Okay, I’ll start this review off with saying that I have neither read nor watched any version of Pride and Prejudice. Is this blasphemous? Perhaps in the reading world? I plan to add it to my watch/read list!

So all this to say that I was going into this book a bit blind (which was exactly what I wanted, I’m using this book for a book challenge prompt of “A book you know nothing about”). I was a bit worried that the book would contain a ton of references that I didn’t understand, but that wasn’t the case at all. I felt that for someone that was a fan of Pride and Prejudice/ Jane Austen, it would have been a great connection, but I didn’t feel left out.

Into the book. I’m Not Charlotte Lucas is a contemporary romance that focuses on Charlie (Charlotte), a mid twenty something that is trying to figure out her life (aren’t we all?). The love interest is Liam, a guy who looks like he has it all together. The story starts off where Charlie is asked by Liam’s grandmother (who is also Charlie’s neighbour) to accompany Liam to a charity ball where she can play a buffer between Liam and his movie star ex girlfriend. Hijinks and other romantic comedy tropes ensue.

I really liked this book. One of Charlie’s overarching items that she needs to address is her deep fear of inadequacy and not being able to measure up. I connected very deeply with this and thought it was discussed with a realistic portrayal. It wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me though as there were some scenarios that either felt too long or drawn out, or I just didn’t quite understand Charlie’s thinking on why she was doing certain things. I actually took notes for this review and when I’d read something that I’d note down as being a bit drawn out or weird, it was literally addressed in the next section. So even though there were some ‘huh’ situations or moments, they were resolved quite quickly.

Another thing to note on this book is that is doesn’t have very much spice. This wasn’t a huge issue. There were a few moments that I felt personally could have gone a bit further, but this book definitely keeps it in the PG-13 sphere.

All in all, I would totally recommend this book and was happy to be able to discover it through Net Galley! :) I believe this is one of the first contemporary romance books by this author and hopefully it gives her the motivation to do more!

As you can see, this book was a 3.5 star read for me. Don't get me wrong, I know that it's not a high rating, but I just think that it wasn't my type of romance. Although I can still recommend this to many people, because it's a lighthearted romance that you can't stop reading. As a matter of fact, I think that the pace was fast even if nothing major happened, but I was still very curious to read more about Charlie's story.😊
What I like about this book is its simplicity: Charlie is 27 years old woman who struggles with problems that a lot of people can relate to. Liam, even if he's perfect (sometimes a little bit too much), it's not a character who is unlikely to exist in real life.
Their love story was cute and simple. I liked that they started out as friends, and then the feelings entered into their dynamics. 🥰
I even liked Charlie's insecurities because they were believable in her situation and because of her past. However, I think that the story lacked something, maybe more romance or less "I'm not enough for him".
I can say that after reading this one, I'm open to read more books by this author because I really appreciated the writing style.😍

“I want a guy who’s going to be all in, and sometimes it feels like that guy doesn’t exist.”
“That guy exists,” Liam said. “And he’s standing right here.”

Charlotte “Charlie” Lucas is a Jane Austen fan doing her absolute best not to end up like her namesake from Pride and Prejudice. Liam Connell is Charlie’s next door neighbor’s grandson. Charlie soon finds herself going on a blind date with him to a charity ball. Not expecting to enjoy herself as much as she did or have such an attractive date, Charlie accepts the fact that she won’t be seeing Liam again. Liam has other plans and keeps popping up in Charlie’s life. Will Charlie be able to overcome her insecurities and let Liam into her life or will she give up Liam and her happiness with him?

“I’m Not Charlotte Lucas” had been calling my name ever since I saw the cover and read the synopsis! I was so excited to start this one and it did not disappoint! I was glued to this book from start to finish. When I had to put it down, I thought about it. I stayed up late to finish it and loved the ending. I laughed out loud, sighed, cringed awkwardly, giggled and danced around my kitchen all while reading this book. I felt all the feels and loved every second of it.

