ABL Review At-A-Glance
Ø Title: The Austen Playbook
Ø My Rating: 4.5
Ø Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Ø Author:
Lucy Parker
Lucy Parker
Ø Format:
ARC ebook
ARC ebook
Ø Publication Date: April 22, 2019
Compare To:
Synopsis
Freddy Carlton knows she should be focusing on
her lines for The Austen Playbook, a live-action TV event where viewers choose
the outcome of each scene, but her concentration’s been blown. The palatial
estate housing the endeavor is now run by the rude (brilliant) critic who’s
consistently slammed her performances of late. James “Griff” Ford-Griffin has a
penchant for sarcasm, a majestic nose and all the sensitivity of a
sledgehammer.
her lines for The Austen Playbook, a live-action TV event where viewers choose
the outcome of each scene, but her concentration’s been blown. The palatial
estate housing the endeavor is now run by the rude (brilliant) critic who’s
consistently slammed her performances of late. James “Griff” Ford-Griffin has a
penchant for sarcasm, a majestic nose and all the sensitivity of a
sledgehammer.
She can’t take her eyes off him.
Griff can hardly focus with a contagious joy
fairy flitting about near him, especially when Freddy looks at him like that.
His only concern right now should be on shutting down his younger brother’s
well-intentioned (disastrous) schemes—or at the very least on the production
(not this one) that might save his family home from the banks.
fairy flitting about near him, especially when Freddy looks at him like that.
His only concern right now should be on shutting down his younger brother’s
well-intentioned (disastrous) schemes—or at the very least on the production
(not this one) that might save his family home from the banks.
Instead all he can think of is soft skin and
vibrant curls.
vibrant curls.
As he’s reluctantly dragged into her quest to
rediscover her passion for the stage and Freddy is drawn into his research on a
legendary theater star, the adage about appearances being deceiving proves
abundantly true. It’s the unlikely start of something enormous…but a single
revelation about the past could derail it all.
rediscover her passion for the stage and Freddy is drawn into his research on a
legendary theater star, the adage about appearances being deceiving proves
abundantly true. It’s the unlikely start of something enormous…but a single
revelation about the past could derail it all.
My Thoughts…
I’m going to be honest and admit that I judged this book by its cover. I will read anything remotely related to Jane Austen, so I requested to review this book without knowing much about it. On the cover there is a couple kissing, Austen, and an old building. That was really all I needed. Initially, I thought this would be a cute (it is!) but run of the mill (it is NOT) contemporary romance for us Austenites who can never get enough. But I found so much more in these pages. This book really stood out to me for one major reason, but let’s hit the book review highlights first.
The characters were a lot of fun. Some were funny, some serious, and most were pretty one dimensional but in a totally appropriate way. If you’re looking for a gritty, character driven narrative, try something else. This is just fun in a book. Here the characters are perfect for the story and tone of The Austen Playbook, funny witty and charming.
The plot moved really well and avoided some overdone/boring romance tropes that have become all too common and frustrating for me. You will not spend chapter jus twaiting for the heroine’s secret to come out and ruin everything. You also won’t find people refusing to be with each other for made up and increasingly absurd reasons. This is a straight forward, quirky romance with a little bit of Austen flair and a lot of family drama.
But let’s get to my favorite part of this book… the sex.
There are several sex scenes in The Austen Playbook, and thy aren’t overly romantic and flowery. They also aren’t hardcore. The scenes are what I like to call real sex. Finally, and I mean FINALLY, an author who writes a book where the sex remotely resembles real life sex. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good fantastical sex scene, excuse me while I swoon over Jamie Fraser and Rhysand. *sigh* Every once in a while it’s nice to see what I have experienced in print.
Griff wasn’t an all powerful orgasm master. He didn’t get her off by just kissing her. Their climaxes took some freaking time, and guess what? It wasn’t always perfect. Seriously, in one scene, she needs more to get there, so the couple changes what they are doing until they find what works in the moment. Effing brilliant!
And the shower sex scene was inspired. I can’t begin to explain how many times I have rolled my eyes at shower scenes in books and movies. Unless you are wearing grippy swim shoes or having sex with Aquaman (yes, please), it’s not physically possible to do some of the things depicted in other books. After giving it a go, Griff and Freddy, they laugh at themselves because they know they just cannot do it. Like a lot of couples, they try, and try again, but don’t have the coveted couple skill of hydro-fornication. And that is ok! Some have it, some don’t (the laws of physics are real after all), and sometimes you just end up a cold, frustrated woman with shampoo in your eyes.
I could go on and on because I loved this book and this couple. If you want a fun read that will make you laugh out loud while giving you a dose of romance, try The Austen Playbook.
The characters were a lot of fun. Some were funny, some serious, and most were pretty one dimensional but in a totally appropriate way. If you’re looking for a gritty, character driven narrative, try something else. This is just fun in a book. Here the characters are perfect for the story and tone of The Austen Playbook, funny witty and charming.
The plot moved really well and avoided some overdone/boring romance tropes that have become all too common and frustrating for me. You will not spend chapter jus twaiting for the heroine’s secret to come out and ruin everything. You also won’t find people refusing to be with each other for made up and increasingly absurd reasons. This is a straight forward, quirky romance with a little bit of Austen flair and a lot of family drama.
But let’s get to my favorite part of this book… the sex.
There are several sex scenes in The Austen Playbook, and thy aren’t overly romantic and flowery. They also aren’t hardcore. The scenes are what I like to call real sex. Finally, and I mean FINALLY, an author who writes a book where the sex remotely resembles real life sex. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good fantastical sex scene, excuse me while I swoon over Jamie Fraser and Rhysand. *sigh* Every once in a while it’s nice to see what I have experienced in print.
Griff wasn’t an all powerful orgasm master. He didn’t get her off by just kissing her. Their climaxes took some freaking time, and guess what? It wasn’t always perfect. Seriously, in one scene, she needs more to get there, so the couple changes what they are doing until they find what works in the moment. Effing brilliant!
And the shower sex scene was inspired. I can’t begin to explain how many times I have rolled my eyes at shower scenes in books and movies. Unless you are wearing grippy swim shoes or having sex with Aquaman (yes, please), it’s not physically possible to do some of the things depicted in other books. After giving it a go, Griff and Freddy, they laugh at themselves because they know they just cannot do it. Like a lot of couples, they try, and try again, but don’t have the coveted couple skill of hydro-fornication. And that is ok! Some have it, some don’t (the laws of physics are real after all), and sometimes you just end up a cold, frustrated woman with shampoo in your eyes.
I could go on and on because I loved this book and this couple. If you want a fun read that will make you laugh out loud while giving you a dose of romance, try The Austen Playbook.
* Special thanks to Lucy Parker, Carina Press, and TLC
Book Tours for
providing a copy of The Austen Playbook in exchange for an honest review.
Book Tours for
providing a copy of The Austen Playbook in exchange for an honest review.
Defining something as real sex is so important because a lot of romance books fly to either end of the spectrum and I think that turns off a lot of readers. Something real and practical is something people can relate to! Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours