Scan barcode
narniaru's review against another edition
3.0
I really felt like i was a part of the family. The story was lovely and not only for the rich and famous.
ladyreading365's review against another edition
5.0
A truly stunning book that is far from predictable.
maiamarie's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
littleredwrites's review against another edition
There were things I really loved about this book: the wonderfully deft way Alderson handles a huge cast of characters. It's easy to remember who each person is and they're all alive on the page, not just Stella.
I liked Stella's indepence (in the beginning). This book is now ten years old and I couldn't help but marvelling for a long time, about a character who didn't feel the need to have a boyfriend - what's this, a chicklit with a strong, independent woman that actually takes a stand against the trope of needing the perfect boyfriend? I felt frustrated when she reconnected with Jay and went off on her month's long holiday with him, but I was empowered when he, like a complete jerk, demanded that she would not be able to work if she married him, and she got up and left.
There was much to love about this book, but I would have loved the ending without the rushed reunion at the end. I would have loved Stella to learn that you perhaps don't need a career or a man to find satisfaction with your life, but she "fake married" him before he even told her that he'd given up his inheritance and she said she'd keep working.
There's also the matter of privilege here. Not so much Jay's, but Stella's. She too is privileged and so when she leaves her job, there's no rush to find a new one. The temptation to stay with Jay when he makes is ultimatum has nothing to do with his money, no, but that's because she doesn't need it. I would have loved to have seen the conflict for a woman who perhaps wasn't wealthy herself when being made this offer. I would have loved to have seen her have to take any job for a while because she had to.
I wanted to see her become a foreign correspondent.
I liked Stella's indepence (in the beginning). This book is now ten years old and I couldn't help but marvelling for a long time, about a character who didn't feel the need to have a boyfriend - what's this, a chicklit with a strong, independent woman that actually takes a stand against the trope of needing the perfect boyfriend? I felt frustrated when she reconnected with Jay and went off on her month's long holiday with him, but I was empowered when he, like a complete jerk, demanded that she would not be able to work if she married him, and she got up and left.
There was much to love about this book, but I would have loved the ending without the rushed reunion at the end. I would have loved Stella to learn that you perhaps don't need a career or a man to find satisfaction with your life, but she "fake married" him before he even told her that he'd given up his inheritance and she said she'd keep working.
There's also the matter of privilege here. Not so much Jay's, but Stella's. She too is privileged and so when she leaves her job, there's no rush to find a new one. The temptation to stay with Jay when he makes is ultimatum has nothing to do with his money, no, but that's because she doesn't need it. I would have loved to have seen the conflict for a woman who perhaps wasn't wealthy herself when being made this offer. I would have loved to have seen her have to take any job for a while because she had to.
I wanted to see her become a foreign correspondent.
beeaimee's review against another edition
4.0
Very good book. First Romance novel i’ve read in a while and it had quite a good storyline. It was one of them books you could get lost in and just read for hours. Would definitely read another of Maggie’s
zana711's review against another edition
4.0
Fun chick lit though with such a title, I was expecting this to be "Jane Austen fan fiction", a spin off of a very similarly named novel. I failed to see how the plot might relate though, other than with a very rich man in the thick of it and that all is well towards the end, as is typical of all chick lit. Nonetheless, an enjoyable read!
oneoflifeslollopers's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed reading about Stella's family, especially her father's work in architecture, but I didn't care much for Jay, I felt he was a very flat character without much personality.
More...