Yes, it was the name that initially caught my eye, but I think I like the original title better.
This book sucked me in more than any in a long, long while - but after I finished and went to the bookstore to purchase my very own copy - I talked myself out of buying it. Now, it's very likely I was simply feeling stingy - or maybe it's the weight of those TBR boxes in the corner of my bedroom. I loved this novel as I was reading it. But maybe it's like when you watch hours and hours of a TV show and get so sucked in to the characters (and let's face it, the love story) then after it's finished you have a bit of an entertainment hangover and only time will tell whether it was truly worthy of your emotions.
"The Man Who Loved P &P" feels like three different books in one. First the modernization of "Pride & Prejudice" - Contemporary New England, a feisty heroine Cassie, this time a marine biologist and a proud misunderstood man, Calder, a published author who comes from a prestigious political (Republican) family. He's rich - she isn't - she's actually very ashamed of her background, the journey of her acceptance provides a layer of depth to the story completely separate from any Austen references. I'd have to say this was my favorite section, falling in love but fighting it every step of the way.
Next, Calder (Darcy) writes Cassie and himself into a modern retelling of P&P - entirely from Darcy's perspective. While I always love to hear the hero's side of things it does take you out of their story a bit.
Finally, the third section of the novel shows Cassie and Calder struggling against work and family to find their happiness together. Reynolds' author bio says she's working on a sequel, and I for one am excited to read it. I'd love to see this couple work create a family on their own terms and find out how Cassie deals with what seems to be an inevitable (Democratic) political future for Calder.
Reynolds style and narrative swept me along for a roller coaster of emotions, but the POV confused me a bit. I'd say 70 % of the book from Cassie's perspective, the P&P section from Calder's, however there are a few times even in the beginning that Reynolds jumps inside Calder's head for a paragraph or two and then right back into Cassie's. However, this was a minor detail overall that didn't hurt the story.
It's been a few days since finishing and my trip to the mall and I do think it will be a keeper.
When I re-read I rarely go start to finish - it's scenes I love and this one has some great ones.
