Waiting on Wednesday: Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald

October 31, 2012 / 5 Comments / Book Memes, Uncategorized, Waiting on Wednesday

 

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that book bloggers are eagerly anticipating.

This week’s WoW pick shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who’s read my favorite contemporary YA authors post:

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood
Author: Abby McDonald
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Expected Publication Date: April 9, 2013

From Goodreads:

Abby McDonald gives L.A. the Jane Austen treatment in this contemporary take on Sense and Sensibility.

Hallie and Grace Weston have never exactly seen life eye to eye. So when their father dies and leaves everything to his new wife, forcing the girls to pack up and leave San Francisco for a relative’s house in shiny Beverly Hills, the two sisters take to their changing lot in typically different styles. Shy, responsible Grace manages to make friends with an upbeat, enterprising girl named Palmer but still yearns for her old life — and the maybe-almost-crush she left behind. Meanwhile, drama queen Hallie is throwing herself headlong into life — and love — in L.A., spending every second with gorgeous musician Dakota and warding off the attention of brooding vet Brandon. But is Hallie blinded by the stars in her eyes? And is Grace doomed to forever hug the sidelines?

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but I’m a SUCKER for a good Jane Austen adaptation – especially a YA one. Austen is so perceptive and frank about romance and womanhood in her novels, and the sarcasm and quips really get me. So, yeah, I love contemporary adaptations of her work. In the last year, I’ve probably read at least five or six Austenesque novels, ranging from Diana Peterfreund‘s gorgeous For Darkness Shows the Stars (look out for a giveaway soon!) to Shannon Hale‘s fantastic Austen-inspired contemp Austenland.
So an Austen adaptation from one of my fave contemporary YA authors? Yeah, of course that’s going to get me. Abby McDonald has an amazing understanding of women’s friendship and a great ability to write a romance scene.  Her Sophomore Switch is on my list of best YAs EVER – it’s funny, smart, feminist and full of sneaky women’s studies theory that you totally soak up.
Abby recently moved from the UK to Hollywood, so I’m excited to see how her impressions of L.A. have informed a Sense-and-Sensibility adaptation. S&S is one of the best Austens, and (in my opinion) the perfect one for Abby to be adapting. I can’t wait to see how the relationship between Hallie and Grace translates. Also, that cover looks totally fun!
What are you coveting this week? Let me know in the comments and I’ll drop by your blog!


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5 responses to “Waiting on Wednesday: Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald

  1. This sounds interesting this book. Personally I'm not a Jane Austen fan but I could be persuaded with this book. Great pick and thanks for following and stopping by my blog.

    Following back :-).

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