I really enjoyed this book. Lucy Parker creates a beautiful world full of characters I both loved, and a few I hated. Luckily, Freddy and her Griff were both fantastic to get to know. Her description of the places brought the story to life, from the old “scooby doo” house, to the theater, and finally the velvet room everything was detailed perfectly.

Freddy takes an acting job on a televised play based on a Jane Austen board game. Little does she know that the play is at the home (with private theater originally built for her grandma) of her biggest and most cynical critic Griff.

As the two of them come together to explore their grandparents illicit affair and the renowned play her grandma wrote at the estate, their relationship builds along with the mystery they discover.

I wasn't quite sure about this when it started out because something about it didn't feel like a typical romance novel, and as it goes on, it really is a bit different structurally, but once I got into the groove of it, I was roped in and really enjoyed it. There are some apt Scooby Doo references in here because that's sort of what this book read like--it's got a little mystery going along beside the romance arc, and the romance is not the central underlying tension in the book. It's kind of nice to watch an adult couple dealing with things maturely and as partners rather than constantly worry what's going to drive them apart. There are a lot of side characters and several subplots that give this book a lot more texture and depth. It's really fun and intriguing. Also, not to short-shirft the romance aspect--I really loved Griff and Freddy as a pair, and totally felt the sparks and the chemistry between them. All in all very well-rounded book.

3.75 stars


This book has been intriguing me ever since its cover & synopsis release. It was actually my first Lucy Parker book, and I have to say, I am impressed!


Things I liked:

• The main characters were a blast to read about. Freddy was the definition of sunshine, and Griffin was the exact type of broody male character that I love. Bonus points for making him into one of those self sacrificing big brothers who would do anything to help his family, cause I live for that. They shined separately, but they fit together perfectly as well (I am a sucker of slytherpuff duos, and this one that definitely delivered on that front!)
• The writing was great! This was my first Lucy Parker book, and it definitely made me want to pick up her other ones!
• The plot. I really like reading celebrity romances, specially actors, but I felt like this one gave me a very unique twist with the play and the conflicts that I don't normally see.

What I didn't like:
• I did like the romance a lot; Griff and Freddy were so so cute! But i just felt like their romance lacked a proper built up, and because of that it was slightly abrupt.
• I felt like the ending dragged. I was super interested in the story until I reached around 75%, and then it just felt like a bunch of conflict was just thrown into the story out a sudden. I enjoy a good angsty conflict, but the things that happened by the end just didn't feel very natural to me, It was like the author decided to throw a bunch of things together to add extra pages of conflict, and I was honestly forcing myself to finish
• I think by some point the story started to focus too much on the side characters and there was not enough focus on Griff and Freddy, who were after all the main characters in the story..

Overall, a solid book; I do think if the couple had had a bigger build up and more focus, It would've been an even bigger winner in my book, but i am definitely intrigued to read the rest of the books in this series and even other books by Lucy Parker!

THE AUSTEN PLAYBOOK, forth book in London Celebrities series, can be read as standalone and out of reading order when you, if this is your first Lucy Parker's book, decide to read more of her previous books.


This is a feelgood romance novel about stage actress Frederica "Freddy" Carlton and tv producer and critic James "Griff" Ford Griffin. Their love story blossoms in English countryside while Freddy is performing an Austen who-did-it live televised play filled with Jane Austen's character on Griff's family estate.
Even though they "knew" of each other before and met briefly the couple shares rather complicated and personal family history. That is also a mystery that is a major plot line as we together with our leading couple discover more about it.

Freddy and Griff are at first very opposite characters. They even are unique in their family as such. Freddy is a dreamer in a family of cold overachievers and Griff is a serious and logical in family full of idealist.
When I say they are at first opposite I mean they stay that trough out the book but as their character met and fall in love we see their connection and that each brings from the other the best. They complete each other.
Freddy's vivacious personality melts Griff's stern views on world and even helps mend his relationship with his brother. One the other hand Griff's not caring what people think trait rubs off on Freddy and helps her to finally take what she wants out life, her family and career.