Some of my favorite things.
- The Jane Austen references. This book has me wanting to watch both versions of Pride and Prejudice. I’ve never seen the Colin Firth one and I think I need to fix that real soon.
- A relatable female lead, Charlie is fun, smart and service oriented but she also has her insecurities, which we all have. Seeing her go at them head on and gain confidence was awesome!
- Liam Connell was more than just a handsome mmc. He’s fun, laidback and just a good guy. He also has some great lines that left me sighing.
- The side characters are great. Anyone else love a spunky grandma on a mission?
- Food! I could really go for a good taco and some ice cream after reading this book.

This was the first Kasey Stockton book I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more from her. This is a great book for readers who love Jane Austen, food, swoony lines and great leading characters.

Thank you to Kasey Stockton, Covenant Communications and NetGalley for the ARC of this fun book.

First, I'd just like to say that I am THRILLED Covenant is publishing a contemporary romance. And I am even more thrilled that it's this one!

Have you read anything by Kasey? She's a swoony writer. So, take a secondary character from one of thr most popular historical romances books, twist it into a contemporary bank teller and add a dreamy blind date? I mean, who even thinks of this! Thank you Kasey Stockton!

If you like P&P, ice cream, blind dates, realistic flaws, family dynamics and a determined man, check this one out! February 7.

Thank you @authorkaseystockton , @covenantcommunications and @netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️. A cute love story with plenty of swoon worthy moments and a chuckle or two. I especially loved all Pride and Prejudice references- it simply made my heart sing!!

What I didn’t love:
I’m not a huge fan of the “plain Jane girl next door falls in love with the super handsome wealthy trust fund man”. Not my favorite trope.
I also strongly dislike when there’s a crisis of insecurity leading to a breakup that you know won’t last, but is added for extra emotional shock value.

Overall it was a cute book, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.

"Northern California girl Charlotte "Charlie" Lucas has two great loves: Diet Coke and Pride and Prejudice. But her passion for Regency classics is tempered by a very real fear: Charlie is terrified of having to endure the fate of her namesake - spinsterhood. Despite her best attempts to maintain a modern sensibility, she can't say no when an elderly neighbor asks Charlie to attend a charity ball with her grandson. Blind date or not, Charlie is powerless to resist the allure of a real-life ball. Soon it's clear that she will struggle to resist the charms of her blind date too.

Liam Connell is every bit the swoon-worthy leading man, straight out of Charlie's daydreams. But he's completely unattainable - his last girlfriend was a gorgeous actress and a far cry from Charlie's world. So after a magical evening with Liam, Charlie is ready to get back to reality, even if her best option right now is a former boyfriend who wants to give it another shot. Unfortunately, despite imagining she’'l never see Liam again, he seems to be everywhere. How is a lady to move past a fantasy when life suddenly seems to be imitating fiction to an alarming degree?"

I'm sorry, but everyone should EMBRACE the Charlotte Lucas within, and be pragmatic but also hope for love.

Charlotte Lucas, Charlie, is resigning herself to a fate much like our girl Charlotte from P&P, settling for a Mr.Collins or spinsterhood. Cue the hottie Liam's entry into the story, a decided leading man, a Mr. Darcy. I quite liked this book. I liked that although Charlie had sort of given up, she hadn't lost her hope. She had some deep insecurities, particularly that she herself wasn't leading lady material, and insecurities regarding her art. When she is speaking about the rejection faced as an artist, I felt the author's own emotions about her writing echoing through as well. And what can I say about Liam? Who wouldn't want to date him? Just a feel good, dreamy romance. I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

I completely - 100% enjoyed this newest book from Kasey Stockton!
The main character, Charlotte, struggles with being insecure. From past experiences, and a jerk boyfriend, she does not see her own worth - as a person, a woman, and an artist.
In comes Liam, who sweeps her off her feet, and helps her to break through the walls she has put up to protect herself.
I loved all the references to Pride and Prejudice!
I loved Liam's character - super handsome (of course) but so kind and down to earth!
The romance was clean but really sparky! Excellent kissing! Loved it!!
(So much to love here...!)
I was given a copy of this book, but I was not required to give a review.
My opinions are my own and not influenced by anything but my total enjoyment of this book!
I love this author's style of writing. I have read most of what she has written and I can very confidently recommend each one - including this one!

