A Date with Darcy may be the cutest audiobook I listened to this year. 

I am a big Tiffany Schmidt fan and adore how she writes romance. I am also into retellings of classical books (see: The Duke of Bannerman Prep) and taking a historical story and turning it modern. A Date with Darcy combines the best parts of Tiffany’s romance writing along with a retelling!

There are some points in life where you just want to listen to something light and fun - A Date with Darcy is that book. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, while also bringing in elements from classic stories we read in high school. 

Plus, the main character’s motto is “boys are better in books than in real life.” Accurate.

If you’re looking for a HEA, you’re going to find it in Tiffany’s books. I can’t wait for book 2!

I wasn't keen on Merri at first since she was the opposite of how I was at her age when it came to guys and Romeo and Juliet, but the further I got into the book, I was pleased to see how she started to mature. As well many of the characters showed more depth as the story went on.

DNF around 10%. I possibly could have held on a bit longer but I really didn't love the writing style. The voice was a bit too young for what I was in the mood for. She was definitely boy-crazy, but to a very intense degree. The MC and her friend were a bit annoying right off the bat. I tried to listen to the audiobook since this has been published already, but the irritating MC was exacerbated by the audiobook narrator's voice. I could potentially try this in print someday but I won't be jumping at the opportunity. Honestly the concept and premise of this series could be SO fun, so I hope it reaches a better audience than me!

This book gives a whole new meaning to the saying “boys are better in books than in real life.” 

This book is full of swoon-worthy, and quote-worthy banter, half of it is flagged for how relatable tot eh writing is. 

Merriliee is by far, one of my favourite characters, probably because she is close to being a spitting image of me:

1. No drivers license (yet…)

2. Prefers books over guys (Tries to live out book fantasies in real life)

3. LOVE MISMATCHED SOCKS! (I mean, what is Feilding’s problem with mismatched socks?!)

But, seriously, she may have caused some second-hand cringe while I was reading, and her obliviousness to how Monroe, one of the main male character’s, was actually a total jerk, I forgive her completely. Her family is one of a kind, and fully support her in everything she does. with that being said, she also has a large variety of friends, ranging from her longest ones, Toby and Eliza, to the ones from her new school. Each one is unique to the development of her character (as well, I loved Hannah, mostly because she is also a book lover who ALSO HAS A BOOK BLOG!)

Secondly, Fielding Williams. This boy is literally how one would wish to have as a book boyfriend in real life. Understanding, forgiving, and speaks like an 18th-century educator (a weakness of mine, literate males!). He is completely misunderstood, and once the book plan comes into place, everything becomes clear. 

Thirdly is the English teacher, Mrs. Gregorie, who is one of the most magical people in the book (figuratively and literally). We have all had that one Enlighs teacher in our life that has made us find our true passion of reading and writing. They are the ones who push us to do our best, and without them, we would not be where we are today. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG THANKS TO ALL THE ENGLISH TEACHERS OUT THERE!

Now, the writing of the book. I actually found the beginning of this book dragged on. Only until I reached the halfway point, I was able to figure out why this was. I truly HATED Monroe as a person. As I was reading it, I didn’t clue into it, but I think subconsciously, my brain knew something was wrong with him. I mean, who really wants to live out Romeo and Juliet (they both die in the end anyway!). Bur, I loved all the dog comparisons, for how a person’s facial reactions would be related to an energetic lab or something along those lines. 

This is a super cute read that is perfect for book lovers of all types, even once you get past Monroe’s character. It will have you swooning for more, and rooting for everything to work out in the end. as well, after reading this, I realized I need to get reading more classics, specifically Pride and Prejudice and Little Woman, mostly so I can relate their storyline to that of the book.

Side Note: I just found out that there is going to be a second book, that is sorta the same style and I am super excited!

I was soooo excited for this book but it just let me down in so many ways. The MC was super-annoying and arrogant and the storyline was hard to follow. I wish I could recommend it but alas I cannot.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Mr. Darcy is better than Romeo. “A Date with Darcy” is a cute, enjoyable, witty little book, perfect for a quick summer read. Merrilee is my soulmate, a girl who loves books, loves to read, loves to fall in love with fictional characters and is a hopeless romantic. She is also a smart, opinionated and head-strong girl who was a great friend and sister. Another book for those of us who love to get lost in a good book, love to crush on book boys, love strong female characters and love a happily ever after.

