I didn't really gel with the main character Becky but I don't think that you are supposed to.
Based on Vanity Fair - which I haven't yet read so I didn't know the storyline.

Modern re-telling of Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, in which a girl from an underprivileged background strives to become a journalist and blags her way inside the establishment by editing her past to make herself palatable to the right people.

The backdrop of a late 20th century intrusive press, in particular the death of Princess Diana and the phone hacking scandal, suits the rags-to-riches and back again story well, and the author draws interesting contemporary comparisons to the original work.

I’m always sceptical of retellings, especially of books that I really love. However, when it is done well, it can bring a new generation of new readers to the original text. Becky is a retelling of William Makepeace Thackery’s classic Vanity Fair and it is brilliant.

Set in 90s Britain, Sarah May uses the tabloid media as a clever device to delve into the characters – this added dimension gives the reader a 360 degree image of who they are – from both their own perspective and how they are perceived by others.

I cannot express just how much I loved this story but it was definitely a highlight of the year.

Becky by Sarah May is available now.

Thank you Pan MacMillan and Netgalley.
This was read in 1.5 sittings and I couldn’t put it down,
I loved this book and highly recommend it.
Thank you ☺️

This is an ingenious modern retelling of Vanity Fair. But instead of a backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, it's told amid the shenanigans of the nefarious British tabloid press of the early 21st century. It was riveting and transferring it to modern times was a stroke of genius.

Pegged as the modern-day Vanity Fair, I was very much looking forward to reading this. I loved the classic novel this book was based on so I had high expectations for this. The book did not disappoint and I really loved Becky (the character). I felt like it was easy to relate to her. Set in the 1990's, it had a fun, nostalgic feel to it as well.

I put off reading the book for longer than I should have because I was worried that it would feel as heavy as the classic. However, it was certainly easier to read and completely worth it! While I finished the book a while ago, the story and characters have stuck with me and I find myself thinking about them from time to time.

I have devoured this book in one sitting. Once I was pulled in, I couldn’t put it down. I was desperate to find out what was going on. Also, I didn’t want this books to end.

Everything about this book has been brilliant. I absolutely loved getting between the covers of this. This was everything I hoped for and so much more. This is a book which should be on everyone’s radar.

I absolutely recommend this book to other readers.

Becky embodies Vanity Fair for a modern audience. Set in 1990s, Becky is a ruthless and ambitious young woman working for the tabloid press and is willing to twist the truth to get her story. Some of the most shocking stories splayed across the press have her name embroiled in them. This is a cut-throat world with an unlikeable but sharp and darkly witty heroine. #becky #sarahmay #netgalley

This will sound familiar. A normal working class girl works her way to the top of a newspaper and following her are scandals. This was such a great read. One sitting on a blustery day sat on my couch cuddled up under a blanket and it was perfect. Anyone who likes scandal and gossip will be enthralled!

A modern look for Vanity Fair. At first really thought that at last here’s a book I could really love but then after a few more pages knew I wouldn’t. So disappointing! It was all over the place and hard to keep track of. Becky’s world has morphed into modern journalism, not really a thing I’m interested in so that didn’t help. I did like the writing style but not very much else about the story - sorry!

I really wanted to like this book - the premise sounded fantastic and Vanity Fair is such a great classic to update - but, unfortunately I just couldn't get into tit. Whilst the use of 90s tabloid culture and phone-hacking scandal ensures that the parallels with the classic novel feel right up to date, the characters lacked the depth that I was hoping for and the storyline didn't grab me. Becky's sass and sharpness is definitely all present and correct but sadly the dark humour didn't really land for me and, as a result, the comic elements felt somewhat jarring. Ultimately, this book just didn't resonate with me although I'm sure that there will be plenty of readers who will find much to enjoy in this contemporary take on a classic.

A gripping plot, well-written setting, authentic characters and good pacing. The only thing I didn't enjoy so much about this book was the jump in time periods which sometimes became confusing.

From the very first page, this suspenseful narrative captures your attention, leading you through a maze of surprises and secrets you won't forget.

Apologies for the delay in this review, i have been battling ill health.

Great story, lovely setting, enjoyed the charcters and the story very much. I thought it flowed really well and it was a really good read.

'Becky' takes us inside our oftentimes vulgar and distasteful national media. The characters are all twats, but that's kind of the point. I haven't read Vanity Fair so can't comment on any similarity, or difference, between the two books. There's a lot of jumping about different time periods and I found it confusing at times.

I loved stepping back into the nineties with this book! A great cast of characters and a really good story line. Recommended.

I loved the idea of a modernised Vanity Fair, though I confess I hadn't read the original. I found the first five or so chapters compelling. However, I feel like the author missed some opportunities to make the reader connect or empathise with Becky, to the extent that once the plot heated up I was struggling to remind myself why I was reading the novel. Not what you want, so I DNF'd it.

A bit slow to start and get in to, probably really invested with it around half way through, and then I couldn’t put it down

I liked this retelling of Vanity Fair a lot, the real world parallels to Rebecca Brooks and the phone hacking scandal. The characters were all written well and i liked all the different plot threads that were in play. I feel like the retelling aspect transposed over well to the 90s and you really got a sense of time and place through the words used for world building. I would definitely recommend this for those who want to try classics but want to try ones that may deliver a twist.

A really fun, modern version of a story most of us will know! Great snarky characters and super readable.