Cover Image: In Want of a Wife

In Want of a Wife

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

3 stars
This is a new series from Noelle Adams. I have read a lot of her books. This one was not one of my favorites. It was a little slow.

Was this review helpful?

**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

This was my first read after getting back on Netgalley after a longer period of time so I was really excited for it.

Sadly, this book was not my cup of tea; I stopped reading at around 60% of the book.

The synopsis sounded promising and I loved Pride and Prejudice so my expectations may have been too high.

Either way I really couldn’t finish the book as I was struggling to go on reading in the first place.

I just couldn’t get into it…

Was this review helpful?

This short, modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice is a quick and fun read. Liz and Vince have some very cute banter and it is interesting seeing how the setup for future books is handled with Austen's characters all living in the same apartment complex and being friends. There are so many P&P Prejudice retellings that have been published recently and I am not sure if this one really offers enough to stand out from the pack.

Was this review helpful?

This new book in this crazy and sometimes insane series by Noelle Adams stole my heart and ran off with it. I enjoyed every single page just like I knew I would. I can not wait for the next book in this series!

Was this review helpful?

This was a great read, so much fun. The characters couldn’t be more oil and water and that makes the best coupling. Hot, steamy and sweet, with a slow build up that is perfect for their relationship. If you are looking for some snarky, romantic fun, this might be the one for you. Can’t wait for the next book in this fantastic series. Love this author!! Totally recommend

Was this review helpful?

In Want of a Wife by Noella Adams is the first book for in the Pemberley House series, which are loosely based on Jane Austen books. In Want of a Wife is based on my favorite Jane Austen, Pride and  Prejudice. I really enjoyed this book, it was a lot of fun to ready this modern version. The characters were well written. If you enjoy a sweet and sexy romance, give this book a try.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve read the majority of the author’s books and always loved them. She tends to have a variety of writing styles and subjects and always masters them. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me and lacked energy with the characters and plot.

The pace took its time and was slow. At times I thought I forgot to turn the page when it went in circles stretching and repeating conversations. I did skim quite a bit but it picked up around the 75% mark when it reached the climax.

It’s told in dual POV’s. Liz was more of the outwardly aggressive of the two, but from Vince’s POV it was easy to see there was a lot more than his silent brooding.

I’m not sure if Em (“the bossy one”) appeals to me, but I am interested in the 3rd book about Anne and Vince’s brother, Robert.

2.5

Was this review helpful?

This Austen-esque book starts off a new series and one that seems to hold great promise after reading book one. It introduces us to the main characters of the story, the 3 very different sisters, Liz living at Pemberley House which is perfectly dreamy. Her two best friends, the family business and the men who orbit the story. This is Liz's story, she works for her families antique business and her job is to procure antiques and other items of value to sell in her families struggling business. They were the only shop in town until another family moved in and opened an antique store as well.
Vince is our main male character in this one, called home to help his mother's antique business after the death of his father. He's not to happy about it and can be surly. That's only step beyond grumpy. Maybe two or three steps. Vince and Liz meet by accident while arriving very early at an estate sale, Vince is there first and she doesn't know who he is, trying to make polite conversation, he blows Liz off. That sets them off on what's the be a funny at times and thought provoking friendship beyond that. And now since Vince is living next door to Liz and her sister with his friend Danny, how terribly convenient for them both. This is definitely a slow burn and the pace and dialogue of this book is a change from Noelle's usual stories. It at times felt a little too formal for me, riding really close the the edge of Austen's books. Just a tad of an adjustment when the shifts in dialogue took place. Lots of well placed drama in the story, some serious angst going on in the home stretch and I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. Well done and I look forward to the next book!

arc from NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

In Want of a Wife is a modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, but very loosely. If you love that book, you will most certainly love this, and if it is not your fav, go on and jump in anyway. This book is fun to read!

Liz works for the family's antique shop and spends her days finding worthy treasures to resell. One morning she meets a new man, Vince, at an estate sale. They are instantly rivals-going after the same pieces. Who is this man and why is she feeling all prickly around him??

Vince recently moved back home to be with his mother and help with the family's antique shop after his father died. He is struggling a bit since he knows this is where he needs to be, but hasn't quite settled in yet. When he attends an estate sale his mother wants a couple of chosen items from, he didn't expect to meet her. The girl turns out to be Liz and she is the most annoying person he has ever met! Attractive as all get out, but just plain annoying!

I loved watching these two running into each other at all these sales and around their condos. Each meeting builds on the one before and then, wham, they are both head over tail in lust with each other! I loved seeing their progression from rivals to tolerate each other to lovers and beyond! They were so set in their ways and somewhat clueless in recognizing each others signs! I had high hopes they would find a way to make it work and get their HEA! They just needed to navigate the obstacles ahead.

Nothing is all that easy though, and we are handed some angst and situations that need to be dealt with. Unfortunately misunderstandings arise and things are said in haste. Although I do not like all the angst, I did like seeing Liz and Vince totally heartsick about having "lost" each other with no way in sight to fix it. I felt they would eventually see reason and let the other person know their feelings.

I also loved the supporting characters and they offered lots of advice, humor, and fodder for other books down the road!!

Solid first book in the Pemberley House series!

I voluntarily chose to review a gifted copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. The rating and review are my opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I am always on the lookout for variations of Jane Austen‘s works and was happy to find this book. Liz Berkeley is an antique dealer who runs into Vince Darcy when she is looking for paintings at an estate sale. When she tries to chat him up, he basically ignores her. Then, he snags one of the paintings she wants which just makes him less likable in her eyes.

