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The Mother-Daughter Book Club #4
Pies & Prejudice
Right before the start of freshman year, Emma’s family unexpectedly moves to England. The book club members are stunned—but thanks to videoconferencing, they can still keep the club alive, and they decide to tackle Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice . And when the girls try to bring Emma home by starting a bake sale, it becomes a thriving business: Pies & Prejudice. But when the plan they cook up falls short, they are left wondering if their club will ever all be together again….
378 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2010
174 people are currently reading
2773 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
January 12, 2022
I never really review these books, because making myself write at length about a long-term reread of one of middle school me's favorite series seems bizarre, but suffice it to say they are almost all recommended by me.
This one in particular is not my very favorite, but it's close, and it is my sister's.
It's nice. It has Jane Austen and treats and is, essentially, so fluffy and sweet and almost saccharine that it's like a baked good in and of itself.
Bottom line: Mother Daughter Book Club forever!!! (Just kidding. The unpopular opinions are coming.)
-----------------
pre-review
two things, equally important:
- this was very cute
- now i want a baked good.
review to come / 3.5
-----------------
currently-reading updates
i'm in a jane austen kinda mood, so i'm going to do the logical thing and read a semi-retelling of pride & prejudice through the lens of a mother-daughter book club
clear ur sh*t book 44
quest 20: a book with a group cast
This one in particular is not my very favorite, but it's close, and it is my sister's.
It's nice. It has Jane Austen and treats and is, essentially, so fluffy and sweet and almost saccharine that it's like a baked good in and of itself.
Bottom line: Mother Daughter Book Club forever!!! (Just kidding. The unpopular opinions are coming.)
-----------------
pre-review
two things, equally important:
- this was very cute
- now i want a baked good.
review to come / 3.5
-----------------
currently-reading updates
i'm in a jane austen kinda mood, so i'm going to do the logical thing and read a semi-retelling of pride & prejudice through the lens of a mother-daughter book club
clear ur sh*t book 44
quest 20: a book with a group cast
June 14, 2023
this book was so fun and enjoyable to read! i am reading this book series with my sister and it has been so much fun!
we finished this book in one sitting together which was SO surprising 😱
we are just starting the next book!
we finished this book in one sitting together which was SO surprising 😱
we are just starting the next book!
January 20, 2013
"It is a truth universally acknowledged..." is the start of one of the most beloved literary classics of all time. It is also one of the main explanations of why Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is still popular and going strong 200 years later (Jan 28th 2013 is the book's birthday to be exact). That is to say that she wrote universal truths to which we can relate even in our day.
This is true for a set of girlfriends and their mothers who participate in a book club together and find some uncanny parallels in their own lives while reading the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy along with a host of other characters in the Jane Austen classic.
Even though this is the fourth book in the series, I had no trouble picking up the book and reading the story. I chose this one because of the cute title and story blurb. I adore Austen's stories and contemporary books based on them. There were so many enjoyable things about this book outside of the actual story. First of all, each chapter takes up a different girl's perspective. I was worried that it would re-hash things from the previous chapter just from how a different girl saw it and bog down the story, but it doesn't really. Then I enjoyed that its a story that is centered around a book club and it was cool that there were actually book club meeting scenes complete with the Fun Facts About Jane sheets included in the story. And finally, I enjoyed how the story was about modern high school girls, but still managed to subtly fit in the loose plot to the original Pride and Prejudice. And when I say modern, I mean that there are video conferences with the members of the club that are away in England and one of the girls actually does a blog called Fashionista Jane (not a book blog sadly, but hey I guess we can't have it all).
The story revolves around four fifteen year old girls: Emma, Jess, Megan and Cassidy who live in Concord, MS. They have known each other for donkey's ages along with their families. Each girl has a unique situation and interests including other friends (which I thought was a good thing that they weren't self-absorbed). One of them, Jess, even attends another school. Their determination to remain close friends and their prioritizing of the book club keep them from drifting apart with their separate lives.
Jess and Emma are best friends and even have a special rule 'BFBB' or Best friends before boyfriends.
But all this is strained when Emma's parents announce that they are going to do a type of cultural exchange swap and take their family to live in England for a year where Emma's dad will continue to do his writing and her mom can soak up history and literature to her heart's desire while Emma and her brother will get exposed to another culture. While Emma's family stays in a cottage in a village outside of Bath, the cottage's occupants, the Berkeleys, will stay in Emma's house while the dad guest teaches at the local university. This of course shakes everyone up, but everyone makes the most of it determining that they will continue with the book club through webcam.
In England, Emma deals with her own Mr. Collins and Caroline Bingley while back home Megan meets her Mr. Bingley and Cassie tolerates her Mr. Darcy. Jess pines over the real life Darcy, Emma's brother. All this in the midst of daily school and activities filled with happiness, sadness, disappointment and triumph.
Honestly, I found this book very captivating as I followed along with each girl through the year that Emma and her family were away (Emma's side gets told too). It was fascinating how the author was able to really convince me that I was reading four different girls' perspectives when it switched up. I also felt that she did well making me feel that I was getting a real fifteen year old perspective on things. These girls crush on boys or in Cassidy's case learn to think of them for more than sports pals, but it isn't all about teen romance. They worry about what they're going to be when they grow up. They deal with the usual array of teen issues and responsibilities. There is also a strong family presence portraying the dynamics in each girls' home.
