I ADORED this re-telling; it was exactly what I'd hoped it would be. Perfection! A delightful read! Highly recommended. If you're a Jane Austen fan, this is for you.

It was going to happen sooner or later. With the boom of romance novels taking off in the last few years, an adaptation of classic stories set in modern times with a touch of spice was bound to happen. Emma of 83rd St by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding is a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma.

This was an easy but satisfying read, having read the classic novel, I was familiar with the plot, characters but it kept me guessing as they modernised the characters but still kept who they are at the core. The character names have been changed besides the main leads. The occupations of the characters match personalities of their classic counterpart and the events are integrated well to 21st century Manhattan.

I liked the POV from Knightley, fleshing out his character and his view of Emma of girl next door to romantic partner. The tension between the Emma and Knightley is well written and built, but I honestly skimmed past the spicy scenes when it arrived (nothing against it, it's not my thing), I liked the banter enough between the two. Oh and Knightley isn't super older than Emma, like in the classic, phew.

So is this any similar to Clueless? No, Emma here is smarter than Cher, she still makes her naive mistakes but she learns from them in a more mature way than movie version.
There are funny and heartfelt moments, I felt I sympathy and related to some of Emma's inner dialogue - "don't be a snob". Emily and Audrey have developed their version of Emma with an appreciation for the source classic but made it their own with success.

Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors of all time so I was excited to start this book even though adaptations can sometimes be hit or miss. This one was an absolute hit for me. I was engaged from the very beginning and couldn't wait to see how the author dealt with all the familiar elements of Austen's famous story. This modern-day Emma Woodhouse has all the sweet, charming, naivete of the original character albeit in the current setting of New York's beau monde. She has known her neighbour, George Knightley, CEO of a hugely successful eco-financing business, since forever. And has always enjoyed a friendly relationship of playful banter with him since she was a child. As their relationship changes throughout the novel, it was interesting to see things unfolding from Knightley's point of view which we don't get to see in the original. This was real-life escapism at its best for me as I enjoyed the witty dialogue, the posh setting, and the familiar cast of characters in their modern-day form. Faithful to the original, yet told with a fresh perspective, this was a delightful adaptation of an old favourite.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this modern adaption of Jane Austen’s classic. My favourite work by Austen, my daughter’s middle name is Emma  that’s how much I adore this tale.

Emma of 83rd Street is both surprising and clever. It’s more than a retelling of the original. So, so much more. Authors Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding have taken Austen’s flawed heroine and given her a relatable voice that resonates with contemporary readers.

Set in New York, Emma Woodhouse is a grad student studying Art History. She is confident, intelligent, passionate, and complex. It is because of these qualities, and her obvious flaws, that make her so relatable. Jane Austen had it wrong when she famously said, “I’m going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” Fortunately, Bellezza and Harding are among generations of Austen fans that love Emma Woodhouse despite her imperfections.

In Emma of 83rd Street, readers are treated with more Emma and Knightley beyond the original storyline. And best of all, we get Knightley’s point of view! Yes, beautiful, glorious chapters filled with George Knightley falling for his precocious, meddling Woodhouse.

It became a 5-star read for me when it made me cry. Twice. It takes a lot for me to cry in a book, but I was enthralled with Bellezza and Harding’s words. I felt right there in the moment with the characters, and for this, Bellezza and Harding deserve every word praise this book will inspire.

Towards the end of the novel there’s a hint of things to come (sorry, no spoilers here), and I’m crossing fingers and toes this isn’t the last adaption readers will see from these two authors. They’ve truly got a magical chemistry and I honestly loved every word. Thank you, Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding for reminding me of why the story of Emma Woodhouse is a timeless classic and my all-time favourite story.

Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ reimagined in the 21st century.

Gentle Reader, it is a very long time since I read ‘Emma’ and I was interested to read how Ms Bellezza and Ms Harding have brought Emma Woodhouse into the 21st century. Emma Woodhouse, aged twenty-three, lives on the Upper East Side of New York. She is beautiful, clever, and rich. Of course, she is! And, with her sister recently married and all her friends travelling, Emma is bored. Emma’s final year of graduate school has started and then she meets Nadine, a friendly young woman from Ohio who (obviously) needs Emma’s help to transition to life in New York. Emma is determined to help Nadine, and not even her irritating neighbour George Knightley will stop her.

Alas, not everything goes Emma’s way. Her sister does some (disastrous) matchmaking, Emma realises she has feelings for Knightley (but thinks Nadine is interested in him) and the family name has her offered a position she wanted to win on her own merits. Life can be challenging!

Poor George Knightley. He realises that he has feelings for Emma: that annoying child next door is now an accomplished and attractive woman. But is he the right man for her?