Merilee Campbell is a witty, intelligent, romantic, and adventurous 15-year-old who is convinced that her life story mirrors the plots of the classic romances she reads. According to her, boys are just better in books! That is until she starts attending Hero High, a prep school filled with boys who look they've just stepped out of magazine ads (and a far cry from her all-girl school). Readers will find themselves rooting for Merilee throughout all of her over the top antics. A fun read - even for this anti-romance reader!

Let me first start by saying this was not as I expected it to be. I started this book around 10pm thinking it will be easy put down and go to bed a little later. WRONG. I stayed up in the wee hours to just finish this book. I didn’t want to put it down. It was very easy to get caught up in and lose track of time.

Merrliee is like a typical teenage girl. She wants a book romance. (Honestly though what girl doesn’t). What she didn’t expect was her love story to be more like Pride and Prejudice instead of Romeo and Juliet. She learns a lot during her sophomore year at her new private coed school. There she meets some guys that will change her perspective on how she thought “love” should be.

What did catch me off guard was for a girl who reads religiously she didn’t know how Pride and Prejudice ended. I mean I haven’t seen the movie nor have finished the book but I’ve heard about ole Darcy for as a long as I can remember.

All the characters were like-able. Well except one but I can’t say without spoiling things. I also can’t say who the oh so swoon worthy guy is either without spoiling anything. Let’s just say I got butterflies. Merilee did have her times that I yelled at her literally for being dumb but she finally came back into reality and everything just got better from there.

It ended so good that it made my heart happy. I can’t wait to read the next novel in this series. There was another story they left in this book that needs to be told and I am oh so hoping it gets to put in the spotlight in the next book.

Sorry if this review was kind of cryptic. But I really didn’t want to give too much away because then it would have ruined it for people who hasn’t read this yet. Just take my advice. If you’re in a YA Contemporary mood then I suggest reading this cutie.

Man, I was so excited for this novel! I mean who can go wrong with a title like that. Well it did go wrong in a few ways unfortunately. I thought it was cute and fun even though it was a bit slow and it just ended all messy and I can't even describe my feels for this book besides being torn!

Merri loves books, and she insists that boys are better in books. When she starts the school year at a new, prestigious high school, she meets Monroe and begins to date him. She thinks her story is parallel to Romeo and Juliet and that she has found her Romeo. When she actually reads the play, Monroe becomes increasingly clingy and difficult, and Merri's English teacher gives her an assignment to read Pride and Prejudice, Merri finds herself drawing parallels to Lizzy Bennet instead of Juliet Capulet. Soon Merri is forced to interact with Fielding Williams, the headmaster's son and the most arrogant boy in school. She will have to decide if her misunderstandings and prejudice will get in the way or if she will be brave enough to reach for her own happiness.
I thought this was a cute, fun story! I enjoyed it very much, and I found myself laughing out loud several times as I read because Merri's perspective was so uniquely funny. I was about halfway through the book when I read a particularly funny passage, and I just had to buy the print version because it made me laugh so much. I identified with Merri because up until now I have found that boys are better in books, and I love reading just as much as she does. The characters were memorable, I found myself getting angry at the headmaster's condescending attitude along with the characters, and I felt like I was actually there as the story unfolded. Even though I am not in the target audience for this book I enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone who is a dedicated bookworm at heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I am a sucker for anything having to do with Jane Austen. This was your typical YA contemporary. It was fine but I have found they are just not my thing anymore. 
I received an ARC of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you like your books quirky and with a slow burn, this is the one for you. It was a little too slow for my liking and rather predictable at times; but that is sometimes what you need after all, right?

3.75 - Lighthearted, Oddly Charming and Adorably Cute YA Teen Romance

Bookish Boyfriend by Tiffany Schmidt is a delightful summer read. It’s weirdly fascinating, adorably cute and entertaining. 

