I wang on a lot about how Vanity Fair is my favourite novel of all time and Becky Sharp is perfection (I hate being asked about favourite novels, but it’s as close to a truthful answer as I can provide). So Sarra Manning’s update of the book was destined to be read as soon as the proof was available on NetGalley. As far as rendering Thackeray’s events and characters contemporary goes, Manning does a flawless job: Becky and Amelia now meet on a reality TV show, Amelia’s father is an investment banker whose disgrace comes when he’s found to have made some dodgy deals, the Crawleys are an acting dynasty (Dame Matilda Crawley is clearly modeled on Maggie Smith, down to her role as the purse-lipped matriarch of an ITV costume drama about an aristocratic family), and Becky’s dazzling rise to fame is boosted by sponsored Instagram posts and charity fashion shows. Is the writing on Thackeray’s level? Nope. Does it matter? Not at all. Great, intelligently executed fun, and hopefully will push people to seek out the original too.

This retelling of Vanity Fair was an absolute delight, my favourite book this month. It’s funny, fast-paced and fabulously fun. I sped through it and loved every second. More in the video: http://www.betterthandreams.com/2018/09/august-2018/.

I really enjoyed this book! It was such an unexpected, fun read.
It's a modern take on Vanity Fair, but involving more of today's trends like social media influencers. Our main character is Becky Sharp, a bit hard to like, but interesting. She knows what she wants and gets it in whichever way it is possible.
What I loved most about this book is the pace of it. Sometimes books have a pace of up and down keeping you high sometimes, and bored other times. Sarra Manning really had a constant good pace and I enjoyed the book all throughout. I also enjoyed her twists, how I tried to guess what's going to happen next. Her character development was also very strong.

All in all, if you're looking for a fun, modern Vanity Fair, this is your book. Really enjoyed and I'd read more from Manning.

Delightful, well written and very clever. I have often wondered how do you write a "social novel" (which is what Thackeray's original Vanity Fair was) for our modern society - and this is how. It holds the mirror up - to politics, to the class system, to gender inequality, to the ridiculousness of social media's "famous for being famous" celebrities, to the unethical practices of the financial sector and modern media, and the lengths people will go to to claw and manipulate their way to the top. Becky Sharp is not particularly likeable but nor is she unlikeable, you end up admiring her resilience and ability to manipulate a situation to her advantage. I really enjoyed it.

I have never read Vanity Fair, or seen the movie/TV adaptations but I went into this novel and loved it anyways. I was hooked into it right from the word go. I loved the concept of Big Brother contestants, or any reality TV contestants for that matter and where are they now. This book also deals with what its like to be a celebrity on social media, what being insta-famous looks like and what that can mean to the person in question as well as those around them. This book also deals with issues of strong women and how they are perceived in society. What girl power looks like in concept and reality and what can happen when women support, or don't support each other-what's not to love?

Becky is a really interesting character, she is not someone who you will always be on the same side as but you really do warm to her and she is a truly intriguing person to read about. Another thing that I really loved about her is how how determined she is, she really will stop at nothing to better herself and I admired that about her, it was brave. It does obliviously alienate people and sometimes hurts people she cares about but the determination is definitely admirable. Becky is also incredibly manipulative, whilst this is a fairly negative quality, it really does take brains and guts to use this manipulation to get you where you want to be.

The structure of this book is also really interesting and refreshingly different. The book takes pace over quite a large span of time compared to other commercial fiction books on the market and I enjoyed getting to see the characters in more than one time frame, to see where are they now and where are they 3 years from now. This book also follows one of the other Big Brother contestant Amelia and how her life has been affected after the programme ends. It covers her relationship with Becky but also how her life changes and I really enjoyed a minor character being followed in this way.

I loved this book, I want to end with one of my favourite quotes from the book and also to urge you to pick this one up now, you are definitely in for a great read and just an all round good time: 'I've met enough strong, ambitious women who'd be admired and promoted a hell of a lot quicker if they were men. But because they have tits and two X chromosomes, they get called bitches.'

Becky Sharp is certainly a different kind of protaganist. I only found out at the end that it was a modern day version of Vanity Fair. I must say Sarra Manning certainly pulled it off. It took me a good few chapters to get into it, not because it was boring, more to the fact that you have to really get to know all the characters, and then the story really comes alive. Has Becky Sharp got any redeeming qualities? I won't say as it will spoil the story. I loved or loathed the supporting characters. I'll certainly be reading more books by Sarra now that I've found her..

