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Love, Austen #3
Bennet, Pride Before the Fall
“I want someone to want me for who I am. No changing my appearance or philosophies or principles. I need a partner to be proud of me—in public and beyond—and proud of themselves.”
“Think you’ll find it?”
Bennet had always dreamed of love. Of finding his Mr. Right.
Hell, he’d even settle for Mr. Righteous.
Who he won’t fall for, not ever? Mr. Downright Pride-less.
It’s Pride and Prejudice, complete with scumbaggery, anguished declaration of desire, meddling villagers, Karaoke, Scrabble, and Pride.
“Think you’ll find it?”
Bennet had always dreamed of love. Of finding his Mr. Right.
Hell, he’d even settle for Mr. Righteous.
Who he won’t fall for, not ever? Mr. Downright Pride-less.
It’s Pride and Prejudice, complete with scumbaggery, anguished declaration of desire, meddling villagers, Karaoke, Scrabble, and Pride.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2021
36 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Anyta Sunday
108 books2,724 followersSpecialising in slow-burn romances where emotions reign, intimacy lingers, and chemistry sizzles—stories that leave you holding your breath and cheering for love, with just a splash of spice to sweeten the journey.
Check out my website:
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/?page_id=386
Für deutsche Leser:
http://www.anytasunday.de/
In italiano:
http://www.anytasunday.it/
Check out my website:
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/?page_id=386
Für deutsche Leser:
http://www.anytasunday.de/
In italiano:
http://www.anytasunday.it/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 11, 2021
2.5 stars
This is a Pride & Prejudice retelling but this is a contemporary romance set in 2021 (or close to) with some elements on Pride & Prejudice but the pride is not the one in the original book and gay pride instead.
Look I’m pretty sure that the big problem here is that I love Pride & Prejudice way too much that maybe a retelling of it wasn’t for me. I really was interested in the concept, but I just ended up being sad that this had almost no likeness to Pride & Prejudice. It had some things but it was missing key components, like the enemies to lovers (it was only a small misunderstanding that was fixed in minutes and they were friends for most of the book) and the slow burn (they got together really late in the book but I felt like they started connecting way too early in the book, unlike the actual Pride & Prejudice), which makes Pride & Prejudice for me, so a retelling without those elements just wasn’t for me.
First, this book was so sweet and I quite enjoyed it, I just couldn’t get into the fact that it was very different from Pride & Prejudice. I needed it to follow the original storyline a little more to be able to love the book. I would have enjoyed this book way more if I didn’t have the Pride & Prejudice comparison in my head.
Second, I did really enjoy all of the tiny nodes to Pride & Prejudice, but they were really small and only in a couple of plot points and in the chain of events like there was the ball at the start of the book and the letter written by Darcy to Bennet, but there wasn't much else that made it easy to tell it was a Pride & Prejudice retelling. I’m pretty sure that the only big likeness this had to Pride & Prejudice was that the love interest was called Darcy. I just needed more. I felt like I was reading a standard contemporary romance and not a retelling of Pride & Prejudice. None of the characters had most of the original traits of the character they were meant to be and some of the storylines between characters were changed, which didn’t really work for me.
Third, Bennet was an out and proud gay man who basically wanted the entire town to come out and couldn’t believe that anyone would want to stay in the closet. The pushiness is not something I ever associated with Elizabeth’s character so it felt very jarring. Also, Darcy was a gay man who married a woman because he didn’t want to admit he’s gay. Also, the Wickham character was Darcy’s ex, instead of a sibling. (Side note, Wickham was more portrayed as more as way eviler than in the original and it didn’t really work for me, I wanted him to be more nuanced). I didn’t enjoy the fact that Darcy had so many other relationships, Darcy is meant to be a character who does not like people, so him having a family and kids just didn’t work with my vision of the character.
Fourth, I thought that Anyta Sunday did a really good job at updating the language for something that works in a contemporary novel, and the setting too, it was all done very well. But I thought that maybe it was a little too modern, I’m not sure the modern era really fits the Pride & Prejudice storyline. It felt like we lost most of the key aspects of the story by it being so modern.
Fifth, there was gorgeous illustrated artwork at the end of each chapter in the book, and they were so pretty, I loved them so much!
This was quite a sweet book, I just thought it wasn’t similar enough to Pride & Prejudice for me to enjoy it as a retelling of that book.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
This is a Pride & Prejudice retelling but this is a contemporary romance set in 2021 (or close to) with some elements on Pride & Prejudice but the pride is not the one in the original book and gay pride instead.
Look I’m pretty sure that the big problem here is that I love Pride & Prejudice way too much that maybe a retelling of it wasn’t for me. I really was interested in the concept, but I just ended up being sad that this had almost no likeness to Pride & Prejudice. It had some things but it was missing key components, like the enemies to lovers (it was only a small misunderstanding that was fixed in minutes and they were friends for most of the book) and the slow burn (they got together really late in the book but I felt like they started connecting way too early in the book, unlike the actual Pride & Prejudice), which makes Pride & Prejudice for me, so a retelling without those elements just wasn’t for me.
First, this book was so sweet and I quite enjoyed it, I just couldn’t get into the fact that it was very different from Pride & Prejudice. I needed it to follow the original storyline a little more to be able to love the book. I would have enjoyed this book way more if I didn’t have the Pride & Prejudice comparison in my head.
Second, I did really enjoy all of the tiny nodes to Pride & Prejudice, but they were really small and only in a couple of plot points and in the chain of events like there was the ball at the start of the book and the letter written by Darcy to Bennet, but there wasn't much else that made it easy to tell it was a Pride & Prejudice retelling. I’m pretty sure that the only big likeness this had to Pride & Prejudice was that the love interest was called Darcy. I just needed more. I felt like I was reading a standard contemporary romance and not a retelling of Pride & Prejudice. None of the characters had most of the original traits of the character they were meant to be and some of the storylines between characters were changed, which didn’t really work for me.
Third, Bennet was an out and proud gay man who basically wanted the entire town to come out and couldn’t believe that anyone would want to stay in the closet. The pushiness is not something I ever associated with Elizabeth’s character so it felt very jarring. Also, Darcy was a gay man who married a woman because he didn’t want to admit he’s gay. Also, the Wickham character was Darcy’s ex, instead of a sibling. (Side note, Wickham was more portrayed as more as way eviler than in the original and it didn’t really work for me, I wanted him to be more nuanced). I didn’t enjoy the fact that Darcy had so many other relationships, Darcy is meant to be a character who does not like people, so him having a family and kids just didn’t work with my vision of the character.
Fourth, I thought that Anyta Sunday did a really good job at updating the language for something that works in a contemporary novel, and the setting too, it was all done very well. But I thought that maybe it was a little too modern, I’m not sure the modern era really fits the Pride & Prejudice storyline. It felt like we lost most of the key aspects of the story by it being so modern.
Fifth, there was gorgeous illustrated artwork at the end of each chapter in the book, and they were so pretty, I loved them so much!
This was quite a sweet book, I just thought it wasn’t similar enough to Pride & Prejudice for me to enjoy it as a retelling of that book.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
September 14, 2021
I've given this a C- at AAR, so 2.5 stars here.
Anyta Sunday is a popular author of m/m romances, but I haven’t read anything of hers so far, and I decided to dip my toe into the water with Bennet, Pride Before the Fall, book three in her Love, Austen series. As you’ll probably glean from those titles, the series comprises queer re-workings/re-imaginings of Jane Austen’s novels (so they all stand alone) and this one is based on Pride and Prejudice. It hits all the beats of the original, but it lacks depth and feels very episodic as it jumps from one plot point to another, seemingly trying to cram them all in while not developing characters or relationships – or, in fact, doing anything new other than making the two protagonists men who are a bit older than those in Austen’s beloved classic.
Bennet Keene is forty-five and works as a freelance editor of gay romance novels. He’s out and proud, flirts for fun and likes no-strings sex occasionally, but ultimately, he’s searching for deep, meaningful love. Sadly, that hasn’t happened so far, and living in the small village of Cubworthy as he does, it doesn’t seem likely to. His much younger brother Lyon lives with him, but their relationship is a bit strained; Lyon is fifteen and Bennet has been absent from his life since Lyon was a toddler, returning to Cobworthy only after the recent deaths of their parents. Bennet wants to take care of Lyon, who, full of teenaged hormones and resentment, doesn’t think he needs looking after.
Bennet’s friend Charlie runs the local pub, and Bennet heads there one evening with the intention of having a chat with Caroline Bingley, the self-appointed Queen Bee of the village, who is every bit as snobbish and bitchy as the original Caroline. Bennet is planning to organise a Pride event in the village this year and plans to tap Caroline for some funding – but before he can approach her, he bumps into someone he’s seen only once before – while out riding that morning, in fact - an attractive man of around his own age whose dark eyes and commanding presence make Bennet feel slightly lightheaded. He realises this must be the owner of the nearby Silverfield estate, Darcy Tilney – and Bennet immediately susses out that while the other man clearly liked what he saw when giving Bennet the once-over, he didn’t like that he liked it. And a man who denies or takes no pride in who he is isn’t the man for Bennet.
It’s Karaoke Night, and when Bennet is talked into getting up on stage, Charlie’s dad invites Darcy to get up there with him (because Darcy’s son is bisexual… so that means he must want to sing with Bennet? I’m not sure if that’s dumb or insulting. Both, probably). Of course, the very staid Darcy brusquely refuses to do so. Honestly, I didn’t blame him; I’d probably have turned down a request to get up and make an arse of myself in front of a crowd of people I didn’t know! It’s a very different thing from refusing to dance with someone because they’re not handsome enough to tempt you!
Anyway. We don’t find out what Darcy does for a living (he’s a lawyer) until near the end of the book, but he’s forty-eight, a widower and the father of three children, Henry (who appears in Cameron Wants to Be a Hero, this series’ version of Northanger Abbey), daughter Georgie, and another son who’s name isn’t mentioned (I don’t think). Darcy has ignored the part of him that’s attracted to men for his entire life, but once he meets Bennet, that becomes more and more difficult to do.
Anyone familiar with the original will easily spot the parallels between it and this version, so I won’t list them all, but the author keeps fairly close to the Austen path, sometimes to the point of shoe-horning in events that aren’t really necessary in order to tell this story. And these take up word and page count that could have been used to develop the characters, who are barely two-dimensional, and the central relationship, which is severely underwritten and basically relies on the reader being familiar with P&P.
