When a title boldly features the name "Darcy," invoking thoughts of the classic masterpiece "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, it's hard not to be intrigued. This contemporary romance invites readers to relish in the echoes of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy's iconic romance while exploring fresh narratives.

Set against the backdrop of the Jane Austen Festival, our protagonists step into the shoes of the beloved characters. The story kicks off with the promise of a tantalizing twist as our modern Elizabeth and Darcy grapple with unconventional expectations and strive to break free from the molds society has cast them in.

The book wittily acknowledges that Darcy is not typically adorned with metal head attire, tattoos, or nipple rings, playfully defying the conventional image. This clever nod to tradition while embracing modern quirks is just the beginning of the book's delightful interplay between past and present.

As the narrative unfolds, we witness a gradual evolution in both the characters' ambitions. Beneath the facade of being "just the librarian/Sam's ex" or "the town disappointment," they each harbor aspirations to redefine themselves within the context of the festival.

What truly captivates is the way the author crafts this journey, allowing the characters to peel back the layers of judgment and preconceptions. In doing so, they embrace empathy and understanding, forging connections that transcend initial impressions.

The pacing follows the slow burn trope. The build-up, the witty banter, those funny moments – total chef's kiss. Then, hitting the 50% mark and it's like game over, you're reading 'til dawn. Stuff gets intense, steamy, and okay, maybe a tad smutty.

While the story excels in delivering captivating romantic chemistry, I felt like there is room for "more" deeper exploration of the characters' personal lives and struggles. But maybe the goal was more vibes, less drama.

Highly recommended to the fans of Pride and Prejudice, the author crafts a captivating narrative that both pays homage to the beloved source material and stands on its own merits.

Opening Lines- “There was nothing like a little passive aggression to wake you up in the morning. “Are you sure this isn’t a mistake, Vivi?” my mother asked over the phone. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that if the name of your town is Austen, Ontario, you will indubitably host an annual Jane Austen festival.
And, said festival is the spring board for a well-paced, fun, and sizzling romance beginning with a cringe worthy first encounter that paces out from there with a character-driven romance. I was originally caught by the cover and title to try a new to me author, but I enjoyed the author’s writing that made me care about the characters, enjoy the bantering, and feel the progress of the relationship.

Vivien and Brody both think they have something to prove because, to their families, they are screw-ups. They take the festival as a challenge that being the best Lizzy and Darcy ever will get people to see them differently. Viv, in particular, starts out wound pretty tight and judges on appearance while Brody was prickly because he knew he was always compared and found wanting. In the process, they start to see themselves differently as they work together and start respecting each other as allies then something more. They share a sizzling attraction and whew boy do they get up to some smexy times, but they both hold back from commitment because of fears of inadequacy and rejection. I loved how Viv’s ex, Sam, does a great job as her bestie and gives her the nudges needed to not mess up her own chance of happiness and Brody’s bandmates-friends do the same for him.

The librarian and the heavy metal rocker finding love at a Jane Austen festival was sheer fun for me. Want some spice and a small town contemporary romance, take up The Worst Darcy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an hoenst review.

I really wanted to like this, but the beats on this story just didn't hit very well. It seemed rushed in some parts and like weeks had passed at others. It left me feeling confused about the timeline and whether or not I believed these characters would be acting or feeling this way so quickly. It also paints itself as a Pride & Prejudice retelling, but that really didn't feel right. Yes, there is an inital headbutting but the other facets of what make Pride & Prejudice so compelling were missing here. Also the monster dick was a lot and didn't fit with the vibes of the rest of the story. The whole thing felt incongrous, so it's a no for me. I'm sure this will find it's intended audience though!

Vivian Trent is desperate. Her family doesn't approve of her life as a single mom and the small town of Austen still won't accept her as one of their own four years later. Playing Elizabeth Bennet at the annual Jane Austen Festival is the perfect way to win over the locals and prove that she's thriving. But when Austen's favourite festival hero is replaced by his tattooed, metalhead brother, how is she supposed to achieve perfection with such a bad boy playing Mr. Darcy? He's never read the book. He's brash and unpolished. He's... blond?!
Brodie's used to being the town disappointment, so when Vivian turns her nose up at him, he's not surprised. Hot librarian or not, she's way too uptight. But once the festival gets underway, they see new sides of each other. When he finds out her dark secret, suddenly she’s much more endearing. She’s vulnerable, but strong. And the way she looks in that gown only blurs the lines between playing the part and falling for her for real.
But when her goal is within reach, can Vivian go off-book and choose Brodie, if it means risking everything she thought she wanted?

