ELIZABETH OF EAST HAMPTON, Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding
Book 2 of 2: For the Love of Austen (Gallery Books, August 2024), by the authors of EMMA OF 83RD STREET
This fresh and whip-smart modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice—from the authors of the “great beach read” (Bookreporter) Emma of 83rd Street—transports you to summer in the Hamptons, where classes clash, rumors run wild, and love has a frustrating habit of popping up where you least expect it.
It’s a truth universally acknowledged—well, by Elizabeth Bennet anyway—that there’s nothing worse than summer in the Hamptons. She should know: she’s lived
out there her whole life. Every June, her hometown on the edge of Long Island is inundated with rich Manhattanites who party until dawn and then disappear by September. And after twenty-five years, Lizzy wants to leave, too.
But after putting her own dreams on hold to help save her family’s failing bakery, she’s still surfing the same beach every morning and waiting for something, anything, to change. She’s not holding her breath though, not even when her sister starts flirting with the hot new bachelor in town, Charlie Pierce, and he
introduces Lizzy to his even hotter friend.
Will Darcy is everything Lizzy Bennet is not. Aloof, arrogant…and rich. Of course, he’s never cared about money. In fact, it’s number one on his long list of things that irk him. Number two? His friend Charlie’s insistence on setting him up with his new girlfriend’s sharp-tongued sister. Lizzy Bennet is all wrong for him, from her money-hungry family to her uncanny ability to speak to him as bluntly as he does everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her.
Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she willfully misunderstands them. Yet, just as they strike an uneasy truce, mistakes threaten Charlie and Jane’s romance, with Will and Lizzy caught in the undertow. Between a hurricane and a hypocritical aunt, a drunken voicemail and a deceptive party promoter, the two must sift through the gossip and lies to protect the happiness of everyone they love—even if it means sacrificing their own. But when the truth also forces them to see each other in an entirely new light, they must swallow their pride to learn that love is a lot like surfing: sometimes the only way to survive is to let yourself fall.
Reviews
—Publishers Weekly“Escape to summer in the Hamptons—a Hamptons bakery to be exact—via the pages of Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding’s latest page turner. A charming, modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, this sun- and sugar-soaked novel will delight even the most discerning Jane Austen fan. Readers will be enchanted—and are sure to add this talented duo to their list of auto-buy authors.”
—Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling Author of A Happier Life“Elizabeth of East Hampton proves that the only thing better than an east coast beach read is an east coast beach read that doubles as an irresistibly fresh take on the ultimate enemies-to-lovers romance. Endlessly charming and more delicious than the famous sour cherry muffins from Bennet’s Bakery—which I’m still drooling over—this Hamptons-set romp is guaranteed to delight both die-hard Janeites and P&P virgins alike!”—Nicolas DiDomizio, author of The Gay Best Friend“Equal parts poignant and hilariously witty, Elizabeth of East Hampton captures all the charm of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice and makes it fresh and new!”—Liana De La Rosa, author of Isabel and the Fox
“Lovers of Jane Austen and romance, rejoice! Bellezza and Harding have taken the bright, tender spirit of Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance and transmuted it to the contemporary world, along with fresh, infinitely amusing interpretations of one of the most ridiculous and lovable families in literature, the Bennets.”—Kate Khavari, author of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons
Praise for Audrey and Emily’s debut, Emma of 83rd Street
“[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
“A great summer beach read…From its Lilly Pulitzer-colored cover to its Blair Waldorf-type protagonist, this book should be purchased immediately because it’s going to ride off shelves like a vintage Jaguar with the top down.”—Bookreporter
“The best romantic comedy I’ve ever read. A sparkling take on Emma that would make Jane Austen proud.”—Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author of Made in Manhattan
“Emma of 83rd Street is a compulsive page-turner with excellent slow-burn tension. A friends-to-lovers instant favorite!”—Sarah Hogle, author of You Deserve Each Other
“Delightfully modern and compulsively readable, Emma of 83rd Street made my Clueless-loving heart sing—a knockout debut!”—Angie Hockman, author of Shipped
“A delightful, modern twist on Jane Austen’s Emma…The crackling tension between him [Knightley] and Emma drives the story, but as in Austen’s original, the relationship also leads both characters to some critical self-examination. Bellezza and Harding balance the introspection with a healthy dose of New York glitz…as with all Austen adaptations, the joy–and there’s plenty of it–is definitely in the journey.”—Shelf Awareness
“Elizabeth of East Hampton proves that the only thing better than an east coast beach read is an east coast beach read that doubles as an irresistibly fresh take on the ultimate enemies-to-lovers romance. Endlessly charming and more delicious than the famous sour cherry muffins from Bennet’s Bakery—which I’m still drooling over—this Hamptons-set romp is guaranteed to delight both die-hard Janeites and P&P virgins alike!”—Nicolas DiDomizio, author of The Gay Best Friend
“Equal parts poignant and hilariously witty, Elizabeth of East Hampton captures all the charm of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice and makes it fresh and new!”—Liana De La Rosa, author of Isabel and the Fox
“Lovers of Jane Austen and romance, rejoice! Bellezza and Harding have taken the bright, tender spirit of Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance and transmuted it to the contemporary world, along with fresh, infinitely amusing interpretations of one of the most ridiculous and lovable families in literature, the Bennets.”—Kate Khavari, author of A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons
About the Author
Audrey Bellezza is a two-time Emmy Award–nominated TV producer who has spent over twenty years writing, developing, and executive producing nonfiction television shows for a number of networks and streaming platforms. Audrey lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children.
Emily Harding is a writer and TV producer whose work has appeared on numerous networks and websites. When not hunched over her computer perfecting her bad posture, she can be found losing another game of Monopoly to her husband and two kids.