In fact, the most enjoyable relationship in the book is the one between Bennet and Lyon. They’re practically strangers who were thrust together by circumstance, and neither quite knows how to act around the other. Lyon is angry and resentful, and their gradual rapprochement was nice to see, even if it it’s a little fast and there is no real exploration of their feelings about the deaths of their parents, which was only four months earlier. I was also pleasantly surprised by the direction taken by the Charlie (Charlotte) sub-plot, but as with everything else in the book, it’s merely glossed over.
The last twenty percent of so of the book is mostly, well, I was going to say ‘original material’ but it’s so unoriginal, that would be a misnomer. So instead, I’ll say that by that point, the P&P plot has concluded and the author then continues the romance ‘independently’ – but it’s as simplistic and superficial as the rest of the book.
Perhaps this was not the best choice of book to sample a new author; a reworking of pre-existing material – especially such well-known material – that carries certain expectations of plot and character may have cramped her style somewhat, and maybe her original stories are better. Unfortunately however, my experience with this title means I’m on the fence as to whether I’ll try anything else of hers. Bennet, Pride Before the Fall is uninspired and seriously underdeveloped, and I can’t recommend it. If you’re interested in reading a really good queer reworking of a Jane Austen classic, you can’t go wrong with Sally Malcolm’s Perfect Day, which is a fabulous retelling of Persuasion.
Anyta Sunday is a popular author of m/m romances, but I haven’t read anything of hers so far, and I decided to dip my toe into the water with Bennet, Pride Before the Fall, book three in her Love, Austen series. As you’ll probably glean from those titles, the series comprises queer re-workings/re-imaginings of Jane Austen’s novels (so they all stand alone) and this one is based on Pride and Prejudice. It hits all the beats of the original, but it lacks depth and feels very episodic as it jumps from one plot point to another, seemingly trying to cram them all in while not developing characters or relationships – or, in fact, doing anything new other than making the two protagonists men who are a bit older than those in Austen’s beloved classic.
Bennet Keene is forty-five and works as a freelance editor of gay romance novels. He’s out and proud, flirts for fun and likes no-strings sex occasionally, but ultimately, he’s searching for deep, meaningful love. Sadly, that hasn’t happened so far, and living in the small village of Cubworthy as he does, it doesn’t seem likely to. His much younger brother Lyon lives with him, but their relationship is a bit strained; Lyon is fifteen and Bennet has been absent from his life since Lyon was a toddler, returning to Cobworthy only after the recent deaths of their parents. Bennet wants to take care of Lyon, who, full of teenaged hormones and resentment, doesn’t think he needs looking after.
Bennet’s friend Charlie runs the local pub, and Bennet heads there one evening with the intention of having a chat with Caroline Bingley, the self-appointed Queen Bee of the village, who is every bit as snobbish and bitchy as the original Caroline. Bennet is planning to organise a Pride event in the village this year and plans to tap Caroline for some funding – but before he can approach her, he bumps into someone he’s seen only once before – while out riding that morning, in fact - an attractive man of around his own age whose dark eyes and commanding presence make Bennet feel slightly lightheaded. He realises this must be the owner of the nearby Silverfield estate, Darcy Tilney – and Bennet immediately susses out that while the other man clearly liked what he saw when giving Bennet the once-over, he didn’t like that he liked it. And a man who denies or takes no pride in who he is isn’t the man for Bennet.
It’s Karaoke Night, and when Bennet is talked into getting up on stage, Charlie’s dad invites Darcy to get up there with him (because Darcy’s son is bisexual… so that means he must want to sing with Bennet? I’m not sure if that’s dumb or insulting. Both, probably). Of course, the very staid Darcy brusquely refuses to do so. Honestly, I didn’t blame him; I’d probably have turned down a request to get up and make an arse of myself in front of a crowd of people I didn’t know! It’s a very different thing from refusing to dance with someone because they’re not handsome enough to tempt you!
Anyway. We don’t find out what Darcy does for a living (he’s a lawyer) until near the end of the book, but he’s forty-eight, a widower and the father of three children, Henry (who appears in Cameron Wants to Be a Hero, this series’ version of Northanger Abbey), daughter Georgie, and another son who’s name isn’t mentioned (I don’t think). Darcy has ignored the part of him that’s attracted to men for his entire life, but once he meets Bennet, that becomes more and more difficult to do.
Anyone familiar with the original will easily spot the parallels between it and this version, so I won’t list them all, but the author keeps fairly close to the Austen path, sometimes to the point of shoe-horning in events that aren’t really necessary in order to tell this story. And these take up word and page count that could have been used to develop the characters, who are barely two-dimensional, and the central relationship, which is severely underwritten and basically relies on the reader being familiar with P&P.
In fact, the most enjoyable relationship in the book is the one between Bennet and Lyon. They’re practically strangers who were thrust together by circumstance, and neither quite knows how to act around the other. Lyon is angry and resentful, and their gradual rapprochement was nice to see, even if it it’s a little fast and there is no real exploration of their feelings about the deaths of their parents, which was only four months earlier. I was also pleasantly surprised by the direction taken by the Charlie (Charlotte) sub-plot, but as with everything else in the book, it’s merely glossed over.
The last twenty percent of so of the book is mostly, well, I was going to say ‘original material’ but it’s so unoriginal, that would be a misnomer. So instead, I’ll say that by that point, the P&P plot has concluded and the author then continues the romance ‘independently’ – but it’s as simplistic and superficial as the rest of the book.
Perhaps this was not the best choice of book to sample a new author; a reworking of pre-existing material – especially such well-known material – that carries certain expectations of plot and character may have cramped her style somewhat, and maybe her original stories are better. Unfortunately however, my experience with this title means I’m on the fence as to whether I’ll try anything else of hers. Bennet, Pride Before the Fall is uninspired and seriously underdeveloped, and I can’t recommend it. If you’re interested in reading a really good queer reworking of a Jane Austen classic, you can’t go wrong with Sally Malcolm’s Perfect Day, which is a fabulous retelling of Persuasion.
June 25, 2021
What to say about this book? I'm a fan of the author and have really enjoyed the first two books in this series but this one was just an ok read for me. I think there were more things I disliked about the book than I liked but the writing was good. It could just be a me thing.
One of my major issues was with the character Lyon. His behavior throughout the beginning of the book was over the top sexually for me. He is a 15 year old boy. I get they have their hormones but yeesh his overly sexual language made me quite uncomfortable. His lust for older men and interactions with them made me even more uncomfortable. He is 15!! Sure it might be a region thing that at 16 (the age he would turn) it makes him an "adult" but it's a hard pass for me.🤷🏽♀️
Also I put this book under glaciel burn. Yes the relationship does build throughout the book but it is not until about the 75% mark where things sort of take off. Even then it is just a bit of sizzle though. I need some more fire there.
Again, it could be a me thing.
*I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.*
One of my major issues was with the character Lyon. His behavior throughout the beginning of the book was over the top sexually for me. He is a 15 year old boy. I get they have their hormones but yeesh his overly sexual language made me quite uncomfortable. His lust for older men and interactions with them made me even more uncomfortable. He is 15!! Sure it might be a region thing that at 16 (the age he would turn) it makes him an "adult" but it's a hard pass for me.🤷🏽♀️
Also I put this book under glaciel burn. Yes the relationship does build throughout the book but it is not until about the 75% mark where things sort of take off. Even then it is just a bit of sizzle though. I need some more fire there.
Again, it could be a me thing.
*I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.*
May 15, 2024
I struggled so much to read this and I think it's because I've actually read Pride and Prejudice and watched the BBC adaption so many times. I was constantly comparing the two, and that actually annoyed me especially because not all that much was modernised.
This is supposed to be a contemporary gay retelling, but the language used by the characters is so old fashioned and stilted that it was like picturing Mr Darcy as he was but thrown into a modern day setting like a time traveller - weird. They also had no modern hobbies or interests, yet they used phones, cars and sang karaoke.
It made me feel like I was reading a book for critiquing purposes rather than for enjoyment and now that I finally graduated Uni I have no interest in being scholarly for a good while 😂
It also kinda icked me out a little that Lyon (Lydia's counterpart) was so young and explicit in their language, even though the UK age of consent is 16 so it shouldn't be that weird - doesn't mean I want to read about their sex lives!!! I feel like 18 is the comfortable minimum age I can read about when it comes to romance, unless it's specifically a YA book, because I'm in my mid thirties and even 18 kinda icks me out on occasion!
The story was pretty much as I expected with Bennet (Lizzie's male counterpart) being judgemental, Darcy being prideful and Wickham being a general sleazy dickhead, but I just couldn't get into it. It's a shame because it's the only Jane Austen book I've ever fully read and enjoyed, so therefore the only one in this series that I really had any clue about before reading. Now I wish I'd skipped this one and carried on in blissful ignorance with the other adaptations instead 😂
This is supposed to be a contemporary gay retelling, but the language used by the characters is so old fashioned and stilted that it was like picturing Mr Darcy as he was but thrown into a modern day setting like a time traveller - weird. They also had no modern hobbies or interests, yet they used phones, cars and sang karaoke.
It made me feel like I was reading a book for critiquing purposes rather than for enjoyment and now that I finally graduated Uni I have no interest in being scholarly for a good while 😂
It also kinda icked me out a little that Lyon (Lydia's counterpart) was so young and explicit in their language, even though the UK age of consent is 16 so it shouldn't be that weird - doesn't mean I want to read about their sex lives!!! I feel like 18 is the comfortable minimum age I can read about when it comes to romance, unless it's specifically a YA book, because I'm in my mid thirties and even 18 kinda icks me out on occasion!
The story was pretty much as I expected with Bennet (Lizzie's male counterpart) being judgemental, Darcy being prideful and Wickham being a general sleazy dickhead, but I just couldn't get into it. It's a shame because it's the only Jane Austen book I've ever fully read and enjoyed, so therefore the only one in this series that I really had any clue about before reading. Now I wish I'd skipped this one and carried on in blissful ignorance with the other adaptations instead 😂
August 12, 2022
This has been the best of the bunch so far but sadly that isn't saying much as the bar has been soOoOo low up until this point. Also, my enjoyment comes as a surprise considering I was behind in the BR with my pack buddies and I was savagely mocking dialogue allll the way to the 40% mark. But the modern version of this retelling worked; at least for the Bennet/Darcy elements. Wickham, too, I liked how Sunday modified him. Even Caroline was well adapted though she definitely came across as more of a villain.. which I actually enjoyed.
What I don't think I've mentioned yet in these reviews is that.. if this is supposed to be a modern retelling, stop messing with the dialogue and making it old timey and stilted and formal. It immediately throws you out of the story and there's already enough of that happening. This has less irritatingly abrupt scene transitions, though, and our sex scenes were either fadeyand, considering I have haaaated the sex scenes, I appreciated this.
Much like our lovebirds themselves, this is a slow warm up but it did get on to a good simmer instead of sizzling out. I am now moderately hopeful for what's to come.
As an aside, take a shot every time the author makes Bennet laugh; someone leaned into the classic "I dearly love to laugh" line a little (a lot) too hard.
2.5 stars
What I don't think I've mentioned yet in these reviews is that.. if this is supposed to be a modern retelling, stop messing with the dialogue and making it old timey and stilted and formal. It immediately throws you out of the story and there's already enough of that happening. This has less irritatingly abrupt scene transitions, though, and our sex scenes were either fadeyand, considering I have haaaated the sex scenes, I appreciated this.
Much like our lovebirds themselves, this is a slow warm up but it did get on to a good simmer instead of sizzling out. I am now moderately hopeful for what's to come.
As an aside, take a shot every time the author makes Bennet laugh; someone leaned into the classic "I dearly love to laugh" line a little (a lot) too hard.
2.5 stars
June 29, 2021
It is a truth, intimately acknowledged, that a man in love must tease his lover.
And we have another winner in my new favorite series from Anyta!!!
If you ever thought what Pride and Prejudice needed was:
- more Pride
- actual communication and a couple that slowly grows and talks into a lovely, respectful relationship full of teasing (but without the hurtful bite for the most part)
- less Bennet family members (looking at you, mother Bennet and Kitty...)
- a Darcy who is just the right amount of shy and awkward, but makes sense and is just a sweetheart
- a Bennet who realizes he's been a prejudiced ass and actually apologizes for the way he treated Darcy
- a Wickham whose villainy makes sense
then this is very much the book for you!
I love this book to pieces! It's the right amount of heartbreaking and frustrating (I mean, those two are still idiots. They just actually grow and change for the better), and oh the slow burn is just delicious!
If you haven't started on this wonderful series yet, you really should! These books perfectly capture the essence of the original stories (although I'm sure even someone not as Austen-loving as I would enjoy them) and put them in a contemporary setting, always with some new unexpected twists. And oh, I just ADORED seeing all my beloved characters from the previous books again. I'm so happy there's even more to come in this amazing series!
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
And we have another winner in my new favorite series from Anyta!!!
If you ever thought what Pride and Prejudice needed was:
- more Pride
- actual communication and a couple that slowly grows and talks into a lovely, respectful relationship full of teasing (but without the hurtful bite for the most part)
- less Bennet family members (looking at you, mother Bennet and Kitty...)
- a Darcy who is just the right amount of shy and awkward, but makes sense and is just a sweetheart
- a Bennet who realizes he's been a prejudiced ass and actually apologizes for the way he treated Darcy
- a Wickham whose villainy makes sense
then this is very much the book for you!
I love this book to pieces! It's the right amount of heartbreaking and frustrating (I mean, those two are still idiots. They just actually grow and change for the better), and oh the slow burn is just delicious!
If you haven't started on this wonderful series yet, you really should! These books perfectly capture the essence of the original stories (although I'm sure even someone not as Austen-loving as I would enjoy them) and put them in a contemporary setting, always with some new unexpected twists. And oh, I just ADORED seeing all my beloved characters from the previous books again. I'm so happy there's even more to come in this amazing series!
*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
translated
June 25, 2021<3<3<3
Addictive. Love the characters, the pace, the awesomely written it is. ❤️
(And the dedication, so special🍍)
Addictive. Love the characters, the pace, the awesomely written it is. ❤️
(And the dedication, so special🍍)
January 24, 2024
Escritura 4⭐
Personajes 3⭐
Argumento 3⭐
Coherencia 4⭐
Originalidad 4⭐
Disfrute 4⭐
Personajes 3⭐
Argumento 3⭐
Coherencia 4⭐
Originalidad 4⭐
Disfrute 4⭐
July 2, 2021
“I didn’t think before I kissed you.”
“Now that is the first lie you’ve told.”
I’m ashamed to admit that I didn't connect the dots while reading Cameron Wants to Be a Hero or maybe didn't pay enough attention. So, Henry’s dad being one of the MCs in this book was a surprise to me. I had to check, convincing myself that maybe his name did not appear, but there it was the truth. Darcy William Henryson Tilney. His FULL name was on display, lol.
Recently, I’ve been wanting to read a sweet story and this was the perfect book for it. I loved how all the references from Pride and Prejudice didn't feel like a copy paste. And like a said in the previous book, you can enjoyed it no matter if you’ve never read Jane Austen’s work before. Another thing that I enjoyed was the use of the town, through their local forum to gossip, to connect the story and the MCs.
Darcy is basically a mess with his reluctance to accept himself added to the guiltiness from his past actions toward his son’s boyfriend. Luckily for him, Bennet is quite the opposite. Be minded that this is the slowest of the burns, but it’s worth the wait. It was cute to see how little by little Darcy, by listening to Bennet, was trying to see that his shame was not only hurting himself but the ones around him. On the other hand, Bennet had left his prejudices behind in order to understand this complex man. Btw, all the karaoke parts were the best.
One man deep in the closet. Another man out and proud. A lovely story to read when in need of something wholesome.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
February 17, 2024
Versione LGBT e neozelandese di Orgoglio e pregiudizio con Bennet che è un giovane ed esuberante gay che si prende cura del fratello quindicenne, Lyon (Lydia), mentre Darcy è un bisex che è stato sposato e ha avuto due figli, di cui uno ha appena fatto coming out e si è fidanzato, mentre Georgie ha avuto un incidente ed è sulla sedia a rotelle, ma ha trovato la sua salvezza occupandosi di pinguini. Darcy ha problemi di pride, nel senso che è molto riservato quando si tratta della propria sessualità (e proprio questo gli ha causato problemi con Will Wickham), per cui, anche se si sente molto attratto da Bennet, ha scrupoli a vivere alla luce del sole una relazione con lui. Del resto, all'inizio a Bennet Darcy non interessa neanche da quel punto di vista, e proprio perché per lui il gay pride è fondamentale.
Carine le soluzioni trovate da Anyta Sunday per questo particolare adattamento, ma purtroppo questo romanzo non mi ha coinvolta emotivamente come avrei sperato.
Carine le soluzioni trovate da Anyta Sunday per questo particolare adattamento, ma purtroppo questo romanzo non mi ha coinvolta emotivamente come avrei sperato.
January 11, 2024
5/5⭐
Este es un libro que forma parte de la saga "Con amor, Austen", una nueva saga de la autora Anyta Sunday y también una de las más curiosas que he leído de ella hasta ahora. Yo apenas he leído clásicos si os soy sincera, pero ver estos retellings que recogen la esencia de las historias originales para darle un ámbito más moderno y diferente con una relación chico x chico me ha dado la vida. Hasta ahora este estaría en el segundo lugar de mis favoritos de la saga, ya que el segundo, para mí, es mi pareja favorita con mucha diferencia todavía.
La trama ha sido mi segundo favorito de esta saga por el momento. Creo que todo lo que trata, con los prejuicios que puedes tener hacia una persona sin conocerla o la dificultad de sentir orgullo de ti mismo, son mensajes fuertes y necesarios para el mundo en el que vivimos donde todo lo que hacemos es juzgado y despreciado como si no fuera suficiente. Además que creo que este es el segundo libro de la saga con más sucesos y acción de todos y donde aparte de tener una historia de amor llena de emociones, nos encontramos con un transfondo de personajes más crudo y difíciles de sobrellevar.
Los personajes me han sorprendido muchísimo, ya que no os voy a mentir, estaba algo asustada de leerme este libro. Cuando vi que iba a tratar el orgullo, creía que iban a ser unos orgullosos insoportables, pero una vez más Anyta Sunday llega para demostrarme que los clichés que pueden resultarme horribles en otros libros, con ella todo da un giro radical para bien. Ya no solo me ha encantado la evolución de todos, sino que además se ha tratado de una forma MUY seria algunos mensajes que tienen ambos protagonistas y que Anyta Sunday ha tratado con mucha delicadeza como siempre lo hace.
La pluma de la autora me encanta y da igual los años que pasen seguirá pareciéndome mágica y muy especial. Además que la propia traductora le da su esencia propia también y eso hace que la traducción sea el doble de intensa y emocional y que consiga calarte hondo con cada sentimiento que los personajes reflejan de esa forma tan humana y sincera que tienen.
Ahora os hablaré un poco de los personajes principales.
Por un lado tenemos a Bennet, nuestro protagonista masculino. Él es un chico que siempre ha vivido bajo su propio orgullo, de hecho algo que tenía claro era que jamás permitiría que nadie rebajase ese rasgo suyo tan importante. Para Bennet lo más importante en el amor y en la vida es tener orgullo de uno mismo y sentir orgullo por los demás, algo que siempre ha tomado como ejemplo para encontrar el amor. Porque él NUNCA se enamoraría de un hombre sin orgullo. Por eso cuando Darcy aparezca en su vida y este parezca poco orgulloso de su propia orientación sexual, Bennet trata de borrar por completo la atracción que ha sentido por él, porque si no es capaz de ser orgulloso al reconocer que le gustan los hombres, no quiere saber absolutamente nada. Pero la vida no parece pensar igual que él y su alrededor no dejará de buscar maneras de que ambos se encuentren y conecten un poquito más. Y aunque Bennet puede tener mil oportunidades de encontrar a alguien mejor y con un orgullo superior y acorde al suyo, no puede evitar preguntarse qué se esconde debajo de la coraza insegura que Darcy tiene a su alrededor. ¿Podrá el orgullo persistir o acaso el amor es mucho más que eso? ¿Y serán capaces de sortear todos los prejuicios que inundan sus vidas y darse la oportunidad de un felices para siempre?
