In this contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Liz Bennet seeks a fresh start in New York City after a career debacle. An executive assistant by day and burlesque stage kitten by night, Bennet does not have love on her mind. But when she locks eyes with uptight wealth manager Will Darcy across the crowded club, she's intrigued.
... a rompy and raunchy retelling of Pride & Prejudice—with a burlesque twist. The Jane Austen inspiration is clear, but debut novelist Vanessa King excels at infusing her own fresh voice and sparkling ideas into this contemporary romance ... Liz is a confident and saucy heroine, always ready with a sly innuendo or a sharp, witty remark. It’s a torturous delight watching her unravel the starchy Darcy ... a slow burn that keeps its momentum, even amid all the fun of King’s detailed, luxe descriptions of buzzing nightlife, sexy show performances and extravagant costumes ... Fans of the source material will have an immeasurable amount of fun identifying all the Easter eggs within, from recognizable characters to dialogue that harkens back to the original text. King captures the magical feeling of seeing New York City awash in lights, and the electric hum of a rapt crowd during a live performance. There is something both cozy and thrilling about the Meryton and its found family of performers, and readers will be sad to leave them.
... one of the more unique and entertaining retellings of Pride & Prejudice I’ve read so far. The NYC setting, with the backdrop of this being a burlesque theater, and the wonderfully offbeat cast–it all charmed me through and through ... What a hoot ... As with the original Austen book, Liz and Darcy had some serious quick-witted bantering going on. It paired perfectly with the smoldering attraction between them. And it made their tenuous relationship fairly complex where they both also had some trust issues. I definitely enjoyed the evolution of their romance ... I found the burlesque setting fun and quite fascinating, with its focus on body positivity and the mix of humor and coyness.
King takes full advantage of the sensual art of burlesque to ramp up the sexual tension between Darcy and Ben while including cheeky nods to Austen’s masterpiece ... Readers will root for Ben and her ragtag family as she searches for her true path while trying to save the show. An utter delight.