Had quite a strange but fun date with this book. The premise was unique, quirky and intriguing. The plot was a bit slow at times, but for the most part, the pacing was great that I didn’t feel bored. I also thought the characters were well-developed, interesting, and had such fascinating personalities. Some of them were definitely odd, but in a good way. The only thing that really bothered and annoyed me was the first half of the novel. I don’t want to get into specifics, but there were weird moments that just made me cringe like hearing fingernails scratching on a chalkboard. So not enjoyable.... Some parts were overly silly and I think they were meant to be funny, but it just didn’t work for me. Thank goodness the second half was amazingly so much better that by the end, I can honestly say that I had an awesome time reading this book it its entirety and even had a few good laughs.

Romance wise, I wasn’t too crazy about the love pairings and I truly did not like it in the first half of the book. I thought it was ridiculous and unfortunately just didn’t work for me. The romance in the second half was a little bit swoonier, but sadly, I still wasn’t a fan. I guess I just didn’t like the “Romeo” and “Darcy” of the story. “Darcy” was definitely more interesting and even shared some swoony moments with Merrilee, but I just wasn’t into him. Not sure why since there's one part where "Darcy" totally had my heart melting.... but that's pretty much it. That being said, just because the romances didn't work for me, doesn't mean you won't love it...AND there were plenty of adorable and fun scenes that made me smile so it's not like I hated it or anything. I just wish there were more substance and swoon and feels... 

While the romance didn't quite work for me, I did fall in love... With the story's amazing heroine, Merrilee. She’s the ultimate booknerd and I could totally relate to her obsession with romances. She’s also sassy and awkwardly adorable in every way. I loved her personality and wit, which made those ridiculous scenes fun and enjoyable. Merrilee just had this presence that made every scene so much more intriguing and incredibly entertaining. 

Overall, this was a lighthearted, fun, and oddly charming YA contemporary romance. I may not have completely fallen in love with this book, but I definitely thought the unique and quirky concept paired with an awesome and totally lovable heroine, made this a pleasant reading date. I'm ready for the next one and cannot wait to see which book boyfriend(s) I'll get to meet. 

Sometimes, first impressions don’t tell the whole story. It’s better to keep an open mind and an open heart cause you just never know....

I received an advance reader copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Merrilee is probably like many of us avid readers—sure that boys are much better in books. Still she dreams of finding her hero and can't stop romanticizing real life. Especially now she's starting a new school and so many interesting guys seem to surround her. Maybe one of them is her Romeo? Or her Darcy?

I think I would have liked this sooo much better if the first half had been summarized in 15% of the book or maybe if the events of the second happened a little sooner. I don't want to spoil you, but if you're already reading, trust me—the book you were promised will eventually start. Because the whole time I felt cheated. It wasn't to read about Romeo & Juliet that I got this! I mean, I know R&J is much more than meet the eyes, actually, I think the author didn't do it justice with her conclusions (or Merrilee's conclusions, at least). Still, it's not my type of story.

While Pride & Prejudice is more my kind of romance, though, it didn't redeem the book all that much. This is too much of a retell that you could predict the future—there's a point that's exactly what the characters do, and it's no supernatural event! So, while I did have fun during the second half, it was not only predictable but too P&P for me to enjoy the writer's own story. 

I do know there are many books that use the exact same scheme, and I have enjoyed some but it was only because I wasn't familiar with the original work. From the moment I am, is dead all the thrill of wanting to know what comes next. To be honest, I kept wondering the value of such books. While transforming the character and adapting to present times do sound fun, if the reader know the work, the result is what I said above. If the reader doesn't, well, you just gave a big pile of spoilers. I do think there could be an ideal amount but this book missed in playing a little with that and perhaps betray our expectations, for example.

I apologize for the long rant.

I liked the characters, and I liked how Merrilee does grow. I would love to read more books by this author, she has a good style, storytelling and all. But what I really wanted was something more original.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I know I have uttered the phrase "boys are better in books" many times, but Merri finds out that maybe her romance heroes were not as wonderful as they seemed on the page, when a real life Romeo begins romancing her. 

•Pro: Merrilee was an utterly adorable heroine. She was a little flighty and caught up in her literary worlds, but she was also extremely smart, a good sister and friend, and fierce when she needed to be. There were times when I was really proud of how she stood up for herself, and she also grew a great deal during this book. 

•Pro: I really liked the whole book worlds paralleling Merri's world. It was fun fitting all her friends and family in the roles, and predicting what would happen next. 

•Pro: The Campbell family were a nice family to be part of. Merri's parents were very present. They spent time with their children, gave them advice, and punished them when appropriate. It was an interesting dynamic in the family, especially with the sisters, and I was happy with the way that one evolved. 

•Con: I felt like it took a little too long to get to the best part of the story, and maybe the beginning could have been trimmed a little. 

•Pro: Merri had a great group of friends. Each character brought a little something to the story. I was especially fond of her best friends, Toby and Eliza. I hope we get to know there two even better in future books, because I think both could definitely carry their own story. 

•Pro: The romance was very sweet. There were actually two romantic interests. One to hate and one to love, and I totally fell for the one I was supposed to love. 

•Pro: Strong female characters abound in this book, and I love that they weren't all "in your face" females, but rather, each exerted her strength in different ways. 

Overall:  A merry and charming romance with fun rom-com moments, great family moments, strong friendships, and even a some swoons. I will surely read more of these Bookish Boyfriend tales.

The writing was strong, but I could not get past the first few pages. The characters felt so cliched and  they weren’t getting any better. My sister looked over my shoulder while I read and even said, “Oh, the classic quirky girl who is best friends with the gorgeous, perfect girl plot line,” from seeing one page. I love quirky, but some of the even quirky felt forced.

I knew this book would be adorable, but aaaaaah-all the feels are striking my heart. My poor, poor heart.

Bookish Boyfriends by Tiffany Schmidt broke the glass ceiling of my expectations. Usually they’re super high and I can be snobbish about what I read, but this book took my breath away. *fans self* Like if I could cuddle anything at night (except any of my dozen plushies), I’d cuddle this book. Oh, and if you’re on the hunt for a new book bf, Ms. Schmidt has you covered! *squeee~*

Before I dive into boylandia, let’s talk our indomitable heroine Merrilee “Merri”. She’s 15, super smart, a total book nerd, a romantic optimist (don’t see much of those right? ;D) and she’s on a quest, to find her own story I guess.

I typically don’t relate to characters, but Merrilee was totally me back in high school. Although I had my head up in the clouds more often than burrowed in a book during class, it was because the storyteller in me would kick in when my hands were empty of a book. Shhhh! Don’t tell any of my old teachers though.

Also this: Cream soda trumped cola.

Yes! *high fives Merri*

Merri’s adventure/”story” starts when she transfers from an all-girls school to the prestigious private academy in her town (er, city?). We never actually do find out where homegirl lives…unless I missed it and I’d been so dazzled by the boys in this book. 

Anyways, she gets to transfer to this school, her parents are struggling with paying their bills and adding the stress of the crazy school tuition to their list, and Merrilee figures a school called Reginald R. Hero High or “Hero High” for short has to be the start of her romance. Especially with her parents reliving their own meet-cute in high school, and their encouragement of their three daughters (Merri plays the middle child) discovering romance (their eldest, Lilly, Merri’s sister is getting married). And I quote:

She kissed my cheek. “Maybe you girls will meet your special someones at Hero High.”

Oh, parents. Your daughters are what, 15 and 14?! They should be focused on their studies. They’re lucky they’re as adorable as Merri is.

Merri does have her heads super far in the clouds. I don’t think I can say we relate AT ALL when she calls Romeo and Juliet “the most romantic story in the world” and how she’d “die to have a boy love [her] that much.”

Um, ew. No. They were like, what, 13. Or at least Juliet was. I’ll let it go. Merri’s, what, a dreamy-eyed sophomore.

Luckily her voice of reason is one of her best friends, Eliza. Eliza, unlike Merri, doesn’t really like the romance fiction Merri reads. She’d rather read Darwin’s On the Origin of Species rather than Romeo and Juliet any day. Even though Merri envies her beauty and brains—Eliza’s got both—and Merri only considers herself “cute”, it’s funny how she sees most of the boy action in this book.

But Eliza also envies Merri for her close relationship with her family. Eliza’s own parents are well-renown biologists who have traded spending time with their only child to traipse after biological breakthroughs. It’s sad stuff, and I love every moment Merri is protective of her (and vice versa). If you haven’t figured, Bookish Boyfriends totally passes the Bechdel test. They don’t talk about just boys.

