Monday, October 11, 2010

Pies & Prejudice - Heather Vogel Frederick - Blog Tour Review

Just as school is starting, Emma's family moves to England for the year, and the book club is stunned. But even with the sudden change, the book club stays together with the help of technology, and they decide to read Pride and Prejudice, a fitting choice! While Emma contends with Annabelle, who makes her life overseas miserable, back across the pond the other girls encounter Tristan and Simon, Annabelle's cousins, whose family traded houses with the Hawthornes. Even with their own versions of Darcy and Bingley, the book club doesn't feel the same with Emma gone, so the girls start a pie-baking business to bring her for a visit. In a year filled with baking mishaps, skating competitions, and a resplendent costume ball, there will always be room for true friends. 

Title: Pies & Prejudice (The Mother-Daughter Book Club #4)
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 14, 2010
Source: Received from publisher courtesy of the Teen Book Scene. Many thanks goes to Bernadette from Simon & Schuster (US) and Kelsey from Teen Book Scene for sending me this  book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This book is part of Heather Vogel Frederick's blog tour
My rating: 5/5

Pies & Prejudice is the fourth installment in the Mother-Daughter Book Club. It brings about the best of books, and pies, and intermingles them together to make a tasty and delectable read. The girls are dismayed to learn that Emma is moving to England for a year. Even with the new house guests residing at the Hawthornes, the girls still are missing Emma. They decide to start a pie-baking business to raise funds to bring Emma home for a visit. 
The book alternates voices between several of the girls, giving us a look into each of their lives. I loved reading from Cassidy's point of view the most as I found I identified the most with her, however I found that I loved the voices of all of the other girls as well. I identified with all of them to some degree, and couldn't help appreciating their similarities, and differences. They all bring different aspects, traits, and qualities to the book, and I truly loved all of the characters. The new house guests liven things up as well. The camaraderie between the girls and their mothers is portrayed so well. All of the girls are down to earth, and are all dealing with their own issues, which makes this book so much more real.  
This is the first book that I have read in the series, and though I'm entering the series late, I'm not left wondering what is going on by any means. I especially enjoyed the idea of a mother-daughter book club. I will also mention, that I have never read Pride and Prejudice before either, and found the comments and the blurbs at the beginning of each chapter are enticing me to read it now. I honestly did not think I would enjoy the book as much as I did, because I haven't read any of Austen's works. I thought that would detract from the overall experience, but it doesn't at all. I absolutely loved this book and will be adding the rest of the series to my reading list. 
All in all, this book is a heartwarming tale of life and friendship. It is executed perfectly, and has left me wanting to read the previous books as soon as possible. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone. Though it is targeted to middle grade readers, I think young adults and adults alike will also enjoy reading Pies & Prejudice

7 comments:

Alison Can Read said...

You definitely need to read the rest of the books. I love this series.
Alison Can Read

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

i had no idea there were 4 books now!! i have the first one but haven't ever got a chance to read it, i think the whole concept is just so sweet. thanks for the great review!

Dazzling Mage said...

I haven't heard of the series until now. It's good that it doesn't feel out of place so late in the series. Great review!

Anonymous said...

I have recently read this book! It's one of my all-time favorites and I recommend it! I haven't read the other books yet, but I will soon.

Unknown said...

I have read all four books and I must say that nothing will compare to Cassidy Anne Salon.

Megs said...

@Jessy Lee; You're wrong.
It's CASSIDY ANN SLOANE.

Lee Ann Rimes said...

@Megs

Isn't it Cassidy Ann Sloane?