I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
I have loved reading Curtis Sittenfeld’s books ever since I picked up the American Wife and couldn’t put it down. You can check out my review HERE for that one. I’m so embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve never read Pride & Prejudice. Me, the bookworm, has never read it. I mention this because Eligible is an updated version of Pride & Prejudice set in modern times.
I loved this story! Liz is the late 30-something Bennett sister who flies back home to Cincinnati from her fabulous job as a writer at Mascara magazine in New York. She’s accompanied by her almost 40 sister, Jane, who also lives in New York as a yoga instructor. The three youngest sisters still live at home with mom and dad. Mr. Bennett has just had a triple bypass, and when Liz arrives, she realizes their home and lives are in disrepair. At the same time, Mrs. Bennett is determined to get at least one of her daughter’s married off, even if it means to one of their own cousins!
Liz meets Darcy at a summer party and can’t stand him. He’s a successful neurologist at the local hospital. She’s been seeing a married man and has no interest in Darcy, whatsoever. But, they just keep running into each other.
Did I say I loved this story? I read this one n 2 days as I could not put it down. You just want to be a little fly on the wall for all that happens with the Bennetts. I couldn’t read fast enough because I had to know if the tension between Darcy and Liz was going to end up more than either of them expected. They kept just missing each other in so many ways. As you read it, and the climax comes at someone else’s wedding, you just want to tie them together with a big red bow. I had tears when they finally get a moment to themselves at the wedding.
I also loved how the epilogues, and there were about three I think that finished up everyone’s stories. I just love when it’s all packaged up so perfectly at the end.
This one has so many great parts. If you love chick lit where there’s a lovely happy ending, you’ll love this one. It’s an easy read, great for the beach, and totally enjoyable. Along the way, you’ll want to tear your hair out, but the end feels very satisfying. I highly recommend this one!