Speaking of boys, let’s get to the fun parts:

They were two major love interests, er, rivals for Merri’s affections in this book, although I honestly wouldn’t call it a love triangle (thankfully). In one corner we have Monroe Stratford, the resident Romeo of Hero High. He’s all dark and emo and theatrical and more quick on the ball to snag Merri’s attention and heart and lips. But in the other corner, keeping up with his own broody mystery, is Fielding Williams.

Okay, first the names—lol. They are a bit OTT for me. Then again, this story is supposed to be light, magical and kiss-y AND it delivers so I’m turning a blind eye. Also, Fielding grew on me, and Monroe is a great unisex name. It conjures up dark, wangsty dreams of a teenage boy’s hopes and aspirations.

Anyways, let’s move on to how each of these men were sort of mirroring characters in a classic romance, and how they opened Merri’s eyes to the lesson she ended up learning at the end of this novel. Without spoiling too much, let me say that looks can be deceiving, and I don’t mean that in a negative light solely. Merri can come off judgemental, even if some of it is a defense tactic to protect her emotional health. I get it. I don’t like putting myself out there either.

Merri’s strong though, and she doesn’t navel-loop. She wasn’t sitting around for chapters moping and bemoaning all the drama in her life. She usually went right in for the kill whenever curiosity got the best of her. A heroine after my own heart… *sigh*

Back to Fielding. Oh, Fielding. He was the perfect Darcy. And, yes, that’s not a spoiler. He’s such a Fitzwilliam Darcy.

The angst is just too much, the tension between Merri and Fielding is truly scorching. They are my ship: #Merrifield—it’s the best I could do without butchering it; doesn’t follow ship-naming convention but it works. Let’s run with it.

So, yeah, whenever these two would encounter it was like sparks tingled through me! And, Ms. Schmidt, has the perfect way to describe it. Take this quote for instance:

But [Fielding] didn’t go away. Instead he inhaled deeply and said, “You baffle me.”
The words were rich with emotion, a rarity from someone so starched and measured. I glanced at him, at his brown eyes that seemed wide and searching, like I was the word that stood between him and crossword puzzle mastery.

So, so cute! I mean I over-“aww”-ed myself with this one.

Obviously you can tell who my vote is with by now…so let’s talk about the boys in general.

And I mean really only Monroe and Fielding. It’s not hard to notice they talk awfully weird. As in, not age appropriate. I get that this is supposed to sort of be mirroring classic romances a la Austen’s Pride & Prejudice but it comes off strange to me. It’s out-of-place from what I’d expect 16 and 17-year-old boys to sound like, at least from what I recall in high school and what I see on TV (also like teenaged cousins and stuff). No teen boy sounds like he just stepped out of Pride & Prejudice…and yet I do believe that’s the point of this novel.

Merri certainly struggles with the impossible and improbable throughout the book. Mostly in the form of her (maybe magical?) English teacher. No spoilers beyond this point, but trust me, you’ll want to read Bookish Boyfriends. It’s a cleverly written, thoroughly entertaining read.

One last thing I’d like to mention, the characters in this book were all terrifically nuanced, and the ending isn’t cookie-cutter happily-ever-after for everyone…or even for Merri. She’s 15! I wasn’t holding my breath for her to get married. That’d be creepy. My point is it ends sweetly and perfectly. It’s definitely a keeper for me…once I grab a copy.

Which brings me to close this rambling review as I honestly could go on and on and grow more incoherent as I gush about Bookish Boyfriends, but you could spend your time better by grabbing this book and seeing for yourself what I mean. And lucky for you, this book hits shelves (virtual and otherwise) today!! *tosses confetti*

I had a hard time with this book. I really enjoyed it but there were points where I felt like it dragged on and I wasnt exactly sure what was going on in the story. I liked the ending and I'm hoping the second book is about Rory and Little Women.

This was just the book I was in the mood to read. It was a nice light contemporary filled with boy drama and bookish daydreams. It explored different types of romance and the realities of book romance versus how it works in real life, showing that dramatic gestures that are made in books are often over the top and just plain embarrassing in real life. 

