ACCOMPLISHED: A GEORGIE DARCY NOVEL
by Amanda Quain
St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books
Out Jul 26.

Loved it!

Finally, Georgiana (Georgie) Darcy gets her place in the sun in this charming YA retelling of Pride & Prejudice.

She's a junior at Pemberley Academy, and she's trying to redeem herself after That incident with Wickham Foster last year. Gasp! Plus, she hopes her big brother Fitz will stop helicoptering her and fall for his classmate, Lizzie Bennett. (Good luck with that!)

Then there's marching band (yes, this is a contemporary reworking), her schoolmates (can't they just forget That incident?), and a matchmaking scheme with band friend Avery.

But trying to be a Perfect Darcy could prove disastrous, with her newly constructed life threatening to tumble down, taking all she's worked for, including the only guy who really "gets" her.

Charming, funny, the perfect one-sit read for Austen lovers and new Janeites in the making. Did I say I loved it?

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

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I was interested because I'm a fan of Pride and Prejudice retellings but I don't think I've ever read something from Georgiana's point of view. I enjoyed the modern setting of a private prep school and I thought it was perfect that her love of music placed her in the school band. However, the first half of the book was hard to get through since Georgie is really struggling, mentally and emotionally with every part of her life. As an adult reader, it felt like I'm a little too old and I wanted to shake her - stop thinking you can deal with Wickham on your own! Stop pushing everyone away! She figures all of that out, but it takes a while. It's understandable but also rather uncomfortable to watch, which made the book slow reading for me. I'm thinking that a teen reader might enjoy the book more. Familiar characters of Darcy and Lizzie are side characters who are not the main focus and don't have quite the depth I'd like but it's still nice to see them in a modern setting all the same. It makes sense that Darcy would not be good at discussing emotions with his sister. I'd recommend this to fans of P&P or other prep school novels, but my awkward feelings make me hesitate to recommend it to other adults who aren't in those categories.

Such a fun book!!! I absolutely loved this story as I am a huge Pride and Prejudice fan, and I think anyone who is looking for a fun adaptation of this story should definitely pick up this book. Georgiana has always been an underrated character in my opinion, and this book really delved into her own developments.

I love Pride and Prejudice. Absolutely love it. Darcy, Lizzie, Jane, Bingley, all of them...except Lydia and Wickham. It kind of surprised me that with all that love and all those re-reads and re-watches I never gave Georgiana Darcy much thought. This book delightfully filled that void. I loved the modern spin on the Pride and Prejudice world. I loved seeing these modern versions of Darcy and Lizzie and delving into what was going on with Georgie. This book was great fun and very well done. It was sweet and real and I loved every moment of it.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
For an alternative YA Pride and Prejudice read, this was surprisingly addictive! The pacing was fast, the characters were reincarnated similarly, and it was very modern and fun.
When Georgie got a bit too single minded about her endeavours, I had to remind myself that she's only 16 in the story, and I didn't mind it so much.

Overall this was a cute read! I am a die hard Jane Austen fan and absolutely love retellings. As soon as I heard this book was about Darcy’s younger sister, Georgiana.. I was totally on board!

This story follows Georgie as she is getting over a scandal that involved her almost being kicked out of school. We see her struggle with family expectations and the tension between her older brother, Fitz Darcy.

There were times where I struggled to be in Georgie’s head because her thought process was super repetitive, ie; how she felt her brother hated her, how she was always making stupid mistakes, how she needed love etc etc.

The romance was cute. I really liked that it began as a friendship and we got to see it slightly develop.

There was some matchmaking involved and I did laugh out loud with some of the antics. Our beloved Lizzie Bennet is in this as well as Jane and Charlie Bingley. Mr. Wickham is also another character.

I thought Fitz Darcy was super mean sometimes and Gus actions at times didn’t make sense, along with Georgie’s.

But if you’re like me and a huge fan of Jane Austen, you’ll appreciate and enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I would give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. A huge portion of that is due to the absolutely wonderful cast. The author did an amazing job of reinventing Austen's characters as brand new endearing, quirky characters. I especially adore the energetic and enthusiastic Charlie, who does not get as much screen-time as he deserves, and the endlessly sweet Avery. While I can see the parallels to the source content, Accomplished is its own story separate from Pride & Prejudice that constantly had me on the edge of my seat worrying how things might go wrong for Georgie next.

This book had the potential to be great, but the pacing was just so off and some changes were just too much for me to handle.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Georgie and Avery and every time Lizzie appeared was a delight, but there were times when George didn't really feel like the protagonist in her own story, which didn't feel purposeful. I also didn't care for the way Quain portrayed the sibling dynamic between Fitz and Georgie, it felt disingenuous to the source material. Back to pacing, nothing significant happens until after the halfway point and I had to fight my way to get there, but the ending was really sweet.

Not my favorite P&P retelling, but definitely not the worst reimagining I've read.

Solid YA modernization and imagining of Georgiana Darcy and her tribulation with Whickam and the fall-out of falling for the wrong guy.

Georgie is seriously flawed, but aren’t all 15 year olds? After being taken for a ride by the smooth talker she grew up with, she’s forced to find her way again with all the baggage she’s accumulated. Trying to keep her brother happy has never seemed so impossible.

Keeping to the salient points of the original work and fleshing out the behind-the-scenes drama of Darcy’s little sister, this this coming of age novel is a refreshing Austen retelling. I was happily along for the ride as Georgie works to reinvent herself and attempt to heal the wounds (both self-inflicted and otherwise) to her mental and emotional self.

Having the Darcy/Lizzie relationship take the back seat in the plot wasn’t the loss it could have been because there was a sweet romance for our new main character to enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley so sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I, unfortunately, found this to be a very boring story. It was a struggle to get through the first ten chapters and even when the action picked up was still very boring.

We follow Georgina Darcy as she navigates an abusive relationship with Wickham, a childhood friend of the Darcy family. He was selling Adderall out of her room and when Georgie's brother Fitz Darcy finds out all hell breaks lose. We get glimpses into the situation as we progress through the book. This is in the form of flashbacks and conversations had between Georgie and Fitz, as well as, Georgie and Wickham. We find out the Wickham was kicked out of school, where Georgie (because she is a Darcy) did not.

Wickham comes back to town after the summer vacation to make a deal with Georgie. He tells her that she needs to prove her worth to the school and get Fitz to admit that she is 'doing a good job' or he gets her back.
This doesn't really make any sense to me. I know in abusive relationships there is always someone who is taking possession of the other. It is a confusing plot point nonetheless. Georgie seems to have so much guilt about what her brother have given up to make sure someone is there for her. So much in fact that she starts taking it upon herself to fix her brother up with his classmate Lizzie.
She refuses to tell him anything that is going on though???

I think the trope of the 'one person trying to fix everything themselves' is not for me. It honestly makes me mad and I feel only pushes a narrative that you shouldn't ever ask for help.

I can appreciate that this is a retelling and therefore is going to be similar without being the same story, but the characters feel nothing alike. Georgina Darcy in Pride and Prejudice is sweet and playful and seemingly full of light and love and youth. I think that is why she works so well with Mr. Darcy. She mirrors his true nature verses the mask he wears. So its weird to read about this Georgie who has more of a toxic elitist personality.

The narrative is based on the thinking that Georgie is a Darcy and therefore needs to be the best, that her family is the best. She reminds the reader constantly of this fact. Its excessive.

Personally I found this story boring and lacking in substance. Just another story about a rich little girl but this time with Pride and Prejudice names throughout. Literally you could have used anyone's names and it would have been the same. In my opinion, this is not a retelling.

George shines as the teenager we all have been at some point, awkward and too focus on what people say about her but a good person nonetheless.

I really like her and I FELT the second hand embarrassment when I KNEW that what she was doing wasn't exactly a good idea. Her friend Avery was a fun company, though I'll be honest, I wasn’t really sold on them together as more.

Her brother Fitz Darcy and Lizzie in the back... I need a spinoff of them, really like them (I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers).

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I tried to get into this book, but I just could not connect to Georgie at all. I’ve read plenty of Jane Austen retellings but this was making the humor that Austen and the most successful retellings had.

Honestly, I really enjoyed anything related to Pride & Prejudice. So, I'm really happy that I got the chance to dive into another retelling of it. Entering into the world of Accomplished, I was pretty excited to get to know more about Georgiana. Mostly because we don't know much about her. Unless it was her aunt or brother praising her for being a good piano player.

So, getting this complete opposite version of the perfect Georgie was perfectly amazing. She was real and went through realistic problems that kids go through. Whether it's family, school, or guy problems - there's something easy to relate to.

I also really enjoyed her friendship with Avery. He just seemed like a guy that would help balance out Georgie. He was also on the team of hating all things Wickham. Heck, he's probably the president of the club. It sucks that him and Georgie hit some rough spots but I'm glad that they made up towards the end.

Then there's her brother, Fitz. I loved seeing his college life for a bit but also how him and Lizzie bantered. It was cute and made me smile. So, when Georgie sort of manipulates these two to being together like all the time. Well, I was definitely on board with them falling in love with one another.

In the end, the drama came, and I still despise Wickham. I'm also really happy that everyone made up towards the end too. If another book about Georgie ever becomes a thing, I would definitely like to volunteer as tribute to read it.

Quick Summary: Accomplished: A Georgie Darcy Novel was an interesting +/- read, at best.

My Review: This book was an OK read. I can't venture beyond that assessment much more, unfortunately. The story didn't blow my mind or draw me in, as I thought it would, although it did make me smile a couple of times. I used the word interesting to describe my take on the book because although it was fair in standing, the premise was unique.

I felt that the story had a really dry beginning, so much so that I, literally, had to put the book down, then come back to it. It was surprising to me that I was initially unable to connect with the story or with the characters. Once the pace picked up, however, things got a little better.

