I absolutely adored this romantic comedy from Lizzie Shane. While I'm not really a Jane Austen aficionado by any means, that did not prevent me from enjoy the quotes and comparisons throughout the story.

Charlotte aka Charles and George are neighbors and friends. What Charlotte doesn't know, or is too oblivious to notice, is that George is quietly head over heels in love her her. Unfortunately, after a series of bad break-ups, Charlotte has decided that she needs to take a man fast. Should George wait her out? Or, will Charlotte realize that her perfect match is right in front of her before it's too late?

This was a fun, cute book! I enjoyed the characters and the fun plot. Of course, love that there are dogs involved in the book. A cute, fast read!

This book was absolutely the cutest!

I was trying to stay away from NetGalley, but as soon as I saw this book I knew I had to have it.

Right from the get go it felt more like the characters were from Emma and not Pride and Prejudice, with George loving Charlotte silently, and always being there for her. And I hoped it would evolve in the same way. It did! and then there was more.

** spoilers ** I was surprised when I noticed at which point of the book I was when George and Charles got together, it intrigued me. The characters were very human and flawed and they had to work on themselves before being able to be happy. I loved how the author made this point: you can love someone but you have to love yourself first. Both Charles and George didn’t trust what the other was seeing because they didn’t love themselves, they felt like they were lacking and these imperfections would end up being their downfall. But - as wise old Howard say - it’s about chemistry… it’s about how we fit together with all our imperfections.

I LOVED the side characters they were all fantastic and real. The author did a fantastic job with them too, they became more than a supporting cast, they had their lives and their voices. They took the space they wanted, they weren’t only there to support but to steal the scene. All of them.

I hope the author will make this into a sort of series and that we get a book about Magda and Mac at least. I also want Kendal to be happy with her job and get her father to listen. I want to know about all the sisters on both sides and about Charles’ father new and last love. I want to know why Charlotte was named Charlotte and why her mom disliked Emma (which i loved!!!).

The only thing that upset me a bit? The fading into black and skipping all the steam. I didn’t feel like the book needed the steam, but I would have liked to know more about how good George was after all these romance books!

4.5 ⭐️- A book about a girl obsessed with Jane Austen who gives up on finding love and gets a puppy instead? and the main guy is a physical therapist??? is this book about me????? I stumbled upon this book and knew I had to read it right away, and got luckily enough to receive an ARC! Charlotte is one of the most relatable characters I’ve read about lately! This book was fun, sweet, and comes with a Jane Austen quote with every chapter, what more could you need??? be sure to pick this one up when it’s published in November, a big shout out to NetGalley and @readforeverpub for the copy!!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Pride and Puppies is a cozy romance set in the charming Vermont town of Pine Hollow. Although it's part of a series, it can also be read as a standalone. Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez has a messy track history with men, and is oblivious to the admiration of her Colorado transplant coworker, George. To make matters worse for George, Charlotte decides to enact a "Puppy Pact;" swearing off men (temporarily) and getting an adorable golden retriever puppy, Bingley. The Jane Austen theming is an endearing way to bring her family together and remember her mother, and the scenes in the inn are adorable. Each chapter starts with a thematically appropriate Jane Austen quote, which was lovely. However, was I about one reference to Mr. Darcy away from screaming by the end of the book? Absolutely.

I loved George's relationship with his family, especially the scenes of their family book clubs over Zoom. Charlotte also has scenes with her family and friends, who can certainly be endearing in their own ways. Unfortunately, the main characters resonated with me far less. George and (Dr.) Charlotte read much more YA than late 20s/early 30s, and have some seriously annoying habits. George has more than a touch of "nice guy" syndrome and a bit of a chip on his shoulder, which his sisters rightly call him on during their family book club scenes. Charlotte has some crippling insecurity and a serious tendency to self-sabotage. Worse, she has some insight as to this (repeatedly saying that she needs to book another appointment with her therapist), but develops very little as a character. In addition, the book moves very slowly without a driving plot force behind it.

With this book you'll find a cozy setting, some adorable puppies, and a gaggle of (mostly) likeable supporting characters. However, the passion and character development are definitely lacking.

*ARC Review*

Pride & Puppies was a cute read. George was an excellent male lead, and Charlotte eventually grew on me. The plot was wholesome and the continuous discussion of dogs was a highlight. I did find that I had trouble keeping up with the plot from time to time because of the large secondary character list. The main characters had multiple siblings and friends who all were included, so I found myself getting confused as to who was who. I also would have liked a bit more spice. I could feel some chemistry between the main characters, but I wanted to feel more passion.

As the title suggests you get plenty of dogs and Jane Austen references in this one. As a non Austen reader, I found I missed a lot of the humor and context needed to fully appreciate the book. So... do not be like me. Do some research on Jane Austen characters prior to reading to enhance your experience.

Loved reading this book and series. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books. I suggest reading in order.

I am a very simple girl, I see a romance book with dogs on the cover, I read it. I loved the dogs in this book. They were a highlight for me. I'm not a Jane Austen fan so I didn't get the Darcy references, but I see fans of her loving this book like our main character. I didn't like how half of this book is Charlotte trying to set George up with someone else when it's her he wants to be with, but it worked out in the end. George is so charming and I liked the sisters. I could easily see spin off books with them or Charlotte's friends.