I love Pride and Prejudice, so I ate up all the references to Jane Austen's masterpiece in this opposites-attract romcom! This was a bit of a slow burn, but once it started heating up it got spicy and I was here for it! This story is funny (there's a scene with an audiobook that had me laughing SO HARD), sweet without going over the top and Brodie, the MMC, totally grew on me (even though he wears leather cuffs). Plus, there's no third act breakup! Jackpot! Worth a read, especially if you love Pride and Prejudice. Thank you to netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

What if Darcy was a bad boy? When you’re a bad boy in a small town as a younger man, you’re always a bad boy.
A single mom moves to be closer to the father of her son.
Easy read.

Rating: 4,25 stars

This is THE most adorable romcom I've read in a while! The banter between the characters, the pining, the small town setting, ugh it was absolutely amazing!
I really loved how the background for their romance was a Jane Austen festival!? Like how perfect is this for reading geeks? Or maybe it's just me considering I had just rewatched Pride and Prejudice (2005 version), and was listening to an audiobook of Sense and Sensibility at the time, so yeah, this has been Jane Austen's month and I was definitely here for it!

Read this one if you like :
- Small town romance
- Single mom (and the most adorable dinosaur obsessed kid)
- Jane Austen, and the regency era as a whole
- Opposite attracts, with the 2 town outcasts coming together
- Found family

Thank you Robyn Gynne for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

☽𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎☾

3/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️

Okay, being a Janeite or Jane Austen enthusiast, I rather liked discovering small bits of Austen here and there. Not only in terms of her renowned work Pride and Prejudice (my favourite), but also in terms of the 2005 film (yes, the hand flex and everything).

I was extremely into the book when it first started. It had me hooked, and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the tension between the major characters as I learned about Austen's festival and their personal lives.

However, towards the middle of the story, it became a little monotonous for my liking, and there were a few things that I wasn't enjoying as much as I would have liked. The female lead character is a single mother, yet there aren't many scenes with her son, which is a little disappointing. I'd have delighted to observe their interactions. Similarly, while I liked the female character, she was very critical of the male character for no apparent reason. But I'd like to assume they were both a little bit judgemental of one other because Pride and Prejudice is all about what the title implies.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
I will update this review soon when the publishing date is closer and with the intention of adding a link to my Instagram account in which I will post this review.

This was such a fun and fluffy debut novel from Robyn Gynne. I was immediately hooked by the title, and all I want in this world is to live in Austen, Ontario and be a part of the Austen festival each year, with my end goal to be Elizabeth Bennett, of course.

Vivian Trent also had this desire. She moved to Austen to be nearer her best friend, Sam, who also happened to be the father of her adorable son, Keaton. While she and Sam were no longer in a romantic relationship, they were still good friends and determined to co-parent their son. Unfortunately, after a few years in town, being a local librarian still wasn't enough for Vivian to feel like she was a part of the town. Determined to be more than 'Sam's ex' and 'Keaton's mom,' she is cast as Elizabeth Bennett in the year's Austen festival and is determined to make a name for herself and be accepted by the town. The town's golden boy, however, is no longer able to play Mr. Darcy, and instead hands the role off to his heavy metal band member brother, Brodie Bishop.

While I would say this book is cute and doesn't have any real high stakes involved, Vivian would certainly say differently. And this tattooed rocker who had never read or watched Pride and Prejudice was most certainly not going to be of any help in her making a good impression on the town. Do I think that Vivian was a little annoying at first and put way too much weight into what the town thought of her and went a little overboard with her desire for perfection at the festival? Sure. But I think that excess helped show her growth by the end.

I love any time a person falls in love with Pride and Prejudice, so it was fun seeing Brodie open up to the idea of playing Darcy, along with Vivian opening up to him as a person. They haven't had the easiest paths through life, and it's sweet how they become each other's cheerleaders, especially when they can't rely on family for that support. The fact that Brodie is so good with his niece and Vivian's son is the cherry on top. Those scenes were so precious.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵."

This book was a fun palate cleanser, and who knew that Mr. Darcy could be so...improper?! And him overhearing one of her audiobooks had me cackling. The running joke that developed from it kept me highly entertained. I'm sad that Austen, Ontario isn't a real place, but I certainly enjoyed my time visiting in this book.

𝚝 𝚛 𝚘 𝚙 𝚎 𝚜:
small town
single mom
enemies to friends to lovers
forced proximity
LGBTQ+ rep
he falls first

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of the book.

This is a quick, lighthearted read with some spice thrown in. I enjoyed this book. The characters were enjoyable and had some depth. The storyline was predictable but it didn’t detract from the read.
This is a great beach or weekend read.

