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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
linnea1801's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Infidelity, and Homophobia
fromthefoxhole's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
It's a sapphic retelling of Pride and Prejudice, of course I cried or squealed the entire time.
I love the modernizations and tweaks to the plot that keep it refreshing. Focusing on a queer found family, gender bending half the cast, and never shying away from heavy handed pop culture references all point to 2023, but there's still so much respect being paid to the source material.
I love Liz. In any p+p adaptation Lizzie is my twin flame, but Liz especially came swinging for me with conflicted feelings on gender presentation, taking the leap to become an author, and general rage against capitalism. I completely used up two bunches of sticky tabs with things said, referenced, or done that I felt were relatable. Tack on the deep sense of injustice with how little representation of the broader spectrum of queer folks exists out there? Its like Kellogg ripped my brain out of my skull and smeared it on the page (ew, why is that my metaphor? I'm so sorry).
I've always wanted to be a very openly and loudly queer person because I never had that growing up (I'm being so real, I think the closest I had was clay Aiken being gay. shout out clay Aiken, I guess?). I definitely didn't have a non binary pansexual role model (or probably whatever other labels might define me down the road). I feel very strongly that I don't want future generations of queers to feel the same loss I do from the past decades of marginalization and hiding and violence. Seeing that reflected in Liz's deep appreciation for Moira, her delight in finding queer spaces and seeing other people confident and happy, knowing that Kellogg feels those things too, it really helps me feel connected across the miles.
okay, hopping off my soapbox to say - this book is so gay!! I don't even know if there's a straight amongst the entire cast. there are non binary people, trans people, gay and lesbian and bi people, the whole gamut. half of the lesbians have dated each other, as is tradition, there's a non binary person with a bow tie obsession. It would feel like caricatures of I didn't know those people in my own life, y'know? there are so many references and inside Jokes, winks and nudges to the queer reader that feel like Kellogg herself is writing to us directly.
reading just as you are felt like receiving a gentle kiss on the forehead. I want to frame the entire thing, or use it as wallpaper or something.
I love the modernizations and tweaks to the plot that keep it refreshing. Focusing on a queer found family, gender bending half the cast, and never shying away from heavy handed pop culture references all point to 2023, but there's still so much respect being paid to the source material.
I love Liz. In any p+p adaptation Lizzie is my twin flame, but Liz especially came swinging for me with conflicted feelings on gender presentation, taking the leap to become an author, and general rage against capitalism. I completely used up two bunches of sticky tabs with things said, referenced, or done that I felt were relatable. Tack on the deep sense of injustice with how little representation of the broader spectrum of queer folks exists out there? Its like Kellogg ripped my brain out of my skull and smeared it on the page (ew, why is that my metaphor? I'm so sorry).
I've always wanted to be a very openly and loudly queer person because I never had that growing up (I'm being so real, I think the closest I had was clay Aiken being gay. shout out clay Aiken, I guess?). I definitely didn't have a non binary pansexual role model (or probably whatever other labels might define me down the road). I feel very strongly that I don't want future generations of queers to feel the same loss I do from the past decades of marginalization and hiding and violence. Seeing that reflected in Liz's deep appreciation for Moira, her delight in finding queer spaces and seeing other people confident and happy, knowing that Kellogg feels those things too, it really helps me feel connected across the miles.
okay, hopping off my soapbox to say - this book is so gay!! I don't even know if there's a straight amongst the entire cast. there are non binary people, trans people, gay and lesbian and bi people, the whole gamut. half of the lesbians have dated each other, as is tradition, there's a non binary person with a bow tie obsession. It would feel like caricatures of I didn't know those people in my own life, y'know? there are so many references and inside Jokes, winks and nudges to the queer reader that feel like Kellogg herself is writing to us directly.
reading just as you are felt like receiving a gentle kiss on the forehead. I want to frame the entire thing, or use it as wallpaper or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria and Cursing
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Drug use
Minor: Lesbophobia and Outing
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