This charming retelling of MY FAIR LADY is a must-listen! The story opens on 1830s England, where listeners are introduced to Elijah Little, Helena Higgins, and Penelope Pickering. Helena and Penelope are chefs-in-training, and Elijah is a food seller who becomes their project as they attempt to turn him into the next gentlemen chef. With echoes of the original story, this update also includes a focus on the cultural and religious backgrounds of the characters, which helps to deepen listeners' connections to their experiences. Curtis is engaging and utterly believable as she voices the range of characters and transports listeners with her descriptions of food and personal growth. Listeners will be drawn into the captivating friendships, relationships, and culinary achievements presented. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
My Fine Fellow
Narrated by Hannah Curtis
Jennieke CohenUnabridged — 9 hours, 59 minutes
My Fine Fellow
Narrated by Hannah Curtis
Jennieke CohenUnabridged — 9 hours, 59 minutes
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Overview
Culinary delights abound, romance lingers in the air, and plans go terribly, wonderfully astray in this gender-bent take on My Fair Lady from Jennieke Cohen, author of Dangerous Alliance-perfect for fans of Bridgerton or A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue.
It's 1830s England, and Culinarians-doyens who consult with society's elite to create gorgeous food and confections-are the crème de la crème of high society.
Helena Higgins, top of her class at the Royal Academy, has a sharp demeanor and an even sharper palate-and knows stardom awaits her if she can produce greatness in her final year.
Penelope Pickering is going to prove the value of non-European cuisine to all of England. Her contemporaries may scorn her Filipina heritage and her dishes, but with her flawless social graces and culinary talents, Penelope is set to prove them wrong.
Elijah Little has nothing to his name but a truly excellent instinct for flavors. London merchants won't allow a Jewish boy to own a shop, so he hawks his pasties for a shilling a piece to passersby-but he knows with training he can break into the highest echelon of society.
When Penelope and Helena meet Elijah, a golden opportunity arises: to pull off a project never seen before, and turn Elijah from a street vendor to a gentleman chef.
But Elijah's transformation will have a greater impact on this trio than they originally realize-and mayhem, unseemly faux pas, and a little romance will all be a part of the delicious recipe.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Editorial Reviews
★ 12/06/2021
Filled with delectable dishes and an inclusive cast, Cohen’s (Dangerous Alliance) gender-bent My Fair Lady retelling centers a cooking competition in 1830s London. At London’s Royal Academy of Culinaria Artisticus—which trains cooks and food consultants to society’s elite—aspiring Culinarian Lady Helena Higgins is at the top of her class. Though her “sharp tongue offended nearly everyone she met,” she’s determined to prove, in a world in which Princess Charlotte has succeeded George IV as England’s monarch, that she is not only the finest Culinarian in Britain, but that women can sustain themselves professionally and that people from any background can “be improved by the right teachings.” As final-year students, presumed-white Helena and her best friend Penelope Pickering, whose mother is Filipina and father is white and English, must each present a project that showcases their abilities; the most outstanding will become highly sought-after Culinarians. While Penelope seeks to emphasize international cuisine’s flavors, Helena, after meeting gifted Elijah Little, a white Jewish street vendor whose family fled Bavaria to escape anti-Semitism, determines to transform Elijah into an amateur gentleman chef. Weaving the original source material with relevant social commentary, Cohen creates memorable characters struggling to find their place in a prejudicial world, while alternating viewpoints add depth to the backdrop of this historical culinary treat. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jennifer Unter, the Unter Agency. (Jan.)
"Jennieke Cohen serves up a fun dish of a novel with a healthy sprinkle of feminism. MY FINE FELLOW is fresh as the rain in Spain." — Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author
“A sparkling retelling of My Fair Lady set in an alternate 1830s London… readers will connect to both Penelope’s and Elijah’s desires to remain true to themselves in a world that would prefer them to stay on the margins.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Filled with delectable dishes and an inclusive cast... Weaving the original source material with relevant social commentary, Cohen creates memorable characters struggling to find their place in a prejudicial world, while alternating viewpoints add depth to the backdrop of this historical culinary treat." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Jennieke Cohen dishes up an irresistible YA historical romance with a Filipina-British heroine at its heart who breathes fresh life into this gender-flipped My Fair Lady reimagining." — Alexa Donne, author of The Ivies and The Stars We Steal
"Cohen has done it again! Fans of My Fair Lady will eat up this delicious peek into the London elite that could have been. Glittering ballrooms, complex friendships, extravagant kitchens, and budding romance make this historical rom-com an indulgence as nuanced as it is delectable. A true treat!"— — Tobie Easton, award-winning author of the Mer Chronicles series
“A charming historical romp and fitting tribute to My Fair Lady. With pitch-perfect prose and a sly, observant voice, Jennieke Cohen serves up a spectacularly unique rom-com confection. I absolutely loved it!” — Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow
"A delightful celebration of history, heritage, and haute cuisine that pays tribute to George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion while telling an entirely original tale. I think it would leave Shaw smiling. And also very, very hungry." — Jacqueline Firkins, author of Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things and How Not to Fall in Love
“A delectable treat of a novel.” — Bustle, Best YA Books Out in 2022
“A delightful YA historical romance with a Jewish twist… a retelling you won’t want to miss.” — Hey Alma
“Especially delicious.” — Horn Book Magazine
