A modern day gender swap of the classic Pride and Prejudice. A story where Dracy's pride and Luke Bennet prejudice on Dracy being a millionaire get in the way of them building a relationship. Will they be able to overcome their issues?

A quick and fun read. The book is more geared to teenagers than adults. Not a bad story line but just didn't keep my interest.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that this was a fun contemporary adaptation of a beloved classic with the added bonus of being set during the holiday season! I found Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe a very lighthearted entertaining read, especially for those who love adaptations.

I got the biggest kick out of this book. Even though the title makes it very clear I still thought it was funny to read about characters named Pemberley and Darcy. The love story between Luke and Darcy is great and while you could see the ending coming it was still worth the trip. I recommend it!

I am a huge Jane Austen fan with “Pride and Prejudice” being one of my favorites of her novels. In “Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe”, author Melissa de la Cruz does a modern re-telling of the story (though turned pretty much completely 360), sets it at Christmas time and incorporates considerable adult themes into the tale.

Darcy Fitzwilliam is the rich and prideful young woman at the center of the story. Her family has lots of money and has lived in Pemberly, Ohio for years. Her less advantaged neighbor is Luke Bennet. Luke is a carpenter and has family members who are a tad embarrassing. These two meet up again after years of not seeing one another and sparks begin to fly. The outcome, if you know the original book, is pretty well set in stone but how we get there is the tale of this book.

There are sexual themes in this story that are adult in nature. Unlike Jane Austen’s novel, I would suggest this book for a more mature audience.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Amusing spin on Pride and Prejudice with a female Darcy and male Bennet. Miscommunication is, as ever, the strongest theme within the book. Usually modern retellings of Jane Austen's classic focus on the "Elizabeth Bennet" character so I was intrigued to see what the author would do with a female "Mr. Darcy." Sadly, Darcy's personality is probably the worst thing about an otherwise fun read. She comes across as both shallow and one-dimensional.

This is a quick holiday read. Teens will likely enjoy this book, but adults may struggle with the lack of character depth.

This book was just an ok read for me. I felt like the story dragged at times and the characters could have been better developed!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

So I was looking for something a little mindless and silly to read tonight, because it has been one of those sorts of days. I haven't read any Melissa de la Cruz before but thought this book would fit the bill. But I just didn't realize just how mindless and silly it would be -- definitely more than I was up for. I get the appeal of these kinds of books, but Darcy was just way way over the top. And there was nothing about this book that felt natural or realistic -- maybe it's supposed to be farcical? I don't know -- it just didn't work for me. But perhaps others who are already fans of the author would enjoy it.

I received a review copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good holiday romance and I love Pride and Prejudice re-tellings, so Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe looked like it would be perfect for me. While it was a fun read, it ended up falling short of my (pretty high) expectations.

I loved the idea of a gender-swapped Pride and Prejudice. I can’t think of any other re-tellings I’ve read that took that angle. I also like the idea of getting Darcy’s POV instead of Elizabeth’s (or Luke’s, in this case). Unfortunately I felt like this was more of an “inspired by” then a true re-telling. If it wasn’t for the names of the characters (Darcy Fitzwilliam, Bingley Charles, Luke Bennett) and the title of the book I’m not really sure if I would’ve even noticed that it was supposed to be a re-telling. That said, the story wasn’t bad. It was a very quick and easy read and had many cute or funny moments.

Darcy was pretty unlikable, which was ok in the beginning because she was kind of supposed to be. However, I don’t think she ever became more likable. Even though she was supposed to be this brilliant, successful woman, she was super immature and self-centered and kind of oblivious. There’s several scenes where she explains how she’s just super confident and driven, and not snobby or selfish, but honestly I just didn’t buy it. I was rooting for her, though, and she did make some strides when it came to her family. Luke was more likable, but we actually don’t get a lot of him. There is not very much time spent with Luke and Darcy together before they are officially together, so I had a hard time really shipping them as a couple. We do get more of them together in the end, which I liked.

One thing that does kind of bug me, which is not the book’s fault, is that the synopsis sounds pretty different than the actual story. Darcy doesn’t really date the type of guys mentioned, I don’t recall a mention of multiple cell phones, and she comes home to see her mom, despite her estranged father and three brothers she’s never really liked. Luke is described as less ambitious than Darcy, but I don’t think he was ever referred to as a slacker. The “fall into bed” statement is also misleading. There were also some continuity issues within the story that bothered me. I’m hoping that those are just ARC issues, though, and will be ironed out in the finished copy.

Overall, Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe was a cute, quick, and easy read. I loved the concept for the book even though it didn’t quite live up to it’s potential. I think hard core Pride and Prejudice fans will find it a little lacking, but if you’re looking for a nice holiday romance I would recommend checking this out.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars

Such a fun switchup, re-telling of Pride and Prejudice. Melissa De La Cruz can write in any genre and which ever one she is writing she does great characters and great plots. Such a great winter read.