Bennet es un personaje que me ha encantado y me ha hecho reír en varias ocasiones. Creo que es la clase de persona que vive entre pasiones y que no le avergüenza ser quien es. De hecho hasta cierto punto estaba de acuerdo con él en que no hay que estar con una persona que no se sienta orgullosa de estar con nosotros, de que si aceptas a alguien en tu vida, debes hacerlo sabiendo que ese alguien quiere amarte sin importar las opiniones del resto. Porque ante todo tú y esa persona sabréis que sí vale la pena y con eso basta. Sin embargo, también ha tenido momentos en los que no coincidía tanto con él y que me ha gustado que se tratasen como era debido para darle un crecimiento y evolución a su personaje. Sin ir más lejos estaba el problema de que Bennet vivía con ciertos prejuicios que tenía que quitarse de encima, algunos de ellos iban dirigidos a Darcy por su primer encuentro y algunas habladurías que escuchaba. Me ha gustado cómo se ha desarrollado el personaje porque me ha parecido real, ya que a muchas personas les sucede que se dejan llevar por lo que el resto dice y no piensan en que quizá las cosas no son como las pintan o que dependiendo de cada persona, la situación que tiene puede ser más o menos complicada para hacer algunas cosas con tanta libertad. Además, otro mensaje que aprende y que yo he adorado en este libro, es que el orgullo no siempre lo significa todo en un romance. A veces, hay que saber amar también las debilidades del otro y ayudarle a ser fuerte juntos. A enorgullecerse juntos y no por separado. Y eso a mí me ha calado en el corazón. Y ya en el ámbito amoroso, Bennet me ha tenido con una sonrisa de idiota en la cara. Sí que es cierto que aquí el romance tarda más en desarrollarse porque hay cosas que complican su posible amorío, PERO ha valido la pena, porque ver desde el punto de vista de Bennet cómo esa coraza de orgullo se iba rompiendo y le permitía ver a Darcy tal y como era, sin muros alzándose entre ellos, me ha dejado muy blandita por dentro.
Por otro lado tenemos a Darcy, nuestro otro protagonista masculino. De él no os puedo hablar demasiado ya que lo que os cuente puede ser considerado spoiler porque no tiene punto de vista. Así que os contaré un poco sobre él y mi opinión general del personaje.
Darcy es un personaje que me ha sorprendido mucho, ya que al igual que me pasó con el segundo libro, le he sentido muy presente en la historia aunque no tuviera punto de vista. Su transfondo creo que es el que más me ha dolido de todos, pues su situación no era nada fácil y me he pasado varios capítulos de la historia con la angustia de lo que estaba sufriendo durante tanto tiempo. Entiendes el motivo de que sea orgulloso y que no quiera admitir lo que siente dentro, al igual que es comprensible su miedo, porque ya os digo que las razones de que lo haga no es algo que alguien pueda dejar a un lado para lanzarse de cabeza al amor. Me ha puesto muy triste algunas situaciones suyas, especialmente porque no se merecía nada de lo que ha tenido que vivir ni tampoco las condiciones en las que se encontraba para afrontar muchas de las situaciones que le cayeron encima. Lo único que me disgustó un poco de su personaje fue en el final del segundo libro, ya que no me gustó su reacción a la relación de su hijo, pero me alegró ver en este como se dio cuenta de dichos errores y decidió enmendarlo para demostrarle que no era algo de lo que tuviera que sentirse mal o avergonzado. Sus sentimientos o cómo se desarrollan me han tenido sin respiración, pero porque eran tan puros y sinceros que me resultaba imposible no morir de amor con él y su forma de mirar a Bennet.
En resumen, "Bennet, el orgullo de enamorarse" es el tercer libro de una saga que me ha sorprendido mucho y para bien, porque luego de ver que iba a tratar temas que a mí me rechinan mucho como el orgullo excesivo o los prejuicios, aquí la autora ha vuelto a demostrarme que tiene la capacidad más maravillosa del mundo para que mis clichés más odiados se conviertan en mis favoritos con ella. La trama es bastante compleja, de hecho aunque trata una historia de amor, hay algunos temas muy duros que se van tratando y que a mí, personalmente, me ha tenido a veces con el estómago encogido incluso por el malestar de lo que algunas personas eran capaces de llegar a hacer sin pensar en los sentimientos de los demás. Además que cómo se desarrolla lo importante del libro que es el orgullo, no se hace pesado y agotador, de hecho entiendes un poco los motivos para que ambos actúen como lo hacen y las dificultades de estar juntos. Los personajes son otro plus del libro, pero yo es que con Anyta Sunday ya me he acostumbrado a que siempre sea así. Cada personaje que crea es un golpe al corazón de la ternura y una sensación de que te presentan a cada uno de ellos de una forma tan perfecta que casi parece que los conoces de toda la vida. Las evoluciones que tienen son tan humanas como en todos sus libros, no sientes que vaya todo apresurado o antinatural, sino que la dosis de ternura que mezcla con la fluidez de sus conversaciones, ayuda a que el crecimiento de ambos protagonistas avance sin que tú te des siquiera cuenta. El romance es un golpe al corazón, yo os prometo que libro que leo de esta mujer me quedo con una sensación tan feliz y gratificante que no puedo ni explicaros el nivel al que llega. Estoy enamorada con la forma en que Anyta Sunday describe y crea el amor de sus historias, ni más ni menos. La pluma de la autora es una maravilla siempre. La delicadeza con la que expresa cada una de sus emociones, el cariño que pone en sus personajes y lo bien estructurados que están desde la primera a la última página. Y ya ni hablar de lo mucho que te transmiten sus líneas, es como si pasaras de estar leyendo un libro a tener delante de verdad a los personajes y ver todo lo que sucede en vivo y en directo.
Este es un libro que forma parte de la saga "Con amor, Austen", una nueva saga de la autora Anyta Sunday y también una de las más curiosas que he leído de ella hasta ahora. Yo apenas he leído clásicos si os soy sincera, pero ver estos retellings que recogen la esencia de las historias originales para darle un ámbito más moderno y diferente con una relación chico x chico me ha dado la vida. Hasta ahora este estaría en el segundo lugar de mis favoritos de la saga, ya que el segundo, para mí, es mi pareja favorita con mucha diferencia todavía.
La trama ha sido mi segundo favorito de esta saga por el momento. Creo que todo lo que trata, con los prejuicios que puedes tener hacia una persona sin conocerla o la dificultad de sentir orgullo de ti mismo, son mensajes fuertes y necesarios para el mundo en el que vivimos donde todo lo que hacemos es juzgado y despreciado como si no fuera suficiente. Además que creo que este es el segundo libro de la saga con más sucesos y acción de todos y donde aparte de tener una historia de amor llena de emociones, nos encontramos con un transfondo de personajes más crudo y difíciles de sobrellevar.
Los personajes me han sorprendido muchísimo, ya que no os voy a mentir, estaba algo asustada de leerme este libro. Cuando vi que iba a tratar el orgullo, creía que iban a ser unos orgullosos insoportables, pero una vez más Anyta Sunday llega para demostrarme que los clichés que pueden resultarme horribles en otros libros, con ella todo da un giro radical para bien. Ya no solo me ha encantado la evolución de todos, sino que además se ha tratado de una forma MUY seria algunos mensajes que tienen ambos protagonistas y que Anyta Sunday ha tratado con mucha delicadeza como siempre lo hace.
La pluma de la autora me encanta y da igual los años que pasen seguirá pareciéndome mágica y muy especial. Además que la propia traductora le da su esencia propia también y eso hace que la traducción sea el doble de intensa y emocional y que consiga calarte hondo con cada sentimiento que los personajes reflejan de esa forma tan humana y sincera que tienen.
Ahora os hablaré un poco de los personajes principales.
Por un lado tenemos a Bennet, nuestro protagonista masculino. Él es un chico que siempre ha vivido bajo su propio orgullo, de hecho algo que tenía claro era que jamás permitiría que nadie rebajase ese rasgo suyo tan importante. Para Bennet lo más importante en el amor y en la vida es tener orgullo de uno mismo y sentir orgullo por los demás, algo que siempre ha tomado como ejemplo para encontrar el amor. Porque él NUNCA se enamoraría de un hombre sin orgullo. Por eso cuando Darcy aparezca en su vida y este parezca poco orgulloso de su propia orientación sexual, Bennet trata de borrar por completo la atracción que ha sentido por él, porque si no es capaz de ser orgulloso al reconocer que le gustan los hombres, no quiere saber absolutamente nada. Pero la vida no parece pensar igual que él y su alrededor no dejará de buscar maneras de que ambos se encuentren y conecten un poquito más. Y aunque Bennet puede tener mil oportunidades de encontrar a alguien mejor y con un orgullo superior y acorde al suyo, no puede evitar preguntarse qué se esconde debajo de la coraza insegura que Darcy tiene a su alrededor. ¿Podrá el orgullo persistir o acaso el amor es mucho más que eso? ¿Y serán capaces de sortear todos los prejuicios que inundan sus vidas y darse la oportunidad de un felices para siempre?
Bennet es un personaje que me ha encantado y me ha hecho reír en varias ocasiones. Creo que es la clase de persona que vive entre pasiones y que no le avergüenza ser quien es. De hecho hasta cierto punto estaba de acuerdo con él en que no hay que estar con una persona que no se sienta orgullosa de estar con nosotros, de que si aceptas a alguien en tu vida, debes hacerlo sabiendo que ese alguien quiere amarte sin importar las opiniones del resto. Porque ante todo tú y esa persona sabréis que sí vale la pena y con eso basta. Sin embargo, también ha tenido momentos en los que no coincidía tanto con él y que me ha gustado que se tratasen como era debido para darle un crecimiento y evolución a su personaje. Sin ir más lejos estaba el problema de que Bennet vivía con ciertos prejuicios que tenía que quitarse de encima, algunos de ellos iban dirigidos a Darcy por su primer encuentro y algunas habladurías que escuchaba. Me ha gustado cómo se ha desarrollado el personaje porque me ha parecido real, ya que a muchas personas les sucede que se dejan llevar por lo que el resto dice y no piensan en que quizá las cosas no son como las pintan o que dependiendo de cada persona, la situación que tiene puede ser más o menos complicada para hacer algunas cosas con tanta libertad. Además, otro mensaje que aprende y que yo he adorado en este libro, es que el orgullo no siempre lo significa todo en un romance. A veces, hay que saber amar también las debilidades del otro y ayudarle a ser fuerte juntos. A enorgullecerse juntos y no por separado. Y eso a mí me ha calado en el corazón. Y ya en el ámbito amoroso, Bennet me ha tenido con una sonrisa de idiota en la cara. Sí que es cierto que aquí el romance tarda más en desarrollarse porque hay cosas que complican su posible amorío, PERO ha valido la pena, porque ver desde el punto de vista de Bennet cómo esa coraza de orgullo se iba rompiendo y le permitía ver a Darcy tal y como era, sin muros alzándose entre ellos, me ha dejado muy blandita por dentro.
