Small Town Romance + Jane Austen = 💗🙌🏼
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Modern Pride and Prejudice Romance
THE PREMISE: The small farm-town of Meryton is at risk of being incorporated into the kitschy touristy-trap that is Rosings. And Elizabeth is determined to do all she can to protect her recently purchased (and currently being refurbished) Longbourn Farms, preserve the way of life in this beloved farm-town, and fight against the heinous and hideous plans of Rosings Chairwoman, Catherine de Bourgh. Even if it means asking for help from the frustrating and gorgeous enigma that is Liam Darcy…
MY THOUGHTS:
A contemporary Pride and Prejudice romance with small-town vibes? Sign me up! 🙋🏻♀️I love that the small farm-town of Meryton is featured so prominently in this story. And I enjoyed the charming and familiar vibe Jennifer Becton created in this small-town with its town meetings, well-loved shops in the town square, and frequently visited local hotspots. Jennifer Becton did a wonderful job of inventing a small town that feels authentic and inviting. And she got very clever with her fictional creation. I’m already falling in love with Meryton, Georgia, and looking forward to my next visit to Appalachia Apothecary, Pleasing Pages, Modiste, and especially Netherfield Outdoor Adventures!
As you might imagine given its premise, this story follows its own course and does not adhere closely to the plot points and sequence of events of Pride and Prejudice. Which I often find is very refreshing! I enjoyed several of the new twists Jennifer Becton explored in this story, with my favorites being the more supportive and harmonious relationship between the Bennet sisters (not just between Jane and Elizabeth) and Elizabeth’s prior history and feelings towards Liam Darcy. I loved how both Elizabeth and Liam were aware of their strong attraction to each other, how they both tried to suppress or deny that there is anything between them, and how they continued to misjudge each other. In addition, I loved Liam’s fervent desire to prove himself and become something on his own – outside of his family’s prestige and connections.
I heartily approve of the choice to make Rosings Chairwoman Catherine de Bourgh the scheming villainess in this tale and I quite enjoyed her odious and dense lackey and what happens to him! But I did occasionally think that sometimes Catherine’s speeches and opinions felt a little forced and out of place – like they followed her Regency speeches too closely and didn’t fit well with all the updated twists the author created. In addition, part of me wished for a little more time spent on the romantic developments between Liam and Elizabeth. But I know my personal preference is for a lot of romance, and the author may have purposely kept the romance light in order to devote more time to the town’s conflict.
With its small-town charm, heartwarming sense of community, and clever nods to Pride and Prejudice, Live, Love, Longbourn is a delightful and very promising beginning to Jennifer Becton’s The Bennet Sisters series! I cannot wait to return to Meryton and see what happens with the Bennet sisters next!
Sounds like a story I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing here…on the pile it goes.
I hope you get the chance to read it soon!
Thank you for adding it to your TBR pile. Please let me know how you like it. ♥
Lovely review. I read this one and liked it very much. Thanks!
Thanks so much, Jen! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it as well!
Thank you so much! ♥
This sounds like a story that would be very much to my taste. I look forward to giving it a go!
It is a fun and fresh escape – I hope you get the chance to read it soon!
I hope you enjoy Live, Love, Longbourn. Please let me know what you think if you read it. ♥
Ooh, this sounds fun.
Definitely!
I had such fun writing it! I hope you enjoy reading it too.♥
This sounds delightful. I haven’t read anything by Jennifer Becton recently so I’m just looking forward to her writing, too.
Same here – I loved reading her writing again!
I hope you enjoy the story! ♥
Fun small town setting and I’ll look forward to trying this one. Thanks for the review, Meredith!
I appreciate you checking out my review, Sophia! Hope you get to read it soon!
I hope you enjoy the story!
I think this novel is a great chance to immerse in a deligthful town kind of Gilmore Girls´ “Star Hollows” 🙂
I hope Catherine de Bourgh fails in her target and Elisabeth keeps Longbourn Farms safe!
I´ve read several stories of Jennifer Becton in the “Holidays with Jane” series and I´ve enjoyed a lot with her adaptations to modern world. Thanks for this review, Meredith!
AHHHH! I LOVE Gilmore Girls – and you are so right, Teresa! I immediately thought of GG when they had town meetings! 🙂
I’m such a fan of Holidays with Jane series – I’m really glad to see some more modern stories from Jennifer Becton.
Thanks so much for checking out my review!
Thank you so much for reading my stories in Holidays with Jane. Those are what inspired me to try a modern P&P series. I love the idea of Jane Austen meets Gilmore Girls! ♥
Thank you so much for the review of Live, Love, Longbourn! Gilmore Girls meets Jane Austen: I love that description! I tried to create that quirky small town feel. And I probably did get a little obsessed with Lady Catherine’s speeches. Jane Austen wrote them so well that I just couldn’t help myself…. I had such fun writing this book and am hard at work on Jane’s story. I will add an extra dash of romance just for you. ♥