We met Freddy in previous books as side character and off course I was excited to read her story.
But as always this author blows my expectation and shows me depth that is her character. She is more then bubbly girl we learned to love. That is one of many great parts I love about Lucy's books. Her talent to write amazingly, lively and intriguing characters. Dynamic between characters that shows us complicated friends and family relationships is something that will grip you in this seemingly light read and keep you turning the pages.

I loved main love story between Freddy and Gliff but I equally enjoyed in Charlie's coming to his own, Sabrina's redemption and Freddy's part with restoring her bond with her father.
I really enjoyed in steamy parts of this book as writing was superb and palpable but I have to say what really won me over were small emotional moments between protagonists and their family.

There is a lot of fictional things that author came with that just blows me away. The whole Austen Playbook, group of people and book mention in it.

This is a perfect read for all of you who love their romance novels written with real and complex characters all while the naughty parts are left in it.

Lucy Parker is auto buy for me. And I have read many, many romance books so when I find someone who writes so good as she does I like to spreed the word. I have all of her books in paperback on my shelves. And never mind the fact that I received this as ARC I will buy this book in physical form.


I love how she writes simplicity of a kiss or an embrace with such a feel of never ending tangible emotion.

I always have smile on my face while reading Lucy's books. .

I highly recommend this opposite attract with grown up Hermoine and Draco romance.

Favorite quote:
"We’re all a hundred different things at once. A different person to everyone who knows us. And there are very few people we’ll ever love and trust enough to let them have—well, as much of the whole of ourselves as another person can know.”


Happy reading!!!

I would like to pull stars from the sky to add. This book is AWESOME! Some writers excel at writing romances, and that would be Lucy Parker! If you love a good story with strong characters don’t skip this author!

Our heroine is an actress with a well established stage career. (Don’t you love a heroine who has her act together?) Although she’s doing well as an actress in dramas her heart belongs to comedy. But how to tell her manager/father that his dreams for her carrying on in his famous mother’s stage career is not quite her cup of tea without disappointing him?
Our hero is a theater critic. But in the classic way of brilliant writers (and that includes Lucy Parker) there are so many more nuances to him. He is also ‘the responsible one’ in his family. His parents and younger brother are dreamers who rely in him to keep them and their crumbling mansion together.
Enter his brother’s latest get rich scheme: The Austen Playbook. (It’s actually brilliant) The outdoor stage their grandfather built for his mistress (who just happened to be our heroine’s famous grandmother) will be remodeled and used for a live tv broadcast.
Now, get this. You will love it and yearn to watch this show. All the major characters in Jane Austen’s books are together in a ‘who-done-it?’ One of the characters is killed off (the viewers choose which one with an app on their phones) and then the story progresses with discovering the murderer. Brilliant! Right?
And that is just one of the twists in this brilliant book. Give yourself time because you won’t want to put this down. You will adore the characters, plot and settings. Excellent book!!

Sometimes I think it’s possible to enjoy something so thoroughly, to laugh and cry and become immersed, that you miss how exceptionally crafted it is. Freddy and Griff are delightful, Sadie is psychopathically repugnant, and the extended cast of actors and family are equal parts zany and frustrating and dissipated. This is a wonderful romance, and it’s possible to enjoy it just as that one, beautifully executed thing, but it also has so much gothic dread and melodrama winding its way through the background I missed what a perfect murder mystery house party it was. It was not until the end, when I was equal parts distracted wanting to play this computer game and calculating which body would actually hit the floor, when I appreciated the masterfully atmospheric details of this book. Lucy Parker is a delight and a genius, and while I’ve always enjoyed her books I think this is the first time I realized how absolutely, down to the last word, perfect they are.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I am a huge Lucy Parker fan and this title did not disappoint. It was as enjoyable as the first book in the West End series. I am an Austen fan so the wide variety of Austen references and characters were a delightful treat, and I absolutely loved this heroine. She's lovely and quirky and leapt off the page. I was a little less enamored by her love interest, but never thought I'd be rooting for a Slytherin. In fact, this might be the book which has finally convinced me of the value of all those Slytherins in the world.