"[This] story’s more than a simple retelling; it’s a refreshing remix of well-loved ingredients, sure to please." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for Dangerous Alliance: “With a whimsical nod to Jane Austen and a charming pairing to root for, Dangerous Alliance brings the best of Regency romance to young adult. Perfect for fans wanting more after the credits roll on Netflix's Bridgerton. A delight!” — Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
“Contemporary fans of the Austen novels and their screen adaptations will relish this rousing, late Georgian romance.” — Booklist
“While Vicky takes center stage, interspersed perspectives from other characters, including those of Sherborne and his half-sister, deepen the story’s themes… Frequent references to then-popular novels and a thoughtful historical note add additional context to this spirited romp.” — Publishers Weekly
“Charming and fun. Replete with intrigue, grand parties, and romantic entanglements, fans of Jane Austen will positively devour this book.” — Jessica Cluess, author of A Shadow Bright and Burning
“Romance fans and Jane Austen devotees will devour this delicious Regency romp.” — Alexa Donne, author of Brightly Burning and The Stars We Steal
“Bathed in Cohen’s richly textured language, Dangerous Alliance boldly shines a light on issues women struggled with historically: abuse, obstruction, and dominance. A timeless story.” — Shelley Sackier, author of The Antidote and The Freemason’s Daughter
“A fresh, enchanting addition to the historical fiction genre! The perfect read for fans of Jane Austen and Downton Abbey!” — Tobie Easton, award winning author of the Mer Chronicles series
“The perfect combination of mystery, intriguing characters, surprising action, and delightful romance. I loved every single word.” — Samantha Hastings, author of The Last Word
"A delightful celebration of history, heritage, and haute cuisine that pays tribute to George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion while telling an entirely original tale. I think it would leave Shaw smiling. And also very, very hungry."
A charming historical romp and fitting tribute to My Fair Lady. With pitch-perfect prose and a sly, observant voice, Jennieke Cohen serves up a spectacularly unique rom-com confection. I absolutely loved it!”
"Cohen has done it again! Fans of My Fair Lady will eat up this delicious peek into the London elite that could have been. Glittering ballrooms, complex friendships, extravagant kitchens, and budding romance make this historical rom-com an indulgence as nuanced as it is delectable. A true treat!"—
"Jennieke Cohen dishes up an irresistible YA historical romance with a Filipina-British heroine at its heart who breathes fresh life into this gender-flipped My Fair Lady reimagining."
A delectable treat of a novel.
Especially delicious.”
A delightful YA historical romance with a Jewish twist… a retelling you won’t want to miss.
"Jennieke Cohen serves up a fun dish of a novel with a healthy sprinkle of feminism. MY FINE FELLOW is fresh as the rain in Spain."
Praise for Dangerous Alliance: “With a whimsical nod to Jane Austen and a charming pairing to root for, Dangerous Alliance brings the best of Regency romance to young adult. Perfect for fans wanting more after the credits roll on Netflix's Bridgerton. A delight!
Contemporary fans of the Austen novels and their screen adaptations will relish this rousing, late Georgian romance.
Contemporary fans of the Austen novels and their screen adaptations will relish this rousing, late Georgian romance.
Charming and fun. Replete with intrigue, grand parties, and romantic entanglements, fans of Jane Austen will positively devour this book.
Bathed in Cohen’s richly textured language, Dangerous Alliance boldly shines a light on issues women struggled with historically: abuse, obstruction, and dominance. A timeless story.
The perfect combination of mystery, intriguing characters, surprising action, and delightful romance. I loved every single word.
Charming and fun. Replete with intrigue, grand parties, and romantic entanglements, fans of Jane Austen will positively devour this book.
This charming retelling of MY FAIR LADY is a must-listen! The story opens on 1830s England, where listeners are introduced to Elijah Little, Helena Higgins, and Penelope Pickering. Helena and Penelope are chefs-in-training, and Elijah is a food seller who becomes their project as they attempt to turn him into the next gentlemen chef. With echoes of the original story, this update also includes a focus on the cultural and religious backgrounds of the characters, which helps to deepen listeners' connections to their experiences. Curtis is engaging and utterly believable as she voices the range of characters and transports listeners with her descriptions of food and personal growth. Listeners will be drawn into the captivating friendships, relationships, and culinary achievements presented. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
★ 2021-10-13
A sparkling retelling of My Fair Ladyset in an alternate 1830s London in which Princess Charlotte lives to become queen.
Helena Higgins and Penelope Pickering are top students at the Royal Academy of Culinaria Artisticus who dream of being culinary consultants for England’s moneyed elite. While Helena is known for her bossy nature and discerning palate, Penelope specializes in drawing on international flavors to create memorable dishes. While shopping at Covent Garden, they come across street peddler Elijah Little, whose “Faraway Pasties”—actually empanadas—leave Helena convinced that with some polish she can turn Elijah into a sought-after gentleman chef. Cohen strikes a compelling balance between paying homage to her source material and telling a new story about two outsiders trying to make their marks in a deeply prejudicial society. Penelope’s White English father and Filipina mother live abroad in order to protect their White-passing child’s prospects. Orphaned Elijah’s family fled to England from Bavaria to escape antisemitism. Cohen seamlessly weaves historical facts about England’s Jewish communities throughout her novel, and readers will connect to both Penelope’s and Elijah’s desires to remain true to themselves in a world that would prefer them to stay on the margins.
A compelling novel that showcases the diversity of 19th-century England. (recipe, historical note) (Historical fiction. 14-18)
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940176061796 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins |
| Publication date: | 01/11/2022 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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