... 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.
King describes the burlesque setting vividly and appealingly for readers and makes Liz's involvement in burlesque an integral part of her journey. The inevitable misunderstandings spring naturally from King's characters (as they typically do in the characters of Jane Austen); it feels unforced ... Readers who enjoy sexy contemporary romance will be charmed by King's light, irreverent retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in the New York City burlesque scene.
King’s irresistible debut gives Pride and Prejudice a fresh look, transplanting the classic story to the sexy, sequined world of a contemporary burlesque club ... King nails the building tension, but what stands out most is her obvious affection for the endearing supporting cast and the richness of their nocturnal world. Both are used to great effect when a twist leaves Meryton’s fate in jeopardy and all must band together to preserve their found home. Between the camaraderie and the costumes, this immersive look at the burlesque scene is sure to win many fans, Austenite or not.
While King’s attempts at Austen-ian repartee feel largely superfluous to her otherwise deft and fun storytelling, this is nonetheless an original take on the source material, filled with three-dimensional characters. A jaunty and sexy twist on a classic.