Most people who read this will probably relate cto one of the four girls more closely than the rest and that is true of me. I found myself laughing and groaning over the thinking processes and antics. There were a few times when I shuddered at a choice made thinking, 'This won't end well'. And it didn't- went down in blaze of glory. The girls had their moments, but I liked all four of them because in general they were well-rounded, caring unselfish girls. They actually started a pie selling enterprise to pay to bring Emma home for spring break because they knew she was having a hard time with Annabelle or Stinkerbelle as they call her. Then there is a sad moment they makes them all really take a look at their lives and the influences people have on our lives which I thought beautiful in a way even as I got a little lump in my throat.
The dips into the life of Jane Austen and the Pride and Prejudice story were great. It was done in such a way that those who are familiar with the author and book are not bored and those who are entirely unfamiliar will not be overwhelmed and clueless. The author cleverly used the girls varying literary interests and experiences to help with this. In fact, some of the girls and moms listen to the audio story while others read aloud together and yet others just read alone.
The biggest compliment that I can offer is that I wish Heather V. Frederick had written these books when I was a teen because I would have gobbled them up and dreamed of having friends and a book club like this. I plan to go back and read the first three stories that focus on a few other favorites of mine like Anne of Green Gables and Little Women.
The book is a clean read and can be read by the very youngest teen to the young at heart with ease.
Those who enjoy chick lit, teen contemporary romance, and Austenesque stories will like this one.
This is true for a set of girlfriends and their mothers who participate in a book club together and find some uncanny parallels in their own lives while reading the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy along with a host of other characters in the Jane Austen classic.
Even though this is the fourth book in the series, I had no trouble picking up the book and reading the story. I chose this one because of the cute title and story blurb. I adore Austen's stories and contemporary books based on them. There were so many enjoyable things about this book outside of the actual story. First of all, each chapter takes up a different girl's perspective. I was worried that it would re-hash things from the previous chapter just from how a different girl saw it and bog down the story, but it doesn't really. Then I enjoyed that its a story that is centered around a book club and it was cool that there were actually book club meeting scenes complete with the Fun Facts About Jane sheets included in the story. And finally, I enjoyed how the story was about modern high school girls, but still managed to subtly fit in the loose plot to the original Pride and Prejudice. And when I say modern, I mean that there are video conferences with the members of the club that are away in England and one of the girls actually does a blog called Fashionista Jane (not a book blog sadly, but hey I guess we can't have it all).
The story revolves around four fifteen year old girls: Emma, Jess, Megan and Cassidy who live in Concord, MS. They have known each other for donkey's ages along with their families. Each girl has a unique situation and interests including other friends (which I thought was a good thing that they weren't self-absorbed). One of them, Jess, even attends another school. Their determination to remain close friends and their prioritizing of the book club keep them from drifting apart with their separate lives.
Jess and Emma are best friends and even have a special rule 'BFBB' or Best friends before boyfriends.
But all this is strained when Emma's parents announce that they are going to do a type of cultural exchange swap and take their family to live in England for a year where Emma's dad will continue to do his writing and her mom can soak up history and literature to her heart's desire while Emma and her brother will get exposed to another culture. While Emma's family stays in a cottage in a village outside of Bath, the cottage's occupants, the Berkeleys, will stay in Emma's house while the dad guest teaches at the local university. This of course shakes everyone up, but everyone makes the most of it determining that they will continue with the book club through webcam.
In England, Emma deals with her own Mr. Collins and Caroline Bingley while back home Megan meets her Mr. Bingley and Cassie tolerates her Mr. Darcy. Jess pines over the real life Darcy, Emma's brother. All this in the midst of daily school and activities filled with happiness, sadness, disappointment and triumph.
Honestly, I found this book very captivating as I followed along with each girl through the year that Emma and her family were away (Emma's side gets told too). It was fascinating how the author was able to really convince me that I was reading four different girls' perspectives when it switched up. I also felt that she did well making me feel that I was getting a real fifteen year old perspective on things. These girls crush on boys or in Cassidy's case learn to think of them for more than sports pals, but it isn't all about teen romance. They worry about what they're going to be when they grow up. They deal with the usual array of teen issues and responsibilities. There is also a strong family presence portraying the dynamics in each girls' home.
Most people who read this will probably relate cto one of the four girls more closely than the rest and that is true of me. I found myself laughing and groaning over the thinking processes and antics. There were a few times when I shuddered at a choice made thinking, 'This won't end well'. And it didn't- went down in blaze of glory. The girls had their moments, but I liked all four of them because in general they were well-rounded, caring unselfish girls. They actually started a pie selling enterprise to pay to bring Emma home for spring break because they knew she was having a hard time with Annabelle or Stinkerbelle as they call her. Then there is a sad moment they makes them all really take a look at their lives and the influences people have on our lives which I thought beautiful in a way even as I got a little lump in my throat.
