Liz and Jane are the two wonderful Bennet sisters brought to their fathers side after a heart attack, a tale we are all familiar with but written in a whole new way. The classic tale of Pride and Prejudice retold with a modern twist.
The story follows all the main beats from the origin materials but all with modern twists. It was super fun to read, even knowing where plots were going it was interesting to see exactly how they would be interpreted.
The plot about the trans character was not brilliant, definitely could have been worded better or dealt with in a generally more respectful way.
Overall I would recommend this for fans of Gilmore Girls, Bridget Jones and Grey’s Anatomy.

This has been on my TBR pile since it was released years ago and I have no idea why I never read it sooner.

It’s a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice. For me it stuck to the story very authentically, I loved the modern day Darcy and the interpretation of him in this version was great.

For me it was an enjoyable read but just far too long than it maybe needed to be.

I remember so much hype around this book at the time when it came out and I think if you are a big fan of Austen retellings then it’s definitely one you won’t want to miss out on but for me it was just an ok read! ✨

ARC from netgalley

This was really fun! If you're craving a Pride and Prejudice re-read/rematch but feel like you know the story too well or it's been too recent that you enjoyed it, Eligible is the perfect solution: all the greatness of Austen's novel but with a new twist.

Smart, sassy and fun, this contemporary retelling of Pride & Prejudice is really sharp - I thoroughly enjoyed the modern re-imagined versions of the characters and how their original traits or jobs were transposed into the modern day with creativity but a faithful eye. The new setting of a mid-Western American family worked really well, and the reality TV component gave it all a very unique spin. This was a great romantic comedy read, with highly engaging, intelligent writing and an authentic narrative voice which was never cliche or pandering. Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for the opportunity to read.

Although I downloaded Eligible quite some time ago, the fact that it is a Pride & Prejudice retelling had passed me by. What’s more, not only is this book a retelling, there are a further three books, written by three incredible authors, that are retellings of beloved Jane Austen novels – I now own them all!

This book was immediately tremendous fun! Although the characters are bang up-to-date, Curtis Sittenfeld hits all of the plot points that make this a recognisable retelling. All the characters we love – and love to hate – are here, but some necessary alterations have been made. For instance, Mr Wickham is split into two characters – Jasper Wick and Ham Ryan – to enable different aspects of the story to be told through a modern lens.

I really enjoyed Liz and Darcy’s relationship as I felt it perfectly reflected that of the original novel, while building in more modern sentiments and actions. I definitely had the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice in mind while I was reading and, in general I felt it was a light, funny tribute to the original novel.

Having said all that, there were a couple of things that I felt were a bit – iffy – chiefly the use of a transgender character to further the storyline who I thought was not treated as well as they could have been. A transgender character in and of themselves should be fully fleshed out and not simply used as a plot device, so I felt this character could have been given a better deal.

The best thing about this book is its cover.

I felt the characters were too different from Austen’s creations. The writing also lacked the sharp mockery and humour- as well as witty observations.

If the story was written with different character names I wouldn’t think it to be a P&P adaptation.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great 'remix' of Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed Jane Austen's book, but I'm open to reading something that takes the core elements and transposes them to a different setting.

Curtis Sittenfeld's characters in this are well developed and the story was engrossing. This was a pleasure to read.

I enjoyed this book, although it took a while to get my head around the versions of the characters. Cleverly done, with enough to keep you guessing, which is hard to do when readers already know the main story!

One of the best modern retellings of a classic I've read.
Eligible captures the essence of Pride & Prejudice whilst making it relatable to the modem world. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. Could almost be read as a standalone, which isn't always the case with this type of novel.

This update of Pride and Prejudice was unnecessary. I am a purist at heart who loves the Classics and I felt that this kind of update of a classic just shouldn't happen.

Here we have the Bennet's of the 21st Century. Jane and Liz live in New York and are home in Cincinnati after their father's illness. The Mrs Bennet of today is just as silly as the original but she also comes across as racist, transphobic and frankly mean and ignorant. Elizabeth Bennet is not the sparky character from the original either, she seems to be quite weak and pathetic. Jane is dull and boring, Mary is almost non existent, and Kitty and Lydia are not half as wild as they were in Austen's day. Don't get me started on Darcy, the Bingleys, Mr Collins, Charlotte Lucas and Mr Wickham - they exist in this novel as versions of themselves that bear absolutely no similarity to the originals except to share variations of their names.