Por otro lado tenemos a Darcy, nuestro otro protagonista masculino. De él no os puedo hablar demasiado ya que lo que os cuente puede ser considerado spoiler porque no tiene punto de vista. Así que os contaré un poco sobre él y mi opinión general del personaje.
Darcy es un personaje que me ha sorprendido mucho, ya que al igual que me pasó con el segundo libro, le he sentido muy presente en la historia aunque no tuviera punto de vista. Su transfondo creo que es el que más me ha dolido de todos, pues su situación no era nada fácil y me he pasado varios capítulos de la historia con la angustia de lo que estaba sufriendo durante tanto tiempo. Entiendes el motivo de que sea orgulloso y que no quiera admitir lo que siente dentro, al igual que es comprensible su miedo, porque ya os digo que las razones de que lo haga no es algo que alguien pueda dejar a un lado para lanzarse de cabeza al amor. Me ha puesto muy triste algunas situaciones suyas, especialmente porque no se merecía nada de lo que ha tenido que vivir ni tampoco las condiciones en las que se encontraba para afrontar muchas de las situaciones que le cayeron encima. Lo único que me disgustó un poco de su personaje fue en el final del segundo libro, ya que no me gustó su reacción a la relación de su hijo, pero me alegró ver en este como se dio cuenta de dichos errores y decidió enmendarlo para demostrarle que no era algo de lo que tuviera que sentirse mal o avergonzado. Sus sentimientos o cómo se desarrollan me han tenido sin respiración, pero porque eran tan puros y sinceros que me resultaba imposible no morir de amor con él y su forma de mirar a Bennet.
En resumen, "Bennet, el orgullo de enamorarse" es el tercer libro de una saga que me ha sorprendido mucho y para bien, porque luego de ver que iba a tratar temas que a mí me rechinan mucho como el orgullo excesivo o los prejuicios, aquí la autora ha vuelto a demostrarme que tiene la capacidad más maravillosa del mundo para que mis clichés más odiados se conviertan en mis favoritos con ella. La trama es bastante compleja, de hecho aunque trata una historia de amor, hay algunos temas muy duros que se van tratando y que a mí, personalmente, me ha tenido a veces con el estómago encogido incluso por el malestar de lo que algunas personas eran capaces de llegar a hacer sin pensar en los sentimientos de los demás. Además que cómo se desarrolla lo importante del libro que es el orgullo, no se hace pesado y agotador, de hecho entiendes un poco los motivos para que ambos actúen como lo hacen y las dificultades de estar juntos. Los personajes son otro plus del libro, pero yo es que con Anyta Sunday ya me he acostumbrado a que siempre sea así. Cada personaje que crea es un golpe al corazón de la ternura y una sensación de que te presentan a cada uno de ellos de una forma tan perfecta que casi parece que los conoces de toda la vida. Las evoluciones que tienen son tan humanas como en todos sus libros, no sientes que vaya todo apresurado o antinatural, sino que la dosis de ternura que mezcla con la fluidez de sus conversaciones, ayuda a que el crecimiento de ambos protagonistas avance sin que tú te des siquiera cuenta. El romance es un golpe al corazón, yo os prometo que libro que leo de esta mujer me quedo con una sensación tan feliz y gratificante que no puedo ni explicaros el nivel al que llega. Estoy enamorada con la forma en que Anyta Sunday describe y crea el amor de sus historias, ni más ni menos. La pluma de la autora es una maravilla siempre. La delicadeza con la que expresa cada una de sus emociones, el cariño que pone en sus personajes y lo bien estructurados que están desde la primera a la última página. Y ya ni hablar de lo mucho que te transmiten sus líneas, es como si pasaras de estar leyendo un libro a tener delante de verdad a los personajes y ver todo lo que sucede en vivo y en directo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2021
I didn't like this book and i am crushed about it. I don't enjoy Emma, so it's unsurprising I didn't enjoy Emerett, but it was really well crafted. Cameron was, too. Bennett thought? Decisions were made, and I'm not sure they were good ones. This one veered so far from the plot at times I wasn't certain what was happening, but I think the changes in the characters are the ones I dislike the most.
The Bennett parents: or the Keene parents, as per this book. In P&P, Mr and Mrs Bennett are a mismatched pair that neglected their daughters' dowry and education, and thus the moment that Mr Bennett dies the girls are bound for destitution unless they manage to marry well. In this book, they're absent. Other than a comment saying that they didn't like Bennett being gay. In my mind it would make a lot more sense to have them there, with Mrs Keene caring little about her family and Mr Keene being busy trying to do "get rich quick" schemes, and thus leaving the education to each individual child (and most teens might not consider doing their homework their uktimate priority without pressing) and maybe Bennett holding the household together (economically) by a thread. As it is, Bennett us supposed to care for his brother, no extra issues, no pressing danger.
Lyon: the one Keene sibling. He seems yo be a fusion of Jane and Lydia, two brutally different temperaments that leave for a very disjointed character. Jane is serious and sensible and keeps her feelings close to her heart. Lydia is boisterous and irreverent and cares too much about the pleasures of today to prevent for the tomorrow. Lyon is irreverent but serious but loud but interested and dissinterested and super sexual but into relashionships... a mess. Lyon is in a position where he's supposed to offer both a shoulder to Bennett and cause him trouble at the same time, which makes the meaningful moments feel empty and the stressful moments to feel anticlimactic. The Wickam thing? Barely a blip in this book.
Will Wickam: odd choice to make here. This point feels very underwhelming, because Will is nearly powerless. He does very little in the way of sowing dissent the way the original does. The backstory in the letter makes it feel contadictory with the events of Cameron's book, where Darcy plays the Tilney parent. I would believe that if the drama had been so bad then it's likely it would've gone back to one of the kids and made the events of that book meaningless. And I find it hard to believe he'd have been happy with the "shoo" he got and gone away. It felt unconcluded.
Darcy: the pride of the original, but I can say he feels prideless in here. Fitzwilliam Darcy believes he holds a lot of virtues and that everyone sees them as clearly as he does, which leads to many a kindness misinterpreted and many a slight magnified. This Darcy has the cold front of seriousness, but his pride isn't all that much. And it feels like a stretch for him to be the Tilney parent, as the personalities of General Tilney and Fitzwilliam Darcy are as far as Jane and Lydia's are. So, we are to believe that the man who his son was certain would hate him for being bi is bi himself and out to all his family but his kids. I would find it more believable if Darcy had been the Tilney firstborn, but the father? Nah.
Bennett: our Elizabeth in this reimagining. Holder of all the prejudice and the (gay) pride. His motivations might be the same as Elizabeth's, but their circumstances are so far apart that it makes for a totally different experience. Elizabeth wants to hold her family in a place of proper respectability which her family's education and economic prospects make it difficult. Bennett has a good career, a solid home no one is going to take from him, and has to take care of a teen who isn't as opposed to listening as he makes it seem. His grandest goal is to make his town do a pride event so Lyon will feel welcome. It makes for having the stakes on the ground, and Darcy's lack of pride makes for most of the work to be on Bennett's side of the relationship.
This book hit is so far from the mark I'm not even sure the mark was there in the first place. Mansfield park is next, and now I'm really afraid of my favorite getting butchered
The Bennett parents: or the Keene parents, as per this book. In P&P, Mr and Mrs Bennett are a mismatched pair that neglected their daughters' dowry and education, and thus the moment that Mr Bennett dies the girls are bound for destitution unless they manage to marry well. In this book, they're absent. Other than a comment saying that they didn't like Bennett being gay. In my mind it would make a lot more sense to have them there, with Mrs Keene caring little about her family and Mr Keene being busy trying to do "get rich quick" schemes, and thus leaving the education to each individual child (and most teens might not consider doing their homework their uktimate priority without pressing) and maybe Bennett holding the household together (economically) by a thread. As it is, Bennett us supposed to care for his brother, no extra issues, no pressing danger.
Lyon: the one Keene sibling. He seems yo be a fusion of Jane and Lydia, two brutally different temperaments that leave for a very disjointed character. Jane is serious and sensible and keeps her feelings close to her heart. Lydia is boisterous and irreverent and cares too much about the pleasures of today to prevent for the tomorrow. Lyon is irreverent but serious but loud but interested and dissinterested and super sexual but into relashionships... a mess. Lyon is in a position where he's supposed to offer both a shoulder to Bennett and cause him trouble at the same time, which makes the meaningful moments feel empty and the stressful moments to feel anticlimactic. The Wickam thing? Barely a blip in this book.
Will Wickam: odd choice to make here. This point feels very underwhelming, because Will is nearly powerless. He does very little in the way of sowing dissent the way the original does. The backstory in the letter makes it feel contadictory with the events of Cameron's book, where Darcy plays the Tilney parent. I would believe that if the drama had been so bad then it's likely it would've gone back to one of the kids and made the events of that book meaningless. And I find it hard to believe he'd have been happy with the "shoo" he got and gone away. It felt unconcluded.
Darcy: the pride of the original, but I can say he feels prideless in here. Fitzwilliam Darcy believes he holds a lot of virtues and that everyone sees them as clearly as he does, which leads to many a kindness misinterpreted and many a slight magnified. This Darcy has the cold front of seriousness, but his pride isn't all that much. And it feels like a stretch for him to be the Tilney parent, as the personalities of General Tilney and Fitzwilliam Darcy are as far as Jane and Lydia's are. So, we are to believe that the man who his son was certain would hate him for being bi is bi himself and out to all his family but his kids. I would find it more believable if Darcy had been the Tilney firstborn, but the father? Nah.
Bennett: our Elizabeth in this reimagining. Holder of all the prejudice and the (gay) pride. His motivations might be the same as Elizabeth's, but their circumstances are so far apart that it makes for a totally different experience. Elizabeth wants to hold her family in a place of proper respectability which her family's education and economic prospects make it difficult. Bennett has a good career, a solid home no one is going to take from him, and has to take care of a teen who isn't as opposed to listening as he makes it seem. His grandest goal is to make his town do a pride event so Lyon will feel welcome. It makes for having the stakes on the ground, and Darcy's lack of pride makes for most of the work to be on Bennett's side of the relationship.
This book hit is so far from the mark I'm not even sure the mark was there in the first place. Mansfield park is next, and now I'm really afraid of my favorite getting butchered
January 23, 2025
2.5/5
Creo que esta serie de re-tellings de libros inspirados en las obras de Jane Austen son algo que me tiene 50/50. El anterior (Camerón quiere ser un héroe) me pareció maravilloso, precioso en cuanto a la relación de ambos protas. Sin embargo, éste que precisamente es un re-telling de Orgullo y Prejuicio, me costó muchísimo terminarlo.
Para empezar, yo no he leído las obras de Austen, así que prácticamente voy con los ojos cerrados, sin embargo, tengo más o menos la noción de la obra original, porque claro, es tan popular que cuesta mucho hacerle honor.
Acá tenemos a Bennet y Darcy, un par de hombres llenos de prejuicios, además del temor de abrir sus corazones y de sentir orgullo por ser parte de la comunidad LGBTQ+. Al conocerse hay un malentendido que eventualmente se resuelve hasta la segunda mitad del libro y, de mientras, conocemos sus motivaciones y aquello que les adolece.
Me costó mucho porque ambos sonaban idénticos. Sus voces no eran particularmente diferentes y en varias ocasiones tuve que regresar varias páginas para saber de quién era el narrador del capítulo.
Así mismo, el hermano de Bennet me pareció algo chocante siendo un adolescente (creo que tenía 16 años) y ya con una energía sexual que incomodaba a momentos. Me costó encontrar los detalles que me gustan en los libros de Anyta Sunday y quizá sea en parte a que no sentí ninguna conexión con alguno de los protagonistas. O sea, entendí sus motivaciones, pero no despertaron en mí alguna emoción intensa o memorable.
Siendo honestos, no sé si continuar con la serie o ya dejarlo porque una amiga me dijo que el que sigue sí está mejor (tampoco tuvo buena experiencia con éste). Así que tal vez la siga, cuando tenga KU gratis, pero tampoco es que tenga prisa por hacerlo.
REVIEWS ANTERIORES:
Emerett nunca se ha enamorado | Cameron quiere ser un héroe
Creo que esta serie de re-tellings de libros inspirados en las obras de Jane Austen son algo que me tiene 50/50. El anterior (Camerón quiere ser un héroe) me pareció maravilloso, precioso en cuanto a la relación de ambos protas. Sin embargo, éste que precisamente es un re-telling de Orgullo y Prejuicio, me costó muchísimo terminarlo.
Para empezar, yo no he leído las obras de Austen, así que prácticamente voy con los ojos cerrados, sin embargo, tengo más o menos la noción de la obra original, porque claro, es tan popular que cuesta mucho hacerle honor.
Acá tenemos a Bennet y Darcy, un par de hombres llenos de prejuicios, además del temor de abrir sus corazones y de sentir orgullo por ser parte de la comunidad LGBTQ+. Al conocerse hay un malentendido que eventualmente se resuelve hasta la segunda mitad del libro y, de mientras, conocemos sus motivaciones y aquello que les adolece.
Me costó mucho porque ambos sonaban idénticos. Sus voces no eran particularmente diferentes y en varias ocasiones tuve que regresar varias páginas para saber de quién era el narrador del capítulo.
Así mismo, el hermano de Bennet me pareció algo chocante siendo un adolescente (creo que tenía 16 años) y ya con una energía sexual que incomodaba a momentos. Me costó encontrar los detalles que me gustan en los libros de Anyta Sunday y quizá sea en parte a que no sentí ninguna conexión con alguno de los protagonistas. O sea, entendí sus motivaciones, pero no despertaron en mí alguna emoción intensa o memorable.
Siendo honestos, no sé si continuar con la serie o ya dejarlo porque una amiga me dijo que el que sigue sí está mejor (tampoco tuvo buena experiencia con éste). Así que tal vez la siga, cuando tenga KU gratis, pero tampoco es que tenga prisa por hacerlo.
REVIEWS ANTERIORES:
Emerett nunca se ha enamorado | Cameron quiere ser un héroe
June 30, 2021
This is the third book in the Love, Austen series by Anyta Sunday, a contemporary retelling (with adaptions) of Pride & Prejudice.
And it is so much fun to read. All the characters are so well done, with individuality and quirks.
I love the twist Anyta Sunday did by placing the “Pride” more on Bennet and the “Prejudice” more on Darcy. That was so cleverly done.
I really enjoyed all the side characters, too, especially Charlie, who is someone I really can relate to and Lyon – who in contrast to common expectations in books – actually behaved sometimes like a normal teenager in rebellion.
This is a slow…slow…slow burn but so worth it and the additional building of their friendship is a very nice approach that makes me very happy. These two are really an interesting and amazing couple together.
We get to see characters from the first two books (but this one can be read as standalone) – besides Darcy.
It has all the characteristics of an Anyta Sunday book – funny banter, entertaining characters and story line, slow burn and it just made me happy reading it.
And it is so much fun to read. All the characters are so well done, with individuality and quirks.
I love the twist Anyta Sunday did by placing the “Pride” more on Bennet and the “Prejudice” more on Darcy. That was so cleverly done.
I really enjoyed all the side characters, too, especially Charlie, who is someone I really can relate to and Lyon – who in contrast to common expectations in books – actually behaved sometimes like a normal teenager in rebellion.
This is a slow…slow…slow burn but so worth it and the additional building of their friendship is a very nice approach that makes me very happy. These two are really an interesting and amazing couple together.
We get to see characters from the first two books (but this one can be read as standalone) – besides Darcy.
It has all the characteristics of an Anyta Sunday book – funny banter, entertaining characters and story line, slow burn and it just made me happy reading it.
June 30, 2021
4.5 Stars
Another winner in a series that I absolutely adore and am always eagerly anticipating the next installment! I'll reiterate that I have never read any of Austen's works (nor have I seen any movie adaptations), so for me these are all fresh new stories and I have nothing to compare them to (so I can't really claim any knowledge of how Austen fans will feel). However, what I can say is that this one was another charming and lovely story, with a lot of really lovable characters, as well as a few not so lovable ones, swoony love, and, once again, just an overall story that kept a smile on my face the entire time. If I had to summarize my overall feelings for this series, it would just be happy, because I'm so happy the entire time I'm reading. This is slow burn, opposites attract, and a redemption novel all rolled into one and you definitely will want to pick it up. (I'm also going to swoon over the covers once more because I love them so much they will be getting a spot on my bookshelf as well as my kindle)
Another winner in a series that I absolutely adore and am always eagerly anticipating the next installment! I'll reiterate that I have never read any of Austen's works (nor have I seen any movie adaptations), so for me these are all fresh new stories and I have nothing to compare them to (so I can't really claim any knowledge of how Austen fans will feel). However, what I can say is that this one was another charming and lovely story, with a lot of really lovable characters, as well as a few not so lovable ones, swoony love, and, once again, just an overall story that kept a smile on my face the entire time. If I had to summarize my overall feelings for this series, it would just be happy, because I'm so happy the entire time I'm reading. This is slow burn, opposites attract, and a redemption novel all rolled into one and you definitely will want to pick it up. (I'm also going to swoon over the covers once more because I love them so much they will be getting a spot on my bookshelf as well as my kindle)
January 28, 2024
2'75⭐
Cogí este libro porque era de Anyta Sunday, buscaba algo bonito, un enamoramiento lento...pero me ha decepcionado. Está saga, en comparación con la de los signos o con otros libros independientes de la autora, me está gustando menos.
Cogí este libro porque era de Anyta Sunday, buscaba algo bonito, un enamoramiento lento...pero me ha decepcionado. Está saga, en comparación con la de los signos o con otros libros independientes de la autora, me está gustando menos.
June 26, 2021
I adored this Pride & Prejudice retelling! What a heartwarming, lovely feel-good romance.
Read this review and more on the blog!
Content notes include: semi-explicit sex on-page, homophobic comments, manipulation and gaslighting (not between protagonists); Mentions of: death of spouse, stalking.
Bennet, Pride Before the Fall is the third book in the Love, Austen series, where Anyta Sunday reimagines Jane Austen’s novels as m/m romances set in New Zealand. Characters from the previous books in the series ( Emerett Has Never Been in Love and Cameron Wants to be a Hero ) make appearances, but all of them can be read as standalones.
This time, Pride & Prejudice is getting a retelling, and here at least I watched that one movie with Keira Knightly over a decade ago. Which is to say, I have the vaguest idea what the original novel is about, but not nearly enough to properly judge the book based on that. Consider this a disclaimer.
This was a great romance that I enjoyed from beginning to end. It already had a good start because I never got over my horse kid phase as a child, so the book having not one but two (2!) horses on the cover bode well for me.
While the horse content wasn’t all that prominent (but present!) there was plenty of other things that kept my interest and delight.
As with previous books of the series, the characters are all wonderful. Even the side ones are fleshed out and have their own things going on, so I found myself invested not only in Bennet and Darcy, but also everyone else and their fates and goals.
I adored Bennet’s younger brother and the big part their sibling relationships played. I enjoyed all the other villagers, friendly or not, who all had something going on, their own motives and ambitions, and the overlap of how those interact with Bennet’s story was done so well and engaging.
The main romance was great too. While I do not remember quite how the original Pride & Prejudice goes, I do think that fans of that book will get their fill of the same vibes here. The titular emotions are definitely big themes.
I was a bit wary of the third-act breakup/drama, but it was handled wonderfully. Bennet and Darcy’s relationship was great even when at its lows, and I appreciated that there was no extra forced tension. The outward one was more than enough.
Similarly, the homophobic and other microaggressions that Bennet faces at times were handled very well, to the point where I was impressed with Bennet as a character for how composed and reasonably he replied. Definitely taking notes from there.
In the previous books I remember struggling a bit to find my bearings, as they throw you right into a mix of people and the dynamics between them. Here, it is much the same, but I think more exposition was done this time because I wasn’t struggling at all. I immediately connected with the characters and quickly got an idea of their individual relationships.
Overall, this is absolutely my favourite from the series thus far. It was a delight to read, I adored the characters, and the romance hit all the right spots for me.
Another bonus was the lovely illustrations done by Lauren Dombrowski.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Read this review and more on the blog!
Content notes include: semi-explicit sex on-page, homophobic comments, manipulation and gaslighting (not between protagonists); Mentions of: death of spouse, stalking.
Bennet, Pride Before the Fall is the third book in the Love, Austen series, where Anyta Sunday reimagines Jane Austen’s novels as m/m romances set in New Zealand. Characters from the previous books in the series ( Emerett Has Never Been in Love and Cameron Wants to be a Hero ) make appearances, but all of them can be read as standalones.
