My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White | Teen Ink

My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White

September 16, 2013
By LiederMadchen ELITE, Aurora, Oregon
LiederMadchen ELITE, Aurora, Oregon
132 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
For, I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not honour more.
-- Richard Lovelace, quoted often by Baroness Emmuska Orczy in The Scarlet Pimpernel


This book is the cutest thing since kittens. Seriously. It is one of the most adorable love stories I've ever read. It's kind of like a cupcake. A high-end one with daisies made of buttercream frosting on top (roses being too pretentious); sweet and light (but not too fluffy) and utterly delectable.

It is so easy to slip right into Elizabeth's skin; a reluctant teenager falling in love with Mr. Darcy for the first time. We can all sympathize with that, right? She takes it a step further, though, and becomes infatuated with the Matthew Macfadyen version, from his voice to his manners, and decides that the love of her life must be exactly like him. Right down to the blue eyes and tousled hair. Somewhat unreasonable, but certainly understandable.

Then she meets Chad. He's cute and funny and considerate and - blonde. Down to earth. Not darkly handsome and aloof like Darcy, the man of her dreams. Clearly, he cannot be the love of her life...but she really likes him. Soon after, she meets Matt Dawson, a Matthew Macfadyen lookalike who owns a bookstore (wealthy, check), is a bit of a snob (check) and has a family that is certain to disapprove of her. It must be fate!

Or is it?

I really love Elizabeth as a person. She displays a wonderful sense of honor in her dealings with both Chad and Matt and refuses to let anyone change her. She won't let Matt walk all over her even though she thinks he's the answer to her dreams. I was rooting for Chad since almost the very beginning of the book, but I liked Matt a lot, too. He can be a pompous idiot, but all he needs is the right person to draw him out.

There are several details in this story that seemed almost designed to make me happy. Elizabeth's best friend Janessa and her boyfriend, Ben, dance in and out of the story with lovely echoes of Jane and Bingley in a way that made me smile. Elizabeth decorates a room in teal and orange, my favorite combination of colors. It's set in Oregon, my state, and shows all the quirkiness that makes Portland fun without going overboard. But that's just the icing on this delightful confection of a novel.

I love the theme of self-discovery, of learning that dreams can come true in unanticipated ways. I liked that there was never even a hint of sex; it was just pure, sweet romance. I will definitely be re-reading My Own Mr. Darcy, and if Ms. White ever decides to write a sequel I'll be at the front of the line to get it.

I received an e-copy of this book for a blog tour hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer in exchange for a fair and honest review.


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