📚✨Book Review✨📚

Pride & Puppies
Author: Lizzie Shane

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

Note: I received a copy of this book to review via NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🐶The DOGS! Honestly, they were my absolute favorite part of the entire story. Dogs just instantly make me happy and make every book feel so much fuller!

🐶I LOVED all the references to Jane Austen novels, not just Pride & Prejudice. Especially Emma. It’s always been a personal favorite so it made me smile when it came up 😉

What I Didn’t Like:
🐶Unsurprisingly the thing I wanted most was more spice. There is a nice slow burn to it, but I wish I could have gotten a peek behind closed doors 👀

Final Thoughts:
🐶 Overalls this story was a cute, fun, quick read for anyone who is a fan of Austen novels, Hallmark movies, or dogs!

Based on the book description I thought this would be a winner for me but sadly it fell a bit flat. I found it really hard to connect with the characters. Charlotte seems rather immature; honestly this book should be called “how to overthink everything”.
I enjoyed the relationship between George and his sisters and I loved Charlotte’s grand gesture. But overall I found myself a bit bored and frustrated with the story.

This was a cute friends to lovers with a strong Jane Austen reference both in plot and characters.

I really appreciated the heroine trying to change her love life’s unhealthy cycle and her fear of hurting the hero but there were a few things that bothered me along George and Charlotte’s love story.

It was difficult to connect with them in a romantic level since Charlotte kept bringing up the fact that she wanted to be a matchmaker for George but their chemistry got better and I enjoyed it.

I’m curious of the next books in the series!

I could not put this book down. I just spent the afternoon sitting in my backyard with my own dog emerged in the world of Charlie and George.

Very well written romance that made me smile a lot. It almost like a comforter in a book. The story felt familiar yet not at all. I don't know how to describe it, you need to pick it up and read it if you love a true romance story and dogs. The addition or the dogs was a nice touch

I loved this story. It felt like I was in a hallmark movie. Honestly this book was perfect. I don't think there is a single thing I can't think of to make this story any better.
I highly recommend this book. I hope you read it when it comes out in Nov 2022.
The FMC is a messy romantic who is 100 percent relatable. After a breakup she swears off men and gets a puppy. Who doesn't want a puppy. I once had a Hoodie that said "I traded in my boyfriend for a puppy". I loved that Hoodie and I think this book was made for me. Let the puppy romance begin.

Favorite quote. "I know you. I know you're impulsive. And brilliant. And moody-especially if you're hangry. I know you think you're too much-but I love it when you're the most."

Swoon.

A cute little rom-com inspired by Jane Austin! I laughed so many times and enjoyed the journey, now I’ve also got this urge to rewatch all my favorite Jane Austin movies. I loved the small town vibes and felt connected to all the characters. I will definitely be checking out this authors other work.

This book was sweet just not the book for me.
I did love the Jane Austen references and quotes but it was a friends to lovers that had more whine than pine.
I was more interested in the side characters and would be very interested in a book about Beks the mmc’s sister.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an earc!

2.5 Stars Pride & Puppies was a cute, closed-door rom com. The book took me a little bit to get into and because of the title and the main character’s love of Jane Austen, I expected it to be like Pride & Prejudice. But part way through the book, I kept thinking that it reminded me of Emma, especially the main character of this book was just like that titular character. Then her sisters pointed out that she is like Emma. The main character, Charlotte, could be a little bit annoying, but ultimately was endearing, as was the love interest, George. I loved the ending and enjoyed the story overall.

Arguing about loading the dishwasher, picking up puppy poop, a series Jane Austen obsession, and falling in love….that makes the perfect fairytale. If you’re a Jane Austen fan this is a must-read for you. Every classic literature lover will swoon over George and Charlotte…not to mention Pine Hollow! Can I move there?

