In which experienced West End actress Freddy Carlton takes on an Austen-inspired play, a scandal at a country estate, an enthusiastic search for a passion outside of acting…and the (some people might say icy*) heart of London’s most feared theater critic. *if those people were being nice “Grade: A, for Absolutely Delightful and Adorable and Also I read it twice in a row.” –Smart Bitches, … it twice in a row.” –Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Freddy Carlton knows she should be focusing on her lines for The Austen Playbook, a live-action TV event where viewers choose the outcome of each scene, but her concentration’s been blown. The palatial estate housing the endeavor is now run by the rude (brilliant) critic who’s consistently slammed her performances of late. James “Griff” Ford-Griffin has a penchant for sarcasm, a majestic nose and all the sensitivity of a sledgehammer.
She can’t take her eyes off him.
Griff can hardly focus with a contagious joy fairy flitting about near him, especially when Freddy looks at him like that. His only concern right now should be on shutting down his younger brother’s well-intentioned (disastrous) schemes–or at the very least on the production (not this one) that might save his family home from the banks.
Instead all he can think of is soft skin and vibrant curls.
As he’s reluctantly dragged into her quest to rediscover her passion for the stage and Freddy is drawn into his research on a legendary theater star, the adage about appearances being deceiving proves abundantly true. It’s the unlikely start of something enormous…but a single revelation about the past could derail it all.
London Celebrities
Book 1: Act Like It
Book 2: Pretty Face
Book 3: Making Up
Book 4: The Austen Playbook
Book 5: Headliners
more
The Austen Playbook is a fun and witty visit to the land of British theater. Lucy Parker has created likable and engaging characters and combined them with a seamless plot full of family secrets, expectations, and ambition. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Parker, and I enjoyed it very much. Highly recommended.
This is the first Lucy Parker I’ve read, and it definitely won’t be the last, because The Austen Playbook is a breath of fresh air. Vividly bringing to life the chaos and drama which goes on behind the scenes and in the lives of London’s theatre set, it’s a story full of sassy jokes, sexy quips and an unexpected amount of soul-searching about just how much we owe to our families when it comes time to make choices about living our own dreams.
Freddy, our heroine, is the scion of one of London’s greatest dramatic families. Living in the shadow of her grandmother, a legendary playwright and actress, Freddy is pushed by her father into taking on dramatic and serious roles which don’t suit her bubbly personality at all. The only person who seems to recognise the truth of what she’d rather be doing is critic J. Ford-Griffen (Griff) who hits the nail on the head when he acerbically notes she’d obviously be far happier stomping around in puddles performing in Singin’ In The Rain.
When Freddy accepts the role of Lydia Bennet in a live-action choose-your-own-adventure Austen adaptation to be performed in a historic theatre built by her grandmother’s lover, the last person she expects to discover as owner of the estate is Griff. The two clash from the beginning, but the flying sparks are those of attraction. Though circumstances (and impossible cast-mates) conspire to keep them apart, somehow the two find their way together, and it’s utterly charming to see grumpy, aloof Griff fall head-over-heels for fun, light-hearted Freddy.
The writing is absolutely superb, and there are great lines all over the place, but my favorite has to be the tongue-in-cheek homage of that immortal opening to Pride and Prejudice. “It was a truth universally acknowledged that an actor in a rut must be in want of a spot of murder, mayhem and true love.”
Five stars for a terrific read, and I’m now a HUGE fan. Can’t wait for Sabrina’s story!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker
London Celebrities #4
You know that book that puts a smile on your face from page one and then lingers throughout the story? That was this book for me! When I saw a new book in this series I was thrilled because I have enjoyed every book by this author that I have read so far…and I loved this one, too!
