The Stage Kiss - Amelia Jones

5✨

I put off reading this for so long and I really wish I hadn’t! Wow, what a perfect romance book. It had everything you could want, it had a sizzling romance packed with tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. It had angst and drama, it had theatre and it had Pride and Prejudice, what more could you want.

I loved this. I love the theatre, it is one of my favourite things to do outside of reading so having the two together was brilliant. And I love P&P - Liz and Darcy: the musical should be a real production.

I loved all the characters, I loved Brennan. Don’t get me wrong, the man had his flaws but in the end he was so nervous and flustered around Eden is was just too adorable. He was the perfect Mr. Darcy. I did love Eden, however, toward the end of the book I found she became very self sabotaging and made issues out of nothing and made things hard for everyone when she could’ve just talked it out and things would’ve been fine. Other than that, I enjoyed her character and her relationship with Brennan.

This book was so addictive, I couldn’t put it down. I pretty much read this in one sitting because it just never had a dull moment. It was really well paced which made putting it down a very hard task 😂 I also loved all the little Taylor Swift mentions - who doesn’t love taytay, be honest.

Overall, this is the perfect book for someone who loves a fast paced romance with all the angsty, spicy, dramatic moments.

This was a romcom for Broadway lovers. This story made my Broadway loving heart happy. Actors in a fictional pride and prejudice musical (that should be real imo) start falling in love when the understudy takes over unexpectedly. This was an enjoyable read and made me think of everything I love about theatre. The pacing was kind of slow at points and the story was a bit predictable. But, I still enjoyed this story and the characters.

My expectations for this book were low but I am happy to be wrong - this was a delight to read! I loved that it was a Pride & Prejudice retelling with a Pride & Prejudice musical as the setting for the story. It’s very easy to see how this story matches pace with Jane Austen’s classic, and I spent a lot of time laughing & agreeing with the characterisations.

I thought Eden & Brennon were wonderful & I loved their chemistry. I also loved the egos & the drama involved with a travelling theatre production. If you love Pride & Prejudice, I think you’ll enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this earc

This book is exactly what it sounds like. Broadway meets Pride & Prejudice.

I was enjoying it all the way to 80% into the book. It was cute and fun and very much a rom com with all the drama I would recommend.

But around 80% the story lost me. Let’s back up. Brennon and Eden had it all. Bad first impression, crazy stage chemistry and best friends with their own drama. But close to the end of the story Eden just became a little too much of a drama Queen. I know. Ironic. She was going on and on about Brennon but the moment he was ready to commit she freaked. Like girl, he just want to date you.

The last 20% just didn’t give me the same feeling as the rest of the book. Which made me very sad

Overall If you life drama and Broadway this one is for you.

"The Stage Kiss" had an enticing description that initially piqued my interest, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. I was disappointed by the lack of humor and the overall unlikeable nature of the characters. Their behaviors and personalities felt grating, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in the story. While the book may have its merits, it simply didn't resonate with me, and it turned out to be a less enjoyable read than I had hoped for.

I DNF this book. I just wasn't invested in this book. I gave it a good shoot, but no, not for me...
Thanks to Netgally

Broadway shows? Pride and Prejudice? Enemies to lovers? This book has it all! I thoroughly enjoyed the slow burn romance, and I found myself laughing at so many fun little moments. If you're on the fence about this one, definitely give it a try!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Oh holy crap, I loved everything about this book! It’s like the author dug around in my brain for inspiration. I was the theater kid, the die hard Pride & Prejudice fan, and worked in NYC in the entertainment industry for the better part of a decade. It’s like she wrote the book for me! And I adore that it’s a retelling while also actually using P&P in the story. Throw in some moderate spiciness and *mwah* - chef’s kiss!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This book definitely gives the P&P vibes as well as theatre. You also get parts of the play version of P&P as well as the one playing out in the characters lives. I loved the edition of the little moments between the character before things inevitably pulled them back apart. I did appreciate it also being dual POV and that we could get Brennons view as well.

