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Just as You Are
Equal parts witty and steamy, this debut rom-com brings a healthy dose of queerness and a whole lot of heart to a Pride and Prejudice -inspired enemies to lovers romance.
The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her.
Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
But as Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
This page-turning, sexy, and delightfully funny rom-com celebrates queer culture, chosen family, and falling in love against your better judgment.
The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her.
Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
But as Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
This page-turning, sexy, and delightfully funny rom-com celebrates queer culture, chosen family, and falling in love against your better judgment.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
167 people are currently reading
18892 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,092 reviews
April 19, 2025
So last month I read a Chinese American retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. This month's is queer. Are P&P retellings my thing? Fairytale retellings certainly aren't.
Growing up, I loved Lizzy as a character. She and Jo from LITTLE WOMEN were strong female characters I looked up to. I'm not even that traditional, but nowadays I think I vibe a little more with Jane and Meg.
I'm sure a subset of people find Darcy toxic. In this same way, Lizzy is also toxic. But they work through their differences to come together as a couple. And at first, I found this book a little iffy, as I do with any retelling ever, but Liz and Daria really work for me. Liz less so than Daria.
I mentioned queer books written for queer folk in my DYKETTE review. This is more of the same, and I appreciate that so much. Sure, I had to Urban Dictionary some things, but I didn't mind. I love learning new things. To the other subset of people that complain about almost bilingual books in the same vein, these books aren't for you. But you can make them for you.
I always get a little preachy. It's fine. You know what I'm about. But I inherently liked this queer retelling. It's always nice to see familiar characters updated for the times. Say what you will about the WHEEL OF TIME television show. I enjoyed the diverse cast.
This isn't really a review review, is it? I always seem to get off track. Know this. If you're looking for something that's the same, but also different, this may be for you. Read diversely. Live inclusively. Try new things.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press
Growing up, I loved Lizzy as a character. She and Jo from LITTLE WOMEN were strong female characters I looked up to. I'm not even that traditional, but nowadays I think I vibe a little more with Jane and Meg.
I'm sure a subset of people find Darcy toxic. In this same way, Lizzy is also toxic. But they work through their differences to come together as a couple. And at first, I found this book a little iffy, as I do with any retelling ever, but Liz and Daria really work for me. Liz less so than Daria.
I mentioned queer books written for queer folk in my DYKETTE review. This is more of the same, and I appreciate that so much. Sure, I had to Urban Dictionary some things, but I didn't mind. I love learning new things. To the other subset of people that complain about almost bilingual books in the same vein, these books aren't for you. But you can make them for you.
I always get a little preachy. It's fine. You know what I'm about. But I inherently liked this queer retelling. It's always nice to see familiar characters updated for the times. Say what you will about the WHEEL OF TIME television show. I enjoyed the diverse cast.
This isn't really a review review, is it? I always seem to get off track. Know this. If you're looking for something that's the same, but also different, this may be for you. Read diversely. Live inclusively. Try new things.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press
March 4, 2023
My issue with books that are marketed as romcoms that aren't romcoms continues. This is not a romcom. I'm not even sure it's a straight-up romance, because while it does have a central romance, the plotline about the workplace problems felt more central, so this felt more like a contemporary story to me.
I also just... really didn't like the romance, or the love interest. They start off hating each other, and suddenly they're having sex, but it never felt like there was a build-up of attraction or that we were given any reason to start liking the love interest. So that just felt really sudden to me. And I felt the same way about the romantic attraction. At some point the MC goes "I'm falling in love with her", and I was just taken aback, because I never saw any build-up of that, and I still had no reason to even like the love interest.
Because of this, I can't say this book worked for me at all.
I also just... really didn't like the romance, or the love interest. They start off hating each other, and suddenly they're having sex, but it never felt like there was a build-up of attraction or that we were given any reason to start liking the love interest. So that just felt really sudden to me. And I felt the same way about the romantic attraction. At some point the MC goes "I'm falling in love with her", and I was just taken aback, because I never saw any build-up of that, and I still had no reason to even like the love interest.
Because of this, I can't say this book worked for me at all.
April 26, 2023
Liz and her three roommates are devastated when the queer magazine where they work, The Nether Fields, is about to be shut down. But the magazine is saved at the last hour by two wealthy lesbians, Bailey and Daria. Liz and snobby Daria get off on the wrong foot immediately, with Daria mocking the listicles Liz writes. She can't help but rage at Daria as the woman eliminates kitchen supplies and lacks all faith in the magazine's future. Still, the more Daria and Liz are thrown together, she also sees a softer side to her as well.
This is an excellent romance--a fast read filled with hilarious queer inside jokes. It covers serious topics like gender expression and presentation. I loved having a chance to read a queer HEA with older characters (they have jobs! rent! romantic histories!). Liz and many of the characters work at a magazine devoted to queer topics, which has had a serious impact on society. JUST AS YOU ARE highlights the importance of gay media and queer culture as a whole. I love reading books like this that represent my demographic and contain jokes and topics relevant to my life. Even though there is so much more queer lit out there now, it is still really nice to find books filled with LGBTQIA+ characters living their lives.
JUST AS YOU ARE is billed as a Pride and Prejudice-based enemies to lovers story, and it nails all of that on the head. Liz and Daria hate one another from the start. That does not keep Daria from being a butch dream, however, as Liz struggles with her own gender presentation. There's plenty of angst along the way to the "lovers" part, but it's certainly understandable in the lesbian context. Liz's found family is wonderful too. Kellogg nails covering serious topics but also giving us a witty, sexy, romantic, and fun tale. Overall, this is an incredibly enjoyable read. Can't wait to read what Kellogg comes up with next! 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Random House and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
This is an excellent romance--a fast read filled with hilarious queer inside jokes. It covers serious topics like gender expression and presentation. I loved having a chance to read a queer HEA with older characters (they have jobs! rent! romantic histories!). Liz and many of the characters work at a magazine devoted to queer topics, which has had a serious impact on society. JUST AS YOU ARE highlights the importance of gay media and queer culture as a whole. I love reading books like this that represent my demographic and contain jokes and topics relevant to my life. Even though there is so much more queer lit out there now, it is still really nice to find books filled with LGBTQIA+ characters living their lives.
