The Trouble with Flirting

Franny Pearson takes a summer job as a costume design assistant at a performing arts program in Massachusetts. While sewing outfits for a student production of Mansfield Park, she encounters her former flame Alex Braverman and must navigate their complex past. The theater program serves as a backdrop for romantic entanglements, as Franny finds herself caught between Alex and Harry, a charming actor playing the lead role. She balances her growing feelings with her responsibilities to the production and her career aspirations in costume design. The novel draws inspiration from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, incorporating parallel storylines and themes. Through Franny's journey, the story explores authenticity in relationships, the impact of past choices, and the challenge of distinguishing between genuine connection and surface-level attraction.

Readers view this YA romance as a light, entertaining retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. On Goodreads, it maintains a 3.78/5 rating from over 2,800 readers. Readers appreciated: - The modern college theater camp setting - Witty banter between characters - Less serious tone than the original Mansfield Park - Fast-paced, easy reading style Common criticisms: - Characters feel underdeveloped compared to Austen's version - Romance develops too quickly - Some plot points feel forced or contrived - Limited conflict/tension Several reviewers noted the book works better when viewed as its own story rather than a strict Austen adaptation. One reader praised how it "captures the fun spirit of summer romance without trying too hard to modernize the source material." Amazon: 4.1/5 from 31 reviews Barnes & Noble: 4/5 from 12 reviews Kirkus Reviews gave it a positive review, calling it "charming if not groundbreaking."

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen A young woman navigates romance and social class while maintaining her independence in a story that inspired The Trouble with Flirting's plot structure and themes.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins A boarding school romance unfolds through witty dialogue and complex relationships between characters from different backgrounds.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde Two friends create false identities to pursue romance in this play that shares themes of mistaken identity and social expectations with LaZebnik's work.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord Two rival restaurant heirs engage in a social media war while unknowingly falling for each other in an anonymous chat, mixing classic romance tropes with modern elements.

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon Academic rivals participate in a senior class competition during their last day of high school, combining competition and romance in a contemporary setting.

🎭 The book is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park," set at a summer theater program where students perform Shakespeare. 📚 Author Claire LaZebnik has collaborated with Dr. Temple Grandin on books about autism, drawing from her personal experience as a mother of a child with autism. 🎬 The novel explores themes of social class and privilege, similar to its source material, but updates these concepts for contemporary readers by examining financial aid, private education, and socioeconomic differences. 💕 Unlike many YA romance novels, the protagonist Franny doesn't start as a social outcast - she's confident and capable, but faces genuine ethical dilemmas about loyalty and relationships. 🎪 The theater camp setting allows the author to weave in references to both "Mansfield Park" and Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," creating multiple layers of classic literature connections.