Favorite Quote: Lesson one: Friends are just enemies in disguise.

Olivia Brownlow is no stranger to danger. Orphaned at birth and raised in a workhouse as one of the boys, Olivia eventually made her way to the streets and was taken in by a gang of thieves. When a crime goes wrong and she’s caught, she and the intended mark are shocked to discover they’re related and he takes Olivia into his home to finish raising her. Now a part of of upper society, Olivia spends her days being proper and her nights helping a group of orphans living on the streets. When Olivia sees a familiar handsome face in a posh drawing room she is shocked but positive he won’t remember her or how they met.

Jack MacCarron started out as a street thief but soon found his way into the home of a rich society matron as her “adopted nephew.” Once known as the Artful Dodger on of London’s East End, Jack helped to keep the little ones in the gang safe. Now he steals from the neighbors on a regular basis. When Jack stumbles upon a beautiful and familiar young lady on the wrong side of town, he follows her and soon discovers her secret.

When it appears someone is out to destroy Olivia, Jack steps in to help her unmask and defeat her faceless tormentor only to realize that he may not be able to save her this time.

Olivia Twist is an adventurous reimagining of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Fans of the classic are sure to see the similarities in here as Langdon uses Dickens’ version as a primer, taking some mild liberties as she reshapes certain scenes and characters to make this story her own. Far less bleak and dreary then the original, Olivia Twist picks up where Dickens’ left off and entertains with an inventive female protagonist, a friends to lovers romance, and of course, the mystery. As most of us have read the original, I’m not going to bore you with a recap.

Set in Victorian London, Langdon builds the atmosphere with a deft hand, creating a London well worth exploring. The story opens with Olivia’s birth and we learn how and why she came to be raised as a boy. We then flash to the present where we meet Lady Olivia Brownlow. An eighteen-year-old debutante whose great uncle took her in after he learned of her existence. Langdon does an excellent job of melding the present with flashes from the past to show us how Olivia survived growing up on the streets. She now spends her time going to parties, caring for her uncle, and stealing in order to care for a band of orphans who live on the streets.

A triumphant grin spread across Olivia’s face. Solid silver. The idiotic trinket would bring a fair amount of coin at market. “No one shall miss you, my darling.”

Olivia’s high spirits, compassion, and sense of adventure draws you in instantly. She’s fun and it shows in her witty narrative and mischievous actions. She holds no shame over her past. She understands she was not at fault for the circumstances of her birth and did what she had to do to survive. Her compassion is bottomless and her love for her uncle and her orphans boundless. She does what she must, even at the expense of her own happiness.

That small inner voice that most women ignore because they’re too concerned with living the life others expect.

Jack Macarron comes off a bit of a rake in the beginning though as you get to know him, you see a genuinely good guy who is trying to better himself and help his benefactor. Smart and kind with a rough around the edges appeal, his romantic nature soon comes alive as he steps into Olivia’s orbit though he comically bemoans his fate.

How had he gone from a happily unencumbered bachelor with nothing to lose to this sniveling mess, pining over a young miss whose baggage included an ailing uncle and a gaggle of orphans?

I loved that Jack never attempted to leash Olivia or confine her to his version of a lady. While his protective instincts raged to the forefront around her, he doesn’t do anything to break her spirit or make her feel as if she is inferior to him in any way. He always treated her with respect and admiration.

Jack and Olivia are a delightful couple whose chemistry sparks laughter and mayhem as they reacquaint themselves with the adults they have become from the children they were. There is a mild sense of antagonism that holds threads of competitiveness and some jealousy. They are falling in love though it takes both a while to see it. They must first repair the friendship they once had. The growth of their romance is slow and steady, punctuated by delightfully sharp banter that had me giggling.

“What a flattering hair ornament, Miss Brownlow. But I do believe I prefer that ruffled cap ye wore the other day.” Jack paused as if to search his memory. “Cream with green ribbons, I believe?”

Olivia sucked in a breathe. “Why Mr. MacCarron, how observant of you. I had no idea you had such a burning interest in fashion.”

“Nor I,” said Topher with relish. “But it explains quite a lot.”

Their attraction for one another is a wonderful foil to the dangerous work they are involved in affording them some respite. I found it bittersweet that they started out as thieves and rescued off the streets only to be forced back into the life.

An engaging cast of secondary characters decorates the landscape. While Langdon keeps them true to their roles, I did enjoy the personality and enthusiasm they brought to the story. The mystery blends well with the romance as Langdon follows familiar paths. I was a little put off by the paranormal aspect that was introduced. I understood the significance but felt like Langdon was stretching toor to hard there. Steady action speeds the story along at a respectable pace as the various conflicts weave their way in and out of the story. A strong hand guides us to the end and we cheer the growth Jack and Olivia have experienced since the beginning; each learning to face their individual fears head on and overcoming together the obstacles meant to defeat them. The ending comes quickly with Langdon leaving us off with an enjoyable epilogue.

RATING: B

A fun, quirky, retelling of the classic by Charles Dickens that will be appealing to a new generation.

Olivia Brownlow spent a portion of her childhood living on the street pretending to be a boy while stealing on the streets of London in order to survive. When one of her thefts goes bad and she is caught, she lucks out by her uncle taking her in and treating her how to be a lady in high society. Unfortunately, it is hard to leave behind the only life she has ever known. Just when she thinks she has turned a corner, a face from the past comes back into her life. Jack MacCarron has become the adopted nephew of one of London’s riches families. Jack used to be on the street as well and was known as the Artful Dodger. His new aunt is using him and his skills to gain enough wealth to stay in high standing. When Jack finds out that Olivia is using her skills as well to help the local orphans, he decides that together they may be able to do enough good to outweigh the bad of their pasts.

I so enjoyed the last book Langdon wrote and was really looking forward to this retelling. It has been several years since the last time I read Oliver Twist so this seemed like an entirely new story to me. In fact, after I read this, I had to go back and read Oliver Twist again to see what the similarities were, which happened to be more of a slight alternation rather than full retelling. The dynamic between Olivia and Jack was played out really well, along with that of Olivia and most of those she interacted with. The romance played out really well and didn’t seem forced, which is always a nice today in today’s novels. The writing was very well done and told in an exciting way, but it may not click for all audiences (what book ever does). I think many people will enjoy Olivia Twist, especially those that are fans of the original Dickens novel. I recommend this for fans of the original and anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Oh. My. Word. Give this book all the stars! I implore you to add Olivia Twist to your TBR. Lorie Langdon’s inventive take on Oliver Twist completely stole my heart. It’s fresh and witty, one of those rare books where you feel like you are beholding something special.

I adored Olivia as both the hard-scrabbling orphan posing as a boy and the lady trying to find where she belongs. She's come so far from where she was but she does not abandon her roots either. She steals small trinkets from the wealthy while she's at their parties, then hocks them so she can give food and money to some orphaned boys she looks after. All while dressed up as a boy, naturally, as no lady could be caught on that side of town. Her actions speak so much to her character.

And Jack! Well, there are no words for how I feel about Jack and his evolution as a character- it’s mostly heart eyes and flailing. It's true Jack has done some bad things in the name of surviving the streets but he also looked after the kids in his care. He is complex and charming and my precise kind of rogue.

"He'd never wanted to kiss and strangle someone in the same breath, but that incongruous and decidedly uncomfortable state had become the norm when he was with her." p. 166

When their paths cross, Olivia immediately recognizes the Artful Dodger who took her under his wing. But he knew her as the boy Ollie and has no idea who she's become. They are drawn to each other, while not trusting each other, although Jack doesn't know the half of it. I loved the evolution of their relationship and the way they understood one another, even if they had different aims.

With Olivia, Jack doesn't have to be the Artful Dodger or the gentlemen Jack MacCarron, he's just himself. And Olivia can be herself as well. It was heartbreaking to see how Jack didn't believe he deserved Olivia, nor would he allow himself to hope for something more.

Of course, there's danger and intrigue and I was crossing my fingers the whole way for a happy ending because I could not recall Oliver Twist having one. (A quick note: I'm not sure that I've ever read Oliver Twist. I did see the movie when I was a kid but that was many, many years ago. All that to say, I had very little recollection of what happened in the story but this did not keep me from appreciating this version.)

The character growth was incredible. Jack comes to realize true love means sacrifice- something he never experienced as a child but feels for Olivia. What he does with this realization, well, I'm still swooning. Watching Olivia realize she needed to trust her loved ones with the truth of her background and current troubles was also very moving to see. But I was most moved by Olivia and Jack taking a chance on each other.

I flew through this story, needing to know what would happen and whether Olivia and Jack could be together and if Monks would get his comeuppance. The writing was fresh and clever and I laughed out loud more than a few times. When I finished the last page, I was completely satisfied and immediately wanted to tell everyone to read it.

