefühle besonders gut zeigen kann, also glaubt Georgie, dass sie nur eine Last für ihn ist.
Leider fand ich Georgie ziemlich anstrengend. Sie zerfließt in Selbstmitleid, ist immer überzeugt, dass alle - vor allem ihr Bruder - sie hassen, scheint kaum zu wissen, wie man mit anderen Menschen umgeht und trifft fragwürdige Entscheidungen. Man kann zwar erkennen, warum sie so handelt und fühlt, und wie äußere Umstände sie zu der unsicheren jungen Frau geformt haben, die sie ist. So hatte ich aber eher Mitleid mit ihr, als dass sie mir dadurch sympathischer geworden wäre.
Ich habe "Stolz und Vorurteil" erst vor wenigen Monaten gelesen, daher hatte ich das Original natürlich auch noch ziemlich frisch im Gedächtnis und auch Lust darauf, mehr von den Charakteren zu sehen. Ich würde schon empfehlen, die Vorlage zu kennen, denn so machen die Nebencharaktere mehr Spaß und man ist auch bereit, dem distanzierten Bruder Fitz einen Vertrauensvorschuss zu gewähren. Ansonsten käme einem die Handlung sicherlich auch viel chaotischer vor.
Letztendlich war schon etwas viel los, besonders weil man auch die Geschichten der anderen Charaktere eingebaut hat, die alle ihre kleinen Auftritte haben, aber gleichzeitig tritt die Handlung auch etwas auf der Stelle, weil Georgie einfach feststeckt mit ihren Gefühlen. Avery, der Georgie unterstützt, motiviert und dadurch die Handlung etwas vorantreibt, war da immer ein Lichtblick für mich.
July 7, 2022
Every time I read an Austen retelling, I feel like I have the benefit of not having read the original. To me, this was the story of young woman who was battling loneliness and fell for a boy’s pretty words. That boy ended up leaving her in a mess of trouble with a stained reputation, feeling like a burden to her older brother, and having failed to live up to the family name. Her plan was to win everyone over, rehab her image, and help her brother fall in love. With that said, I would say Accomplished was a success for me.
What I Liked
Georgie – My heart went out to Georgie. On the surface, she may come off in a certain way, but her outward persona was heavily influenced by the loss of her father, the abandonment of her mother, and trust issues that developed due to opportunist wanting a piece of her to exploit her family name. She carried a LOT of guilt about what happened with Wickham and paid for that mistake over and over again. The more I learned about Georgie, the easier it was to root for her. I won’t say Georgie’s plan was without flaws, and it did NOT go smoothly, but she grew tremendously from the experience and the end result was wonderful.
Siblings – Georgie and Fitz were once very close, but when Fitz assumed parental responsibilities for Georgie, it strained their relationship. Needless to say, it was complicated, but here is another example where I saw great growth. There were some very sweet moments shared between these two, and they were able to get to a good place in their relationship.
The Friendship – Just when I thought Georgie would have to face the world on her own, her former bestie extended an olive branch. Their friendship was something special, and I was happy to see them both making an effort to restore it to its greatness. Avery was not only a good friend to Georgie, but he was a source of support when she really had no one else. He encouraged her which was vital in her recovering her confidence and attempting to move past the drama of the previous year.
The Setting – I am a sucker for boarding school books, and I really enjoyed my time at Pemberley Academy. Quain did an amazing job transporting me to the bucolic campus. Not only was I treated to a visual tour, but I was immersed in many aspects of campus life. From homecoming to Friday night games, it was fantastic being part of the action.
Overall, I had a great time getting to know Georgie and watching her evolve and move forward. Lively banter, a sweet romance, and campus antics contributed to the entertainment value and my overall enjoyment of this book.
*ARC provided by the publisher.
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What I Liked
Georgie – My heart went out to Georgie. On the surface, she may come off in a certain way, but her outward persona was heavily influenced by the loss of her father, the abandonment of her mother, and trust issues that developed due to opportunist wanting a piece of her to exploit her family name. She carried a LOT of guilt about what happened with Wickham and paid for that mistake over and over again. The more I learned about Georgie, the easier it was to root for her. I won’t say Georgie’s plan was without flaws, and it did NOT go smoothly, but she grew tremendously from the experience and the end result was wonderful.
