I was a little hesitant to read this book because Emma isn't my favorite Jane Austen novel - I find Emma whiny and annoying for most of the original book. But I really enjoyed this modern take on the story. Instead of being annoyed with Emma I found someone who I empathized with. The writing of this character is excellent, we get to know Emma deeply and the book is excellent for it. I'll be sitting her (im)patiently waiting for next book by these authors...hopefully another modern retelling of an Austen classic!

On my first date with my future husband, he gifted me a copy of one of his favorite books-Emma by Jane Austen. That book has held a special place in my heart since then, so when I saw that Emma of 83rd Street was a modern retelling of the classic story, I was all in. And this book did not disappoint!

Emma Woodhouse is the youngest daughter of a wealthy family. Her older sister marries, and her friends are studying abroad, leaving Emma board in her childhood home with her widower father. George Knightly grew up next door and is one of Emma’s closest friends. Emma meets Nadine in her grad class and the two quickly become friends. Nadine recently moved to New York from Ohio, and Emma is determined to help her new friend settle into her new life and find the perfect man. Emma plays matchmaker, but George always seems to be there, judging and criticizing all her decisions.

This fresh take on the original was so fun to read! I breezed right through it, because I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I felt like the book was very true to Ms. Austen’s style of humor and I absolutely adored the characters. Not only was this book entertaining, I also got a little teary-eyed a few times. The authors did a great job translating the story to modern times and a new setting. (Just a warning, there is a little spice toward the end of the book, but nothing extreme.) All in all, this book was a delight to read! I would love to read more retellings from this duo too. (I’m looking at you, Will Darcy!!!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this story.

Delightful Combination of Emma and Clueless!

Emma and Knightley grew up next door to each other and have seen each other through most major life moments. But now they find themselves realizing that what they had always assumed was best friend banter and support is really a foundation of love.

Along the way Emma figures out what she wants in life and helps Nadine, her new friend from Ohio, do the same.

My favorite part of this Austen’s version of Emma meets Clueless is that we get to be in Knightley’s POV and it’s delicious! Oh, and we get more than just a kiss…and it’s definitely worth the wait!

This book is not my normal preferred genre but the cover caught my attention and I am sooo glad it did! I loved the story, I loved the characters, I loved the build up. Would be so excited for a second book, maybe focusing on Nadine!

I adored this Emma retelling. I swooned, I yelled and I loved it all. Such a fun and sweet book. The push and pull between Emma and Knightley was perfection. Their misunderstandings, although frustrating at times, really lent to the angst of the book. Seriously....so much chemistry!

Emma was insecure about many things and she often felt that Knightley (aka George) focused on those weak points and made her feel bad about them. There was a seven year age gap between them which made Emma often feel young and inexperienced. Then things Knightley might say would feed that feeling and often led to frustration and fights between them. Once they could wade through it all and see it for what it truly was...actual attraction....the story got even better.

The story was full of well-written secondary characters that really helped to enrich the overall storyline. The book was like being wrapped in a warm hug....with some spicy times thrown in. I have no complaints.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Really enjoyed this modern retelling of Emma! It was utterly charming in every way. I will definitely be picking up the author's other books in the future. I would recommend it.

This one was cute but just OK for me. I actually almost DNF at about 50% but am glad I finished. It’s got a little slow burn action happening, but just felt like it was slow getting to the good stuff, which was clearly coming from page like, 5.

Did not finish this book (made it 20 %) . I found the main character, Emma, absolutely intolerable, maybe I’ll come back to it, but probably not,

TLDR - read it even if you don’t love Austen or adaptations, it’s a great standalone romcom.

Emma of 83rd Street is absolutely delightful. It’s the rare Austen adaptation that works as both a retelling and as a stand alone novel. For the Austenites, it stays true to Emma’s themes with characters who have similar interests and flaws but are just as charming as the original crew. The translation from 19th century England to 21st century NYC feels organic enough that it won’t make the non-English Lit majors cringe. As long as you like romcoms, it’s gonna hit.

Two other quick thoughts:
1. That epilogue!! My jaw dropped when the authors finally revealed the last name of Knightley’s friend Will DARCY who pops up throughout the story (and who, per Emma, looks like he’s waiting for a root canal - LOL). Can’t wait to read his story next!
2. I read the printed text version (thank you netgalley!), but the audiobook is read by two of the greats - Teddy Hamilton (The Love Hypothesis, The Friend Zone) and Brittany Pressley (Local Woman Missing, American Royals, The Beach Trap) - so it’s bound to be worth listening to if you prefer audiobooks!

Just watch Clueless again instead.

A lot of books have attempted a modern retelling of Emma, and for the most part it doesn’t seem to work very well. This book is no exception to that, and unfortunately it also has some bad editing and factual errors that make it a even tougher hang than most.

I’m not sure the story works all that well as a modern reimagining (Clueless excepted), and here as in others I’ve encountered, the Emma of the story comes off as shrill and dim, the male lead arrogant and out of touch, and the “project” as unrealistic and infantilized.

Nadine is lazily imagined as a hayseed from Ohio. Except she’s not from, say, a farmstead in Amish country, she’s from Akron. This is an urban area less than an hour from Cleveland where I assure you, everyone has heard of Miu Miu (rolls eyes).

And about the girls’ grad program: NYU’s Art History graduate program does not hold classes at the downtown campus. The entire program is part
of the Institute of Fine Arts, which is located at Duke House on the Upper East Side. I know because I went there. For the graduate program in Art History. How did an editor not catch and correct this? Yikes.

I might even be able to forgive these sorts of sloppy errors if the book were funny (it thinks it is, but it isn’t) or sweet (it’s much too forced and try-hard), or original (strike three, you’re out).

I've never read an Emma retelling that I didn't love and Emma of 83rd Street is no exception to the rule. Add in a few extra chapters of *spice* and it was everything I needed a retelling to be.

This was a beautifully done retelling of a classic. I truly enjoyed the banter between the two main characters. This was my first book by these authors and it will not be my last.

Emma of 83rd Street is a breezy, witty, and surprisingly faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. I say surprising because frankly, this is one of the few modern retellings of a Jane Austen novel I've read where I'm convinced the authors actually read the same book I did. It's difficult to balance fidelity to the original source material with telling a story that feels fresh and contemporary, and is enjoyable in its own right - but co-authors Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding have accomplished that with aplomb.

The relationship between Emma and Knightley manages to strike all the right notes, giving enough of Knightley's tendency to correct, criticize, and condescend to Emma while still making it reasonable and desirable that the two of them end up together. (Part of this is surely due to Knightley getting POV chapters of his own, so his character growth becomes more obvious than if it was solely Emma's story in this version.) The treatment of Nadine, the modern Manhattan answer to the naïve Miss Harriet Smith, is similarly well-balanced. and was a particular highlight for me.

It's ultimately a charming and clever retelling of the classic, but also a fun read on its own even without prior knowledge of the inimitable Emma Woodhouse. Perfect for reading poolside with an iced drink in hand, or perched on the Met steps with a latte.

Thank you to Gallery Books for the advance review copy.

This was a fun, modern retelling of Emma. One of my favorite stories by Austen. I love all the varied adaptations and this story is right up there! I loved seeing what was the same, the characters in a modern setting (but different from Clueless) and how they were reimagined.
🖼️
Emma is a classy girl who has it all. She always accomplishes what she sets out to do but she’s determined to earn her internship at the MET all on herself, without the help of her father or their family name. She makes a new friend and helps her get used to life in NYC and is contentedly happy.
🖼️
This is a dual POV between Emma and Knightley. Knightley of course is handsome and successful. He splits his time between LA and NYC. He has coworkers with other Austen names like Will and Charles. I’m hoping there’s another book by these authors. Other names is Wentworth and Crawford. It could just be for fun or leading to other stories. 😁
🖼️
This book released last week. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the e-arc. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
🖼️
Content: medium language (including several F bombs), a few open door intimate scenes, adults drinking alcohol

This is a very cute coming of age romance. A childhood crush finds the love everyone looks for. It's a very sweet story with the time to read. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I can definitely see my patrons picking up this book and really enjoying it. For a retelling of a classic story, it is a very easy read.

What an adorable book! I read it in one day over Memorial Day weekend. A great start to my summer reading list. Set in New York, this was a retelling of the literary classic, Emma. I will be rereading Emma after this book.

Positives:
Sweet and heartwarming
Friends to lovers storyline that really worked!
Emma, despite being spoiled, is such a likeable character who I was rooting for the whole book.
Dual point of view
Easy and entertaining read
The setting of NYC Upper East Side

Negatives:
The friends to lovers storyline took forever to reach

Loved it!

While there are dozens and dozens of Pride and Prejudice retellings, I can't say the same about Emma. There have been a few movies, but not many books I can think of. It's possible that Emma's particular brand of snobbish bossiness works better on screen?

