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darcy124's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
lmkanne96's review against another edition
4.0
A great retelling of a classic story. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as Elizabeth Acevedo is always an amazing narrator!
paige87's review against another edition
4.0
I adored the writing style, and the family-community the author created. This little safe haven in a big city. She really made it feel like a home. Our main characters made me feel all the emotions the original Elizabeth and Darcy made me feel.
It did get a little caught up in the retelling aspect at times, not able to focus solely on the story itself. That did hinder the flow of the story a bit. But in the author's acknowledgements she wrote that the current political situation made the early drafts "a muddy pool of disappointment, anger, and fear". The author said she "needed an anchor - a structure to hold on to, something that would guide this love story toward healing and reconciliation". With that in mind, I can appreciate the purpose of this retelling.
Over all, this was a fantastic read.
It did get a little caught up in the retelling aspect at times, not able to focus solely on the story itself. That did hinder the flow of the story a bit. But in the author's acknowledgements she wrote that the current political situation made the early drafts "a muddy pool of disappointment, anger, and fear". The author said she "needed an anchor - a structure to hold on to, something that would guide this love story toward healing and reconciliation". With that in mind, I can appreciate the purpose of this retelling.
Over all, this was a fantastic read.
lilianareads's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
willowshelter's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
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? N/A
4.25
jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
I so enjoyed reading this book. I was a little worried, as I adore Pride and Prejudice, but I had nothing to fear. This is a wonderful reimagining of the story. And I really loved Zuri. She's fantastic.
stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in modern-day gentrifying Bushwick, Brooklyn. The book kept true to the spirit of the original without being bound by all the specific details. Loved rooting for Elizabeth Bennet - aka Zuri (ZZ) Benitez.
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
This re-telling of one of the all-time great novels (Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice) was a sloooow start for me. Haitian-Dominican Zuri Benitez and her four sisters live in a diverse, colorful neighborhood in Brooklyn. When the deserted house across the street is torn down and rebuilt by a well-to-do black family, a whole cascade of changes in Zuri's life begin. And that's before she gets to know their sons.
What works really well is the setting. I wanted to move to Bushwick immediately. And also Zuri. She is strong, opinionated, stubborn, and--although she would never admit it-- terrified of all the changes that are coming at her like a rushing river. Her beloved older sister comes back from college changed, the neighborhood is changing, her friends are suddenly interested in boys, college is looming on the horizon.
What doesn't work so well is the romance between Zuri and Darius Darcy, the new boy across the street. Darius doesn't have much personality. In fact, it's hard to understand why Zuri dislikes him so intensely, because unlike the original Darcy-- who was a rude snob who publicly embarrassed Lizzie at a dance the first time they meet-- Darius just seems like a blandly nice guy. So Zuri's dislike comes across as simple reverse snobbery, which makes her seem kind of ridiculous.
Because of that, it took me quite awhile to warm up to her. But by the end of the novel, she had me completely won over. Like the original, this retelling is about class, economics, and strong women finding their place in the world. Zoboi adds in the element of race, which works well. But I think this novel works best if I think about it without referring to the Austen original.
What works really well is the setting. I wanted to move to Bushwick immediately. And also Zuri. She is strong, opinionated, stubborn, and--although she would never admit it-- terrified of all the changes that are coming at her like a rushing river. Her beloved older sister comes back from college changed, the neighborhood is changing, her friends are suddenly interested in boys, college is looming on the horizon.
What doesn't work so well is the romance between Zuri and Darius Darcy, the new boy across the street. Darius doesn't have much personality. In fact, it's hard to understand why Zuri dislikes him so intensely, because unlike the original Darcy-- who was a rude snob who publicly embarrassed Lizzie at a dance the first time they meet-- Darius just seems like a blandly nice guy. So Zuri's dislike comes across as simple reverse snobbery, which makes her seem kind of ridiculous.
Because of that, it took me quite awhile to warm up to her. But by the end of the novel, she had me completely won over. Like the original, this retelling is about class, economics, and strong women finding their place in the world. Zoboi adds in the element of race, which works well. But I think this novel works best if I think about it without referring to the Austen original.
bookschaosnart's review against another edition
5.0
I actively dislike every Pride & Prejudice adaptation I've ever read so I wouldn't have picked up this one with out it being a book club pick. I'm so glad they picked it. It was a great story and the parallels with Pride & Prejudice in this modern day story were enough to be familiar but not enough to have me dislike it. Well written, poignant, and a great representation of the life of a happy family in Brooklyn.