Bottom line: I freaking LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

This gender bending retelling was everything I hoped for. It had adventure, daring, a wonderful setting and just enough romance to keep things interesting. The book is set in a well researched Victorian England complete with gas lanterns and foggy meetings on the London Bridge. The adaptation of Oliver twist brings in pick pockets and clandestine meetings while also tugging at your heart. I loved Olivia for her sass and her heart and I loved Dodger for his scrappiness and also for his heart. I also found the writing to be wonderful. “Peels of fog slithered and curled over the cobbles.” I mean if that quote doesn’t give you Victorian England vibes I’m not sure what will.

This book was so cute. Jack and Olivia's romance was by far my favorite part and they gave me all the feels and I love them. It was a cute twist (haha, get it?) on the original Dickens, definitely a light-hearted, fun read when you need a break from the heavy stuff. I would say not to expect it to have the same tone as the original Dickens, and it's more about what might have happened after the story if Oliver was Olivia instead of an actually retelling of Oliver Twist. I thought it was a lot of fun and enjoyed myself.

I love, love, love this book! Can't wait for this to come out and share it with my kiddos. This will definitely be a book I reread every year.

If you're going to take over the mind of one of the best characters in all of literature (in my opinion, anyway) you have to get it right for the book to be any good. I'm sad to say that I don't feel this is the case with this one.

I will preface this by saying that I am a Dodger fangirl. I'm always, always looking for new twists on the old story just to spend time with him, and I was ridiculously excited for a story where Oliver was actually a girl the whole time. I could tell pretty quickly though that it wouldn't be for me.

Basically, The Artful Dodger does not sound like The Artful Dodger we know. I felt like the author just didn't get his voice right, instead turning him into by-the-numbers smirking, brooding YA protagonist #35462827474. And I'm still a little bitter about it.

The romance also is pretty standard. It's as if the author wanted to make it so that the book is enjoyable whether or not you know the story of Oliver Twist - which is great, don't get me wrong. The problem is then that it doesn't go far enough either way. If you aren't familiar with the original story, there isn't enough detail about the young lives of our leads and everything they went through - making the romance of their later years feel forced and very insta-lovey. But on the other hand if you do know the original story, it's still not satisfying, something's missing. There's no rumination on the fact that there is a dynamic shift in this relationship.

Honestly, this doesn't need to be a retelling of Oliver Twist. The setting, romance and characters would easily fit into any other story.

If you're simply looking for a cute, historical romance you will probably enjoy it. But if you're in it for the retelling, or Dodger, I don't think this will be for you.

The concept behind this was awesome, but the execution was lacking for me. The writing felt clunky and awkward. I had a hard time getting invested in the characters, or at times, even understanding what was going on. I wanted to love this, and I did like some parts, But overall this book just fell short for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, or even staying interested in what was going on.

LINK WILL GO LIVE 2/26/18

I've only read the original "Oliver Twist" once and it was quite a while ago, so I was intrigued when I ran across this gender-swapped retelling of the classic tale. However, in the end, I felt a bit misled by the book description and had a few problems with the characterization of our leading lady.

Olivia grew up on the streets and it is only through a chance of luck that she now finds herself leading the life of a society lady. But even here, amidst the gossip and sparkle, she can't escape her past. Especially when said pasts presents itself polished up in a dashing suit and shooting her wicked grins. Jack MacCarron is more than he seems, and his history with a younger "Oliver" is only the start of what will tie these two's future together.

What I did enjoy about this book was the writing style and historical setting. I'm particularly prone to enjoying books featuring lords and ladies circulating around ball rooms and snarking wittily at each other. The story was also quite fast paced, jumping into the action mere pages into the story. Olivia and Jack are introduced to each other very quickly, and through some well-placed flashbacks, readers are able to begin putting together their history. What also makes this fun is Olivia's extra knowledge of their shared past, as she was only known to Jack then as a young boy named Oliver. From what I can remember from the original book, the author also does a good job at tying together the two stories in creative and sometimes unexpected ways.

However, I had a lot of trouble with a few aspects of the book. My biggest problem was not being able to suspend my disbelief about the situation that our two main lead characters find themselves in. Somehow, magically almost, both are raised on the streets but then easily slip into lives as gentry after only a few years. What's more, they are welcomed in with very little struggle or gossip. Part of my problem with this could be the same fast-paced-ness that I praised above. In the very first chapters we're introduced to Olivia, a lady now living the life of a society woman. But then in some quick flashbacks, we see the abject poverty and limits of the world she grew up in until she was a pre-teen. And yet, there was no evidence of this in her current manner as a lady.

