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Becoming Elizabeth Darcy
In 2010, American Elizabeth Hannigan falls into a coma and wakes up in the bed and body of Elizabeth Bennet Darcy. Beth soon realizes that the only way back to her life in the 21st Century is through the Master of Pemberley, Jane Austen's Fitzwilliam Darcy. But first Beth must uncover the dark secret that brought her to Pemberley in 1826 in the first place.Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is a story of love, loyalty, and loss, where a modern woman is called upon to resolve the problems of Jane Austen's most beloved couple.If you are a fan of Lost in Austen, you will enjoy the time-travel novel, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2011
38 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lydon Simonsen
46 books181 followersI am the authors of several Pride & Prejudice and Persuasion re-imaginings. I have also written a modern love story, The Second Date, Love Italian-American Style, and three British mysteries, Three's A Crowd, A Killing in Kensington, A Death in Hampden, Dying to Write, and Murder by Moonlighting.
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer, reader, writer, serious recycler.
When I read for relaxation, I read mysteries. My greatest love is history. When I am doing the research for a new book, I love digging for historical nuggets.
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer, reader, writer, serious recycler.
When I read for relaxation, I read mysteries. My greatest love is history. When I am doing the research for a new book, I love digging for historical nuggets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 19, 2017
Actually 4.5 stars for me. My only quibble is that there is little development of Beth's relationship with her doctor when she finally returns to modern times, more just an epilogue, at the end of the book.
I have said in the past that I don't usually look for time travel novels but in recent months I have read several and found them well done. This is one of those. I especially like that the author does address issues which dispel any interest in really living in Regency times despite liking all those historical romance novels set in those times: the lack of personal hygiene or any awareness of the need for cleanliness ...anywhere...the kitchen, the commode, etc. And then there is the lack of knowledge about medicine, i.e., bloodletting, purges, etc. And Beth, our leading lady, is from a large loving Italian family so she has some issues with food, around which many of her family gatherings were centered back in the modern days from which she traveled.
Beth Harrigan spins into Pemberley as her sister in modern day is calling for an ambulance. Beth knows the story of Pride and Prejudice and so is "half-way" able to fit herself into Elizabeth Darcy's shoes. BUT she does have some morals, despite "loving" the Darcy in Jane Austen's story and despite quickly finding that the Darcy in 1826 is not a man in a book but flesh and blood and oh, so attractive, she resists falling into his bed until...? Is she ever going back to her modern day? Where is the other Elizabeth?, the one whose story of extreme grief, of depression, of miscarriages force Beth to expose who she really is and to relate her knowledge of how those conditions can affect a relationship to Will Darcy. Darcy is astute in seeing slight differences in not only Beth's appearance vs. Elizabeth's but also in her handling of day-to-day events, of her role and of her desires to give out massages, to change the menu, to actually go into the kitchen and try her hands at cooking, etc. And he does accept the whole idea of time travel so he helps shield her in fitting into his world.
There is some suspense about the permanency of the time travel and to where Elizabeth Bennet Darcy actually has gone. And at one point Darcy admits that he can love two women...but is that the love of spouse or dear friend? The physical attractions between the time traveler, Beth, and Will Darcy are hard to resist as William and Elizabeth had been celibate for many months. He is only too human, with all of a man's urges.
This is a story I recommend to all JAFF readers.
I have said in the past that I don't usually look for time travel novels but in recent months I have read several and found them well done. This is one of those. I especially like that the author does address issues which dispel any interest in really living in Regency times despite liking all those historical romance novels set in those times: the lack of personal hygiene or any awareness of the need for cleanliness ...anywhere...the kitchen, the commode, etc. And then there is the lack of knowledge about medicine, i.e., bloodletting, purges, etc. And Beth, our leading lady, is from a large loving Italian family so she has some issues with food, around which many of her family gatherings were centered back in the modern days from which she traveled.
Beth Harrigan spins into Pemberley as her sister in modern day is calling for an ambulance. Beth knows the story of Pride and Prejudice and so is "half-way" able to fit herself into Elizabeth Darcy's shoes. BUT she does have some morals, despite "loving" the Darcy in Jane Austen's story and despite quickly finding that the Darcy in 1826 is not a man in a book but flesh and blood and oh, so attractive, she resists falling into his bed until...? Is she ever going back to her modern day? Where is the other Elizabeth?, the one whose story of extreme grief, of depression, of miscarriages force Beth to expose who she really is and to relate her knowledge of how those conditions can affect a relationship to Will Darcy. Darcy is astute in seeing slight differences in not only Beth's appearance vs. Elizabeth's but also in her handling of day-to-day events, of her role and of her desires to give out massages, to change the menu, to actually go into the kitchen and try her hands at cooking, etc. And he does accept the whole idea of time travel so he helps shield her in fitting into his world.
