Looking for a 'sweet, charming' novel? Try Charlie Lovett's 'First Impressions'
Lovett's novel follows both 'Pride and Prejudice' writer Jane Austen and contemporary character Sophie, who works in a bookstore.
Lovett's novel follows both 'Pride and Prejudice' writer Jane Austen and contemporary character Sophie, who works in a bookstore.
Are you a Jane Austen fan or looking for a charming story to read in between Thanksgiving celebrations? You might want to check out Charlie Lovett鈥檚 new novel 鈥淔irst Impressions.鈥�
Lovett, who is also the author of the 2013 novel 鈥淭he Bookman鈥檚 Tale,鈥� released 鈥淚mpressions鈥� last month. The book has dual plotlines, with one centering on the 鈥淧ride and Prejudice鈥� author herself and one focusing on contemporary character Sophie Collingwood. Sophie, an Austen fan, goes to work at an antique bookshop and is mystified when two customers come in asking for the same old book, 鈥淟ittle Book of Allegories.鈥� She soon discovers that the origin of the story about Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy may be more complicated than she thought, even as she struggles to choose between two men in her own life. Meanwhile, the other plot line follows Jane Austen鈥檚 relationship with the 鈥淎llegories鈥� author, Richard Mansfield.聽
IndieBound selected 鈥淚mpressions鈥� for its November Indie Next list, with Bill Carl of Cincinnati鈥檚 The Booksellers on Fountain Square calling the novel 鈥渇rothy and fun.鈥�
鈥淭he tale is simple and sweet,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淒elightful, especially for Austen fans 鈥� and really, who isn鈥檛?鈥�
Industry newsletter Shelf Awareness writer Tom Lavoie also enjoyed the book.聽
鈥淟ovett's tale is a lovely and entertaining one that will involve any reader who relishes the charm (and the charming scent) of old books,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淸It鈥檚] a light and good-hearted piece of historical and present-day fiction that lovers of Austen and antiquarian books will adore.鈥�
Meanwhile, Publishers Weekly and Library Journal also received the book positively, with PW calling it 鈥渨ell-designed [and] ingenious鈥�. Ardent fans of Jane Austen and lovers of gripping stories will enjoy鈥� and LJ writer Lynnanne Pearson of Illinois鈥檚 Skokie Public Library writing, 鈥淲hile the ending is never in doubt and the formula is the same as Lovett's previous literary mystery, this is a delightful read that Janeites will love.鈥�
However, Kirkus Reviews echoed Pearson鈥檚 observation that the formula is the same as Lovett鈥檚 鈥淏ookman鈥� and was less enamored of the novel.
鈥淟ovett's love of books and libraries once again energizes his storytelling, but this new plot is more conventional than his first, with Sophie's chapters verging on chick lit and Jane's testing the patience of non-Austen-ophiles,鈥� KR wrote. 鈥淭he freshness that marked Lovett's debut is less evident in this second novel, a predictable tale of romantic suspense that becomes progressively weaker in its closing chapters.鈥