For the Love of Austen, Book 1
From the publisher:
In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don’t have to look any further than your own backyard—perfect for fans of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Clueless.
Beautiful, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress or vex her…that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage—and subsequent move downtown. Now, with her sister gone and all her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would get out of her way.
Handsome, smart, and successful, the only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it’s her shopping sprees between classes or her revolving door of ill-conceived hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on all the finer points of adulthood she’s so hell-bent on ignoring. But despite his gripes—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can’t help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now…one who he suddenly can’t get out of his head.
As Emma’s best laid plans collide with everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly realize their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it’s not long before they discover that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.“[A] charming debut… The authors bring plenty of wit to this classic friends-to-lovers tale. Readers will fall in love with Emma Woodhouse all over again.”—Publishers Weekly
“Belleza and Harding have created a glamorous romp that is heartfelt, steamy, and romantic… For fans of the movie Clueless and retellings of classics.”—Library Journal
I enjoyed the other two books in this series and finally hunted down the first one. This witty, modern reimagining of Emma transplants Austen’s beloved story to New York City, where self-discovery plays out against a vibrant cultural backdrop. Belezza and Harding’s novel follows the original plot closely while capturing its spirit with ease — it stands confidently on its own, yet feels like a natural heir to Austen’s world.
Emma herself is spoiled and controlling, but also intelligent and fundamentally kind — the adored daughter of her father and Knightley’s longtime sparring partner (and eventual love interest.) The supporting cast feels like a seamless update of Austen’s characters, slotting into their modern roles with satisfying precision.
Misguided matchmaking drives much of the story. Emma’s misreadings and assumptions generate awkward situations at every turn, even as she becomes the unexpected object of male attention — something that catches her entirely off guard, given that she’s focused on finding love for her stunning friend, Nadine (the only character whose name was changed – she was Harriet in the original.) Her father’s approval means the world to her, while Knightley’s steady critiques of her meddling produce sharp, delicious banter that hints at feelings neither is ready to name.
Sunday dinners and glittering parties provide lively backdrops for shifting alliances and quiet emotional revelations. Emma excels at orchestrating these gatherings, but gradually comes to see that social polish can’t mask loneliness or hold uncomfortable truths at bay. A shocking cab incident forces her to confront her own resilience — she’s far stronger than she appears, or perhaps than she knew.
Her attempts to improve Nadine, including a full makeover, initially read as manipulative, yet even Knightley begins to wonder whether her intentions might be more sincere than they seem. As Emma matures, she reckons with her need for control and slowly learns that real growth requires letting go.
An art-world thread adds depth and heart. As a graduate student in art history, Emma dreams of building a career independent of her father’s influence, and her love of art — rooted in memories of her late mother — reveals her most authentic self. A resonant reference to Klimt’s Mäda Primavesi gives the novel its quiet thesis: imperfection is not a flaw but a source of beauty and individuality.
Told from both Emma’s and Knightley’s perspectives, the novel traces their emotional tug-of-war with insight and warmth. Their friction slowly transforms into something deeper as each comes to accept that perfection is overrated — in love, in art, and in life. The result is a fresh, entertaining, and genuinely thoughtful story that imagines how Austen’s Emma might navigate the modern world, while reminding us that growth almost always begins with imperfection.
2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
EMMA OF 83RD STREET by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding. Gallery Books. (May 23, 2023). ISBN: 978-1668008393. 384p.
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