The dips into the life of Jane Austen and the Pride and Prejudice story were great. It was done in such a way that those who are familiar with the author and book are not bored and those who are entirely unfamiliar will not be overwhelmed and clueless. The author cleverly used the girls varying literary interests and experiences to help with this. In fact, some of the girls and moms listen to the audio story while others read aloud together and yet others just read alone.
The biggest compliment that I can offer is that I wish Heather V. Frederick had written these books when I was a teen because I would have gobbled them up and dreamed of having friends and a book club like this. I plan to go back and read the first three stories that focus on a few other favorites of mine like Anne of Green Gables and Little Women.
The book is a clean read and can be read by the very youngest teen to the young at heart with ease.
Those who enjoy chick lit, teen contemporary romance, and Austenesque stories will like this one.
October 20, 2014
Fans of Heather Vogel Frederick’s Mother-Daughter Book Club series (I’m one!) are sure to be happy with her latest book, Pies and Prejudice. This year the book club girls are adjusting to high school and reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with their moms. And just as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy discover that you can’t always judge someone by first impressions, the book club girls are finding out how true that can be in real life as well.
Some of those first impressions are made when Emma and her family move to England for a year, trading places with another family that moves into their home. As Emma makes new friends, and enemies, the other girls are sizing up the Berkeley boys in Emma’s house.
The girls have definitely matured as they have moved on to high school, and each of them gets involved in activities and causes that help them pursue their passions. Cassidy, Megan, and Emma all seem to have a good idea of what’s important to them, and it’s interesting to read about Jess’s journey of self-discovery as she seeks to find what matters to her. Girls especially, who are often asked at this age what they want to do with their lives, may find Jess’s discoveries enlightening.
One of the things I really love about this series is how Frederick ties in facts about the authors her book club is reading. You’ll learn a lot about Jane Austen as well as Pride and Prejudice, and that adds to the topics your own book club can discuss. In addition to talking about making judgments from first impressions, you can also discuss limitations put on women in Austen’s time, friends moving away, cyber bullying, and finding your passions in life. There’s a great list of discussion questions in the back, as well. All the talk about pies will probably also have you ready to bake up one or two or three to share at your book club meeting.
I highly recommend Pies and Prejudice for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 11 to 14.
Some of those first impressions are made when Emma and her family move to England for a year, trading places with another family that moves into their home. As Emma makes new friends, and enemies, the other girls are sizing up the Berkeley boys in Emma’s house.
The girls have definitely matured as they have moved on to high school, and each of them gets involved in activities and causes that help them pursue their passions. Cassidy, Megan, and Emma all seem to have a good idea of what’s important to them, and it’s interesting to read about Jess’s journey of self-discovery as she seeks to find what matters to her. Girls especially, who are often asked at this age what they want to do with their lives, may find Jess’s discoveries enlightening.
One of the things I really love about this series is how Frederick ties in facts about the authors her book club is reading. You’ll learn a lot about Jane Austen as well as Pride and Prejudice, and that adds to the topics your own book club can discuss. In addition to talking about making judgments from first impressions, you can also discuss limitations put on women in Austen’s time, friends moving away, cyber bullying, and finding your passions in life. There’s a great list of discussion questions in the back, as well. All the talk about pies will probably also have you ready to bake up one or two or three to share at your book club meeting.
I highly recommend Pies and Prejudice for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 11 to 14.
November 11, 2015
The girls are now about to become freshmen in High School at Alcott High and Jess starts a new year at Colonial Academy. Disaster strikes though when Emma and her family decides to do a house exchange with a family in England and live there for a year. Will the girls ever see each other again and will their scheme to bring Emma home with their Pie business Pies and Prejudice work while they read Pride and Prejudice in the book club? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great installment for book 4 in the mother daughter book club. I look forward to reading books 5 and 6 in the future but you can find these books at your local library and wherever books are sold.
This was a great installment for book 4 in the mother daughter book club. I look forward to reading books 5 and 6 in the future but you can find these books at your local library and wherever books are sold.
January 17, 2024
So fun to read this series aloud with my daughter. It inspired us to listen to Anne of Green Gables and Little Women together!
November 3, 2016
Like the previous installments, the fourth book in The Mother Daughter Book Club series is a mixed bag. I really want to love this series, and I do enjoy it, but perhaps I am just a little too critical and sensitive to its faults!
One thing I liked about this one is how the author wove a lot of Austen stuff into the plot. She did this in the previous offerings (with Alcott, Montgomery, and Webster, respectively) but it really stood out to me more than usual in this book. It's pretty clear that Tristan is Mr. Darcy, Cassidy is a sort of Elizabeth Bennet, Annabelle is Caroline Bingley, and Rupert might even be Mr. Collins. Then there are the other nods to Jane Austen's works, like in a lot of names and titles: Knightley-Martin School, Lucy Woodhouse, Annabelle Fairfax (a lot of those names are from Austen's Emma). This stuff is pretty obvious, but it's still kind of fun. I do think the author did a good job capturing the spirit of Jane and paying literary tribute to her. Although I've watched probably a dozen screen adaptions of her work, I have never actually read any of Austen's novels myself (shocking, I know!). This book made me want to check them out; I think I might even follow some of the characters' leads and listen on audio book.
