"If you love heartfelt, emotional, romantic, witty stories ... you will love Watson's debut. It was beyond swoon worthy!" -  Kasie West, author of  By Your Side  and  Lucky in Love Sixteen-year-old Finley Price has perfected two things: how to direct a world-class production, and how to fly way, way under the radar. The only person who ever seems to notice Finley is her best friend and godparents' son, Oliver Bertram. Since Finley moved in with her godparents after the death of her father, she and Oliver have grown close. If Finley could just take Oliver's constant encouragement to heart and step out of the shadows, she'd finally chase her dream of joining the prestigious Mansfield Theater.  But when teen movie stars Emma and Harlan Crawford move across the street from the Bertrams, they shake up Finley and Oliver's stable friendship. As Emma and Oliver grow closer, Finley realizes that Harlan's attention is shifting to her. She discovers she might have feelings for him too. Or, is she only interested in Harlan because Oliver is taken? Finley doesn't want to be won, and she doesn't want to see Oliver with anyone else. To claim Oliver's heart - and keep her own - she'll have to find the courage to do what she fears most: step into the spotlight. Gr 8 Up—In this modern retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, Finley Price joins the Bertrams' household following the death of her father and the alcoholic and abusive downward spiral of her mother. She has just begun to adjust when famous siblings Harlan and Emma Crawford move in next door. The daughter of a well-known actor, Finley is no stranger to the world of theater and film, but her history and timid nature prevent her from applying to a prestigious theater program, even with her best friend's encouragement and her further immersion into the world of theater with the Crawfords. The narrative begins with stiff language, perhaps too reminiscent of that of the original Austen work, but eventually settles into a more comfortable style. Similarly, characters' personalities start off caricaturelike before the author grasps deeper layers of each one, fleshing out subtleties and contradictions with finesse. With a classic plot to build on, this title successfully illustrates gray areas of human nature and communicates them in a way readers will see reflected in their own lives. This novel will satisfy fans of the source material and Austen neophytes alike. The book's complex themes will be enjoyed by fans of Estelle Laure's This Raging Light and Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. VERDICT This debut ultimately weaves an impressive mosaic and is an excellent selection for fans of young adult literature that is heavily thematic or romantic or that revisits the classics.—Abby Hargreaves, Alexandria Public Library, VA "All the drama of a classic romance, refreshingly set in the modern day. Watson's characters pop, and the tension is masterfully maintained throughout." - Adi Alsaid, author of North of Happy and Let's Get Lost "If you love heartfelt, emotional, romantic, witty stories ... you will love Watson's debut. It was beyond swoon worthy!" - Kasie West, author of By Your Side and Lucky in Love "In Seeking Mansfield, Kate Watson brilliantly updates Jane Austen's classic Mansfield Park for a modern audience, crafting a fun, thoughtful, thoroughly romantic read." - Rosalyn Eves, author of Blood Rose Rebellion "Delightfully witty and irresistibly romantic! Kate Watson honors Austen's classic tale while adding a heart and humor that is decidedly her own." - Abigail Johnson, author of If I Fix You Kate Watson is a young adult writer, wife, mother of two and the tenth of thirteen children. Originally from Canada, she attended college in the States and holds a BA in Philosophy from Brigham Young University. Seeking Mansfield is her first novel, with a companion novel to follow in 2018. She is also a contributor to Eric Smith's WELCOME HOME adoption anthology (Flux 2017). https://flexpub.com/shelfpreview/seeking-mansfield-arc