Our main character, Charlie, is stuck. She's living with her parents at 26, working a boring daily job at a bank, and does various good deeds for neighbors and family. Her worst fear? Becoming Charlotte Lucas. It definitely doesn't help that her smart, successful best friend's name is Beth! When her elderly neighbor Vera basically forces Charlie to go on a blind date with her rich, charming, and handsome grandson, Charlie is pleasantly surprised. But her walls are up too high. Will she be able to face old doubts and demons to conquer her future? *cue the dramatic period drama music*

<i>I'm Not Charlotte Lucas</i> is a Pride and Prejudice-inspired short contemporary romance novel. Personally, I'm not a fan of the genre and the main reason I picked this up is *Jane Austen*. It was fun, and I finished it in 24 hours (it <i>is</i> fairly short). But there's no real depth to it. Yes, Charlie does grow a bit as a character, but I had a hard time understanding her quick flip. SPOILER!
She was furious at Liam when he betrayed her, and then almost immediately decided to QUIT her full-time job and become a painter when she hadn't painted in how long? Years. (I don't remember the exact number - four years? Kinda unrealistic but okay, I'll just blame it on the eccentric artist disposition.

Just kidding.
END SPOILER

Anyways, in general, I'd maybe recommend this to fans of the contemporary romance genre (this is technically adult but pretty clean). It has what modern folks call *Pride and Prejudice vibes*, too, so if you like that sort of thing, this is for you.

<i>Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC to review.</i>

Our main character is Charlotte Lucas. And she is very determined that her story not end up like THE Charlotte Lucas of P&P fame. Her best friend is even Beth! Charlie's sister is Mariah! This might be a spoiler? (Although we all expect our happily ever after, so hopefully not too much of a spoiler...) But - no lying here - I was in the EPILOGUE before I realized that Liam Connell = William Collins. Try saying Connell and Collins out loud and just hear how similar they are. Lol.

Charlie, as our leading lady is known, is struggling. I admire her decision to turn to P&P every time something goes wrong. Which of course, happens more often than she feels it should. At 97% of the book Charlie declares "I am an idiot" and I felt fully justified in my feelings toward some of her choices. But Charlie learns a lot over the course of the book and comes to many self realizations.

Liam, of course, is swoon worthy hero. He does not waiver in his determination. He is patient and kind. (Well worth the read for Liam alone of course. The book even mentions Liam Hemsworth so we know just who to picture while reading.)

I really loved this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

In a world where everyone wants to be Elizabeth Bennett, who doesn't understand Charlotte Lucas? This book was a revelation especially where it relates to how we see ourselves. Do we let the opinions of others dampen us into a shadow of who we want to be or even who we are?

Charlie Lucas is a character that I found myself relating to. I cringed at her insecurities and neurotic tendencies, but it was only because she represents truth. The truth of how often women see themselves. We view others as worthy and worthwhile and diminish ourselves. We see ourselves as not enough and not worthy of the love that others choose to bestow upon us. It is a frightening place to be, and in that place, we can understand Charlotte Lucas who settled for Mr Collins rather than face the frightening prospect of being a lone and without an opportunity to be more. Do we judge Charlotte harshly when often we settle ourselves?

Liam Connell is probably the perfect male specimen in literature. Stand aside, Mr. Darcy. He saw our Charlotte before she did. Their path is not an easy one, and he may be a bit too perfect on surface, but his flaws are known and the two of them growing together make for a story that is unputdownable. I blamed author, Kasey Stockton when I started the story in the evening and was forced to put it down, later than I should have in order to get to sleep.

This is the story I would love to tell to convince so many women that they are of worth, that they have worth, and that they are enough. This is a fabulous read, though there were moments when I could see my insecurities mirrored back to me in Charlie's point of view. Don't let it stop you from reading or from believing in yourself.

I received an early copy from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

eh. this is totally on me, because i’ve never been a massive romance reader, but i didn’t love the way this one went. i thought i’d relate to charlie more, and i thought the love interest would have . . . more substance. i don’t know, it just wasn’t for me.