Five stars. Not the steamiest for me, but one of the most fun. Even the predictability of some of the plot points couldn't take away my enjoyment in the moment.

I liked this a lot more than the last one in the series! Freddy is the scion of a venerable West End acting family, and her father who manages her career wants her to stick to dramatic acting, particularly since a revival of her grandmother Henrietta's renowned play is casting soon. Griff is notoriously curmudgeonly theatre critic whose grandfather happened to have an affair with the notorious Henrietta. When Freddy is cast in an interactive Austen adaptation filming at Griff's family's crumbling estate, sparks fly! I liked the romance, and found the mystery well done. Sadie was an excessively villainous villain, but every other character hit realistic notes.

Lucy Parker is a wonderful writer. The characters are always engaging and the story floats on with such ease that time seems to stop. Her dialogue is so witty and fun.

I signed up with NetGalley in hopes that I would be given this book in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited when I got the email from the publisher that my mood did a wild swing from morose despair to OHMYGODREALLY???

I loooooooved it.

Grumpy hero - check
witty heroine - check
sparkling banter - check
sexy sexy times - check
a brief spot of soulful pining - check
meddling families - check
shenanigans - check
The things I find most romantic are seeing past the other person's facade into who they really are and appreciating them and when a couple realizes they are a team.  For Griff and Freddy, that process of seeing beneath the facade begins before the book opens. Freddy, whom readers of Lucy Parker will remember from Pretty Face, is a theater actress and Griff is a curmudgeonly theater critic. He has reviewed her performances and said some not so nice things about her. In an homage to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Freddy overhears Griff give his opinion of her latest performance and his general opinion of her career. What Freddy overhears lines up with her own thinking. They have a little moment before separating for several months.

An unexpected little flutter in her stomach took her by surprise. An oxytocin hit from the walking ice cube. Interesting life choices, body. “Apparently I have an affinity with all sorts of small objects. Bottles. Safety scissors.”

His brain didn’t require even a second of internal whirring to catch on. A small glint appeared behind the emotionless observation. “If it helps, there’ll be no references to predictability in the next review.”

When Freddy and Griff meet again a year later, they are each at decision points in their lives. They are forced into proximity and in a period of vulnerability for each and wham! InstaLove. I felt like the first chapter sets up the romance that happens so quickly between them. Parker plants the seeds in her characters and then puts them in a situation where those seeds are given time to flourish.

Griff and Freddy are thrown into proximity when she takes part in a televised choose your own ending Austen mash-up production. With a cast of actors, family and others forced together there are present day shenanigans and past shenanigans with which to contend. The craziness is background music to the love story. Occasionally the shenanigans threaten to overwhelm the story, but I never thought they crossed that line. Your mileage may vary. The coming together of antagonists, past and present force Freddy and Griff to recognize they will support each other in all circumstances.

The Austen Playbook will be released on April 22nd. It's a lovely, effervescent romance. It came to me on a day when I was feeling anxious and sad, and turned my day around.

“It was a truth universally acknowledged that an actor in a rut must be in want of a spot of murder, mayhem, and true love.”

Freddy Carlton, darling of the stage, is getting tired of serious dramatic work. Solution? Performing in a live-broadcast theatre production at the crumbling manor house coincidentally owned by the West End's wittiest and most scathing critic.

I absolutely loved The Austen Playbook. As with Lucy Parker’s other books, just a solidly well-written, fun read, with excellent characterisation, romantic development and plot. I didn’t take note of many things as I read because it was just so good - Freddy and Griff were such relatable characters and just lovely to get to know as a reader. The West End production plots are always fun and engaging, and the romance managed to perfectly toe the line between insta-lust and slow-burn love. I could not say anything negative about this book, even if I really really really tried: it is definitely a new favourite of mine.

FIVE STARS!

This is definitely tied to be my favourite Lucy Parker book with Pretty Face and I seriously cannot wait to read it again! Slytherin/Hufflepuff pairings, delicious mysteries and magnetic chemistry have quickly made The Austen Playbook one of my favourite reads of 2019.

Freddy Carlton knows she should be focusing on her lines for The Austen Playbook, 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.

Instead all he can think of is soft skin and vibrant curls.

A family mystery, a hoard of dramatic/brilliant/devious actors and actresses and insane chemistry bring Freddy and Griff together.

I really don't want to tell you too much about the plot to give it away, but it was so layered and wonderful and truly one of my favourite contemporary romance novels now. I'm so in awe.

Would I recommend this to a friend? YES, DO IT, READ IT!!!

Would I read again? I almost want to buy two copies, because I can already see the spine being as worn as the spine of my copy of Pretty Face.

Also, I'm so excited for her next book! It's pretty obvious who it'll be about by the end of this one and I can already tell it's going to be AMAZING!

This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion

Arc Provided by Carina Press

Release Date: April 22nd

I love author Lucy Parker's voice! She creates the most lovable characters... some of them are of the cuddly variety, the type I would love to be their friends with; others are more of an acquired taste.
Like... radish, maybe...

First we may want to hit them with a frying pan ;) but we end up loving those 'old' cranky souls. *cough, Richard, cough, Griff*

The Austen Playbook has all of the author successful trademarks: Lively dialogues, witty banter, *seriously people, if you need to trade barbs with someone, you should read these books*, a couple who feels real enough to cheer for, and a bunch of interesting secondary characters, some of them slightly insane... you know? The usual :D
And then there's Sadie... remember her? *Inserts fake smile*
That woman is fucking terrible!

I loved 'seeing the romance' about lively Freddy and *I don't have any sense of humor* Griff. Once again, I had a great time reading about that whole theater drama scenario. Mixed with it we have family drama, siblings dynamics, secrets about to be unveiled, Austen's plays and... Sadie. -___-

GUYS, hell's about to break loose! And you'll love reading about it! ;

p.s- When can I read the next one?

As a Jane Austen fan, I fell head over heels in love with this book. Freddy Carlton is trying to follow in her family's footsteps as a serious actor in West End. However, she knows deep down she is in love with musicals. Carlton is torn between meeting her family expectations and following her own dreams. In the midst of her dilemma, she is also falling in love with the one man she should stay away from. Will Freddy follow her dreams or stay true to her family name? If you love romance and Jane Austen, this is a perfect book for you and I highly recommend you check it out!

You've probably heard that this is a Slytherin (Griff) and Hufflepuff (Freddy) romance, and yes, it is the one we need.

Freddy comes from an acting family; her grandmother was a well known theatre actress and playright who casts a long shadow. Her father's acting career was cut short by an injury on stage when Freddy was young, and he subsequently wrote a book about his mother and became Freddy's manager.

Griff and Freddy do not have anything close to a meet-cute. She can hear him and his friend mocking her and her sister in the next booth at the pub and they have a subsequent chat at the bar that doesn't go well.

Griff has been trying to get a film project about Freddy's grandmother (who is also famous for her affair with Griff's grandfather that abruptly ended - and no, their children were all born before the affair, no chance of relation) started. Unfortunately, funds and Freddy's father stand in the way. Griff's parents, in the meantime, have no head for money and are spending every penny on their miniatures, they're artists who have never heard of the word budget, nor do they care about losing their home to their spending.

When Charlie, Griff's brother, authorizes the filming of The Austen Project in the theatre building built by their grandfather for Freddy's grandmother, Griff is originally not amused. He blows it off as another one of Charlie's useless schemes but it is going to bring in some money. In the meantime, the theatre critic is surrounded by actors he's panned across London theatres.

It's an entertaining ride as we see Freddy and Griff's relationship grow in a "attracted, but this doesn't make sense" kind of way. She starts to help him with his project about her grandmother and they learn more about why the affair ended and about his family history. In the meantime, she's preparing for filming the Austen Playbook live, it's a sort of choose your own adventure murder mystery where viewers can vote characters off, so she has to memorize the scenes for all of the potential scenarios. I would definitely watch the Austen Playbook if it existed! It would be fun to vote characters off.

