Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Guedes debut novel is a delight! 

 

“First Impressions of You” follows Luiza Bento, an aspiring actress facing deportation from the United States. After months of working at a theme park, an opportunity to star in the theater’s next play might just allow her to stay. That is until she discovers that she is starring opposite Winter Davis, a seasoned actor that isn’t too keen on sharing the spotlight with Luiza. Then again, first impressions aren’t always accurate. 

 

I really enjoyed this modernized “Pride and Prejudice” retelling! Guedes uses Austen’s beloved romance novel as the foundation for her own, setting it against a theme park backdrop that creates a cinematic atmosphere for readers. To further diverge from her source material, she also diversifies her cast of characters by providing plus size and Latine representation, which I greatly appreciated. 

 

Winter and Luiza’s workplace romance made my heart flutter! Guedes takes her time in developing their relationship from rivals to lovers, painstakingly detailing Luisa’s prolonged refusal to give in to her feelings. But once she does, the pay off is magical. Luiza and Winter’s chemistry leaps off the page! Their banter and their steamier moments set this book apart from other Austin retellings. 

 

My only wish is that there were more positive interactions between Luiza and her sisters featured on the page. Luiza’s strained relationship with her youngest sister in particular broke my heart, which is a testament to Guedes’ writing in and of itself seeing that I was emotionally invested in her characters. 

 

I look forward to seeing what Guedes puts out next!