We all know what happens to Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend, Charlotte Lucas. Left with no prospects, she settles for Mr. Collins.

Charlie, also named Charlotte Lucas, is determined not to end up like her namesake. Unfortunately, it’s not looking so good. She’s a twenty seven year old bank manager living in her parents’ upstairs apartment with, you guessed it, no prospects.

“I was Charlotte Lucas is the flesh, and my wretched namesake was cursing me with her unfortunate life.”

When her adorable and much older neighbor, Vera, asked Charlie to be her grandson’s blind date to a charity ball, Charlie hesitantly agrees. But after meeting her date, there’s one thing Charlie knows for certain… Liam Connell is out of her league!

I simply adored this book. Charlie was so relatable as a FMC. She has real insecurities that make her so lovable. She’s just a regular gal who worries if she’s good enough. I really loved seeing her overcome her insecurities with the help of Liam. I loved that Liam was always what Charlie needed. When she needed a friend, that’s what he was. When she needed something more, he was there for her. He wasn’t pushy or impatient. They were such a great couple!

“I was done with modern men-at least for tonight-and I was prepared to lose myself in the extra-long rendition of Pride and Prejudice.”

If you are a Pride & Prejudice fan, this is a must read! So many wonderful references to the book, mini series and movie.

“This BBC version of Pride and Prejudice was for the real fans. The ones who appreciated the accuracy and devotion to the details. Details that really could only be included in a six hour version.”

I have to agree with Charlie! As much as I love the 2005 movie, I will always be Team Colin!

4.5⭐️

I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Kasey Stockton, and this book was no exception!! She has definitely become a go-to author for me! 😍

Charlie and Liam are just adorable! The cuteness, the awkwardness, the Pride & Prejudice references—my heart!

There were two tropes in this book that I usually dislike (love triangles & dramatic third-act breakup/miscommunications) but found I didn’t hate here. Why? Because I did understand Charlie’s perspective, appreciated and felt seen by her vulnerability, and all around, just loved her.

I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my shelves!! 🥰


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I'm Not Charlotte Lucas is a delightful book! Here are some of my favorite things about it:

- A sweet, matchmaking grandma
- all the perfect mentions of Pride & Prejudice
- The texts between Liam and Charlie were my favorite. SO cute!
- Charlie's awkwardness was something I can TOTALLY relate to.

This book had me laughing, cringing, and swooning. Liam is such a great guy, but I will say that at times he seemed a little TOO perfect. MY one main concern in the book is that Charlie has some pretty serious hangups with her self-confidence, and they aren't fully addressed in the book. They weren't the type of issues that can be resolved quickly, and I would have liked to see a little bit more of that journey for her.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Jane Austen and a sweet love story!

Thank you to Covenant Communications, NetGalley, and Kasey Stockton for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

This was a charming read, but it fell flat for me in a lot of ways. It kind of felt like it was staying at the same level the whole way through...I wanted more from it. More depth from the story, more depth from Charlie and Liam. It also got slightly repetetive reading Charlie's inner monologue. It just felt like the characters were incredibly one dimensional, and not anything more than their insecurities, in Charlie's case, and their perfections, in Liam's case. It also felt like the plot was slightly tiring...and redundent? I'm finding trouble finding the right word, but I think it could have used something more to bring up the excitement or something that pushed Charlie forward. I, sadly, just kept wanting more from it.

As always, thank you Netgalley and Covenent Communications for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

“Angling the remote at the TV, I clicked rewind and started the movie again at the beginning of the scene. Pride and Prejudice was comfort food for my soul the way a half-gallon of ice cream or a box of Twinkies comforted other people.”

Never have truer words been written!😆The moment I read this line I knew I was going to love Charlie and this book!

‘I’m not Charlotte Lucas’ by Kasey Stockton is a beautiful contemporary romance with Pride and Prejudice references all through out! I absolutely LOVED it and I couldn’t put this book down! This boook pulled me in and time flew by as I read Charlie’s story!

