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Summary: A lovely summer interlude...P+P updated for a quick read
Review: This book is not at all like Jane Austen's, "Pride and Prejudice," (P+P) that said this book is refreshing, fun and delightful. A perfect summer read for those of us who loved P+P and love all the sequels. This is a sweet book that is updated and is a must for all of those who adored "Bridget Jones's Diary." I read this book quickly and then re-read it with relish. True, this isn't a Jane Austen worthy original, but it is a fun likeness updated for today's society. I found it wonderfully urbane and the perfect escape from our busy and hectic everyday world. What a delight--this is the perfect beach read, subway ride escape or airplane departure or delay relief. I heartily recommend this book for those of a particular temperament for a P+P-like escape. Don't read this if you are a purist. However, if you are like me and enjoy anything that conjures up a "Darcy" like remembrance this is a sweet remembrance that will take you back to the original renewed and inspired. Quite simply this book is perfect for a summer read.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Close For Comfort
Review: I started this book eagerly, because Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a favorite book. However, I felt the author made the parallels to P&P too close to be believable. After all, the characters were supposed to be rehearsing a P&P play throughout the book. I kept waiting for one of them to say. "Wait a minute. What's going on here? We're all pairing up in couples just like the book." A better take-off on Pride and Prejudice is Kate Fenton's Lions and Liquorice, published about five years ago.
Rating: 
Summary: Disconcertingly bad.
Review: Character development? Zilch.Really, the only dimension any of these characters has is given by their correspondence to the characters in the original books. Nathan leaves so many plot points and character interactions at loose ends, it becomes terribly important to reference Austen's work just to figure out why each character archetype behaves as they do. Believable character interactions and reactions? Maybe.....no, zilch. If nothing else, does she honestly think there are men....or even people....who behave this way? Perhaps if she had actually developed the story rather than just making sure to hit all the major plot points. My utter displeasure with this book has rendered me incoherent. Ugh.
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Summary: too much of the form and too little of the spirit
Review: In general I love re-tellings of classic stories. Since I am very fond of Pride and Prejudice, I thought I would really enjoy this book. And I did enjoy it--up to a point. The problem with the book for me is that somewhere in the middle of the book I began to get the feeling that PP&JF is less of a retelling and more of a too painfully literal temporal translation of Austen's tale. There is too little of the individuality and freshness and _tweaking_ that make re-tellings enjoyable. Part of the problem may be that the original P&P is very much an integral part of PP&JF's plot--the backdrop of PP&JF is the staging of an amateur P&P play. The constant parallel between the play-within-a-book and the plot of the book just became too cutesy and self-conscious after a while.
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Summary: An interesting take on Austen's P&P
Review: Just bought this book last weekend and I have to tell you that it is an interesting book. There were several circumstances throughout the book where Nathan borrowed several of Austen's lines and situations. Jazz's visit to "Pemberton Theatre" and "I could have been mistress of that..." real knock off from Austen. But then again, I have to commend Nathan for really pushing herself to stay true to Austen's story, giving it her own twist by creating a storyline that shows the tension between the press and stardom. It is not really like Austen though. Jazz doesn't have the wit that Eliza Bennet has. But in her own way, Jazz becomes endearing. Harry Noble, interesting parallel to Fitzwilliam Darcy, although there were several times I couldn't help but think that Melissa Nathan is trying too hard to make her story become a modern adapatation of Austen's novel. All in all, the book is an enjoyable read after a hectic week of finals and papers. I think if Nathan captured the spark and wit of Austen, I would give it 5 stars instead of 3. But for her first novel, it really is a great accomplishment.
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Summary: Disappointing - stay with Jane A.
