Welcome to Litsy!

4.5/5

The Wedding Setup isn't on Litsy, so I'm reviewing under a different Sonali Dev novel.

Sometimes romance short stories feel rushed to me, but The Wedding Setup was perfect. Ayesha's grief and her relationships with Emmett, Bela, and her mother were all so well done is so few pages. It was a quick, emotional read, and I loved it.

#wgwordsearch - 1
@Jadams1776 #AVeryMerryBingo - Jingle Bells
#TeamGameSleighers #WinterGames2021 @StayCurious

I've started and put this down a few times, and I've finally decided it just isn't going to work for me. After 100 pages I don't care for either of the main characters and Trisha's family dynamics are annoying. Out to the little free library it goes!
@TheAromaofBooks this was my August #doublespin

What a lovely read! Fluffy and frustrating and fun on one hand, and a deep examination of family ties, race, and how the world perceives us on the other. Just like the original, you can‘t help rooting for the characters even at their most foolish. And, of course, the requisite happy ending — perfection! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hoping for something a little more light-hearted after my last brain-scrambling read...

If I didn‘t read [...] I wouldn‘t know how to believe that there was more to the world than this.

The title is what got me to pick this book up and read it. It was a bit lengthy and could definitely have been told in fewer pages but overall it was a good read.

Finally got around to reading this P&P reimagining & enjoyed it. A few nit picky things about it, such as the characters dwelling on the same thoughts several times, which made it a little long. Several storylines are involved, & you get to know the whole family. I already bought the next one—i know the characters now, & it‘s based on Persuasion, another fave Austen for me. Using this for the prompt of a retelling in my library‘s challenge.

Enjoying a few hours of early morning reading. ☕️

In today's episode of the Unabridged Podcast, Ashley, Sara, and I chat about our Book Club pick for February, Sonali Dev's Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors. I love this retelling of Pride and Prejudice SO much, and we had a great conversation about the strengths of this book.⠀
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If you're interested in chatting about this one, we're having an IG chat on Monday, February 15—let me know if you 'd like to join!

Despite some pretty annoying flubs (like violating privacy regulations...) this is an overall pick. I‘m a big fan of Dev and am delighted she‘s rewriting the Austen works. While this certainly isn‘t the best retelling I‘ve read, I liked that our heroine was a damn smart doctor!

(And I think this is my last super-delayed review for #pemberlittens)

#BlitsyHistoryMonth #BHMS

1. Sci-fi, fantasy, horror
2. Bookmarks (especially magnetic ones), mugs, and stickers
3. Backlist
4. Black mermaids, enamel pins, earrings
5. Both!

I finished my first book off @Amandajoy ‘s #NewYearWhoDis list. I enjoyed it a lot! The best things were that it isn‘t a straight retelling (only inspired by Austen), the way the Wickham character is handled, and that both main characters really cared about their careers. And the food descriptions! The negative was that it felt long for the amount of story, but it is still a strong pick and I‘ll definitely read the series.

Made a good start on my first pick from the #NewYearWhoDis list by @Amandajoy and I‘m enjoying it. I didn‘t realize until I started that this author wrote Bollywood Bride, which I read a few years ago. I‘m looking forward to seeing where this retelling goes.

4 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an enjoyable retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It was definitely slow in some parts, considering the fact that we knew how everything would turn out. The suspense over the drama with Julia was drawn out a bit long before it was revealed, but it definitely made things interesting between all of the family drama. I do think that some parts of the resolution were a bit too 'tidy' but it was nice nonetheless.

I finally have power again!

Comment any remaining thoughts you would like to share about the book! Would you recommend it to other #PemberLittens? While it's not one of my favorite adaptations, I would still recommend it to other Austenites!

@OriginalCyn620 @AmandaJoy @DAB @katy4peas @kdgordon88 @chrissyreadit @janeycanuck

Our 2nd discussion question! #PemberLittens #buddyread

I think Austen would really appreciate the aspects of the story that tackle class strife and perceptions of privilege. And the food. Because who wouldn't like all the delicious food descriptions? 😆

@OriginalCyn620 @AmandaJoy @DAB @katy4peas @kdgordon88 @chrissyreadit @janeycanuck

Good: flipping traditional gender roles; updating a classic. Bad: overly long and a little whiny. Overall: average/adequate read.

It's time for our #BuddyRead discussion of Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors! Here's a discussion question to get us started.

Let me know if I forget to tag anyone who wanted to join in on the discussion!
@OriginalCyn620 @AmandaJoy @DAB @katy4peas @kdgordon88 @chrissyreadit @janeycanuck

#PemberLittens

I liked that this was a gender swapped retelling of P&P, with “Lizzie” cast as the talented chef DJ Caine (despite the D standing for Darcy), and the role of Darcy is accomplished neurosurgeon Trisha Raje, who also happens to come from an aristocratic Indian family. Yay for desi retellings!