Freddy Carlton is everything I might want in a female lead. She is smart, honest, talented, affectionate, open, a great friend, professional and a whole lot more. Her ancestors have been in theater for generations and her talent is exceptional but she does question at times if she is taking on the roles she is meant to do – ones that make her happy. When a break occurs and she is offered a take part in The Austen Playbook she is ready and looking forward to the change it will provide. She expects to spend some time away from London, go on country walks, relax with a script she can enjoy and spend time with actors she likes…until she gets a look at who those actors actually end up being.
James “Griff” Ford-Griffin is a man who has critiqued many of Freddy’s plays. She believes he is honest in his writing but he is not always kind. Griff’s brother Charlie has a hair-brained idea to bring The Austen Playbook to their estate and utilize a theater their grandfather built for the project. Money they need to keep the estate going MIGHT come their way…or not…as a result of this and a few other projects. Griff has a heavy burden to carry with flaky parents and a brother he sees as less than responsible but he will make the best of it.
When Freddy and Griff meet there is definitely chemistry and watching their relationship develop was so much fun…and kept that smile on my face throughout the story. I loved them individually and loved them together as they were definitely meant to be a couple.
This story has a wonderful romance, secrets that are exposed, dramatic fireworks between some of the actors, interesting family dynamics to contend with and times that I was drawn in so much that I felt a part of the story…or wanted to be anyway.
I love this author and this series and would gladly read anything she writes! And, I would like to thank NetGalley and Carina for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Love this series!
This a great romance with two very engaging leading characters. The setting is not London but the country side, a Downton Abbey like great house that plays host to a rather flighty TV production that weaves a woodonit with different Austen characters. What elevates this book is the plotting that meshes seamlessly with the love story and elevates it. The emotions and actions of the characters are relatable and supported by the plot. A very enjoyable, intelligent book.
A light romance. Romances are rarely judged as critically as weightier novels—but this is a good one.
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over: https://margaretmcgaffeyfisk.com/category/reviews/
Thanks to reviewing for NetGalley, I read a lot of “new to me” authors. Enough so the names don’t always stick. I started reviewing for this very reason…so I could remember why I wanted to pick up another of their books.
Why am I bringing this up now? I’m an Austen fan, but once I read past the title, the author’s name brought back the delight I’d felt when reading Pretty Face some two years earlier. At the time, I recommended the novel to my father. He is the main reason I’ve spent my life on the edge of theater from up front to backstage, at least until my son took over the charge. Lucy Parker folds you into the complications of live theater so completely with her subtle, nuanced writing. She does a wonderful job capturing the absolute love of theater that draws people to the stage as well as the quirky, sometimes poisonous personalities found there. She gets to the heart not just of people but of theater people, who have their own set of motivations.
The Austen Playbook has many similarities to Pretty Face, but I quickly discovered the only true similarity is love of theater itself. Playbook focuses on theater dynasties and the pressure to live up to your family legacy, but it doesn’t stop there. Layer on two families at odds over three generations, with economic and social consequences, add in a grand betrayal that echoes down through time, and you’ve only touched the surface of this story.
While there are elements of melodrama, the characters bring the events into sharp focus through their strengths and flaws, keeping the story from tipping over into an exaggerated caricature. It’s powerful and poignant as two people from opposing families discover they’re stronger and better people when together. And it’s not all deep drama either.
Lucy Parker turns her skillful hand not just to writing revealing body language when words are not enough to convey the complex situations. She includes deadpan humor that made me look around for someone to share the joke with. Or maybe joke is the wrong word. The humor comes into the situation not tacked on but as a natural outgrowth. Simple things like the cast assuming a building designed to mimic older theaters would lack ventilation or Freddy’s attempt to distract working more because she failed to carry it off than because she succeeded. These are not setups, but rather circumstances that provoke empathic chuckles.
I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention the plot seeding. I was able to intuit the impending crisis from body language combined with events, but then doubted my interpretation enough to be led astray for a bit. That’s the best of possible worlds because the answers are there and yet not heavy handed enough to spoil the fun of exploring possibilities.
