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books4em's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So glad I read this! The positive queer rep in this is beautiful and so refreshing to see. There are hard emotional parts and mentions of homophobia, but everyone in here is proud to be queer. I wouldn’t necessarily call this a romcom though, there’s definitely a strong romance plot line but so much of it surrounds other story lines. But that being said, I loved our protagonist and the discussions on gender presentation and the frustrating feelings of presenting in between stereotypical gender aesthetics and gloating back and forth. Great read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Body shaming
plumpatio's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fun queer Pride & Prejudice retelling. Rambunctious cast and modern trappings transform the classic into a believable workplace dramedy. Women characters abound with authentic-feeling friendships in all their messy glory.
I struggled, as I have with other adaptations, to appreciate how the attraction between Liz and Daria helped contextualize what still felt like swift romantic developments. Still, it was a pleasurable read with inventive reimaginings of characters and plot points.
Liz is a listicle writer, Jane is a trans woman journalist, Katie and Lydia are their roommates and coworkers, and Daria and Bailey are the new owners of the Nether Fields, a queer magazine on the verge of shuttering. Liz grapples with her gender presentation and the body dysphoria that accompanies it, which adds a layer to a flawed, imperfect character.
I struggled, as I have with other adaptations, to appreciate how the attraction between Liz and Daria helped contextualize what still felt like swift romantic developments. Still, it was a pleasurable read with inventive reimaginings of characters and plot points.
Liz is a listicle writer, Jane is a trans woman journalist, Katie and Lydia are their roommates and coworkers, and Daria and Bailey are the new owners of the Nether Fields, a queer magazine on the verge of shuttering. Liz grapples with her gender presentation and the body dysphoria that accompanies it, which adds a layer to a flawed, imperfect character.
- Pride & Prejudice retelling
- Workplace romance
- lesbian!Darcy
- Queer woman cast of characters
- Wickham's still the worst
- Caroline continues to meddle
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria
Minor: Emotional abuse
katelynnelawson's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Just as You Are hits a fine line, paying dutiful homage to Austen's Pride and Prejudice while still remaining very much its own story - Kellogg's playfully crafted take on modern queer life in NYC.
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Classism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Lesbophobia
m_yinger's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very corny in its use of current lesbian terms and pop culture references. <I didn’t like how the main non-binary/person who used they/them pronouns was vilified and unlike the source material for this book was not redeemed.>
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Addiction
rickireadss's review
2.0
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an earc!!
wow, where do i even begin? since this is an ARC, i am gonna try (key word is try) and be short and sweet and not do a long af review. but this is a VERY negative review. proceed with caution. cw listed at the end!
wow, where do i even begin? since this is an ARC, i am gonna try (key word is try) and be short and sweet and not do a long af review. but this is a VERY negative review. proceed with caution. cw listed at the end!
first, i couldn't stand either mc. being in liz's head the entire book was unbearable, but i also don't think i would have liked to be in dalia's head either. liz's inner monologue was just not my favorite. she made quite a few mistakes in this book - which like i get it, she's human and "relatable" but sometimes i just wanted to shake her.
second, wtf was the reason for weston to even be in this????? I COULD NOT STAND HER AT ALL and she was in the book for waaaaaaay too damn long.
third and in that same respect, lydia belongs to the long list of characters i hate. they were a trash human being, did things with out any give-a-shit for those around them, and treated katie like absolute shit. like literally the only characters i genuinely liked were katie and jane, although jane did some stuff in the end that i didn't agree with but whatever.
fourth, the plot was boring af. i kept reading just to see if it got better and NOPE it did not.
all-in-all, i hated reading this. i was VERY excited because i love queer romances, especially ff romances and it was workplace romance?!?! but this did not deliver, and i do not recommend.
⚠️: homophobia, infidelity, toxic relationship, toxic friendship, drug use, emotional abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug use and Emotional abuse
decklededgess's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: gender dysphoria, emotional abuse, drug use, alcohol, sexual content, toxic friendship, anxiety, infidelity
This is an all femme cast retelling of Pride and Prejudice in found family/coworker dynamics instead of family. That is why it took me 30% of the book to realise that it was a retelling despite the names Jane, Liz, Lydia, Katie, Charlotte, and so on STARING ME IN THE FUCKING FACE. Frankly embarrassing for me.
Needless to say I am absolutely over the moon and obsessed with how good this book is. It's got all the angst, all the tension filled enemies to lovers interactions, the tight knit family/friends dynamics, and more. The drawn out tension between Liz and Daria was EXQUISITE. The way their interactions were charged with heat from the dead start...oh man oh boy.
I love how this story hit all the significant plot points of not only Jane Austen's original text but also the 2005 movie adaptation as well. It felt cinematic in an incredibly poetic way. I also really loved the small changes that allowed for this story to exist with an all queer femme cast too. The little changes did nothing to detract from the heart of the story and the emotional aspects of character relationships. It felt well crafted as an original story within the framework of it being a classic retelling.
I just really loved this book.
This is an all femme cast retelling of Pride and Prejudice in found family/coworker dynamics instead of family. That is why it took me 30% of the book to realise that it was a retelling despite the names Jane, Liz, Lydia, Katie, Charlotte, and so on STARING ME IN THE FUCKING FACE. Frankly embarrassing for me.
Needless to say I am absolutely over the moon and obsessed with how good this book is. It's got all the angst, all the tension filled enemies to lovers interactions, the tight knit family/friends dynamics, and more. The drawn out tension between Liz and Daria was EXQUISITE. The way their interactions were charged with heat from the dead start...oh man oh boy.
I love how this story hit all the significant plot points of not only Jane Austen's original text but also the 2005 movie adaptation as well. It felt cinematic in an incredibly poetic way. I also really loved the small changes that allowed for this story to exist with an all queer femme cast too. The little changes did nothing to detract from the heart of the story and the emotional aspects of character relationships. It felt well crafted as an original story within the framework of it being a classic retelling.
I just really loved this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Drug use, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
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