Publishers Weekly
06/24/2024
Bellezza and Harding put a beachy spin on Pride and Prejudice in their breezy second For the Love of Austen romance (after Emma of 83rd Street). Avid surfer Lizzy Bennet, 25, puts her dream of being a foreign affairs correspondent on hold after her father has a health scare, devoting all of her time and energy to her chaotic but lovable working-class family and their struggling bakery. Lizzy loves her seaside home in East Hampton—but she loathes tourist season, when the rich and famous overrun the town. This year, that means the arrival of the haughty and insufferable Will Darcy. As Lizzy’s older sister, Jane, and Will’s best friend, Charlie, fall for each other, a misunderstanding on the Fourth of July pulls Lizzy and Will into their undercurrent. The authors add lots of fun flourishes to their otherwise fairly straight retelling, including a tropical storm and plenty of small-town gossip. The romance itself works well, but the real highlight is the interactions among Lizzy, her sisters, and the flighty and impulsive Mrs. Bennet. Austenites will be over the moon. Agent: Joëlle Delbourgo. Joëlle Delbourgo Assoc. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"Bellezza and Harding put a beachy spin on Pride and Prejudice... Austenites will be over the moon."
—Publishers Weekly
"Escape to summer in the Hamptons—a Hamptons bakery to be exact—via the pages of Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding’s latest page turner. A charming, modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, this sun- and sugar-soaked novel will delight even the most discerning Jane Austen fan. Readers will be enchanted—and are sure to add this talented duo to their list of auto-buy authors."
—Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling Author of A Happier Life
"Elizabeth of East Hampton proves that the only thing better than an east coast beach read is an east coast beach read that doubles as an irresistibly fresh take on the ultimate enemies-to-lovers romance. Endlessly charming and more delicious than the famous sour cherry muffins from Bennet's Bakery—which I'm still drooling over—this Hamptons-set romp is guaranteed to delight both die-hard Janeites and P&P virgins alike!"—Nicolas DiDomizio, author of The Gay Best Friend
"Equal parts poignant and hilariously witty, Elizabeth of East Hampton captures all the charm of Jane Austen's beloved Pride & Prejudice and makes it fresh and new!"—Liana De La Rosa, author of Isabel and the Fox
"Lovers of Jane Austen and romance, rejoice! Bellezza and Harding have taken the bright, tender spirit of Elizabeth and Darcy's romance and transmuted it to the contemporary world, along with fresh, infinitely amusing interpretations of one of the most ridiculous and lovable families in literature, the Bennets."—Kate Khavari, author of A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons
Praise for Audrey and Emily's debut, Emma of 83rd Street
"[A] charming debut... The authors bring plenty of wit to this classic friends-to-lovers tale. Readers will fall in love with Emma Woodhouse all over again."—Publishers Weekly
"Belleza and Harding have created a glamorous romp that is heartfelt, steamy, and romantic... For fans of the movie Clueless and retellings of classics."—Library Journal
"A great summer beach read...From its Lilly Pulitzer-colored cover to its Blair Waldorf-type protagonist, this book should be purchased immediately because it’s going to ride off shelves like a vintage Jaguar with the top down."—Bookreporter
“The best romantic comedy I’ve ever read. A sparkling take on Emma that would make Jane Austen proud.”—Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author of Made in Manhattan
“Emma of 83rd Street is a compulsive page-turner with excellent slow-burn tension. A friends-to-lovers instant favorite!”—Sarah Hogle, author of You Deserve Each Other
"Delightfully modern and compulsively readable, Emma of 83rd Street made my Clueless-loving heart sing—a knockout debut!"—Angie Hockman, author of Shipped
“A delightful, modern twist on Jane Austen's Emma...The crackling tension between him [Knightley] and Emma drives the story, but as in Austen's original, the relationship also leads both characters to some critical self-examination. Bellezza and Harding balance the introspection with a healthy dose of New York glitz...as with all Austen adaptations, the joy—and there's plenty of it—is definitely in the journey.”—Shelf Awareness
"Elizabeth of East Hampton proves that the only thing better than an east coast beach read is an east coast beach read that doubles as an irresistibly fresh take on the ultimate enemies-to-lovers romance. Endlessly charming and more delicious than the famous sour cherry muffins from Bennet's Bakery—which I'm still drooling over—this Hamptons-set romp is guaranteed to delight both die-hard Janeites and P&P virgins alike!"—Nicolas DiDomizio, author of The Gay Best Friend
"Equal parts poignant and hilariously witty, Elizabeth of East Hampton captures all the charm of Jane Austen's beloved Pride & Prejudice and makes it fresh and new!"—Liana De La Rosa, author of Isabel and the Fox
"Lovers of Jane Austen and romance, rejoice! Bellezza and Harding have taken the bright, tender spirit of Elizabeth and Darcy's romance and transmuted it to the contemporary world, along with fresh, infinitely amusing interpretations of one of the most ridiculous and lovable families in literature, the Bennets."—Kate Khavari, author of A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons
Praise for Audrey and Emily's debut, Emma of 83rd Street
"[A] charming debut... The authors bring plenty of wit to this classic friends-to-lovers tale. Readers will fall in love with Emma Woodhouse all over again."—Publishers Weekly
"Belleza and Harding have created a glamorous romp that is heartfelt, steamy, and romantic... For fans of the movie Clueless and retellings of classics."—Library Journal
"A great summer beach read...From its Lilly Pulitzer-colored cover to its Blair Waldorf-type protagonist, this book should be purchased immediately because it’s going to ride off shelves like a vintage Jaguar with the top down."—Bookreporter
“The best romantic comedy I’ve ever read. A sparkling take on Emma that would make Jane Austen proud.”—Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author of Made in Manhattan
“Emma of 83rd Street is a compulsive page-turner with excellent slow-burn tension. A friends-to-lovers instant favorite!”—Sarah Hogle, author of You Deserve Each Other
"Delightfully modern and compulsively readable, Emma of 83rd Street made my Clueless-loving heart sing—a knockout debut!"—Angie Hockman, author of Shipped
“A delightful, modern twist on Jane Austen's Emma...The crackling tension between him [Knightley] and Emma drives the story, but as in Austen's original, the relationship also leads both characters to some critical self-examination. Bellezza and Harding balance the introspection with a healthy dose of New York glitz...as with all Austen adaptations, the joy—and there's plenty of it—is definitely in the journey.”—Shelf Awareness