This was a well written romance, with spice and a lot of fun. I love the relationship between all the characters, especially Vivian and her ex, they handled the custody really well. I like how the relationships were very healthy and portrayed very well.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the Publishers for this ARC.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

I, like many romance readers, fell in love with Pride and Prejudice from a young age. Our heroine, Viv, is also a bit of a fan. A single mum, who is just trying to fit into her new community, is a little shy and worries that she might come across too starchy and buttoned up to make friends.

Brodie, the town bad boy with hidden layers agrees that she's a little prim when they first meet. But when they have to work together during the town's Jane Austen festival as Lizzy Bennet and Mr Darcy, they discover that there is more to each other than meets the eye. So there is the similarity between Pride and Prejudice (which incidentally was originally called First Impressions) but this book doesn't draw too heavily on Elizabeth and Darcy's story, which I liked.

It's spicy and funny with a little angst thrown in and a Lady Catherine figure who is truly diabolical. Lots of fun to read.

The Worst Darcy was hilarious, heart-warming, and HOT! Two of the steamiest scenes I've read this year are in this book: one in the car where Brodie shows how well he embraces Vivian's secret kink and one at a fountain where his possessive side comes out a bit. They were top notch and both helped move their relationship along rather than being thrown in just to add some spice.

Brodie's struggles with his childhood trauma and Vivian's internal struggles with being a single mom were both handled very well. Family can be a blessing or a curse, but Brodie and Vivian luckily realized that it takes more than blood to make a family. He had his bandmates and she had her ex and his fiance. Neither were truly alone.

Vivian and her ex Sam have the perfect shared custody arrangement, and I'm a little jealous. So often in romance books, the ex is evil and vindictive, but Sam seemed to truly care about Vivian and worry about her happiness.

I'm sure I'm going to get kicked out of the romance community for this, but I've never actually read Pride and Prejudice. I've only seen the 2005 movie, and that's because of seeing so many references to the handgasm. I'm happy to say this book includes some glorious references to it that will make you snicker and swoon!!

Featured tropes:
Single mom
Rockstar hero
Enemies-to-lovers
He falls first
Exhibitionism
Good girl
Good boy
Naughty librarian
Found family

Favorite quote:
“I can read. I just don’t like reading.” “I don’t understand the words that just came out of your mouth.”

Thank you, Robyn and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I went into this book SO excited since I just recently got into “Pride and Prejudice’ and it absolutely surpassed my expectations! Both the main characters (Brodie and Vivian) were amazing even when they weren’t respectfully playing Darcy and Elizabeth. Brodie and Vivian are playing in a real life re-enactment of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ that their town does every year. Brodie is the town bad boy who can’t escape his past with the town and how they perceive him. Vivian is a mother that co-parents her child with a town local and feels like she will forever be referred to as his ex or her child’s mother. Both have a lot to prove to their town and this re-enactment is just the way to do it! At first Brodie and Vivian clash- how could Vivian POSSIBLY work with someone who won’t take it seriously? Especially when Brodie refuses to dispute her accusations, because what would he possibly need to prove to the local librarian? This book had me laughing, gasping, and absolutely happy. The dynamic between the characters in real life and as they ‘play a part’ is only heightened by the dual POV chapters. If this book isn’t on your TBR… add it! #NetGalley #ARC #NetGalleyARC #TheWorstDarcy #RobynGynne

I wasn’t expecting much from this book, but I absolutely loved it! The complexity of the characters, the interpersonal relationships, the unique (Canadian!) setting, and the story beats were handled really well and I adored how there was no third act breakup. The intricacies of Vivian and Brodie’s characters was wonderful to read, especially with how Brodie interacted with children and the scenes of Vivian’s found family together. The only thing I was missing was a scene with Vivian's mother and sister, since that storyline felt a bit incomplete and unresolved, but I loved the closure and beginnings of healing that Brodie got with his family. I will definitely be reading Robyn Gynne’s next book!