Charlotte(Charlie)Lucas is obsessed with Pride and Prejudice. She just so happens to have the same name as a certain character from her favorite book, and she doesn’t want to end up like her namesake. She’s almost 27, with no prospects, living with her parents after all. A blind date set up by her neighbor may just change her practical and predictable life once and for all!

This book is so cute! I really related to Charlie in so many ways and the message of the story touched my heart and made me cry. It is truly beautiful!!! The references and parallels to Pride and Prejudice were so well done, clever, and brought me so much joy!

Charlie and Liam are such lovable characters! Liam is so beyond dreamy and Charlie is so cute and kind. Their story was intriguing, swoony, romantic, adorable, fun, funny, and so sweet! I loved the attraction and friendship that grows between them!

I also loved the:
🎩memorable moments including a trellis, chocolate malts, a ball, and carnitas!
🎩I loved Charlie’s family, her neighbor Vera, and friend Beth
🎩Charlie’s character arc was so soo lovely and touching
🎩I’m a CA girl and I really loved the California setting
🎩The tie into Pride and Prejudice is brilliant

This is a beautiful story that’ll make you swoon and touch your heart! I absolutely adored this incredible book and I highly recommend it to everyone!

Thank you Netgalley and Coveanant Communications for the arc copy. All opinions are my own.

Overall, I enjoyed this book which is a twist on a not exactly retelling of “Pride&Prejudice.” Charlotte Lucas, aka Charlie, is determined not to follow in the footsteps of her namesake, but things aren’t looking great. Then she meets Liam. There was somewhat of a “close proximity” trope, but I also was frustrated with the “he’s too hot for me” trope. No spoilers. There were a lot of P&P references, but I believe the reader did not necessarily have to have read P&P to understand. Kasey Stockton seems to be delving more into contemporary romance and the book was good! Part of me does wish that this book included the MMC’s POV.

I'm Not Charlotte Lucas
by Kasey Stockton
Rating: 4.5/5

As a fan of Jane Austen, I was excited to obtain an ARC of this book and it did not disappoint. I literally read it in less than 24 hours and was entertained at every moment. The characters were authentic and fun. I feel like this story could have been a Hallmark movie. It gives all the warm fuzzies while making you laugh and smile. The heroine is someone who you want to root for and the hero is swoon-worthy. I definitely will be reading more from this author!

Highly recommend if you enjoy clean rom-coms that will make you keep reading to the end!

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Ooooh. I loved this book. I may not be as big a Pride & Prejudice fan as Charlie, but the amount of references to the book/film/series felt immensely satisfying. It felt like a modern real-world fairytale. Kasey Stockton certainly has a gift for making characters come to life. When Charlie felt uncomfortable, I felt uncomfortable. And Liam? Whew! The electricity was palpable!

The story moved along at a pretty quick pace without making me feel like I was missing any extraneous details about Charlie’s everyday life or family. Keeping the cast of characters small definitely helped in that arena. But I was sucked into the story almost immediately and didn’t want to come up for air. It was that good.

I didn’t love the way the story wrapped up, unfortunately. It felt too quick and left too much unsaid. A little anticlimactic, in my opinion. It was a little like what happens when a tv show gets cancelled and they have to tie up all the loose ends in one or two episodes. And I wish I just hadn’t read the epilogue. This might have been a five-star review had it not been for the epilogue.

Charlie was an adorable protagonist. I thought the constant inner dialogue was funny and relatable, and read a little like Jane Austen’s Emma. Her insecurity was a little annoying at times, and for being an insecure person, she sure made a lot of snap judgments. But then again, I remember being 26, and I can’t imagine that I was much different.

But where to start with Liam…? A successful and sensitive man who knows what he wants, but asks instead of takes? Yes, thank you. More, please. Who isn’t in love with Liam Connell? I would like to see a second novel from Liam’s POV that follows the last chapter of the book. I want to get to know him more and experience his character growth. But, boy, the magnetism of this man. I loved every second.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to have a copy of it on my shelves! Thanks to NetGalley, Covenant Communications, and Kasey Stockton for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!