Thanks to Gallery Books for the copy of this ARC!

A fun debut from Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, Emma of 83rd Street is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. I thought it was an enjoyable and fresh take, and I loved the friendships, Upper East Side vibes, and watching Knightley finally come around. I will say I wasn't sure if I was going to continue at the beginning of the book, but I'm glad I did because the story got more interesting and unfolded well. If you love Clueless (also an Emma retelling) and an NYC setting, and enjoy contemporary romance, this book is for you.

Definitely consider the audio of this one: it's narrated by Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton!

This is a modern day retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, and once I could get past that part in my head, it was charming. There was a lot of brand name dropping that I could have done without, and I am not sure how that flows back to Emma, so maybe I missed a super quirky part of the retelling.

Definitely readable, and I would choose to read more from this author.

3 1/2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the best slow burn angst filled friends to lovers I ever read. the slow burn was worth it, well written with character chemistry. The fun part is them figuring out they like the other throughout the book. I haven’t read Jane Austen’s Emma, so I don’t have anything to compare, but this book is worth a read.

Listen. I will read any Jane Austen telling published - it's just who I am. So, I was incredibly thankful to be gifted this eARC to read and review!

This Emma retelling takes place in modern Manhattan and is full of fashion, trendy NYC spots, and art. I felt this retelling was true to the original story, without being too on the nose - it still felt like its own story. You get Emma's own development and growth, with the slow-burn, yearning romance between her and Knightley.

For those that prefer closed door romances, there are a few steamy scenes at the end of the book - that seemingly come out of nowhere, compared to the rest of the book. Now, I really enjoyed them, but know that's not everyone's cup of tea and think some readers may be taken aback.

Overall, a fantastic retelling!

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Publish date: May 23, 2023 💗
Rating: 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emma of 83rd street is a contemporary romance retelling of Emma by Jane Austen.
I haven’t read that one so I don’t have much input on it- but I did really enjoy this book! 😅💗

Emma is a beautiful, rich 23 year old woman living in Manhattan. When her sister, Margo, and their childhood friend and neighbor, Ben, fall in love and get married (after her foreshadowing) Emma is inspired and believes she is the ultimate match maker. That is until her sister moves out and she seems to be in a rut full of boredom. When a woman named Nadine makes to move from Oregon, Emma sees not only a new friend, but someone she can fix as if she were a project. After giving Nadine a facelift, so to speak, Emma attempts her match making skills again and convinces Nadine to let go of her disapproving boyfriend back in Oregon. George Knightley- Ben’s older brother- has a few thoughts about all of these actions/plans and makes it known to Emma. Which puts their lifelong friendship in a pickle.

I loved having the dual POV of both Emma and George and watching them realize their feelings for one another through the story.. although that took a while to get to. And when it did finally happen, whewww. The chemistry between them was undeniable from the start, but once those feelings were established it was the best. I loved the little bit of spice that was included. All in all, no complaints! Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books, and of course Audrey Bellezza for allowing me to read and review!

NYC grad school student Emma is beautiful and privileged—but she's lonely since her sister's marriage. Is it any wonder she relies on friend and neighbor George Knightley for company? Despite his lectures that she needs to be more careful and organized, he's the one person who seems to understand her. What happens when friendship turns to love?

I'm a sucker for a great contemporary Austen retelling, and this one is adorable. It's sensual and emotional, with engaging characters and a compelling plot. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Book Review: Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding

Emma of 83rd is a contemporary romance retelling of Emma by Jane Austin set in present day New York City.

Emma Woodhouse is a twenty-something woman of privilege living in New York City and working on a master’s in art history. She has a father that adores her, an older sister that is starting her new life as a married woman and she spends a lot of her time with her best friend and neighbor George Knightly. But, tensions between Emma and George start to ramp up as they both slowly realize that maybe they are more to each other than just friends.

Like the original source material (and the movie Clueless) Emma enjoys matchmaking and giving makeovers. When she meets Midwestern transplant Nadine in class she gets the chance to indulge in a little both. Knightly is immediately critical of her motives with Nadine and her recent to decision to switch to a career in the art world (after a lot of interests that went nowhere). As hurt feelings push Emma and Knightly apart an intriguing man moves in next door (Montgomery Knox) and Emma has romantic prospects of her own. The reader follows along as Knightly and Emma argue, make up and try to keep their relationship in the friend zone.

Emma of 83rd Street is a sweet and sexy homage to Jane Austen. There is a plucky young heroine with a big heart who is trying to find her way in the world without relying on her last name plus a swoony slow-burn romance. I was concerned that I wouldn’t enjoy Emma and that she’d come off entitled or out of touch but despite their wealth and status she and her family were surprisingly normal and relatable. The chemistry between Knightly and Emma jumps off the page and I just wanted them to admit their feelings and fall into bed but it’s well worth the wait when they finally get there.