This was a really sweet book. At the beginning of this book we meet Charlotte a brilliant doctor who is just coming out of a bad relationship. Charlotte decides that she is never going to find her Mr. Darcy and decides to give up men and get a dog instead. George is thrilled to find out Charlotte is single, since he has been crushing on her for a long time, until she tells him she is done with men. George’s family wants him back home and he has to decide if there is anything worth staying for in Pine Hollow. If you love dogs or Jane Austen, then this book is definitely for you. A sweet story about two people trying to find love, and learning to accept themselves as they are. I can’t wait to visit Pine Hollow again soon, hopefully to hear Magda’s story. I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

Goes along the Jane Austen remake of Pride and Prejudice, but with puppies and dogs! I absolutely loved this lighthearted romance and will be buying it as soon as it's out
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own

3.5 stars
This was a satisfying read. Good concept with the Puppy Pact. They do give unconditional love and help out when you need a friend, so great idea. Love that the relationship between Charlotte and George was built on a friendship first. They were perfect for each other but was missing some chemistry between them. Love the interaction and anticipation but it felt a little flat once they got together. It was mostly repeating a lot of their concerns about the relationship. Great supporting characters and set ups for future romances. I would be interested in reading them. This is a must read for Jane Austen fans. The Emma book part was the best.

This is a new to me author who combined my two favorite things in the world and created my new favorite book. There are few things that make me happier than puppy dogs and Jane Austen and this book created a happy ever after that I didn’t want to end.

The author created Charlotte and George as fully developed characters. They were both relatable, and I could see them as people I would want to hang out with.

The build up of the story was a steady climb, pretty much a perfect pace. For me that means I couldn’t wait to get to the end, but was still sad to see it over. I am hoping to see more of these characters in future stories including the Duke and Bingley!

Oh what a fun book! If you want to read a lighthearted romance filled with puppies/dogs and good friends then this is it. Truly enjoyed it.

This book follows Charlotte Jane Rodriguez who just broke up with her cheating boyfriend and decides to take a break from dating and get a puppy and George, her coworker and neighbor who has had a crush on her for a while. They start spending more time together and their relationship evolves from there.

Here's a quote I think describes the hero of the book quite well: What did you do when the women you were secretly half in love with declared she was swearing off romance? If you were George, you smiled and supported her. So that’s what he did. “I think that’s a great idea.”

This is a closed door small town romance. George has been pining for Charlotte for quite some time but she has always been in a relationship so there hasn't been a good time to ask her out. Charlotte is totally oblivious to his feelings and thinks she ruins any relationship she is in.

There are quite a few references to Jane Austen. Although I find that those can be easily overdone, I appreciated that they weren't just the most commonly used Pride and Prejudice quotes that are normally used.

Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Charlotte had flaws but she was aware of them. I enjoyed their journey to their HEA and I would recommend this book if you are looking for a closed door small town friends to lovers romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.

Pride & Puppies by Lizzie Shane
Rating: 4.5 stars

Have you ever been so done with love that you consider swearing off men entirely and adopt a puppy? That’s exactly what Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez does until she realizes that her neighbor/coworker/hot friend may just be what she’s been looking for all along.

Pride and Puppies is a fun friends to lovers romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The MC is Jane Austen obsessed, so if you love Austen references you are in for a treat (see what we did there 🐶🦴).

What we loved:
-Friends to lovers trope
-George! George is the absolute sweetest and so kind.
-Small town setting
-Lizzie struck the perfect balance of fun with this book. It’s a very laid back read

What didn’t work for us:
-Charlotte was too wishy-washy for our liking. We get that past relationships have put her off, but there’s only so much back and forth you can take until you get frustrated with her.
-Even though there is a lot of dialogue with side characters (Beks, Magda, Kristin), we didn’t feel strongly for them.

All in all, we really enjoyed Pride & Puppies! If you love a lighthearted romance with a side of puppies and Jane Austen, add this one to your list!

📖: Pride & Puppies by @lizzieshaneAK
Pub Date: 22 Nov 2022  

Thank you to NetGalley, Lizzie Shane, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this ARC.

** 2.5 STARS **

Just like many before, “Pride & Puppies” is a Jane Austen inspired modern-day romance featuring a MC who is well obsessed with… Jane Austen. Like almost every other page, ‘Darcy’, ‘Blingley’ and ‘Jane’ are mentioned obsessed. Was it annoying to the point you couldn’t help but roll your eyes when the forsaken three were mentioned? Ab·so·lute·ly.

Despite my digressions, Charlotte (“Charles” by her wannabe Darcy) is single again after dumping her cheating boyfriend, Jeff. After a wild night of venting with her best girlfriends with a strong bottle of liquor in her hands, she decides it’s time to swear off men… for six months at least and get a puppy that she always dreamt of and who would love her unconditionally—forming the Puppy Pact. Cue in her neighbor, co-worker and friend George—who has been pining for her since the moment he arrived at Pine Hollow—providing pet advice and being a shoulder to lean on as Charlotte rediscovers herself and what love should mean to her. Amidst that, George announces he’s contemplating a cross-country move which then spirals Charlotte's emotions out of whack and pushes her to realize she may have less than friendly feelings for him. Mixed emotions, miscommunications, should they shouldn’t they drama upfolds—leaving me much to desire.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect with either MCs—George and especially Charlotte. I found her to be pushy, messy and just plain annoying. In regards to the romantic components—the chemistry and flirting was practically non-existent. In all honesty, I truly didn’t believe Charlotte's feelings were genuine for George and the romance seemed too forced, especially after she discovered his decision to possibly move back home and her sudden ‘realization of her feelings’. They worked better as friends than lovers. Let’s not forget Jane Austen obsession and references were too much of the focal point of this novel.

All in all, a strong engaging start but once the wishy-washy back-and-forth with Charles and George began, I started to tune out. It gradually became worse towards the later half of the novel when Charlotte proclaimed she was in love with the real life Blingley. It just was not believable nor did the romance stand out. I was far more intrigued by the side characters and their stories. Nonetheless, not the worst Jane Austen inspired romance novel I have read but it could have been better.