Siblings – Georgie and Fitz were once very close, but when Fitz assumed parental responsibilities for Georgie, it strained their relationship. Needless to say, it was complicated, but here is another example where I saw great growth. There were some very sweet moments shared between these two, and they were able to get to a good place in their relationship.
The Friendship – Just when I thought Georgie would have to face the world on her own, her former bestie extended an olive branch. Their friendship was something special, and I was happy to see them both making an effort to restore it to its greatness. Avery was not only a good friend to Georgie, but he was a source of support when she really had no one else. He encouraged her which was vital in her recovering her confidence and attempting to move past the drama of the previous year.
The Setting – I am a sucker for boarding school books, and I really enjoyed my time at Pemberley Academy. Quain did an amazing job transporting me to the bucolic campus. Not only was I treated to a visual tour, but I was immersed in many aspects of campus life. From homecoming to Friday night games, it was fantastic being part of the action.
Overall, I had a great time getting to know Georgie and watching her evolve and move forward. Lively banter, a sweet romance, and campus antics contributed to the entertainment value and my overall enjoyment of this book.
*ARC provided by the publisher.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 1, 2023
Georgiana hat schädliche Denkmuster und Verhaltensweisen, die ihr zum Teil selbst bewusst sind. Trotz aller Bemühungen schafft sie es kaum die Fesseln zu lösen und verfällt immer wieder in alte Muster. Das hat die Autorin absolut verständlich dargestellt. Sie strengt sich so an, den anderen zu gefallen, ohne einmal auf ihr eigenes Herz zu hören. Es hat mich echt gewurmt, dass sie den Männern, die ihr nicht ein Fünkchen Anstand und Respekt entgegenbringen, beweisen möchte, dass sie wertvoll genug ist, um geliebt zu werden.
Mein Lichtblick in diesen Momenten war Avery. Seine ruhige und unvoreingenommene Art hat jedes Mal mein Herz erwärmt.
Ihr Bruder Fitz blieb für mich völlig im Hintergrund, immer kritisch und ohne Zugang zu seinem Charakter oder seinen Gefühlen. Der seiner Schwester nicht zuhört, geschweige denn für sie einsteht. Bei jedem Treffen stößt er sie noch mehr von sich und gibt ihr das Gefühl, sie wäre seine Zeit nicht wert. Den Grund der Entfremdung der zwei habe ich nicht verstanden und blieb auch bis zum Ende nicht nachvollziehbar für mich.
Die Handlung drehte sich eine Zeit lang im Kreis und es stockte in der Weiterentwicklung. Trotz all der Fehlentscheidungen und über die Stränge schlagen, fasste Georgie sich ein Herz und fing an sich selbst und ihr Verhalten zu reflektieren. Ich fand es schön, dass sie den Mut fasst auf die Menschen zuzugehen und trotz aller Widrigkeiten nie ihre Entschlossenheit verliert.
Fazit: Amanda Quain erzählt in »Skandal & Vorurteil« von toxischen Verhaltensweisen, dem Zerbrechen von Beziehungen und dem Lösen von Denkmustern. Inmitten all der Dramen, fand ich die Entwicklung von Georgie verständlich gezeichnet.
Die ganze Rezension gibt es auf unserem Blog!
Mein Lichtblick in diesen Momenten war Avery. Seine ruhige und unvoreingenommene Art hat jedes Mal mein Herz erwärmt.
Ihr Bruder Fitz blieb für mich völlig im Hintergrund, immer kritisch und ohne Zugang zu seinem Charakter oder seinen Gefühlen. Der seiner Schwester nicht zuhört, geschweige denn für sie einsteht. Bei jedem Treffen stößt er sie noch mehr von sich und gibt ihr das Gefühl, sie wäre seine Zeit nicht wert. Den Grund der Entfremdung der zwei habe ich nicht verstanden und blieb auch bis zum Ende nicht nachvollziehbar für mich.