There is some suspense about the permanency of the time travel and to where Elizabeth Bennet Darcy actually has gone. And at one point Darcy admits that he can love two women...but is that the love of spouse or dear friend? The physical attractions between the time traveler, Beth, and Will Darcy are hard to resist as William and Elizabeth had been celibate for many months. He is only too human, with all of a man's urges.
This is a story I recommend to all JAFF readers.
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November 3, 2017After falling into a swine flu-related coma, Beth Hannigan, a licensed massage therapist from New Jersey, wakes up in Regency England in the body of Elizabeth Bennet Darcy. After freaking out about the lack of flush toilets and a doctor wanting to bleed her, she figures it’s best to just pretend to be Mrs. Darcy. Beth is a modern girl, and hygiene and food preparation during that era aren’t up to her standards, so even though Beth looks like Mrs. Darcy, she certainly doesn’t act like her. Yet she is every bit as spirited and strong as Elizabeth Darcy.
Beth can’t understand why or how she has traveled to Pemberley, but she soon realizes that her favorite literary couple is in trouble. She is determined to repair the cracks in Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, even though she has no idea where Elizabeth is or if she will ever come back. As the days pass, she can’t help but wonder if she’ll ever return to New Jersey and her family.
Mary Lydon Simonsen is one of my favorite authors of Jane Austen-inspired fiction, so when I learned she’d published a Pride and Prejudice time-travel novel, I couldn’t wait to read it. Becoming Elizabeth Darcy was the perfect lakeside-reading follow up to Code Name Verity. There was so much to like about this novel, especially the character of Beth. I think it says a lot that Simonsen made me like Beth so much and enjoy her interactions with Darcy to the point that I almost — but not quite — forgot that Elizabeth Darcy was missing from the story. And I especially liked how Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage seemed so real; rather than giving them a nothing-but-lovey-dovey-happily-ever-after, they have experienced sorrow, and it’s taken a toll.
I only wish that Elizabeth would have had a bigger role in the story, other than being talked about by the other characters, and I would have loved to have seen her inner turmoil alongside Beth’s. I also felt the ending with regard to Beth was a bit rushed compared to the rest of the story, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment at all.
Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is a fun book, especially if you’ve ever thought about living in your favorite novel. Darcy and Elizabeth’s suffering adds a layer of seriousness to the story, but Simonsen really lightens the mood with Beth, her crusade to sanitize Pemberley, and all the anachronisms that can be expected when one travels from 2010 to 1826. Simonsen obviously loves Austen’s characters and knows how to have fun with them.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
Beth can’t understand why or how she has traveled to Pemberley, but she soon realizes that her favorite literary couple is in trouble. She is determined to repair the cracks in Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, even though she has no idea where Elizabeth is or if she will ever come back. As the days pass, she can’t help but wonder if she’ll ever return to New Jersey and her family.
Mary Lydon Simonsen is one of my favorite authors of Jane Austen-inspired fiction, so when I learned she’d published a Pride and Prejudice time-travel novel, I couldn’t wait to read it. Becoming Elizabeth Darcy was the perfect lakeside-reading follow up to Code Name Verity. There was so much to like about this novel, especially the character of Beth. I think it says a lot that Simonsen made me like Beth so much and enjoy her interactions with Darcy to the point that I almost — but not quite — forgot that Elizabeth Darcy was missing from the story. And I especially liked how Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage seemed so real; rather than giving them a nothing-but-lovey-dovey-happily-ever-after, they have experienced sorrow, and it’s taken a toll.
I only wish that Elizabeth would have had a bigger role in the story, other than being talked about by the other characters, and I would have loved to have seen her inner turmoil alongside Beth’s. I also felt the ending with regard to Beth was a bit rushed compared to the rest of the story, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment at all.
Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is a fun book, especially if you’ve ever thought about living in your favorite novel. Darcy and Elizabeth’s suffering adds a layer of seriousness to the story, but Simonsen really lightens the mood with Beth, her crusade to sanitize Pemberley, and all the anachronisms that can be expected when one travels from 2010 to 1826. Simonsen obviously loves Austen’s characters and knows how to have fun with them.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
February 9, 2013
I was hesitant to read this book because I wasn't sure if I wanted a time travel variation. I am so glad I changed my mind.
This is fun book. I am sure a purist would point out the 1000 anachronisms but they work with the plot.
This was truly a joy to read
This is fun book. I am sure a purist would point out the 1000 anachronisms but they work with the plot.
This was truly a joy to read
December 20, 2016
A modern Elizabeth switching places with the regency Elizabeth to help with an emotional recovery was a great read. I have to say that I have always wondered what it would be like to go back like this. The characters were wonderful and how they dealt with the situation was fun.
I loved the emotions of the characters as they worked through their recovery. The epilogue of the book really brought the story together.
I loved the emotions of the characters as they worked through their recovery. The epilogue of the book really brought the story together.
December 5, 2011
Mary Simonsen’s ability to create wonderful love stories never ceases to amaze! This time she takes modern-day Beth Hannigan and transports her to Pemberley, 1826. When Beth awakes to find she has taken over the body of Elizabeth Darcy, she not only must try to find her way back home, but also find out what brought her to Pemberley in the first place. While there, Beth faces many challenges any modern-day lady would encounter: undergarments- or lack thereof, jargon disparities, lack of plumbing, primitive hygienic care, in addition to the different roles women played nearly 200 years ago. Through these events, Simonsen also provides the reader with bits of comic relief. The humor and tender scenes here are well-balanced. While reading, I found myself chuckling, smiling, speculating, and even tearing up at times. I love a book that can elicit a wide array of emotions from me, which Becoming Elizabeth Darcy afforded. In addition, the story line kept me asking questions and imagining what would happen next.
Like the book description says, if you enjoy Lost in Austen, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is a must read!
FTC Disclaimer: Review copy provided by author.
Like the book description says, if you enjoy Lost in Austen, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is a must read!
FTC Disclaimer: Review copy provided by author.
January 26, 2012
All too often it’s easy to get caught up in the romanticism of the Regency era. Jane Austen’s novels make us crave for a time filled with proper manners, fancy ball gowns, and stolen kisses in the moonlight. Getting lost in this time period makes it easy to forget all of the modern marvels that would not have been available back then. In Becoming Elizabeth Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen, we get to see what happens when a modern woman is thrown into Austen’s era, and how these modern marvels changed people’s lives when they were introduced.
Elizabeth (Beth) Hannigan has the swine flu, and a fever so bad it’s caused her into fall into a coma. It is in this state that she follows a boy through a bright tunnel, awakening in the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy. She is at first astounded that she’s somehow time traveled to Pemberley, and secondly scared that she’ll never return. When Darcy comes home from a weekend hunting trip, she quickly realizes that all is not well with her favorite literary duo and that helping them solve their marital woes might be her ticket out of the Regency era. Beth realizes she must convince Darcy that she is not his Elizabeth in order to begin solving the problems of the Darcy marriage; problems that her modern-day knowledge of medicine can help with. After speaking with Darcy, Beth learns of the multiple miscarriages Elizabeth has suffered and her depression caused by the unfortunate death of their only child. Will Beth be able to give Darcy the knowledge he needs to save his marriage to Elizabeth? Will Beth be able to get back to 2010 and beat the swine flu?
Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is the darkest JAFF novel that Simonsen has written to date, but that does not mean it is in any way diminished from her other works. On the contrary, it is better than ever! Simonsen gives us a believable scenario in the sense that even the happiest of marriages can go through extremely dark times. After reading so many JAFF novels that picture Elizabeth and Darcy in the happiest of circumstances, it was refreshing to read a novel unafraid to tackle such dark issues as depression and postpartum.
