Leah Marie Brown can do no wrong when it comes to witty dialogue, snarky heroines, or retelling stories in a fresh, fun, and adaptable way.

Badly Done, Emma Lee takes an old Austen classic, EMMA, modernizes it, and spins it on its head. I read the book so quickly because I simply had to find out what happened next! ( Even though I knew the ending, already, hee hee!)

Spoiled, stylish, socially connected Emma Lee Maxwell has spent her life in the idlest of pursuits—attending debutante balls, organizing sorority mixers, and acting as Charleston’s unofficial Gossip Queen. But when her family’s fortune suddenly dwindles, Emma Lee realizes her days as a Lowcountry Princess are numbered.
This was an ok read. The story started with Emma Lee as the kind of person I really don’t like. She got a little better as the story went on, but meh.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I started this, was bored, and put it down. Came back to it, and hit my groove and then couldn't put it down. Emma Lee was sweet and funny and well-meaning, and the cast of characters she entangles herself with were all hilarious and fun. Loved it!

You know I'm always in the mood for a good Jane Austen-retelling. Every book of hers I've read, I've loved, and the same can actually be said for all the retellings of her work. Well, with one exception. I have not yet been able to make my way through Emma. I don't know why - logic dictates I should like it, after all. However, I just can't get through it. I do know  the story - don't worry - I read the sparksnotes, saw Clueless... And now, well... Now I've also read Badly Done, Emma Lee. And I might just have to go take another look at Emma!

The story
Spoiled, stylish, socially connected Emma Lee Maxwell has spent her life in the idlest of pursuits—attending debutante balls, organizing sorority mixers, and acting as Charleston’s unofficial Gossip Queen.  But when her family’s fortune suddenly dwindles, Emma Lee realizes her days as a Lowcountry Princess are numbered.

When she discovers that she’s inherited her aunt’s cottage in Surrey, she hightails it to England, nurturing fantasies of polo matches and jaunts to London. . . . Instead Emma Lee is surrounded by spinsters and sheep farmers, and spends her nights reading her aunt’s old Jane Austen novels. So when she’s invited to join the local chapter of the Austen society, she reluctantly agrees. But the novel Emma inspires an epiphany: She will put her people-pleasing ways to good use by becoming the village’s very own matchmaker! And she’ll start with three local brothers . . .

There’s just one skeptical, handsome, charming challenge: the oldest brother, Knightley, is stubbornly insisting Emma Lee abandon her well-meaning ways and focus on making a match of her own—with him . . .

The opinion
I loved the set up as a Jane Austen-retelling, especially because all the *necessary cast members* are there! What's even better? Some plot lines from the original are not held too closely (like the success of Emma's first match) and some characters are given more (seperate) lines.

Apart from that, the execution of the setting was... Well, I can't describe it as anything but excellent. Basically, Leah Marie Brown really made me want to be there as well. And in a way, I even felt as if I really were there. I certainly could picture the abbey, the ruins and the village perfectly well!

All of that, basically, pertains mainly to the set up. Now, let's be fair - the set up is about 75% of the book. After that? Well... I honestly wondered whether maybe they ran out of paper. Maybe the story got away from the author? Either the way, the last quarter of the book could honestly have lasted at least twice as long.

At least that way, each character would have been given a decent ending and more closure. Whereas earlier in the story there was this great introduction to all the characters, a build-up for their personalities... And then suddenly, they all are forced together in a haphazard way. So the ending now? It just seemed very much rushed and not really sustained by what came before.

The rating: 3/5
Here's the thing - I really liked the first 3/4 of this book. Had the end been developed as well as the rest of the story? This would have easily been a 4+ star read for me. The tone's just the right side of light, the main character's intelligent, witty, and quite fun to follow, the side characters are well-written... It's just a pity that what could have easily been the piece de resistance for this entire book? Was instead turned into something rushed and slightly undercooked. As long as a quick ending doesn't bother you, though? This is definitely a great retelling of Jane Austen's Emma! (find it on Goodreads!)