Die Handlung drehte sich eine Zeit lang im Kreis und es stockte in der Weiterentwicklung. Trotz all der Fehlentscheidungen und über die Stränge schlagen, fasste Georgie sich ein Herz und fing an sich selbst und ihr Verhalten zu reflektieren. Ich fand es schön, dass sie den Mut fasst auf die Menschen zuzugehen und trotz aller Widrigkeiten nie ihre Entschlossenheit verliert.
Fazit: Amanda Quain erzählt in »Skandal & Vorurteil« von toxischen Verhaltensweisen, dem Zerbrechen von Beziehungen und dem Lösen von Denkmustern. Inmitten all der Dramen, fand ich die Entwicklung von Georgie verständlich gezeichnet.
Die ganze Rezension gibt es auf unserem Blog!
April 21, 2022
Read my full review and more here: https://teatimelit.com/
It is a truth universally acknowledged that I love anything and everything related to Pride and Prejudice. As of late, I have been obsessively thinking about Pride and Prejudice. I just finished my millionth rewatch of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and a reread of Pride and Prejudice. Because of my deep love for P&P/Jane Austen in general, I usually check out every retelling that I can get my hands on. I’ve always been interested in Georgiana as a character and while I understand why we didn’t learn too much about her in the original novel, I’ve always wanted to know more about her. When I heard that Accomplished was a story focused on Georgie, I just knew that I needed to add it to my TBR!
I absolutely loved seeing this imperfect and real version of Georgiana. I loved her narration; she was witty and charming, but also really honest and open about what she was going through and how she was struggling. That internal honesty didn’t always translate to vocally expressing it, but that’s understandable, especially for a young girl. Being completely honest and truthful with your feelings is hard at any age, but it can be especially difficult when you’re a teenager and you feel like people don’t understand you.
Georgie goes through a lot of growth throughout the book. I would call this Georgie’s Elle Woods era. She knows how badly she screwed up last year — though not all of it is her fault — and she desperately wants to make things right. She wants to prove that she’s not a total screw up and that she is worthy of the Darcy name (sweet girl you have nothing to prove). While she definitely does not always go about things the right way, I appreciated that she continued to try. There were many times where she easily could’ve given up, in fact, there were times where I thought that she was going to give up, but she didn’t. I think it takes an incredible amount of strength to keep trying even when you’re being consistently shut down and told that nothing you do is going to change how others perceive you. Georgie was fierce, determined and tenacious, and I really respected her.
Overall, I think that Accomplished is an incredibly strong debut novel and I am so excited to see what Amanda Quian writes next!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that I love anything and everything related to Pride and Prejudice. As of late, I have been obsessively thinking about Pride and Prejudice. I just finished my millionth rewatch of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and a reread of Pride and Prejudice. Because of my deep love for P&P/Jane Austen in general, I usually check out every retelling that I can get my hands on. I’ve always been interested in Georgiana as a character and while I understand why we didn’t learn too much about her in the original novel, I’ve always wanted to know more about her. When I heard that Accomplished was a story focused on Georgie, I just knew that I needed to add it to my TBR!
I absolutely loved seeing this imperfect and real version of Georgiana. I loved her narration; she was witty and charming, but also really honest and open about what she was going through and how she was struggling. That internal honesty didn’t always translate to vocally expressing it, but that’s understandable, especially for a young girl. Being completely honest and truthful with your feelings is hard at any age, but it can be especially difficult when you’re a teenager and you feel like people don’t understand you.
Georgie goes through a lot of growth throughout the book. I would call this Georgie’s Elle Woods era. She knows how badly she screwed up last year — though not all of it is her fault — and she desperately wants to make things right. She wants to prove that she’s not a total screw up and that she is worthy of the Darcy name (sweet girl you have nothing to prove). While she definitely does not always go about things the right way, I appreciated that she continued to try. There were many times where she easily could’ve given up, in fact, there were times where I thought that she was going to give up, but she didn’t. I think it takes an incredible amount of strength to keep trying even when you’re being consistently shut down and told that nothing you do is going to change how others perceive you. Georgie was fierce, determined and tenacious, and I really respected her.
Overall, I think that Accomplished is an incredibly strong debut novel and I am so excited to see what Amanda Quian writes next!
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