Does YA not work for me anymore? I hope not, because that would make me sad.
This is an Emma retelling. As someone who has read multiple Emma retellings this year, let me say that it is hard to do a good one. I’m starting to think Austen herself could only write this story and make it work.
Mostly, this was boring. I think it would have been better off without a love story for the main character. I have no idea why she ended up with someone other than it was expected. It was definitely a change in her character, which is good, but it wasn’t well explained. I get why he wants to be with her but not the other way around.
I did like the friendships, but I wish they could’ve been explored more. It felt very surface-level. I was kind of rooting for a Jane/Emma relationship if there was going to be one, but I think that’s just because their friendship was probably the most meaningful one.
I don’t have much to say. This was pretty forgettable, but it wasn’t a horrible book and I wouldn’t tell someone not to read it.
Thanks for reading!
Holly