Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood - Abby McDonald

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: April 9, 2013
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thanks Candlewick!) || e-galley

[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

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? (from Goodreads)

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood was exactly the kind of novel I was craving when I picked it up - fun, light, sweet. I'd consider this a great read for the beach or the pool this summer. Plus, it totally gets bonus points for being based on Sense and Sensibility, one of the two Jane Austen novels I've actually read.

One of the things that instantly made me want to read this novel is that it was about sisters Hallie and Grace Weston. I love reading about sisters, since I have two of my own. The resemblance between Hallie and Grace's relationship and that of mine with my own siblings was uncanny, though their personalities were exaggerations of ours. Dramatic, personable Hallie and quiet, responsible Grace definitely clash a lot over their differences in this book. But it was a fact that, even if they got angry or "hated" each other, there was always the deep, underlying devotion and loyalty that they shared.

I definitely identified more with Grace, as we share many traits in common. She's the model sibling, the one who is more likely to stay at home than to go out to a party. She's also the one who holds it all together when her dad dies, a responsibility that is a lot for someone her age. I identified a lot with being loaded with responsibilities not really meant for me, but I identified even more with her when she experiences a moment of regret because she never took a step, or a risk, or a chance. Eventually, she realizes a few things and comes to terms with what she needs to do to get on with her life, and I think it was handled really well.

Both the sisters experience romantic entanglements in this novel. I find it particularly intriguing that there's a definite contrast. One runs headlong into a romantic relationship, and pours her heart and soul into feeling every single feeling. The other, on the other hand, is too scared to take the next step - and ends up torturing herself over the regret she feels over that choice. It's fun to get to experience the spectrum of emotions with them both, and I love how each of their relationships winds up in the end.

The special part of Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood is that both Hallie and Grace gain all sorts of experiences that change who they are forever. As teens, all of us went through moments that defined us or branded us for the rest of our lives, and it is the same for these two. The authenticity with which this is done in this novel is really spot on, though the element of living in Hollywood, running with an affluent crowd (that's Hallie) and living with an uncle and his wife who spoil them silly does add a bit of fancifulness.

All in all, Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood is definitely one of the more enjoyable books I've read this year. The writing was well-done, the story was fun to read and the characters are accessible and understandable. I really liked it, and would definitely recommend it to fellow contemporary YA fans looking for a fun spring/summer read.