Overall, I liked the story. The side characters were wonderful. I appreciated the aspects of Chinese-American culture and how they impacted the plot. To me, the author did a great job of making the characters distinct and easily identifiable based on their Austen counterparts. By the end, I could appreciate the middle more. While reading it, the middle felt slow, mostly with the build up of the whole swim team/volunteering thing. Sometimes the lack of communication/miscommunication amongst the characters got to feel repetitive.

The formatting made for a more challenging read and may have affected my overall enjoyment of the book. Some spots had multiple characters’ dialogue back to back, without new paragraphs.

I was really excited about this book, but unfortunately, I found it was only okay. I started to enjoy it a lot more by the end and I felt like the ending was too abrupt.

For most of the book, I couldn't figure out how the two MCs would ever find a way together, but the author mostly pulled it off at the end. I also found some of the actions and reactions a bit childish, as the book sometimes read more YA/high school than university.

Overall though, this was a cute read and I'd read more by the author.

I am an absolute sucker for any Pride and Prejudice retelling, but this was one of my favorites in a long time! I usually prefer a historical Pride and Prejudice retelling but even though this was set in modern times, it had the feel of the original. Preston Lin was a perfect Darcy and Lissie was the perfect mixture of headstrong, slightly awkward, compassionate, and intelligent. It hit all the right events from the original, slightly remixed, I loved the "proposal", though it was just asking her out on a date and the letter afterwards.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=2.75?? | 😘=2 | 🤬=1.5 | 14+

summary: Pride and Prejudice retelling but it’s Chinese Americans in LA and there’s a restaurant and a swim tournament and Elizabeth Bennet is an English major

thoughts: time for another episode of…. Norah Reviews a Classic Literature Retelling She Feels She Has Way More Stake in Than is Actually Accurate!!

things i liked:

- Darcy-equivalent’s Disaster Proposal™️ was very well executed. good stuff. gave me (false) hope halfway through the book.
- Lissie was a fun interpretation of Elizabeth!! I liked her as a character

things I didn’t like:

- very slow pacing—a huge issue for a romcom; this should not have taken me so long to finish

- why does the Secret Wickham Conflict involve Darcy’s MOM instead of his sister?? 😭 what was the reason???? it lowers the stakes soooo much—like, an affair between two consenting adults is not nearly as devastating as an adult man taking advantage of a teenage girl. the former is almost funny in a romantically comedic context, which is not the vibe we want?? the author tried to make up for it by having Darcy do some other romantic stuff at the end, which kind of worked, but minimizing Wickham’s villainy also minimizes the significance of Darcy’s character arc; he is a much weaker love interest, imo. anyway.

- also this was very minor but the gay best friend was so Gay Best Friend it was probably offensive––it was very much that guy from Isn’t It Romantic?, if you catch my drift.

in sum: there was, like, one key Pride and Prejudice element that was very well executed and everything else was not my cup of tea!!

THE ENDING. so stinking cute.

this was such a cute spin on pride and prejudice! i heard this had crazy rich asians vibes, which i totally agree with. this book had me giggling, blushing, all the things! one of my favorite aspects of this book was how asian culture was integrated into the retelling. reading this made me feel somewhat close to home, especially with the family dynamics (and lissie + her sisters). i especially loved the representation! although i was iffy about preston in the beginning, he slowly grew on me and by the end, i SWOONED so hard.

this was such a unique story despite it being a modern retelling. i really enjoyed the writing style by this author and i’m looking forward to more books written by her.

overall, i’d highly recommend to anyone who wants a cute, lighthearted read!

A refreshing take on Jane Austen's classic: Pride and Prejudice!

As a mixed english/chinese girlie, representation is so important to me and to be given an adaption of one of my favourite stories with a chinese FMC, I knew I had to read it immediately. So thank you Christina, for making my day.

I truly did appreciate how the original elements of the book were adapted in a way that made them both individual to this particular book as well as fit into the time period where it was set, while still being able to maintain the skeletal structure of 'Lizzie' and 'Darcy' s story. Believe it or not, I have read modern P+P retellings that did not accomplish this half as well.

For me, the only short fall was the ending. The conversation between Preston and Lissie in the doughnut shop where they are continuosly apologising to each other and repeating things that have already been said in the book seemed redundant and repetitive. This is literally my only drawback and even then, I can quite happily gloss over it.

Overall, this was a wonderful and fun read! I can't wait to see what Christina Dudley puts out next because I will definitely be picking it up :)

As someone who loves pride and prejudice and tries to read all the retellings, I couldn't help but read this book, the dynamic between the protagonists was very good and fun, I would recommend this book to someone who loves Jana Austen and enemies to lovers.

I would like to thank netgalley and Third State Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an entertaining update of the beloved story. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and getting to know the characters, but not all the updated plot points really worked.

I really love a modern retelling of classic literature and Pride and Preston Lin is no different! I loved that characters were true to the original, just with modern energy. A sweet & fun read! I look forward to reading more from Christina Hwang Dudley!

This is a retelling of pride and prejudice set in the Greater Bay State area. Our main characters are Chinese Americans. We have three sisters, the Cheng sisters, and we see the story from Lucy's point of view. Overall, it was a quick, highly readable book. The genre is more new adult rather than a full blown romance. It has a satisfactory ending. I found it. Quite an easy fun read with all the trimmings of P&P. I felt like it was quite a short book so we didn't really delve into some of the other characters as much as we could have, but they were still quite a few fun quickly. Things going on especially with the cousin. Jeremy, Mr. Darcy equivalent is of course Preston Lynn of the title who is very darciasque. You have a lot of with a cerbic exchange of dialogue between or two main characters, but they were a few scenes were a thought. There was almost too much dialogue. I think there was a missed opportunity to delve into the trauma of Lissie Cheng and her sisters which is the death of their parents. I think that would have given the book quite a lot of depth. This book could have benefited from stricter editing in those circumstances.

Overall a fun read , rating is 3.5 stars. Thank you to the piblishers and Netgalley for my eARC.

Pride and Preston Lin by Christina Hwang Dudley is an adaption of Pride and Prejudice set in San Francisco. Lissie is the middle of three sisters who were taken in by their aunt and uncle after their parents pass. The two older sisters help their aunt and uncle run their restaurant. Preston is a wealthy Standford PhD. Student who is very confident in who he is and his opinions. Lissie accidentally serves a dish containing shellfish to someone who is allergic and Preston Lin happens to be at that table. Will they ever make it as friends?

I enjoyed this fabulous Austen adaption of Pride and Prejudice. The characters were interesting, thoughtful and the author did a great job adapting them to modern day. I found myself engrossed in the story and enjoyed seeing the connections to Pride and Prejudice. The story was from Lissie’s perspective, had interesting twists from the original story and took place in the Asian community of San Francisco. Truly a delightful read.

Pride and Preston Lin by Christian Hwang Dudley is a great Pride and Prejudice adaption. This thoughtfully written story will join my other favorite Austen adaptions on my bookshelves. I highly recommend this story!

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Quick Summary: A Pride and Prejudice retelling

My Review: Pride and Preston Lin by Christina Hwang Dudley is a modern day version of a classic. With an Asian American take, this contemporary novel presents the P & P experience with an updated twist.

About the Book: Lissie Cheng and her sisters have endured a lot in their very short lives. Thankfully, they have their aunt, their uncle, and their cousin to lean on. Because of all that they have done to help her and her siblings, Lissie does all she can to help out at the family restaurant. When Preston Lin and his family come in to dine one evening, a very unfortunate incident occurs and completely turns everything sideways. In that moment, both Lissie and Preston become enemies of a sort.

My Final Say: This was an enjoyable read. It took me a while to get through, if I'm being honest. Nevertheless, the P & P bones for the story were there. Readers who want a fresh take on the push and pull between a dashing, young gentleman and a sassy, determined lady are sure to get it with this novel.

Other: The scene that made all the difference for me was... The Party (coded to avoid spoilers). So much was revealed in that moment and the one that came right after.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Status: Clean
Level: 👍

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Third State Books), and to NetGalley for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own. I appreciate the opportunity to become acquainted with this writer and her work.

What is your favorite retelling of a classic story? From fairy tales to Jane Austen, I love when classic stories are rewritten into a modern setting.

Pride and Preston Lin by Christina Hwang Dudley is a truly delightful Pride and Prejudice retelling. Lissie a college student working in her family’s Chinese restaurant. When she accidentally serves a patron, a dish she is allergic to, she almost unwittingly takes down her Aunt and Uncle’s entire business. One of the patron’s friends, Preston Lin, wrote a scathing article about the incident, citing the restaurant by name. Now business is down, and Lissie is desperate to help her family. She despises Preston Lin. Unfortunately for her, Preston Lin keeps appearing wherever she goes. Can Lissie and Preston both get over their pride and initial misconceptions of each other to find love?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This retelling worked well as Christina Hwang Dudley kept the major bones of the classic story, but made it her own with the setting, and modern tweaks to the storyline.

• I liked the inventive names Christina Hwang Dudley used to keep the names similar, but with a Chinese American twist.

• I really loved the Asian American representation and spin on the classic story.

• The San Francisco Bay setting was perfect. I also liked how Preston attending Stanford and coming from a wealthy family was juxtaposed with Lissie attending San Jose State and her family owning a restaurant.

• Lissie and her sisters Jenny and JoJo are orphans, but their Aunt and Uncle have stepped up to parent them.

• Lissie takes over taking her little sister JoJo to swim lessons where she meets the attractive Coach Wayman Wang who has a mysterious past with Preston Lin.

• The characters are great. Lissie has a quick wit and is a strong woman. Preston seemed like a stuck-up prick, but he grew to be a nice guy by the end. The side characters were also well developed.

• Mini Spoiler Alert, I appreciated that the tragedy at the end that brings Preston and Lissie together has to do with Coach Want having inappropriate relationships with the mothers of the students rather than inappropriate relationships with the students themselves.

• This book would be classified as New Adult rather than a romance. Preston Lin and Lissie don’t have much of a romance in this novel. They just realize that they like each other and have a kiss, and the book ends.

• I would love a second book to give Jenny and Charles more time to develop their romance, and to find out what happens to Lissie’s play and other open storylines.

• This book just was a happy book that kept me entertained during a very stressful week.

Overall, Pride & Preston Lin is an enjoyable modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the Chinese community in San Francisco Bay. This story is timeless, and it works across so many settings, time periods, and cultures.

Book Source: Review copy from Third State Books for being a part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pride and Prejudice in an Inn. A tale as old as time. I love Jane Austen’s adaptations and I’ll always read them. We know what’s gonna happen, but it’s the different setting that can make or break an adaptation.

The characters still remain true to Austen but are adapted in a refreshing way.

Two thumbs up.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an interesting modern Pride and Prejudice retelling. It had several recognizable famous characters: Elizabeth (Lissie), Darcy (Preston), Jane (Jenny), Wickham (Wayman), Lady Catherine (Mrs. Lin), the Bingleys (Bings) and Mr. Collins (Darren). This story features three orphaned Cheng sisters, taken in by their aunt and uncle. This time the misunderstanding comes via an accident allergen oversight at the family restaurant, which unleashes Preston's self-righteous rampage that nearly destroys the business.

More run-ins occur, along with the staunch defense of Coach Wayman, causing Lissie and Preston to constantly be at odds. It turns out that Preston has a secret tendre for Lissie, and she revokes his poorly delivered overtures in the most unflattering way. However, when Lissie's sister, JoJo, goes missing, Preston proves his faithfulness and integrity, helping Lissie to know that he is the good guy and her feelings have changed.

This reimagining is set in California, with the Cheng family being Chinese-Americans. Their heritage and culture are talked about and featured throughout the story and also factors into some of the relationships and decisions made in the story.

The beginning of the story felt a little chaotic. There were familiar characters, but it was difficult keeping them straight for a time. This "Darcy" was also more brutal than in the original, at least at first. A large chunk of the story is trying to pick up the pieces of the damage that he caused. He does redeem himself, but he is not really likeable to the reader until he gives Lissie his letter. Like in the original, he has a pretty good reason for his issues. The pacing, smoothness of the story, and the chemistry significantly improved from this point.

