28 Dec / The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi [in Booklist]
Among countless Pride and Prejudice adaptations, Eden Appiah-Kubi’s debut might be the only with a transgender co-lead; it certainly has one of the most non-traditional Jane Austen-inspired casts ever.
Welcome to Bennet House, Longbourn College’s first and only female residence. Appiah-Kubi’s Bennet sisters here are Black engineering wunderkind EJ, newly out trans woman Jamie, and Filipina astronomy major Tessa. As a favor to Jamie, who’s dating Lee, EJ agrees to meet Lee’s actor buddy Will who proves arrogantly rude enough for EJ to uhhh … fall madly in love with. Because, yep, EJ is Elizabeth, Will her Darcy; their union’s forever sealed.
Appiah-Kubi has certainly forced the enemies-to-lovers into the 21st century, complete with endless nods to up-to-the-minute social media-fueled pop culture. That said, making the old new seems more posturing than plotting. Even Obie Award-winning actress L Morgan Lee can’t seem to enliven the script. In her first solo adult title narration, the diverse cast isn’t particularly distinguishable beyond EJ, who gets the spotlight. Best for obsessive Austen groupies seeking their expected happy-ish-ever-after.
Review: “Media,” Booklist Online, December 21, 2021
Readers: Adult
Published: 2021