In A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King, Liz Bennet left her interior design career behind in California after 
a confidence-shattering event. Now ensconced in the NYC burlesque scene, she’s getting her mojo back one day–well, one night–at a time. Liz, aka “Kitten Caboodle” might not stand in the limelight at Meryton very often, but the friends she’s made there are the absolute best at helping a gal feel good about herself. Then there’s her day job as an admin in a local office. Liz sees it as a way to get her foot in the door of the business world again. But even there, where her boss and coworkers are a great bunch of people, she runs into a businessman who might not be on the up and up.
Charles smirks. “What about Kitten?”
“She’s thoroughly tolerable, but not enough to tempt me.”
A record scratch tears through my brain. Excuse me? I replay the comment, but there’s no room for interpretation. His emphasis was clear: good enough for some, but not him.
On a personal note, Liz becomes an instantly smitten Kitten when Will Darcy attends a show at Meryton. Handsome, a bit aloof, but with the most intense eyes she’s ever seen, he sadly seems to be put off by her involvement in burlesque. As Liz and Darcy cross paths time and again, neither can deny their attraction. Fighting it seems futile. But as she tries to jump start her design career while attempting to save her beloved Meryton at the same time, Liz can only hope that what’s blossoming between her and Darcy will shed some positivity into the other parts she’s struggling with in her life right now.
‘Moments like this remind me I’m more than “Kitten Caboodle.”
I’m Elizabeth Bennet.
And I’m invincible.’
A Certain Appeal was one of the more unique and entertaining retellings of Pride & Prejudice I’ve read so far. The NYC setting, with the backdrop of this being a burlesque theater, and the wonderfully offbeat cast–it all charmed me through and through.
‘I’m willing to entertain the possibility of redemption, if for no other reason than it would be a waste of such a gorgeous face for his personality to be so lacking.’
What a hoot A Certain Appeal was. It was this mashup of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice characters and their basic personal relationships but with a wholly modern vibe, set in a bustling city. Then there was the burlesque aspect. So much fun! I wasn’t sure at first how it would fit, but Vanessa King molded the classic story around it and even included some female empowerment. (Yay!) King did keep that old fashioned feeling of true burlesque, with the sexy outfits and the characters using verbiage that made me think of the 1920s. (ie: best gal, fella, gams, etc)
As with the original Austen book, Liz and Darcy had some serious quick-witted bantering going on. It paired perfectly with the smoldering attraction between them. And it made their tenuous relationship fairly complex where they both also had some trust issues. I definitely enjoyed the evolution of their romance. Darcy and Liz still had that classic play of frustration and heat tugging back and forth, driving them a little bit crazy until they finally sorted out their feelings–and figured out some things in their individual personal lives. I think readers will have a grand time watching Liz and Darcy fall for each other and seeing the way the awesome secondary characters each played a key role in how things turned out. (Jane and Ming were two of my faves) Definitely recommended for those who are looking for a retelling that’s a little off the beaten path.
QOTD: I found the burlesque setting fun and quite fascinating, with its focus on body positivity and the mix of humor and coyness. Have you read any books, seen movies, or know anyone who is part of that world?
Book Info:
Publication: November 2nd, 2021 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons |
A sparkling contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the tantalizing world of New York City burlesque, perfect for fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Roommate.
After a betrayal derailed her interior design career, Liz Bennet found a fresh start in New York. Now an executive assistant by day and stage kitten by night, she’s discovered a second home with the performers at Meryton, Manhattan’s top-tier burlesque venue. Love’s the last thing on her mind when she locks eyes with Will Darcy across the crowded club. The spark between them is undeniable–that is, until she overhears the uptight wealth manager call her merely “tolerable.”
Bennet is determined to write Darcy off, but once their besties fall head-over-heels, they’re thrown into each other’s orbit again and again. Each encounter begins to feel more heated than the last, but is their chemistry enough to topple that terrible first impression? What’s more, when a charming newcomer arrives on the scene with accusations against Darcy, his claims leave Bennet torn. And when a sudden development leaves Meryton’s fate in jeopardy, she will have to decide who to trust in time to salvage her design dreams, her heart, and the stage she shares with her found family…
