Emmett
Books | YOUNG ADULT FICTION / LGBTQ
2.9
L. C. Rosen
★ "A smoothly written, highly readable--no, make that irresistible romance...There is not a false note in this expert effort, and Emmett is a character to treasure." -Booklist, starred review ★ "An optimistic read that explores identity and provides models of healthy relationships, sex, and love... a sensitive and affirming adaptation." -Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ "Rosen aptly carries [Jane] Austen's torch, delivering comparably witty banter and keen social commentary... Delightfully queer and downright swoonworthy." -Kirkus, starred review A modern-day gay Emma, with the spikey social critique of Austen plus the lush over-the-top romance of Bridgerton. Emmett Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence and had lived nearly eighteen years in the world with very little to distress or vex him. Emmett knows he's blessed. And because of that, he tries to give back: from charity work to letting the often irritating Georgia sit at his table at lunch, he knows it's important to be nice. And recently, he's found a new way of giving back: matchmaking. He set up his best friend Taylor with her new boyfriend and it's gone perfectly. So when his occasional friend-with-benefits Harrison starts saying he wants a boyfriend (something Emmett definitely does NOT want to be), he decides to try and find Harrison the perfect man at Highbury Academy. Emmett's childhood friend, Miles, thinks finding a boyfriend for a guy you sleep with is a bad idea. But Miles is straight, and Emmett says this is gay life - your friends, your lovers, your boyfriends - they all come from the same very small pool. That's why Emmett doesn't date - to keep things clean. He knows the human brain isn't done developing until twenty-five, so any relationship he enters into before then would inevitably end in a breakup, in loss. And he's seen what loss can do. His mother died four years ago and his Dad hasn't been the same since. But the lines Emmett tries to draw are more porous than he thinks, and as he tries to find Harrison the perfect match, he learns that gifted as he may be, maybe he has no idea what he's doing when it comes to love. Modern and very gay, with a charmingly conceited lead who is convinced he knows it all, and the occasional reference to the classic movie Clueless, Emmett brings you lush romance all while exploring the complexities of queer culture--where your lovers and friends are sometimes the same person, but the person you fall in love with might be a total surprise.
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Author
L. C. Rosen
Pages
272
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published Date
2023
ISBN
0316524778 9780316524773
Community ReviewsSee all
"Cute, fun, pastel"
Nicky 🏳️🌈📚
"Great for a rainy day when your wanting something spicy"
Natalie Wells
"I was really excited when I found this book in the bookstore. Having recently finished Gabe Cole Novoa's Most Ardently, I was riding the train of queer Austen retellings. <br/><br/>Sadly, this book fell flat on it's face. My biggest gripe with this book is that it felt like the author had a bingo sheet of Queer/progressive tropes and they tried to hit as many of them in a single(short) book as possible. The result was that most of the representation (Representation that was the reason I picked this book up in the first place) felt forced and ham fisted. The characters felt flat and two dimensional. Harrison, arguably one of the main characters had no personality of his own. The chemistry between Emmett and Miles was non existent, lacking the repressed sexual tension of the original it was adapted from. <br/>On the topic of ham fisted inclusion - at one point they go to an art exhibit where the author has a character constantly talking about the colonist view of the artist the exhibit was for. The same line is used over and over and over again while failing to really talk about the issue or address it. Again, coming back to it feeling like it was included because de-colonization and talking about why colonization is bad is the trendy thing to do, rather then taking heart and making it matter to the story. <br/>The school feels like something out of a YA fanfic, the characters have no personality beyond their token idendity "The Bisexual one(check). The Trans best friend(check), The newly discovered demisexual(check), The Bisexual moms(check)" etc. There are YA books that contain similar levels of representation while also having those characters feel like they exist beyond their label. <br/><br/>Okay, enough about that.<br/><br/>There is a good idea in this book, and I like the exploration of Emmett's aversion to relationships and how he's still processing his mothers's passing even after all of this time. There's a surprising amount of depth there. Emmet's father's mental issues are for the most part dropped, but tie into that as well, which was a bit of a missed point, but there are parts where the author does talk about the reality of having a parent who is struggling that was lovely. <br/><br/>As an Austen fan, I think Emmett IS Emma. Emmett is presented as someone who is self involved and egotistical while also genuinely caring and trying to do good by others. Emmett is a hot mess 10/10. <br/><br/>"
Barbara K