I received an eARC of this book via the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

I am an Austen girl through and through. I love the originals, and I love reading new adaptations as every author puts a different and unique spin on the classic tales. This one is no different. When I first came across Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe, I was so excited. A Christmas-themed, gender-swapped Pride and Prejudice? Yes please! Melissa de la Cruz delivers a smart, fun, holiday romance in her twist of the classic.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any beautiful, brillant, single woman who is rich as hell will be in want of a husband.

Darcy Fitwilliam is a highly successful, 29 year old who left home as soon as she could to escape the pressure her family put on her. Darcy has never quite measured up to what her father’s ideals. As a result, she’s made her own way. She’s held onto her on-again, off-again boyfriend for far too long with no intent of ever marrying him. When her mother has a heart attack, Darcy drops everything to return home and care for her. This brings her home just in time for the holidays, and her mother may have ulterior motives for keeping her there.

Enter Luke Bennet. Luke is slightly older than Darcy, never left home, and is a successful carpenter in their small town. Having made her life hell during high school, Darcy wants nothing to do with him. But after one too many eggnogs, sparks ignite. Now the two can’t seem to stop running into one another in town. While their families may have other plans for them, Luke and Darcy slowly seem to be falling for one another.

I’ll be honest. Starting out, I really didn’t like Darcy. Just like Mr. Darcy, she comes off as arrogant and prideful, prejudice against those that she doesn’t really know. However I love how the author shows us her character’s progression. As the walls that Darcy has built around herself crumble, I fell in love with her. She has stayed away so long, but finds that the longer she’s home the less likely she is to leave. And Luke….it took awhile for him to grow on me. He was just as judgy of Darcy as everyone else, and I felt like he used her more than once. I had a hard time getting behind their relationship.

Overall, I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe. While not a straight-up retelling of the classic, the story is clearly inspired by the original. I love the small details and the hometown setting. I even enjoyed the opposite-attracts trope. If you are looking for a sweet, slightly steamy, holiday romance, I highly recommend it.