There were quite a few continuity and editing errors which I found slightly distracting, but that is probably just me. For example, on page 341, Mrs. Hawthorne mentions Courtney as being her daughter (Courtney is really Mrs. Sloane-Kincaid's daughter). I reread that part several times to see if I was reading it wrong. There were at least three other different things that didn't seem to line up, but that was probably the most obvious error. Anyone can make a mistake, but it's still confusing. As a minor point, why doesn’t Emma have curly hair on the cover? (I know, I'm nit-picking!) Another criticism I have is that the narrative voices for each girl could be more distinct. I continue to frequently get confused by whose point of view I am reading. I'm not really sure how the author could improve this, though, because it's clear that she does make an effort. It might just be me that has trouble telling the voices apart!
I find the fact that the girls have boyfriends to be interesting to read as a plot-point, but in real life I don't agree with dating at such a young age. I feel like it just sets teens up for a lot of heartbreak. There is obviously nothing explicit in the books, just some kissing and hand-holding, but I still don't think that is a good idea for kids to get into exclusive dating while they are still maturing emotionally and developmentally.
I am thankful that fewer barbs are directed at Mrs. Wong in this book (there are some, but overall it's less pervasive). Unfortunately we are still subjected to the frequent ridiculing of Mrs. Chadwick, who is presented as little more than a cartoon character and a source of some brand of mean-spirited comic relief.
My main problem with this book, though, was the emphasis placed on "getting even" among the girls. In some cases, adult characters even applaud them for humiliating and hurting others. That did not settle well with me at all, and I hope it is not something that middle school readers pick up on as an okay thing to emulate. Some of the characters are just plain vindictive! In many cases it's simply laughed off, but I think it's damaging to treat some people as okay to make fun of because they are mean themselves, different, or unliked.
This book has the same hearty dose of unrealism that appears in the previous installments. I have nothing at all against a happy ending--in fact, I love them--but sometimes I feel like these books drag on a bit too long in overstating the fact that a rosy ending was truly had by all…with a cherry on top. For example, in this book I found it a bit of a stretch that Rupert's great-aunt would stumble upon Emma and offer her the possibility of a publishing deal. It was just a little too much.
In conclusion, I still find these books kind of fun, but clearly they are not without their faults. I am really excited now about reading the next one, where they read from one of the authors nearest and dearest to my heart--the one and only Maud Hart Lovelace!
One thing I liked about this one is how the author wove a lot of Austen stuff into the plot. She did this in the previous offerings (with Alcott, Montgomery, and Webster, respectively) but it really stood out to me more than usual in this book. It's pretty clear that Tristan is Mr. Darcy, Cassidy is a sort of Elizabeth Bennet, Annabelle is Caroline Bingley, and Rupert might even be Mr. Collins. Then there are the other nods to Jane Austen's works, like in a lot of names and titles: Knightley-Martin School, Lucy Woodhouse, Annabelle Fairfax (a lot of those names are from Austen's Emma). This stuff is pretty obvious, but it's still kind of fun. I do think the author did a good job capturing the spirit of Jane and paying literary tribute to her. Although I've watched probably a dozen screen adaptions of her work, I have never actually read any of Austen's novels myself (shocking, I know!). This book made me want to check them out; I think I might even follow some of the characters' leads and listen on audio book.
There were quite a few continuity and editing errors which I found slightly distracting, but that is probably just me. For example, on page 341, Mrs. Hawthorne mentions Courtney as being her daughter (Courtney is really Mrs. Sloane-Kincaid's daughter). I reread that part several times to see if I was reading it wrong. There were at least three other different things that didn't seem to line up, but that was probably the most obvious error. Anyone can make a mistake, but it's still confusing. As a minor point, why doesn’t Emma have curly hair on the cover? (I know, I'm nit-picking!) Another criticism I have is that the narrative voices for each girl could be more distinct. I continue to frequently get confused by whose point of view I am reading. I'm not really sure how the author could improve this, though, because it's clear that she does make an effort. It might just be me that has trouble telling the voices apart!
I find the fact that the girls have boyfriends to be interesting to read as a plot-point, but in real life I don't agree with dating at such a young age. I feel like it just sets teens up for a lot of heartbreak. There is obviously nothing explicit in the books, just some kissing and hand-holding, but I still don't think that is a good idea for kids to get into exclusive dating while they are still maturing emotionally and developmentally.
I am thankful that fewer barbs are directed at Mrs. Wong in this book (there are some, but overall it's less pervasive). Unfortunately we are still subjected to the frequent ridiculing of Mrs. Chadwick, who is presented as little more than a cartoon character and a source of some brand of mean-spirited comic relief.
My main problem with this book, though, was the emphasis placed on "getting even" among the girls. In some cases, adult characters even applaud them for humiliating and hurting others. That did not settle well with me at all, and I hope it is not something that middle school readers pick up on as an okay thing to emulate. Some of the characters are just plain vindictive! In many cases it's simply laughed off, but I think it's damaging to treat some people as okay to make fun of because they are mean themselves, different, or unliked.