Lucy Parker consistently delivers well-developed characters and intriguing storylines. The humour (and sarcasm) of her characters make her books a joy. Fans will be thrilled with the latest edition to the London Celebrities series.

I loved this. Funny, profane, and with characters who see each other's flaws, and yet love each other and TALK TO EACH OTHER anyway.

A team of A-list British actors assembles at a crumbling English country estate to put on a live TV production of a Jane Austen choose-your-own adventure, murder mystery mashup featuring everyone’s favorite heroines and villains from Austen’s works. If that hasn’t already gotten your attention, I don’t think we can be friends.

Freddy is a former child star struggling to find her place as a woman and an actress. Griff is a sharp-witted, acerbic drama critic...whose family just happens to own the house and theater where the production is being staged. Although he’s been critical of Freddy’s recent performances onstage, he can’t help being drawn to her in real life, especially as the two work to uncover long-buried family secrets and sabotage.

A fun, witty, heartfelt addition to the London Celebrities series. Please, Lucy Parker, may we have another? Soon?

Though Pretty Face has been my favorite of Parker's books, the central romance in The Austen Playbook comes awfully close, if not surpassing it. I have a few minor reservations about other elements of this novel, but the romance between Freddy & Griff is swoon-worthy and just quite wonderful. I already want to reread their segments.

As with all of the London Celebrities books, the grumpy hero who loses his heart to the charms of a Parker heroine is a mainstay, though Griff is perhaps a tad icier than previous heroes, which only makes his fall even more intense and fun to witness. What's better than a grumpy hero is a grumpy besotted one long overdue for a reckoning; Griff fits this requirement to the hilt. As one of the top theater critics and drama scholars in London, Griff is renowned for his acerbic take-downs of uneven acting performances and lackluster writing and even sees himself doing a public service to consumers. As an avid reader of reviews, I totally get this philosophy! On the surface that perhaps does not bode well for a romance with an actress long on the receiving end of his barbs. But to her credit and Griff's surprise, Freddy has enjoyed his poison-penned weekly columns and has been a secret fan of his astute observations, even (and perhaps especially) when she has been the focus of his ire. Though they have superficially known each other in the West End theater scene for years, Freddy feels that Griff "sees" her in a way that few others have, and she values his insights and even learns from them. Once Griff and Freddy are thrown together during the production of an upcoming live filming of a stage play on Griff's rural estate, both realize fairly quickly that there is an undeniable attraction and one that goes beyond the mere physical. While Freddy already knows that Griff's grumpiness draws her to him, she's discovers too that there is a gentle and loving man behind the facade. Griff's surprise though at discovering Freddy is more than he ever anticipated is worth the time spent reading this book. I love plots that involve regret at mistaking the worth of another person, especially when romance is involved. Griff's realization that Freddy is wise and perceptive, not to mention lovely, talented, and sweet, is one of the best aspects of the story. I wondered in the opening pages how Parker could bring such different characters together given how opposite they are, but she does this subtly and with such craft that I had trouble keeping a smile off my face every time Freddy and Griff interacted. Their attraction develops flawlessly from one scene to the next. I also want to add too that the sexuality in this story is lovely to behold. They are passionate lovers, undoubtedly, but behind the passion are some welcome observations about valuing a woman's sexual choices. Griff is fearless in his respect for Freddy's sexual rights and even past mistakes, and I just adored him for the care he accords her, as well as Lucy Parker for creating such a hero.

I stopped just short of giving this book a full five stars only because some of the events in the final quarter of book took away from time I wanted with the main characters. The best distraction from the main couple though concerns Freddy's sister, Sabrina, and what appears to be foreshadowing of the next romance, if I'm not mistaken. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger with respect to the upcoming Book 5 too.

The rich artistic setting of the West End theater scene is one of the best features of the entire series and I truly love this world and hope this series continues indefinitely.