JUST AS YOU ARE is billed as a Pride and Prejudice-based enemies to lovers story, and it nails all of that on the head. Liz and Daria hate one another from the start. That does not keep Daria from being a butch dream, however, as Liz struggles with her own gender presentation. There's plenty of angst along the way to the "lovers" part, but it's certainly understandable in the lesbian context. Liz's found family is wonderful too. Kellogg nails covering serious topics but also giving us a witty, sexy, romantic, and fun tale. Overall, this is an incredibly enjoyable read. Can't wait to read what Kellogg comes up with next! 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Random House and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
September 15, 2022
Full blurb to come, but this was so specifically lesbian-queer and specifically young-in-New York that it just truly delighted me. Also: a prickly love interest I was obsessed with from the jump, and an MC with incredibly relatable gender/presentation/identity feels (and also the anxiety feels that WEIRDLY often coexist with all that lol). Also: a wonderful portrait of queer friendship.
July 10, 2023
While I enjoyed my time reading “Just as You Are” by Camille Kellogg, I think marketing this as a rom-com is pretty off base. This honestly felt like queer fiction novel with a romantic subplot.
This is more about Liz Baker and her personal journey of with her friend group and first real job. Liz and her roommates work at a queer magazine that is saved from being shut down by two lesbians. One of those new owners, Daria, isn’t exactly thrilled to be there and she and Liz clash from the beginning.
Although I didn’t love this as a romance, there were parts I enjoyed and hope to see more of in the future. There’s diversity represented in the characters with a trans poc, Jane, who is Liz’s best friend and a major secondary character. I was actually more interested in her storyline several different times.
I also loved the talks about gender expression and presentation. Liz doesn’t think she’s non-binary but she also isn’t always comfortable being seen as too feminine or masculine. She’s insecure about how’s she seen and how she feels and I got a lot out of her internal struggles with that.
Her job at a queer magazine was also a big plus for me. As someone who spent my teen/early twenties reading AfterEllen and then Autostraddle, I appreciated the love for magazines/websites that highlights queer culture, especially for those that may not see anyone like themselves where they are.
The romance wasn’t for me. It felt like Liz and Daria spent the majority of the story disliking each other and then all of sudden they were very much into each other. I didn’t see any kind of connection or growth that made their “relationship” make sense. I would’ve liked that developed a lot more for me to believe in them as a couple. I also had to laugh that the blurb says this is steamy. There was one intimate scene and that’s it. When I think of steamy, I imagine several explicit scenes, such as Alexandria Bellefleur.
In the end, while this wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, I enjoyed it enough that I will certainly be reading whatever Kellogg may put out next.
I received an ARC from Random House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is more about Liz Baker and her personal journey of with her friend group and first real job. Liz and her roommates work at a queer magazine that is saved from being shut down by two lesbians. One of those new owners, Daria, isn’t exactly thrilled to be there and she and Liz clash from the beginning.
Although I didn’t love this as a romance, there were parts I enjoyed and hope to see more of in the future. There’s diversity represented in the characters with a trans poc, Jane, who is Liz’s best friend and a major secondary character. I was actually more interested in her storyline several different times.
I also loved the talks about gender expression and presentation. Liz doesn’t think she’s non-binary but she also isn’t always comfortable being seen as too feminine or masculine. She’s insecure about how’s she seen and how she feels and I got a lot out of her internal struggles with that.
Her job at a queer magazine was also a big plus for me. As someone who spent my teen/early twenties reading AfterEllen and then Autostraddle, I appreciated the love for magazines/websites that highlights queer culture, especially for those that may not see anyone like themselves where they are.
The romance wasn’t for me. It felt like Liz and Daria spent the majority of the story disliking each other and then all of sudden they were very much into each other. I didn’t see any kind of connection or growth that made their “relationship” make sense. I would’ve liked that developed a lot more for me to believe in them as a couple. I also had to laugh that the blurb says this is steamy. There was one intimate scene and that’s it. When I think of steamy, I imagine several explicit scenes, such as Alexandria Bellefleur.
In the end, while this wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, I enjoyed it enough that I will certainly be reading whatever Kellogg may put out next.
I received an ARC from Random House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2023
A thoroughly excellent Pride and Prejudice retelling.
October 13, 2022
I've been walking around with this story and these characters bursting in my chest all week. I've been smiling to myself in odd moments thinking about it. I've been bringing my Kindle everywhere, feeling the pull of the story in the moments when it's regrettably at the bottom of my tote bag. Because I know Camille Kellogg to be funny, thoughtful, and big-hearted, (and, well, gay) I thought this book might share those qualities and so I had the highest hopes for it. And: wow, yes. I loved it.
I was right to have high expectations: It *is* so gay (& queer) (and I know I could just stop here. As a reader, you're probably like say no more, I'm in). The abundance of pop culture references and LGBTQIA+ historical figures (fictional and real) made me feel like these were my real friends who talked about the things my friends and I talk about. It made me feel like this book was written for people just like me, and there are only a small handful of novels I can say that about.
Just as You Are *is* also funny; the kind of funny that had me laughing out loud in a hospital, that had more than one person asking me, "WHAT are you READING?" (and I was so eager to tell them about it). It's the kind of funny that had me laughing to myself hours later about a line I'd read earlier in the day. The close-to-Liz Baker third-person narration is deadpan and witty, and the cast of endearing, entirely queer characters are willing to let you in on their inside jokes. This levity makes the pages sparkle.