This book has the same hearty dose of unrealism that appears in the previous installments. I have nothing at all against a happy ending--in fact, I love them--but sometimes I feel like these books drag on a bit too long in overstating the fact that a rosy ending was truly had by all…with a cherry on top. For example, in this book I found it a bit of a stretch that Rupert's great-aunt would stumble upon Emma and offer her the possibility of a publishing deal. It was just a little too much.
In conclusion, I still find these books kind of fun, but clearly they are not without their faults. I am really excited now about reading the next one, where they read from one of the authors nearest and dearest to my heart--the one and only Maud Hart Lovelace!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2021
Another great book in this series
January 31, 2020
I would totally give this 4.5 stars if I could. The more of these stories I read, the more I fall in love with them!
March 9, 2011
REVIEW
High school drama! I have been reading this series from the beginning when the girls were just starting middle school. That was then and this is now. The girls start high school and they are in for a whirl-wind of change.
Emma’s family celebrates her father completing his book by moving to England for the year. If that’s not enough, they do a crazy house-swap with a British family. This leaves two British boys, Tristan and Simon, living in Emma’s family’s home. The boys are dead ringers for Darcy and Bingley in Pride and Prejudice. I love how Frederick works these new characters into the story and how they relate to the classic book the girls are reading. Very clever!
I bet you are wondering about the pies, right? Well, the girls really want Emma to come back for a visit, so they get creative to raise traveling money for her. Cassidy’s mother is an expert baker, and she teaches the girls to make pies. The whole pie making business was my favorite part of the book. There are baking mishaps and the mothers get into a serious pie baking competition.
Pies and Prejudice is a tasty addition to an awesome series.
Thank you to Heather Vogel Frederick and The Teen Book Scene for providing this book for review. Look for my review of Heather's picture book, Babyberry Pie, coming soon!
RATING
5 Plot
5 Characters
5 Attention Grabbing
5 Girlie Meter
5 Ending
25 TOTAL
5 STARS
High school drama! I have been reading this series from the beginning when the girls were just starting middle school. That was then and this is now. The girls start high school and they are in for a whirl-wind of change.
Emma’s family celebrates her father completing his book by moving to England for the year. If that’s not enough, they do a crazy house-swap with a British family. This leaves two British boys, Tristan and Simon, living in Emma’s family’s home. The boys are dead ringers for Darcy and Bingley in Pride and Prejudice. I love how Frederick works these new characters into the story and how they relate to the classic book the girls are reading. Very clever!
I bet you are wondering about the pies, right? Well, the girls really want Emma to come back for a visit, so they get creative to raise traveling money for her. Cassidy’s mother is an expert baker, and she teaches the girls to make pies. The whole pie making business was my favorite part of the book. There are baking mishaps and the mothers get into a serious pie baking competition.
Pies and Prejudice is a tasty addition to an awesome series.
Thank you to Heather Vogel Frederick and The Teen Book Scene for providing this book for review. Look for my review of Heather's picture book, Babyberry Pie, coming soon!
RATING
5 Plot
5 Characters
5 Attention Grabbing
5 Girlie Meter
5 Ending
25 TOTAL
5 STARS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2017
Loooove it
Read
June 20, 2022A perfect pool read. Wish there were less mean girl mean girling.
Read
February 14, 2023This was my first exposure to “Pride and Prejudice.” In fact, I read it years before I ever picked up Austen’s novel.
The fourth book in Frederick’s “Mother-Daughter Book Club” series, “Pies & Prejudice” sees the titular book club reading “Pride and Prejudice” as they enter high school. In a lot of ways, I wasn’t aware that this story was a retelling (albeit, a loose one). The story revolves primarily around plot points unrelated to “Pride and Prejudice” — one of the main characters, Emma, and her family move to England for a year, and the story recounts Emma and her friends struggling to get through the year while separated.
What brings in the retelling aspect is that, while Emma and her family are away, they swap houses with a British family; the family (the Berkleys) have two sons, Simon and Tristan, who are adaptations of Bingley and Darcy. Simon, the nice, sweet guy sweeps one of the girls off her feet, while Tristan, the angstier, brusquer brother, finds himself in a sort of enemies-to-lovers relationship with another character, in the vein of Lizzie and Darcy. There’s also a Mr. Collins-esque figure who pursues Emma in London — and just as Lizzie was uninterested in Collins’s marriage proposal, Emma is equally uninterested in Rupert Loomis.
It’s a looser retelling than some of the others on this list, to be sure, but remains one of the best ways to dip your toe into Austen’s work. It’s high school, and it’s cheesy … but it works to present some aspects of the original story to readers.
Daily Arts Writer Sabriya Imami can be reached at simami@umich.edu.
Read the full review here: https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/b-...
The fourth book in Frederick’s “Mother-Daughter Book Club” series, “Pies & Prejudice” sees the titular book club reading “Pride and Prejudice” as they enter high school. In a lot of ways, I wasn’t aware that this story was a retelling (albeit, a loose one). The story revolves primarily around plot points unrelated to “Pride and Prejudice” — one of the main characters, Emma, and her family move to England for a year, and the story recounts Emma and her friends struggling to get through the year while separated.