This time, Pride & Prejudice is getting a retelling, and here at least I watched that one movie with Keira Knightly over a decade ago. Which is to say, I have the vaguest idea what the original novel is about, but not nearly enough to properly judge the book based on that. Consider this a disclaimer.
This was a great romance that I enjoyed from beginning to end. It already had a good start because I never got over my horse kid phase as a child, so the book having not one but two (2!) horses on the cover bode well for me.
While the horse content wasn’t all that prominent (but present!) there was plenty of other things that kept my interest and delight.
As with previous books of the series, the characters are all wonderful. Even the side ones are fleshed out and have their own things going on, so I found myself invested not only in Bennet and Darcy, but also everyone else and their fates and goals.
I adored Bennet’s younger brother and the big part their sibling relationships played. I enjoyed all the other villagers, friendly or not, who all had something going on, their own motives and ambitions, and the overlap of how those interact with Bennet’s story was done so well and engaging.
The main romance was great too. While I do not remember quite how the original Pride & Prejudice goes, I do think that fans of that book will get their fill of the same vibes here. The titular emotions are definitely big themes.
I was a bit wary of the third-act breakup/drama, but it was handled wonderfully. Bennet and Darcy’s relationship was great even when at its lows, and I appreciated that there was no extra forced tension. The outward one was more than enough.
Similarly, the homophobic and other microaggressions that Bennet faces at times were handled very well, to the point where I was impressed with Bennet as a character for how composed and reasonably he replied. Definitely taking notes from there.
In the previous books I remember struggling a bit to find my bearings, as they throw you right into a mix of people and the dynamics between them. Here, it is much the same, but I think more exposition was done this time because I wasn’t struggling at all. I immediately connected with the characters and quickly got an idea of their individual relationships.
Overall, this is absolutely my favourite from the series thus far. It was a delight to read, I adored the characters, and the romance hit all the right spots for me.
Another bonus was the lovely illustrations done by Lauren Dombrowski.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
February 22, 2023
RECENSIONE A CURA DI SLANIF
Bennet Keene ha poco più di trent’anni, fa l’editor per romanzi d’amore gay e ha l’affidamento totale del fratello quindicenne Lyon, dopo la prematura morte dei loro genitori. Cerca di fare del suo meglio, ma Lyon è un adolescente con gli ormoni in subbuglio che vive in un piccolo paesino di campagna, perciò il suo compito non è facile.
Darcy Tilney ha quasi cinquant’anni, è vedovo e con un figlio con cui ricucire i rapporti. Tutto vorrebbe tranne che un bel ragazzo gli complicasse la situazione, ma è quel che accade quando si prende un periodo sabbatico dal lavoro e va nella sua villa di campagna per riflettere e lì si imbatte in Benny.
L’inizio tra Bennet e Darcy non è dei migliori, ma com’è che si dice? Ah, sì: che la linea tra odio e amore è incredibilmente sottile…
Continua sul nostro blog!
Bennet Keene ha poco più di trent’anni, fa l’editor per romanzi d’amore gay e ha l’affidamento totale del fratello quindicenne Lyon, dopo la prematura morte dei loro genitori. Cerca di fare del suo meglio, ma Lyon è un adolescente con gli ormoni in subbuglio che vive in un piccolo paesino di campagna, perciò il suo compito non è facile.
Darcy Tilney ha quasi cinquant’anni, è vedovo e con un figlio con cui ricucire i rapporti. Tutto vorrebbe tranne che un bel ragazzo gli complicasse la situazione, ma è quel che accade quando si prende un periodo sabbatico dal lavoro e va nella sua villa di campagna per riflettere e lì si imbatte in Benny.
L’inizio tra Bennet e Darcy non è dei migliori, ma com’è che si dice? Ah, sì: che la linea tra odio e amore è incredibilmente sottile…
Continua sul nostro blog!
June 29, 2021
I have enjoyed these gender-bent Austen stories. I was so excited to read this one because Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Jane Austen novel. I was not disappointed!!! Bennett and Darcy were everything I hoped for. Bennett is unashamedly himself while Darcy is still trying to figure himself out. Bennett is just trying to keep an eye on his younger brother and raise him on his own. Darcy is trying to mend bridges with his son Henry and readjust his long repressed thoughts and feelings after a lifetime of hiding them. It was almost painful to read as poor Darcy tried to figure out how to act around Bennett, but it was so tellingly sweet too when you know the story. Bennett can’t see it though and is convinced Darcy hates him and can’t stand to be around them. He gets such mixed signals! And oh the anguish and mischief caused by Wickham! I loved how this author handled it all! I adored this book and can’t wait for the next one!
September 26, 2022
Pro: BENNET, PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL was the closest to an accurate retelling out of the series so far. I could clearly see the Pride & Prejudice elements and even enjoyed some of the changes made.
Cons: To be honest I was bored. I didn’t feel a connection between Bennet and Darcy. And like I’ve said in my previous reviews of this series it NEEDS dual POV. I wanted to know how Darcy was feeling especially with his attraction to Bennet. I also wanted to see him and his son Henry mend their relationship.
Sadly this series isn’t what I was hoping. We’ve lost one of our Pack in the buddy read and us remaining two have decided to take a break before continuing. Persuasion is one of my favorites but at this point I don’t have high hopes. We shall see. 2.5-3 Stars? I’m not even sure.
Cons: To be honest I was bored. I didn’t feel a connection between Bennet and Darcy. And like I’ve said in my previous reviews of this series it NEEDS dual POV. I wanted to know how Darcy was feeling especially with his attraction to Bennet. I also wanted to see him and his son Henry mend their relationship.
Sadly this series isn’t what I was hoping. We’ve lost one of our Pack in the buddy read and us remaining two have decided to take a break before continuing. Persuasion is one of my favorites but at this point I don’t have high hopes. We shall see. 2.5-3 Stars? I’m not even sure.
July 4, 2021
3,5/5
C'est toujours avec grand plaisir que je découvre un nouveau roman d'Anyta Sunday. Dans cette série où elle propose des réécritures des romans de Jane Austen, mes impressions sont plutôt en dents de scie... Si j'ai été moyennement emballée par le premier tome, j'ai adoré le second !
Dans ce troisième tome, il est question d'une réécriture d'Orgueil et Préjugés, comme on peut s'en douter rien qu'avec le titre. Pour le coup, c'est le seul roman de l'auteur que j'ai lu, et même si je n'en garde pas un super souvenir, j'ai toujours beaucoup aimé les adaptations tv et ciné que j'ai pu voir.
J'ai eu beaucoup de mal à rentrer dans cette histoire. Je ne sais pas si ça venait de moi ou pas, probablement un peu... J'ai du relire les premières pages, après une très courte pause où j'ai préféré lire un autre roman histoire de ne pas gâcher celui-ci. Mon impression était la même qu'au départ, si ce n'est que j'étais un peu plus concentrée sur l'histoire. Il m'a fallu attendre presque la moitié du roman pour m'attacher un peu aux personnages et me sentir concernée par leur couple.
Je pense qu'il m'a manqué quelque chose au départ, car même si c'est un joli slow burn, je trouve que l'auteur rentre d'emblée dans le sujet, à savoir l'intérêt que se portent les personnage de Darcy et de Bennet. Passé ce cap, j'ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont ils se tournent autour, tous leurs échanges.
Bennet est un personnage plutôt lumineux et fière de son orientation sexuelle, ce qui forcément crée une sorte de grand écart avec Darcy, qui reste plutôt énigmatique une bonne partie du roman.
De ce côté-là, j'avoue avoir retrouvé le caractère du Darcy original d'Austen.
A côté, on a bien sûr toute une panoplie de personnages secondaires. J'ai pu retrouver avec grand plaisir Cameron et Henry un court moment, d'ailleurs j'ai adoré tout ce passage ! On a aussi Lyon, le petit frère de Benny, qui, franchement, m'a exaspéré plus d'une fois... Et puis un autre personnage masculin, pas vraiment aimable...
Ce fut une bonne lecture une fois que j'ai pu rentrer dedans, mais il m'a manqué quelque chose pour succomber à l'histoire de ce petit couple. Dommage aussi que le roman soit si court, j'ai l'impression d'avoir eu trop peu d'eux et puis aussi plus de développement n'aurait pas fait de mal...
Ma note a augmenté au fur et à mesure de ma lecture, ce qui est un bon point et ce qui n'arrive, pour ainsi dire, pratiquement jamais ^^
C'est toujours avec grand plaisir que je découvre un nouveau roman d'Anyta Sunday. Dans cette série où elle propose des réécritures des romans de Jane Austen, mes impressions sont plutôt en dents de scie... Si j'ai été moyennement emballée par le premier tome, j'ai adoré le second !
Dans ce troisième tome, il est question d'une réécriture d'Orgueil et Préjugés, comme on peut s'en douter rien qu'avec le titre. Pour le coup, c'est le seul roman de l'auteur que j'ai lu, et même si je n'en garde pas un super souvenir, j'ai toujours beaucoup aimé les adaptations tv et ciné que j'ai pu voir.
J'ai eu beaucoup de mal à rentrer dans cette histoire. Je ne sais pas si ça venait de moi ou pas, probablement un peu... J'ai du relire les premières pages, après une très courte pause où j'ai préféré lire un autre roman histoire de ne pas gâcher celui-ci. Mon impression était la même qu'au départ, si ce n'est que j'étais un peu plus concentrée sur l'histoire. Il m'a fallu attendre presque la moitié du roman pour m'attacher un peu aux personnages et me sentir concernée par leur couple.
Je pense qu'il m'a manqué quelque chose au départ, car même si c'est un joli slow burn, je trouve que l'auteur rentre d'emblée dans le sujet, à savoir l'intérêt que se portent les personnage de Darcy et de Bennet. Passé ce cap, j'ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont ils se tournent autour, tous leurs échanges.
Bennet est un personnage plutôt lumineux et fière de son orientation sexuelle, ce qui forcément crée une sorte de grand écart avec Darcy, qui reste plutôt énigmatique une bonne partie du roman.
De ce côté-là, j'avoue avoir retrouvé le caractère du Darcy original d'Austen.
A côté, on a bien sûr toute une panoplie de personnages secondaires. J'ai pu retrouver avec grand plaisir Cameron et Henry un court moment, d'ailleurs j'ai adoré tout ce passage ! On a aussi Lyon, le petit frère de Benny, qui, franchement, m'a exaspéré plus d'une fois... Et puis un autre personnage masculin, pas vraiment aimable...
