Review: The Other Bennet Sister

Discussion

I think this lovely book is going to greatly appeal to a certain audience and likely be a pain in the butt to others. The reader who will love this novel are those who enjoy a slow moving, gently told, purposefully plotted story with a fairly predictable ending. I mean, it’s a Jane Austen historical romance retelling. A romantic ending shouldn’t come as a shock right?

Movies aside, I can’t claim to be a big Jane Austen fan and so it really surprises me that this retelling both appealed to me and that I ended up loving it! I listened to this as an audiobook, which may have played a large part in my enjoyment because the audio narrator is a very calming, excellent voice actor perfectly paired with the dialogue. Without her gentle narration I could maybe see this being a bit tedious and titch too long.

Undemanding and gently told, this heartwarming story of the overlooked middle sister in the Bennet clan was perfection. I loved the modern approach to such an iconic story –  looking past beauty and focusing on intelligence, could Mary, a forever wallflower, find her happy ever after? Mary’s journey from put upon and cast aside, to strong, passionate, and convicted was very rewarding and can resonate with anyone who feels they have struggled to live up to other’s imposed expectations.

Overall it was very entertaining to imagine the continuing world where Pride & Prejudice left off and Janice Hadlow has created an authentic world that will feel genuine to Austen fans. While Mary could come across a bit downtrodden at times, I completely enjoyed her overall storyline, her fight for her agency, her complexity, her sincerity and the conversation of style over substance. Thoroughly enjoyable, heartwarming and charming. I like this Mary Bennet very much.

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Written by Julie Berry

Published by Penguin Books

Full review HERE.

You can find it here: Bookshop.org