This book is a Pride and Prejudice retelling, or actually more of a Bridget Jones retelling. I'm usually completely oblivious when it comes to realising books are retellings but in this case I figured it out pretty much right from the start, so that says something about how subtle it is. And that lack of subtlety is something that comes back in lots of different aspects of the book. Rachel Weiss herself is the opposite of subtle. As is the humour.

For me, the book doesn't really work as a romance; it's much more the story of Rachel growing from a self-absorbed party girl with a job she didn't like to someone who's more aware of the effect of her actions on other people. She also starts to figure out what she wants to do career-wise. Christopher (the Darcy figure) obviously plays a role in that process but they don't actually interact that much or spend longer than an hour or two in each other's company. This makes it very hard for me to both believe Christopher's first declaration and the suggested HEA (or even an HFN).

This book definitely tries to be a proper romcom but it just wasn't my sense of humour. Rachel's mum was very much a modern-day Mrs Bennet and I thought she was exhausting. I really didn't like her obsession with Rachel not being in a relationship (especially when she got upset because Rachel might not have a date for Jane's wedding), and the way she first pushed Rachel and Christopher together and then deciding Christopher was too good for her daughter. I wasn't keen on the twins either.

Does all of this make it a bad book? Not at all, the prose is solid and a lot of the issues I had with the book are definitely me-problems. I'm sure other people will appreciate Rachel Weiss a lot more than me.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Rachel, Rachel, Rachel!

When we first meet Rachel she's waking up from a ONS. With a guy whos name she cant remember to the phone calling. Her mother's calling with big news. The house next door has been sold. And the couple has a rich single son.

Rachel isn't impressed with this news. In fact she makes a plan to do what she can to not be single by the time she meets this Christopher Butkis.

Rachel has a group chat with her best friends. They give each other advice, cheer each other on and are there when the others need them. But when fractures start popping up, Rachel starts to ask herself, are they as close as they once were?

This book is pretty funny. Rachel has a perfect sister whos a sweetheart and a crazy mom and little sisters who are teen terrors. It took me far, far, far too long to make the parallels between Pride and Prejudice. Even when I was thinking about how much this reminded me of Bridget Jones. Especially with how crazy the situations would get.

Rachel isn't the best. She makes mistakes and can be really quite self centered. But the changes she makes and the soul searching she does is really something to cheer about.

To me the romance story is second fiddle to Rachel's growth. We see how great Christopher is a mile away but it takes our girl awhile.

I really enjoyed it though, and hope to read more from Lauren.

When Rachel Weiss’s mother told her that the house next door sold, she honestly couldn’t see why that mattered to her so much. And then she found out that the nice couple moving in next door have a son, who bought them that house. And he’s single. And now Rachel knows why her mother is so excited. Her older sister Jane has a boyfriend, and her younger twin sisters are still in high school. So naturally, their mother has focused her matchmaking energy on Rachel.

But Rachel has her own ideas about what she wants in a partner. She doesn’t want some tech bro who has millions to waste on hobbies or selfish pursuits. She wants someone with some gravitas, someone who can leave the planet better than it is now. Fortunately, she has her group chat to turn to for advice and encouragement. Rachel and her friends have been together for years, and while jobs and relationships have been distracting them through the years, they always have their group chat to touch base with each other and reconnect.

But when one of the friends drops out of the group chat, and then another one, Rachel can’t help but worry that life may be pulling them too far apart. Secrets and misunderstandings threaten to destroy the group chat, so Rachel has to step in and find out what’s come between the friends and see if the friendships can be saved.

Meanwhile, Rachel is unhappy with her tech customer service job and struggling in love. Her boyfriend broke up with her, the dating apps are failing her, and her mom won’t stop talking about Christopher, the son of the couple next door. But as she keeps running into Christopher around town, she starts to think that he might not be quite as evil as he first seemed. In fact, he might be smart and thoughtful and kind. And maybe she is the one who isn’t quite as nice as she could be. Does she have the grit to live up to her potential and maybe even win the boy (almost) next door?

Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat is a fun modern rom com with strong nods to Pride and Prejudice. Between Rachel’s Jewish family and her friends, she is surrounded by a large group of supporters (mostly), and she is willing to go to bat for those she cares about. She wants everyone to be happy and have fun, but when things turn serious, she can handle that too.

As I was reading this book, which I loved and devoured, I could see the nods to Austen. I also got some strong Bridget Jones vibes, which isn’t surprising, as it’s also a modern retelling of the classic. But it also reminded me of a series of young adult books that I have loved for so many years. Louise Rennison created a character named Georgia Nicolson, and Rachel and her friends reminded me of Georgia and her fabby crew, a little older and a tiny bit more mature but just as much fun and devoted. Imagine my surprise to get to the end of the book, where debut author Lauren Appelbaum said that was exactly what had inspired her book. Like I said, I loved this book, and while there is no Viking dance, there is still a lot to love in Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat.

Egalleys for Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat were provided by Forever through NetGalley, with many thanks.

2.5 stars. Let me start this out by saying - I really don’t think you’re supposed to love any of these characters. They’re more giving “love to hate”, so if that’s your thing, you may enjoy this more than I did. I probably would’ve DNFed this towards the beginning if I didn’t have an ARC. Rachel, her friends, and her family are just so unlikeable and aggravating that it’s hard to get through. I enjoyed seeing Rachel’s growth, but as she was 30 years old it was a bit embarrassing. The love interest, Christopher, was super sweet. Overall, the writing was good and I didn’t hate the book, but some of the cringy things the characters did outweighed this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happy pub day to this debut novel! I mostly listened to the audio, but I followed along in my ebook copy. Thanks to Forever, Hachette Audio, and Netgalley for early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion. The narrator of the audiobook, Dara Rosenberg, does a great job, with a variety of voices for the characters and a variety of tones that give additional insight into Rachel’s feelings beyond the page.
Rachel and her friends are turning thirty, which is giving them a chance to reflect and have some Big Feelings. Rachel’s mother is obsessed with marrying off her daughters - although lucky for Rachel, her older sister is first up on her mother’s list. While day-to-day work and family and relationship drama can be unappealing, Rachel’s friends and their group chat gives her life. I have a book besties group chat where we chat book drama and life drama and a work friends group chat with two of my coworkers. Both can feel absolutely necessary to help when life gets crazy, so I can understand where Rachel is coming from in that respect in this book.
Rachel overall seemed more immature than a typical thirty year old; I got more early-to-mid twenties, New Adult vibes from this read, but that may be a reflection of my perceptions and experience. There is Jewish representation and fun contemporary cultural references, but I had some issues with one particular plot point and its simplistic resolution. I didn’t realize this was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, so that’s on me. It felt more like women’s fiction than romance - although maybe that’s true for P&P, too.
This book is now available if it sounds like your cup of tea - other reviewers really loved it as a millennial take on P&P in the vein of Bridget Jones!

This is a modern reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. Rachel Weiss is turning thirty and is jewish with a meddling mother. She is adulting but in a messy way. She is so haphazard with her work that she ends up in mandated therapy. She is loyal to her friends and older sister Jane and is outspoken about her causes. And she doesn’t like wealthy Christopher when her mother invites him to dinner.

I’d put this more in general (women’s) fiction as it is Rachel’s story and her growth more than a romance. It is told entirely from Rachel’s POV, and is closed door for intimacy. The story has some funny moments but not nearly as much as the blurb suggests. Rachel is hard to like in the first half of the book. And Christopher's grand gesture didn’t seem realistic. I liked seeing how the book is a modernized P&P. And I liked the cover too. I wish there was more of Christopher and Rachel together building a romance.

Let's start with what I liked: For the most part, Rachel's friends were fleshed out, interesting characters, as was Rachel's sister. I also liked the group chat/friend group concept here and how the actual group texts were shown on the page, it was a fun concept and I love when texts are formatted to look like texts on the page.

What I didn't like: I was expecting this to be much more romance heavy than it was, but it definitely leans more general/women's fiction. Rachel and the male main character interacted only a handful of times before he declared his love for her, which felt rushed, and he wasn't really in the majority of the book. Most of the book felt like just Rachel being a bad friend and then being upset when her friends didn't tell her important stuff about their lives, and the little character growth she does experience sort of came out of nowhere for me. I love messy characters, but without actual growth it doesn't work for me. There were also a lot of side plots going on that none of them really felt concluded or explored enough. I also really really didn't like the entire making fun of sexual assault plot line.