Ce fut une bonne lecture une fois que j'ai pu rentrer dedans, mais il m'a manqué quelque chose pour succomber à l'histoire de ce petit couple. Dommage aussi que le roman soit si court, j'ai l'impression d'avoir eu trop peu d'eux et puis aussi plus de développement n'aurait pas fait de mal...
Ma note a augmenté au fur et à mesure de ma lecture, ce qui est un bon point et ce qui n'arrive, pour ainsi dire, pratiquement jamais ^^
June 27, 2021
This modern day M/M retelling of Pride and Prejudice really worked for me. It definitely falls into the slow burn category, Bennet and Darcy taking such a long time to slowly repair their initial impressions and build a friendship as a foundation for more. Bennet is quick to judge, and Darcy comes across as stiff and awkward. But for as frustrating as Bennet’s harsh opinions can get, he goes through a great deal of character growth. He admits when he’s wrong, especially when it comes to seeing the generous and genuinely kind-hearted man Darcy truly is. Gahhh, and whenever Darcy was all awkward and trying to show his feelings, my heart melted. The bouquet of flowers... *swoon*.
I do wish we got to see a bit more of Bennet and Darcy together once they admit their feelings, but this is just me being not ready to say goodbye. It’s such an emotional and physical slow burn, but the evolution of their feelings is conveyed through stolen glances and every single interaction. Bennet and Darcy have the kind of easy magnetism that will hook you from their very first encounter. Simply gorgeous!
I do wish we got to see a bit more of Bennet and Darcy together once they admit their feelings, but this is just me being not ready to say goodbye. It’s such an emotional and physical slow burn, but the evolution of their feelings is conveyed through stolen glances and every single interaction. Bennet and Darcy have the kind of easy magnetism that will hook you from their very first encounter. Simply gorgeous!
July 7, 2021
3,5 stars ... upgraded to 4 as Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Jane Austen book.
I love Jane Austen and especially Pride and Prejudice
Therefore I couldn't wait to read this book ... but I was slightly disappointed.
The first half was difficult for me as, in my opinion, the transition from Austen to this contemporary LGBT was a bit rocky. I do understand why some dialogues were used nearly verbatim to the original. But especially the first one needed a bit more around it.
The second half was much better and I enjoyed Bennet and his way to Darcy.
Some of the original plots were very well done in this one and I think I will re-read this book as well.
All in all, a great read for Austen lovers
I love Jane Austen and especially Pride and Prejudice
Therefore I couldn't wait to read this book ... but I was slightly disappointed.
The first half was difficult for me as, in my opinion, the transition from Austen to this contemporary LGBT was a bit rocky. I do understand why some dialogues were used nearly verbatim to the original. But especially the first one needed a bit more around it.
The second half was much better and I enjoyed Bennet and his way to Darcy.
Some of the original plots were very well done in this one and I think I will re-read this book as well.
All in all, a great read for Austen lovers
June 25, 2021
Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time faves and this contemporary MM version was definitely a one sitting read. The author crafted a superbly written and perfectly paced novel which stays very true to the much loved original. Even knowing the storyline so well, I couldn’t stop turning the pages as I had to know how the next part of the classic would be presented and I was at no stage disappointed.
Bennett and Darcy navigate their way to an HEA despite some troubles along the way. They do have undeniable chemistry but this a very slow burn, low heat romance with a dash of angst and some humorous moments thrown in to keep it all nicely balanced.
I thoroughly enjoyed this very engaging book and highly recommend it.
Bennett and Darcy navigate their way to an HEA despite some troubles along the way. They do have undeniable chemistry but this a very slow burn, low heat romance with a dash of angst and some humorous moments thrown in to keep it all nicely balanced.
I thoroughly enjoyed this very engaging book and highly recommend it.
September 12, 2021
I like the way this book made me feel - great big smiles, swoony thoughts, get it together already feelings.
Bennet and Darcy, both kinder than their Austen counterparts, are oblivious.
Bennet in Bingley’s house with his leg showing through the dressing gown and Darcy’s reaction really worked for me. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the book - super sexy yet simple.
Lyon shines! He’s such a delight and I hope he will get his own book when he grows up. Charlie, too, needs his own story.
I do wish Bingley had been…not a horrible woman. I missed the Austen Bingley very much…so much actually. He and Darcy are bromance goals, and this could have been a highlight.
I loved the moments with Darcy and Bennet best.
Cannot wait for the next installment because this series truly works for me.
Bennet and Darcy, both kinder than their Austen counterparts, are oblivious.
Bennet in Bingley’s house with his leg showing through the dressing gown and Darcy’s reaction really worked for me. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the book - super sexy yet simple.
Lyon shines! He’s such a delight and I hope he will get his own book when he grows up. Charlie, too, needs his own story.
I do wish Bingley had been…not a horrible woman. I missed the Austen Bingley very much…so much actually. He and Darcy are bromance goals, and this could have been a highlight.
I loved the moments with Darcy and Bennet best.
Cannot wait for the next installment because this series truly works for me.
July 9, 2021
No one had ever lived up to the brightness of his dreams.
June 28, 2021
It’s dizzyingly fun watching the author adapt the plot, and characters, of Austen’s most iconic novel for this romance: out, proud, deeply noble and opinionated Bennet is a credit to his inspiration, and his little brother Lyon, who does the work of all the Bennet siblings in the original, is a wonderful, complicated, fully realized human, and honestly, kind of my new favorite person. Charlie and Ms. Collins are so much more, I promise you, than you’re expecting them to be.
Caroline Bingley remains, as ever, a real piece of work. Darcy too, lives up to his archetype, and watching Bennet’s opinion of him change over the course of a novel full of longing, quipping, pining, misunderstandings and social politics is exactly as satisfying as you might anticipate it to be. Genteel horseback rides over country estates? Check. Heartfelt karaoke? Also check.
I also loved that Darcy is a recognizable (and much redeemed) character from an earlier novel in this series-- you don’t have to have read it for this one to work, but obviously, you should: all of the stories are beautifully written and more than do justice to the premises from which they’re adapted. Plus, you can never have too many delicately wrought romances inspired by Jane Austen.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Caroline Bingley remains, as ever, a real piece of work. Darcy too, lives up to his archetype, and watching Bennet’s opinion of him change over the course of a novel full of longing, quipping, pining, misunderstandings and social politics is exactly as satisfying as you might anticipate it to be. Genteel horseback rides over country estates? Check. Heartfelt karaoke? Also check.
I also loved that Darcy is a recognizable (and much redeemed) character from an earlier novel in this series-- you don’t have to have read it for this one to work, but obviously, you should: all of the stories are beautifully written and more than do justice to the premises from which they’re adapted. Plus, you can never have too many delicately wrought romances inspired by Jane Austen.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 28, 2021
At no surprise to me, I loved this. While Bennet and Darcy are a bit more formal than I'm used to in the stories I read, they both were endearing with a lot of heart. And seeing as I haven't actually read Austen before, this story was the most recognizable to me. Also, Bennet's younger brother sure is interesting- the kind of teen that says things for shock value. But he just wants what we all want, to be accepted and loved.
The town they live in is quirky, with their gossip forum and all the karaoke. But at it's heart they all seem to care about it's people. And I loved seeing bits of Darcy's family, and at points other characters from previous stories. This was a slow burn, but also mostly felt like these two were dancing around one another the whole time, so it's there right from the start. Bennet and Darcy are both awkward, and where I see all the cute little things Darcy tries to do or say, Bennet is an expert at misreading the situation!
Also, it's worth mentioning the amazing illustrations throughout the book and the beautiful cover. Fantastic.
The town they live in is quirky, with their gossip forum and all the karaoke. But at it's heart they all seem to care about it's people. And I loved seeing bits of Darcy's family, and at points other characters from previous stories. This was a slow burn, but also mostly felt like these two were dancing around one another the whole time, so it's there right from the start. Bennet and Darcy are both awkward, and where I see all the cute little things Darcy tries to do or say, Bennet is an expert at misreading the situation!
Also, it's worth mentioning the amazing illustrations throughout the book and the beautiful cover. Fantastic.
June 29, 2021
I love this adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Anyta Sunday did a fantastic job with this book! Bennett, Pride Before The Fall is a slow burn and age gap romance. Bennett had always dream to find Mr. Right, someone who is proud to be in public with him and of themselves, Bennet is out and proud but he is also a little judge-y and harsh, he is taking care of his brother and trying to get the acceptance of the people in their small town.
Darcy is a little awkward and stiff but is also kind and he loves his family, he is trying to accept himself and his feelings.
This book is really entertaining and I enjoy watching Bennet and Darcy navigate their feelings and awkward situations, there’s a few misunderstanding between these two, but you will enjoy their journey to get their HEA. All of the characters in these story were a great addition, I love this series and I hope we get more books! I highly recommended this book!
Darcy is a little awkward and stiff but is also kind and he loves his family, he is trying to accept himself and his feelings.
This book is really entertaining and I enjoy watching Bennet and Darcy navigate their feelings and awkward situations, there’s a few misunderstanding between these two, but you will enjoy their journey to get their HEA. All of the characters in these story were a great addition, I love this series and I hope we get more books! I highly recommended this book!
July 2, 2021
***Received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
I have to say that Anyta Sunday never disappoints. This was a fun read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the small-town romance with nosy neighbors. Immensely entertained by karaoke nights, horse riding, Wool Ball, and Shear-A-Sheep Day.
Bennet and Darcy were written adequately. Darcy stole my heart. Darcy doesn't express much but when he does it just wins your heart. You start to understand him more. Bennet though is judgemental and very opinionated is also very courageous to ask for forgiveness when he is at fault.
The highlight of the book is Lyon and Bennet's cheeky banter.
There is a special appearance of my favorite characters in the Pride event.
Overall it's was a very good written slow-burn romance with some beautiful tender moments shared by the MCs which gave me butterflies.
I have to say that Anyta Sunday never disappoints. This was a fun read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the small-town romance with nosy neighbors. Immensely entertained by karaoke nights, horse riding, Wool Ball, and Shear-A-Sheep Day.
Bennet and Darcy were written adequately. Darcy stole my heart. Darcy doesn't express much but when he does it just wins your heart. You start to understand him more. Bennet though is judgemental and very opinionated is also very courageous to ask for forgiveness when he is at fault.
The highlight of the book is Lyon and Bennet's cheeky banter.
There is a special appearance of my favorite characters in the Pride event.
Overall it's was a very good written slow-burn romance with some beautiful tender moments shared by the MCs which gave me butterflies.
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