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.

Reading Group Guide

This reading group guide for Elizabeth of East Hampton includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

Introduction

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 come 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 struggling 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 only seem to complicate his life. 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 to everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her.

Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she enjoys being difficult. 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 event 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.

Topics & Questions for Discussion

1. How did the authors modernize the characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice? Specifically, what traits, quirks, and details did they ascribe to each of the main characters (Lizzy, Jane, Kitty, Lydia, Mary, Darcy, Charlie)?

2. What did Will think of Lizzy when they first met at the bakery and vice versa?

3. How did the authors utilize the themes of Pride and Prejudice (e.g., class, family, integrity) to tell this modernized story?

4. How does the setting of Elizabeth of East Hampton lend itself to this retelling of the original work?

5. When do you think Lizzy started falling for Will and Will for Lizzy? Was there a particular moment or event? Do you think their personalities and lifestyles are compatible?

6. When Will and Charlie meet Jane and encounter Lizzy for the second time at Donato Lodge, why do you think Will sees Lizzy as “a mess”? Did you think she was a mess?

7. Discuss Mrs. Bennet’s alleged involvement in multilevel marketing schemes, her leggings business, and her business strategies. How does it add to the picture of her overall character?

8. In Chapter 21, Jane tells Lizzy, “Being nice is easy. Anyone can pretend to be nice. But there’s a difference between being nice and being kind.” What do you think about this statement? Are there any characters who fit squarely in one bucket rather than the other? Are there any morally gray characters?

9. In chapter 18, Lizzy tells Will, “My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.” This line also appears in the original Pride and Prejudice novel. How do you think it translates to modern times? Where might Lizzy have previously experienced intimidation in both novels?

10. What did you think about Tristan when he was first introduced? How did your opinion of him change over the course of the book? Can you see his side of the story in his feud with Will?

11. Lizzy is an unwavering source of support for her family. Did you feel that this support was returned to her in any way by any particular character? How so?

12. Do you feel that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet fully appreciate the commitment of their daughters to the family business? Why do you think Mr. Bennet never spoke to Lizzy about pursuing journalism until she reveals her acceptance into Columbia’s School of Journalism?

13. Discuss Piper and Mary. Did you feel these characters had any influence over Lizzy and her decisions and feelings? How so or how not?

Enhance Your Book Club

1. Discuss Lizzy and Will’s story arc and then make a playlist for it, in chronological order.

2. Read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and discuss how the authors adjusted that story for the modern day in Elizabeth of East Hampton. What are the events in both this novel and Pride and Prejudice that set Lizzy and Will’s story in motion, forcing them to interact with each other? Do a scene-for-scene comparison of these events.

3. Create a signature cocktail or mocktail for Charlie’s Fourth of July party. Each ingredient should have some significance to the story and setting (e.g., sour cherries for the famous Bennet Bakery muffins).

4. If you were the casting director of a film version of Elizabeth of East Hampton, who would you cast in each role?

5. On any given Friday night at Donato Lodge, you could find a mash-up cover band playing a set, such as Here Comes the Sandman (The Beatles x Metallica) and Korndogg (Korn x Snoop Dogg). Create a list of mash-up bands you’d like to hear if you were a regular at Donato’s.

About The Authors

Photography by Monika Normand

Audrey Bellezza

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.

Photography by Monika Normand

Emily Harding

Emily Harding is one-half of the writing duo behind the For the Love of Austen series, including Emma of 83rd Street and Elizabeth of East Hampton. She is a graduate of Emerson College with degrees in both creative writing and film. After working over fifteen years in television development and production, she found her way back to writing. Emily lives in Dallas with her husband, two children, and an incredibly spoiled Texas heeler.

Product Details

Publisher: Gallery Books (August 6, 2024)
Length: 384 pages
ISBN13: 9781668052556

Raves and Reviews

"Bellezza and Harding put a beachy spin on Pride and Prejudice… Austenites will be over the moon."
—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

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Photography by Monika Normand

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Author Photo (jpg): Emily Harding
Photography by Monika Normand

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