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Lively, funny and inventive retelling of Emma for a 21st-century audience.
As Jane’s Fame amply demonstrates, the Austen machine goes churning on with no apparent end in sight. In the several years I have been reviewing books for Jane Austen’s Regency World, I’ve read an unfeasibly large number of ‘homages’, sequels, prequels, spoofs and spin-offs. Some are pedestrian, others pretentious, but a surprising number take Austen’s characters or plots to unexpected new destinations and create something fresh and entertaining. Juliet Archer (well, she has the right initials anyway) has reinvented my absolute favourite Austen novel for a 21st-century audience, and done it with breathtaking charm and verve.
Joceyn Bury - Jane Austen Regency World Magazine Sept/Oct 09. Read the full review on Juliet’s website.
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Juliet Archer in her Author’s Note to The Importance of Being Emma, quotes this passage as the inspiration for her rollicking take on Jane Austen’s Emma. If you like imagining your Knightley as a to-die-for, sex-obsessed hero, or in the words of Emma at fourteen, “Mark Knightley: twenty-five, tall, dark, and handsome, and known among my older sister’s crowd as the Sex God” [p. 1] – then this book is a must-read, a perfect end of summer “choc-lit”* confection.
Review by JASNA Vermont - Janeite Deb. Read the full report.
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I was recommended your book by my friend, who is a huge fan and I have been converted and am now a huge fan of your book too. I loved it! Couldn't put it down, it was the sort of book that I love to get lost in and my head couldn't get out of it even when I wasn't reading it. I adore the book and it is certainly one I would be reading again and again. And now I long for your next one, please tell me it would be out soon. I love how you put it in a 21st century perspective and I love the fact you get into the gentleman's head as well as the lady's it's perfect. I look forward to seeing you in store again soon, and please, please let me know when you plan to release Persuade me I will be one of the first people in line to get it and I would love to have your signature again
 Kerry, Warrington
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It is fitting that a company called Choc Lit produced this fluffy confection of a book, a modern-set retelling of Emma, as it is as sweet and light as a piece of nougat that melts quickly on the tongue.
Emma Woodhouse is 23, with a freshly minted Harvard MBA to go with her bachelor’s from the London School of Economics. She’s no dummy, but unfortunately all her business knowledge is strictly academic, and she needs hands-on experience as she takes over marketing for the family gourmet food business—and her brother-in-law Mark Knightley, an executive with his own family’s organic food business, is just the person to mentor her. However, Mark’s growing attraction for Emma and her self-satisfied mistakes complicate their business dealings.
Review by Austenblog read the full report.....
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 Gorgeously modernised version of Jane Austen's 'Emma'...
There will be those, inevitably, that have never read Jane Austen; for whom the story of ‘Emma’ holds no special meaning. For those of us, however, who have expended many an hour engrossed in Austen’s merry dances; The Importance of being Emma has a lot to live up to.
Review by Truth About Books read the full report....
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Archer's `The Importance of Being Emma' has been a delightful read! With its wittiness, wonderful vivacity and compelling angst between the two protagonists, Archer has beautifully re-captured, in wonderful style, the spirit of Austen in modern day context - certainly no easy feat. The humour coming through is priceless (rest assured if you read this on a train, you may be liable to disgruntle passengers with your outbursts of laughter); this, along with the feistiness of Emma and unrivalled charm of Mr Knightley, will have you swept up in a world of indulgence within minutes. Having read it at the speed of light, I can now indulge myself by reading it all over again ... until the next one is out. Highly recommended!!!
H Goldup, St Albans
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What a great read its all what I expected and more. I couldn’t put the book down and was sad when it ended. I could of carried on reading if there had of been more that is. I can’t wait for Juliet’s next book - I will be buying it. Thank you for such an enjoyable read.......
Hero in terms of chocolate: Mouth watering melt in your mouth - you dont want the taste to go away.
Emma, Stockport
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Loved it! Never read the original so had no expectations. I was drawn into the book and characters immediately and did not want to put it down! I really wanted to throttle them at times because you get so involved. Great read, can't wait for the next one.
Hero in terms of chocolate: Mark was like a Melting Moment, all firm but well shaped on the outside but very melting and squidy on the inside!
S.B.A. Welwyn Garden City
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I was given this book for Mother’s Day what a fantastic present it turned out to be - loved it! The Importance of Being Emma is a fantastic updating of the great JA’s Emma. All Jane Austen fans will love this version. I’m only disappointed that your next book is not out yet. Please let me know when it’s available.
Liz, Stanwell
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I really enjoyed this book. It was given to me by a friend and I loved it. Look forward to reading Persuade Me.
Judy, Weybridge
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I read your book. I just loved it. It is amusing, witty, modern, sexy, romantic and sassy. It is exactly the way I imagined a modern version of Emma, which is my preferred Jane Austen book.
I reread it several times and I'm amazed how you were able to convert nearly every important passage in the original book in a modern and credible way.
I am really looking forward to your next project, since persuasion is my second preferred Jane Austen book !
Many greetings from Switzerland
rolidiffy, Switzerland.
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...This is a good read and a clever reworking of the original (only with more sex), despite the somewhat broad brushstrokes applied to the secondary characters, and the slightly clichéd view of modern gentry sensibilities (it seemed a bit far-fetched that Emma, with all her experience and her Harvard education, would be so flummoxed by her PA’s Estuary vernacular).
But, as I said, both Mark and Emma are characterised really well, and the plot is cleverly and effectively structured to keep you hooked till the end.
Perfect for a holiday read!
Robyn Wilder Trashionista
Read the full review
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The author warned me that her new book, “The importance of being Emma” was very much chick lit and it may not be suitable for a middle-age man like me. However, having just finished reading it I have to say I’m extremely impressed. I read the other JA’s Emma just once, nearly forty years ago when I studied it at school but immediately recognised the characters and plot. That alone might have kept me turning pages at chill-out-holiday rate but the prose combined a lightness of touch with a confidence of pace which frequently held my attention well after normal lights-out.
That art imitates art is a given – any student of painting, music, fashion and literature will see ideas, themes and plots resurrected and reworked throughout their history. There is no shame in this – it’s both a compliment and a complement to the original if it’s accomplished with admiration of the original, dedication to the craft and a pinch of inspiration. Archer’s love of Austen shines through the book’s fabric. Her craft has been to make the update fit so comfortably into the equally complex society of twenty-first-century middle-class Britain. And her inspiration has without doubt been the narrative’s alternation between Mark’s and Emma’s viewpoints. As a sixteen-year-old boy in a single-sex school, I needed a good teacher to reveal Austen’s subtext, which then enabled me to enjoy more of her dual-layer novels. Whilst some might find Archer’s dual narrative over-egging the pudding, she writes the two characters so convincingly that she should be forgiven by the more sophisticated reader and thanked by the ingénue. It works also on the level of echoing the evident competitiveness between the protagonists.
I must be honest that as the star-crossed lovers’ story unfolded there were times when I wanted to throttle them and when, momentarily, I felt my credulity stretched by their obtuseness. But then I remembered feeling the same way about Austen’s original and then, looking back at my own and friends’ actual roller-coaster love lives, I could see frustratingly similar blind spots and misconstructions. Archer has managed to retain and build on Austen’s dance between forgiveness of her characters and flinty exposure of their fallibility.
The humour in this novel was not for me of the side-splitting variety. Rather it raised regular wry smiles particularly at the supporting cast; Harriet Smith, the ‘Essex girl’, Philip Elton’s pushy girlfriend and Batty are all recognisable stereotypes who provide colour and amusement in real and literary life.
Feminism, absence of censorship and the pill have brought sex out in the open but was Archer right to allow us to witness Emma’s lovemaking? Whilst early-nineteenth-century literature was painfully coy in this area, Austen’s books have a powerful undercurrent of sex and it would surely be negligent to pretend that modern-day red-blooded characters wouldn’t have their minds on shagging. Indeed, a major theme of the book was the tension between Emma’s and Mark’s quasi-sibling relationship and their overwhelming sexual attraction. As a male, I can vouch for the realism in Mark’s frequent observations of Emma’s secondary sexual characteristics. Plus debate is rife on the subject of women’s drunkenness and consequent post-coital remorse. For me this episode added depth to the characters as I couldn’t help wondering what had damaged Emma’s self-esteem so much that she assumed Mark was just using her as a substitute for Tamara; her mother’s supposed early death and her father’s hypochondria perhaps?
To summarise this was for me a worthy and enjoyable read plus a truly fascinating experiment in standing on the shoulders of a giant. It’s not a great novel but was never intended to be. As page-turning chick lit it is executed with warmth and business-like concision – I’m going to read Austen’s Persuasion to prepare for Archer’s next release.
I’m just left wondering whether I’ve missed something in the Wildean reference of the title.
Richard, Herts
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I started reading this book with scepticism, could anyone live up to the great Jane Austen? Yet I found myself unable to stop reading. The modernisation is brilliant, changing the setting and time yet still identifying Austen's unique character with those in the 21st century. Archer captures the audiences attention and has them doting over Mark within the first few chapters. Emma is portrayed very well, I was unsure if I liked her but Archer was able to show her as Austen did, flawed and human, and I appreciated the realness of the character and grew to love her! Overall, a great read and I although I'm not normally one to review, I couldn't not share the laughter and romance I have read with everyone! BUY IT!
Samantha, 19, London
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Really enjoyed this book. A good girlie read excellent for when you have a couple of days free just to read ( ie on holiday). Juliet Archer has got it just right and you get the feel of A Jane Austen novel but its set in 21st Century. Can't wait for the next one
Caroline, Essex
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Make it into a film, please!
Jane Austen's original 'Emma' has inspired several films and TV series - so will someone please do the same for this book? And can I choose who's playing the hero? (Only Richard Armitage or Clive Owen need apply.)
This wonderful story has been cleverly updated - but you don't need to have read the original at all. This version made me laugh out loud and in true Austen fashion there are darker moments as well.
Bravo, Juliet! (Wasn't that a TV series too?!)
Genevieve, Herts
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Jane Austen in modern dress
Jane Austen's Emma is one of the most popular of her novels and this is a worthy successor. Juliet Archer has taken the basic story, brought it up to date and imagined what would happen to the same people in a modern setting. The result - whether you like Austen or not - is worth reading in its own right. The dialogue sparkles and all the famous incidents are there in essence. If you've never read Emma then this may prompt you to try it and you will find the characters remarkably familiar if you do. I found it entertaining and well written. My only - minor - complaint is it is narrated by Emma herself and Mark Knightley and I found the constant change of narrator - sometimes both on the same page - a little irritating. I did get used to it though and ultimately it didn't spoil my enjoyment.
Damaskcat UK
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 Emma and Mark are besieged by misconstrued feelings, and poorly made assumptions. Their story is a comedy of errors that will leave you clutching your sides in laughter and groaning with frustration at their bullheadedness. The desire to shake some sense into them is overwhelming at times, but they are endearing and utterly loveable characters. Their antics are full of the quick wit, sweet romance, and deep emotion needed to make this a very entertaining read.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Read the full report
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I am a big Jane Austen fan, and I’ve read quite a few modern versions of her work (Melissa Nathan, Kate Fenton spring to mind, as well as Bridget Jones).
What I have found in reading these books is that they are usually only very loosely based around the original story. This has been a little frustrating for me as I often wondered why they had been changed so much when the original was so good.
But lo and behold, at last, a modern version of a Jane Austen book that sticks to the original story, and is a fantastic read.
I love fiction review
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Perfect escapist reading - don't miss it!
This is a thoroughly enjoyable story which had me hooked from the start. Mark Knightley is the TDH hero who Emma Woodhouse has known all her life. The story begins with a scene between Mark and a teenage Emma, then skips ahead to find them meeting again after several years. Austen fans will love some very clever updating to the original, though I'm sure it will appeal equally to anyone who doesn't already know the story. Add to that a pacy plot with a host of brilliantly written secondary characters, who bring the story beautifully to life. A real page turner, I zipped through it in no time.