Outside of the character assassination of some of my favourite literary characters my biggest complaint was all of the ridiculously short chapters, and they ended so abruptly too. The wedding of Jane and Bingley was ludicrous and the hen night was in horribly poor taste - I could feel myself cringing while I was reading it and thinking how the characters would never have acted like that.

If you are a Jane Austen fan or love classic novels then give this a swerve - you'll hate it.

A modern twist on Pride and Prejudice! When their father gets home, Liz (a magazine writer) and her older sister Jane (yoga instructor) leave New York City to return home to Cincinnati to help care for him. Their beloved family home and family are in disarray. The youngest two sisters, Kitty and Lydia, care more about CrossFit and their diet than getting a job and Mary, the middle sister, is too wrapped up in earning her master's degree and rarely leaves her bedroom. Of course Mrs. Bennet wants to get her daughters married off. When she discovers Chip Bingley, handsome doctor who was on reality TV dating show Eligible is in town, she's desperate for Jane to meet him. At a 4th of July barbecue, he brings along his friend, neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy, who of course is an arse and himself and Liz clash from the get go.

I really enjoyed this book, it took me a few chapters to get into it but once I got going, I ate it up! The characters are well matched contemporaries to their Austen counterparts. They are so annoying at times, which just makes them even more perfect. I found the book witty and really enjoyed the romance arc that Liz and Darcy have. This book is perfect to read during the summer, if you want humour and romance in a modern setting. I almost wished I had read it while sitting on the beach! I could see this as a Netflix series or a film. If Bridget Jones is the British modern version of Pride and Prejudice, then this is the American modern equivalent.

Can definitely see mini series potential in this one. The Bennett sisters are fantastic and the story is fantastic although the writing style won't be to everyone's taste. It is a little verbose at times and feels like it slows the story down at times. Despite this its a great read.

It was ok i guess. It took me absolutely ages to trawl through it because i constantly lost interest and found something better to do.

The whole Austen project, of which this is one component has probably been done out of love and admiration for the original authors writing and so a celebration of her work. Pride and Prejudice from which this novel emanates is iconic in itself without being translated to current times. The move into modern America just did not ‘ do it for me’ .

A fantastic retelling, although the premise was a bit ridiculous. Also was very long, but I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed reading this book (even though I felt it had a slow start).

Eligible is a very clever modern day retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice. Hugely enjoyable, funny and heartwarming all at once. Some Austen fans will be horrified I’m sure but as a P&P tragic, who knows the story and its characters inside and out, I loved it.

I enjoyed how the characters were very modern and transplanted to a different setting and era but kept the integrity of their original counterparts - Jane is still sweet, calm and willing to think the best of everyone; Lydia is still giggly and rude; Mrs Bennet still takes to her bed when all the drama kicks off! There’s a lot of pride and a lot of prejudice, but very much reflective of present-day preoccupations.

I haven’t read any other books by Curtis Sittenfeld but I certainly want to seek them out now! She’s a very clever and compelling writer who has managed what I would have thought was impossible - an intelligent, faithful, fresh and hilarious retelling of one of the most beloved stories in English literature. A great comfort read for the holidays or on your commute. Highly recommended.

A fun, modern twist on a well loved classic. Highly recommended.

A fantastic modern retelling of a classic book that I adore. This book is pure genius, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It took me a little to get into in the beginning, but I think that was because I knew the original so well, and kept stopping to draw parallels. Once I got into the story however, I read it quickly and would recommend it - original fan or not.

What a hoot! Having been force fed Jane Austen at A-level: Mansfield Park, I am not her biggest fan, but this modern day re-telling of Pride and Prejudice is a joy from beginning to end. It is charming, witty and very, very funny.

The Bennet family are transplanted to Cincinnati where the novel follows the tale of P&P which I won’t repeat but it is totally updated and takes hilarious pot shots at modern day life. The Bennet family are just as dysfunctional and the portrayals of Mr and Mrs Bennet, in particular, are masterful. I love Mr Bennet.

Even if you haven’t read P&P you will enjoy this novel if you like romantic comedies with a caustic edge.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.