Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute

by Sayantani DasGupta

Overview

New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta brings her trademark wit and insight to this bright and funny Sense and Sensibility retelling!

Eila Das is used to following her head, rather than her heart. When she meets Rahul at Rosewood, a summer camp where campers are being scouted for the hit Bridgerton-like TV show, she experiences…feelings. Between the drama of the show and the drama of the camp, Eila will have to keep her wits about her to make it through the summer. But when she has to choose between her head and her heart, what will she do?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338797749
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	981,452
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Sayantani DasGupta is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Bengali folktale and string theory-inspired Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond books, the first of which -- The Serpent's Secret -- was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Booklist Best Middle Grade Novel of the 21st Century, and an E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book. She is also the author of Debating Darcy, a contemporary young adult reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sayantani is a pediatrician by training, but now teaches at Columbia University. When she's not writing or reading, Sayantani spends time watching cooking shows with her trilingual children and protecting her black Labrador retriever Khushi from the many things that scare him, including plastic bags. She is a team member of We Need Diverse Books, and can be found online at sayantanidasgupta.com and on Twitter at @sayantani16.

Editorial Reviews

02/27/2023

Two Bengali American teens fall for each other while being scouted as extras for a television show in this rollicking Sense and Sensibility and A Midsummer Night’s Dream mash-up by DasGupta (Debating Darcy). Growing up, Eila Das wanted to be an actor. Her practicality prompts her to give up on that dream to become a lawyer instead, however, and though that decision is bittersweet, she’s excited to attend the prestigious Norland Summer Shakespeare Academy—until the course is canceled and replaced by a camp sponsored by the producers of TV show Rosewood, described as “Bridgerton meets Murder, She Wrote.” Even worse, her pop culture–obsessed, hopeless romantic younger sister Mallika submitted an application on her behalf, and she was accepted. Eila is hesitant to attend but relents when Mallika insists this could be her last chance to pursue acting. While there, Eila meets and falls for Rahul Lee, a fellow Bard fan and the only other camper able to match her wit tit-for-tat. DasGupta’s wish-fulfilling meet-cute bursts with South Asian pop culture references, Regency-era history, and Austenian and Shakespearian tropes, making for a timely and deeply romantic jaunt. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"A theatrical masterwork from start to finish, Rosewood is a sweet romance filled with plenty of banter and heart that will thoroughly delight Austen and Shakespeare aficionados." – Suzanne Park, author of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous

Praise for Debating Darcy:

“Studded with references to U.S. and South Asian pop culture as well as Jane Austen–related Easter eggs, DasGupta’s astute, buoyant comedy of manners employs witty, rat-a-tat dialogue alongside social commentary about subjects including classism, colorism, and sexism.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Refreshing….A provocative, humorous and relevant modernization of the classic that inspired it.” – Shelf-Awareness

“While prior knowledge of Pride and Prejudice isn’t a prerequisite, it will certainly add to readers’ amusement and enjoyment of this cleverly conceived romance.” – Booklist

“New York Times bestselling author Sayantani DasGupta makes her YA debut with a brilliant Bengali Pride and Prejudice retelling centering around the world of high school speech and debate.” – BookRiot

“Class, colorism, and the complicated nature of South Asian American identity are explored, while the scandal at the heart of the book has been updated in a realistic way that gives young women space to speak up and fight back…A delight.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Fiercely feminist and utterly delightful. Jane Austen would be proud.” – Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment

“A charming and witty retelling, unlike any other!” – Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars and Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

“One thing isn’t up for debate: readers will swoon for Debating Darcy!” – Tiffany Schmidt, author of the Bookish Boyfriends series and I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas

“Debating Darcy delivers a brilliantly diverse cast of characters who make up the Bennet sibling world and DasGupta superbly explores what class and social mobility mean in America today as well as sexuality and the #MeToo movement.” – Soniah Kamal, award-winning author of Unmarriageable: Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan

From the Publisher

05/01/2023

Gr 8 Up—Loosely based on Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility, this novel follows Desi American sisters Eila and Mallika Das as they head to Regency camp for the summer. They will spend two weeks at Norland Manor, where they will wear only Regency fashion, take lessons on various Regency activities, and even eat and speak based on the Regency era, all the while hoping to catch the eye of the producers of the hit Regency detective show, Rosewood. When a rumor spreads that one of the newly cast leads is among the attendees of camp, where his chemistry with the female campers will be tested, and casting prospects go from a walk-on role or murder victim to a leading lady, things get dramatic. With Austen and Shakespeare references galore, DasGupta's novel has just the right amount of old-fashioned charm mixed with modern sensibilities, like stowing away a cell phone rather than giving it up for the duration of camp. Eila's burgeoning romance with fellow camper Rahul is sweet and has the perfect amount of tension for a summer fling. The overly dramatic acting of the campers makes for plenty of silly moments to offset some of the heavier aspects of the story, and the sisters have just the right amount of development, bettering themselves and their relationship with one another, over the course of the camp. Included among the racially diverse cast are several queer characters including Mallika, who identifies as bisexual. VERDICT A not-to-be-missed, lighthearted romantic comedy with great representation.—Mariah Smitala

School Library Journal

2023-01-25
The works of Jane Austen and William Shakespeare blend well in this contemporary love story starring two Bengali American teens.

Eila and Mallika Das share traits with Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, respectively, from Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility: Responsible Eila plans to put aside her love for Shakespeare and acting to pursue law, a more sensible career path; vivacious, bisexual Mallika is emotionally driven and enjoys watching titillating Regency-era romances. Eila is devastated to learn that her beloved Shakespeare summer academy has been canceled and replaced by a Regency camp set up by the producers of Rosewood, a television show Mallika describes as “Bridgerton meets Murder, She Wrote.” Not only that, but Mallika has submitted applications on behalf of them both to attend the camp for opportunities to be cast as minor characters in the show’s second season. Though she’s reluctant, Eila agrees to go, hoping to feel carefree again, like she was before their father died. After Eila encounters rakish camper Rahul Lee, “a somewhat good Bangladeshi Chinese Singaporean British boy” who matches her in wit and appreciation for theater and literature, she explores the intricacies of the heart—much to her head’s apprehension. DasGupta immerses readers in a Regency experience, providing information regarding attire, etiquette, and history between chapters, and actively promotes inclusivity through the diversity of the characters, who challenge casting norms.

Rollicking, romantic, and relevant fun. (author’s note) (Fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews