Stuck Up and Stupid

Australian mother-daughter team and debut authors Angourie and Kate Rice approach Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice from a glamorous, contemporary Hollywood lens in this star-studded rom-com. Summers spent in secluded Pippi Beach are usually high school graduate Lily’s favorite time of year—swimming with her cousin Juliet and friend Nicola, nights strolling on the shore, and attending the annual New Year’s Eve talent show. Everything is shaping up to be just as relaxing as previous summers, until famous young movie stars Casey and Dorian move into the rental down the street. The whole island, especially Lily’s flirtatious mother Lydia, is smitten with the boys almost immediately, whereas Lily couldn’t care less. But then Casey strikes up a flirty relationship with Juliet, forcing Lily into the actors’ orbit. Lily feels put off by Dorian’s dark, brooding demeanor. Despite Lily’s attempts to avoid him, however, the duo continues to cross paths even after the summer ends, as when she and Dorian meet again during a trip to Los Angeles. Upbeat prose injects an air of dreaminess into depictions of the Australian coast setting. Hollywood drama and an enemies-to-lovers romance add a splash of tension to the novel’s summery vibes. Characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 14–up. (May)