I’m thankful this was sent to me as an arc but unfortunately it didn’t take me long to dnf. I don’t know if I’m projecting from past experiences being judged for who i am, being autistic and having tattoos and wearing bold makeup, or it’s my reading slump in part but i can’t do it. I just didn’t like Vivian at all and the way she went at things and just this idea she had in her head and just how low key judgmental she was didn’t vibe well with me so… dnf
Every word I read aggravated me more and more and I’m not about that life. Didn’t get far so maybe it would have gotten better but I couldn’t deal with out FMC. Maybe now that the book is out, in the future I will give it a second chance, maybe right now wasn’t the time for me to read this book
Either way I’m out

Loved this story, made me laugh out load and cry 😊

The story starts off with Vivian who's a single mum getting to prove her self and make a name for her self in a small town.
Brodie is the towns bad boy but the tattoos hide something inside

when Vivian volunteers to be the towns elizabeth bennett she imagine a tall dark and handsome man to play her mr.Darcy not a tattooed blond bad boy....

this story has everything you would want in it
enemies to friends to lovers ❤️and the spice 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Robyn Gynne for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I knew as soon as I read the premise that this book was going to hook me, and I was right. I love Pride and Prejudice, I love opposites attract, I love a Hot Bad Boy, this book was full of things I love. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Robyn Gynne does next!

The Worst Darcy is the perfect book for a rainy day with a cup of tea, or a beach day giving both cozy vibes, and the kind of romance that makes you kick your feet up and giggle at the beach. As a lover of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice especially I loved all the references to the original novel. I even looked up if the festival is a real thing (so far have not found it, I would totally go). I loved the backstory we got for both Vivian and Brodie. Their own pasts and presents were very different but they complimented each other beautifully (opposites attract!) and led them to have greater empathy and understanding for each other. I am also a sucker for an uptight girl and more laid-back guy combo. I am enjoying the uptick of heroines lately who struggle with anxiety, feel neurotic, or are socially uncomfortable. I think it is very honest to not have the main characters in books be the confident hero but instead, the freaked-out anxious perfectionist who wants people to like her, figuring out how to let go of some of that in order to be happy with herself.

I recommend this book to people who love

- Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice
- Opposites Attract
- Small-town romances
- Mild spice
- Single mom

"It was a truth universally acknowledged... that Darcy couldn't be blond."

And yet he is, and thank God he is! Brodie is the cutest bestest fake bad boy I never knew I needed. He's so used to being underestimated and judged by everyone that he stopped believing in himself and yet he's still the cutest with Vivian💔

"I have nobody. Nobody chooses me. I'm so fucking tired of fighting by myself."

I wanted to hug him so bad. His dynamic with Vivian was the best, so much tension around their banter and funny dialogue, so nice. A true romcom like we love it🥰

"You make me feel like it's okay to not be perfect."

Vivian is a full, real, complex character just like Brodie. Though I hoped for her "pain" and issues to be a bit heavier and to take a bit more time to process, like Brodie's issues which required all the book to be somewhat "resolved" (quotation marks because some stuff just don't get resolved that easily). Nevertheless she is a great mom and a great person overall.

Had lots of fun reading this and loved the original turn on the famous Austen novel. Though the kinks were definitely out of my thumbs-up list, that's just up to personal preferences...... although some body parts are best left alone imo 😵‍💫

Absolutely recommend this one, the smut is veryyy steamy and the tension rises quick and good 🤌

I loveee love love Pride and Prejudice, and this book satisfied that craving. Add a little bit of spice! Fluffy and fun read. As soon as i saw what this book was about i immediately requested an arc copy. The cover is gorgeous!
Vivian is literally every quiet bookworm with a hidden filthy mind.

Disclaimer: this is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling, rather re-enactment.

In her small town of Austen, an annual Jane Austen festival is held. Vivian is a single mother struggling to find her place in society. She takes the role of Elizabeth Bennet to try and get the residents to recognize her. When the original festival hero who plays Mr Darcy is replaced by his brother Brodie, the tattooed hot bad boy metalhead, they must work together to bring the book and movie to life for the festival. But most importantly: he's blond. I loved the fact they didn't have things in common.
She's a librarian AND a bookworm. He doesn't criticize her for reading smutty monster romance books.
Emotional family abuse and single moms societal situation was well portrayed.

Some scenes that i loved:
+ OMG i loved that scene where he discovered her smutty audiobook, the way she became all flustered xd!
+ the quartet scene: got me thinking of Paganini in the movie The Devil's violinist.

Tropes:
-forced proximity
-reformed metalhead bad boy x single mom
-small town romance
- dual pov.
- slow burn
- steamy
- he falls first
-caveman
- opposites attract
- LGBTQ rep

I skimmed through this book in one day! It was really fast paced and fun to read.
Vivian and Brodie had an electrifying chemistry, the banter, the funny moments and angst was perfect. Now all I want is attend a Jane Austen festival or Pride and Prejudice themed ball.
Overall i loved the book! I was reading epic fantasy and needed something like a breath of fresh air and this book provided it.

My favorite quote: ''By the end of the day, there would no question that Darcy was head over heels for Lizzy.''