The Austen Playbook, the fourth in Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities series, is one of the most eagerly anticipated new releases of 2019 - and I’m here to tell you your patience will most definitely be rewarded when it comes out.  It’s got all Ms. Parker’s trademarks; the two principals are wonderfully appealing, the secondary cast is well-drawn, the dialogue is snappy – and most importantly, it’s got the depth, emotional resonance and soul-deep connection between the leads she’s so good at creating (and which I felt was missing in the previous book).

Frederica – Freddy – Carlton is the youngest member of an acting dynasty whose members have been treading the boards in the West End for the last four hundred years.  She’s been acting since she was a child, and although she made her name performing in a string of popular comedies and musicals, she’s now turned her hand to more serious pieces at the urging of her manager – who also happens to be her father Rupert, whose acting career came to an end following an accident years earlier.  But Freddy’s heart isn’t really in the meaty, dramatic roles she’s being urged to undertake. Her real love is for lighter theatre – musicals, rom-coms, physical comedy – and she knows that’s where her real talent lies, in performing pieces that leave the audiences feeling better at the end of the evening than they did at the beginning.  Yet although she recognises that Rupert is living vicariously through her, she can’t bring herself to disappoint him by refusing to go along with his plans for her. He’s pushing her to audition for the leading role in The Velvet Room, the masterpiece that catapulted her grandmother Henrietta into the history books as both actress and playwright – and in Freddy’s opinion, another piece of weepy philosophical introspection that just isn’t her cup of tea.

The fact that Freddy isn’t suited to the heavier roles hasn’t escaped the extremely perceptive – and extremely annoying – theatre critic, James Ford-Griffin, Grumpiest TV presenter in the UK. And the witty wanker behind the scathing theatre reviews in the Westminster Post.  She’s having a drink with friends after a rather disastrous performance when she overhears him talking to someone in the next booth in the pub, uncomfortably aware that his cutting remarks are right on the nose:

“For some reason, she’s pursuing a determined line in high-brow dramas, when she’d clearly rather be stamping about in puddles in Singin’ in the Rain.”

It’s completely unnerving that this man, whom she doesn’t know, has seen through her façade, and more unnerving still is the way her stomach suddenly feels like it’s full of butterflies when she ends up standing next to him at the bar.  Sure, he’s good-looking, but sadly, behind those compelling dark eyes, that platinum blond hair and majestic nose lurks a frosty demeanour and all the personality of an iceberg.

Griff has spent pretty much his entire adult life trying to rein in his spendthrift parents while they indulge their flights of fancy with no thought to their responsibilities.  The family home at Highbrook in Surrey is heavily mortgaged, and Griff is desperately trying to find ways to pay off the pile of debt as well as to make the estate viable for at least the next few years. He is currently seeking financing for a film about the life of Henrietta Carlton, who wrote The Velvet Room at Highbrook while in the throes of a passionate affair with his grandfather, but that’s not progressing well at the moment thanks to Rupert Carlton’s interference.  Griff’s younger brother, Charlie – who Griff sees as not much more responsible than their parents – has come up with a scheme which might make them some money in the short-term; they’ll rent out the Henry Theatre (built in the grounds by Sir George Ford as a gift for Henrietta) to the company producing The Austen Playbook, a live TV event based on an extremely popular game featuring characters from Jane Austen’s novels.  Griff isn’t best pleased at the idea, but at least the TV company will pay for the necessary renovations to the theatre and the income will give him a bit of breathing space while he continues to seek funding for the film.

With Freddy cast as Lydia Bennett, she and Griff are thrown into each other’s orbit once again, and the spark of attraction that had leapt between them that night months ago in the pub flares to life again.  Their romance develops quickly – something they both acknowledge – but the author does such a great job of creating a genuinely strong emotional connection between them and showing the ways in which they come to understand each other, that I never felt as though things were moving too fast.  They’re well-rounded, complex characters who are like chalk and cheese in many ways; Freddy is generally outgoing, vibrant and chatty where Griff is more reticent and serious, but when it comes to the really important things between them, they’re very much on the same wavelength.  I loved Freddy’s open-heartedness and was impressed by the way she’s so positive about falling for Griff:

“If I end up getting hurt, I would still never regret falling for him. I’m not going to hold back on  investing  in him just because there are no guarantees in life.”

