Meet the Benedettos
A Novel
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3.4 • 14 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
An A-list movie star moves to Los Angeles—next door to a family of five eligible sisters—in this irresistible novel where The Kardashians meets Pride and Prejudice, from the NYT bestselling author of Birds of California
Every family is complicated, and the Benedettos are no exception. A few years after a reality TV show skyrocketed them to pop-culture fame, the five twentysomething sisters are living together in their parents’ crumbling McMansion, nearly broke and teetering towards rock-bottom. Lilly, the sensible second-eldest sister, is all too aware that her family is viewed as a spectacle, but she’s focused on holding herself and her family together, and unlike her siblings she tends not to care what the world thinks.
The Benedettos’ fortunes finally appear to be brightening when Charlie Bingley, the dashing star of Captain Fantastic, moves into their Los Angeles neighborhood with his friend Will Darcy in tow. It isn’t long before Charlie falls for the warm and lovely eldest sister, June. Lilly has no such luck: the arrogant and judgmental Will Darcy, a man plagued by his own private demons, seems ready to clash with her at every turn--yet the two can’t seem to stay away from each other. And while the Benedettos’ matriarch sets to work encouraging a potential match between Charlie and June, there are plenty of others in the community who are determined to steer these eligible young men away from a ridiculous family of reality show has-beens...
Katie Cotugno brings a big, boisterous cast of characters to life in this deliciously sprawling LA 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this cute romp, Cotugno (Birds of California) pulls off an unlikely mash-up of Pride and Prejudice and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The five 20-something Benedetto sisters—June, Lilly, Olivia, Marianne, and Kit—are famous for being famous, with a Kris Jenner–type "momager," the mercurial Cinta, and a once popular, now cancelled reality show. Their father Dominic, the "Meatball King" of Los Angeles, is seeing his restaurants and wealth decline along with his five daughters' popularity. All live in a decaying mansion that may soon slip out from under them in the fictional L.A. suburb of Pemberly Grove. Enter movie star Charlie Bingley, who moves in next door with his best friend, actor Will Darcy. Charlie quickly falls for the oldest sister, June, while Lilly and Will clash spectacularly—and with no small amount of heat behind their sparring. Will and Lilly's unlikely romance neatly proves that opposites attract, and Cotugno's bold take on the Bennet family works surprisingly well. Charming leads and roguish supporting characters alike leap off the page; even the deeply flawed Benedetto parents prove lovable. Janeites and reality TV fans alike will devour this lively retelling.
Customer Reviews
Rough Draft
It’s clearly a P&P retelling but it’s only halfway written. The book abruptly ends in the middle of the story with a halfhearted rushed final chapter. The author hints at character depth but ultimately decided to publish the 1st rough draft as clearly this book cannot be a completed version that has been professionally edited.