Romance writers are advised to read widely in our genre, specifically by staying on top of new releases featuring our preferred tropes. But there’s also a lot to be said for the backlists of successful romance authors. And – in terms of quality and quantity – few have made such a mark on the sapphic canon as Karin Kallmaker. And Just Like That is her take on a true classic. Here, Kallmaker puts an original and distinctly lesbian twist on Pride and Prejudice.
After spending her twenties travelling Europe and learning all about vineyard, Syrah Ardani’s back home in Napa Valley. Though she spends lunches skinny dipping with her best friend, Jane, Syrah’s fully committed to the winery that’s been in her family for centuries. But while her father is a master of the craft, he’s mismanaged the business side of things in Syrah’s absence. Syrah’s determined to save the Ardani Vineyards – and canny enough to realise that their mandatory visit from a corporate turnaround specialist could be catastrophic for her family’s legacy.
Following a disastrous breakup with her scheming ex, Toni Blanchard’s delighted by the prospect of a business trip to Napa Valley. And she notices Syrah right away; spirited young woman with eyes like Sophia Loren. Toni prides herself on being rational and level-headed, yet the feelings Syrah awakens in her are anything but. Their relationship is further complicated by Toni’s highhandedness, and the threat she poses to the vineyard. Worse, Toni believes Jane is utterly unsuitable for her own closest friend. Which means Syrah is determined to resist the attraction between them. But Toni has made a career of getting her own way.
It takes a lot of courage to remix a book that’s widely considered one of the greatest novels ever written. Yet Kallmaker pulls it off with panache. She stays true to the spirit of the original while creating a fresh, exciting romance. There are obvious nods to the source material – on top of the best friend she loves like a sister being named Jane, Syrah’s housekeeper is called Bennett; her snooty rival is Caroline; and the manipulative charmer is Mira Wickham. As their names would suggest, all these characters serve a similar function within the plot.
Yet Just Like That is more than a simple retelling. The vineyard setting is exotic, lending itself well to romance and modernising the story. Plus, Kallmaker’s stellar characterisation enables her to give this novel a cast that’s entirely its own. I was particularly taken with Bennett, the salty yet devoted housekeeper:
“Not for the first time Syrah marvelled at the traditionalist values that kept Bennett going to mass three times a week but somehow blended with all things Ardani. She’d play matchmaker between two lesbians and go to confession for having brought about such an event, then sleep like a baby.”
Karin Kallmaker, Just Like That
It’s little touches like this which put Kallmaker in a league of her own. Her writing is both high quality and intensely readable. I absolutely breezed through this book, staying up until the small hours to finish because I couldn’t bear to put it down. I’ve read enough of her books to recognise the style as being characteristically Kallmaker. But Just Like That was published in 2005 – and it’s interesting to see how a book that’s nearly 20 years old differs from contemporary releases in vibe, theme, and execution.
There’s an almost unsettling quality to the connection between Syrah and Toni. Kallmaker is unafraid to explore the slender border between attraction and repulsion, which – in physics and life – are often two sides of the same coin. I haven’t read many contemporary releases that strike a similar atmosphere, which is a shame. Because Just Like That is intensely erotic. There’s a gravitational-strength pull between our leading ladies.
There’s only one part of this story I didn’t entirely feel: the word choice during sex scenes. Descriptions of “womanly swells” and a “puffed, soaked center” gave me the ick. There are better ways to describe women getting intimate with each other’s bodies – I know, because I’ve read them in Kallmaker’s other books. However, the chemistry between Syrah and Toni coupled with the poetic language describing shared moments means this is a fairly minor issue.
Just Like That is a fantastic book. I’m absolutely loving reading through Kallmaker’s backlist, and can’t recommend this story enough. Whether you’re curious about a Pride and Prejudice reading or simply into sapphic romance, this novel more than delivers.
Lou Morgan 