Book Review: First & Then by Emma Mills

Summary:

Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

Release Date: October 2015

Age Group: YA

Source: Publisher

Reviewed By: Nat

Review:

For a debut, standalone & modern day Pride and Prejudice, Mills hit the mark! I am a total sucker for all things Darcy but I didn't have a clue that this was the underlying theme until midway through the book. I try to make a habit of not reading the summary of books because sometimes they give away too much and I want all the surprises people.

I'll admit that I thought Devon was a mental patient at first. The opener is Devon asking herself "What would Jane do?" I kept wondering who the heck Jane was, hindsight it was one of the first clues that this had a P&P. Once I caught on to the whole P&P theme, I had fun trying to figure out who was who. I did like the whole Friday Night Lights feel- I'm a Texas girl. 

Why I lost #thefeels

I sped through this one pretty fast for two reasons: 1. I was certain there would be a second book. and 2. it was light and easy. With that said, there were several story arch's that were unresolved-- naturally this made me think there HAD to be another book but no-nothing-nada.

There was so much cussing in this book! If I'm reading a YA I don't expect many (if any) F* bombs. Now if it's NA lit, that's a different story.

The ending felt rushed. Nothing more to say about that.

{Now, if Mills extends this or adds a novella, my opinion might change.}

Overall, I would recommend this to my girlfriends who share the same deep seeded love for Darcy that I do but I wouldn't recommend it to teens. I don't think they would appreciate the P&P and {again} the cussing.

image source: goodreads.com