Reviewed by Jess

TITLE: If I Loved You Less

AUTHOR: Tamsen Parker

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH: 222 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 20, 2018

BLURB:

Matchmaking? Check. Surfing? Check. Falling in love? As if.

Sunny, striking, and satisfied with her life in paradise, Theodosia Sullivan sees no need for marriage. She does, however, relish serving as matchmaker for everyone who crosses her path. As the manager of her family’s surf shop in Hanalei Bay, that includes locals and tourists alike.

One person she won’t be playing Cupid for is the equally happy bachelorette down the street. Baker Kini ʻŌpūnui has been the owner of Queen’s Sweet Shop since her parents passed away and her younger brother married Theo’s older sister and moved to Oahu. Kini’s ready smile, haupia shortbread, and lilikoi malasadas are staples of Hanalei’s main street.

However, Theo’s matchmaking machinations and social scheming soon become less charming—even hazardous—to everyone involved. And when she fails to heed Kini’s warnings about her meddling, she may be more successful than she ever intended. Theo has to face the prospect of Kini ending up with someone else, just as she realizes she’s loved Kini all along.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma.

REVIEW:

I enjoy Jane Austen’s Emma, but I must be honest—I love the movie Clueless even better. I think it’s one of the best Austen adaptations of all time, and the blending of a matchmaking comedy of manners with 90’s teen drama was an absolutely genius choice. This book is a perfect mix of the two. It’s a classic story with a gorgeous setting and modern characters who still look for love in all the wrong places.

What we know of Emma as a character is so embroiled in polite society and social climbing, so setting the book within the slower, breezy rhythms of Hawaii is a really interesting idea. We see the obvious differences in motivation and reason as Theo works her matchmaking magic while surfing, sneaking baked goods, and being generally the chillest human being of all time. Theo is an excellent incarnation of the flawed character we love. She’s just as spoiled, bored, and selfish as the original—and I love that the Knightley character, a no-nonsense baker named Kini, has no problem telling Theo like it is.

I had some reservations about the actual romance for the first few chapters. When I read Emma for the first time in high school, there was a natural modern revulsion towards the age difference—Emma is 20, Knightley is 37. Now, it doesn’t seem that odd, but it is quite a leap no matter how you look at it. Kini is 14 years older than Theo, and the age difference is glaring, especially since Kini is painted as more of a mother figure at the beginning. But soon, we see the slow blossoming of romantic feelings between two unique women—one carefree, one cautious. One full of youthful optimism, one a down-to-earth skeptic. It must also be noted that Kini may be critical of Theo, but she never talks down to her or sees her as anything but an equal. They aren’t an obvious match, but one that simmers wonderfully over the entire book.

This is my first book by Tamsen Parker. I’m incredibly impressed by her use of language and her writing style. She doesn’t try to emulate Austen in obvious ways, but the influences are certainly there, and they’re done very smartly. Parker is adept at writing characters with real flaws and personality traits, making Theo feel more like our annoying BFF than a dramatic romantic heroine. This isn’t an easy type of story to take on, but Parker totally nails it.

This book doesn’t reinvent Emma. The story arcs are all predictable if you know the source material, making the subplots involving Laurel, Brock, and Austin a little slow at times. But it tells the tale in a unique way that kept me invested until the end, and the romance between Theo and Kini isn’t one I’ll forget about anytime soon.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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