What brings in the retelling aspect is that, while Emma and her family are away, they swap houses with a British family; the family (the Berkleys) have two sons, Simon and Tristan, who are adaptations of Bingley and Darcy. Simon, the nice, sweet guy sweeps one of the girls off her feet, while Tristan, the angstier, brusquer brother, finds himself in a sort of enemies-to-lovers relationship with another character, in the vein of Lizzie and Darcy. There’s also a Mr. Collins-esque figure who pursues Emma in London — and just as Lizzie was uninterested in Collins’s marriage proposal, Emma is equally uninterested in Rupert Loomis.
It’s a looser retelling than some of the others on this list, to be sure, but remains one of the best ways to dip your toe into Austen’s work. It’s high school, and it’s cheesy … but it works to present some aspects of the original story to readers.
Daily Arts Writer Sabriya Imami can be reached at simami@umich.edu.
Read the full review here: https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/b-...
February 18, 2021
This is my favorite one of the series, for several reasons. One, the fact that Emma moves to England, I love how Bath and London are described, I felt like I could taste the clotted cream and fish and chips! Second, I love the growth of Cassidy's character, she's a tomboy thru and thru but she's blossoming into a beautiful young woman and I really liked her story in this! Overall a very enjoyable read and it does mimic Pride and Prejudice so that was fun. Also I noticed in this book that several of the characters have names found in Jane's Austen's books, see if you can pick them out, they are like hidden gems!
April 11, 2023
I was looking through a shelf of my childhood favorites when I stumbled upon The Mother Daughter Book Club Series again. So cute, but so dated. This book is a perfect example of why writers (especially adult writers) should avoid slang and technology that "dates" their kidlit. Was 2010 really so long ago?? It was also a bit weird that this fictional world is populated almost exclusively by white women. Then again, 2010...
I don't normally read straight girl books, but I think this was worth it for the nostalgia and sweet plot. This series SO WHOLESOME. Like a sugary baked good that you can only eat every now and then, because you feel a little bit queasy when you think about it too deeply.
But also, it's so much fun. Just delightful.
Yes, I kind of love The Mother Daughter Book Club. Unironically.
I don't normally read straight girl books, but I think this was worth it for the nostalgia and sweet plot. This series SO WHOLESOME. Like a sugary baked good that you can only eat every now and then, because you feel a little bit queasy when you think about it too deeply.
But also, it's so much fun. Just delightful.
Yes, I kind of love The Mother Daughter Book Club. Unironically.
April 11, 2024
The story centers around a group of teen girls, their mothers, and the book club they have together.
Each chapter is told from a different girl's perspective, and it was fun to see the story unfold through the eyes of each of the girls and their unique personality.
Teenage drama, cute boys, mean girls, teen angst, etc. I think younger readers would find the story relatable and enjoyable.
This was a cute, easy read. Very clean. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I read it with my daughters.
Each chapter is told from a different girl's perspective, and it was fun to see the story unfold through the eyes of each of the girls and their unique personality.
Teenage drama, cute boys, mean girls, teen angst, etc. I think younger readers would find the story relatable and enjoyable.
This was a cute, easy read. Very clean. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I read it with my daughters.
January 2, 2022
Started the year with a reread of one of my comfort books - as per usual, it didn’t disappoint
November 8, 2024
In my current state (sappy and sentimental and deeply nostalgic), there is no world in which I rate a MDBC lower than 5 stars.
October 10, 2025
This series just keeps getting better and better!!! This one was even better than the #3 and the #3 is hard to beat.
August 27, 2020
Another good book in the mother daughter book club series. Right before the beginning of the year Emma Hawthorne moves to England! For a year! This is an amazing book.
March 4, 2021
This series is so cute! I have really been enjoying it.
February 2, 2024
I like the visit to England and the exchange with English people.
I think Cassidy’s parts are the most relatable (despite her being the jock and not the book nerd girl) and absorbing of the girls’ stories.
On this 2020 random reread I noticed more that the others, both mothers and daughters, etc, seem too typical, which I had noticed in the last book of the series. As part of that I find them not really friendly to the odd duck characters, namely Rupert Loomis in this book (and Kevin Mullins still), as much as they disavow the queen bee/mean girl type characters, they’re not on the flip side all that nice to or supportive to difference (aside from Emma backing up the classmate who’s wearing a headscarf and being bullied by Annabelle). I see this with Megan, too, and the fashion mocking.
