Reviewed by Carissa
TITLE: Pride and Modern Prejudice
AUTHOR: A.J. Michaels
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 246 pages
BLURB:
What happens when Jane Austen’s immortal characters are thrust into 21st century Pennsylvania, with an all-male twist?
Liam Bennet has always been a good judge of character, but when William Darcy is thrown into his social circle, everything spins out of control. Darcy is proud, cold, arrogant—and strangely captivating. When Liam’s brother and Darcy’s business partner start seeing each other, Liam cannot avoid this enigmatic businessman. But does he want to?
As Liam struggles to find his identity in college and acknowledge his feelings, he must deal with the fortunes of his four brothers, his gossiping mother, and the possibility of a large inheritance that could save his family from financial ruin. Emotions come to a boil when George Wickham, a world-weary musician, stumbles into town and ignites a feud with Darcy. He threatens to expose a long-hidden past, and Liam must decide for himself who William Darcy really is and what he really wants.
REVIEW:
(Just a hint…but you might want to stick around for this one. There might be a little surprise at the end. *wink wink*)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that where there is a Pride and Prejudice there must also be a swimming Darcy. A wet, practically naked, let me just dry you off with my tongue, swimming Darcy. It is also a truth universally acknowledged that where there is a swimming Darcy, there I shall be also.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time rehashing the plot for you on this one. Mainly because Pride and Prejudice is a rather well known story, even if you have never read the actual book. But just to catch you up to speed: Liam is Elizabeth, Darcy is Darcy, and George Wickham is still a bloody big tosser. The overall plot is the same, just set in a modern time, with modern guys, but with problems that seem to fit well into whatever era you are currently inhabiting. Love, secrets, pride, and a good dash of prejudice, we have it all here.
Liam is just heading off to college when Jamie (our Jane) lands himself in the path of one Charlie Bingley. And because of that, Liam is dragged into the path of one William Darcy. Words are exchanged, prides are bruised, and general misunderstandings lead to hate, anger, respect, and maybe–if they can pull their heads out their asses–love.
It is a familiar story, with familiar character, but, then again, some love stories are timeless. Even if this one has rather more dick than the original.
I have a confession to make (one that will probably have my ‘street cred’ as an English major revoked): I have found the original Pride and Prejudice incredibly boring to read. I love the story. And I adore the movies and various other takes on the story–but, dear god, I cannot get thru the book to save my life. I have tried, several times, and still…nope, still not happening. I feel kinda bad about this ‘cause I tend to go on about how the source material is almost always better than all the crap that comes from it, but I cannot deny that several hundred pages of balls, teas, and general pleasantries, just bores me to tears. Forgive me, my brethren, I knew exactly what I did and I will not apologize for it.
However…I love love love love love the story of Elizabeth and Darcy. It is just such a good romance. And I was thrilled to see a m/m book based off of it. And once I started reading, I have to say, it was well worth the wait to find it. It may not be all that original (but, then again, it is not really supposed to be), but the characters were really well written, and the transfer from the 19th century to the 21st was done in a way that it kept the heart of the story, but allowed the characters to be normal people. Not 19th century characters in T-shirts and jeans. The author didn’t feel the need to copy a bunch of dialogue from the original book and just stick it in the mouths of these updated characters, but trusted that the bones of the story would hold up the romance, not the flowery language.
There were a few changes to the story, which I heartedly agreed with–or at least had no problem with. The Bennet girls become the Bennet boys (Jamie, Liam, Mason, Ben, and Nate), though Charlotte remains a chick. And we’ve moved most of the story over to the USA (except for the scenes that take place in England–because Darcy is not really Darcy without Pemberley). Caroline is as bitchy as ever, Charlie as easygoing (and easily manipulated) as ever, and the dreaded cousin Collins is just as big of a brown-nosing wanker as he ever was. Darcy is, of course, now gay.