Simonsen’s humor does however still get an opportunity to shine through as she opens our eyes to the reality of what the Regency era was like. The lack of flushing toilets, absence of anti-bacterial soap, and prevalence of unhygienic situations, offer Beth’s character ample amount of material to freak out over, making us laugh. These satirical sections of the novel help to level out the darker and more complex remainder of the storyline. That being said, I feel that Simonsen has a great balance between these themes of humor and seriousness, and this makes the novel an exciting and fulfilling addition to he fan fiction world. Simonsen has once again shown that she can tackle any JAFF genre and is a force to be reckoned with. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-LN
Elizabeth (Beth) Hannigan has the swine flu, and a fever so bad it’s caused her into fall into a coma. It is in this state that she follows a boy through a bright tunnel, awakening in the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy. She is at first astounded that she’s somehow time traveled to Pemberley, and secondly scared that she’ll never return. When Darcy comes home from a weekend hunting trip, she quickly realizes that all is not well with her favorite literary duo and that helping them solve their marital woes might be her ticket out of the Regency era. Beth realizes she must convince Darcy that she is not his Elizabeth in order to begin solving the problems of the Darcy marriage; problems that her modern-day knowledge of medicine can help with. After speaking with Darcy, Beth learns of the multiple miscarriages Elizabeth has suffered and her depression caused by the unfortunate death of their only child. Will Beth be able to give Darcy the knowledge he needs to save his marriage to Elizabeth? Will Beth be able to get back to 2010 and beat the swine flu?
Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is the darkest JAFF novel that Simonsen has written to date, but that does not mean it is in any way diminished from her other works. On the contrary, it is better than ever! Simonsen gives us a believable scenario in the sense that even the happiest of marriages can go through extremely dark times. After reading so many JAFF novels that picture Elizabeth and Darcy in the happiest of circumstances, it was refreshing to read a novel unafraid to tackle such dark issues as depression and postpartum.
Simonsen’s humor does however still get an opportunity to shine through as she opens our eyes to the reality of what the Regency era was like. The lack of flushing toilets, absence of anti-bacterial soap, and prevalence of unhygienic situations, offer Beth’s character ample amount of material to freak out over, making us laugh. These satirical sections of the novel help to level out the darker and more complex remainder of the storyline. That being said, I feel that Simonsen has a great balance between these themes of humor and seriousness, and this makes the novel an exciting and fulfilling addition to he fan fiction world. Simonsen has once again shown that she can tackle any JAFF genre and is a force to be reckoned with. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-LN
August 9, 2016
This is my first review and I would like to thank Meredith(Austenesque Reviews) for her precious advice.
When Beth Hannigan from New Jersey falls into a coma cannot imagine what kind of adventure her spirit will live. She soon discovers she is in the body of her beloved heroine Elizabeth Bennet Darcy and after an understandable shocking moment she embraces her new life in 1826 with great joy. She learns a lot of things and she also teaches some others but the real purpose of her time travel is far more important than to improve nineteenth-century’s people life. Through the help of her ideal man, Fitzwilliam Darcy, she will understand her real mission and will discover a dark secret that divided the literature’s most beloved couple.
Mary Lydon Simonsen did great work! I really enjoyed the way she developed the whole story. I think the description of the places Beth visits during her stay in the nineteenth-century England is beautiful. Mr. Darcy is very handsome and in several occasions he reminded me the real Darcy, the Jane Austen one. His smile, his statements, his behavior, everything was treated with care and attention. I did not like a particular intimate moment between Darcy and Beth because I am sure the real Darcy would never do a similar thing but I did not let it ruin my enjoyment of this novel, like the best readers! I witnessed the gradual change in Beth’s personality: she was scared at the beginning and then perfectly at ease into the shoes of the Mistress of Pemberley. The author used the right words to describe delicate situations and she succeed to get the readers involved, you definitely want to know how it ends! In addition, she showed a great knowledge of English history through the different centuries and, since the main character has Italian origins, I could feel a deep interest in Italian traditions, especially about the food: some recipes Beth prepares are very detailed! I can say Mrs. Simonsen loves Italy!
If you are a Jane Austen addicted and you cannot get enough of her timeless characters, then “Becoming Elizabeth Darcy” is the book for you. Plus, if you love time travels you cannot miss this one! I highly recommend.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
When Beth Hannigan from New Jersey falls into a coma cannot imagine what kind of adventure her spirit will live. She soon discovers she is in the body of her beloved heroine Elizabeth Bennet Darcy and after an understandable shocking moment she embraces her new life in 1826 with great joy. She learns a lot of things and she also teaches some others but the real purpose of her time travel is far more important than to improve nineteenth-century’s people life. Through the help of her ideal man, Fitzwilliam Darcy, she will understand her real mission and will discover a dark secret that divided the literature’s most beloved couple.