There are open door relations between Freddy and Griff for those who care, but it’s not explicit or detailed, and plays into the story events well. There are also many secondary or minor characters with quirky and conniving natures to turn even the simplest complication into something more.
If you haven’t figured out this second taste has won me over, know that I picked up the rest of this series as soon as I finished The Austen Playbook. This novel had me from the start and kept me going until the final moment when Freddy turns formal plans into exasperated laughter. Freddy and Griff are far from similar people, but together they are a perfect match in blended humor, love, and support.
P.S. I received this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Lucy Parker is an ultimate comfort read for me, and The Austen Playbook is so, so good. Slytherin professional critic meets Hufflepuff stage actress in this story. It’s sweet and funny and absolutely perfect. I cannot recommend this book (and this series) enough!
The fourth in the London Celebrities series by Lucy Parker is another winner for me. I love those really British romances. They have this no-nonsense, down-to-earth feeling to them. Plus I love the British-English. Kissing is snogging and such and I can see the whole story like a movie in my head!
Freddy is a young actress in the West End, struggling with her father’s high demands for her career. Coming from a family of actors and having a grandmother who wrote an amazing play Freddy feels obligated to travel the road her father/manager stipulates, but her heart is not really into it. She then gets the opportunity to do a play that will be televised and where the outcome will be up to a voting audience, The Austen Playbook.
Griff also has his family troubles. He inherited the estate from his grandfather but keeping his parents and brother from overspending and trying to get enough funding for his documentary on Henrietta Carlton (Freddy’s grandmother) sometimes gets too much. When his brother arranges for The Austen Playbook to be rehearsed and performed on the estate, at the old theatre their grandfather once build for Henrietta, he is not really happy.
As a harsh theatre critic he has offended many an actor, including Freddy. But when they meet at the estate and bump into each other at several occasions, something sparks between them.
Quote (Freddy to Griff) : ‘The Sarcastic critic with his poison pen and scores of embittered enemies. If this was Midsomer Murders, you wouldn’t even make it to the opening credits. If you hear the faint strains of ominous music, come find me. I’ll protect you.’
Great book. I loved the whole scenery of the play at the estate, the interactions of the characters, the romance between Freddy and Griff. I could have done without the vile actress who seemed to blackmail everyone around her. The last chapters seemed to culminate in a bit too much drama. It could have been toned down a bit with the same result. But overall: I loved the book and will surely pick it up again for a re-read in the near future. (2019)
I’m addicted to Lucy Parker’s London Celebs series and they just seem to keep getting better. Her classic curmudgeonly heroes and sunshine heroines are on full display in this fabulous rom-com.
This book is EXCELLENT. I don’t know why I was so surprised by how much I loved this book. But loved it I did. It’s charming and emotional and the characters are so well done and real. And it’s a Slytherin/Hufflepuff scenario so…take my money. Lucy Parker is an author to watch. Very, very talented.
This is a kind-of wacky British-theatre country-playhouse adventure with the backdrop of a play based on Jane Austen, an uptight critic, and a free-spirited actress. All kinds of fun.
4.5 Stars!
I love Lucy Parker and her clever London Celebrities series. I was a little nervous as I began reading the first chapters. They didn’t have the same acerbic wit that I was used to from the previous books. Yet, as I continued, the story increased rapidly in humor, romance, and a compelling little mystery. In fact, I was enthralled by the breakneck pacing towards the end as the mystery was solved and it evolved into a little crazy action and intrigue.
I’m never disappointed with the appeal of Parker’s main characters. Again, there was a plucky and determined heroine paired with a serious, but surprisingly romantic hero. Griff and Freddy were a wonderful match. With humor, poignancy, and a compelling romantic couple, this author has created another must-read in the series.
This romance set in the London theater scene is everything you’d expect and more.
Favorite Quotes:
He was all injured gentlemanly charm. It would be more successful if she hadn’t witnessed him getting absolutely rat-arsed at a wrap party, whipping his trousers off, and drawing a smiley-face on his willy. Once you’d seen a bloke doodling on his dick with permanent ink, the mystique was gone.
