I am not a fan of Jane Austen’s Emma. It is probably my least favourite of Austen’s novels and Emma – the character – was the only one of Austen’s heroines that I failed to find any redeeming features. Somewhat ironically I love Clueless – the hit 90s movie based on Emma. Only With You by Cecilia Gray is a rip off of a rip off. That sounds particularly harsh. It probably would be nicer to say that she is paying homage to both pieces of entertainment. I just personally didn’t love Only With You.

Instead of rural England, Only With You takes place in America, the characters are all teenagers who attend Jane Austen Academy – now maybe I have come into the series too late but I didn’t understand the naming of the academy so that initially threw me off. Like in the Austen novel, Emma tries to set up her friends but she keeps getting it wrong. She means well but her actions are sometimes a bit selfish.

To be fair to Cecilia Gray, Only With You isn’t a bad story. I think it is that I am personally biased against it because of my dislike of the original text. I think it would be best suited for a teenage audience and my age probably played a part in whether or not I liked this book. What I am trying to say is that Only With You was a good book it just wasn’t for me.

Only With You by Cecilia Gray is available now.

For more information regarding Cecilia Gray (@CeciliaBooks) please visit www.ceciliagray.com.