The story also acknowledges that this lightness—or fluff, if you're asking Daria Fitzgerald—is both fun and indulgent for the sake of it (we deserve nice things!) but also because it's a survival mechanism. To have beautiful, soft places to escape to as a marginalized person is a necessity. It's transformative. Healing. The story never forgets to acknowledge the greater context the characters are living in beyond the bubble of their apartment, magazine, or running group. They've carved out safe spaces because they've had to.
I was also right to think this book would also be big-hearted. The longing and angst! The stolen glances! And, more painfully, the avoided ones! The romance between Liz and Daria (and Jane and Bailey, for that matter), is full of miscommunications and unsaid words that often lead to false assumptions, and that space between the characters is crackling with tension and desire on every page. It's romantic, and at the heart of that romance is a promise, to the characters and to the readers: You are enough, even when you are too much. Someone—the right someone—will love you for the person you have been, the person you are, and the person you dream of becoming. All at once.
So, yes. This book was everything I expected it would be: gay, funny, thoughtful, and big-hearted. But what I didn't necessarily expect was to feel so sincerely seen by the way Liz and Daria both feel about their gender identity and presentation. For every minute that made me laugh out loud, there was a moment that made my eyes brim with tears. This line says it best: "Hearing Daria say these things, when Liz had felt lost in these feelings for so long—inexplicably, embarrassingly, Liz wanted to cry." I'm in my 30s, but the I still feel like I'm figuring myself out. I still feel like I'm walking around every day without most people seeing me the way I want them to, without really ever finding the words to describe myself, without being able to really let them know me because how could they when I can barely find solid ground to plant the flag of myself in? To watch these two characters fall in love with each other, despite their uncertain steps and imperfect labels and then, subsequently, to find so much love for themselves? Oh, my heart.
My final note is that I didn't realize I'm a lesbian until I was like, 30, and the messy, emotional volcano that was my 20s had already come to a close. I ache for the chapters in my life I will never get to relive as an out person, which is why I think I write YA, and why I was so touched by the way this story leans into all of those explosive emotions and relationships. Just as You Are so perfectly captures what I imagine I maybe missed in my 20s: to have a queer group of friends who is there for you to cheer you on and tell you when you're wrong and to gush to about a first date. A group who speaks your language of pop culture and cultural touchpoints and community. A group whose very center of gravity is ethereal, because you know you will all move out and move on but you love that space, that apartment so much because of the people in it. In this way, this book feels like a home I never got to live in, but one I feel nostaglic for, anyway. Thank you, Liz and Jane and Katie* for letting me visit.
And thank you, Camille, for this dream of a novel that urges us all to chase possibility, not fear. It's a new favorite.
*Not Lydia. Fuck Lydia.
I was right to have high expectations: It *is* so gay (& queer) (and I know I could just stop here. As a reader, you're probably like say no more, I'm in). The abundance of pop culture references and LGBTQIA+ historical figures (fictional and real) made me feel like these were my real friends who talked about the things my friends and I talk about. It made me feel like this book was written for people just like me, and there are only a small handful of novels I can say that about.
Just as You Are *is* also funny; the kind of funny that had me laughing out loud in a hospital, that had more than one person asking me, "WHAT are you READING?" (and I was so eager to tell them about it). It's the kind of funny that had me laughing to myself hours later about a line I'd read earlier in the day. The close-to-Liz Baker third-person narration is deadpan and witty, and the cast of endearing, entirely queer characters are willing to let you in on their inside jokes. This levity makes the pages sparkle.
The story also acknowledges that this lightness—or fluff, if you're asking Daria Fitzgerald—is both fun and indulgent for the sake of it (we deserve nice things!) but also because it's a survival mechanism. To have beautiful, soft places to escape to as a marginalized person is a necessity. It's transformative. Healing. The story never forgets to acknowledge the greater context the characters are living in beyond the bubble of their apartment, magazine, or running group. They've carved out safe spaces because they've had to.
I was also right to think this book would also be big-hearted. The longing and angst! The stolen glances! And, more painfully, the avoided ones! The romance between Liz and Daria (and Jane and Bailey, for that matter), is full of miscommunications and unsaid words that often lead to false assumptions, and that space between the characters is crackling with tension and desire on every page. It's romantic, and at the heart of that romance is a promise, to the characters and to the readers: You are enough, even when you are too much. Someone—the right someone—will love you for the person you have been, the person you are, and the person you dream of becoming. All at once.
So, yes. This book was everything I expected it would be: gay, funny, thoughtful, and big-hearted. But what I didn't necessarily expect was to feel so sincerely seen by the way Liz and Daria both feel about their gender identity and presentation. For every minute that made me laugh out loud, there was a moment that made my eyes brim with tears. This line says it best: "Hearing Daria say these things, when Liz had felt lost in these feelings for so long—inexplicably, embarrassingly, Liz wanted to cry." I'm in my 30s, but the I still feel like I'm figuring myself out. I still feel like I'm walking around every day without most people seeing me the way I want them to, without really ever finding the words to describe myself, without being able to really let them know me because how could they when I can barely find solid ground to plant the flag of myself in? To watch these two characters fall in love with each other, despite their uncertain steps and imperfect labels and then, subsequently, to find so much love for themselves? Oh, my heart.
My final note is that I didn't realize I'm a lesbian until I was like, 30, and the messy, emotional volcano that was my 20s had already come to a close. I ache for the chapters in my life I will never get to relive as an out person, which is why I think I write YA, and why I was so touched by the way this story leans into all of those explosive emotions and relationships. Just as You Are so perfectly captures what I imagine I maybe missed in my 20s: to have a queer group of friends who is there for you to cheer you on and tell you when you're wrong and to gush to about a first date. A group who speaks your language of pop culture and cultural touchpoints and community. A group whose very center of gravity is ethereal, because you know you will all move out and move on but you love that space, that apartment so much because of the people in it. In this way, this book feels like a home I never got to live in, but one I feel nostaglic for, anyway. Thank you, Liz and Jane and Katie* for letting me visit.
And thank you, Camille, for this dream of a novel that urges us all to chase possibility, not fear. It's a new favorite.
*Not Lydia. Fuck Lydia.
May 22, 2023
I definitely enjoyed this as a coming of age story about a young queer woman in New York City figuring out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. However, as a romance or romcom I felt like it was really lacking. There just was not enough of an emphasis on developing the romance within the book. When I read a romance novel I want there to be a good balance of the characters having a personal journey and life outside of the relationship in addition to the romance. But this felt like it was 70% personal journey and 30% romance.
I did enjoy the dynamic between Liz and Daria, the way they get off on the wrong foot provided some interesting conflict. Their chemistry was palpable at times, but I just found myself wanting to see more of them together.
3 stars is not a negative rating, I just was pretty let down by the marketing of this book. I was expecting a ROMANCE and this wasn’t that. I loved the explorations of queer culture, found family, the importance of queer media, and figuring out your gender expression. But the actual relationship didn’t get enough page time for my liking.
I did enjoy the dynamic between Liz and Daria, the way they get off on the wrong foot provided some interesting conflict. Their chemistry was palpable at times, but I just found myself wanting to see more of them together.
3 stars is not a negative rating, I just was pretty let down by the marketing of this book. I was expecting a ROMANCE and this wasn’t that. I loved the explorations of queer culture, found family, the importance of queer media, and figuring out your gender expression. But the actual relationship didn’t get enough page time for my liking.
May 6, 2023
This is the gayest contemporary romcom I have ever read (and I sure do read a lot of gay romance, so that’s saying something!)! I am officially obsessed
Read
June 2, 2023I read a whole lesbian book in one lesbian day and it was absolutely filled with pride and prejudice themed lesbians and I had a GRAND time happy PRIDE
May 23, 2023
A good retelling a good story does not make.
Can you believe sapphic representation has gone so far lately?? We're getting our own toxic relationship stories 🥲
Okay, first the positives: I loved how unapologetically queer everything was — we stick together and that was shown here beautifully. There's also good starting thoughts about lesbian/sapphic gender expression and how sometimes we put ourselves back into heteronormative relationship norms by being obsessive about whether someone's a butch or a femme.
I really struggled with this, I'm sad to say. Liz wasn't developed enough at all as a main character and while Daria was developed, it wasn't in a positive sense. There's so much telling and not showing especially when it comes to their relationship. Suddenly they're confessing feelings for each other and there was just no build up to it. Daria gets her little redemption arc but she just seems to be two completely different people from the start of the book to the end.
The drama annoyed me a lot too — there's consequences for a mistake that Liz made but it's not even her fault! Suddenly she's out here apologizing to everyone for being a terrible friend but she's not even the one who made a mistake in the first place, it infuriated me so much.
So — nice butch representation, love myself a queer found family but the plot just wasn't it.
Can you believe sapphic representation has gone so far lately?? We're getting our own toxic relationship stories 🥲
Okay, first the positives: I loved how unapologetically queer everything was — we stick together and that was shown here beautifully. There's also good starting thoughts about lesbian/sapphic gender expression and how sometimes we put ourselves back into heteronormative relationship norms by being obsessive about whether someone's a butch or a femme.
I really struggled with this, I'm sad to say. Liz wasn't developed enough at all as a main character and while Daria was developed, it wasn't in a positive sense. There's so much telling and not showing especially when it comes to their relationship. Suddenly they're confessing feelings for each other and there was just no build up to it. Daria gets her little redemption arc but she just seems to be two completely different people from the start of the book to the end.
The drama annoyed me a lot too — there's consequences for a mistake that Liz made but it's not even her fault! Suddenly she's out here apologizing to everyone for being a terrible friend but she's not even the one who made a mistake in the first place, it infuriated me so much.
So — nice butch representation, love myself a queer found family but the plot just wasn't it.
Read
July 9, 2025I maybe need a tag for record-setting DNFs. "Just As You Are" tanked on p. 2/loc. 88 of the sample, when Kellogg does a diversity: "Jane, a dark-skinned Black woman with her hair in long, thin braids."
hashtag-that-is-not-characterization-that-is-white-nonsense-and-i-say-this-as-an-old-white-lady-but-honestly!
hashtag-that-is-not-characterization-that-is-white-nonsense-and-i-say-this-as-an-old-white-lady-but-honestly!
January 20, 2023
(1.5) i am so aggressively in the majority i feel like this might be a me problem but oh boy. i really wanted to like this book. i really did. unfortunately, i didn’t.
this book is a prime example of why “show don’t tell” is generally advised… and not in the good way. people’s sexualities, races, and hobbies are pigeonholed into their introduction, making the characters one dimensional and the diversity feel forced. most of these labels were brought up once in their description and never again. it wasn’t a part of their character, it seemed like they were just tacked in for arbitrary diversity brownie points.
the main romance felt very two dimensional as well. i don’t think the “oh but she was into you this whole time” works very well in this scenarios because there were no hints up until then. it felt like they went from hating each other to professing their undying love to each other in a couple pages.
tldr nope not for me
this book is a prime example of why “show don’t tell” is generally advised… and not in the good way. people’s sexualities, races, and hobbies are pigeonholed into their introduction, making the characters one dimensional and the diversity feel forced. most of these labels were brought up once in their description and never again. it wasn’t a part of their character, it seemed like they were just tacked in for arbitrary diversity brownie points.
the main romance felt very two dimensional as well. i don’t think the “oh but she was into you this whole time” works very well in this scenarios because there were no hints up until then. it felt like they went from hating each other to professing their undying love to each other in a couple pages.
tldr nope not for me
May 4, 2023
Trigger Warnings: alcohol, cursing, laid off, homophobia, classism, marijuana, drugs/coke, expulsion, sex, parental abandonment, break-up, toxic relationship
Representation: Lesbian, vegan, they/them pronouns, Dominican, Black, Transgender
Just as You Are is a queer, contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
When Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
This eARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My heart swoons! This book is everything I needed from an adult romance and I absolutely adored it! The story is funny and sexy, and it has an awesome cast of queer characters! The chosen family aspect is amazing and leaves you longing for that in your life! The author’s writing style is both smart and steamy with all of the queerness you ever needed! I loved everything about this book and can’t recommend it enough! It’s also a quick and easy read that perfectly balances the complications of figuring out one’s gender expression with the lighthearted quirks of a romcom! Definitely going to be a top ten read of the year!!