I don't want to go all "My Fair Lady" on this, but...really? Not only would I have found Olivia's story that much more compelling had her arc included more about the ongoing struggles she had to face living this life full of politics and rules, but it was frankly unbelievable to see her navigate the ins and outs of a society that was notorious for confusing and strict rules of conduct. Many other historical fiction works set in this time narrate on and on the challenges that even women who grew up to this life encountered when living life in public society. To simply buy that Olivia, a woman who grew up without an education, without parents, and, what's more, as a boy, would be able to simply fall into this role was just too much to swallow. The same goes for Jack, to a certain extent, but as the rules are less strict for men of the time, I was able to let this go a bit more.

My second major criticism comes with the first line of the book description and the reality we are given. Right there, in the very first sentence of the summary, we're told that we'll be getting a character who is not a damsel in distress. The reality is exactly the opposite. In the first few pages, we get a very unfortunate reference to the "beauty leads to rape" myth when a man instructs a midwife to raise Olivia as a boy since if she turns out to have the looks of her mother, her life will be more rough. That alone is pretty bad. But as the story goes on, Olivia repeatedly makes terrible decisions, finds herself threatened with attack and assault, only to be saved by Jack. This happened repeatedly. Not only do I never appreciate repeated threats of sexual assault as a driving force in any story, but to combine that with the first chapter's reference to it being at all affected by a woman's beauty and the fact that we were promised the exact opposite of a damsel in distress in the book summary, makes the whole thing very upsetting.

This all added up to a fairly disappointing read for me. The romance and chemistry between the two leads was charming, and I still enjoyed many aspects of the historical setting. But I couldn't get past the suspension of disbelief issue or my increasing dismay with regards to the use of assault as a plot point and Olivia's role as a repeated victim in need of rescue. I do think this book will still appeal to many other readers, perhaps those looking for a bit more of a fluffy romance read, but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

Rating 5: The intriguing concept and strong romantic chemistry weren't enough to distract me from an unbelievable leading damsel who too often found herself in distress.

From the outset, I wasn't sure how to feel. Obviously the prologue set up one story and after reading the first several pages of the first chapter, I was confused. I was also a bit put off by the immediate turn towards romance - Olivia seems to practically swoon over the dark haired stranger she notices at the party. But he's not a stranger and his identity is what captured my attention. Her realization of it also clears up any confusion I had about the prologue.

Olivia has trappings of Eliza Doolittle, at least in some respect. The changed women, wistful but never naive. She walks the line of upper class debutante and street urchin with deft precision and I actually felt like she was a match for Jack and not just some Mary Sue there to fall desperately in love with him. That being said, Jack is my favorite. I definitely have a type when it comes to male characters and he falls into it. A little brooding, with a dark and contentious past. He doesn't need saving but someone always sees something in him that makes him worthy of it. Bad boy with a heart of gold. I fall for it every time.

The pitfalls of this - and many other young adult novels, so it would seem - is that it could've been shorter but at the same time, more could've been detailed. For example, the Monks' plot. His dastardly plan was implemented and resolved abruptedly when a little more flesh could've been added. The repetitive language got to be cloying at times and the uneven pacing made for a slow read around the middle. And while I periodically enjoy a happy ending, it felt almost too easy here.

Despite its few shortcomings, it was a highly enjoyable read and I didn't hate that it was technically a romance.

A lovely retelling of the Oliver Twist story but instead Oliver is now Olivia rescued from the streets by her uncle to live in high society and comfort. Unfortunately her half brother is after her and her inheritance but fortunately she has a white knight in Jack McCarron also known as Dodger her friend from her days on the streets. A charming story well told.

I had extremely high hopes for this book. It wasn't great but it wasn't engaging enough... or memorable enough. I had a difficult time getting into the ok. Ollie needed to constantly be saved. It was also tough to follow this book. It was a cute story with lots of potential but unfortunately this fell short for me.

Enjoyable twist on Oliver Twist. Olivia is a charming read.

Full review to come. For now: Lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove!

At some point I will hopefully be capable of writing a coherent, albeit gushing, review. Right now, all I can say is I adore every little thing about this book and just picture that emoji with the heart eyes...that's me right now.

There are a million and one reasons why OLIVIA TWIST is everything I hang my bookish hat on.

“That small inner voice that most women ignore because they’re too concerned with living the life others expect."

“With Jack’s presence, the room brightened as if several more candelabras followed him into that room. A smile that seemed to originate deep in Olivia’s chest stretched her lips without her consent.”


It is everything a book experience SHOULD BE. It is everything LIFE should be. It is a gaslit Victorian carousel of pickpockets and villains, rickety pubs, railing danger and clandestine meetings with handbrushes that send tingles to your toes and harrowing meetings on London Bridge. Olivia Twist marries a well known trope while finding footing in a dazzling new world. Though not fantastical as it is rooted deep in perfectly-researched Victorian London, the heart-pounding feeling you get as the curtain is pulled back on its colourful universe makes you feel you are stepping into another world. It is my favourite type of read.