This is a fun retake of Vanity Fair and how it might have happened in today's society.

The role of social media and 'celeb' come out in this and how it can be used to your advantage or detriment evert step of the way.

It is a fun book and an easier read than the original!

This is a retelling of Vanity Fair, the well-known tale of the ultimate social climber, but set in the modern day. I’ll be honest, this isn’t my normal type of read. I tend to go for grittier novels, I’m a thriller girl really but it is great to have a break from one’s usual genre and this book is good fun.

Most people know the tale of Becky Sharp, the girl who comes from nothing and with a unique ruthlessness makes her way to the top, taking no prisoners on the way. She is the ultimate antihero as she is a user, totally narcissistic and has zero empathy for anyone. She simply looks at people with the view of what they can or cannot do for her cause. She is very hard to like but in a weird way you cannot help but root for her.

All the usual characters are there; Amelia, Jos, George, Rawdon etc. in their revamped guises. Rather than at a school, Becky and Amelia meet in the Big Brother House and the present day circumstances have been cleverly and wittily chosen throughout by the author. It is fabulously wicked and I think she has done a brilliant job of bringing Becky into the world of social media and reality TV.

I think some will absolutely love this book. For me it was good, it was a little light relief from the more intense books I generally read and it did make me chuckle and cringe. It would be a great holiday read. Oh and the end is very funny, made me giggle!

My thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for a copy of #TheRiseAndFallOfBeckySharp in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this modern Vanity Fair retelling!

Becky Sharp didn't have a good start in life and she's had to fend for herself, fight for everything and plot and scheme to survive. After a spot in Big Brother she gets her chance to move up the ladder of celebrity life and join the rich and famous and she's not going to let anyone stand in her way! She uses people as stepping stones (more like treads on top of them) ;- from Amelia (rich daddy's girl with no backbone) who she befriends in the Big Brother house, to Amelia's musclebound rich brother Jo, to the tricky lady who took her in after the death of her parents. This take makes the most of modern media and life, including Instagram, Facebook, Big Brother and the sleezy MPs and dodgy celebrity newspapers bosses.

Becky sets off climbing that ladder of life with gusto and you can't help but hand on and enjoy the ride and fall! Yes she's a manipulative bitch and a bit of a sociopath but taken in context with those she interacts with in her daily life (well written - snobby, tone deaf, do-gooders doing no good and hypocrites), I actually found her the most likeable character of all! She's an anti-hero but she's entertaining and funny, as is this novel! The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp offers and a fresh and different take not only on Vanity Fair but how (main) female characters are written!

Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley and Sarra Manning

I love Vanity Fair (the book rather than the ITV dramatisation - which I haven’t watched yet) and so I just had to have a look at Sarra Manning’s retelling of Thackeray’s classic. I approached it as nervously as Jos after a night in Vauxhall, for the blurb suggested that the 19th century masterpiece of social satire was to be a 21st century romance. But just like Becky Sharp, the blurb lied. The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp an excellent remix with the sax slightly more to the fore and with the inexplicable 15 minute drum solo cut out.
Gone are the constant flippant asides and classical references of Thackeray’s narrator, but instead Manning gives us more up-to-date commentary on the workings of high society. Her references are far more contemporary: there’s space for Cillit Bang, Blur, Downton Abbey, Allo! Allo! and there are no prizes for identifying whom she means by
A narcissistic, yellow-haired, orange-skinned reality TV star
Slightly more barbed is the newspaper poll on readers’ attitudes to our Becky. 52% of readers approve: ‘not a clear majority but what was good enough for a hard Brexit was surely good enough in this case’. Also more modern is the backdrop: the militia and money men behind Britain’s opposition to Napoleon become celebrities on TV and social media, and in Parliament where George Wylie (Thackeray’s George Osborne) takes a safe Conservative seat. He would agree only too clearly with Becky’s assessment that
It was easy to take so much when most people were happy with so little.
I bet Sarra Manning had a great time writing this, with its barbs, comic references and Easter eggs (Lord Steyne’s lawyers are called William, Makepeace and Thackeray). Manning loves to point out that Becky’s supposed faults arise from her poverty: it is an accident of birth that gives Wylie financial and social capital. The threads of inherited capital weave through the pages and Manning enjoys flaunting the double standards of the wealthy: Wylie’s father in a single sentence talks about how he should be supported by someone he was at school with, but shouldn’t himself have to support someone he ‘just happened’ to be at school with. The royal family want to cure world hunger but also need to keep an eye on renovating a palace. Jos is a successful businessman in his own right but still receives a monthly allowance.
The plot is similar to but not the same as that of Vanity Fair. There’s more Wylie - as Becky’s male equivalent, I wonder? There’s less Rawdon (and he’s less sympathetically portrayed). And Amelia has a fairly unconvincing personality transplant towards the end of the book. None of this poses a problem. I do find, on the whole, that this group of characters is less appealing and more generally unpleasant than Thackeray’s but I guess that’s because Thackeray’s characters could hide behind his flippant prose: Manning places her people in our world and we see them for what they really are. Which is precisely the point.
Despite the fake news provided by the blurb, this is, as before, a novel without a hero (though the narrator comes close). It is still very much a commentary of its times and it’s sobering to think how English society has perhaps not changed much in 170 years. Fans of Thackeray’s book will find much to enjoy, and those new to the fun of the fair have a treat in store.

