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Title details for Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza - Available

Emma of 83rd Street

#1 in series

by Audrey Bellezza
Emily Harding
Audiobook
3 of 5 copies available
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3 of 5 copies available
In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen's Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan's modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don't have to look any further than your own backyard.
Beautiful, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress or vex her...that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister's marriage—and subsequent move downtown. Now, with her sister gone and all her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would get out of her way.

Handsome, smart, and successful, the only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it's her shopping sprees between classes or her revolving door of ill-conceived hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on all the finer points of adulthood she's so hell-bent on ignoring. But despite his gripes—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can't help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now...one who he suddenly can't get out of his head.

As Emma's best laid plans collide with everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly realize their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it's not long before they discover that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.

  • Creators

  • Series

    For the Love of Austen

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 23, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781797157177
      • File size: 307346 KB
      • Duration: 10:40:16

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 13, 2023
      Author team Bellezza and Harding put a contemporary rom-com spin on Jane Austen’s Emma in their charming debut. In their reimagining, beautiful and wealthy 23-year-old grad student Emma Woodhouse’s world revolves around New York’s Upper East Side. She struggles between claiming independence and her family’s approval when faced with the growing pains of adulting. With her collegiate girlfriends living their lives abroad, and her sister marrying and moving away, Emma copes with feelings of abandonment by playing matchmaker for her new friend and classmate, Nadine Pittman—a project that inevitably goes awry. Meanwhile Emma realizes her own feelings for strikingly handsome George Knightley, her childhood friend and neighbor, who recognizes an attraction to her as well. But miscommunication, misconceptions, and misunderstandings threaten both their lifelong friendship and their chance at a relationship. The authors bring plenty of wit to this classic friends-to-lovers tale. Readers will fall in love with Emma Woodhouse all over again. Agent: Joelle Delbourgo, Joelle Delbourgo Assoc.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton's sparkling characterizations and propulsive delivery of narrative demand the listener's attention throughout this contemporary retelling of Jane Austen's EMMA. The setting is the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where the Woodhouses and the Knightleys reside in neighboring townhouses. Pressley and Hamilton excel at conveying Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley's banter and occasional notes of exasperation as the two slowly acknowledge their love for each other. Pressley's versatility of expression is evident in her characterizations, especially that of Emma, whose bright timbre and curious tone reflect her intense interest in the affairs of others. Hamilton brings forth the sweetness underlying George's clever, sardonic demeanor. This audiobook is packed with energy, humor, and more than a touch of poignancy. M.J. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      In Bellezza and Harding's modern reimagining of Jane Austen's novel Emma, narrated by Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton, Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley are neighbors on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Emma is finishing her final year of graduate school when she befriends Nadine, a recent NYC transplant from small-town Ohio. Emma's oblivious meddling and somewhat snobbish ways are frequently checked by the stuffy, seemingly critical Knightley. When a possible new love interest arrives on the scene, both come to realize that there is more to their bickering than affection between childhood friends. Pressley expertly captures Emma's personality and that of the side characters, including Mr. Woodhouse's long-suffering attitude, neighbor Mrs. Pawloski's somewhat brash exuberance, and Nadine's wide-eyed wonder. Hamilton brings out Knightley's critical personality with his forceful and often over-enunciated pronunciations; however, his intensity may be off-putting to some listeners. Furthermore, slight vocal distinctions between characters may distract from his otherwise engaging performance. VERDICT Pressley's on-point narration is a draw of this debut adaptation. Fans of Austenian retellings with contemporary settings should enjoy.--Amanda L. S. Murphy

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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