The medical surgical plot was a big miss for me, and I cringed at every HIPAA violation and ridiculous portrayal of what it‘s like to be a surgeon. ⬇️

If this book was written in 2020, that would probably say COVID-19. Covid would be a good reason to hide away from family in quarantine from the CDC for 2 weeks. 🤷🏻‍♀️😔 #pemberlittens

Probably an #unpopularopinion, but I just couldn‘t! For a P&P retelling, it felt like more of a family drama than a romance. I don‘t care so much about hard ass parents, several siblings, cousins, grandmothers, etc...too many characters to keep up with. And I don‘t need to be told repeatedly that the the MC, Trisha (who is the worst, IMO), is an outcast in her own family. Tell me once or twice, then start telling me why! If I felt like there👇🏻

This was a good book. What can I say about its Pride and Prejudice angle? That portion was very mixed up and the adaptation was not very straight forward. Love the ethnicity of the book strong character.

I really hate when you are waiting for the author to get to the point and they spend two page talking about a picture.

Started this one on Monday but didn‘t get too far, but today, I made more of a dent. Starting this book was one of my goals for #OutstandingOctober...I‘ll see if I can finish it as well during the readathon!

Also, looking forward to the #PemberLittens buddy read discussion later this month!

The alternating between #Screamathon and #PemberLittens reads is going quite well!

Next up, another P&P retelling. I‘ve decided to focus on authors of color this month for my Pride & Prejudice adaptation reading. Enjoying this one with a pumpkin spice iced latte. #buddyread

I totally forgot how much I totally enjoyed these. A blast from the past. Praline in New Orleans.

Southall does have a good Punjabi influence according to Google. I mentioned this because this author speak of it and so did the author of Erotic stories of Punjabi widow. Like a good reader I had to make sure that no plagiarism was going on here. Not true. I was having Deja vu moments as I listen to this book.

“He did that because it was what he wanted. You provide the solutions. In the end, the patient's decision is not on you.“

This is definitely a different kind of variation on the original. There is a greater search that is needed in comparison to Pride and Pride Prejudice and zombies. But I will not despair. Wickham has shown up. Darcy is about. Not too sure who Lizzy is. Can't wait for out discussion.

It is getting better. Still waiting for the Pride and Prejudice angle.

This book is not off to a good start. I am not used to any of my Jane Austen character being so unsure of themselves. I hope this does not continue because it is becoming a downer.

Just could not let the day end without starting another Pride and Prejudice adaptation.

Working from home this morning, and I should not have started reading! Now I want to try finishing the last 150 pages before I do work, because it‘s so good! This is why I don‘t read before work.

Ha ha ha! I love this!

Thanks for the tag @MaleficentBookDragon
1. Indian Royalty Gender Reversal P&P
2. Books + Coffee are essentials in my life. And hugs from my son + husband.
3. Hmm... I want to visit every time, every place and learn as much as I can from the people I meet. If I have to stay in my same location when time traveling, I would maybe choose 1900. If I get to go anywhere in that time, then I would go see some ancient civilizations!

#wondrouswednesday

Trying to set up a #PemberLittens #buddyread for this book! Tagging those who expressed an interest in reading it. I was thinking a discussion the last week of Oct?

💐 💐 💐The #PemberLitten are awesome. Just borrow this pick from @sprainbrain. Thanks for doing some of my leg work. 💐

This is a fun take on P&P, and it is set in the most expensive part of the Bay Area, so that‘s interesting. Darcy in this book take on the role of a poor but very talented chef trying to save his sister with brain cancer. The part of Lizzy, played by Trisha, is a prideful, arrogant, snobbish and brilliant neurosurgeon who is trying to save Darcy‘s sister. It‘s a really good read, a lot of fun, and a sequel which I‘m excited to read. 4 stars

This was hands down my favorite Sonali Dev so far, and just a thoroughly delightful read. Loosely inspired by Austen, rather than a strict adaptation, it explores race, wealth, and class - and of course, miscommunication and love - in the US. The hottie male chef ("Lizzie") and brilliant female neurosurgeon ("Darcy") have great chemistry and interesting back stories. 5❤️

#romantsy

This had a slow start for me, but about a third of the way in I was sold. This was a fun retelling.

Difficult characters, complicated families and life or death situations make book compelling and intense. This one took a bit to get into so it was close to a so-so for me but the strong ending made it a pick. I liked it enough that I will definitely seek out the next one in the series. Overall, a good addition to the world of Austen-inspired stories. #ReadHarder #challenge #2 #MountTBR

#currentread Liking so far . . .

I really enjoyed this one! I especially appreciated the fact that it was not a P&P retelling but rather inspired by Jane Austen and themes she explored - imbalanced power dynamics, assumptions, and preconceived opinions. Very well done!

Next Romance on the TBR pile.

4/5

I thought this was a great Pride and Prejudice retelling. I thought it did a great job of getting to the heart of the novel and bringing it into a modern romance.

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

1. Tagged and LotR and Dune (still - my phone is auto suggesting them now lol)
2. So many! I reread a lot up until uni, esp Robin McKinley, LM Montgomery, Narnia... Then I didn't much for years, but I'm getting back into it now. Tolkien is my current reread.
3. Brunch with friends and then some shopping. I bought books of course. And now a quiet evening at home, good dinner, some reading, some TV. A great day 🙂

Netflix removed the drama I was watching 😮 noooo

Luckily there's #LitsyPartyofOne! Starting off with this book that looks fun.