More soon please, Ms Archer!
Sal, Herts
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Witty and charming read
This is a charming and witty update of Jane Austen's Emma (fairly obviously), which is really very well done. And that front cover is stunning. It's a fun read for a winter evening.
Anne, Godalming
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Juliet Archer brings Emma into today’s society with terrific gusto.
Emma like her 19th century predecessor blunders her forceful way through Highbury, organising (or more correctly mis-organising)other peoples lives and loves and causing mayhem.
The book is a delight, and it very successfully transfers the original plot into todays very different culture.
As a reader we see and flinch at Emma’s mistakes, we know they'll be resolved but the delight is finding out how.
A great read.
afg, London
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Utterly Delicious original take on a classic
A real 21st century dilemma, get supper ready or carry on reading this delightful, witty version of Jane Austen's Emma? Thank goodness for ready meals which allowed me to gobble up this surprisingly modern love story. Juliet Archer skillfully manages to build suspension, whipping the Austen basics into a light confection which is not without its darker moments. A complete treat - when is the next in the series published?
Keen Reader, London
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Calling All Jane Austen Enthusiasts!
A new author, Juliet Archer, has written a delightful book called "The Importance Of Being Emma", bringing Jane Austen's "EMMA"into the 21st century. Skilfully creating a first-rate novel involving present day characters, where ambitions, hopes, desires and misfortunes are played out in an entertaining, modern setting.
Everyone will enjoy this book, from Jane Austen fans to those who simply read for fun. Highly recommended!!
DJE, Hertfordshire
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Very enjoyable Christmas Present
I was given this book as a Christmas present and what a thoroughly enjoyable, delightful read it was for me over the holidays. Never having read Jane Austin's "Emma", I valued it on its own merit.
A super book to sit and read curled up by a roaring log fire,or to take on your holiday. A really delicious read!! Very well done Juliet Archer!!
Melanie, Hitchin
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Brilliant - I couldn't put it down!
I enjoyed this book immensely. I'm not a great fan of romantic fiction but this book was recommended to me by a friend. I was intrigued by the front cover (wish I had her legs!) and by the style of writing (intelligent and witty).
The characters are superb, really believable. Juliet Archer has a real talent for making her characters in her mind to truthful, charismatic, genuine people on paper (especially her hero Mark Knightley). Obviously the ending is predictable, as is most romantic fiction but the writing is so intelligibly written that it keeps you hooked. I can't wait for JA’s next book.
Bookworm, Surrey
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CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOUR BOOK IS BRILLIANT!!!
I was so curious, I simply had to speed through my first reading, just to discover how you had re-created the complexities of "Emma"; but right from the beginning, when you had ingeniously incorporated the names of Jane Austen's characters, I thought "Wow! - she's done it!" Through the 398 pages, carefully crafted to follow a sequence of events, thoughts and conversations appropriate to modern day life, the story of Emma is imaginatively unfurled and I loved it.
Now on my second reading, I can appreciate the impressive literary quality you have embodied in this extraordinary achievement.
Doreen, Hitchin
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This clever retelling of Jane Austen's Emma makes a delightfully witty read and I marvelled at the transition to modern life, the social hierarchy of the Regency period very well translated into the structure of local firms and businesses. Combined with puns and word games that distinguish Emma from other novels this updated version is a classic romantic comedy.
Jacqueline, Abergele
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A spirited retelling of Emma by Jane Austen will provide an enjoyable read to those who know the original story and those who don't. Definitely recommended.
Sue Magee, The Bookbag - an independent book review site
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‘A great story which has been a joy to read.’
‘Juliet Archer writes heroes so convincingly and gives them a touch of weakness and insecurity without ever detracting from their masculinity. When mixed with a wicked sense of humour, this makes a very attractive combination!’
‘Right from the start of the story the main characters got inside my head, especially Mark.’
The Choc Lit Tasting Panel
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