Yes, Gentle Reader, the ending is heart-warmingly predictable and enjoyable. If you have not read Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ (why ever not?) then enjoy this as a contemporary romantic novel, with touches of humour. Me, I intend to schedule a re-read of Jane Austen’s novels and I may just start with ‘Emma’.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I love Emma (and Emma/Knightley) and I thought this modern adaptation did one of my all time favourite literary characters the justice she deserves. In some ways this felt like an adaptation of 'Clueless' more than an adaptation of Emma, but Clueless is my favourite version of Emma so I didn't see this as a negative.

Emma of 83rd street reimagines Emma Woodhouse as a modern, wealthy New Yorker and the setting suits her. I especially loved the ways her father had been adapted to suit this world, and the changes in some storylines (most noticeably the Harriet storyline) kept the novel feeling fresh and unpredictable despite knowing the source material. I love any chance to read more of Emma and Knightley, in any setting, so I enjoyed this and the way they hold each other accountable. Overall, this was an enjoyable adaptation of Emma, with a little bit of spice, and and an always loveable, even when wrong, protagonist. My personal favourite scene, however, was between Emma and the Miss Bates character, which was genuinely emotional and touching and is what stood out to me in this version.

(3.5 stars rounded up) Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

Emma Woodhouse is a nice person in general, sure she might be a little rich and snobby. But her heart is in a nice spot. She and George are childhood friends, though I am not sure why she calls him Knightley and his brother by the first name? The residents of 83rd street are tight-knit and are always together, so you get to see the familiar faces often.

Not sure how I feel about some other characters in the book, but they serve a purpose.

Overall, it is a romantic story with bits of comedy. Sure, we all can see it, and the fact that Emma and George can't is why I stayed =)
It is an entertaining and light read, no frills no complicated storylines. Lovely chick lit.

Yes to everything about this book! It had great characters who felt real and multidimensional. Their relationships didn’t feel forced or too neat but beautifully messy and the highs and lows all felt.

Emma was intelligent, passionate, and often not taken seriously by those around her due to her privilege and position in the family. I loved getting to see all the sides of her the book showed and having so much depth really made the book one I couldn’t put down.

Outstanding Austen modernization set in NYC. While I loved Emma and Knightly, I was especially enamoured with the world the authors created on the Upper East Side. Two large, fancy houses but with enchanting back gardens that connect our two main characters from childhood by a well-worn path. The entire book was delightful. I hope to see more from this duo of writers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this modern take on a well loved classic! Emma is my second favourite Austen novel, and this reimagining is such a breath of fresh air. Emma is a witty, fun, determined protagonist who hasn’t made the best decisions with men in the past, is determined to make her own way in life, and feels the need to matchmake everybody she meets. Knightly is portrayed just right- handsome, independent and, more often than not, alone. I’m actually glad the age gap was reduced as well. The chemistry was sizzling and the banter was spectacular. It was clear which characters were based on their original counterparts which is a great thing! It was a fun, fast paced Austen reimagining. Delightful.

There’s something extremely comforting in reading a story you know; if there wasn’t, readers wouldn’t have favourites that they read over and over again, despite knowing all the minutiae by heart. There’s something magical about reading a story you know that isn’t ACTUALLY the story you know, as with Emma of 83rd Street.

The basics of Emma are there, with some twist and updates to keep the characters current, and also some of my least favourite ones don’t feature (I’m talking about you, Mrs Elton). The important part, with updates and retelling, is that you keep the core values of the book and - thankfully - that’s what has happened here.

If you’ve read Austen’s Emma, you know how annoying she is at the beginning and how she develops and matures throughout (sometimes against her will); the same can be said for this Emma. Another key dynamic that has remained is the relationship between Emma and Knightley. I LOVED what they did with this, having some chapters from Knightley’s perspective - which just wasn’t the done thing when Austen was writing. I also really enjoyed how their relationship developed and changed as the story progressed.

In short, this was a very clever, modern version of Emma that managed to avoid falling into a Clueless remake trap. And no pressure to the authors but I can see where you’re heading and I’m ready for book two whenever you are…

Thank you to the authors, the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I really struggled to get into this one and almost gave up. I found Emma quite insufferable, mainly the need to say exactly what designer every item of her wardrobe was, but I did like Knightley. I so badly wanted to love this as Emma by Jane Austen is an all time favourite, but this really did not compare. While the book picked up and I’m glad I read this, it just didn’t quite live up to my Jane Austen love.

