Sass and Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler
364 p. Random House Children's Books, July, 2011. 978-0-385-7389-89. (Purchased.)
Sisters Daphne and and Gabby couldn't be more different. Gabby, always the more serious sister, has taken on so much responsibility ever since her parents divorce. She not only resents her sister's self-centered and selfish ways, but also her adoration of their father, whom Gabby blames for their troubles. Daphne is a hopeless romantic. She resents Gabby and blames her mother for her parents' divorce.
To be honest, neither sister is terribly likable. The book is described as a modern day Sense and Sensibility. It's a stretch. Frankly, I see very little resemblance. Austen's novels are humorous and complex. There is depth to her stories. While many of her characters are imperfect, she manages to make most of them somewhat sympathetic.
I got tired of the girl's constant bickering, the contrived coincidences, the long-suffering best friend and I thought that Gabby's big secret was a tad pathetic. Which is not to say that teens won't enjoy the story. True teen fans of Austen might not.