What I liked and/or appreciated: Avery, Emily, the Freshman Trombone Section (minus the section leader), Mrs. T, the idea of a modern day P and P, the playful banter between Georgie and Avery, and the young love dual romance angle

What I did not like or was confused by: Wickham, Braden, the unrealistic desire Georgie had about proving something to that ridiculous fellow (Wickham), the misplaced use of profanity, the rather inappropriate name calling or references to the male anatomy when something was not agreed upon by two characters, and the uneven, dysfunctional relationship between the siblings (Noted: the fluctuating emotional drama, the poor communication, the instability with their life roles, their public disputes, the unspoken resentment from both parties)

What boggled my mind: the lack of structured counseling for the siblings (Obviously, they both needed grief counseling...and more.), the school's lack of response to Georgie's repeated noncompliance and disregard for the rules, the on again-off again conflict between brother and sister, Georgie's access to AP classes after the failed general education grades, the granting of guardianship to an emancipated teen who just so happened to be incredibly young and somewhat immature himself, and the unexplained extended absence of the mother (who just so happened to "care" enough to email)

Rating: 2/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: OYA (PG 17+ due to the use of profane language)
Warning: Profanity used. References to drug use.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. The words I have expressed are my own and were not influenced by the aforementioned in any way.

*Posted on Goodreads

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This was such a fun read. It's a modern-day story inspired by Pride and Prejudice, but focusing on Georgiana, Darcy's sister. There were enough references to the original to make me smile, but this was an entirely original story.

Georgie faces a number of challenges throughout the story - the loss of her family, high school peer drama, an abusive ex-boyfriend who won't leave her alone - and she doesn't always come out on top. She struggles, and she makes mistakes, and she hurts people. But she learns, and she keeps trying her best and figuring out how to do better. It was so satisfying watching her far-from-perfect journey, and I can imagine her struggles resonating especially with other young people who read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Plot: I really liked the plot! A modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice from Darcy's younger sister Georgie's POV? Obviously I wanted to read that! And I'm happy I did! I love how the author reinterpreted the story to fit present day, and I loved reading about Georgie finding herself.

And maybe this is random? But while reading about Georgie and Wickham (who is a jerk and I hated him), I kept thinking of this lyric from Illicit Affairs by Taylor Swift:

"And you wanna scream
Don't call me "kid"
Don't call me "baby"
Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me
You showed me colors
You know I can't see with anyone else"

Not the whole song, but I just feel like that particular lyric fit so well.

Characters: Based on what I wrote above, I think you can tell that I loved having Georgie as a narrator! I also liked Fitz, and this version of Lizzie! And I thought Georgie's love interest was great.

The Cover: I like it!

Overall: This was a wonderful modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice, and I highly recommend this YA novel!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Accomplished is a modern Pride and Prejudice retelling starring Georgiana Darcy, a high school junior attempting to rebuild her life after her implication in a major scandal. I was really excited to read this book because I love Pride and Prejudice and any spin-offs/retellings associated with it. I thought the author did a great job with staying true to the same character qualities and plot points of the original Pride and Prejudice, while still making it her own story. I will say that this book was a much heavier read than I expected, so I wouldn't pick this up if you were expecting a lighthearted romance in a Pride and Prejudice setting. I'd recommend it for anyone else, though - all in all, a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book to put it simply. I have been a fan of Pride and Prejudice and its many retellings since I first saw the 95 Mini series at 12 and Quain showed not just her love but also understanding of the story and its characters through her book.
Georgie makes a great lead character because she is imperfect and can make mistakes but she is trying to live up to so much and be the best she can be but also trying to figure out what that even means. Georgiana in the original novel is almost completely defined by her brother and past with Wickham and this explores how being only known for those around you and not yourself can affect someone.
Avery was a cute new character and I like how he cared about Georgie but still called her out when it was needed. Darcy and Lizzie while not really in the book still give off the enemies-to-lovers vibe I adore with them and Wickham is still the worse. Hated him, but I always do and that's a plus I promise.

It's a novel that's easy to just sit down and get drawn into and was a fun YA contemporary and honestly, if someone didn't know the original story it's still a good read and can still be enjoyed without being an Austen superfan...which I might be.

Also, I totally watch Sage Hall I know it

4/5 stars! thank you to netgalley and st. martin's press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

now, to get into it. this book was SO much fun. like seriously, so much fun. i love retellings, so hearing this was a pride & prejudice retelling made me quite excited. and i'm glad to confirm it lived up to my expectations! accomplished follows georgie, our wild and beloved protagonist who is returning to school after nearly getting kicked out of it (she really is wild, but in the most fun way). she sets out on a journey to rebuild her reputation, along with some other plans. as she begins this process, we see her friendship grow with her peers (both family members and friends, and more). i really enjoyed the dazzling chemistry within each relationship, as well as the nods to jane austen, and the realism of the characters portrayed. sometimes YA can fall into traps concerning too perfect or too imperfect characters, but the characters within this book evaded that in the best way. really looking forward to checking out what else amanda quain has written. if you are considering picking up this book, you definitely should!

this sounded so good, but it fell just a bit flat. it was fun, and totaly helped get me out of a reading slump. however, the characters were super 1-dimensional and the main character annoyed me a bit.

--> 3,5 stars