“To Miss Jane Austen. We bow to you”

Emma of 83rd Street
- Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding

For my bookish family & friends it is not a secret that I have a huge appreciation for Miss Jane Austen. I’ve always been traditional in my beliefs that the original is the best & we should leave it at that…

However…
Audrey & Emily have beautifully written a modern adaptation of the novel Emma and the familiarity of the “newish” characters has that feeling of knowing them for the longest time.

Emma is a sweetheart of a character & Knightley is still as handsome as ever!
These long time “forever” best friends have always had their hearts in the right places as mistakes & judgements have been made whilst navigating the “adulthood” of their friendship. As realisation sets in that maybe the love for one another is a lot deeper than originally first conceived.

This novel brings a contemporary approach on an already incredible plot. Filled with a little more drama, passion, tension & a lot more chemistry set in New York.

I absolutely loved this book & devoured it! I truely hope this is the start of retelling a modern version of the Jane Austen classics.

BLURB: Charming and clever Emma Woodhouse is used to getting her way. She’s content living in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighbourhood, maintaining perfect grades at university and keeping an eye on her lonely father. And when her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage, she knows she’s on to something. If only George Knightley, her annoying neighbour and childhood friend, would get out of her way.

George is only too happy to point out Emma's flaws. Is she spoilt? Maybe a little. Does she insert herself into other people’s business? Only sometimes. Emma has the best of intentions, though – she just wants everyone around her to be happy, even as she focuses on completing her graduate degree and finding her own place in the world. But will anyone ever take her seriously?

As Emma’s schemes collide with nearly everyone around them, Emma and George come toe to toe. But they slowly begin to realise that there might be more to the person they’ve known their entire life ... and that, sometimes, the best matches come from the most unexpected places.

REVIEW: This was a fun retelling of “Emma” by Jane Austin. All the characters you know and love are here, in modern Manhattan, dealing with modern issues and relationships.

The plot is nothing new, and neither are the characters, but it was still a nice read.

Easily finished in an hour, but that may be because I have already read “Emma”.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this in return for my honest review.

Likeable characters and thoroughly unlikable ones (I hope that was the intention.) A fun modern retelling of Emma. I did struggle a little to keep going as I do like a faster pace but the pay off was worth it.

Love love loved this book! Thanks to NetGalley for the copy.
This was a gorgeous story, with a balanced mix of slow-burn and grumpy to sunshine romance, and a lovely story line thrown in!
Main character Emma Woodhouse is a modern-day ‘Clueless’ Cleo Horowitz. With plans of completing her degree and getting her dream job on her one merits, Emma, meets many other characters on her journey. Taking pity on the new student, she becomes fast friends with Nadine, under the guise of introducing her to being a singleton in New York. Familial relationships between her sister and widowed father are deep enough to understand the dynamics, as well as the neighbours they grew up with.
A thoroughly enjoyable endearing story of growing up, realisations, and finding HEAs.

Emma is a modern take on the original Emma and is set in modern day New York.
It is well written and cute with all of the required angst and confusion between the main characters.
I would have preferred a bit more depth but perhaps that is my mature years speaking.
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.
3.5 stars for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book prior to release.

This retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma is clearly a passion project for the authors and their love of the characters and story shines through in the writing.

For those who enjoy romance books this will certainly keep you engaged, however, there were some parts that perhaps dragged a little long and other areas where perhaps the story could have been richer with more emphasis and time spent on these. For example, when Emma realises her application to work at the Met was accepted only because of her family patronage, there was a real opportunity there to explore Emma’s character and drive in greater depth, but it seemed to be swept under the rug with barely a shrug.

This was what I like to call a ‘fluffy’ book - one of those marshmallow books that are fun and light and not so serious that are an absolute must to read occasionally. I love to read books like this and any Jane Austen inspired book is always a winner with me.

The last few chapters once Emma and Knightley finally get together have more than a fair share of cliches, but still create a satisfying ending after the build up throughout the book.

Overall, a very solid book and I would recommend to any Jane Austen fans as well as fans of a well written friends to lovers romance.

3.5 stars.

Absolutely loved this one!!! 4.5 ****/ 5

In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.

I'm a sucker for a feel good love story and friends-to-lovers trope! So couldn't wait to get into this one :) I read it while sick in bed and it was just the pick me up I needed.

Jane Austen has long been one of my all time favourite authors and I just adored how perfectly and respectfully this story nods to the original classic(s).

Emma herself is adorable and a woman after my own heart, I love her confident and independent aura! She knows what she wants and she is not afraid to go after it. In this day and age : we stan that energy!!! and Knightly, well . . . he's perfection! I love their banter and friendship so so much!

Easy reading, engaging, entertaining. I just want more of them as a couple. So sequel please?!