Representation: Lesbian, vegan, they/them pronouns, Dominican, Black, Transgender
Just as You Are is a queer, contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
When Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
This eARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My heart swoons! This book is everything I needed from an adult romance and I absolutely adored it! The story is funny and sexy, and it has an awesome cast of queer characters! The chosen family aspect is amazing and leaves you longing for that in your life! The author’s writing style is both smart and steamy with all of the queerness you ever needed! I loved everything about this book and can’t recommend it enough! It’s also a quick and easy read that perfectly balances the complications of figuring out one’s gender expression with the lighthearted quirks of a romcom! Definitely going to be a top ten read of the year!!
October 15, 2022
Well.
This was bad.
Rant incoming. I am obviously in the major minority seeing as this has 4.95 rating as I write this, so take this with a pinch of salt.
A cast of 2D characters with a major lack of personality. The flattest attempt at racial diversity (which amounts to one character mentioning one time that she's a Chinese lesbian, another mentioning a coupe of times that she's a black trans woman, and nothing deeper than that).
The main "couple" had no chemistry. The conflicts were petty and poorly written. The whole book is poorly written. It feels like one of those first drafts where the author writes "Liz did x and y and z" and then goes back later to add details and heart, except the going back part never happened. It's SO flat. So much telling what Liz is doing in the most boring way.
I don't know how this is published. I really don't. It feels like it hasn't ever seen an editor and it badly needs one.
Apparently it's a retelling of pride and prejudice, which makes sense because the characters are all just fulfilling roles without any of their own personality, like the author hardly knows their own creations.
This was bad.
Rant incoming. I am obviously in the major minority seeing as this has 4.95 rating as I write this, so take this with a pinch of salt.
A cast of 2D characters with a major lack of personality. The flattest attempt at racial diversity (which amounts to one character mentioning one time that she's a Chinese lesbian, another mentioning a coupe of times that she's a black trans woman, and nothing deeper than that).
The main "couple" had no chemistry. The conflicts were petty and poorly written. The whole book is poorly written. It feels like one of those first drafts where the author writes "Liz did x and y and z" and then goes back later to add details and heart, except the going back part never happened. It's SO flat. So much telling what Liz is doing in the most boring way.
I don't know how this is published. I really don't. It feels like it hasn't ever seen an editor and it badly needs one.
Apparently it's a retelling of pride and prejudice, which makes sense because the characters are all just fulfilling roles without any of their own personality, like the author hardly knows their own creations.
June 14, 2024
add this to your reading list this #pridemonth 🌈✨ it’s such a fun pride and prejudice retelling, centered around a queer magazine with incredible found family community vibes, and it was such an honest exploration of self expression, desire and dreams, connection and community, and love.
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June 26, 2023
I'm conflicted about how to rate this one.
3 stars? 4? 3.5, rounded up?
Some parts—Liz and her relationships with her friends and roommates, Liz and her struggles with figuring out her gender expression and career goals—were phenomenal. I adored Liz's realization about differing art and their worth—that art can be fluffy and fun and bring joy to be worthwhile, without having any deeper meaning to it. I really liked the commentary on lesbian spaces shutting down, how hard it was to keep a magazine afloat, particularly a queer magazine.
Other aspects—Liz and Daria, specifically, just didn't work for me. The enemies to lovers was there, and there was chemistry between the two, but they just didn't have enough page time for any of their actions/motivations make sense to me.
After weeks of Daria ignoring/insulting Liz's work, Daria sets up a road trip to Boston so Liz can interview a photographer and then they have sex right in Daria's aunt's kitchen in a moment that literally went zero to sixty.
That's what it felt like.
Zero to sixty, no lead up or much discussion between them. Daria confesses she loves Liz after maybe three conversations and the counter sex, and she's like "what, you didn't know my feelings about you?" and I was like, "what now?" I just couldn't buy into their sudden and strong feelings that seemed to come out of nowhere for each other, or at least, for Daria's feelings for Liz, and Liz who's like "oh, you like me?? okay now I like you!" But then, I don't really get Liza and Darcy's attraction toward each other either, so.
Anywho, while the romance aspect of this contemporary romance didn't work for me, the contemporary aspect was really great. I loved Liz's relationship with Jane, and how her roommates' doubled as the Bennett sisters in this book, and everything about Weston was spot on as Wickham.
3 stars? 4? 3.5, rounded up?
Some parts—Liz and her relationships with her friends and roommates, Liz and her struggles with figuring out her gender expression and career goals—were phenomenal. I adored Liz's realization about differing art and their worth—that art can be fluffy and fun and bring joy to be worthwhile, without having any deeper meaning to it. I really liked the commentary on lesbian spaces shutting down, how hard it was to keep a magazine afloat, particularly a queer magazine.
Other aspects—Liz and Daria, specifically, just didn't work for me. The enemies to lovers was there, and there was chemistry between the two, but they just didn't have enough page time for any of their actions/motivations make sense to me.
After weeks of Daria ignoring/insulting Liz's work, Daria sets up a road trip to Boston so Liz can interview a photographer and then they have sex right in Daria's aunt's kitchen in a moment that literally went zero to sixty.
That's what it felt like.
