By Amelia Jones
Star rating: ★★★★☆
Blurb
In this slow-burn yet highly combustible enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Abby Jimenez, two stage actors find themselves falling for each other with each onstage kiss...against their better judgment.
Actress Eden Blake’s biggest claim to fame is a mortifying pharmaceutical commercial for male enhancement pills. That is until the female lead on the nationwide tour of Broadway’s hit Pride & Prejudice musical abruptly quits and Eden is called up to fill the role.
The cast of Liz and Darcy: The Musical has just settled into a three-week run in Washington, DC, and Broadway royalty Brennon Thorne is set to play Darcy. Despite Brennon’s reputation as being “a dream to work with,” Eden’s first impression of him is more like a nightmare. Now, she’ll have to kiss the pompous jerk eight shows per week.
Brennon can’t disguise his disdain for understudies like Eden. But New York is filled with reminders of his most recent failed relationship, and this American tour is a much-needed distraction from his loneliness. As Eden and Brennon take the stage playing Jane Austen’s most memorable characters, their reality begins to mirror Elizabeth and Darcy’s—explosive chemistry and all. Together, they power through press performances and curtain calls, even as rumors of Brennon’s checkered romantic past resurface and prove to Eden that he can’t be trusted.
But with each choreographed stage kiss, Eden and Brennon’s passion for the stage—and each other—ignites. Maybe, just maybe, not all rumors are to be believed—and not all showmances are doomed to fail.
Genre: Contemporary romance
Read if you Like:
🎭 Traveling theater troop
🎭 Showmance
🎭 Enemies to lovers
🎭 Pride and Prejudice retelling
🎭 Instalust
My Thoughts:
I was a theater kid growing up and so I love a romance set in a theater! I was also intrigued by the idea of a Pride and Prejudice retelling where the characters are performing the musical.
I really enjoyed The Stage Kiss! I thought Brennon was a spot-on Darcy with his arrogance and privilege. I also thought the idea of an actor's reputation being compared to the Regency's idea of reputation was a really interesting idea. The acting world is small in the same way that regency high society was and also has a similar competitive aspect.
Eden has less of Elizabeth's personality to me. She wants to make it as an actress in a way that Lizzy does not care about high society. I thought she was a sympathetic character but lacked some depth. I really liked the first two-thirds of this book but the last third fell apart a little bit. Some of the major scandals in the original like Lydia running away didn't have exact parallels in this retelling and I felt like it lost some of the needed reasons for Eden/Lizzy to change her mind about Darcy/ Brennon. She ended up seeming a bit flip flopy to me which I am not a fan of in a heroine.
If you are a theater lover and you like a retelling this one is a definite yes. I also think people who are interested in modern interpretations of reputation or Austen retellings in general might enjoy this one. It is a fun read with an interesting take on a classic story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for providing me with this title early in order to write a review. All opinions are my own.
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