Anna K: A Love Story
by Jenny Lee
A modern retelling of Anna Karenina set among the elite teenagers of New York and Greenwich. Anna K has the perfect life until she meets Alexia Vronsky and everything changes.
Spoiler Warning
This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own discretion if you haven't finished the book yet.
Tolstoy Meets the Upper East Side
Anna K: A Love Story reimagines Tolstoy's classic tale of passion and destruction among the ultra-wealthy teenagers of modern New York City. It's Gossip Girl meets Russian literature.
The Story
Anna K is Korean-American royalty - daughter of a tech billionaire, girlfriend of the perfect Alexander W., student at an elite Manhattan school. Her life is perfectly curated until she meets Alexia Vronsky at a party and experiences a passion that threatens to destroy everything.
What Works
Fresh Setting
The Upper East Side and Greenwich society provides a fitting backdrop for this tale of privilege and its discontents.
Diverse Cast
The book updates Tolstoy's world with a more diverse cast of characters, including Asian-American leads.
Multiple Storylines
Like the source material, the book weaves together several love stories beyond just Anna's, keeping things interesting.
Challenges
Shallow Characters
Many characters feel more like types than fully developed people, defined mainly by their wealth and status.
Romanticized Toxicity
Some relationship dynamics that should be concerning are presented as romantic.
Rushed Ending
The conclusion feels hurried compared to the leisurely pace of the rest of the novel.
Final Thoughts
Anna K: A Love Story is an entertaining if imperfect modern adaptation. It works best as light, dramatic YA entertainment rather than as a profound exploration of its source material's themes.
Rating: 3.0/5
Best for: YA readers who enjoy wealthy teen drama and classic retellings
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