This story follows Becky Sharp - a runner up on Big Brother, nanny, Instagram influencer to eventually become a philanthropist. But Becky worked hard for all of this - or did she? Relying only on herself, that is until she senses a chance and someone with more money... or another someone, with even more money? Using other people or simply being ambitious? I haven't read the original "Vanity Fair" so I am probably in the minority that won't be comparing those two books, and also I didn't recognise any of the scenes and couldn't compare the characters, but I'm sure there are similarities, and also, even without reading the "first" book, I can assure you that I totally adored this modern take on "Vanity Fair".

Even though I was not particularly found of the characters! However, I fell for Becky and I felt sorry for her and in the next second I simply hated her. Becky was incredibly intriguing character, and Sarra Manning has so brilliantly captured all of her attributes! She was a champion of disguising her true self and so you could never be sure which of the faces you're going to see; she for sure knew how to behave in a particular company. It depended on the person she was with and how influential they were. I don't think we have ever come across Becky's true colours guys, she has provided regular doses of the level of sincerity and really, I think, no, I am sure that the only person she cared about was herself. She was a master of using people and sweet - talking them. Yet - she was likeable! I might have not loved her but I had feelings of warmth and somehow I wanted to protect her. Weird, no? She schemes and manipulates in a perfect way and yet you just want to cheer her on. She truly knows what she wants and doing anything just to get her way, actually almost always getting what she wanted. She's unbreakable.

Sarra Manning's writing style is brilliant. The pace of the novel in fast and there are twists and turns that you'll never see coming. The plot was hooking, I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what's going to happen. There were moment that it was ridiculous and hilarious, as well as some of the very colourful characters that really made me feel all kinds of emotions.

This book could go on and go, it was a kind of never - ending story, and personally I would love to see what Becky has got herself into - I think it ended in one of the most exciting moments, and our Becky implied that she's not to rest on her laurels, oh no. But also, this end was not satisfying for me - there was a huge build up but then I had a feeling that it turned into ... nothing. So really, if Ms Manning were to write a sequel to "The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp" I'd be probably the first one in the virtual queue to read it.

"The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp" was a book full of scandals, rich people and celebrities, revenge, coincidences. It was partly really bonkers crazy but this is why I enjoyed it so much, as it sat with this book so well. It was sharp and brutally honest about modern life and current priorities. It was juicy and relying strongly on social satire, and Sarra Manning has brilliantly portrayed this what makes it this satire - demeanours, the mentality, the greed and self - obsession in this Instagram era, celebrity obsessions, being famous because of being famous. It's full of sharp and so fitting and relevant observations - highly recommended!

I probably should have read the original Vanity Fair first but I still very much enjoyed this funny, heartwarming, exciting contemporary retelling of the classic.

After being left an orphan because of an alcoholic father and drug-addicted mother, cunning Becky Sharp does everything in her power to succeed. It is fascinating watching her always falling on her feet, no matter who gets hurt in the process. On the other hand, naive Amelia Sedley has always had a sheltered life and she has eyes only for George who barely notices her. This novel is a modern retelling of Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, but here Becky and Amelia meet as contestants of Big Brother, George is an elected (and still arrogant) MP, the Crawleys are a family of actors, and Joseph Sedley owns a power ball company.

Reality shows, actors, gossip, scandals, revenge, and lies - this novel has it all. It is sharp, witty and hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud many times, something that didn’t happened when I read the original Thackeray story. Like the classic novel, I can’t say I liked any of the characters (although I found Amelia more mature and likable towards the end), but their stories kept me entertained and the author’s clean and captivating writing kept me glued from the first to the last page.