Vince has returned home to help out at his parent’s antique business. He is happy to support his family but has mixed emotions about returning home. He decides to move in with his friend Charles in the Pemberley House condominium. Interestingly enough, Liz and her sister Jane also live in those condos. After the four residents meet at a party thrown by Em, a friend of Liz, and she overhears Vince describe her as annoying, Liz is done with him.

I thought the premise of this Austen variation was very clever. Using the Pemberley House as the setting gives Liz and Vince many opportunities to interact and learn more about each other. As in the original, the two have a series of miscommunications and misunderstandings but also discover things that that further the attraction they have one another.

I’m happy that Ms. Adams was able to maintain the spirit of the original P&P while making it modern and relatable. I was also very pleased to see that future books include a retelling of my favorite Austen novel, Persuasion. I look forward to reading the next books in the series.

Was this review helpful?

If you love Pride and Prejudice then you will really enjoy this one. The characters are great with Liz all warm and fuzzy and all about family while Vince is all about family but comes across as cold and rigid. Turns out Vince has more heart than Liz first though and it seems that he may be losing it to her.

This book is nicely written with a nice steady pace to the story. I definitely recommend this one.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this story. I am no stranger to Pride and Prejudice adaptations and this one was one of my favourites yet. I loved the idea of Pemberley House. The characters were fun and multi-faceted. I cannot wait to read the next books in this series asap.

Was this review helpful?

This short, modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice is a quick and fun read. Liz and Vince have some very cute banter and it is interesting seeing how the setup for future books is handled with Austen's characters all living in the same apartment complex and being friends. There are so many P&P Prejudice retellings that have been published recently and I am not sure if this one really offers enough to stand out from the pack.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

If Mr. Darcy in all his forms makes you giggle in glee then In Want of a Wife is just the quick read you need. Liz in all her stubborn glory is just the right match for Vince "stick up his butt" Darcy. This Pride and Prejudice revamp is fun and every bit as enjoyable as the original. It also teases you of what's to come. Look out for more Pemberley House stories!

Was this review helpful?

I've read a few other books by this author and I liked them. When I saw this on netgalley, I told myself not to request it because my ARCs are getting out of control. I told myself again not to request it when I saw the publish date was so soon, I already had a few books I 'had' to read before the end of the month and didn't think I'd get to it.... and then I saw the title and read the synopsis and it was all over red rover. I cannot resist anything P&P related, and from an author I've already read and liked? Impossible.

Right at the beginning, the author says this is *not* a retelling. I love P&P retellings so I was a teensy bit disappointed and worried about that, but there was no need. The bones are there, with small changes and other things that are all Noelle Adams, not Jane Austen. It flowed so well, I adored all the characters (I already need the next ones, stat). I loved Vince and Liz so so much. I loved the spins that Noelle put on the story. I just... loved it, okay? Okay. Seriously. It was adorable and fabulous. Super short too, so I read it in a couple of hours. I think this would appeal to non-P&P fans as well, though I do think P&P fans get a leg up on these kinds of books because we understand the characters already. Honestly, I don't think I have a bad thing to say about this book. I liked the others I've read by this author, but this is by far my favourite. What a delightful read. That epilogue! killed me dead with all the feelings, I tell you. Loved it, highly recommend it. Need the next one now.

Was this review helpful?

Based on Pride and Prejudice, this is the story of Liz and Vince who work for rival family antiques firms Bennets and Darcys.
They get off to a bad start competing for the same paintings at a house sale, and then Liz overhears him telling his friend that Liz is 'the annoying one'. She thinks he is arrogant, but doesn't realise he is just hiding how shy he really is.

Liz is surrounded by her friends and her sister Jane, all of whom live in Pemberley House, so you get an idea of which other Jane Austin books are going to appear in this series.

Loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of this series!

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun contemporary story built on Jane Austen’s novels. The premise is that the modern version of Austen’s heroines are rooming together in a mansion-turned-apartment house. I liked the idea of the heroines of Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion all being friends. In this book, there is a Darcy who is proud and Liz who immediately feels prejudiced against him. They have competing antiques businesses in a small Virginia town. It’s not clear why there would be enough business for two such dealers as well as make the Darcy business extremely successful. But just go with it.

There are enough touches of Austen in the book to entertain any fan of Pride and Prejudice, but I also liked that there were also somethings that were totally new so that the book wasn’t a simple retelling. And I was glad not to encounter Liz’s mother since she was always so annoying in the original book. There is one stupidly obnoxious younger sister, but one was enough.

Instead of being arrogantly superior as Darcy is in the original, this Darcy is really just awkwardly shy which seems to come off as rudeness to others. I liked getting some insight into what he was thinking instead of just seeing him through the heroine’s eyes.

This was enjoyable to read. You don’t need to be a fan of Jane Austen to enjoy it, but it will be fun for any Austen lover.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book in a new series that constitutes Ms. Adams updated take on some of Jane Austen’s novels. This book features several characters who, I suspect, will be included in future books, but focuses primarily on Liz and Vince. Liz is a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet, and Vince is a modern-day Fitzwilliam Darcy. Their families own competing antique stores in a tourist community. Like Darcy and Elizabeth, Liz and Vince suffer through a series of misunderstandings. Luckily for them, they have a supporting cast to help them along the way, particularly Vince’s very wise mother. This book was an utterly charming modern-day take on a classic. I look forward to reading the remaining books in the series!

Was this review helpful?