Accomplished
A Georgie Darcy Novel
by Amanda Quain
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Pub Date Jul 26 2022 | Archive Date Aug 09 2022
St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books
Description
Georgiana Darcy gets the Pride & Prejudice retelling she deserves in Amanda Quain's Accomplished, a sparkling contemporary YA featuring a healthy dose of marching band romance, endless banter, and Charles Bingley as a ripped frat boy.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Georgiana Darcy should have been expelled after The Incident with Wickham Foster last year – at least if you ask any of her Pemberley Academy classmates. She may have escaped expulsion because of her family name, but she didn’t escape the disappointment of her big brother Fitz, the scorn of the entire school, or, it turns out, Wickham’s influence.
But she’s back for her junior year, and she needs to prove to everyone – Fitz, Wickham, her former friends, and maybe even herself – that she’s more than just an embarrassment to the family name. How hard can it be to become the Perfect Darcy? All she has to do is:
- Rebuild her reputation with the marching band (even if it kills her)
- Forget about Wickham and his lies (no matter how tempting they still are), and
- Distract Fitz Darcy — helicopter-sibling extraordinaire — by getting him to fall in love with his classmate, Lizzie Bennet (this one might be difficult…)
Sure, it's a complicated plan, but so is being a Darcy. With the help of her fellow bandmate, Avery, matchmaking ideas lifted straight from her favorite fanfics, and a whole lot of pancakes, Georgie is going to see every one of her plans through. But when the weight of being the Perfect Darcy comes crashing down, Georgie will have to find her own way before she loses everything permanently—including the one guy who sees her for who she really is.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781250817815 |
PRICE | $18.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 320 |
Featured Reviews
Accomplished: A Georgie Darcy Novel by Amanda Quain is an excellent Young Adult book that takes the classic Pride & Prejudice novel and gives it a modern, fresh, younger, and unique spin with its beloved characters. I really enjoyed this unique narrative.
I am a huge fan of P&P, so I am very picky with what is done to my beloved characters. I really liked this one. It is definitely geared towards the upper teen/young adult audience, but adult readers can enjoy this one as well. This book focusses on Georgiana Darcy ( the infamous and unjustly looked over younger sister) and makes her the main character. She is the opposite of her famous older brother…and it is hard to live up to those standards…so she doesn’t even try. A huge mistake brings Darcy back to upstate NY to help keep Georgie out of “trouble” during her “probation”. Their relationship is imperfect, difficult at times, but the reader can see that both siblings care for one another. This ultimately is a story about second chances, forgiveness, love, family, friends, and the age-old growing up and finding oneself and who/what really matters in life.
I loved the character cast. There are the classic characters: The Darcys, Lizzie, evil Wickham, and also new characters: Avery, Emily…. I liked the blend of old and new. It balances quite nicely. I like the use of Pemberley…and also merging names of locations with locations used within the story. I also really liked the changes and progression of the Darcy siblings as the story continues on. Growth, maturity, realization, and personal changes really make these characters realistic, likable, and endearing. I also really liked the positive messages and the superb ending.
A great book!
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Wednesday/St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/26/22.
Pride and Prejudice adaptation? I'm there.
This was a really fun YA retelling of P&P with Georgiana Darcy as the main character. It will be a hit with Jane Austen fans, but will also appeal to YA readers who aren't as familiar with the Austen classics.
Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for reaching out to me and letting me read and review this book. Cannot wait to see how it does.
This book was amazing. Seriously so so good. Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorite books, the og enemies to lovers if you will. But, I don’t usually go for retellings of it because they just tend to be kind of a rehash of the original book. This book however was so amazing at being its own thing. I am so excited to see what Amanda Quain writes next and I cannot wait for this book to come out so that I can get my hands on it and re-read it again.
Accomplished by Amanda Quain can only be read compulsively in one sitting. No, seriously, I finished the entire book in one sitting. Accomplished is a new take on Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice, told through the eyes of Georgie Darcy, Mr. Darcy's younger sister. Georgie, a junior at Pemberley Academy, is trying to recover from a ruined reputation. A ghost from her past haunts her as she tries to adjust to the new school year and she feels the full weight of the Darcy name on her shoulders. As a die-hard Pride and Prejudice fan, I was excited to see a retelling following this character. In the source material, she is a compelling background character, but in Quain's novel, she becomes a fully developed protagonist. The take on the character is honest and heart-warming. It's impossible not to root for George as she navigates what it means to be a Darcy. There are plenty of cameos from our favorite protagonists as well. Darcy - or Fitz- as a grouchy but caring older brother, Wickham as the sleazeball he always is, and a frat-boy interpretation of Charles Bingley round out the supporting cast. Perhaps the most compelling element is how the source material and character is interpreted into a story about how it isn't our successes that determine our worth, but rather what we learn from failure. Accomplished is a book that makes you laugh and cry at the same time. With its high school setting and witty banter, the book will appeal to teens. I’d recommend it to people who enjoyed This May End Badly by Samantha Markum. Accomplished was an incredible read. I can’t wait to read it when it is released.
So, I was gifted this wondrous read by NetGalley in return for my review, which I am so ready to give! Cuz this book was just ssssoooooooo different than o could have guessed. I thought, “oh yeah, another P&P retelling…ok.” But no. Not that at all. It’s snarky and funny and super achy sad in parts and there’s fanfic and, well, marching band! I just loved it! 💜💜💜📚
Accomplished is one of the most delightful and lively contemporary YA I've read in a long time! I adored Georgie and Avery, they felt so real and complex. Synopsis makes this sound like a Pride & Prejudice retelling, but it's not. The names are an homage, but the plot is its own original thing, and I enjoyed it so much more for that! I will be first in line to see what Amanda Quain writes next!
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This charming, sparklingly witty Pride and Prejudice retelling finally gives Georgiana Darcy her time to shine. Georgie Darcy is desperately trying to move past The Incident from last year involving a certain Wickham Foster, and she wants to redeem herself in the eyes of her perennially disappointed brother, Fitz. Georgie wants two things out of her junior year: for her brother to be proud of her and for Wickham to finally leave her alone. Embarking on her master plan and dragging her old friend Avery along for the ride, Georgie finds the solutions to her problems in rather unexpected places.
I binge-read this novel in one sitting, just because it was the most addictive kind of fun. I loved that this Pride and Prejudice retelling put Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, whose story has been done to death, to the side a little, and focused on Georgiana, who had a fascinating storyline in her own right. It is wonderful to watch Georgie grow as a character over the course of the novel, and to watch this girl who has been pushed aside by almost everyone stand up for herself and decide what she's worth. Georgie and Fitz are both just kids forced to grow up very fast, and they are simply trying their best, which is something that is really explored in the novel and adds a depth to it that really elevates the storyline. I absolutely love the way Charles Bingley and Lizzie Bennet are portrayed, and even though they only make brief appearances, they steal the scenes that they are in. Are spin-off novels in the cards? I can only hope.
I highly recommend this novel to fans of young adult rom-coms filled with all your favorite tropes, but with a twist!
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have a definite sweet spot for books set at a boarding school. Maybe because I always wanted to go to one? Either way, having the kids be away from their parents changes things and ramps up the pranks and gossip worthy events. Georgie is the talk of the school after her boyfriend was expelled for selling drugs on campus. Now she's trying to rebuild her reputation and regain her brother's trust by being the best Darcy she can be.
Georgie may be incredibly wealthy, but she doesn't know how to be social and make friends. I felt for her as she tried to relate to her peers while keeping up with school and band. Thankfully Avery comes to the rescue and becomes someone Georgie can rely on. I loved Avery and thought he was adorable and a great person. He also helps Georgie see that she can be herself and doesn't have to change for people to like her.
This is a quick read and a fun story. I hope there will be a sequel, I want more of Georgie and Avery!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy
Georgie Darcy is a fantastic example of a character who makes mistakes, but ultimately grows from them. Her life of privilege certainly helps, but also hinders, her personal growth throughout her life, but at the end of the day she is able to take responsibility and learn to communicate and live life as her own person. The characters are well-written and showcase individual personalities, so much so that you can't help but want to be friends with them in real life. Overall an enjoyable read with a good message and lesson for teens.
I have read MANY Jane Austen adaptations... and I really, really loved this one!!! Georgie has had a scandalous year dating her brother’s former best friend, Wickham... and she wants to be the best Darcy Pemberly High has ever seen. I loved Georgie’s redemption ARC (even though she shouldn’t have needed to be redeemed at ALL) and I loved how we got to see our Pride and Prejudice main characters on the fringes. Bingley as a frat boy? CLASSIC. Thank you so much to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC!!
What a fun and creative perspective around the characters of Pride and Prejudice. This story follows young Darcys sister Georgiana on her journey to re-acclimate to high school in her junior year after being almost expelled last year when Wickham her ex had been using her room to sell drugs. All the important characters are there but in different roles and you see nods to the original story throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this new YA adaptation and seeing how it varied from what I would expect.
Georgie spends most of the book dealing with her emotional baggage left behind by Wickham who had convinced her that she would only be successful with him in her life and only him. She had separated herself from all of her friends, family and connections for him and for what she thought was love. Now, coming back, she has to find out who she, if she wants Wickham to continue to be a part of her life, how her overbearing older brother fits in, can she regain those valuable friendships back and all the while going through a "normal" junior year of high school with all the rigorous school work and life planning.
I highly recommend reading this for any Pride and Prejudice fan and all young adults who are just trying to figure things out - as most are. There were laugh out loud funny moments, self discovery teachings, friendships rebuilt and some wholesome YA romance.
Thank you t0 St Martins Press and Amanda Quain for allowing me to read and review this book.
I'll admit, I did not expect to love this book as much as I did! It was such a clever and heartwarming YA, and I am always interested in anything even remotely Pride and Prejudice related. It definitely hit home at some points and I really admire the fact that the novel was more of an homage to Jane Austen than a simple retelling. Georgie and Avery are characters that feel so REAL, and it makes you want to root for them even more. I'm not usually one for books where the MC is constantly dealing with the fallout of their actions, but somehow this book made it work. I could not recommend this book more.
Special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honesty review.
Accomplished is a new fresh view on a familiar story from the viewpoint of Darcy's sister, Georgie. I really enjoyed the modern twist to the classic characters and the way the author created a new and interesting plot. The author did a wonderful job of marrying the two and it really make this story shine. It is a YA story but read like a fun fresh take on a boarding school romance It is nicely paced and has enough humor to make the story bright and fun. I received an ARC via NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and I am leaving an honest review.
A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Georgianna Darcy is arguably one of the most under appreciated characters in Pride and Prejudice (I mean, she had to deal with an angsty Darcy pining over Elizabeth for who knows how long). I have always loved the glimpses of Big Brother Darcy, and I feel like this relationship with his sister really explains his prideful image. Let me just tell you that Accomplished did not disappoint on this front. To quote Georgie, she has, "A fairly excellent big brother."
This book was an absolute delight to read! Accomplished is by far one of the best Pride and Prejudice retellings I’ve come across, not only was the story original and engaging but Georgie was a character I found to be very relatable. There were so many wonderful points in this book, my favorite being the exploration of Georgie and Fitz’s relationship. I'll just say that you will love this book whether you're a fan of Jane Austen or not. And this is the most clever and engaging (but also slightly emotionally devastating) contemporary YA novel I've read in years.
