I can't rate this higher than I rated the original classic it is based on, because it just isn't that caliber of novel. However I will freely admit I enjoyed it more. (Would I have enjoyed it as much if I had not JUST finished reading what I now know to be my least-favorite Austen? Probably not.) 4 stars enjoyment, 3 for actual content.

Some of the content works both for and against itself, like the recipes after the chapters. On the one hand I love a good recipe, and these are themed! On the other I have gotten used to mid-fiction recipes being the purview of tacky mysteries. I also got a bit tired of specific businesses being mentioned. They feel like real businesses on the Austin foodie scene. Instead of making me go "oh yeah awesome", it made me just get distracted by thinking how that'll age too quickly.

A sweet, clean romance, not overtly Christian and therefore not overtly trying to shoehorn theology into a vehicle poorly built to receive it. A bit slow paced and overly concerned with the minutiae of irrelevant conversations/making of tea, but honestly that's just relaxing, depending on your mood. I definitely recommended it to my sister!