Thank you to Netgalley , Simon & Schuster (Austrlia) and the authors for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun, enjoyable read with plenty of humour! Certainly, a modern witty take on Jane Austen’s much loved 'Emma' but set in New York City. Here lots can happen and finding oneself in such a varied culture can prove to be quite an exciting adventure. Although Belezza and Harding’s novel is a fine story in its own right, it admirably follows the same plot as Austen’s. Plus, many of the characters are spot on, particularly Emma, who is presented as a spoiled, controlling yet smart and good hearted person, the apple of her father’s eye and close friend and eventual love interest of Mr Knightley. So yes, the family and friends that orbit the life of Emma are excellent equals to Ms Austen’s cast.

In Emma of 83rd Street, Emma’s poor attempts at being a matchmaker are evident. Even her misjudgement of character, sometimes gets her into strife. This leaves her dithering over all kinds of scenarios or possibilities of what might happen. While she is playing out all these attempts at matchmaking and failing miserably, she finds herself the focus of certain men’s affections, and is surprised by the attention she is given over her friend, Nadine, who is gorgeous and for whom she is constantly trying to find a boyfriend. Mr Woodhouse never says anything bad about his daughter while all this is going on. If he did, who knows the effect it would have as maintaining his approval means much to her.

The Sunday night tradition of dinner with close friends and family offers many great scenes in the novel (as does her night raids and peering into the back yard of Mr Knightley). The shared meal times pose a great opportunity for comments to be raised and plans to be made. Emma’s constant involvement in the life of others, is often chided by Mr Knightley. He constantly reminds her of her imperfections and this frustrates her endlessly. This and her own denial (and his) of any romantic connection between them creates hot banter at dinners, parties and everywhere in between.

And speaking of parties, we get to see a few eventful ones. Emma is excellent at planning them. But as the story progresses and she is more aware of her own flaws, the parties, including her birthday ones, become less important. For at these social gatherings, her loneliness gets exposed along with other truths. Including one where she finds herself in a romantic situation that catches her off guard. And then there is another incident—the horrid experience in the cab. Which I thought she handled marvellously, proving she is no weakling.

In the beginning, Emma wants to be in charge of everyone’s lives. (Later she learns that she cannot always control the narrative.) But is this what is happening with her friend, Nadine? Emily takes her in and literally does a proper makeover giving her a new hair colour, hairdo, job, wardrobe and new set of friends. Mr Knightley initially sees this as just another project of manipulation but then later questions his judgement. Is there a possibility Emma really is sincere about helping her friend?

I loved the art focus, art galleries (a place that both Emma and Knightley love to go) and the paintings. Emma is a graduate student of art history and wants to work in that field. Maybe she has a knack for it or because it reminds her of her late mother who shared the same interest. The loss of her mother at such a young age certainly would have affected her. But how she remembers her mother’s placement of art pieces is truly heart-warming. And I loved how it inspired her. Emma’s moments in this setting are my favourite and it is here where her desire for independence shines through. She wants to be seen for who she is, not just her father’s daughter. Yes, signs of maturity for sure. And when she is offered an interview for an art position, she wants to obtain the job on her own merits: without her father’s influence. This self-growth causes her to make a choice causing one door to close while opening another. I found myself cheering to see her achieve the recognition she desires and deserves. I also loved the reference to Gustac Klimt’s painting Mada Primavesi. How Knightly compares the girl in the scene to Emma and how later she understands why. One undercurrent theme in this novel is that we should never shy away but celebrate who we are. To be confident and bold is something beautiful.

It was a fresh move by the authors to present the novel from Emma’s and Knightley’s point of view. This offers more insight into the tug of war on emotions of these two. Their thoughts are visible to us—especially during their close encounters which are heated ones. Eventually that emotion moves from anger to passion and they see what everyone else realises about them. An imperfect couple that belongs together. I was reminded of the line by the screen writer of Emma the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow when she says, ‘Perhaps it is our imperfections that make us perfect for one another.’ This is a theme that runs through this novel, especially when Knightley’s comments that he realises everything doesn’t have to be perfect, and that in fact it makes things better if it isn’t. This also carries over in the assessment of art in the novel. The artwork is not perfect either. But the flaws don’t take away from the art’s value. It makes it more authentic, more human. And no human is perfect. “The mistakes and idiosyncrasies are what make them unique. It's what makes them worth something." Great wisdom! Happiness should not be measured by perfection for it is the very deficiencies we have that truly make life wonderful! It certainly keeps things interesting, creative and changing. And change is part of progress.

It is a novel that many will like—especially those who appreciate the inspiration behind it. I really enjoyed it. It offers a lot of food for thought, plenty of entertainment and a chance to see how Jane Austen's Emma might act and respond in the modern day world. A strong 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for my review copy.