From page one I was rooting for Georgie Darcy’s even without knowing all of the details of The Incident. I LOVED Accomplished because it was such a quick yet engrossing story. It has great nods to the Pride & Prejudice story we all know and love while still being it’s own independent story. Both stories feature a headstrong independent girl trying to forge her own path in life. I truly hope that there are more books to come with these lovable characters!
I was given an early copy of this book for my unbiased review.
Fantastic! I lecture on Pride and Prejudice annually, and this retelling would be the perfect companion to any Pride and Prejudice unit. The characters are lovable, relatable, and appropriately true to the novel's predecessor. Quain honors Jane Austen by maintaining the same wit and societal criticism that made her so groundbreaking in her day. This was a simply refreshing, contemporary read. As an educator, I am thrilled that this will be available for student enrichment!
In a fresh retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Lizzie Bennett and Mr. Darcy are minor characters while his little sister Georgie Darcy steals the spotlight. I have to confess that I have never read Pride and Prejudice in full, but I love the movies and the storyline. However I think I missed the detail about Mr. Darcy having a sister in the original version. This book makes me want to go back and read the original book because I am smitten with all of the characters!
Georgie Darcy is far from perfect, but she has had the perfect life. Her mistakes are catching up with her and she finds herself having to search within for her true values and friendships and prove that she is not just coasting on her family's fortune.
Her brother is over-protective, stubborn, sour, and deep down, a very loving person. It was so fascinating to explore a new version of Fitz Darcy--as a big brother! The author even sprinkles in the romance between him and Elizabeth Bennet, from Georgie's point of view. Lizzie's sisters Jane and Lydia also make an appearance, in addition to Charles Bingley.
This is a great read for both fans of Pride and Prejudice and those like me who are wannabe fans! I highly recommend this novel!
Review Okay, you had me at contemporary Pride & Prejudice retelling.
This book did such a good job paying homage to the classic while also being uniquely original and fun. Our title character, Georgie, is Darcy’s sister and the main character for this tale of love, lessons, and redemption set at Pemberley High.
With all your favorite P & P characters adapted to high school/college versions of themselves, this book was super cute! Definitely geared to more of an YA audience but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I am a sucker for anything like Pride and Prejudice. This book brought me in and I was in love from the first moment. This book is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling, the story is it's own and it is wonderful.
The characters are lively and a breath of fresh air. Georgie Darcy was a strong lead character who had a lot to deal with. She finds out that her ex boyfriend is isn't as great as she thought when she met him and her relationship with her brother is hanging on by a thread. This book is funny, I found myself chuckling though out.
This is definitely one of the better YA novels I've read recently!
I did receive this book as an ARC!
I'm not a huge fan of pride and prejudice, but I was intrigued by this story and I'm glad I gave it a chance .There are enough new moments to bring the story to life in a new way while still harkening back to the original inspiration and source material. Quain is witty and has a really engaging writing style. Overall a really solid retelling that is approachable for people who aren't necessarily fans of the original.
5 stars for including a hand flex moment.
Seriously, though, this is such a delightfully charming contemporary YA with very solid Pride & Prejudice ties. It is loosely a modern retelling, as it focuses on Georgiana and includes original characters, but it has some delightful elements from the inspirational material. I have never enjoyed Charles Bingley more.
I honestly cannot think of any criticisms to make - I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I could only complain of wanting more or the secondary characters/storylines.
Accomplished by Amanda Quain is a great modern take on Pride and Prejudice but set at a boarding school. The characters are great and I loved Georgie and Avery. So much so, I'd love to see another book with them! I also felt touches of the movie Cruel Intentions meets Gossip Girl is this book. It was such a fun read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Oh gosh, I NEED to read this book again. Amanda, you are so so so talented. Is it blasphemous to say that I enjoyed this maybe a little more than the OG Pride & Prejudice?
Don't get me wrong, P+P is my favorite book, story, and movie as well as soundtrack (the Keira Knightley version, of course), of all time. In film class, I wrote an entire 7 page essay on it. So, when I say the statement above, I am NOT taking it lightly.
My reason for such a statement is simply because I've always wanted more out of the P+P story. And Accomplished gave me just that. Gave me a renewed sense of anger at Wickham, and a glance into Georgiana's life that we don't fully see in other works. So Amanda– thank you for giving a Pride & Prejudice fan more from the Darcy Family story. Thank you for creating heartwarming sibling relationships, and romance that unexpectedly grows from a healthy friendship.
I can't wait to see what all you write from here on out!!
Thanks to NetGalley and my friends at the lovely St. Martin's Press for basically sliding into my DMs (ahem, email) with a link to this book. July 2022 can't come soon enough <3
Accomplished is an excellent take on Pride and Prejudice. Set in modern days and told from Georgiana's point of view, the new perspective is fresh and delightful. I loved Georgie's attempts at matchmaking and the indepth look at how Georgie would have dealt the Whickham's betrayal. A must for Pride and Prejudice fans.
I would have been hooked at Jane Austen retelling/remix, boarding school novel, or a MC dealing with, "Oh, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions", but add in MARCHING BAND and you know I'm hooked. I can't wait to read all of Amanda Quain's books for ages to come. Her writing voice is delightful and has you rooting for allll her characters in the best, most fun ways!
If you think you’ve read every version of a pride and prejudice retelling possible, think again. This is a contemporary retelling from Georgiana Darcy’s point of view. Really great and clever idea, and well executed.
I loved this twist on Georgiana from Pride and Prejudice. Such a sweet YA story and I loved all the Austen easter eggs. Recommend!
You can view my full review here: https://teatimelit.com/?p=4274
It is a truth universally acknowledged that I love anything and everything related to Pride and Prejudice. As of late, I have been obsessively thinking about Pride and Prejudice. I just finished my millionth rewatch of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and a reread of Pride and Prejudice. Because of my deep love for P&P/Jane Austen in general, I usually check out every retelling that I can get my hands on. I’ve always been interested in Georgiana as a character and while I understand why we didn’t learn too much about her in the original novel, I’ve always wanted to know more about her. When I heard that Accomplished was a story focused on Georgie, I just knew that I needed to add it to my TBR!
The writing was very clever and there were moments that had me laughing out loud. I thought it was great that Quain threw in some fun pop culture references (like Georgie writing fanfiction, and having her own AO3 and Tumblr accounts), Georgie’s favorite TV show Sage Hall that had some big Downton Abbey vibes, and Camp Sanditon to reference Austen’s last novel. I loved all those little details, and they brought me a lot of joy. Plus, I never thought I would hear any version of Fitzwilliam Darcy use the phrase “slide into your DMs” and it was one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while because of the sheer ridiculousness of it all. I love books that can make me laugh hysterically in one chapter, and completely break my heart in the next. It’s the duality of it all.
Overall, I think that Accomplished is an incredibly strong debut novel and I am so excited to see what Amanda Quian writes next!
This was a treat to read and so nice to read Georgie’s side of the (Pride & Prejudice) story. Quain does a great job balancing the heavier topics with the more light hearted moments and writes incredibly likable characters… well except for Wickham who will always be a jerk. Oh, if you’re not familiar with P&P, don’t fret this story completely holds up on its own, I mean you’ve got marching band antics, a fanfic writer, all the boarding school vibes, and of course a sweet YA love story. I enjoyed my time with this tale and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review
I LOVED this book! As an Austin fan I fell in love instantly. It's witty, funny and truly just a joy to read. The references to tumblr and AO3 made me laugh out loud. I've become somewhat of a fangirl myself... for this book!
The book was amazing. As an eternal Austen fan, this sure did hit the spot. A definite recommend! (P.S. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE GEORGIANA)
The story was golden. I always appreciate a fun reworking of an Austen novel. It has a lot of heart and the story unfolds well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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.