I enjoyed the sisterly relationships and the way the author wrote the "Wickham-type" controversy. The subject matter is maybe a little more mature than the original, and there were quite a few loose ends leftover. Overall, it's a good retelling.

I am always up for a Pride and Prejudice retelling, so getting the opportunity to read “Pride and Preston Lin,” by Christina Hwang Dudley was such a fun experience! I enjoyed the way that Christina modernized her version of Pride and Prejudice, while also including bits and pieces of the original story. I also liked the twist to her George Whickam character, Wayman Wang, and felt like the changes she made to his character made sense both thematically in her story, but also for a Pride and Prejudice retelling in our current era.

This book was a cute, light, quick read that fans of Pride and Prejudice will find heartwarming and adorable. Lissie and Preston have the tension of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, which keeps the story moving along, while also having their own unique encounters and experiences with one another. Overall, I would recommend this book for fans of Jane Austen’s work, as well as anyone looking for a light-hearted, no spice, young adult romance!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this title! This is my unbiased, honest review.

A creative modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice! I’ve heard Pride and Preston Lin described as Crazy Rich Asians meets Jane Austen and I think that’s a pretty apt comparison. As a huge Jane Austen fan, I was delighted to find all the ways Christina Hwang Dudley stayed true to the spirit of P&P while adding an original, unique, Asian twist.

In her final year of college, Lissie Cheng works alongside her sister Jenny in their aunt’s & uncle’s Chinese restaurant while pursing her degree. When she makes the horrific mistake of serving shellfish to someone who’s allergic, she creates an instant enemy of the handsome man she was flirting with and his family.

Wealthy, gorgeous Ph.D student Preston Lin’s determined to make sure the same mistake doesn’t happen again and goes out of his way to make things difficult for the restaurant. His actions and smug, self-righteous attitude don’t win him any points with Lissie. Like Darcy, Preston has his reasons, but try explaining that to Lissie. When fate keeps bringing them together, Lissie has to decide if she’s willing to overcome her prejudice and give him a chance.

I thoroughly enjoyed the infusion of Asian culture and the family dynamics in this story. Lissie and her two sisters were delightful and I loved their close relationship. I also liked their cousin Jeremy and friend Mel. I appreciated all the nods to P&P while Lissie is essentially living out her own version of the story. I enjoyed her quick wit just like her P&P counterpart. It was fun recognizing all the familiar P&P characters including Wickham, Mr. Collins, and even Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the form of Preston’s mom. While this book follows the plot line of the original pretty closely, there’re fresh, new aspects like swim meets, pursuing higher education, and even YouTubing that make it unique and hard to put down.

Fans of Ms. Dudley’s historical romances might find this to be a little edgier than they’re used to. There’s quite a bit of strong language (mostly biblical swears), a minor gay character, mentions of an affair, and some mild innuendo. The romance is clean with kisses only. If you enjoy Pride and Prejudice adaptations, you might enjoy this creative, new take on the original. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher through AustenProse PR. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

Debuting her first contemporary novel, author Christina Hwang Dudley delights with clever, insightful characterizations and skilled plotting in Pride and Preston Lin. This New Adult retelling of Pride and Prejudice shows not only Jane Austen's universal truth of family, wealth, social class, and, of course, pride and prejudice but also a creative, refreshing choice by setting the story in the San Francisco Bay Area Asian American community.



I appreciated the character arcs as the characters face life and gain some seasoning. Even the seemingly perfect Preston, a talented college athlete and respected scholar, like the iconic Mr. Darcy, has room for improvement.

Much like Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet, Lissie Cheng is the primary narrator and has the strengths and weaknesses of a young woman learning about the world as she comes into her own. Her first encounter with Preston Lin, his mother, and friends in her family's restaurant is disastrous, and Lissie is determined to see Preston as the agent of her destruction, so to speak. Until this moment, Lissie has lived life something like an ostrich with her head (though not in the sand) full of playwriting and finishing her degree. But the loss of her job and her family's struggles sets her on a path of growth for career, heritage, and romance.