Zero to sixty, no lead up or much discussion between them. Daria confesses she loves Liz after maybe three conversations and the counter sex, and she's like "what, you didn't know my feelings about you?" and I was like, "what now?" I just couldn't buy into their sudden and strong feelings that seemed to come out of nowhere for each other, or at least, for Daria's feelings for Liz, and Liz who's like "oh, you like me?? okay now I like you!" But then, I don't really get Liza and Darcy's attraction toward each other either, so.
Anywho, while the romance aspect of this contemporary romance didn't work for me, the contemporary aspect was really great. I loved Liz's relationship with Jane, and how her roommates' doubled as the Bennett sisters in this book, and everything about Weston was spot on as Wickham.
April 26, 2023
In this queer Pride and Prejudice reimagining, Liz and her roomies work at a queer magazine that's going under. At their goodbye party, they get word that the magazine has been saved by two wealthy lesbian investors. One of them, Daria, is so budget-focused, she's taking all the fun out of work! Daria is brash and domineering, and she and Liz butt heads immediately. But after spending more time together, Liz realizes there's much more to Daria than meets the eye.
Sparks fly in this delightful, swoony, charming, workplace romcom! I thoroughly enjoyed the friendships, the representation, and the writing! I look forward to reading more by this author.
What a perfect read for lesbian visibility week!
Thank you Dial Press / Random House for the gifted eARC.
Sparks fly in this delightful, swoony, charming, workplace romcom! I thoroughly enjoyed the friendships, the representation, and the writing! I look forward to reading more by this author.
What a perfect read for lesbian visibility week!
Thank you Dial Press / Random House for the gifted eARC.
January 10, 2025
i really enjoyed this! pride & prejudice is one of my all-time favorite (and most reread) books, and i found just as you are to be both a faithful retelling and a fun, super queer spin on the original. these characters are messy in an unfortunately pretty relatable way. i thought this book captured the experience of being queer in a city and working in a queer workplace really well. the cast of supporting characters was a definite highlight for me. i wish we had gotten to spend more time with liz and daria as a fully realized couple (maybe an epilogue would’ve helped?), but overall, this was a really solid sapphic romance that i’ll definitely be recommending to other readers.
September 23, 2023
feels a little bit like this whole book was contrived off the sentence “daria fitzgerald had slid into her DMs” and frankly — it works! beat for beat, this is an EXTREMELY confident romance novel. you can always tell when the author has a real love for the source material, and this just shines with love.
pride & prejudice adaptations hinge on their elizabeths, and i loved this one. liz is sharp, fun, smart, selfish, judgmental, a bit of a slacker, more than a bit of a mess: spot on. also it must be said, liz looking at daria in a nice suit early on and thinking not “oh no she’s hot” but “oh no i want that outfit” is THEE elizabeth/darcy shit. (also of course a Vital moment of queer identificatory desire! that’s what it’s all about ladiesss!) to me the most essential elizabeth bennet vibe is a sort of unearned breezy confidence even through disaster, and the elizabeth/darcy vibe is, like, looking at each other, seeing something familiar, and scowling through that recognition. PLENTY of scowling here! i love my awful kids!
i found the through-line of liz’s complicated gender expression and the way she finds herself changing her behavior depending on the gender expression of the people she’s trying to impress, OOF, VERY relatable. and the way they find common ground in these intricacies of gender?? beautiful!! in general it’s all just a really thoughtful exploration of (white) queerness.
other p&p notes:
- obsessed that this book’s pemberley section takes place at a gay running club. of course.
- TWO hand kisses. TWO!
- i’m not sure the lydia problem is perfectly adapted; that’s always the hardest part for modern p&p stories, it rarely scans precisely right. in general the bennet family is fun though!
- loved the last scene in a MEADOW. i am so simple!
- “you are a piece of fucking work.” yeah. that’s my shit!
pride & prejudice adaptations hinge on their elizabeths, and i loved this one. liz is sharp, fun, smart, selfish, judgmental, a bit of a slacker, more than a bit of a mess: spot on. also it must be said, liz looking at daria in a nice suit early on and thinking not “oh no she’s hot” but “oh no i want that outfit” is THEE elizabeth/darcy shit. (also of course a Vital moment of queer identificatory desire! that’s what it’s all about ladiesss!) to me the most essential elizabeth bennet vibe is a sort of unearned breezy confidence even through disaster, and the elizabeth/darcy vibe is, like, looking at each other, seeing something familiar, and scowling through that recognition. PLENTY of scowling here! i love my awful kids!
i found the through-line of liz’s complicated gender expression and the way she finds herself changing her behavior depending on the gender expression of the people she’s trying to impress, OOF, VERY relatable. and the way they find common ground in these intricacies of gender?? beautiful!! in general it’s all just a really thoughtful exploration of (white) queerness.
other p&p notes:
- obsessed that this book’s pemberley section takes place at a gay running club. of course.
- TWO hand kisses. TWO!
- i’m not sure the lydia problem is perfectly adapted; that’s always the hardest part for modern p&p stories, it rarely scans precisely right. in general the bennet family is fun though!
- loved the last scene in a MEADOW. i am so simple!
- “you are a piece of fucking work.” yeah. that’s my shit!
September 16, 2023
3.5, this book is filled with queerness almost bursting at the seems with it along with inclusivity and it's probably one of the best things about this book. It was new for me to see literally every character to be queer even with majority of the queer books I read I don't think I've read one where it's full to the brim and it was amazingly well done. I think the romance between Liz and Daria could've been upped a little tension wise, I almost got scared near the end at the last five pages when they still weren't together I was like "There's no way they don't get together". I couldn't imagine a universe where a version of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy don't get together. I love the view on the friendships throughout the story, even though I think it took away most of the focus from the romance that I was looking for, this would work really well as women's fiction.
June 3, 2023
This one was really hard to get through. The writing didn't work for me, the dialogue felt incredibly juvenile and fake, the dynamics between friends and people dating were baffling, and I just...didn't care about anyone. I'm never a huge fan of pop culture references and this one was full of them. The characters were flat and mostly just had aspects of their personality listed instead of existing as real people within the story.