Really loved this fun read! A story I couldn't put down until the end.
However; I'm like the rest of them I didn't know that this was part of a series. I always do this. Never realizing it.
But it was still very good! Add a puppy to the mix makes it even better!
I very much could relate to some of Charlotte's feelings! Oh my! This author did such a good job with her feelings that I felt like they were my own. Especially with not seeing what's right in front of you the whole time!
I felt sorry for poor George! I can relate to him too! He's such a great guy! I wish my husband was like him.
And the setting was different. I enjoyed getting to know Vermont. It was a place I've never been! That was a treat! I really enjoyed the trip. The descriptions were beautiful.
The thing I loved about this book was that it offered hope. A long time coming but yes hope! I didn't want to leave.
Yes, a bit repetitive at times but still a fine story and there are a few places that will make you want to laugh too!
Thank you Netgalley and Forever Publishers for a sweet story that I very much enjoyed and didn't want to end!
The cover of this book is my favorite color! That's definitely a bonus!
I will be adding this to my list of favorites and recommend it as well!
5 stars for a job well done!
Jane Austen fans will absolutely love this!
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cute romance and puppies! What more could you ask for? I'm so glad I was able to read this book, as I really enjoyed it. It was a quick read for me, simply because I was so invested in the characters and I just couldn't put the book down. I love the characters of Charlotte and George so much. I mean, George hosts a family bookclub zoom meeting every month! That's top tier. The characters are just so well written and Lizzie Shane did a wonderful job conveying their thoughts and emotions. The writing itself was lovely and the story was super cute. The puppies were a bonus too! I've only read a couple Jane Austen books (planning to read more), but I loved how each chapter began with a Jane Austen quote. It was such a unique touch and I looked forward to reading a new one every time a new chapter started. Overall, I would definitely recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

Charlotte fancies herself a Jane Austen heroine who is looking for her Mr. Darcy. Sadly, the men she’s dated have fallen short in comparison. While she decides to swear off men and get a puppy instead, her friend and coworker George is harboring his own feelings for her. When George contemplates a move across the country, Charlotte begins to realize that the man of her dreams may have been right in front of her all along.

I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, so I liked that element of the book, although the Austen references actually got a bit tiresome after awhile. But overall this was a heartwarming and cute read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

this was so a cute and warm read! it was so easy to read and get into, i liked reading about charlotte and george but especially about all the people from the town of pine hollow! i actually wouldn't mind reading about some of the secondary characters, like kendall and magda, and i also wasn't aware that there were some cameos of characters from another series when i requested, so i might check out the author's other books (especially the one about elinor and levi)! i liked reading about george's crush on charlotte and how she started slowly falling for him. overall, it was just a nice a book that i read super fast, but it did have its flaws. in my opinion, the main characters got together too early in the story and i could see the third act conflict brewing on the horizon. the back and forth between george and charlotte got a bit repetitive at one point, even if it was born out of their respective insecurities caused by their previous relationships and in that way totally understable. i would still recommend this book to people who are fans of sarah adams romcoms, i personally think this book had the same vibes as hers.

arc provided by netgalley and forever (grand central publishing) in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who was vaguely familiar with Pride and Prejudice this was such a cute feel good read! I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Each chapter has Austen's quotes, which is nice, as this reminds you how much you can relate to Austen novels still nowadays. I love Austen, so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it.
This kind of reminds me of "Emma", as the main characters, Charlotte and George, act a lot like them.
This love story is for those who like to suffer and adorable puppies for a great happy ending.

Spoilers: How is it that takes that long for a couple to just say: I love you?

Dr Charlotte Rodriguez is single, again, and she blames Jane Austen. After struggling to find her own brooding, swoon-worthy Mr Darcey, she swears off dating and makes a puppy pact instead. She adopts an adorable golden, who she names Bingley (have to keep loyal to Ms Austen!). Her neighbor, and coworker, George Leneghan, steps in to help and give her lots of pet advice and allows Bingley to play with his own Bernese Mountain Dog, Duke. Charlotte agrees with her friends, Magda and Kendall, that George is a Austen leading man level catch. However, she fears he is too nice for her.

This is my first book by Lizzie Shane and I had no idea it was the fourth book in a series. However, it definitely can be read as a stand alone!