In any case, putting Emma on the Upper East Side of New York City is a genius move. Her fussy hypochondriac father has turned out to be a bit of a health nut, and her neighbor George Knightley is a few years older than her and just as judgmental and hot as you remembered.

The relationship dynamics of Emma are not my favorite (she's stunningly independent and confident for a nineteenth century heroine, and while I feel like Knightley does make her kinder, he also makes her meeker.)

But Emma of 83rd Street is still a fun rom com and a clever retelling that I enjoyed a lot!

Enthralling. Captivating. Hard to put down. All of these describe the charm that is captured in Emma on 83rd Street. Whether you are a fan of Jane Austen’s Emma or one of the many cinematic captures of Jane’s classic tale (i.e. Clueless. If you didn’t know that was based on Emma - now you do and you are welcome), this modern day twist takes us into the heart of New York where the Woodhouse and Knightly clan take on nuisances of the 21st century.

Determined, driven, beautiful, and creative are a just a few ways to describe the youngest daughter of the Woodhouse family. Adored by the residence of 83rd Street, Emma Woodhouse knows how to throw a party, bring people together, and help two people find love. At the age of 23 with only one year remaining of graduate school, Emma is trying her hardest to make the most of her single life in New York. While she is proud to have helped her sister Margo find her forever relationship, with her gone and her close friends abroad - Emma finds herself lonely, with only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley to keep her company. That is until she meets Nadine, a midwest transplant that seems so out of place, it would be a disservice not to step in and help her!

Feisty, argumentative, and a gigantic pain in the rear is exactly how George Knightly would describe Emma Woodhouse. Absorbed into her gravitational pull at age seven, George has tried his best to steer Emma in the right direction to no avail. He has watched her blossom from a curious girl to a surprisingly independent and strong-willed woman. While his thoughts may latch on to the latter more frequently lately, George has more important things to do - focus on his business, minimize risk in his life, and do everything in his power to be nothing like his father. Easy enough until Emma, who always believes she is right, correctly guesses that his brother and her sister are an item and has now latched onto another unexpected victim, disguising it as friendship.

Contrary to the objections of Knightly that this is only another hair-brained hobby, Emma sets her focus on helping her friend, yet again - find love in the big city - not realizing that love has other plans in mind.

What I like about it: The subtle humor of this book was what kept me engaged. The characters are presented as refined, well educated, and cultured but then they drop lines that are so out of left field, you find yourself laughing out loud! I enjoyed the family atmosphere, not just within the bloodline, but within the community. They came together, they supported each other, no matter what life dealt - neighbors didn't leave one another behind.

What I love about it: I loved the friction of Emma and George. Yes, they fought like brother and sister as their history made them just that but underneath all of the bickering, you felt the connection, the protective nature, the love, and admiration. When you grow up with someone like that, they have front row seats to the person behind the curtain. There is no protective veil, no hidden truths - they know the raw you, the real you - you can’t ask for a better foundation for love and trust than that.

The moment the author finally gets Emma and George together is so jaw dropping hot that you want to take a mental pause and give Knightly a “bro” type fit bump because, up until this point, you just didn’t think he was capable of that type of intensity! I mean there have been brief glimpses at the uncouth side but in that particular scene, you just wanted exclaim “Wow! Didn’t think he had it in him!”

This book is better than a soap opera, no one gets amnesia, no elevator shafts, but you are so pulled into the lives of the characters that reveals have you yelling “I knew it!”

I found the story itself had a rolling hills approach. It would be a slow build until it hit an important point in the story and then it was full speed ahead, focus locked, burning through pages until it approached its next hill, slowing down again and painfully inching the story forward, only to once again hit that peak and come roaring down the other side.

For a debut novel, hats off to Audrey and Emily. This was a beautifully crafted story for anyone who enjoys a good romance with a literary classic twist. I can't wait to see what these two come up with next!

Read if you like:
📚 Jane Austen Retellings
🗽 Books Set in NY
💰 Old Money Stories/Characters
💋 Romance
🤷🏼‍♀️ Friends to Lovers

This book was so fun! And now I feel like I need to go back and reread Emma as it has been far too long!

The dual pov truly made this book so much more fun, more spicy, and more lovable as we not only get Emma’s POV but also Knightly’s to see what a goner for Emma he is long before he will admit it.

I love the childhood friends and mash up of the boy next door tropes with that subtle feeling of enemies to lovers as Knightly and Emma are often disagreeing.

If you loved Emma by Jane Austen I highly recommend checking out this retelling asap! Thank you Gallery Books for my ARC!