One of my favorite changes has to do with Charlotte, though. I will not spoil it, for those who have not read the story yet, but I love how Charlotte’s story changes in this book. I have always hated how her life ended up in the original story, so this one was something I wholeheartedly agreed with.
Most of the relationships in the story were incredibly well written. I loved the brotherly affection between Liam and Jamie. It reminds me a lot of how my sister and I are, and that is something I always loved from the original P&P. The friendship between Liam and Ann (something that usually doesn’t come up in most retellings) was a nice addition, as well.
Now…I can tell you are asking yourself: “But what about Liam and Darcy?!” Well, calm yourselves, dears. I was just about to get to that.
For the most part I really loved how Liam and Darcy interacted. It played nicely to the canon, but it never felt odd in this new time setting. And even though I practically knew what was going to happen every step of the way, I enjoyed it anyways. However, I think one of the problems of rewriting something that is so well known is that very fact. That everyone already knows what is going to happen to our MCs. Yes they may be dudes now, and they might have email, and phones, and text instead of nicely worded letters…but at the core, they are the same characters. So if you really want to make that story work, you are going to have to make it something incredibly special. And it never quite got there with me. I loved the story, just by the simple fact that it is Darcy and who doesn’t love Darcy? But there was just something lacking at the end there. Maybe it was because we never got to see Liam’s first time (after spending a majority of the book with him angsting over his whole newfound gayness) or just that there was no real surprises to keep us on our toes–but the story of Liam and Darcy never really sparked. It glowed, it gave off warmth, it painted a cozy picture…but we were never in any real danger of being set alight.
But even if I was safe from the need to call in the fire department, I did love this story. The humor was just spot on, the story was brilliantly reimagined, and it was close enough to the original that I felt like I knew the character, but new enough that there was room for surprises. If you are looking for a story to melt your panties or light your pants on fire, this is probably not the book for you, but if you are looking for a great story with some great characters (that you know and love) than I heartedly recommend it.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Now, for my surprise…
100TH REVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!
Months and months and months ago a friend I knew on goodreads (hi, Elizabetta!!) saw my reviews in our m/m bingo group and suggested that I might like to write for this blog called Sid Love. Honestly she didn’t have to get farther than ‘free books’ before I was agreeing to give it a shot. And once I got to know the reviewers here (and got my hands on the free books) I can happily say I have not regretted the decision at all. I have read so many great books, got to know so many great authors and readers, and have generally loved working with the guys and gals here at Love Bytes. It has been a great experience.
So when I noticed back in May that I was slowly approaching my 100th review here at the blog, I thought I would do something a little special for everyone who has made my experience here so incredibly awesome. I have gotten so much from writing here so I thought I would give a little back…
Which leads me to my little giveaway: I am giving away two $10 gift-cards from Amazon to two commenters/participants in this giveaway. All you need to do to enter the contest is post a comment down below and/or like/link this review (in some way that can be tracked by the contest tracking app thing on this review–don’t look at me like that. I am technologically impaired. You should feel sorry for me. *puppy dog eyes of sadness*). I look forward to sharing some of my good fortune with you all.
After I had finished reading this book, I got into a conversation on Twitter with Nico Jaye about how much we both love North and South a BBC miniseries based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s book of the same title. Mostly we just gushed about how much we loved Thornton (played by Richard Armitage–*le sigh*), the grumpy and taciturn Northerner who eye-pines after Margaret Hale–who apparently is like catnip for the marriage-minded man. Anyways…Thornton is probably my favorite hero from Victorian English literature, and I was wondering if you had one as well? If so, who? And if not, are there any hero’s outside of m/m that you just can’t get enough of?
(also, if you find me a m/m version of North and South, I will love you forever and ever)
Rafflecopter Prize : 2 times a 10 dollar GC to amazon! donated by the our own Carissa 🙂
Nice review and nice blog. I saw this title recently and absolutely have to read it. I’m glad you thought it was funny.
It does have a very dry sense of humor that agrees with me very well.
Oh. I def have to check this book out. 🙂
You really should. Thanks for commenting!
Ooh, what a fab surprise, and the book sounds excellent! I actually don’t read a lot of fiction that isn’t m/m, but in the movies I kind of like the knife-thrower in the French THE GIRL ON THE BRIDGE. Oh, and I guess Atticus Finch (book and movie version of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) will always be a crush-inducer! An m/m NORTH AND SOUTH, what a good idea…I’m amazed if no one has thought of it by now!
I know, right? Though in my head, making a m/m North and South usually becomes a game of ‘what guy do i want to see make out with Richard Armitage.’
Loved your review. I’ve been on the fence about this book for a while so it really helped to read what you thought. I’m like you in that I never could get through the book, but the movie adaptations I always loved. So I may have to give this one a try after all.
Besides m/m my favorite characters are Jamie and Claire from the Outlander series! Love that whole series!
Congrats on your 100th review and thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you (and welcome). I have never read the Outlander series, but I have a few friends who have, and they really liked it.
Thanks for the great review and congrats on your 100th! I loved that North and South miniseries, too. But my favorite hero is Colin Firth from the A & E mini series of – yes – Pride and Prejudice. I don’t even know how many times I have watched it.
Colin Firth is yummy (also a very good actor, and I love most of his stuff). I really like his P&P, though it takes a while to get thru. It doesn’t hurt that he look very very good when wet.
The first character that jumped to my mind was (humph) m/m, sooo… and then I was just flooded. I narrowed it down though. Charles Cornick is my drool-worthy, all-around awesome-sauce, hero that I just can’t get enough of. Of course, I love Anna too, but sometimes I wish I could be her. 😀
Oh, I love that series. It is one of the few m/f series that I still follow. Also one of the very few books I have on audio, so I tend to listen to them a lot.
Congrats on 100. One of my favorites is Colonel Brandon played by Alan Rickman in Sense and Sensibility. I confess I’ve never read the book, but its one of my favorite movies.
Snape! 😛
I really like Alan Rickman in S&S as well. There is just something about his voice that kinda makes me want to curl up into a ball and purr.
I also loved Thornton from North and South.
The dude is master at the whole eye-pining thing. And when he says “Look back. Look back at me.”…ugh, i just absolutely melt.
I have actually read the book by Gaskell, but I still love the miniseries more. Due in no small part to Richard Armitage.
Hi Carissa, great review. I am adding Pride and modern prejudice to my TBR list. I would probably choose Sir Lancelot as one of my favorite heros in literature and if I could a heroine I would choose Lisbeth Salander from Steig Larsson’s Girl with a dragon tattoo. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Arthurian legends…yeah, they go into the list of books I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. The stories are good, the first couple times you see/read them, but dear lord, it gets old fast. Nothing against Lancelot and his buddies of the circle jerk…er, table…but I prefer to stay as far away from Camelot as humanly possible. (unless we are talking about Merlin fanfics…then I am all in).
Girl with a dragon tattoo is on tbr list, but to be fair, it is rather far down there since it is not something I would normally read. someday i will get to it. probably.
Congrats on the 100th review! I too love P&P so I’ll be snapping this book up.
My fave book hero? Agree with whoever said it earlier… Atticus Finch. I’ve adored him (and Mockingbird) since I was 15.
My fave m/m? Ty Grady and Zane Garrett (who can choose?) from Cut and Run series. Great question- I’ve been enjoying the answers.
Ty and Zane were some of my first m/m loves. I am so far behind on the series though.
(and I have been enjoying the answers as well.)
This sounds fun! I’d love to read a m/m take on P&P. Thanks for the giveaway!
You’re welcome, Lisa. And I do like it when they take something I love and give me two hot guys to drool over.
Colin Firth in P and P for sure. Too many MM hero to say you one! my current obsession is God and Day from A.e Via books.