This was a Jewish retelling of Pride and Prejudice with some major laugh-out-loud moments. The Lizzie character (Rachel) was pretty unhinged but part of the plot was that she realized she needed to improve herself and not be so self-absorbed. I feel like the Darcy character (Christopher) didn’t get a lot of on-page time, so that was a little disappointing. But it was also all told from Rachel’s POV in first-person, so that tracks. Overall, it was an entertaining read and kept me glued to my Kindle all day.

Rachel Weiss's Group Chat by Lauren Appelbaum was such a fun opposites attract rom-com. A sweet and heartwarming story on how important friendship is, and learning to open your heart.
An endearing and entertaining debut that I very much enjoyed.
The writing was well done and the characters stuck with me.
A quick read. And I will definitely be checking out her upcoming titles in the future.

Thank You NetGalley and Forever for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The production and narration in this audiobook were excellent, with the narrator really bringing the characters to life through well-timed sighs and expressions of frustration that added depth to the story. That said, the portrayal of Rachel occasionally felt a bit shrill, which seemed like an artistic choice but might not work for everyone. I’d recommend giving the sample a listen to see if it clicks for you!

✨The Highlights✨
- Enemies to lovers
- Opposites attract
- Insta-love
- Female friendship vibes
- Jewish rep

✨The Feels✨
If you're looking for a laugh-out-loud ride through life's messiest moments, *Rachel Weiss' Group Chat* delivers. Rachel is a chaotic disaster—witty but super self-absorbed, making you shake your head while still rooting for her. She reminds me of a sexy, Jewish Bridget Jones. Her group chat with the girls? Heartwarming and hilarious! And her mom? Major eyerolls. Christopher, the sweet tech bro “next door”, needed more page time imho and their romance was very insta-love.

There are definitely some questionable moments that gave me the ick, but overall, this book is incredibly funny, cheeky, and full of heart. Just don’t expect a typical romance and you’ll have a good time laughing at the madness that is Rachel’s life.

✨The Spoiler-Free Details✨
Rachel Weiss is 30, stuck in a job she hates, and her love life is a mess—oh, and her mom’s trying to set her up with the annoying new neighbor’s son. But as they start exchanging DMs, Rachel begins to realize maybe there's more to him than meets the eye.

In Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat, Rachel was constantly sharing every last detail of her life with her friends on a group chat, all while dealing with her pushy mom trying to get her married. It was a take on Pride and Prejudice with opposites attract and daughters being urged to get married. This was an entertaining read with a bunch of laugh out loud moments. Rachel’s mom was a bit too over the top and fed into too many stereotypes for me but setting that aside, I loved the bantering with her friends and her sisters. And I love text chains breaking up chapters.

I really wanted to love this book, but alas, it was not meant to be. I found the FMC to be extremely unlikable, which made the book really difficult to get into. Ultimately, I didn't really connect with the story as much as I wanted, so it ended up being only an okay read for me.

Rachel Weiss's Group Chat by Lauren Appelbaum is a fun and funny, millennial retelling of Pride and Prejudice (and let me tell you I am always here for a P&P story).

Appelbaum’s debut novel offers an intriguing take on the classic, and I really appreciated the character development of Rachel (our FMC), who starts off as a self-absorbed party girl more focused on her looks and social life than on those around her. It was heartening to see her transformation, especially in her relationships with her older sister Jane and her close friend Sumira, as she begins to prioritize personal growth and genuine connections.

The romance between Rachel and Christopher, punctuated by his grand gestures, was genuinely touching and evoked the classic Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy dynamic. I enjoyed the modern twists and character dynamics, but some of the Pride and Prejudice elements felt a bit heavy handed. That being said, some character, like Jane, Sumira, and Mr. Weiss, added such loveliness to the story.

Overall, Rachel Weiss's Group Chat offers a modern, heartfelt twist on beloved themes, making it fun read at times, and tender at others.

