Review: Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding

What a charming little tale is Emma of 83rd Street, a sweet retelling of Jane Austen's Emma. Switching Regency England for 21st Century New York, we meet a thoroughly modern and thoroughly imperfect Emma Woodhouse. She lives in a close-knit upper east side community and following on from making a successful match of her sister with their best friend and neighbour, she soon sets her sights on other things ... with well, the kind of results that her conservative neighbour, George Knightley keeps trying to warn her about. 

This one is a charming read for Austen fans. Emma retellings are nothing new, but this one has such a fun spin on the character that it is impossible not to be drawn in to the spoiled and optimistic Emma Woodhouse's world. Parts of the novel follow the original very faithful, while the authors use a dash of artistic licence to suit the setting and situation. Things come right in the end, of course, but the adventure is in the how ... and what Emma learns along the way. And thankfully, this version is very entertaining.

A treat for Austen fans.

Highly recommended.

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