August 7, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ leave it to me to not see the blurb on the back telling me this was pride and prejudice inspired and then having a realization 75 pages in. “THE MAGAZINE IS THE NETHER FIELDS. LIZ AND DARIA. OMG!!” silly kenna.
regardless of how little I knew about this going in, I ate. it. up. started it at the airport before boarding and finished it as we landed. it was fast paced, but I felt I got to know Liz and Daria enough that it all made sense. it was cute, it was queer, it was young people realizing that maybe, just maybe, they are exactly who they need to be. that maybe, just maybe, they ought to take a chance on themselves — to love themselves just as they are, no holds barred.
also, I somehow despised Lydia in this even more than in Austen’s original story. lol. Lydia and Weston can SUCK IT!!!!!!
“It’s better to focus on the potential joy of living as yourself, rather than the potential pain.”
“It was time to be brave. To focus on what could go right. To focus on possibility, instead of fear.”
* side note to say I would have gladly accepted more steamy scenes between Liz and Daria. the kitchen scene had me drooling on the plane. sos. needed more queer Darcy inspired smut. *
regardless of how little I knew about this going in, I ate. it. up. started it at the airport before boarding and finished it as we landed. it was fast paced, but I felt I got to know Liz and Daria enough that it all made sense. it was cute, it was queer, it was young people realizing that maybe, just maybe, they are exactly who they need to be. that maybe, just maybe, they ought to take a chance on themselves — to love themselves just as they are, no holds barred.
also, I somehow despised Lydia in this even more than in Austen’s original story. lol. Lydia and Weston can SUCK IT!!!!!!
“It’s better to focus on the potential joy of living as yourself, rather than the potential pain.”
“It was time to be brave. To focus on what could go right. To focus on possibility, instead of fear.”
* side note to say I would have gladly accepted more steamy scenes between Liz and Daria. the kitchen scene had me drooling on the plane. sos. needed more queer Darcy inspired smut. *
May 17, 2023
Content warnings: lebopbobia, d-slur used (as a slur and not as a slur), alcohol consumption, cheating, parental disownment (Daria), gaslighting, toxic relationships,
Rep: Liz (MC) is white, lesbian, sort of butch. Daria (LI) is cis, white, and butch.
Side Black trans woman, side non-binary character, side cis white lesbian characters, side POC lesbian characters, side queer characters. Literally everyone except Daria's aunt is queer.
This was a fantastic read! I adored Liz's fluctuation with her gender presentation and how that affected her mood. It was a interesting to read about.
The build up between Liz and Daria was fantastic. I wasn't sure if this was going to end happily, but it did, and I am glad and also relieved.
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: Liz (MC) is white, lesbian, sort of butch. Daria (LI) is cis, white, and butch.
Side Black trans woman, side non-binary character, side cis white lesbian characters, side POC lesbian characters, side queer characters. Literally everyone except Daria's aunt is queer.
This was a fantastic read! I adored Liz's fluctuation with her gender presentation and how that affected her mood. It was a interesting to read about.
The build up between Liz and Daria was fantastic. I wasn't sure if this was going to end happily, but it did, and I am glad and also relieved.
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
January 12, 2023
Oh my god oh my god i was so on the fence at like the 40-60% mark but???? CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT,for once. God I've been reading mlm centric books for a while this was truly a needed break omg thank you netgalley for this beautiful arc. Liz? I don't know what to say about Liz except that? Putting myself in her shoes and feeling angry at myself like 70% of the time was enough to be sympathetic, she was in love your honor (i get her I DO), Daria Loml you deserve to be full of yourself my queen, Never beating the nora is a whore for Mr Darcy retellings i guess. Jane and Liz as a duo was fun to read about too, God i need to go to ny.
I NEED EVERYONE TO READ THIS LIKE the second it comes out. 5 stars and a kiss to the author (&team)
I NEED EVERYONE TO READ THIS LIKE the second it comes out. 5 stars and a kiss to the author (&team)
January 21, 2024
This was well written... but that's about the only nice thing I have to say about it. I hated all the characters. I hated everything that happened. I thought everyone was mean and messy and made terrible decisions and I found it difficult to root for anyone in this story, much less get behind the strange random romance in which 0 chemistry existed. Idk, as a queer Pride and Prejudice retelling set in NYC, I really wanted to love this one, but it just wasn't for me.
August 3, 2023
Just As You Are
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Camille Kellogg
GR: 3.85
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her.
Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
But as Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
My Thoughts: This was a cute love story. When the story started off, I was a little unsure. But as the storyline developed, I became to love Lizzy and Daria. I love all love stories, straight, biracial, queer, all of them! I do not discriminate on my love story. Liz and her roommates, and also her co-workers become devastated when the queer magazine, The Nether Fields, is about to shut down. This has been their life for many years. Then two wealthy women come in to buy the magazine, after some restructuring. Liz and Daria are NOT friends at first, they actually hate each other. However, as they are forced to spend more time together, will a love bloom? How does the magazine fare?
The storyline does cover some heavy topics, such as gender presentation and queer topics, but does it in a tactful, graceful way. Some of the characters are older, which I love. The book is a retelling of a Pride and Prejudice in a queer way and it was done very well. The trope spin is a classic enemies to lovers story. The characters were developed well with witty banter, chemistry, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, crisp, swoony, and engaging. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to any reader.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Camille Kellogg
GR: 3.85
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her.
Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
But as Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
My Thoughts: This was a cute love story. When the story started off, I was a little unsure. But as the storyline developed, I became to love Lizzy and Daria. I love all love stories, straight, biracial, queer, all of them! I do not discriminate on my love story. Liz and her roommates, and also her co-workers become devastated when the queer magazine, The Nether Fields, is about to shut down. This has been their life for many years. Then two wealthy women come in to buy the magazine, after some restructuring. Liz and Daria are NOT friends at first, they actually hate each other. However, as they are forced to spend more time together, will a love bloom? How does the magazine fare?