I had a feeling Colin Firth was going to pop up a lot in the comments. I haven’t read those book by Via…though I have heard some good things about them.
wow! 100 reviews…awesome work!
lol. I owe it less to ‘work’ and more to an incurable addiction to reading books. Plus, if it was work, I might actually get paid, and then the world would implode, pigs would fly, and i’d be able to speak french w/o going into convulsions. I’ll settle for a pile of good books, a lack of sleep, and more coffee than a girl really ought to consume.
Thanks for a great review! Don’t tell anyone but I agree with you about the book Pride & Prejudice – boring to read but I love the story. Congratulations on 100 reviews and thanks for the giveaway!
I feel bad admitting to it, because god only knows how many times, in those stupid ‘getting to know you’ portions of starting new classes, we were asked to name our favorite author/book and I totally said Jane Austen. (I absolutly hate that question by the way. Like who can choose?) Anyways that question is less about who your favorite really is, and more about ‘name the most pretentious book you have heard of so you can one-up the other english majors’. ah…uni, how I don’t miss you.
Congrats on writing and reviewing 100 books/stories. That’s a wonderful feat.
I must admit, sadly, that my feet are absolutely average. lol.
(Thanks a lot)
Hmm. Heroes outside of M/M… I don’t know. I guess I would say maybe Merlin & Arthur, if they count. I just love the legends. Though, I do have a theory they were gay together 😉 So… I may be cheating, but whatever! Works for me =D
Congrats on 100! and thank you for the opportunity!
Merlin and Arthur were so gay for each other! (granted I am basing all my evidence off of the fanfics i have read from the show Merlin, but evidence is evidence!)
Thanks for nice reviews. It has really help me make my decision on whether to read it now or save it for later. Congratulations on 100th review.
Always glad to be of help. *tips top hat*
I’m probably the only person on this planet who’s never read or even watched Pride and Prejudice. Simply because I’m so not interested in it. Or better said, wasn’t interested, because I’m definitely going to read this one 🙂
for shame, for shame. lol
I admit there must be a few like you out there, but for me my love for the 19th century has been living strong since the beginning. I think i go out of my way to read/watch this stuff. I think it is the fancy suits that the guys wear. They make me want to undress them with my teeth and then lick them from top to toe. Well…maybe not the toes.
Congrats on the 100th review. I am a terrible review writer. I have a few on GR but they are usually a few inarticulate sentences.
you’d be surprised how many of my reviews start off as inarticulate sentences. I just keep writing till i hit something salvageable (and then erase all the evidence that I was unable to string a coherent sentence together). So really my secret all boils down to the ability to delete.
Beautiful review. Never read/watched P & P but from your review I find it interestingly enough to add to my TBR.
Congrats on your 100th!
actually not having read/watched P&P might be a bonus if you read this. it means you are less likely to know what is going to happen so you can just enjoy it as it comes along. There is definitely a bonus to seeing how things changed from the original story, but the downside of that is you pretty much know all the major plot points before they even happen.
Congrats on reaching your 100th review!!
I enjoyed your review on this book since I’ve watched many of the P&P film and TV versions, besides having read the book.
The hero that I would choose would be Faramir from Lord of the Rings, so noble, courageous etc yet so unappreciated by his father.
Yes, Faramir. One of my favorite dudes from LoTR. I think it is pretty much a tie between him and Eomir. Not that I would reject any of those guys from my bed (in this hypothetical world where i somehow got them there w/o resorting to multiple felonies) but those two really have a good backstory going on.
I agree with several others, Atticus Finch has always been my hero. I read To Kill A Mockingbird the first time when I was 10 years old (didn’t have a real knowledge of “rape”, just knew it was bad) and have probably read it 40 times over the years. At first he sounded like the perfect father, then later the perfect husband. 🙂
I clearly need to this out at some point. I’m apparently missing out on something.
congrats Andrea and Kim! and thanks again to Carissa for doing this awesome giveaway!!
Wow! Thank you!