Here we have an Emma retelling, by Farah Heron of Accidentally Engaged fame. I admitted did not finish said book, but I am well documented as reading any and all Jane Austen fic that comes my way so here we were, reading a South Asian retelling of the seminal Austen work.
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.
The biggest issue with this novel is the Catch 22 of trying to modernize Emma without losing what makes Emma, well, Emma. The best adaptation of this novel, of course, is the film Clueless, and anyone who disagrees is just wrong. There, Cher Horowitz channels the best of Emma by being the high school aged daughter of a wealthy trial attorney. Thus, her ability to do nothing is never seen as a character flaw (what else is she supposed to do). Her hidden depths are also cleverly forecast through the film, as is her relationship with Josh Knightley (I assume).
In this novel, there’s too much modernity (in the form of girlboss ambition) contrasted with too much Emma-ness (in the form of sparkly clothes and ‘frivolous’ hobbies). We’re supposed to believe that this iteration of Emma, a successful lawyer/accountant with enough cash to have a pampered pupper, is seen as incompetent by everyone around her. Since we don’t start the novel thinking of her as sweet but aimless, her eventual turn isn’t as earnt. Honestly? Everyone else in this book didn’t deserve Kamila, as unevenly as I think she was written. She should have continued hooking up with hot younger men and building out her happy life with her dog, her charity work, and her dad. And definitely getting away from working for her dad.
In total, would not read again or recommend, but cannot be mad about getting to enjoy some Emma again.