Things I loved about this book:
1) George's family - They host a zoom bookclub every month (George and his sisters), need I say anything more. They are close knit and are one of the reasons George is unsettled in Vermont. He feels the tug to return to Colorado to be closer to his family, especially when it becomes clear one of his sisters is having a hard time.
2) Vermont - this book is set in small town Vermont. If you love a small town romance, this book is perfect for you.
3) Jane Austen - Charlotte and her sisters have Austen running in their blood thanks to their Mother. They even host an Austen afternoon tea once a year to remember her by.
4) Puppies - both Charlotte's new puppy Bingley and George's Bernese Mountain Dog, Duke, are main characters in this book. As somebody who obtained a pandemic puppy, it was fun to read about Charlotte figuring out life with a new puppy.

Some of my favourite quotes that resonated with me:
- "She'd never considered how much of her mental energy was going towards relationship stress until it was gone"
- "I know exactly who I am- and yes, I'm a lot, but I'm sick of feeling like I need to be something less or something more or anything else for someone to want me."
- "I know there has been a parade of people walking through your life telling you that you're too demanding and you want too much, but you deserve everything you want."

Overall, I found this to be a very cute, fluffy romance. I read it in a day and enjoyed the banter amongst our main couple, and between them and their friends/family. It would have been a four star but Charlotte's self sabotaging nature and her repeated discussion of George being too nice for her / only doing stuff to make her happy not because he wanted to, got a little annoying.

This book is adorable. I loved the dogs in it and Charlotte reminded me of myself. Feeling like she’s too much for people really hit home. I think a lot of people will relate to those feelings. Especially neurodivergent people. I’m autistic and always feel like I’m just too much.

The writing is great, everything flowed so well and I found myself completely lost in the words. I’m also an Austen fan and appreciated all the references.

My tiny complaint, we didn’t see George fall for Charlotte. He was already in love with her. I would’ve loved to see more from before he fell. The process of him falling. Overall this a cute and fluffy romcom that’s worth a read.

The premise is cute, after a few bad relationships in a row Charlotte is done with men and makes a "Puppy Pact" to get a dog and be done with men. Little does she know that her coworker is the man of her dreams hidden in plain sight.

I didn't realize this was a book that is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone but the huge supporting cast makes more sense of you've become familiar with them due to previous novels. The Jane Austen bits were cute and would probably be more appreciated by a die hard fan but I enjoyed them. I do wish we would have gotten more sizzle between the main characters after all the lead up the first half of the book! The third quarter of the book was kind of slow and the "woe is me" vibes from both main characters got a bit old before we wrapped up with a happy ending.

Overall a very solid 3.5/5

Charlotte is just DONE with men. She just found out her boyfriend was cheating on her - on Valentine's Day! She decides that she needs love that isn't fickle, so she decides she is taking a break from dating, and falling in love - with a puppy!

George is facing a dilemma. He still doesn't feel that the tiny town of Pine Hollow has accepted him, even though he's tried his best. He can't help but wonder if he should move back to Colorado, where mountains are actual mountains, and he might get a better job. But there's also his wonderful friend Charlotte here in Vermont, who he may or may not be in love with...

Pride & Puppies is an adorable and sweet romance read! I found the main characters realistic, with Charlotte in particular becoming more self-aware as she progresses through the book. George is just a cupcake of a guy who is an amazing friend. They are both petrified of losing the friendship they have built. Miscommunication tropes abound, but are not detrimental to the story, in my opinion. While there were points where I rolled my eyes at the two, the fact that they did talk to each other about things was refreshing!

I especially enjoyed the side characters! The besties are lovely (and I'm guessing the author already has, or is planning, books for them as well). I also enjoyed the antics of the seniors on the Estates; I almost wished there had been more about the talent show!

All in all, a lovely summer read, and I highly recommend this book! All opinions here are my own, and my thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the chance to read this ahead of time!

A friends to lovers romance trope that also has a puppy?? Yes please! The banter between these characters was so good!