I found the characters all very interesting and very quickly grew to love Merrilee, her friends and her sisters very much. I can't wait to read more in this story. I want to know about some of the stories that were hinted at during the book and I hope that we can learn more about Trent and Lilly in the next book and how they met as well as Rory'story which I definitely want to find out about. 

The only criticism I have is that for a character who is supposed to read all the time and be obsessed with book romance, not only had she not read Pride and Prejudice before (let alone not even knowing the story, especially since Darcy is one of the most talked about love interests, which Merrilee knew nothing about), but she didn't read much at all through the whole book. For a girl who started off not being able to put her book down for long enough to get dress, she then barely read anything that wasn't for school for the rest of the book. 

Still, I'm really looking forward to the next book. I want a whole series of people being steered towards their stories. It's a wonderful idea.

It's been a rough few months for me. Work has been stressful and I have had some health issues that have included weeks of physical therapy, sore muscles, and headaches. I am super thankful that the fall that caused the issues wasn't worse, but unfortunately all of these issues have made reading and blogging a challenge. Reading also takes a back seat from time to time as my two year old clamors for attention.  I am ready for the long days of summer that will afford me a chance to get back on track. This novel took longer to read than I would have liked, but it was no fault of the book. I truly enjoyed losing myself in this one. It's a must read for all those readers who have imagined themselves paired up with a book boyfriend or love a good Pride and Prejudice inspired tale.

Merrilee (aka Merri) Campbell is the sort of heroine I love. She is quirky and flawed, but likable. She is the sort of girl that I would have loved as a best friend when I was a teen. Aside from her lovable personality, Merri is a loyal friend, devoted sister, and bookworm. She was a girl after my own heart as far as her reading was concerned. The novel opens when Merri, Eliza (Merri's best friend), and Rory (Merri's younger sister) head to a prestigious private school. The girls must navigate a new social current. 

Merri is thrilled to be attending school with her other best friend, Toby, and to get a fantastic education. She finds that her English teacher, Ms. Gregoire is one of the best parts of her new school. Merri is convinced that her teacher has some magic up her sleeve. Ms. Gregoire talks about books and characters as if they actually exist. As the class begins to study Romeo and Juliet, Merri is thrilled to study a story she considers to be a great romance, but when her own life begins to parallel the tale of the starcrossed lovers, Merri realizes that maybe the romance she thought she wanted isn't for her at all.

Once Merri fully rejects her version of Romeo, she begins to lose herself in the Jane Austen classic, Pride and Prejudice. As with the original, Merri isn't thrilled with her Darcy in the beginning, but overtime she learns that everything she thought she knew might only be an illusion colored by her own prejudices.

I don't want to ruin the plot, but I loved the dash of magical realism coupled with some beloved classical stories. I also loved the majority of the characters. One of my favorite components of the novel was Merri's relationships with her family and friends. The bond between her and her sisters was  realistic and heartwarming. They may not always get along, but at the end of the day, the Campbell sisters always have each other's back. I also liked the positive friendships that Merri has with both Eliza and Toby. Furthermore, Merri's parents are on my list for best parental influences in YA.

There is also a healthy dose of girl power in this one. Merri realizes pretty quickly that Juliet lacks agency and a backbone; she has no desire to follow in those footsteps. Merri, unlike Juliet, has strong female role models and a strong support system to keep her on the right track. Merri is a much better fit with Elizabeth Bennett. Both of these leading ladies share similar traits and have a penchant for finding trouble.

Lastly, the humor in this one was enough to keep me smiling and giggling after a long day of work. Poor Merri finds herself in some pretty hilarious predicaments. The bathrobe and toothpaste moments cracked me up.

If you're looking for a clean teen read with lovable characters and literary influences, this is a novel for you. I know that there is a second book coming and I can only hope that it will focus on Merri's younger sister, Rory. I would also be okay with Eliza as the main character.

One Last Gripe: While I understood why the Romeo and Juliet segment was part of the novel, I found that section lasted longer than I would have liked. I preferred the Pride and Prejudice components.

Favorite Things About This Book: Merri's character growth and how she views romance throughout the course of the novel

First Sentence: "Merrilee Rose Campbell, what are you doing?"

Favorite Character: Merri 

Least Favorite Character: Monroe