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ruthhelizabeth's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this eARC, I received it in exchange for an honest review.
Her Own Happiness is a contemporary retelling of Emma by Jane Austen, from the perspective of Harriet. Maya, our Harriet character has built herself a fledgling career and home in Hawaii, close to her best friend, Ant. Then, a year into the COVID pandemic, everything she has worked for falls apart in a week. She is forced to return home and the only silver lining is that her friend Ant is also moving to the area to start his career in horticulture. She begins to rebuild her life and then one day she stumbled across the ambitious and wealthy Emme and is taken under her wing.
I loved many aspects of this book. There is a desperate lack of bisexual and ace representation across all literature, particularly romance, and I loved this representation in Ant and Maya. I love the story of Emma and it's really a master stroke to retell the story from the perspective of another, more likeable character. I really appreciated the story being set in COVID, as I would love novels to provide a history for future readers who don't remember this unique, but horrendous time in our lives.
For me the story was a little heavy handed with references to real life pop culture phenomenon, especially at the start of the novel. An occasional reference can be fun, but for me, especially in a retelling of a story I know so well, it was a little jarring to have so many references to specific artists or video series. I also found the pacing of the story a little hurried in some places and not given enough time in others.
I understand that the story was told from the perspective of the Harriet character from Austen's original story, but I would have liked to see a few more glimpses of the wonderful and devastating romance Emme (Emma) has. One of my favourite parts of the story was also missed entirely, despite the fact it does include Maya (Harriet).
I think many of my critiques have only come about due to the nature of retelling an old and beloved story, but I really appreciated this modern take nonetheless. It has made me curious to go and read Eden Appiah-Kubi's first book, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
Her Own Happiness is a contemporary retelling of Emma by Jane Austen, from the perspective of Harriet. Maya, our Harriet character has built herself a fledgling career and home in Hawaii, close to her best friend, Ant. Then, a year into the COVID pandemic, everything she has worked for falls apart in a week. She is forced to return home and the only silver lining is that her friend Ant is also moving to the area to start his career in horticulture. She begins to rebuild her life and then one day she stumbled across the ambitious and wealthy Emme and is taken under her wing.
I loved many aspects of this book. There is a desperate lack of bisexual and ace representation across all literature, particularly romance, and I loved this representation in Ant and Maya. I love the story of Emma and it's really a master stroke to retell the story from the perspective of another, more likeable character. I really appreciated the story being set in COVID, as I would love novels to provide a history for future readers who don't remember this unique, but horrendous time in our lives.
For me the story was a little heavy handed with references to real life pop culture phenomenon, especially at the start of the novel. An occasional reference can be fun, but for me, especially in a retelling of a story I know so well, it was a little jarring to have so many references to specific artists or video series. I also found the pacing of the story a little hurried in some places and not given enough time in others.
I understand that the story was told from the perspective of the Harriet character from Austen's original story, but I would have liked to see a few more glimpses of the wonderful and devastating romance Emme (Emma) has. One of my favourite parts of the story was also missed entirely, despite the fact it does include Maya (Harriet).
I think many of my critiques have only come about due to the nature of retelling an old and beloved story, but I really appreciated this modern take nonetheless. It has made me curious to go and read Eden Appiah-Kubi's first book, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Colonisation
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