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A review by blewballoon
The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
I've read quite a few Jane Austen universe novels, and this is one of the better ones. I'd put this up there with The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow in terms of feeling true to the characters in the source material and maintaining an elegant writing style throughout that compliments Jane Austen's original writing while still being a bit more natural for a modern reader. Both books also explore the nuance of Mary Bennet and what a happy ending for her might look like, but in this case it is because her story tangles with the protagonist Charlotte Lucas/Collins.
None of the original characters from Pride and Prejudice felt overly villainized here, which I appreciated. It also felt like a fairly organic insertion of LGBTQ+ representation into the historic setting, although it did seem like there were an awful lot of lesbians in Mary's neighborhood.
The story is quite slow paced and focused on Charlotte's journey of opening her eyes to consider more than the most practical path and allow the layered petals of who she is as a person unfurl and bloom.
Overall, I would definitely recommend to fans of Jane Austen's characters and fans of queer historical romance.
I've read quite a few Jane Austen universe novels, and this is one of the better ones. I'd put this up there with The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow in terms of feeling true to the characters in the source material and maintaining an elegant writing style throughout that compliments Jane Austen's original writing while still being a bit more natural for a modern reader. Both books also explore the nuance of Mary Bennet and what a happy ending for her might look like, but in this case it is because her story tangles with the protagonist Charlotte Lucas/Collins.
None of the original characters from Pride and Prejudice felt overly villainized here, which I appreciated. It also felt like a fairly organic insertion of LGBTQ+ representation into the historic setting, although it did seem like there were an awful lot of lesbians in Mary's neighborhood.
The story is quite slow paced and focused on Charlotte's journey of opening her eyes to consider more than the most practical path and allow the layered petals of who she is as a person unfurl and bloom.
Overall, I would definitely recommend to fans of Jane Austen's characters and fans of queer historical romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Alcohol, and Classism