Review: Jane's P&P is probably my favorite novel, so I was excited to read an update, but this re-telling just doesn't hold up. The plot is far-fetched at best (Honestly, a one-night stage production of P&P directed by Britain's leading heart-throb and cast with amateur actors?? Please.) and the attempts to create parallels to all of the characters and situations in the orignal were just clumsy and transparent. Completely unbelievable. Had a hard time reading as I neared the end because I had rolled my eyes so often I couldn't focus any more.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: This book is geared for the female reader. It's not my type of novel (horror & sci-fi is what I usually read), but the main character is very heroic in her own way, and that makes the book enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: well done
Review: I really enjoyed this book, read it all in one sitting. It's a modern chick-lit-ish version of Pride and Prejudice. I was impressed by how the author interpreted the elements of P&P in the modern day world. Another reader blasted Jasmin Field because she's not as virtuous, witty or intelligent as Elizabeth Bennett. Well, neither is Bridget Jones. Besides, this is a modern-day interpration, you know? Sure, Jasmin Field is not as witty or articulate as Elizabeth Bennet, but then, who is? Her salient feature is that she doesn't fall for Harry Noble for his fame, good looks, acting ability, or charm - she finally likes him for his integrity and generosity and great character. It's the same with Bridget Jones and Mr. Darcy. Both Jasmin and Bridget fall in love with the hero's character, and their ability to see past the outer material trappings of the heroes is what makes them special. I think the same goes with Elizabeth Bennett. It's not Elizabeth's wit that endears her to the reader, it's her heart of gold, and that's what the heroine in this book has. The style of writing is very clear and easy to read (no pretentious to Austen's style), and the plot was very cleverly done. Highly recommended
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Summary: Simple story
Review: I think some readers expect this book, "Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field" to be about THE "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen and find themselves disappointed. This book is about a journalist, Jasmin Field (also known as Jazz) who auditioned for roles in the play, adapted from Jane Austen's book. Here, she met the abominable Harry Noble, dashing Hollywood star whom she absolutely cannot bear. But, of course, at the end they fell in love. Simple. That is the main theme of the book and other characters such as her sisters, Georgia and Josie, and best friend Mo also play center roles in the life of Jasmin Field. The book deals a lot with Jazz's relationships with her sisters and best friend, and how she needs to come to terms with herself that you may not agree with the choices that people make but you at least need to respect that. Her world suddenly "crashes" when she realized that her career and family's reputation were at stake and for the first time, questioned her judgment and beliefs. This book is simple, and easy to read. It is relaxing, funny at times and offer insights into the life of a journalist, who writes with passion and who values her own opinion highly. The author, Melissa Nathan's writing is clear, precise and avoids jargons that might confuse the readers.
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Summary: Written really quick on the beach?
Review: This is possibly the worst book I've ever read (and I've read lots of bad ones), I'm shocked that it got as many possitive reviews as it did. Family and friends maybe?
I was excited to read a new book in the vain of an old favorite, Pride and Prejudice, and I started it with an open mind for whatever direction Ms. Nathan would choose to take it, but I felt almost insulted that she expected the reader to enjoy her character's even half as much as the originals. They were horribly one dimentional (and quite frankly, unlikable in the extremist amount). She seemed to relying solely on the readers ability to recollect the depth of the corresponding character's in Jane Austen's original. This was probably my main problem with the book. I could forgive the awkward attempt at fitting the original story into this new "plot" if the characters were at all likable. As I think some other reviewers mentioned, the main character's (AKA Lizzy) trendy name seemed to annoy me. JAZZ? Does having a "cool" nickname make one hip? As this book proved, No, it does not. I rolled my eyes at her name like I roll my eyes at J-Lo's. I was hoping to find a modern day Lizzy in this book and it just didn't happen. "JAZZ" was annoying, arrogant, self-centered, tacky, crude, and any other unredeemable qualities one could imagine. I kept thinking, "Is this how Ms. Nathan pictured a modern day Lizzy?" I think Jane Austen would be insulted. I'm insulted on her behalf. I held out hope that there would be some plot twist at the end and "Jazz" would get run over by a doubledecker bus. I had no clue how Harry (AKA Mr. Darcy) came to the conclusion that he was "head over heels in love" with "Jazz." According to Ms. Nathan, Harry's admiration for "Jazz" grew at one of many "convenient" cast parties they both HAD to attend, where "Jazz" became falling down drunk and laughed uncontrolably at herself. The fact that Harry had any admiration for someone who would make such a drunken fool of herself, greatly contributed to my dislike of him.
I think the drunk sceen was meant to make the reader think that "Jazz" was living up to her "hip" name, that she's crazy and cool and silly, but it felt like a junior high verson of what is cool. The extraordinary amount of cussing seemed forced and added to the overall theme of "please think I'm a cool, hip book." Sorry, book, but you are a nerd. I felt embarrassed while reading it, like I do when I happen to catch an old Saved By The Bell rerun. Ms. Nathan's book read like it was written really quick on the beach. I recommend that everyone read it, though. You just have to read it to see how bad it is.
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