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andrea_author's review against another edition
3.0
This book imagines Anne de Bourgh from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE as suffering from a life-long addiction to laudanum. With a focus on beautiful language, the pace is leisurely. The book might appeal to readers of literary fiction.
I received an ARC from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I received an ARC from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntary review.
6emptynotebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Child abuse, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, and Pregnancy
kieraz's review against another edition
4.0
The imagery and writing in this was beautiful. Solid read
danielnski's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Chronic illness
Minor: Lesbophobia and Death of parent
rjsreadingnook's review against another edition
5.0
I am a huge Jane Austen fan. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read Pride & Prejudice so I love to seek out Pride & Prejudice-inspired books. Usually they focus on Lizzie and Darcy (which is fine) but I was pleasantly surprised by this beautiful and haunting take on Anne de Bourgh.
Anne had my sympathy from the start, with the early scenes reminiscent of the Secret Garden with the ill cousin. The book does not shy away from the misuse of laudanum by doctors of that era and how it adversely affected Anne as a baby and negatively impacted her childhood.
I loved the LGBTQ perspective of the story as well. Anne doesn’t have a name for how she feels but I loved witnessing her queer awakening.
The WLW romance in this book is elegant and emotional all at once. By the end, I had bittersweet (but mostly happy) tears in my eyes.
I highly recommend this book to all the Jane Austen devotees, anyone who cheers for the underdog, and readers who always root for the less appreciated side characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC.
Anne had my sympathy from the start, with the early scenes reminiscent of the Secret Garden with the ill cousin. The book does not shy away from the misuse of laudanum by doctors of that era and how it adversely affected Anne as a baby and negatively impacted her childhood.
I loved the LGBTQ perspective of the story as well. Anne doesn’t have a name for how she feels but I loved witnessing her queer awakening.
The WLW romance in this book is elegant and emotional all at once. By the end, I had bittersweet (but mostly happy) tears in my eyes.
I highly recommend this book to all the Jane Austen devotees, anyone who cheers for the underdog, and readers who always root for the less appreciated side characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC.
whatabetty's review against another edition
ok im a dumb dumb who didnt realise this was a P&P fanfic with a lesbian addict anne de bourgh?!? i was like, "hmmm these names and places all sound familiar" lol. anyway, it was ok i guess. fairly quick to get through.
saracat's review against another edition
4.0
I want to first thank NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for giving me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have been in a reading slump for a bit now, but this book felt like it has pulled me out of it. I really enjoyed reading this. It's been years since I read [b:Pride and Prejudice|84979|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487841905l/84979._SY75_.jpg|3060926], but Lady Catherine de Bourgh felt like how I remember her being in Austen's book. It was very interesting to follow Anne from her childhood onward. While I don't know much about medicine from this time period nor do I have a lot of knowledge about life and expectations on upperclass women in this period in England, it all felt accurate, or at least likely, to me.
Greeley takes a lot of time to let Anne explore and experience things and spends time in her thoughts, which is something I enjoyed about the book. There is nothing fast paced about the book, but I did have a hard time putting the book down because I felt quite invested in how Anne's life would evolve and change as different characters and circumstances came before her.
There were several plot twists that I greatly enjoyed and I loved the subtle hints and foreshadowing that Greeley also implemented throughout the novel. I will definitely want to read more from this author. With the way the book is written, a person does not need to have read "Pride and Prejudice" to be able to enjoy this novel.
Content Warnings: drug addiction, controlling parent, a few mild descriptions of sex
I have been in a reading slump for a bit now, but this book felt like it has pulled me out of it. I really enjoyed reading this. It's been years since I read [b:Pride and Prejudice|84979|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487841905l/84979._SY75_.jpg|3060926], but Lady Catherine de Bourgh felt like how I remember her being in Austen's book. It was very interesting to follow Anne from her childhood onward. While I don't know much about medicine from this time period nor do I have a lot of knowledge about life and expectations on upperclass women in this period in England, it all felt accurate, or at least likely, to me.
Greeley takes a lot of time to let Anne explore and experience things and spends time in her thoughts, which is something I enjoyed about the book. There is nothing fast paced about the book, but I did have a hard time putting the book down because I felt quite invested in how Anne's life would evolve and change as different characters and circumstances came before her.
There were several plot twists that I greatly enjoyed and I loved the subtle hints and foreshadowing that Greeley also implemented throughout the novel. I will definitely want to read more from this author. With the way the book is written, a person does not need to have read "Pride and Prejudice" to be able to enjoy this novel.
Content Warnings: drug addiction, controlling parent, a few mild descriptions of sex
saracat's review against another edition
4.0
I want to first thank NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for giving me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have been in a reading slump for a bit now, but this book felt like it has pulled me out of it. I really enjoyed reading this. It's been years since I read [b:Pride and Prejudice|84979|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487841905l/84979._SY75_.jpg|3060926], but Lady Catherine de Bourgh felt like how I remember her being in Austen's book. It was very interesting to follow Anne from her childhood onward. While I don't know much about medicine from this time period nor do I have a lot of knowledge about life and expectations on upperclass women in this period in England, it all felt accurate, or at least likely, to me.
Greeley takes a lot of time to let Anne explore and experience things and spends time in her thoughts, which is something I enjoyed about the book. There is nothing fast paced about the book, but I did have a hard time putting the book down because I felt quite invested in how Anne's life would evolve and change as different characters and circumstances came before her.
There were several plot twists that I greatly enjoyed and I loved the subtle hints and foreshadowing that Greeley also implemented throughout the novel. I will definitely want to read more from this author. With the way the book is written, a person does not need to have read "Pride and Prejudice" to be able to enjoy this novel.
Content Warnings: drug addiction, controlling parent, a few mild descriptions of sex
I have been in a reading slump for a bit now, but this book felt like it has pulled me out of it. I really enjoyed reading this. It's been years since I read [b:Pride and Prejudice|84979|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487841905l/84979._SY75_.jpg|3060926], but Lady Catherine de Bourgh felt like how I remember her being in Austen's book. It was very interesting to follow Anne from her childhood onward. While I don't know much about medicine from this time period nor do I have a lot of knowledge about life and expectations on upperclass women in this period in England, it all felt accurate, or at least likely, to me.
Greeley takes a lot of time to let Anne explore and experience things and spends time in her thoughts, which is something I enjoyed about the book. There is nothing fast paced about the book, but I did have a hard time putting the book down because I felt quite invested in how Anne's life would evolve and change as different characters and circumstances came before her.
There were several plot twists that I greatly enjoyed and I loved the subtle hints and foreshadowing that Greeley also implemented throughout the novel. I will definitely want to read more from this author. With the way the book is written, a person does not need to have read "Pride and Prejudice" to be able to enjoy this novel.
Content Warnings: drug addiction, controlling parent, a few mild descriptions of sex
lesbrary's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a big Pride and Prejudice fan, but for some reason, I'm drawn to P&P retellings--especially queer ones. The Heiress is a Pride and Prejudice novel: not exactly a retelling, a prequel, or a sequel, it fills in the story from one of the minor characters of the book: Anne de Bourgh. In case you forgot, Anne is Mr. Darcy’s original fiancee, and Catherine de Bourgh's sickly daughter. In the original book, Anne doesn’t leave a strong impression. This novel gives her centre stage, and makes her a compelling and empathetic character.
This is exactly the kind of excruciating historical lesbian slow burn you love to see. As Anne tries to fit into London society, she becomes fast friends with a woman who is a little too loud and boisterous for Victorians, but Anne can't pull herself away from her. Eliza introduces her to novels and takes her shopping for fashionable clothing. Soon, they are spending almost all of their time together.
This is a book that fits together with Pride and Prejudice, but could also completely stand on its own. Without the references, it would still be a fascinating look at a woman who lived most of her life in a haze and the struggles of coming out of it. The last half of this book is also a beautiful, absorbing F/F romance. It manages to be both a Victorian historical novel and feature a drug addict lesbian main character with no apparent clash between those ideas!
I highly recommend this for fans of historical fiction, whether or not you are a Pride and Prejudice fan.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
This is exactly the kind of excruciating historical lesbian slow burn you love to see. As Anne tries to fit into London society, she becomes fast friends with a woman who is a little too loud and boisterous for Victorians, but Anne can't pull herself away from her. Eliza introduces her to novels and takes her shopping for fashionable clothing. Soon, they are spending almost all of their time together.
This is a book that fits together with Pride and Prejudice, but could also completely stand on its own. Without the references, it would still be a fascinating look at a woman who lived most of her life in a haze and the struggles of coming out of it. The last half of this book is also a beautiful, absorbing F/F romance. It manages to be both a Victorian historical novel and feature a drug addict lesbian main character with no apparent clash between those ideas!
I highly recommend this for fans of historical fiction, whether or not you are a Pride and Prejudice fan.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
katiecooney's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Greeley’s language and writing style! I enjoyed the new perspective this novel provides to us, since we do not know a lot about Anne’s character.