Look at that, her mere presence could make a man’s entire being go instantly flaccid. As superhuman powers went, she didn’t really rate it up there with invisibility and flight.
I hope the baffling fact that you’re letting it be staged on your property doesn’t mean I’ll miss out on the joy of a written review. They’re useful to have around if I’m ever in danger of developing self-esteem.
I’m a forgiving soul… Can’t say the same for some of that lot out there. And it’s a murder-mystery play. All the suspects gathered together for a house party. It could give someone ideas… The sarcastic critic with his poison pen and scores of embittered enemies. If this was Midsomer Murders, you wouldn’t even make it to the opening credits. If you hear the faint strains of ominous music, come find me. I’ll protect you.
Ma once said that if it hadn’t been for the twenty-hour labour, she might have thought he’d spontaneously animated from an ice sculpture.
He was broad-shouldered and long-legged, with dark skin and eyes, and his bone structure was unbelievable. He might have been carved by Michelangelo rather than sprouting from cells like other mortals.
My Review:
This was a fun and cleverly written book that was brimming with levity, razor sharp banter, pithy and wry commentary, keenly honed wit, family drama, a bit of intrigue, and most importantly, an enemies to lovers romance. I adored it, and how could I not – as the main characters were intelligent adults who laced their humor with brilliantly placed Scooby Doo and Harry Potter references. I enjoyed Ms. Parker’s vibrant characters, vivid descriptions, and colorful word choices. I also gleaned an addition to my Brit word list with sarky, which is Brit slang for sarcastic, as I could never have enough of those words. 😉
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Jordan –
After having read the three previous books in Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities series, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that The Austen Playbook is my favorite so far. I just loved every minute of it. I’m excited to read the next installment in Parker’s celebrity series. This is exactly the kind of charming romance read I’ve come to expect from Parker and I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it. I couldn’t get over the chemistry between Freddy and Griff, it was just so perfect! Freddy was such a delightful character with such a sunny disposition that you couldn’t help but instantly like her. Now, Griff was a bit of a harder sell, but eventually became a swoon-worthy character.
Although I’m not a big theater person, Parker always does such a phenomenal job of bringing the theater stage to life in her books. Having The Austen Playbook take place in the countryside was a pleasant change of scenery from the West End and every bit as enticing. Plus, despite being book #4 in the series, this can easily be read as a standalone.
All in all, a solid five-star read for The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker. I can’t wait to see what Parker has in store for her London Celebrities series next!
Ruthie –
This is the fourth book in the series – and is just as brilliant as the others. I love the mixture of intrigue, theatre, and romance. Each one has managed to be different, and give us another viewpoint in the world of luvvies.
I loved how the links between Freddy and Griff were introduced to us, so that from the very beginning we can understand the issues between them, and yet the clarity with which Griff has homed in on Freddy’s acting dilemmas. It would seem as we get to the heart of that matter, that he may be the only one who ever got it, but through him great things can happen.
There is an interesting power dynamic between them, which is always changing, and whilst restless, draws them together all the time. We get to enjoy them falling in love as well as becoming really good friends and confidantes, recognising kindred souls in a harsh working environment.
There are some lovely side characters, especially Griff’s brother and his hilarious parents! Catching glimpses of friends from previous books is also a treat. All in all, a really enjoyable read, I was just sad when I turned the last page, as I could have read on and on!
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out our The Austen Playbook post on Wicked Reads at http://bit.ly/WRAustenPlaybook
The Austen Playback is the fourth book in Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities series which is for the most part set in the West End with the main characters involved in theatre. I love the series an of course it has now extended to this current book where all the theatrics of the stage has now mashed up with Television, film and Harry Potter. Apparently this could also be considered a romance between a Slytherin and Hufflepuff. To find out more you have to read it! If you love Lucy Parker this is a must read, if you love characters that are different, a little bit off beat and you adore plots with family secrets and drama being uncovered then The Austen Playbook is for you. Also you tend to develop a British accent inside your head when you’re talking to yourself as well. The Austen Playbook is sexy, sweet, introspective humorous and all together fantastic.