And those Queen Bees, because they’re bullies, apparently makes them deserving of whatever mocking, etc they in turn get. The parents don’t seem much better, which I guess on one hand is realistic - the children learn behavior from their parents - but like when Emma’s mother says of Rupert, that he hasn’t grown into himself yet, Emma’s narration translates that as being mom code for he’s just a dweeb or something. It also seems like a case of, considering the character’s own teenage son is the handsome jock but also history and good grades guy - they don’t understand teenage awkwardness. Emma’s still the book nerd but seems to have left her awkwardness behind in middle school, and she’s the first one with a boyfriend (which I suppose does smash a stereotype). Another thing, is the language - disclaimer, I didn’t go to school with other teenagers so I don’t really know what “normal” is, but the writing makes me think the author is perhaps going back to her own youth, more so than knowing contemporary teenage girls. I also find the parents too stereotyped: Mrs. Wong is the activist and vegan which translates to being a bad cook and drawing attention to herself in an embarrassing way (to the teenagers). While Mrs. Sinclair-Kincaid (sp? Cassidy’s mother) is a former model and apparently such a domestic goddess that she gets to have a tv show. Mr. Hawthorne as a writer is not being a great role model on making fun of your friends and acquaintances and putting it into print. Also, Becca is in the book club now (and has been, since near the beginning) and yet doesn’t get a share of the chapters to narrate and is still the flat former Queen Bee boy crazy, makeup and clothes obsessed cheerleader. And apparently every girl has to be matched up with a boy - cause how could you do an ode to Pride and Prejudice without that? (I say that with some sarcasm)
To be fair, though, I think I’m asking too much (and I do like reading this book) - I’m not the target audience, I’ve read all of Jane Austen (book nerd girl, like Emma in that point), I’ve lived in England before (for roughly the same amount of time as the Hawthornes), so things that seem obvious to me are not so to all. Plus I’d still love to go live in a historical little cottage, take walks by a canal path, and go to a Regency ball at a grand manor (though I’d prefer if it were Victorian).
my Pinterest board of references
I think Cassidy’s parts are the most relatable (despite her being the jock and not the book nerd girl) and absorbing of the girls’ stories.
On this 2020 random reread I noticed more that the others, both mothers and daughters, etc, seem too typical, which I had noticed in the last book of the series. As part of that I find them not really friendly to the odd duck characters, namely Rupert Loomis in this book (and Kevin Mullins still), as much as they disavow the queen bee/mean girl type characters, they’re not on the flip side all that nice to or supportive to difference (aside from Emma backing up the classmate who’s wearing a headscarf and being bullied by Annabelle). I see this with Megan, too, and the fashion mocking.
And those Queen Bees, because they’re bullies, apparently makes them deserving of whatever mocking, etc they in turn get. The parents don’t seem much better, which I guess on one hand is realistic - the children learn behavior from their parents - but like when Emma’s mother says of Rupert, that he hasn’t grown into himself yet, Emma’s narration translates that as being mom code for he’s just a dweeb or something. It also seems like a case of, considering the character’s own teenage son is the handsome jock but also history and good grades guy - they don’t understand teenage awkwardness. Emma’s still the book nerd but seems to have left her awkwardness behind in middle school, and she’s the first one with a boyfriend (which I suppose does smash a stereotype). Another thing, is the language - disclaimer, I didn’t go to school with other teenagers so I don’t really know what “normal” is, but the writing makes me think the author is perhaps going back to her own youth, more so than knowing contemporary teenage girls. I also find the parents too stereotyped: Mrs. Wong is the activist and vegan which translates to being a bad cook and drawing attention to herself in an embarrassing way (to the teenagers). While Mrs. Sinclair-Kincaid (sp? Cassidy’s mother) is a former model and apparently such a domestic goddess that she gets to have a tv show. Mr. Hawthorne as a writer is not being a great role model on making fun of your friends and acquaintances and putting it into print. Also, Becca is in the book club now (and has been, since near the beginning) and yet doesn’t get a share of the chapters to narrate and is still the flat former Queen Bee boy crazy, makeup and clothes obsessed cheerleader. And apparently every girl has to be matched up with a boy - cause how could you do an ode to Pride and Prejudice without that? (I say that with some sarcasm)
To be fair, though, I think I’m asking too much (and I do like reading this book) - I’m not the target audience, I’ve read all of Jane Austen (book nerd girl, like Emma in that point), I’ve lived in England before (for roughly the same amount of time as the Hawthornes), so things that seem obvious to me are not so to all. Plus I’d still love to go live in a historical little cottage, take walks by a canal path, and go to a Regency ball at a grand manor (though I’d prefer if it were Victorian).
my Pinterest board of references
February 1, 2024
It’s simply a perfect book
January 17, 2013
When I first came across this book in the public library, I was already interested by the cover itself with the witty title "Pies and Prejudice". I wasn't that into Jane Austen works but was familiar with her famous novel. After reading the "teaser" on the sleeve, I knew that I just had to read it. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that this was the fourth book of the series. But it wasn't a hindrance at all. The author is great at giving information from the previous books so it seems like this one could practically stand on its own without any problems :)
The idea of a mother-daughter book club was very interesting to me. And after reading this, I wanted to start one with my cousins as well.
I also started to appreciate Austen's literary masterpieces and am now on the search for her books.
This book was very entertaining and relatable to me. I feel like every one of the girls has something that we all can connect with. How Jess is worried about her future when everyone else seems to know what they're future is or when Megan feels out of place and lonely after transitioning into high school. Now that I've finished this novel, I'd like to start at the very beginning of the series and read everything in order. Their individual stories all have something to offer, whether it's just pure entertainment or personal enlightenment.
The idea of a mother-daughter book club was very interesting to me. And after reading this, I wanted to start one with my cousins as well.
I also started to appreciate Austen's literary masterpieces and am now on the search for her books.
This book was very entertaining and relatable to me. I feel like every one of the girls has something that we all can connect with. How Jess is worried about her future when everyone else seems to know what they're future is or when Megan feels out of place and lonely after transitioning into high school. Now that I've finished this novel, I'd like to start at the very beginning of the series and read everything in order. Their individual stories all have something to offer, whether it's just pure entertainment or personal enlightenment.