- because it’s such a contrast to so many characters in romances who insist on holding back or walling off their emotions because they fear being hurt.

Griff is a swoonworthy hero who turns out to be perfect boyfriend material without being given a complete personality transplant. He’s a truly decent guy who’s big enough to own it when he screws up, and while his observations may often be critical, they’re also often true - even Freddy has to admit to herself that some of his criticisms have actually been helpful.   Freddy learns to see through to the real Griff, not an iceberg at all, but a man who cares deeply about doing the best for those he loves, and she comes to appreciate his good qualities as she comes to understand him better.   I especially enjoyed the support they offer each other at difficult moments; that’s not to say everything is plain sailing for them, but there’s no Big Mis because these two talk to each other.

There’s an intriguing plotline running alongside the romance, which is going to test Freddy and Griff’s loyalty to their families and each other when, during the course of some background research for the film, Freddy makes a surprising and potentially damaging discovery which could destroy reputations and careers.  It really held my interest and is fully integral to the story rather than being something just tacked on to provide some conflict in the romance.

The familial relationships – Freddy and her TV presenter sister, Griff and his charming and more laid-back brother – are wonderfully realised, and as in all the London Celebrities books, there’s a fabulously drawn secondary cast, consisting mostly of a disparate group of actors (including the viperous Sadie Frost, whom we’ve met in previous books) who, just as in real life, get along and hate each other’s guts to varying degrees.  Tempers fray and egos clash as the performance gets nearer, and we’re also treated to what I suspect is the set up for the next book, as we watch Freddy’s sister and her biggest rival (who happens to be Griff’s best mate) rip each other to shreds with verbal barbs and looks that could kill at ten paces.

Funny, sexy, warm and smart, The Austen Playbook is a thoroughly entertaining read that kept me glued from first page to last, and I’m confidently predicting its appearance on my Best Books of 2019 list.  It’s just that good.

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This may be my favorite of the series thus far!

If there's one thing I love about this series it's how original it is. I can't think of any other romance series or book that centers on London theatre, celebrities and the world of drama they live in. Each book in this series has brought it's own story and trope and I love that even though the author relies on tropes for the romance, she always has her own original twist to it.

In this book, we focus on two character who could not be more opposite. Freddy is optimistic, always smiling and tries to never lets anything get to her. Griff on the other hand probably hasn't smiled since before he left the womb, is snarky, sarcastic and just a plain "gloomy cloud" of a guy. He's also said some not so nice things about Freddy and her acting in his critic reviews and Freddy not being affected by them only seems to make him more sardonic than usual. The author refers to them multiple times as the slyther-puff duo and it really does explain them well.

This book is a mixture of drama, swoon romance and great friendships (and relationships in general) that are not perfect but complicated in a way that we can all relate to. I am a little miffed that some characters that I do NOT like don't get the karma I think they deserve but hopefully we'll see them get in in a different book. My main reasoning for 4.5 (leaning more towards 4) star rating was that:

1. I felt like we were thrown into their relationship and there really wasn't much buildup. Yes I think they are adorable together but it was like one minute they were acquaintances who knew barely knew each other and the next they're into each other? It kind of threw me through a loop a bit. I just need a bit more tension, a few more scenes of them talking and just interacting togethers, showcasing their underlying chemistry before the feelings emerged.

2. Around 70% I started to lose a bit interest. There was just so much happening but my main focus was on the romance and perhaps it was because the angst and drama was stressing me out because I needed to know how things would work out, but I found myself wanting to skim just to get to the end so I could know how things turned out.

Overall, this was a winner in my book and I cannot wait to see who the next book will be about! I have a feeling Sabrina and Nick could make a great book and even though I feel iffy about how things ended for Maya, I wouldn't mind seeing her get a book as well. If you're a fan of this series, you won't be disappointed. And if you haven't started this series yet, well, what are you waiting for?! Jump in!