The Austen Playbook filled me with such joy. This book was an absolute joy to read. See how much “Joy” I’m already using here? Freddy was such a great character and she was so easy to love. She was hilarious and well…a character I can’t stop gushing about.
I grew up reading books like Hollywood Wives etc, so when I read about actors and actresses, I expect a lot of glamour, but that isn’t always the same way in Britain. Oh not to worry there’s intrigue and some backstabbing, but in a much different manner from the books I gobbled up in my high school days.
This novel was so fun and funny. I loved Freddy and Griff. OMG at Griff, especially in his reviews. And his family!!
There is so much quirky going on in Griff’s family …his brother and well, his parents have the market cornered on quirky.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that made me so happy when I was reading it. It gave me all the right “feels.” If you can read about Griff’s aunt Violet and the whole drama around “The Velvet Room” and not get “the feels” well I’m sure you don’t have any feelings at all.
I loved the idea of The Austen Playbook too. I think something done that way would be absolutely amazing to watch and loved the behind the scenes goings on with all the actors and actresses.
Lucy Parker is definitely a new favorite author of mine! This book was a treat to read!
The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker (contemporary, Carina, April 2019)
Series: London Celebrities, book 4
Lucy Parker has a wonderful ability to combine sweet and sexy with fun and funny, especially in her sex scenes. This is absolutely true for The Austen Playbook, the fourth book in Parker’s London Celebrities series.
In this book, actress Freddy and critic Griff are a bit at odds over some ill-timed comments that Griff makes about one of Freddy’s performances. But they are put into close contact when Freddy gets a starring role in The Austen Playbook, a live production to be staged on Griff’s estate and the sparks fly.
Griff and his brother have agreed to host the production in an old theater on their estate to help bring in some badly needed money. It doesn’t hurt that the theater was built by Griff’s grandfather for Freddy’s famous grandmother years ago when the two were having a salacious affair.
But Griff isn’t terribly happy to have his home invaded by a production crew. He’s a loner, a grump, but one who can’t stop thinking about the vivacious Freddy. These two are an unlikely pair, but one who are fabulous together.
And I mentioned the sweet and sexy but funny sex scenes, right? There were so many things in this book that made me laugh, but some of the lines from the sex scenes cracked me up. Freddy admits that she and Griff do not have the knack for shower sex – a scene that I will never forget (happily so). I will let readers learn more on their own. 🙂
Additionally, there is a point where Freddy tells Griff that she doesn’t want to have penetrative sex because this causes her pain mid-menstrual cycle. Imagine that – people having a realistic conversation about sexual issues – and a sympathetic hero. This is all so well done and helps to deepen Freddy and Griff’s relationship.
Freddy and Griff’s romance is absolutely delicious. Grumpy Griff needs Freddy’s lighter spirit so badly, and Griff supports Freddy as she learns to take charge of her life and her dreams. The two also need each other when secrets about their famous grandparents come out.
The subplot surrounding Griff’s grandfather and Freddy’s grandmother is as wonderful as the romance. I was wholly invested in it and in how Griff and Freddy (Freddy especially) handled the situation and what it meant for their relationship and what it meant for their families. It was a perfect foil for the romance.
While The Austen Playbook can be read as a stand alone, all of the books in Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities books are worth a read. Parker writes vibrant romances that are full of sugar and spice and everything nice. The Austen Playbook is one of the best books that I’ve read in 2019; it will especially delight those readers who are fans of grumpy heroes who fall hard and fast.
Book Disclosure: An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Lucy Parker has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and The Austen Playbook may be her best book yet! Freddy and Griff are wonderful characters, the plot is original, and the romance is swoon-worthy.