Pittsburgh's Stuck Artist

In 2023 Pittsburgh, Audrey Cameron is a high school senior and aspiring artist, but she's stuck. After a painful breakup with her first love, Charlie, and being wait-listed at her dream art school, RISD, Audrey's lost her spark. She works at her family's corner shop, feeling trapped by routine and her inability to draw. Her world is small, her confidence shaken, and her future uncertain. The only constants are her supportive parents, her dog Cooper, and the curmudgeonly but caring Mr. Montgomery, a regular customer who believes Audrey is meant for more than her current life. Audrey's story is one of longing for inspiration, escape, and a sense of purpose.

Regency Rebellion

In 1812 England, Lucy Sinclair is a young woman suffocating under her father's control and the rigid expectations of Regency society. Her mother's death left her isolated, and her only solace is in books, music, and the rare company of her loyal housekeeper, Martha, and her friend Grace. Lucy is being pushed toward a loveless marriage with the wealthy but odious Mr. Caldwell, a union that would secure her father's ambitions but doom her to a life of emotional emptiness. Lucy's small acts of rebellion—secretly reading romance novels, ordering a forbidden lilac dress—hint at a yearning for more, but she's resigned to her fate, believing love is not for her.

A Coin Toss in Time

Audrey's creative crisis reaches a breaking point when Mr. Montgomery, sensing her need for change, gives her a special quarter. The moment she catches it, she blacks out and awakens in a sunlit field—two hundred years in the past. Disoriented and dressed in modern clothes, Audrey is discovered by Lucy, who is equally baffled by this strange, outspoken "American." The coin, it turns out, is a magical device that has transported Audrey to 1812, setting the stage for an unlikely collision of worlds, personalities, and destinies.

Strangers in the Field

Lucy brings the bewildered Audrey to her family's estate, Radcliffe, where the two struggle to make sense of each other. Audrey's brashness and modernity clash with Lucy's formality and repression, but curiosity and necessity force them together. Audrey must hide her true origins, and Lucy must hide Audrey's presence from her father. As they navigate the awkwardness of chamber pots, corsets, and etiquette, a tentative friendship forms. Both are outsiders in their own ways, and both are searching for something—Audrey for a way home and her lost inspiration, Lucy for a taste of freedom and selfhood.

Lessons in Love and Manners

With the help of Lucy and Martha, Audrey is schooled in the art of Regency manners, dancing, and social survival. She's introduced to Lucy's world: the stifling rules, the looming threat of Mr. Caldwell, and the rare joys of music and secret rebellion. Audrey, in turn, shares glimpses of the future—technology, women's independence, and the possibility of choosing one's own path. Their lessons go both ways: Lucy helps Audrey prepare for society's expectations, while Audrey encourages Lucy to imagine a life beyond them. The two grow closer, their connection deepening as they share secrets, dreams, and late-night conversations.

Dancing Through Centuries

Audrey is swept into the Regency social scene: tea with Grace, a dinner party at Mr. Shepherd's estate, and a lively assembly room dance. She's courted by three eligible bachelors—Mr. Shepherd, the charming and proper neighbor; Alexander, Lucy's adventurous cousin; and James, the kind-hearted stable boy. Each offers a different vision of love and escape, but none ignite the spark Audrey is searching for. Meanwhile, Lucy is forced to play the part of the dutiful daughter and future bride, even as her heart rebels. The dance lessons, both literal and metaphorical, reveal the constraints and possibilities of both their worlds.

Drawing Inspiration

Lucy gifts Audrey a sketchbook and pencils, urging her to draw for herself, not for anyone else's approval. Inspired by Lucy's music and presence, Audrey's creative block lifts—she fills the pages with sketches of Lucy, capturing her essence in a way she never could with Charlie. The act of creation becomes an act of love and self-discovery. For Lucy, Audrey's encouragement rekindles her own passions and sense of agency. Together, they find in each other the inspiration and courage to imagine a different future.

