Quick Synopsis – In this modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the quick-witted and contrarian Lissie Cheng must navigate societal pressures and her growing attraction to the rich and enigmatic Preston Lin.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Bad Habit By Steve Lacy

Publication Date – March 19, 2024

Rating – 3 out of 5 ⭐

Review – This is an updated Pride and Prejudice retelling that is set in the modern-day Bay Area in California. Lissie (Elizabeth Bennet) works at her Aunt and Uncle’s Chinese restaurant. One fateful night, Preston Lin (Darcy), his mother, and the Bings (the Bingleys) are seated in Lissie’s area. While the restaurant is slammed, Lissie makes a huge mistake and serves Hazel a dish that has shellfish in it, of which she is allergic. Chaos ensues, and Lissie is “fired” from the restaurant. Now, as penance, she is forced to chauffeur her little sister JoJo around. And of course, she just keeps being roped into Preston’s orbit.

The number one thing I didn’t love about this book is that Lissie is an English major who likes Pride and Prejudice. There is a Fall Ball in the book with Lissie and her sister Jenny dressed as the Bennet Sisters. Even during this part, at no point does Lissie mention the similarities between Pride and Prejudice and her own situation. It’s so frustrating that the main character has knowledge of the events in the Austen novel, but it never clicks that this is just like that.

I do love that this novel updates and shifts the “Wickham” storyline. JoJo is 14 years old, and any storyline where she runs away with an adult male would have been gross. The updated storyline still has a Wickham who is wicked 😉, but there is no pedophilia or inappropriate relations with minors.

This updated retelling is a little too copy and paste for me. I would have liked more kisses or any sort of physicality. I thought the yearning was nice, but it just felt like the stakes could have been updated. It was just lacking a little oomph.

Thanks to NetGalley and Third State Books for the ARC.