-Saar

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, Emma Lee Maxwell is a pampered Charleston socialite who grew up well-connected, and wealthy. But when her father unexpectedly passes away it looks like Emma Lee’s going to have to get a job like the rest of us chumps. But don’t worry. Emma Lee has a plan. She just inherited a cozy cottage in in England…so why not up and move to another country and put her true talents to use by becoming a professional matchmaker?

My Thoughts:
I’m always a sucker for an Austen retelling and I definitely thought Badly Done, Emma Lee was a cute story. What I liked best about it was that it was a retelling wherein the characters weren’t in some alternative timeline where they’ve never heard of the original story but rather they talked about Emma a lot and were somewhat aware of the curious parallels between their lives and Austen’s ode to the overly-confident matchmaker. So that was a fun twist.

The trouble with this book for me was that I didn’t find the main character particularly likable. And I feel guilty about it because she was a nice girl…but the fancy Southern Belle shtick got pretty old after a while. Maybe it’s just the hardy Midwesterner in me…but spoiled rich girls just aren’t my jam. Also, I did live in Charleston, SC for three years and I felt like Emma Lee’s Charleston-isms were a little too much. I never met ANYONE from Charleston who talked the way Emma Lee does in this book. I found it distracting.

Sure, I understand that she’s meant to evoke the original Emma’s unflattering characteristics but…meh.

However, I still would recommend this book to anyone looking for something cheesy and fun. It’s a quick and light read with some cute moments.

Emma Lee Maxwell, 24, was always loved by her father. Sadly, Emma’s mother died giving birth to her. Although Emma Lee is a beautiful and intelligent young woman, she is not without faults, one of the worst being vane. Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, Emma Lee attended a private girls’ school that stressed manners and proper deportment. One thing she enjoys is playing matchmaker with her friends.

Today, thanks to heavy traffic, Emma Lee is going to be late to her best friend’s engagement party. She was the one who played matchmaker for the couple and she’s expected to give a speech congratulating the couple.

Having grown up pampered by her wealthy father, Emma Lee was shocked when he died suddenly and she found that his debts far exceeded his assets. Thus, Emma Lee has decided to move to the Cotswolds in England and start a matchmaking business. Her aunt Patricia had left her a cottage called Wood House so she will have a place to live in the Cotswolds.

Upon arrival in London, Emma Lee is met by Knightley Nickerson, son of her aunt Patricia’s friend who has been looking after Wood House. Knightley’s mother had also been a very good friend of Emma Lee’s mother so she takes Emma Lee “under her wing” and introduces her to the area. Emma Lee also meets a number of people in her village and immediately bonds with them. Knightly is so handsome, wealthy, and solicitous of her that she can’t help but be drawn to him.

This is a book that encompasses many things Jane Austen, so followers of her will be delighted to read this. While I have read Jane Austen’s works, I don’t call myself a reader who is fascinated by “everything Jane.” There is a lot of humor here and is a light comedic read. I smiled and chuckled through much of it.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Badly Done, Emma Lee was a pretty light and easy read that I think a lot of our patrons will really connect with. I have it ordered for our library already. Thank you so much!

I've enjoyed this series of interlocking (each is great on its own) novels about a trio of sisters who find themselves penniless (!) after a life of luxury. We meet Emma in this installment. She's lucky enough to have inherited an aunt's home in Surrey and even luckier that she's come up with the idea of playing matchmaker. This is light, funny, and yes a fan fiction of Austen's Emma but it's a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm sorry that we've run out of sisters and look forward to Brown's next move. If you haven't read Austen, hopefully this will inspire you to do so.

