The Happy Home for Ladies

Gorman and Bartlett invoke Jane Austen with partial success in this inconsistent contemporary romantic comedy of errors. Phoebe Stockton, award-winning chef, runs the kitchen at the Jane Austen Home for Ladies, a women-only care home in Suffolk, alongside her best friend, June, and her crush, Nick. While Phoebe is still dealing with the sudden death of her hypercritical mother, the care home owner decides to open the doors to men, throwing staff and residents into confusion. Soon battle lines are drawn between the women and the men, and Phoebe must navigate new circumstances with not just her family and her job, but June and Nick, as well. Clumsy attempts to mirror Pride and Prejudice through Phoebe’s flighty new assistant and June’s mysterious boyfriend mostly don’t distract from the conversational style, Nick and Phoebe’s flirting, and the charmingly eccentric female residents. The male characters are more stereotypical, and the unfocused connections between Phoebe’s emotional upheavals will confuse some readers. Those who persevere will find a satisfying self-discovery and a sweet journey to love. (BookLife)