July 24, 2011
A strong installment in the series. Probably my favorite so far. 3.5 stars.
One quibble: I wish the book club would actually spend more time in discussion about the book they're reading when they have their official club meetings. They simply arrive, read through the handout and eat their treats. I don't know that we need to read through the discussion--that would probably slow down the action. But it would be nice to know it was actually happening. :) Emma complains about her mother's handouts, but I don't know what they would do with themselves at the club meetings without the Fun Facts sheets. As I said, this is a quibble, and the fact that I even think that hard about it is testament to how real the characters seem to me.
Also, in my previous reviews about earlier books, I've noted the difficulty I've had keeping everyone straight. This was not an issue at all in this book. Maybe the writing is more distinct, or maybe I've gotten to know the girls/parents well enough now. In any case, it is not so strong a problem for me.
Recommended!
One quibble: I wish the book club would actually spend more time in discussion about the book they're reading when they have their official club meetings. They simply arrive, read through the handout and eat their treats. I don't know that we need to read through the discussion--that would probably slow down the action. But it would be nice to know it was actually happening. :) Emma complains about her mother's handouts, but I don't know what they would do with themselves at the club meetings without the Fun Facts sheets. As I said, this is a quibble, and the fact that I even think that hard about it is testament to how real the characters seem to me.
Also, in my previous reviews about earlier books, I've noted the difficulty I've had keeping everyone straight. This was not an issue at all in this book. Maybe the writing is more distinct, or maybe I've gotten to know the girls/parents well enough now. In any case, it is not so strong a problem for me.
Recommended!
December 22, 2011
This series is so popular among the 5th grade girls at my school, but I was disappointed. About 6 girls, their mothers, and a couple older women have a book club and as they read the books, they (and presumably the reader) learn a few life lessons. The chapters are narrated by various of the girls and their voices all sound alike, not to mention that they are all types: the fashion girl, the mean girl, the tomboy, the brainiac, etc. The same is true of the moms -- they all melt together. Well, except for the one mom who is a joke. She has a big butt (snicker) and keeps changing her mind about what she wants to be when she grows up (ha-ha). As you can see, those are both very funny things. Right.
Not to mention that the moral of the story seems to be that it is okay to be really cruel to people if you are funny too. But then that was already established with Mrs. Big Butt's character.
Not to mention that the moral of the story seems to be that it is okay to be really cruel to people if you are funny too. But then that was already established with Mrs. Big Butt's character.
December 30, 2022
The girls have made it to high school, although the book mainly takes place outside of school hours. I love all the nods to Austen, especially the adventure at the end -- but man, are these kids bullies. The author seems to have confused cruelty for humor as adult after adult praises Megan for her cyberbullying "fashion" blog and Emma gets lauded for her short story, Stinkerbelle (based on one of her classmates). The author's fatphobia is continued throughout, and one of the mothers is constantly belittled by 9th graders. Most of these characters are completely unlikable, but they never seem to have consequences or learn their lesson.
February 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. This is my second time reading it and I like it the same amount that I did the first time!
Honestly it's a lot of fun to see these girls grow up and learn and get boyfriends, and stick together.
I would recommend this series to girls who like to read about modern school girls with lives that are real. There's the queen bee, the fashionista, the cute boy, the farmer girl, and the reader. And the tom-boy. It's really perfect for everyone.
I'm probably either Cassidy without being such a tom-boy, or Jess, without being so shy.
Thumbs up.
Honestly it's a lot of fun to see these girls grow up and learn and get boyfriends, and stick together.
I would recommend this series to girls who like to read about modern school girls with lives that are real. There's the queen bee, the fashionista, the cute boy, the farmer girl, and the reader. And the tom-boy. It's really perfect for everyone.
I'm probably either Cassidy without being such a tom-boy, or Jess, without being so shy.
Thumbs up.
October 8, 2025
Long before I got to learn about Elizabeth Bennett’s Mr. Darcy, this was my Darcy in middle school ❤️
the mother daughter book club grows with me through every chapter of my life— I always turn back to it to reignite that girl whose second home was the library and fell in love with books. With time, I can only better appreciate how the author does an impeccable job of embodying the most earnest of yearning
the mother daughter book club grows with me through every chapter of my life— I always turn back to it to reignite that girl whose second home was the library and fell in love with books. With time, I can only better appreciate how the author does an impeccable job of embodying the most earnest of yearning
May 15, 2024
Read August 26, 2015
Reread April 21, 2016 for Austen in Boston(truth be told I choose it).
I think I enjoyed it even more the 2nd. I love love love 3 out of the 4 heroines.
Waiting for the last one to come out in May...and then will read 1-3...read and enjoyed
5-6.
Reread 5/15/2024 Bumping it up to 4.5
Reread April 21, 2016 for Austen in Boston(truth be told I choose it).
I think I enjoyed it even more the 2nd. I love love love 3 out of the 4 heroines.
Waiting for the last one to come out in May...and then will read 1-3...read and enjoyed
5-6.
Reread 5/15/2024 Bumping it up to 4.5
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