The Spark and the Storm

As the countdown on the magical quarter ticks down, both girls are forced to confront their feelings. Audrey realizes her growing love for Lucy, a love that is both exhilarating and terrifying in a world where such feelings are forbidden. Lucy, too, feels the spark—something she's never experienced with any man. But fear, shame, and the weight of expectation threaten to snuff it out. A stormy night brings their emotions to a head, culminating in a passionate confession and a kiss that changes everything. But the risks are enormous: Lucy's reputation, her safety, and Audrey's chance to return home all hang in the balance.

Hearts and Heartbreaks

The aftermath of their confession is fraught with danger. Lucy's father, discovering the truth, threatens to ruin her if Audrey stays. Fearing for Lucy's future, Audrey makes the agonizing decision to leave, believing it's the only way to protect the girl she loves. Both are left heartbroken—Lucy, forced into a rushed wedding with Mr. Caldwell; Audrey, stranded in a strange time, counting down the days until she disappears forever. Their separation is a crucible, testing the strength of their love and their willingness to fight for themselves and each other.

The Countdown Begins

As the day of Lucy's wedding approaches, the magical quarter's countdown nears zero. Audrey, with the help of her friends (and a surprising reappearance by Mr. Montgomery, now revealed as a time-traveling matchmaker), learns that the universe rewards those who are brave enough to choose love and risk everything for it. Meanwhile, Lucy, inspired by Martha's wisdom and her own longing, realizes she cannot go through with a loveless marriage. The stage is set for a dramatic, last-minute decision.

Forbidden Feelings

On the day of the wedding, Lucy finds the courage to object at the altar, choosing herself and her love for Audrey over duty and fear. With the help of her friends, she escapes her father's clutches and races back to Radcliffe, where Audrey is being held captive. In a scene of mutual rescue, the two girls finally declare their love, choosing each other and the unknown over the safety of their old lives. The universe, satisfied by their courage, grants them a way out.

The Ball and the Proposal

As Lucy and Audrey kiss, the quarter's magic activates, whisking them both back to 2023 Pittsburgh. They land in front of the corner shop, dazed but together, greeted by Mr. Montgomery and Audrey's astonished parents. Time has passed differently—no one has missed them, and they have a second chance at life, love, and art. Lucy, now free to be herself, embraces the future with Audrey by her side. The story ends with the two of them, hand in hand, ready to face whatever comes next.

Running Toward Freedom

Lucy and Audrey's return to the present is not just a physical journey but a symbolic one: they have run from the constraints of their old lives and into the freedom of self-determination. Lucy, once resigned to a life of repression, now explores the modern world with wonder and joy. Audrey, once paralyzed by fear and self-doubt, finds her artistic voice and the courage to love openly. Their families, friends, and even Mr. Montgomery support their new beginning, and the future is wide open.

Love's Leap

In a joyful epilogue, Lucy and Audrey attend prom together, celebrating not just their love but the freedom to be themselves. Surrounded by friends, family, and the vibrant chaos of modern life, they dance, laugh, and dream of the adventures to come. The lessons of the past—about risk, love, and the importance of choosing one's own path—echo into their future. Their story is a testament to the power of courage, the necessity of self-acceptance, and the magic that happens when you leap for love.

Back to the Future, Together

The novel closes with Lucy and Audrey, no longer bound by time, place, or fear, stepping into the world as their truest selves. Their journey—across centuries, through heartbreak and hope—has transformed them. They are no longer hiding, no longer waiting for permission to live or love. The future is theirs to write, together.

Characters

Audrey Cameron

Audrey is a modern Pittsburgh teen whose life is defined by creative ambition, heartbreak, and a paralyzing fear of failure. Her journey is one of self-discovery: from a girl who lets others define her art and her worth, to someone who claims her own voice and dares to love bravely. Audrey's relationships—with her parents, her ex, and especially Lucy—reveal her longing for connection and meaning. Her psychological arc is about overcoming self-doubt, embracing vulnerability, and learning that true inspiration comes from authenticity and risk.

Lucy Sinclair

Lucy is a Regency-era young woman trapped by her father's control and society's expectations. Her life is a study in contrasts: outwardly dutiful, inwardly desperate for freedom and love. Lucy's development is a gradual awakening—first to friendship, then to passion, and finally to the courage to choose herself. Her relationship with Audrey is transformative, allowing her to imagine and then seize a life beyond the narrow confines of her upbringing. Lucy's psychological journey is about breaking free from internalized shame and external oppression to become the author of her own story.

Mr. Montgomery

Mr. Montgomery is more than just a grumpy shop regular—he's a time-traveling facilitator of second chances. His role is to nudge lost souls toward the risks they need to take, using magical means when necessary. He represents the universe's push toward growth, love, and self-realization. His interventions are both practical and mystical, and his presence links the story's magical realism to its emotional core.

Martha

Martha is Lucy's housekeeper and surrogate mother, providing warmth, wisdom, and subtle encouragement to rebel. She sees Lucy's pain and potential, and her support is crucial in Lucy's journey toward self-acceptance. Martha's own history of love and loss gives her insight into the costs and rewards of risk.

Charlie

Charlie is the ghost of Audrey's past—a first love who encouraged her to change her art, then abandoned both her and his own dreams. His rejection is the wound that sets Audrey's journey in motion, forcing her to confront what she truly wants and who she truly is.

Mr. Sinclair

Lucy's father is the embodiment of patriarchal authority and the primary antagonist. His obsession with status and control makes him blind to Lucy's needs and desires. He is both a product and enforcer of his time's oppressive norms, and his psychological rigidity is what Lucy must ultimately escape.

Mr. Caldwell

Mr. Caldwell is Lucy's intended fiancé—a man chosen for his fortune, not his heart. He is a symbol of everything Lucy is supposed to want but cannot bear. His presence sharpens the stakes of Lucy's rebellion and the cost of conformity.

Grace

Grace is Lucy's childhood friend who managed to marry for love, offering a glimpse of what might be possible. Her warmth and encouragement help Lucy imagine a different future.

Alexander Finch

Lucy's cousin Alexander is a free spirit who represents the possibility of adventure and self-determination. He is a supportive ally, helping both Lucy and Audrey in their moments of crisis.

James

The stable boy James is a friend and potential suitor for Audrey, offering a vision of love based on kindness and shared experience. His story of family and forbidden love echoes the novel's themes of risk and reward.

Plot Devices

Time Travel via Magical Coin

The magical quarter, given by Mr. Montgomery, is the central plot device that enables time travel and the collision of two worlds. It serves as both a literal and metaphorical countdown, forcing urgency and reflection. The coin's magic is tied to the universe's desire for growth, love, and risk-taking, and its rules are revealed gradually, mirroring the characters' journeys toward self-understanding.

Dual Narrative Structure

The novel alternates between Audrey's and Lucy's points of view, allowing readers to experience both the modern and historical settings intimately. This structure highlights the contrasts and parallels between their lives, deepening the exploration of gender, sexuality, and societal expectations.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The recurring motifs of art (Audrey's sketchbook), music (Lucy's piano), and small acts of rebellion (hidden books, forbidden dresses) foreshadow the characters' eventual breakthroughs. The countdown on the coin, the repeated references to "spark," and the motif of doors/windows all symbolize the possibility of escape and transformation.

Romantic Tropes Reimagined

The novel plays with and subverts familiar tropes: the fish-out-of-water, the forbidden romance, the rescue at the altar, and the "happily ever after." By centering a queer love story in a Regency setting, it both honors and challenges the conventions of historical romance.

Analysis

Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh is a vibrant, heartfelt reimagining of the time-travel romance, blending the wit and social critique of Austen with the emotional immediacy of contemporary queer coming-of-age fiction. At its core, the novel is about the courage to choose oneself and the transformative power of love—not just romantic, but self-love and the love that comes from being truly seen. Through Audrey and Lucy's journeys, the book interrogates the costs of conformity, the necessity of risk, and the ways in which art, music, and connection can break through even the most entrenched barriers. By transporting a modern girl into the past and bringing a Regency heroine into the present, the story insists that the struggle for authenticity and agency is timeless—and that the future belongs to those brave enough to leap for it. The novel's message is clear: happiness is not found in safety or obedience, but in the willingness to risk heartbreak for the chance at real joy, real love, and a life of one's own making.

Last updated: May 18, 2025