Review: A Sweet, Witty, and Medium-Paced Modern Day Retelling of Pride & Prejudice
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 5, 2013
My Thoughts:I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice.  My heart just melts every time I watch the movie.  It is not only a classic, but one of my absolute favorite's of all time.  When I found out that Definitely, Maybe Love was a modern day retelling of this classic, I was desperate to read it.Definitely, Maybe Love is about Spring Honeycutt, an Environmental Earth Science major, who is working on her college thesis on sustainability.  This is a subject that Spring feels very passionate about.  Her advisor tells her that she need another view point in order to make her paper stronger, and suggests that she work with someone who can give her the other side of the argument.  Enter Henry Knightly, Spring's new neighbor.  He drives a Viper, and comes from old money that was procured from his family's various land development projects.  He represents everything that Spring detests in the world.  However, you can't always control who you fall in love with.  These two have intense chemistry, and are both highly intelligent.  They love debating their opinions with one another, and Henry enjoys pushing Spring's buttons on purpose.  The more time they end up spending together, the more it become's apparent that they are falling in love with each other.  However, these two have many obstacles to overcome if they want to be together.  The top obstacles are Spring's Pride, and the lack of communication between the two of them.Reflecting back on my reading experience, I have some mixed thoughts on this story.  Overall, I enjoyed this book, and could see the connection to Pride and Prejudice.  Spring Honeycutt and Henry Knightly had a very interesting relationship.  I loved there witty banter, and the educated debates that that they regularly engaged in.  There was a lot of passion, and anticipation between these two characters.  I wanted them to set aside there pride, and admit their feelings to one another.  However, it frustrated me that these two went back and forth with each other so much.  I desperately wanted them to communicate with each other, and stop the merry go round.  It was a little difficult for me to really connect with Spring.  She seemed a bit like a "know it all" at times, and she always had to prove a point, even at the detriment of herself.  She wasn't a very flexible character when it came to listening to other people's opinions and compromising.Henry and Spring both misjudged each other from the beginning.  However, I felt like Henry really started to let his defenses down, and he really listened to Spring.  It was obvious pretty early on that he had strong feelings for her, and wanted to be with her.  On the other hand, Spring kept resisting him, and this drove me crazy.  Even when her best friend, Melanie, and good friend and room mate, Julia, tried to let Spring know how she came across, Spring still didn't see it.  I would have liked some steamier scenes in this story.  There were a few little kisses here and there, but it felt like there wasn't any steaminess until the end of the story.  I kept waiting for these two to get together, and got frustrated with how long it took.I loved the secondary characters in this story.  Mel was independent, loyal, caring, and such a great friend.  Julia was very sweet, conservative, innocent, and vulnerable.  Dart, Henry's best friend was such a fun loving, and kind guy.  Lilah, Darts younger sister, was jealous, conniving, manipulative, and the perfect antagonist.  All of these characters really contributed to the storyline.  I became attached to them, and felt like I knew them.Definitely, Maybe Love was a medium-paced story.  Certain parts of the story went really fast, while other parts dragged for me.  At times, I felt like there was too much description, and conversation.  I wanted more action.  I give this story 3 Sweet, Witty, and Longing for Love Stars!My Favorite Quotes:"I feel like tonight is Christmas and my birthday," he whispered.  "And I just got everything on my list.  That is how I'm feeling."  (eARC, Loc. 2134)~Henry"Being in love felt different than I thought it would.  I wasn't giving up a part of me or sacrificing what I thought I was in order to love him.  I'd gained, I'd unfolded....evolved."  (eARC, Loc. 3362)~Spring*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape