Emma Meets Her Match
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
TYPE OF NOVEL: Modern Emma Adaptation
SERIES: Austen Echoes #2 (each book shares a similar time line and character group, but is stand alone)
THE PREMISE: Emma knows it all! She can read people, advise them on any topic, and help them find the perfect match. Full of confidence and a small amount of conceit, Emma’s world starts to feel a bit shaken when her latest matchmaking attempt fails and she discovers she isn’t always right and doesn’t know it all. And the worst part is she is making these mistakes in front of Gordon Knightley, a childhood friend whose opinion all of sudden feels very important to her…
WHAT I LOVED:
- Emma the Influencer: This was a great fit for a modern-day Emma. A little similar to the web-series, Emma Approved, but more relevant. With talking about recommendations and sharing how-tos, displaying a very aesthetic lifestyle, looking fabulous and attending events where she can gather content – the influencer lifestyle fit Emma’s personality really well. I especially liked how seriously and responsibly she took her job and how she cared very much about her authenticity.
- Friends to Lovers: Like in Jane Austen’s novel, Emma and Gordon have known each other through their families since their childhoods, but because of their age gap (only nine years this time) and each going off to college, they don’t really know each other as adults. And so they are in the stages of becoming reacquainted and learning more about each other. I loved seeing them spend time together – how Emma felt so happy and free around Gordon, meanwhile not understanding what that really means. And how Gordon, who we know will catch on to his feelings sooner, cherishes any relationship he can have with Emma, even if it isn’t everything he wants.
- A Clever Reinterpretation: I enjoyed the choices Riana Everly made with this story. She doesn’t use every character or plot point in Jane Austen’s novel. There is no Mr. Woodhouse, Halli (the Harriet character) isn’t as helpless or simple-minded, and there is a unique twist with both the Miss Bates and Jane Fairfax characters. I also loved the modern update of Taylor being one of Emma’s former professors and that she sets him up with the choir director of the Eglinton Echoes, Randall.
- Skillful Interlacing: Having already the first book in this series – All the Wrong Notes – and knowing from the book description which characters are featured in the third book of this series – The Second Ending – I was able to detect many of the ways each stories’ events coincide and run parallel with each other. Just the subtle mentions of Elise missing from rehearsals, or Ashleigh looking like she is under a lot of stress were hints about key events that happen in the background of this story, but that are in the foreground of their own stories. Not only did this bridge and beautifully weave all three tales together, but it also extends our time with the characters we meet in each novel – which I loved.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
- Emma: As Jane Austen predicted, Emma is a hard character like. But I think I’m in the minority because I do like Emma in most adaptions and reinterpretations. However, there were some instances in this story that made Emma a little less likable than I would have…umm…liked. ☺️This Emma was a little bit more forceful – she knows she is the best (fine) but browbeats others to recognize that as well (not fine). In addition, she has such a strong and repeated aversion to people who seemed boring or reserved. All of which just felt a little too brash and immature.
NOTE: Because of one use of strong language and some suggestive dialogue, I’d recommend this book for readers over 14.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
🎤 A star soprano, used to being perfect in every way, makes the startling discovery that some of her notes are sour.
💗 Just like Mr. Knightley, Gordon Knight makes us fall in love with him because of his deep, quiet, and selfless love for Emma.
🪴 I loved Emma’s minimalistic and environmentally-friendly aesthetic – if Emma Massey truly was an influencer, I think I’d definitely be subscribed to her page!
