Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz
Published by: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: October 17, 2017
Pages: 225
Format: hardcover | Source: gift
Genres: adult, contemporary romance, retelling
Rating: 

Darcy Fitzwilliam is 29, beautiful, successful, and brilliant. She dates hedge funders and basketball stars and is never without her three cellphones—one for work, one for play, and one to throw at her assistant (just kidding). Darcy’s never fallen in love, never has time for anyone else’s drama, and never goes home for Christmas if she can help it. But when her mother falls ill, she comes home to Pemberley, Ohio, to spend the season with her dad and little brother.

Her parents throw their annual Christmas bash, where she meets one Luke Bennet, the smart, sardonic slacker son of their neighbor. Luke is 32 and has never left home. He’s a carpenter and makes beautiful furniture, and is content with his simple life. He comes from a family of five brothers, each one less ambitious than the other. When Darcy and Luke fall into bed after too many eggnogs, Darcy thinks it’s just another one night stand. But why can’t she stop thinking of Luke? What is it about him? And can she fall in love, or will her pride and his prejudice against big-city girls stand in their way?

I was so disappointed with this book! Darcy is truly unlikeable in an almost comical way. She spends most of her time talking about how rich she is and looking down on the people who stayed in her hometown, with no small amount of girl hate. We don’t really get to see the interesting vulnerable side of her that makes you root for Mr. Darcy despite his selfish and rude tendencies. It also didn’t feel much like a true P&P retelling aside from the name choices. Everything was rushed in the most condensed time frame possible, and slightly ridiculous not to mention the cliches including a gay best friend (who somehow doesn’t mind that Darcy hasn’t been in touch in 7 years?). I gave it two stars because I liked some of the cozy Christmas imagery but this was a miss for me.

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pub Date: December 5, 2017
Pages: 320
Format: hardcover | Source: purchased
Genres: young adult, contemporary
Rating: 

A contemporary novel about a girl whose high school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream leads her to new friends—and maybe even new love.

The day of the last party of the summer, Claudia overhears a conversation she wasn’t supposed to. Now on the wrong side of one of the meanest girls in school, Claudia doesn’t know what to expect when the two are paired up to write a paper—let alone when they’re both forced to try out for the school production ofA Midsummer Night’s Dream.

But mandatory participation has its upsides—namely, an unexpected friendship, a boy band obsession, and a guy with the best dimpled smile Claudia’s ever seen. As Claudia’s world starts to expand, she finds that maybe there are some things worth sticking her neck out for.

Sometimes the hardest books to review are your favorite books. And as much as I loved First & Then and This Adventure Ends, I think Foolish Hearts is my favorite Emma Mills book. I loved it SO much from the very first page: the burgeoning friendships, Gideon the space prince, Iris and Claudia bonding over the band that gave me 1D feels, just. All of it. I saved so many quotes! It was super wonderful and relatable and sweet. I also connected SO much with Claudia’s descent into band fandom! I loved the messages about finding your people and embracing what you love wholeheartedly. Every character was nuanced and had purpose within the story; I loved how each orbit would intersect with one another. There are so many touching family moments and friendship growth moments. I can’t say enough good things about this wonderful book ❤

Have you read either of these winter releases? Are you a big Emma Mills fan like I am?