From Landed Gentry to Gentrification
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Modern Adaptation
THE PREMISE: A big property developer is trying to come into Liza Bennett’s neighborhood and build luxe condos that will push out and gentrify the community that has lived their for years. But our girl isn’t going to let them without a fight even though she seems to experience off-the-charts attraction to the enemy’s CEO… Can Liza protect her community and her heart, or does saving one damage the other?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Unique and Different: Love the contemporary changes in this story. The updates with family, situations, and conflicts are so unlike any other modern adaptation I read before. Liza was raised by a single-mom and grandmother, Dorsey is adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white philanthropist and business moguls, Mr. Bennet is actually Liza’s Granny, Janae has experienced tragedy and heartache before, and Maurice (Mary) is Liza’s “woke” brother with a passion for advocacy…
- Dorsey and Liza: I adored both Dorsey and Liza! I admired how badass and brilliant Liza was – in fact this was true for all the Bennett women… They all had strength and talents that were unique. And I love how Liza was so devoted and determined in her fight for justice and equality. I truly admire that kind of self-less, whole-hearted social activism. And I really appreciated how Nikki Payne portrayed Dorsey. He isn’t just a man who grew up into wealth, privilege, and a company. He is struggling with feelings of being inadequate, unwanted, undeserving, as well as trying to find a way to uphold his parent’s charitable work in a company that wants him to only concern himself with profits and acquisitions. Oh…and as you might expect, he is a bit shy and socially awkward. Every interaction between Liza and Dorsey was full of sparks and spirit. Their feelings of attraction, indecision, frustration, etc were all so very palpable.
- Family Dynamics: I greatly appreciated the strong focus on family in this story, and how the themes of learning to accept where you came from and families stick together through tough times were woven into the fabric of this story. I really loved how at through all the Bennett’s disfunction, you could see their love and support for each other. They may show it in weird ways and occasionally become a little self-absorbed, but when needed to, they band together fiercely and brilliantly.
- Wickham: This update was genius… It’s a completely different angle. What happened with Dorsey and his sister is updated and altered. And the reader has no idea how things can and will resolve when Wickham has a scheme that lures LeDeya into some danger. This plot-line was fresh, inventive, and very fitting for this story and time period. It is one of my favorite Wickham story-lines ever.
- Radio Ads, Texts, Emails, and Social Media: With our modern world comes modern forms of communicating. I loved all the clever and creative ways Nikki Payne communicated information to the reader. And I loved all that it revealed to the reader – I absolutely loved seeing the text exchanges between Dorsey and Liza, Dorsey’s emails, and Liza’s radio DJ intro was just perfect.
WHAT COULD’VE BEEN BETTER:
- I got nothing. 😉
NOTE: This story contains uses of profanity and several romantic interludes and intimate scenes. Recommended for Mature Audiences.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
✍🏼 Captures the essence of Jane Austen’s original creations in a new, thoughtful, and inventive way.
📖 Combining culture and creativity, diversity and depth, fight and family Nikki Payne delivers a truly outstanding novel – let alone a brilliant modernization of Pride and Prejudice adaptation.
❤️🔥 A scintillating romance that has fight, passion, connection, and chemistry that will curl your toes.