I had never read anything from Amelia Jones before, but this book was a lot of fun to read. Once I got into the story, I was sucked in and couldn't put it down.

when the female lead on a national broadway tour abruptly quits, eden blake may finally have her big break. the downside is she’ll have to kiss broadway’s sweetheart (who she thinks is a jerk), brennon thorne. however, as they get farther into the show, they begin falling for each other with each onstage kiss.

i was a theatre kid in high school, and just the description of this made me really excited so i had to read the whole book. i definitely need more theatre-based romance books because i adored this. i loved how eden and brennon’s offstage discussions translated to the stage (even though the director didn’t always think the same). i highly recommend this to romance fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book was fun and had such a great premise. A Pride and Prejudice retelling based on a Pride and Prejudice musical.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****


I love theatre and I love Jane Austen, so I jumped on the opportunity to read this book.

It definitely has Austen vibes, but with enough new stuff added to make it feel like a new book.

I think some editing could have cut 5-10%, but it's still great the way it is.

It was hard to connect to Eden in the beginning amid all the other characters introduced. Her personality was hard to pin down. I feel like I learned more about theatre than her. And don’t expect Brennon to be Darcy-like. He’s cruel and mocking rather than an arrogant-but-still-good person.

The relationships loosely mirror Austen’s, but they don’t play correlating roles in the musical. I think this will appeal more to theatre fans than Austen fans. Brennon was hard to like and Eden lacked depth. The P&P parallels can’t be helped, and this one fell flat for me. With a different play with different friend dynamics this plot slow burn, enemies to lovers might hold its own, but it’s not for me.

Thank you, Alcove Press and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Stage Kiss.

While I'm not normally a fan of the slow burn, this one kept me intrigued! This was a fast fun read that any Austen fan is sure to swoon over. Whether your heart is with romance novels or you are just needing a palate cleanser, you won't be disappointed.

Eden Blake is the understudy for the female lead in Liz and Darcy: The Musical. As the cast prepares to welcome Brennon Thorne, Broadway royalty, to join the cast as Darcy, the current female lead, a friend of Thorne's, quits for unknown reasons. While people say Brennon is a dream to work with, Eden finds him more of a nightmare. His joking at her expense at her previous work (a commercial for ED) leaves Eden with a bitter taste in her mouth that even her honey-laced tea can't seem to overpower. As practices begin, Brennon comes to the conclusion that maybe he didn't give Eden a fair shake. As the two prepare to take center stage, their chemistry combusts! Unfortunately, rumors abound, and the truth of the past might be enough to break them apart. Aww, who am I kidding? You know how it ends. ;)

This is a fun Pride & Prejudice retelling in a Broadway setting, complete with a grumpy, broody hero and an optimistic heroine.

Eden and Brennon can't stand one another, but also can't stay away from one another. Brennon is *very* trying at the beginning of the book, as if the author is REALLY trying to make it clear that he's very unlikeable. Mission: accomplished. However, it also makes Eden's effect on him seem all the more impressive.

I really liked the stage setting - more books set in theaters, please!

A great book . A modern retelling of the Pride and Prejudice of Jane Austen . Eden is a musical actress who is an understudy in the musical of Lizzy and Darcy of the role of Lizzie's . When the main actress quits with no warning she is now the leadind lady . Her leading man is Broadway star Brennon Thorne an amazing actor . The first night the theater people went to a bar to get drinks he make fun of her past commercial jobs . But when they have to work and kiss eight times every week their feelings change . When his best friend is having feeling for her friend he is negative and he is not very supportive . When they finally accept their mutual feelings she discovers when one night he was drunk he made a bet with his rival about her . After they finally talked and he explained himself she loses her leading role in the musical and they drift apart . Will she give them a chance to be together ?
I received this book from netgalley and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

Sweet and easy, and a good choice for theater fans and Austen fans as well. I think this books suffers by introducing so many characters right away at the beginning, which was a bit overwhelming. And while the characters are not always the most likeable or relatable, I actually found that refreshing, as they felt more realistic, and never veered too far into the unlikeable.

DNF @21%

I’ve decided to let this book go. The description was promising, but I’m not getting any humour from this so far, and the characters are insufferable (and I’m saying that as someone who was in the theatre crowd in high school). I’m not sure Brennon can redeem himself in my eyes in the next 260-something pages to win out as the superior love interest, and Eden doesn’t have any dimension to her.

I do think that the theatre crowd might really enjoy this book, but I read a lot and as a result am pretty ruthless when I’m not Viking with a book. This one just isn’t doing it for me.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This was such an easy, sweet read! It would be great for anyone who loves theatre as it is discussing the Jane Austen novel , Pride and Prejudice with a twist. There was so much miscommunication between the two MC's. This is an open door romance with a little bit of spice.