The old saying 'history repeats itself' is aptly portrayed in this witty, satirical look at contemporary society.

Becky is every bit as irrepressible as the original 19th-century character and her single-minded determination to get the best out of her life has to be admired even if her methods of achieving this are often reprehensible.

This contemporary story retains the satirical sharpness of the original and demonstrates cleverly that 21-century society is surprisingly similar to Regency society. The characters are vivid and resonate, its hard to empathise with any of them but they are entertaining, and the story is easy reading.

I would love to see this made into a television series too.

If you enjoy an irreverent look on society, full of humour, a little romance,  with glamour and squalor vying for attention take a chance on this, you won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Fiction - Harper Collins via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book is SO much fun!

Although I had heard of ‘Vanity Fair’ by William Makepeace Thackeray, I had not yet read the book, this book is it’s modern remake.

For those of you who don’t know what Vanity Fair is about, in a nutshell it tells the story of Becky Sharp trying her best to climb the social circle, the story also features Emmy Smedley and her family and friends. It is set in the period of the Napoleonic Wars.

Well… Grab those characters and fast forward to present day and you have yourself ‘The Rise & Fall of Becky Sharp’ by Sarra Manning 👍

After reading this book, I’m now watching the current ITV version of ‘Vanity Fair’ and am amused at all the comparisons, Sara Manning has been very clever and inventive – what an imagination!

My Thoughts

The book starts with Becky and Amelia (Emmy) leaving the Big Brother House and all the media frenzy that follows (so 2018!) I loved it, what a contrast to the posh boarding school for girls we are introduced to in the original story.

Becky is determined to better her social standing in society, just like the original Becky. Why shouldn’t she enjoy the finer things in life and live comfortably, just because she wasn’t born into the luxury and privilege of the high society?

I, am all for everyone looking to better themselves, we’d all like a comfortable lifestyle, but what are we prepared to do to get it? Anything? Who are we happy to betray? Anyone?

Most of us have a fairly decent moral compass, but Becky is on a whole new level of her own!

It is a hilarious book with some real laugh-out loud moments (you’ve been warned), so read in public fully prepared.

I love Becky and found Amelia (Emmy) to be a little naive for my liking, but then she seems to have led quite a sheltered life and Becky is so much more ‘Street-smart’, so probably I could relate to her thinking more 😉

If like me, you’re looking for a fun few books to get you through the inevitable end of summer and the earlier evenings that signal the start of Autumn, you can’t go wrong with adding this funny book with a cunning heroine to your TBR (to be read) pile .

The Rise & Fall of Becky Sharp by Sarra Manning is out on 6th September 2018

Pre- order or purchase your copy here;

Amazon UK

Harpercollins UK

Amazon USA

Happy reading!

Chanel x

Chanel Williams

Sarra Manning brings the life & troubles of Becky Sharp in to the current day. Becky is sharp, funny & very quick witted but not an altogether likeable character. The impact / influence of social media on our lives now is an integral part of the story and shows that all that you read and see isn't to be believed.

A witty read with a slightly scary take on the world today.

This modern day take on Vanity Fair was light hearted and entertaining. Not having read the original book, I didn't particularly recognise any of the scenes tying back to this but I'm sure they do. Even Big Brother is worked into this version! I wasn't riveted by the story and dipped into it over a number of days and I wasn't overly fond of any of the characters but having said that, I'm still glad I read it as I did want to see how things panned out for Becky in particular.

Utterly delightful. I am reading this at the same time as catching the first episodes of the TV dramatization of Vanity Fair and, believe it or not, they really compliment each other! This is really sharp writing, bang up-to-date but following the original story surprisingly closely. It is a perfect summer read, light, entertaining but with an undercurrent that keeps you wanting more. I've not always been a great fan of these updating of the classics books but this one gets my vote.

If you're not a fan of the original pompous, arrogant and pathetically whiny characters, then you are not going to enjoy this. Otherwise, sit back in a comfy chair with a pot of tea or two and enjoy the sass, smarts and subterfuge that Manning brings to Becky Sharpe and the art of social climbing.

First off, I haven’t read the original Vanity Fair so I can’t compare these two books.
When it comes to this book, I can honestly say I liked the book. I both admire and hate Becky Sharp.
The story itself kind of pulls you in and goes up and down and up and down until the end. The plot is interesting and I felt all kinds of emotions and I absolutely love that Amelia got a happy ending and that George Wiley got what he deserved.
All in all it was a good book that made me feel a thousand emotions.