The storyline does cover some heavy topics, such as gender presentation and queer topics, but does it in a tactful, graceful way. Some of the characters are older, which I love. The book is a retelling of a Pride and Prejudice in a queer way and it was done very well. The trope spin is a classic enemies to lovers story. The characters were developed well with witty banter, chemistry, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, crisp, swoony, and engaging. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to any reader.
January 21, 2025
i thought this was really solid. well-developed characters, interesting plot, and great dialogue. i found liz's gender expression struggle to be a bit repetitive at times, and felt it was left unresolved about halfway through the book; we stopped hearing about it.
February 9, 2024
Cute, queer and funny: this was a feel-good romance that was entertaining and easy to read. I had a good time with this book!
I don't read romance. Period. But as soon as I saw that cover with that woman in a suit, I was intrigued. Not to be a lesbian (aroace), but girls in suits, you know what I mean 👀
And this book was just so exceptionally queer and sapphic, I loved it! Following a group of queer women/non-binary persons who work at a queer online magazine, it had great vibes. The main character's best friend is also a woman of color, there are several characters who use they/them pronouns, and the main character herself struggles with presenting as either female or male. Representation was great!
The story was predictable, yes, with the typical drama and heartache that comes with romance books. But it's what I expected, so it's ok.
The story mostly follows the characters at work and trying to prevent the shutdown of the magazine. So there's a main storyline, with several romances of different characters on the side. I liked the balance between the actual story and the character development with their respective love stories.
A complaint I have is that there wasn't enough...how to put this... yearning. And not enough Liz/Daria. We get one sex scene and several kisses, but it somehow wasn't enough. And this is coming from someone who usually hates sex scenes and romance and all that, but apparently it's different if it's f/f. Just so you know.
All in all I had a good time with this book, even though I sometimes internally rolled my eyes at the characters and the ending was extremely predictable. But sometimes, a good time is just what you need, so I'd recommend this book. Let's go girls!
I don't read romance. Period. But as soon as I saw that cover with that woman in a suit, I was intrigued. Not to be a lesbian (aroace), but girls in suits, you know what I mean 👀
And this book was just so exceptionally queer and sapphic, I loved it! Following a group of queer women/non-binary persons who work at a queer online magazine, it had great vibes. The main character's best friend is also a woman of color, there are several characters who use they/them pronouns, and the main character herself struggles with presenting as either female or male. Representation was great!
The story was predictable, yes, with the typical drama and heartache that comes with romance books. But it's what I expected, so it's ok.
The story mostly follows the characters at work and trying to prevent the shutdown of the magazine. So there's a main storyline, with several romances of different characters on the side. I liked the balance between the actual story and the character development with their respective love stories.
A complaint I have is that there wasn't enough...how to put this... yearning. And not enough Liz/Daria. We get one sex scene and several kisses, but it somehow wasn't enough. And this is coming from someone who usually hates sex scenes and romance and all that, but apparently it's different if it's f/f. Just so you know.
All in all I had a good time with this book, even though I sometimes internally rolled my eyes at the characters and the ending was extremely predictable. But sometimes, a good time is just what you need, so I'd recommend this book. Let's go girls!
October 14, 2022
It took me a minute to get sold on this, and I thought I wouldn't like it, but then Just as You Are swept me off my feet!
I'm a sucker for well done retellings and this is the best Pride and Prejudice retelling I've ever read. We have our Liz and Daria and the classic miscommunication and mutual dislike turned affection trope. But we also get so, so much moer. We get queer af sex scenes and queer af self-growth and queer af friend groups.
I really loved how both Liz and Daria grew - I feel like so many P&P retellings make the darcy the whole villian and fail to show Lizzie in all her flaws and growth. But Liz Baker was properly called out and brought to task for her real shitty behaviors towards her best friends (and Daria)
On another note, the reasons I almost put this book down are still present throughout the story. I really don't like how the POC characters were described, or actually any character. When introducing characters, the author would write "Jane was a Black trans woman" or "Caroline was a white woman." that kind of writing is incredibly lazy and not good. As a jouranlist, we avoid labeling people's race when describing them because it can sound bad. And it reads super clunky.
The better way to write is to show - not tell. Later on in the story, Jane references being Black and Trans in a very natural way. It fit in better and showed who she was on page. I wish an editor could go through and edit more showiness in the opening chapters because it's a whole lot of info-dumping telling. The info dumps pulled me out of the story and almost made me put the book down.
Which I'm very glad I did not, because I really, really fell for Just as You Are and I wanted to read more hot, sexy moments with Liz and Daria.
I'm a sucker for well done retellings and this is the best Pride and Prejudice retelling I've ever read. We have our Liz and Daria and the classic miscommunication and mutual dislike turned affection trope. But we also get so, so much moer. We get queer af sex scenes and queer af self-growth and queer af friend groups.
I really loved how both Liz and Daria grew - I feel like so many P&P retellings make the darcy the whole villian and fail to show Lizzie in all her flaws and growth. But Liz Baker was properly called out and brought to task for her real shitty behaviors towards her best friends (and Daria)
On another note, the reasons I almost put this book down are still present throughout the story. I really don't like how the POC characters were described, or actually any character. When introducing characters, the author would write "Jane was a Black trans woman" or "Caroline was a white woman." that kind of writing is incredibly lazy and not good. As a jouranlist, we avoid labeling people's race when describing them because it can sound bad. And it reads super clunky.
The better way to write is to show - not tell. Later on in the story, Jane references being Black and Trans in a very natural way. It fit in better and showed who she was on page. I wish an editor could go through and edit more showiness in the opening chapters because it's a whole lot of info-dumping telling. The info dumps pulled me out of the story and almost made me put the book down.
Which I'm very glad I did not, because I really, really fell for Just as You Are and I wanted to read more hot, sexy moments with Liz and Daria.
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