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe is a new spin on the classic Jane Austen novel; this time with the story being told by the female Darcy's perspective instead of the Bennet's. The author manages to fit most of the characters in there with the exception of truly the Bennet parents who are instead replaced by Darcys parents.

The idea is a fun one, to take the classic story and turn it around. I prefer Christmas to Zombies. However it falls flat. The characters you love in the original are not given enough time to endear themselves to you. You do not feel instant connection or compassion with Darcy or any of the Bennets really.

I would love to see this story but expanded and with more emotional depth.

as you might imagine from the title, pride and prejudice and mistletoe is a pride and prejudice retelling. but this reimagining of one of my favorite stories cleverly twists the narrative to be told from the perspective of one darcy fitzwilliam, otherwise known as our intrepid heroine. darcy has returned home to pemberley, ohio to see her mother who recently had a heart attack. she's been estranged from her family for years for not bowing to pressure to stay home and marry her high school sweetheart, one carl donovan.

while home she reconnects with her best friend, bingley charles. and through his sudden romance with jim bennet, her high school nemesis luke bennet. a series of encounters with luke under mistletoe have darcy reeling. as everything in her life seems to go topsy-turvy.

this retelling does a great job of hitting the right beats from the book, but also telling its own story. it's fun to see characters reimagined in different genders but with similar personality traits as in the original. the romance here is more straightforward, but that's okay since the framework of the holiday season constrains the timeline. i've yet to meet a pride and prejudice retelling i don't like, and i think pride and prejudice and mistletoe is a solid entry in the genre.

Review will be posted on 10/16/17
Darcy Fitzwilliam is one of the most successful women in Manhattan. Her life is perfect except for the fact that she isn't in love. Sure, she has a "sort of" boyfriend, but he isn't someone she truly loves. Does she even have time for a real relationship? Another Christmas is here and she plans on staying in the city and not visiting her family once again, but this year she gets a call that her mother has suffered a heart attack. Darcy decides to return home to Ohio and spend Christmas with her family and although this should be no big deal, it's stressful for Darcy, because she is returning home to all the people she left behind and some people she'd rather forget about. Her parents always throw a Christmas party and while there she is reunited with Luke Bennet and the rest of his boring and average brothers. While indulging in one too many eggnogs at the Christmas party, she makes out with Luke and her current "sort of" boyfriend finds out. Cue all the drama. On top of it, Darcy must make amends with her family as her absence as created a major hole in their family's world. Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe is a quick and cute Christmas read; it's a fun, modern twist on the classic.

I have to admit I really didn't like Darcy too much in Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe. She's one of those super successful and very superficial businesswomen from New York City. She sort of felt like a cliche to me, but once she was back home in Ohio, I started to like her more. Darcy made some stupid decisions, but I think that was part of the fun. After all, we know where the story is heading as there are no surprises, but it was still an enjoyable ride.

Luke Bennet is no Elizabeth Bennet by any means, but I did like his character more than Darcy. He has his own baggage and relationship with Charlotte, so it was fun trying to figure out how that would play out. The gender swap of Luke Bennet being the "Elizabeth" in the story is also a clever adaptation.

If you are looking for a cute holiday story that is light, quick, and a twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, definitely give Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe a try this winter. It's not my favorite Austen retelling by any means, but it's still a great way to spend a lazy weekend.

This adaption of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice takes place at Christmastime, where Darcy comes home because her mother has suffered a heart attack. While there, she has to face her strained relationship with her father, an on-again off-again relationship with the guy her father is insistent she marry, and an unexpected turn of events in the romance department.
This was a very enjoyable, light-hearted read. If you love Pride & Prejudice, you will really enjoy this.

I was pretty disappointed in this one. I love pride and prejudice. I also loved the zombie rewrite, but this one was lack luster. It took me a long time to get into the story, mostly because the whole beginning of the book was a big bunch of who was sleeping with who. It was a cute Christmas story toward the end, but not enough there to really suck me in. I gave this book three stars because the writing itself, was well done, but the story needed help.

My love for Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and Jane Austen's classic novel knows no bounds. I became a teacher, just so I could talk about Pride and Prejudice. My number one book boyfriend is Mr. Darcy, who beats all comers and contenders.

So I jumped at the chance to read this book because Pride and Prejudice plus Christmas? SIGN ME UP.

And then I read it.

And my attitude became more of a "for the love of Lady Catherine, please end this soon."

Melissa de la Cruz flips the Darcy and Elizabeth set up so that the proud one is Darcy Fitzwilliam, a successful financier who left her provincial Ohio hometown and swore she would never return. The prejudiced one is Luke Bennet, a guy Darcy grew up with and who thinks she's a big fat snob. They get all liquored up at a holiday party and wind up rocking the headboard.

Hijinks and hilarity ensue.

