Intelligent, intelligent, intelligent!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
hopeful slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Well written and mostly plausible given the original book. I enjoyed it 😊.
funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I found this Fitzwilliam weirdly possessive and controlling with too much talk of owning people and dominating them into love.

Elizabeth behaved like some cross between herself, Charlotte and Mary. I do not know where she even got the notion from that she was bringing less to the union than him?? The whole point of P&P was that Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth were equals, evenly matched. That he wanted Elizabeth happy, which meant engaging with the people she loved

How can he claim to love her when he believes she is owed respect only as his wife? Isn't she her own person who deserves it on her own merits?

I felt like the concessions were all on Elizabeth's side, she merely tolerated his domineering and voyeuristic behaviour. Much of the book is her acting strangely submissive, trying to correct his moods with the actions she thought he expected of her. When there was some conflict brewing it simply grew and grew without resolution  Elizabeth shouldn't shy away from conflict or treat Fitwilliam "delicately" to keep the peace. Only after more than 2/3 in there is some character development. 

Darcy's treatment of Wickham is such a poster example of the insidiousnes that permeates Christian communities.
What do you mean you have to protect a grown man from himself. Manipulate and bribe for him? Absolutely ridiculous and disgusting


3/4 in and we get some moments of the good dynamic between Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam with banter.

This book left me with a weird aftertaste because it created a power imbalance between Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam that I haven't felt in P&P. It felt like the author was trying to convince the reader's that enduring and forgiving will lead to lasting love, not that that love is only possible because two people have compatibility. Also I would classify this with consent issues so beware.

Maybe I'm being too harsh because I was thinking about deconstruction the whole time.
lighthearted reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes

A pleasantly surprising retelling of Pride & Prejudice! 

A fellow author and reader put this unknown gem on my radar, and I’m incredibly grateful.

I rarely listen to audiobooks for books I haven’t read, but since this one appears to be out of print, the audiobook was my only shot. And the narrator is superbly brilliant. She has such a smooth cadence and perfect character voicing. 

Built on the premise of if Elizabeth Bennett had accepted Mr. Darcy’s first proposal in the Collins’ living room comes this tale. It’s unexpected, interesting, and yet faithful to the original text in character portrayal. The part the intrigued me most was the fact that accepting the first proposal meant there was no Darcy’s letter… and that changed the story in terms of secrets. 

For the most part, I didn’t feel like Ormiston took too many liberties with the characters. Elizabeth is a bit more subdued, and Mr. Darcy is more possessive. Part of that possessiveness comes from the “woman are property/possessions” mentality of the time which was a bit uncomfortable to read, particularly with comments about Darcy “allowing his wife to do xyz.” 

Overlooking that, this was a charming read. The romance is passionate and tender (unlike in Austen, kissing happens & there is brief mentions of consummating marriage), without being inappropriate or spicy. It’s a story of misunderstandings, pride, and ultimately humility. I would have loved the marriage to have happened sooner than the last chapter so that we got a few chapters of married life, since the engagement middle does drag a bit.

On the whole, I was enamoured, and if I can ever find a physical copy, it will make its way to my shelves! 
funny hopeful inspiring tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Lenta ma efficace. L’autrice si prende il suo tempo nell’indagare nell’animo di Elizabeth e Darcy e il risultato è davvero incredibile. Troppo spesso in queste rivisitazioni si tende a rendere Darcy un santo ma qui la cosa non succede; (bellissima la scena di Darcy che ride della follia della sua nuova famiglia acquisita, non per schernirla ma capendo finalmente che sono altro che un gruppo di persone eccentriche) rimangono fedeli all’opera originale, con i loro difetti e pregiudizi. Avrei tanto voluto vedere il dopo, la loro vita matrimoniale e l’amore che provano l’uno per l’altra. Mi accontento dell’epilogo