PRIDE AND PRESTON LIN by Christina Hwang Dudley

NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST ROMANCE NOVELS OF 2024 BY BOOKLIST (American Library Association)

"Anyone looking for a fresh take on Austen’s Pride & Prejudice will be thrilled with Dudley’s romance." —Booklist, starred review

"In a world with so many Pride & Prejudice adaptations, a new one has to be truly special to stand out, and this one is. Dudley’s contemporary debut is faithful to its source material but finds clever ways to make it work in a modern setting, while also adding an authentic Chinese American perspective on the beloved story. A warm, sweet story with all the witticisms Austen fans savor." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Compulsively readable." —Publishers Weekly

When perspiration meets privilege, love might just school them both.

She’s working two jobs to get through college. He’s the haughty rich kid who doesn’t know the meaning of struggle. One fateful night at the family’s restaurant, Lissie Cheng accidentally serves a dish containing shellfish paste to an allergic customer, running afoul of the wealthy Lin family and its golden child, Preston. A star swimmer and Stanford Ph.D. student, he is as handsome as he is self-righteous. When his response to the incident threatens the family’s livelihood, Lissie must scramble to outwit him. If only he didn’t keep popping up in her life so she could despise him in peace! Preston’s life hasn’t always been picture-perfect, however. Before Lissie came on the scene, he worked hard not only at school and at swimming, but also at burying a few things he’d rather forget. But that girl! The past isn’t the only thing she’s stirring up. In this sparkling contemporary riff on Austen’s classic, the beloved story gets a fresh spin. Who will prevail over Lissie’s heart? Her pride or Preston Lin?

Hwang Dudley, a popular Regency romance writer, presents in this book a contemporary take on Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice. The novel explores issues of family, socioeconomic inequality, and biases within the Asian American community, all while delivering a lighthearted, banter-filled romantic story. Readers will root for Lissie Cheng, a sassy new Elizabeth Bennet for our times, to find lasting love and happiness.