I received a digital advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh, Audrey is in a rut after her boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her and she’s rejected from her dream art school. She’s about to give up on both love and her career ambitions when the grumpy regular customer at her parents’ store says that he can help her… and somehow ends up sending her back in time to 1812 England. There, she meets Lucy, a young woman her age who is every bit a Jane Austen character sort of person, including an arranged marriage to a man she doesn’t love who is twice her age. As Lucy and Audrey get to know each other, and seek to unravel how to get Audrey sent back home, they grow closer—and romantic feelings, against all odds, start to develop. But they’re divided by two centuries of history and experience, so surely they can’t have a real relationship… Unless…

You know, for a book with “Pittsburgh” in the title, I expected more of the plot to take place there.

So this was very cute! It reminds me a bit of One Last Stop but with an Austenian twist. And I quite liked both Audrey and Lucy, who are both kind and intelligent and have excellent chemistry. Their banter is really fun, and Audrey’s use of 21st century slang makes for some entertaining exchanges.

I also quite liked the other characters Audrey befriends in 1812, though for a while I did worry this was going to be an annoying love triangle. Or more than a triangle, because at one point it seemed like three men were interested in her, which would have been so tedious. Luckily, though, they all became friends, which was so much more entertaining and sweet. It was a good cast overall.

I also was glad to see that the love story between these two young women wasn’t too affected by the attitudes toward same-sex couples that would have existed at that time; while Lucy balks at what society will think of her, she doesn’t really have any internal reservations about falling in love with Audrey, which was nice. It’s a refreshing mindset to read about, being open to love however it arrives.

The plot isn’t the most fast-paced or intense, but the character arcs and emotions are great. There’s a little bit of action at the end, but it’s not out of keeping with Jane Austen in that it mostly involves resolving the romantic story. Really, this reads like a good traditional romcom, just with some time travel thrown in for extra flavor. And in the end, Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh is a ton of fun. If you like queer books, Jane Austen, or really any sort of romcom, this would be a great book for you!

Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh will be published on August 29th, 2023!

(Also, I would have had this review finished ages ago, but my renewed obsession with the Good Omens tv show hit me like a ton of bricks over the weekend and quite thoroughly distracted me.)