Thank you so much, Forever, NetGalley, and Lauren Appelbaum for this early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.


I will be sharing a review of this book on 9/26/24 on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professorrachelreads/

Publication Date: September 24th, 2024


Publication: September 24th, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lauren Appelbaum’s Group Chat is a heartwarming and captivating story about friendship, digital connections, and the ups and downs of life in the modern world. The story skillfully weaves together multiple perspectives, making it relatable to anyone who has experienced the chaos and joy of group chats with friends. What stands out is how each character feels distinct yet interconnected, offering both humor and poignant moments that keep the narrative engaging.

I read the e-arc along with the audiobook

Thank You Netgalley and Forever

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. this was a short book, with a sprinkle of romance. rachel is on the cusp of turning 30, and her life, as well as her friends lives are evolving as it does when you mature and go through different life stages.

i found myself laughing throughout and i think Lauren Appelbaum has a fun writing style that brings the reader into the story. i did wish it was a little longer, only because i felt surprised that it ended so quickly, it kinda left me wanting a little more!

i will say that rachel is 100% a hot mess, but her journey to maturity and finding her independence & self is incredibly entertaining! but she’s still messy and a bit annoying at times lol 🙃 so if you like a good character arc and interpersonal relationships, i think you’ll enjoy this one!

the similarities to pride and prejudice were fun & not too much!

thanks so much NetGalley & Forever for this arc!

I requested this book because it was pitched as a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Alas it was not. The main character Rachel was unbearable. I found her immature and ridiculous making silly decisions and self sabotaging herself. She is no Elizabeth Bennett. The romance was secondary to the friendship group and Rachel's personal struggles. I stopped reading about halfway through as I was not engaged at all. Sorry to say this was not for me. But thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the early peak.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to review this book (I also listened while reading).
Unfortunately, this book and "story" didn’t resonate with me at all. If it was supposed to be satire then I'd find it more enjoyable because I'd gone into it with a different set of expectations. I found the main character annoying and unbearable, making it hard for me to stay engaged. The female lead was extremely irritating, and the supporting characters were flat and lacked depth. The mother got on my nerves from the very beginning and it did not get any better. This felt more like a satire because I couldn't believe these characters and this “story” could exist in real life. Overall, it was not a good listen/read for me.

Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat is a modern take on Pride and Prejudice. Lauren Applebaum’s adaptation is filled with witty dialogue and strong friendships, but ultimately it’s an uneven story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rachel Weiss is approaching 30, and isn’t sure what happens next. She’s good at her tech support job, but is that what she wants to do with her life? She has great friends, even though they tend to overshare. But her mother is obsessed with her finding a husband, and she has the perfect candidate: Christopher Butkus, who just bought his parents the house next door. Rachel thinks she doesn’t need another rich tech bro in her life, but she’s fed up with dating apps. Soon she and Christopher end up running into each other all over Seattle. Will it be enough to form a connection?

There are lots of call backs to Pride and Prejudice in this story. Rachel is strong and sure of herself, and while she might not have a boyfriend, she makes the most of being single. At first, she and Christopher manage to say all the wrong things to each other. Christopher comes off as quietly awkward more than cocky, though, and Rachel taking offense to what he says feels forced.

But the reader doesn’t get to see much of Christopher, and it’s tough to form an attachment to him. Rachel’s relationship with her friends in the group chat is a larger focus than the romance; look, it’s right there in the title. So I shouldn’t have gone into this story with the expectation of it being a romance. It’s more of a women’s fiction book with a romance subplot.

I was excited when I heard this book had Jewish rep, but I was disappointed at the way it played out in the story. Most of it feels mean spirited. Rachel’s mom in particular plays into every Jewish mother stereotype in the least flattering ways.

Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat is a creative, modern take on Pride and Prejudice. The strong female friendships, and the quips and banter are entertaining. If you are looking for a story with an intriguing and sometimes unlikable main character, this book fits the bill.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sorry to say but this book wasn't for me.

The FMC... where to begin with? She acted like a child & acted self-sabotaging. Wanted to like the MMc because he didn't necessarily didn't have any flaws but he kinda came across as boring.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.