I think it must be a signature of Brown’s – to write characters that are self-absorbed and unusually naïve as to the ways of the real world, for the early pages of this book were eerily similar in feel for me to the one other title I’d read from this author. But, despite the Emma references (my least favorite Austen title) and the cheerleader-esque approach to life, this Emma Lee did have a heart, a sense of her place in the world and a true desire to make people feel better – like a cute little puppy turning circles and posing in ‘cute’ mode. It wasn’t a wearing sort of cute though: Emma Lee truly believes in her ability to make friends and be a flash of sunshine for others, seeing her friends finding happiness does truly make her shine, even as she is afraid of allowing anyone too close to her.

See, with her father’s death after losing her mother as a baby, and the subsequent loss of everything else to unpaid taxes, she’s moved from spoilt princess waiting for the next big thing to a young woman who must find her own way in the world, apart from her go-getting elder sisters and her friends. An unexpected bequest left her a house in the Cotswolds, and after her coup de grace of an engagement and wedding for one of her best friends, she believes that matchmaking is her particular gift – and taking her meager savings, a pair of shiny new red wellies and a suitcase full of hopes, she heads off to England to grab her dream.

In England, she is met by Kingsley, the son of her mother and aunt’s best friend, with his two younger brothers, stately home and abbey ruins, the people of the village: a germaphobe pharmacist and neighbor, the organic farmer with her half-sister, a model she doesn’t get on with, the candy shop owner and manager, a young woman with a Victorian obsession and a mother who is manipulating and dependent on her. Instantly believing she needs to match Kingsley and his brothers with women, and that she could be the spark that sees everyone matched out: she’s ignoring (or trying to ) the connection between she and Kingsley, and missing EVERY literary reference made from near everywhere. C’mon .. popsugar is the last thing she read? Fortunately her mother’s friend is able to share books, family secrets and hope with Emma Lee, and throughout the book Emma never really loses her ability to make people smile, even as she is horrible at matching. Lighthearted and quick to read, this was a wonderful fun and easy read that fit the bill for some quiet hours of entertainment and laughs with a unique and ultimately sweet character.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was nor compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-a6H/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

How's your tolerance for overindulged, entitled sorority girls? Because that's the environment this book starts in. Emma Lee -- who loses her father and has, as she says, the silver spoon ripped from her mouth. She survives by living rent-free in a cottage in the Cotswalds.

Her plan is to open a matchmaking service. Her actions in that direction consist of thinking up matches for people she meets. Are you surprised that this doesn't end up being profitable?

With all that said, this is a fun read, with plenty of quirky characters and charming details, not to mention brand names and names from Jane Austen novels.

This is a straightforward romance with no offensively steamy scenes. Take it on vacation or to the beach and enjoy.

This is a modern mash up of Jane Austen’s EMMA. It feels more like the movie CLUELESS, in that Emma Lee is very naïve, but intelligent and also very kind and generous. Emma Lee is certain that her matchmaking skills are a calling; after all she matched her BFF with her true love. She makes friends easily in her new home in England and immediately starts to plan matches for them. Knightly Nickerson is the son of Emma’s Aunt’s friend who picks her up at the airport and there is an immediate attraction that they both work to deny.

This is a fun easy read from an author who sustains Emma’s personality throughout the pages. This book follows the basic Austen story with all modern twists. I enjoyed this light escapist read. Well done, Leah Marie Brown.

I received a copy of this novel on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first time reading a novel from this author and I found it sweet and entertaining. A little heavy on the pop culture references but charming. The mix of Southern charm and English slang made for some amusing scenes. I found the Jane Austin book references refreshing. Emma is a fiery, southern belle with a knack for putting people at ease. I liked Knightly but I didn't get an indepth look at his character. He seemed too mild and in the background compared to Emma's outrageous, bigger than life personality. If you are looking for a light, clean romance this would be a good choice. I enjoyed it, thank you Netgalley.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

DNF
I was excited to read this book as it sounded sweet, charming and funny. I was especially interested in the Cotswold setting. However, I had a tough time connecting with the main character. She's written well and her characterization is fine, but I found her "Southernisms" to be a bit annoying and her jokes to be really inappropriate - I especially wasn't fond of the Helen Keller line. A book can be funny without having to rely on ableism.