Pride and Preston Lin revisits familiar scenes from Austen’s masterpiece but with a modern and more diverse spin. The Austenesque retelling is organic, blending with Dudley's own reimagining of Austen's masterpiece. I found myself invested in the story through quick pacing and wry dialog. Lissie and Preston’s slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance wrought with sweet misunderstandings and hard-won happily-ever-after was a refreshing modern twist on a beloved classic.



Though New Adult is not my go-to romance genre, I was excessively diverted by Pride and Preston Lin and hope Christina Hwang Dudley writes more Asian American modernizations from the world of Jane Austen.

Pride and Preston Lin by Christina Hwang Dudley is a loose retelling of Pride and Prejudice featuring an Asian American family.

Lissie is the middle of two sisters. Lissie and her older sister work in the Cheng family restaurant while they pursue educational and career goals. Lissie accidentally serves food containing shellfish to an allergic customer and the wealthy Lin family threatens to sue. The Lin’s handsome son, Preston, is a star swimmer. Lissie’s younger sister is also a swimmer, allowing Preston’s and Lissie’s paths to cross occasionally. Lissie thinks Preston is arrogant and she hates him for the negative publicity he brought to the restaurant. In this story loosely inspired by Pride and Prejudice, the author entertains us with an enemies-to-lovers trope.

Enemies-to-lovers is always a fun romance trope with opportunities galore for great banter and entertaining situations. This romance is sweet and slow-burn. Personalities shine here!

In addition to the trope, I appreciate a look into a culture that is not my own. The Asian-American twist to this classic created an interesting read. Family dynamics and delicious cuisine enhance the story.

Although I prefer original stories, I enjoy an occasional modern reimagining of a classic. As with most retellings, this one stands fine on its own. Preston and Lissie provide a generous serving of witty and entertaining banter and a complicated set of circumstances brings them together in unexpected ways. We are even treated to a ballroom scene!

Content Consideration: some language, adultry

I can recommend Pride and Preston Lin for fans of retellings, (mostly) light-hearted stories, sweet romance, complicated family drama, and Asian American literature. Readers who enjoy the competitive sport of swimming will find lots to relate to in this fast-paced and multilayered story. Book clubs might enjoy the discussion possibilities.

Thanks #NetGalley @ThirdStateBooks (and @AustenProsePR) for a complimentary e ARC of #PrideAndPrestonLin upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Read from March 16th, 2024 to march 20th, 2024. Written on March 20th, 2024.

~3.5~

HAPPY (belated) RELEASE DAY!!

As a massive, massive fan of the original work, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, when I came upon this book I was intrigued and rather curious about it. Finally came the time to read it and now here we are. But first, I do want to apologize for the delay, but I was counting on finishing the book yesterday but these last few days have been a mess of work.

Firstly, the writing is easy to follow and the characters, though not a copy of the originals, follow a string of personality traits that, along with their own, make some very interesting characters. In terms of character-naming choices, some could've been a little bit less obvious (Jenny-Jane, Wayman-Wickham, Charles Bing-Charles Bingley) but apart from that, all good on the name area. Loved the originality in the situations in which the characters come to meet, from restaurants to swimming pools, and the way each environment affects each relationship development. Also, the Asian twist was incredibly portrayed and very fun to read.

Second, I love that the story took me back to moments from the original book, making me remember them and compare how the two situations went down and how the author gave her own spin to things; it was a great way to show her creativity and to not just "copy-paste" from the original. I am definitely excited to rewatch the 2005 movie and reread the original Pride and Prejudice.

Now, onto some things that I didn't enjoy: at first, I will be honest, the writing and the story didn't capture my attention and I wasn't really enjoying what I was reading, but the last maybe 100 pages definitely made that rough start worth it. As I have mentioned, some character names took a little of the fun of trying to decipher who was who, comparing to the original, while others weren't so obvious (which I enjoyed); lastly, I would say maybe some parts of the writing were a little bit boring, feeling too forced, or even plot lines that led nowhere or didn't really have an impact on the main story.

But, in all honesty, I would reread this again and maybe even enjoy it more the second time around. It was a great retelling and I am very happy that I got to read it before it came out!

Signing off,
B.

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Third State Books that I chose to review after reading)