sandlynn's review against another edition
3.0
July 10 2016
The Season by co-authors Jonah Lisa Dyer and Stephen Dyer, was just published in the month I read it. I had picked up a copy of it earlier, in its pre-published form, at the RT Convention. So, keep in mind, this was an Advanced Readers’ Copy that I read.
I didn’t know it at the time, but this is a book loosely based on/inspired by Pride and Prejudice — a kind of modern day retelling with some changes in the plot line. The story focuses on twin sisters, both of whom are juniors at Southern Methodist University in Texas and were raised on a large ranch, long in the family but not supporting itself. One sister — Julia — is a sweet, good-natured, very feminine young woman, while Megan is much more sarcastic and rough around the edges. She also plays collegiate soccer and has aspirations to make the Olympic Team. However, family problems infringe upon Megan’s goals. Her parents marriage is in tumult over possibly selling the ranch and protecting their future. Plus their mother is bound and determined to see both her daughters have a season as prestigious Bluebonnet Debutante, as she did, their aunt, their grandmother, and so on. Julia is willing, but Megan is fighting tooth and nail. Ultimately, Megan is convinced to participate by her father to appease her mother. The story then turns to how Megan deals with being both a rough and tumble soccer player *and* one of seven Bluebonnet Debutantes, the people she meets, including Hank — a fellow who seems, on the surface, to be charming and the answer to her parents’ financial prayers — as well as, Andrew a very wealthy young man from an illustrious New York family with a background in business and politics who rubs her the wrong way.
The Season does a pretty good job of updating the Pride and Prejudice story, without copying it plot point by plot point. Most of the characters are identifiable and cleverly drawn, some playing double duty — like sister, Julia, being clearly a Jane-like person, but with some of Lydia’s ill luck. The problem I had with the story is that it takes a while to get to some of the key big scenes that move the plot along. There’s a great deal of build up to get there. As such, we don’t spend as much time with characters like Andrew, who is obviously our Darcy. If the authors had managed to give us more interactions with Julia and Zach (the Bingley of our group) and Megan and Andrew, I would’ve enjoyed it more. The book does, of course, update the young women’s lives. They have sexual relationships in this book and there’s even a pretty funny scene of Megan buying condoms that had me chuckling. Also, towards the end, there were a number of grammatical errors, as if things were finished too quickly. But, I suppose this has to do with the book being a pre-pub at that point and not a finished, published work.
This book is a pleasant read and a creative update of a beloved story, but it had so much more potential. I’d give it a B/B-.
The Season by co-authors Jonah Lisa Dyer and Stephen Dyer, was just published in the month I read it. I had picked up a copy of it earlier, in its pre-published form, at the RT Convention. So, keep in mind, this was an Advanced Readers’ Copy that I read.
I didn’t know it at the time, but this is a book loosely based on/inspired by Pride and Prejudice — a kind of modern day retelling with some changes in the plot line. The story focuses on twin sisters, both of whom are juniors at Southern Methodist University in Texas and were raised on a large ranch, long in the family but not supporting itself. One sister — Julia — is a sweet, good-natured, very feminine young woman, while Megan is much more sarcastic and rough around the edges. She also plays collegiate soccer and has aspirations to make the Olympic Team. However, family problems infringe upon Megan’s goals. Her parents marriage is in tumult over possibly selling the ranch and protecting their future. Plus their mother is bound and determined to see both her daughters have a season as prestigious Bluebonnet Debutante, as she did, their aunt, their grandmother, and so on. Julia is willing, but Megan is fighting tooth and nail. Ultimately, Megan is convinced to participate by her father to appease her mother. The story then turns to how Megan deals with being both a rough and tumble soccer player *and* one of seven Bluebonnet Debutantes, the people she meets, including Hank — a fellow who seems, on the surface, to be charming and the answer to her parents’ financial prayers — as well as, Andrew a very wealthy young man from an illustrious New York family with a background in business and politics who rubs her the wrong way.
The Season does a pretty good job of updating the Pride and Prejudice story, without copying it plot point by plot point. Most of the characters are identifiable and cleverly drawn, some playing double duty — like sister, Julia, being clearly a Jane-like person, but with some of Lydia’s ill luck. The problem I had with the story is that it takes a while to get to some of the key big scenes that move the plot along. There’s a great deal of build up to get there. As such, we don’t spend as much time with characters like Andrew, who is obviously our Darcy. If the authors had managed to give us more interactions with Julia and Zach (the Bingley of our group) and Megan and Andrew, I would’ve enjoyed it more. The book does, of course, update the young women’s lives. They have sexual relationships in this book and there’s even a pretty funny scene of Megan buying condoms that had me chuckling. Also, towards the end, there were a number of grammatical errors, as if things were finished too quickly. But, I suppose this has to do with the book being a pre-pub at that point and not a finished, published work.
This book is a pleasant read and a creative update of a beloved story, but it had so much more potential. I’d give it a B/B-.
kaydowning's review against another edition
5.0
Megan McKnight, am SMU soccer star, is invited to be a bluebonnet debutant. Megan’s twin sister breaks the this new to her. Their mom is insistent even though Megan wants nothing to do with teas and ball gowns and the Texas dip. After the first tea to meet their instructor Megan knows she has her work cut out for her. The debutant season definitely has surprises waiting in the wings with mean girls and deception and Megan’s about face.
resslesa's review against another edition
3.0
I like the Pride and Prejudice tie ins and a fun book but not too much depth
lavendermarch's review against another edition
5.0
This book was awesome. I really liked Megan, and though I thought originally she would be a teen, the fact that she was in college was nothing huge. I personally like soccer, so it was cool to see it as such a big element in this book.
But the actual Season was my favorite part of this book. Ann was cool, and the Young Ladies' girls were adorable. I liked the other debs, and Abby and Julia. I felt so bad for Julia. But she and Zach ended up together, so all was good. I liked her mother, though at the beginning I wasn't a big fan. Her dad was awesome! A rock. Andrew was ah-mazing. Hank was a fucking asshole. In the beginning I was Team Hank. After hearing Andrew warn her, and the story, i was suspicious. Plus I liked Andrew. So at that point I switched to Team Andrew. And boy am I glad I did. Oh, and back to Hank for a second. THE PUNCHING PART WAS EPIC!
My favorite thing about this story was the old families, and their ancestry. I liked how Megan's family was Texan, and old. I really like those sorts of aspects (old families with incredible ancestry.) This book had a good plot, though a few parts had me cringing. I do wish Cat, being her BFF, had had a little more character elaboration.
5 stars!
But the actual Season was my favorite part of this book. Ann was cool, and the Young Ladies' girls were adorable. I liked the other debs, and Abby and Julia. I felt so bad for Julia. But she and Zach ended up together, so all was good. I liked her mother, though at the beginning I wasn't a big fan. Her dad was awesome! A rock. Andrew was ah-mazing. Hank was a fucking asshole. In the beginning I was Team Hank. After hearing Andrew warn her, and the story, i was suspicious. Plus I liked Andrew. So at that point I switched to Team Andrew. And boy am I glad I did. Oh, and back to Hank for a second. THE PUNCHING PART WAS EPIC!
My favorite thing about this story was the old families, and their ancestry. I liked how Megan's family was Texan, and old. I really like those sorts of aspects (old families with incredible ancestry.) This book had a good plot, though a few parts had me cringing. I do wish Cat, being her BFF, had had a little more character elaboration.
5 stars!
shannonvonpesach's review against another edition
2.0
So.. I srs thought she was 16...the way she behaved.. I'm really dissapointed in this book, some funny parts were like a real romcom, but really no..just no for me
megs_s's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0