#AmReading - The Retelling Edition

---

The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra
Published by Berkley on December 5, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A woman learns to follow her own road in this heartwarming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

Dorothy “Dee” Gale is searching for a place to belong. After their globe-trotting mother’s death, Dee and her sister Toni settled with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas, where Dee attends graduate school. But when Dee’s relationship with a faculty member, a bestselling novelist, ends in heartbreak and humiliation, she’s caught in a tornado of negative publicity. Unable to face her colleagues—or her former lover—Dee applies to the writing program at Trinity College Dublin.

Dee’s journey to Ireland leads her to new companions: seemingly brainless Sam Clery—who dropped out of college and now runs a newsagent’s shop—is charming and hot, in a dissolute, Irish poet kind of way; allegedly heartless Tim Woodman—who stiffly refused to take back his ex-fiancée—seems stuck in his past; and fiercely loyal Reeti Kaur, who longs for the courage to tell her parents she wants to teach underprivileged girls rather than work in the family business.

In a year of opportunities and changes, love and loss, Dee is mentored by powerful women in the writing program, challenging her to see herself and her work with new eyes. With her friends, Dee finds the confidence to confront her biggest fears—including her intimidating graduate advisor, who may not be so wicked after all.

Faced with a choice with far-reaching consequences, Dee must apply the lessons she’s learned along the way about making a family, finding a home...and recognizing the power that’s been inside her all along.

I want to share this before I tell you about my experience reading The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale. I am easily charmed by a great cover and leery of reading the full synopsis of any book having been hit with with what I feel are spoilers in the past. That said, I found this to be a delightful and heartwarming spin on the classic Wizard of Oz tale.

Dorothy, clad in her red cowboy boots, fled her personal storms in Kansas for a new beginning on the Emerald Isle. In Dublin, she formed a small family of three friends who helped her find her heart, head, and the courage she needed as she sought her own path to change. Though the parallels to the original work are there, this story focused on Dorothy's personal journey without all the fanfare and flash we know and love. This new focus on relationships and Dorothy slaying her own "dragons" was something I really appreciated while the essence of the original can easily be seen and felt. The idea of "home" and tapping the power that she always had are trademarks of the classic tale, and they were wonderfully present in this book, too.

I found Dorothy's inner turmoil depicted so well here. She carried a lot of hurt from her childhood and her harmful romantic relationship. I related very much to her pain, and I shed tears for her. But, I was so proud to see her heal and become empowered in her own life. That is why Dorothy's personal journey was a standout part of the story for me.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this modern twist on a classic I adore. It was beautiful seeing Dorothy grow and succeed in so many areas of her life as she discovered her home and the power inside herself.

---

Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno
Published by Harper Perennial on December 5, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

The Kardashians meets Pride and Prejudice in this charming comical follow-up to Birds of California, in which an A-list movie star moves to Los Angeles—and next door to a family of five eligible sisters.

Every family is complicated, and the Benedettos are no exception. A few years after a reality show skyrocketed them to pop culture fame, the five twenty-something sisters are living together in their parent’s crumbling McMansion, almost broke and teetering toward rock bottom. Their fortunes brighten when Charlie Bingley, the dashing star of Captain Fantastic, moves into the neighborhood with Will Darcy, his best friend from Juilliard, in tow. Charlie immediately falls for warm and lovely June, the oldest Benedetto sister. While the Benedetto’s flighty matriarch, Cinta, brashly encourages the potential match, there are plenty of others determined to steer Charlie away from this ridiculous family of reality show has-beens.

Lilly Benedetto, the sensible second oldest sister, is all too aware that her family is viewed as a spectacle. She usually doesn’t care what the world thinks because she faces deeper sorrows. And she most certainly does not have the patience for the likes of Will Darcy, a man plagued by his own private demons. Lilly finds Will to be stuck-up, arrogant, and judgmental. Will thinks Lilly is loud, brash, and defensive. But while the two clash at every turn, they can’t seem to stay away from each other.

Katie Cotugno brings a big, boisterous cast of characters to life in this deliciously sprawling Los Angeles story—a thoroughly fresh and modern tale about a family that’s “famous for being famous,” the ways that preconceived notions make fools of us all, and how unexpected romance can bloom despite the odds.

I have two confessions

1. I did not read the synopsis for this book. I just wanted to read it because I adore Katie Cotugno's books.
2. I have never read P&P

As previously mentioned, I had no idea what this book was about going into it, however, while I was reading, I had the sneaking suspicion this was a P&P retelling - Will Darcy, Pemberly Grove, Bingley. I could see all the signs. This didn't really change my feelings towards the story because I have only ever read P&P retellings. I will say, this was quite an interesting twist on the Austen tale, and I found it to be pure escapism in all it soapy goodness.

I may be calling it soapy, but the drama was never over the top. Cotugno tempered it in the best ways, keeping it on the level of most reality shows. This was fitting, since the Benedetto family rose to fame as a reality TV family.

So, yes some delicious drama and sometimes spoiled-people antics, but what really stood out was the dynamic in the family. They had many flaws, but they loved each other fiercely. Lilly's affection for her sisters and parents stood out the strongest, but when one was at a low point, they all rallied and formed a united front to support whoever was in need. I loved this about them, and dare I say, I got an almost Little Women-ish type sisterly vibe from them.

The story structure worked very well too. It kept the story moving at a quick pace while allowing the reader to get a look inside each characters' head when they had their chance in the spotlight. Told with Cotugno's signature wit, I found myself gobbling up this tale and caring about the outcome of each and every messy character.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

Favorite retelling?
Let us know in the comments!