Image result for olivia twistIt takes you into a place of nostalgia while offering a unique tug into a world at once familiar and surprising. It elicits all manner of giggles and gasps and blanket-gripping tension as you think you know how it will end, but you are not quite sure. It reminds you why you love reading in the first place.

Olivia Twist finds a brilliant balance between source material novel and famous adaptation and adds another layer to this delicious cake. Cameos from the book like Monks and Fagin are paired with the sheer heart behind the musical that introduced many of us to Dickens (the musical, it should be said, is a gateway drug). And while the book is gifted with subtle lovely nods to red roses and mornings whose sunshine you want to buy and bottle, it springboards into its own realm of adventure.

Basically, if you love Oliver Twist—in any form---you have come to the right party. If you love Dickens, you have come to the right party. If you love cross-dressing female heroines, you have come to the right party.

If you love ROMANCE that will strangle you breath and pulse your heart into a gallop from the first unexpected meeting between two people who used to know each other ( one knowing a little more about one than the other), then you have found a virtual literary rager.


A heroine of agency and heart who reminded me a lot of Wonder Woman for some reason ( weird contemporary link, I know ); but like WW, Olivia has a kind heart, even if you never want to run into a bout of fisticuffs with her. Like WW, Olivia would see a baby and melt, taste ice cream and melt, care of her elderly guardian by day playing the winsome socialite while sneaking out be-wigged to help a band of orphans at night.

It is this perfect balance of scrappy and sophisticated that pairs a wonderful example of the complexity of women. To be strong, Langdon asserts, does not mean shrugging out of femininity. Likewise, to enjoy finesse and have a caring maternal view does not undermine strength.

“She blinked up at him and he was Dodger again. The rough-and-tumble street kid with the heart of gold.”

Then there’s Dodger who is at once sweet cinnamon roll of vulnerability and savvy, scrappy pickpocket late of Fagin’s influence. He is our guide to the underworld while, like Olivia, balancing a life of high social standing and finding it a bit like a sweater with sleeves too long for him.

While I was delightfully on the edge of my seat to reacquaint myself with well known characters against a well known canvas in a new backdrop, I think the most surprising aspect of the novel for me was its amazing portrayal of sacrifice: something I was not expecting. It is here that the subtle and deft touch of faith is interwoven within a compelling world at large. If your soul is not strangled in breath-gulps by the end ---by either the beautiful writing or the sob inducing choice one is willing to make in the spirit of true love—then go sit in a corner with a lump of black coal.


Oh! And the writing? See, the writing. Friends, sometimes a book springboards to life because its sizzles and sparks with the author’s heart. You can feel the author’s passion through the page. This is one of those books. Reading this I felt I had found new fictional friends, yes, but also a kindred spirit in the pen behind the page. In OLIVIA TWIST, Langdon’s obvious love for this world of story plays fast and loose to win us completely. It’s her gift. It’s an act of sharing. This passion is a portal for gorgeously lyrical writing that at turns grips and surprises.

“Haze draped the skyline of the city like the oozing, yellow center of a stale egg” (I mean, come on! It whiffs of Dickens but with an originality of its own)

“Peels of fog slithered and curled over the cobbles.” ( COME ON!)


“Their skirts sweeping against the cobblestones like a thousand whispers” (because consonance is the spice of life. Like Dickens before her, Langdon’s prose begs to be read aloud)


With all the thanks to Blink YA for the review copy of an anticipated book that shattered my expectations and winnowed its way to my FOREVER READ SHELF

This reimagined version of Oliver Twist was a fun, quick read that is definitely a page turner. Langdon did an excellent job with the character of Dodger; he was the perfect balance of rake and gentleman, and knew when Olivia could take care of herself and when he needed to help her out. They both felt they were the best person for the job, and I loved the moments when Olivia had to save Dodger. The chemistry between them was also very well-done, and I loved reading along to figure out how they got their happy ending. Overall, this was a solid read with really likeable leads, a fast-paced plot, and a good dose of romance, and will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy reimagined classics.

This was an amazing read! Loved loved loved the twist on Oliver twist and this clever cast of characters!!! Olivia is a girl with spirit, spunk and a soft heart. Jack is a boy with grit, determination and heart. The plot has action, danager, romance and the perfect balance of all three. Fabulous historical read of the Victorian Times when being an orphan was almost a death sentence. Can't say enough good enough this FABULOUS novel!!!!!!