I highly recommend Emma of 83rd Street to rom com, contemporary romance and Jane Austen fans and I look forward to more books by this new writing duo!

*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC!*

Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors of all time, and I do love a good Austen adaptation. The synopsis of this novel immediately caught my eye, and I am happy to say that this was a lovely book! Emma is one of Austen’s novels that took longer to grow on me, but after multiple re-readings I now love it. This was a fantastic retelling of Emma in a modern New York setting.

I really liked that this adaptation was told from both Emma and Knightley’s perspectives. That gave it a little extra edge from the other retellings out there. It was very interesting to get to hear this story from the man’s perspective. I really enjoyed watching them both figure out their feelings for each other at their own separate paces.

I liked the fact that the only characters that kept their original names were Emma and George Knightley. It helped to make this story feel more like a new and unique story. I really liked the way that the authors adapted the side characters to make sense in a modern setting. I loved Nadine (the modern version of Harriet Smith), she was such a fun character. And I really liked that Emma’s sister played a larger role in this retelling than in the original work. It felt more true to our modern times than it would if Emma were closer to her governess (like in the original).

I enjoyed that they gave Emma a diverse set of interests, which helped paint her as somewhat flighty in the eyes of others. The fact that she was talented and smart, but also privileged and spoiled, while wishing to be taken seriously for her own achievements, gave some interesting layers to her character. I liked how much stock she took in what her friends and family thought of her, it made her more likable and realistic to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling! I liked how the epilogue left room for them to continue this as a series if they so choose. I hope they do, and that we get to see another Austen novel in a modern setting from these ladies soon!

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I gave Emma of 83rd Street 4.5 Stars!

Emma Woodhouse and her sister have been best friends with the Knightleys since she was a little kid. As she gets older and family dynamics change, so does her relationship with a specific Knightley.

Emma is my favorite Austen novel. This retelling was true enough to the original with some obvious changes due to the contemporary New York City setting. I enjoyed Emma's journey and her self-discovery of her actions and behaviors and loved the banter between her and Knightley. I thought this was a great updated version!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Emma of 83rd Street coming out May 23, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Beautiful, clever, and of course wealthy, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her close Upper East Side neighborhood with very little stress. However, her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage—and she suddenly finds herself downtown. Now, with her sister out of the house and her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school seemingly alone. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio native with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would leave her to her business.

Handsome, intelligent, and business-driven, the only thing that irritates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it’s her indulgent shopping between classes or her unthinkable hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on the lessons of adulthood she’s so bent on ignoring. But despite his annoyance—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can’t help but notice that the girl next door is suddenly a grown woman now…one who he suddenly can’t stop thinking about.

As Emma’s plans crash into everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly come to the realization that their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it’s not long before they find out that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.

I haven’t read Jane Austen’s Emma yet, but I’ve seen all of the movies. It was hard to picture her with dark hair since she’s always been blond. But this was a fun contemporary take on Emma! It definitely felt like the Clueless version set in New York. I loved the characters and felt they were fleshed out. I think Emma had a fun personality. She can sometimes be portrayed as clueless, but I thought she was intelligent. As for George, I felt his personality was a little stiff at times. I get that he mostly tries to steer Emma towards adulthood and corrects her, but it didn’t seem like he had that hidden warmth under the cold exterior. I would’ve liked to see more of an apology from him during the big conflict scene before certain things happened. I just think more of a discussion needed to be had before that. At times it also seemed like he only noticed Emma for her beauty, saying things like she’s so hot, instead of noticing her for her personality. It seemed a little superficial at times and I don’t really picture him that way. But overall, I did love this book and it was a fun read!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances inspired by Jane Austen and Clueless!

This book is Jane Austen’s Emma meets Gossip Girl and is so much fun! Emma has had a charmed life on the Upper East Side and is in her final year of grad school. She befriends Nadine, a midwestern transplant and gives her the ultimate Manhattan makeover and is determined to help her find love. However, Emma’s childhood friend and neighbor George Knightly keeps getting in the way with his judgmental thoughts. As time goes on, the two friends start to realize there might be more between them than they expected.

This was such a fun retelling! I loved that the characters were modernized, but still stayed true to the original story in many ways. I love stories set in the world of the Manhattan elite, and it worked so well here. Also, the spicy additions were very welcome. If you love a modernized retelling, this is a good one!

Thank you to Gallery Books and #BookClubFavorites for the gifted copy.

DNF. Maybe this one works better if you have a lot of fondness for Jane Austen’s Emma. I am not sure I ever read it but if I did it was a long time ago. I enjoyed Clueless at the time - but there’s a lot that doesn’t hold up for me now. And I felt the same way about Emma of 83rd Street.

The opening scene is Emma at her family’s holiday party and we immediately lead off with her father’s diet culture laden commenting on all the foods at the party - complaints about how much sugar is in the desserts, etc. Yuck. But I’ll push through.

Unfortunately I am finding Emma pretty unbearable - her constant shallow judgements of others based on what they are wearing just isn’t for me. I like Knightley but it’s not enough for me to stick with this. DNF at 15%. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Nicely done fan fiction-and if you haven't read Jane Austen, well, this will still be a romp of a read. Emma Woodhouse's sister has married the boy across the back yard and she's casting about in her life for purpose when she lands on Nadine, who she makes over, Knightly, her neighbor and brother in law, likes to poke at Emma but that's only to hide his affection and, ahem, yearning for her, These are privileged people who live on the Upper East Side (can;'t imagine how much these houses cost) but then, the original characters were also very privileged, Don't term this tropey - it's playing off one of the novels that created the situations we now think of that way The characters are good, the dialogue zippy, and it's a good update, Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, Fun,

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery Books for the ARC in in exchange for my honest review. If you loved the original Emma by Jane Austen and are looking for the perfect summer read, this one is for you. This one is set in present day Manhattan with the Woodhouses living on 83rd Street. Emma is an art student who has graduated from college, Knightly is a finance guy with his own successful business (and lives behind the Woodhouses) and Emma's new friend Nadine has recently moved to NY and who she's trying to "improve". But instead of a nanny, Emma has a sister and Knightly has a brother. Emma and Knightly's bedrooms look across their backyards which makes for a nice storytelling element. I enjoyed this read and definitely recommend it.

There are times when a Jane Austen adaptation goes really, really wrong. And there are times when an Austen adaptation goes really, really right. Emma of 83rd Street is an example of the latter. Co-authors Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding have found the perfect balance between homage and ingenuity as they bring Emma Woodhouse’s story into the 21st century.

As a reader, I could tell that both authors venerated the source material, yet made it modern and fresh for a new generation of readers. Even those who haven’t read the original will find themselves swept up in this tale, and those who love the original will appreciate the tweaks and surprises that Bellezza and Harding have made to the narrative to fit this new setting and time.

And, since this is a more modern love story, we get the benefit of a dual POV and some spicy scenes that just may have slightly scandalized readers back in Austen’s day. I’m here for all of it.

This book was an absolute joy to read, and just might bring attract a new group of readers to Austen’s work. And that’s a wonderful, wonderful thing.

Thank you to Galley Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I read a negative review for this one early on and then put off reading this one. I recently read a lovely review and decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did!

Now I honestly do not know the story of Emma from Jane Austen. I know that there is one, and that's about it. So I definitely missed all the parallels and such.

I loved the finding love in your own backyard line. I love that both sisters did actually. This was a slow burn so many years in the making and when they finally realized what was going on in their hearts it took off from there. I love that they didn't truly have a third act break up. There was a little friendship fight which I guess was accounting for that. I love when Emma told Knightly that he was her best friend, melted. This was sweet, a little spicy, and just overall such an amazing read!

I absolutely loved this story from beginning to end. In the current resurgence of period pieces this was the perfect modern day adaption of Jane Austin’s Emma with unique storylines intertwined throughout the book. Even though I could tell the correlation of the two stories it didn’t stop me from wanting to see how the story would end.

An Austen retelling for those who always wanted to know what Knightly was thinking. A fun, unique, and wise remix!

This is a good, fluffy romance but also a finding yourself and growing up novel. Emma is twenty-three and has decided she wants to get her Masters Degree and a job at the Met (under her own merit without using her father's name). Everyone tends to not take her seriously as she has a bit of a track record. She takes a girl, Nadine, from her class under her wing and helps her develop a NY style to move on from her life in Ohio. Her neighbor, George, is kind of a thorn in her side but is her best friend. Her sister, Margo, wants to hook her up with her husband's business partner. Emma is a bit much and can come across as superficial but like the main character in Shopaholic, she really has people's best intentions in mind. She just doesn't always approach them in the best way. I think this is a good story.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for free copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an e-ARC of this book!

I wish there was a good analogy for my reading experience whilst reading this book. The most fitting one would be a rollercoaster. There were moments of strong intrigue and desire to continue going, but there were also moments of feeling like I was just forcing myself to push through to get to the end. I hated those moments of forcing myself because I had been really excited to read this book.

When it comes down to it, I thought that there needed to be more. In general, in the characters, in the plot, in the character dynamics. Just everything felt like I was missing something. Perhaps it was due to the length, perhaps I wasn't in the mood to read this when I did, but when I hit that final page, I just felt almost let down. Emma and Knightley didn't feel like they had changed or learned any lessons or really grown from their romance journey. There was the constant mention of Emma becoming an adult, acting like an adult, and as a 24-year-old myself, I didn't see that maturity or growth from her during this story.

Additionally, the story just seemingly ends. There's no typical third act conflict or breakup (which I don't mind that part), but there's that somewhat formulaic plot missing. When it comes down to it, I went into this book with the intention of enjoying and when I closed my kindle, I felt like I wasn't sure what I had read.