ARC Review: A Date with Darcy (Bookish Boyfriends #1) by Tiffany Schmidt
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Series: Bookish Boyfriends #1
Author: Tiffany Schmidt
Published May 1st 2018 by Amulet Paperbacks
Goodreads Synopsis
Boys are so much better in books. At least according to Merrilee Campbell, fifteen, who thinks real-life chivalry is dead and there’d be nothing more romantic than having a guy woo her like the heroes in classic stories. Then she, her best friend, Eliza, and her younger sister, Rory, transfer to Reginald R. Hero Prep—where all the boys look like they've stepped off the pages of a romance novel. Merri can hardly walk across the quad without running into someone who reminds her of Romeo.
When the brooding and complicated Monroe Stratford scales Merri’s trellis in an effort to make her his, she thinks she might be Juliet incarnate. But as she works her way through her literature curriculum under the guidance of an enigmatic teacher, Merri’s tale begins to unfold in ways she couldn’t have imagined. Merri soon realizes that only she is in charge of her story. And it is a truth universally acknowledged that first impressions can be deceiving...
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
I'd had this book for over a year before I picked it up, and, honestly, I'm kicking myself for that because it was just so good! I knew going in that there would be some element of Pride and Prejudice retelling - which is my favourite classic, and any retelling will automatically draw me in - but also have a hint of Romeo & Juliet in too. Boy, was that an understatement! Merrilee is starting at a new prestigious school, Reginald R. Hero Prep, because her oldest sister (Lilly) is marrying the son of a senator. Because she and younger sister, Rory, are late additions, and also seem to have skipped the usual waiting list, they have some haters as soon as they start, including the headteacher's son, Fielding. However, Merri is such a prolific reader of romances, and the brooding boy she saw on day one, Monroe, intrigues her, and soon they get together. In English class, with Ms. Gregoire, the books seem to come alive, and while reading Romeo & Juliet, Merri starts to think she is living the play, with her in the titular role, and Monroe playing a very obsessive Romeo. She doesn't connect with the book as much as she, or Ms. Gregoire, wanted, so they decide she should move onto Jane Austen's greatest work. This book connects so much more with Merri, and as she and Fielding overcome their differences, and grow closer, it seems as if she has met her Darcy, after all.
Merri was such a fun character! I loved how wishful she was in her romances, and how much she cared for all of her friends. Eliza, her best female friend, is a genius, and very matter of fact, but they care for each other so much, and being at school together is perfect for them. Merri's male best friend, Toby, is a bit more complicated. He is her next door neighbour, and has had a crush on Merri for years, but is firmly in the friend zone, and it seems to be working. Both Toby and Eliza don't really get on - both too jealous of the attention the other is getting off Merri - but they will be civil for her case. Both of her sisters are wonderful characters too, and I'm glad the second book will be Rory's story, because I have so many questions I need answering about her, especially considering events towards the end of this book. I also need to make a special mention to Ms. Gregoire too, as if I had had an English teacher like her at school, I might have actually liked the subject. She honestly cared about her pupils, and I don't know if she is actually magic or what, but she just understands the pupils so well!
Now, onto the romances. I'll talk about Monroe first, mainly because of how much I hated him. From the get go, he just keeps appearing at Merri's window, and is completely obsessive over her. He's texting all of the time, won't listen to her, and doesn't want to talk; instead he just wants to kiss all of the time. When Merri finally gets rid of him, I wanted to cheer, but that wasn't the last we saw of him. No spoilers, but if you know P&P, you'll probably be able to guess what role he fulfilled, and he did it so well! Fielding, on the other hand, was the perfect Darcy! From the first few connections we see of him and Merri, he insults her, makes a comment about not wanting to see her, is completely aloof, and then embarrasses us all by asking her out in the most insulting manner. When the iconic email arrives, I even felt myself swooning a bit, so completely understand why Merri starts to, too. Every interaction between them is sparking with chemistry, and I just hope in book 2, The Boy Next Story, we see more of them, because they are my OTP for this book, and likely the whole series!
Dates Read:
July 23-24, 2019
Rating
4 Stars
July 23-24, 2019
Rating
4 Stars
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