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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
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
A quaint escape!
In The Other Bennet Sister, Janice Hadlow offers readers a quiet, gentle detour into the familiar world of Regency romance—one that feels both comforting and curiously timely. Though the novel is, in many ways, of little real-world consequence, that very lightness is precisely what makes it so appealing right now. In a world that often feels heavy and disjointed, this story served as a welcome and untroubled escape.
In The Other Bennet Sister, Janice Hadlow offers readers a quiet, gentle detour into the familiar world of Regency romance—one that feels both comforting and curiously timely. Though the novel is, in many ways, of little real-world consequence, that very lightness is precisely what makes it so appealing right now. In a world that often feels heavy and disjointed, this story served as a welcome and untroubled escape.
Hadlow takes the largely forgotten Mary Bennet—so often the butt of the joke in Austen's original—as her heroine, and with careful sympathy, gives her a voice, a heart, and, eventually, a sense of agency. It’s a roundabout journey into the world of Pride and Prejudice, slower and more contemplative than one might expect, but ultimately rewarding. The book doesn’t try to shout or dazzle; instead, it gently ushers the reader into drawing-room conversations, quiet disappointments, and small triumphs.
Yes, the gender stereotypes and rigid social structures are ever-present, as is typical for the genre, but I found myself able to overlook those limitations. There was something so relaxing about the tone, the language, and the steady pacing that it became easy to enjoy the book for what it was: a finely crafted piece of pastiche fiction, steeped in the manners and rhythms of Austen’s world. Rather than feeling trapped by those historical conventions, I felt transported.
In the end, The Other Bennet Sister felt like a cozy return to a beloved literary family. Hadlow doesn’t try to reinvent the world Austen created; she simply offers a thoughtful new perspective on a sidelined character. The result is quaint, charming, and—especially now, in these uncertain (and baffling) times —a truly soothing read.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
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
Mrs Bennet was the wooooooorst
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 Stars
A bit of a slow start with Part 1 but that’s because the reader knows the story all ready. It’s Pride and Prejudice from Mary’s POV up until around Mr. Collins and Charlotte’s engagement. If you push through this (I listened while out walking) it vastly improves in Part 2 onwards.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing at having a unique tone of voice for different characters in the same scene. I would definitely recommend and listen to it again.
When I read it again in the future I’ll listen to the first 2 or 3 chapters and maybe 1 or 2 others before skipping to Part 2 and listening fully from then onwards.
A bit of a slow start with Part 1 but that’s because the reader knows the story all ready. It’s Pride and Prejudice from Mary’s POV up until around Mr. Collins and Charlotte’s engagement. If you push through this (I listened while out walking) it vastly improves in Part 2 onwards.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing at having a unique tone of voice for different characters in the same scene. I would definitely recommend and listen to it again.
When I read it again in the future I’ll listen to the first 2 or 3 chapters and maybe 1 or 2 others before skipping to Part 2 and listening fully from then onwards.
emotional
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
This was such a fun read in the tone of Jane Austen. Even though Mary is cringe and Caroline Bingley is a pick me girl, it’s still fun to be with these characters again
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I wanted to love this Austen tribute novel, but in the end it was just too boring. The writing is loyal to the style of Jane Austen to a fault. After the fifth time this book put me to sleep, I conceded that I wasn't going to finish it.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No