The problem is that most of this book is sort of uninteresting. Darcy comes off as a shrew, nothing like Jane Austen's multi-layered Mr. Darcy. We're supposed to feel sorry for her because she's all work and no play, except that she's just dull and whiney. Luke is slightly better, but he never jumps off the page, certainly not like Elizabeth Bennet.

As for the Christmas thing, it never really feels like Christmas. It just feels like winter time.

I wanted to like this. I really did. But it just never captivated my interest.

I absolutely adored this book! Pride & Prejudice is my favorite book ever if I had to pick just one. When I saw that one of my favorite authors had done a retelling around a holiday theme, I had to read it. I loved how Melissa de la Cruz swapped the genders and put her own spin on this classic tale. I highly recommend this book, it was a delightful, quick and fun holiday read!

I thought that this was going to turn into a she comes back home, marries the good guy who makes expensive furniture! I buy it myself, it is very expensive, to have custom made furniture made in the USA! She is a snob, she is materialistic, she is a male basher, she is a liberal feminist! She should have settled down to help raise his younger brothers, being a carpenters wife, with all of her millions, they would have had a good life! No I don't recommend the book to my friends! Thanks!
carolintallahassee 👒

Received an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.
I feel I need to disclose that I love Jane Austen in all forms: books and movies, regency and modernized. I enjoy seeing how an author or a screenwriter updates 200-year-old plots for a modern audience and I try not to be a stickler for hitting every mark because some things just aren’t feasible in a different setting and it hurts the narrative to shoehorn in plot points. What I do demand, almost universally, is that you get the essence of the characters. I expect to recognize that person as a version of the original.
Melissa de la Cruz’s Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe did not work for me on both fronts: she deviated wildly from the original story but then swerved back to create faint echoes of pivotal scenes and her characters were unrecognizable from their inspirations, for the most part.
The book tells the story of Darcy Fitzwilliam, the only daughter in a wealthy family from Pemberley, Ohio (see what she did there?) who left home to make it big in New York after her father threatened to cut her off for not marrying her high school sweetheart (this story is somehow less feminist than the original from the 1800s).
She comes home because her mother has a heart attack right before Christmas and from here on out, this plot makes no sense but the broad strokes of it are Darcy runs into childhood nemesis (?) Luke Bennett, who is a lowly carpenter that she looks down her nose at, but who she also makes out with under mistletoe a couple of times and decides she’s in love. She confesses her love and is rejected, does something nice for Luke’s family without expecting thanks, they end up together. Oh, and Darcy’s good friend Bingley Charles (see what she did there?!) is smitten with Luke’s older brother Jim Bennett, Darcy counsels Bingley to maybe slow things down which causes them to break up but then she apologizes and they get back together.
That is the sum total of the “Pride and Prejudice” inspiration in this story, which is disappointing, because modern and gender-swapped is a combination I have not yet seen and it could have been truly fun. Unfortunately, if the names and title were changed in this book, it would be unrecognizable as a Pride and Prejudice story.
So then, how does it stand up on it’s own if the names were changed and it was just a Christmas romance? Not great. The author does not do a great job of communicating how much time is passing and I found myself going back to find out if I had missed a transition. The characters do not get fleshed out nearly enough for how many of them there are and no one’s motivations are clear until they are explicitly explained and even then I kept annotating with “what?” over and over.
More than anything, this story reminded me of a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. Rich city girl goes back home, gets pulled into family drama, feels attracted to the local slacker, in the end learns that she misses home after all and the slacker shows her how to enjoy life. I’ve seen this Hallmark movie countless times and it takes less than two hours of my life, usually while I fold laundry or cook. It’s just too flimsy and predictable to curl up with in book form, personally.

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe" by Melissa de la Cruz

My Thoughts...

If you are looking for a 'feel good' quick read for the holiday you may like this one by this author focusing on Darcy Fitzwilliam and Luke Bennet. We find that a lots will happen as Darcy returns home for the holiday after her mother has had a heart attack. Darcy was quite a successful woman however she also had a life that was full of insecurities. I enjoyed how this author was able to deliver a modernized retelling of 'Pride and Prejudice' and let's not leave out the Mistletoe where there will be a 'complete flip of characters.' What will happen when one of the richest women who doesn't have time for nothing but work...comes home after been gone for eight years, having to deal with her strained relationship with her father, mother's illness and having to attend her parents's yearly Christmas party? Will a lots of the events that take place in this story set off some events from the past that seem to collide with Darcy's future? What will happen when Darcy meets up with Luke Bennet...the carpenter? What happens when Darcy begins to think that maybe living the simple life would be better than the one she now has? Now to get all of these questions answered and so much more you will have to pick up this novel [Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe] and understand that its a spin off/flip of the original 'Pride and Prejudice,' a Jane Austen Classic however, this will be a quite a different story that is full of twist and turns, 'lightheartedness, self discovery and second chances.'

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

It was a nice concept, reversing the roles in pride and prejudice. But the story was too short to be executed properly. The story was overly predictable and unrealistic. It needed more depth.