Mary Lydon Simonsen did great work! I really enjoyed the way she developed the whole story. I think the description of the places Beth visits during her stay in the nineteenth-century England is beautiful. Mr. Darcy is very handsome and in several occasions he reminded me the real Darcy, the Jane Austen one. His smile, his statements, his behavior, everything was treated with care and attention. I did not like a particular intimate moment between Darcy and Beth because I am sure the real Darcy would never do a similar thing but I did not let it ruin my enjoyment of this novel, like the best readers! I witnessed the gradual change in Beth’s personality: she was scared at the beginning and then perfectly at ease into the shoes of the Mistress of Pemberley. The author used the right words to describe delicate situations and she succeed to get the readers involved, you definitely want to know how it ends! In addition, she showed a great knowledge of English history through the different centuries and, since the main character has Italian origins, I could feel a deep interest in Italian traditions, especially about the food: some recipes Beth prepares are very detailed! I can say Mrs. Simonsen loves Italy!
If you are a Jane Austen addicted and you cannot get enough of her timeless characters, then “Becoming Elizabeth Darcy” is the book for you. Plus, if you love time travels you cannot miss this one! I highly recommend.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
March 5, 2018
I was very intrigued by this story from the beginning. Not just because it was a story where a modern woman who loves Austen and P&P finds herself back in time living as Elizabeth Darcy, who has been sick with a fever. But because I actually found myself really investing in Beth, a woman who has a family and life in her own right before falling into a coma while sick with the flu.
I loved her interactions with the senior staff of Pemberley as well as the estate's master, Fitzwilliam Darcy. Or Will as she ends up calling him. As she tries to bring a bit of 21st century knowledge to the Regency Era, it was fun to see her try to explain things without giving herself away too much. I'm not a huge history buff, so I can't say what is true to that time period, but I've always enjoyed the clash of two different time periods.
And I'll be honest, at one point, when Darcy fears his own Elizabeth is lost, I was actually looking forward to seeing him and Beth come to fall in love with one another. However, the author ended up giving Beth a modern-day Darcy of her own. In that I can only have one complaint, I didn't get to see them interact and fall in love with each other beyond their first meeting and when they've already built a life together after getting married.
There is more to the story than what I've shared, but I only mentioned the stuff that really made me love the story. Overall, I truly enjoyed this story and probably wouldn't mind reading it again down the road.
I loved her interactions with the senior staff of Pemberley as well as the estate's master, Fitzwilliam Darcy. Or Will as she ends up calling him. As she tries to bring a bit of 21st century knowledge to the Regency Era, it was fun to see her try to explain things without giving herself away too much. I'm not a huge history buff, so I can't say what is true to that time period, but I've always enjoyed the clash of two different time periods.
And I'll be honest, at one point, when Darcy fears his own Elizabeth is lost, I was actually looking forward to seeing him and Beth come to fall in love with one another. However, the author ended up giving Beth a modern-day Darcy of her own. In that I can only have one complaint, I didn't get to see them interact and fall in love with each other beyond their first meeting and when they've already built a life together after getting married.
There is more to the story than what I've shared, but I only mentioned the stuff that really made me love the story. Overall, I truly enjoyed this story and probably wouldn't mind reading it again down the road.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2019
Fantastic
I wasn't sure at first that I would like this story, since the main character Beth started out as a wise cracking, kind of brash and sarcastic person. To have her inhabiting the body of Elizabeth Darcy just seemed wrong. But the story quickly grew on me and I enjoyed it immensely. This is a fantasy about a young woman from the year 2010 falling ill, going into a coma, and awakening as Mrs. Darcy in the year 1826, just a year after the Darcys experience the loss of their only child. It's a classic "fish out of water" tale, but Beth handles it all with courage and good humor.
There is a lot of humor throughout, but also a lot of emotion and some romance. Beth is a plucky girl, and doesn't hesitate to introduce ideas that shock the poor Regency era inhabitants of Pemberly. Hygiene, massage therapy, and pizza are just a few of the hilarious concepts that she institutes in her quest to become more comfortable in her new environment. After Darcy and his manservant Mercer learn the truth about Beth and accept her story, namely that she is an unwilling transplant from the future, the tale becomes more and more poignant and heartwarming. The importance of close family ties and trust are themes of significance.
I read this book because I like this author, and I'm glad I did. She writes well, and the editing is top notch, only a couple of mistakes found. I recommend it highly.
I wasn't sure at first that I would like this story, since the main character Beth started out as a wise cracking, kind of brash and sarcastic person. To have her inhabiting the body of Elizabeth Darcy just seemed wrong. But the story quickly grew on me and I enjoyed it immensely. This is a fantasy about a young woman from the year 2010 falling ill, going into a coma, and awakening as Mrs. Darcy in the year 1826, just a year after the Darcys experience the loss of their only child. It's a classic "fish out of water" tale, but Beth handles it all with courage and good humor.
There is a lot of humor throughout, but also a lot of emotion and some romance. Beth is a plucky girl, and doesn't hesitate to introduce ideas that shock the poor Regency era inhabitants of Pemberly. Hygiene, massage therapy, and pizza are just a few of the hilarious concepts that she institutes in her quest to become more comfortable in her new environment. After Darcy and his manservant Mercer learn the truth about Beth and accept her story, namely that she is an unwilling transplant from the future, the tale becomes more and more poignant and heartwarming. The importance of close family ties and trust are themes of significance.
I read this book because I like this author, and I'm glad I did. She writes well, and the editing is top notch, only a couple of mistakes found. I recommend it highly.
January 13, 2014
2.5 stars. There are two kinds of fiction that enlarge upon existing creative properties. One kind seeks to expand upon the fictional universe in a way where the story told is meant to bring insight to what already exists. The second is more of an exercise in wish fulfillment for the author, with invariably happy, though occasionally bittersweet, endings. As a fan of comic books, I've read, appreciated and panned both kinds, so I don't believe in blanket commendations or condemnations for either. Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is, in my opinion, firmly of the second camp (commonly known as fanfic.) It's an interesting exercise in time travel, bringing a modern-day woman to Regency England several years after the events of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, but it ultimately doesn't say anything new about the source material. And while the ideas are intriguing, the writing is pedestrian. Worse, the author often discards complexity, or even sense, in favor of happy resolutions. A die-hard Austen fan might enjoy this book more than I did, which isn't to say that I didn't appreciate its charm. It's a light, fish-out-of-water fantasy of P&P that was perfect for the tail end of my hospital stay.
October 4, 2019
Love love love this story!
This was an awesome blend of present and past, as seen through the eyes of Elizabeth Hannigan the main character of this story. As a fan of the limited series Lost in Austen, I wondered how this story would unfold. To my surprise it was enthralling. I loved the continuation of the Pride and prejudice story as told by Mary Lydon Simonsen. And since this is my first book written by her, I will definitely be reading more. I don't want to give the story away but, anyone who loves Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett will fall in love with them all over again. Becoming Elizabeth Darcy was a page Turner and is book I'll revisit for sure.
This was an awesome blend of present and past, as seen through the eyes of Elizabeth Hannigan the main character of this story. As a fan of the limited series Lost in Austen, I wondered how this story would unfold. To my surprise it was enthralling. I loved the continuation of the Pride and prejudice story as told by Mary Lydon Simonsen. And since this is my first book written by her, I will definitely be reading more. I don't want to give the story away but, anyone who loves Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett will fall in love with them all over again. Becoming Elizabeth Darcy was a page Turner and is book I'll revisit for sure.
January 3, 2017
Loved it but not as much as her other time travel book. I think I would have preferred it if E stayed with D and Beth stayed with W. But still a fun time! First book of the year.
September 25, 2020
This is one of my kindle freebies from forever ago and was surprisingly great. I love Pride and Prejudice and time travel and romance so it was my kind of book. Reading it in a day was a happy unexpected diversion.
October 29, 2025
always a Darcy fan
So good. I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did. Didn’t want it to end
I will be reading it again
So good. I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did. Didn’t want it to end
I will be reading it again
September 18, 2024
This book was surprisingly good. I wish there were more stories like it. If you enjoy Pride and Prejudice and self-insert narratives, I highly recommend giving this one a try.
4/5
4/5
February 24, 2017
Being a Jane Austen lover it was a good read.
August 18, 2015
What happens when 21st century massage therapist Elizabeth Hannigan falls into a coma due to the H1N1 virus? She is escorted through a tunnel by a young boy and wakes in Regency England in the bed of Elizabeth Darcy at Pemberley?
With Mr. Darcy away on a business trip, Beth Hannigan, a tried-and-true fan of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, attempts to adjust to Regency life. But as a practitioner of alternative medicine, she is astounded by the threat of being bled (again!) by Elizabeth Darcy's doctor and demands that everyone wash their hands and brush their teeth...including her maidservant.
Beth also discovers that Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy have struggled with tragedy in their lives since their marriage: several miscarriages and finally the death of their ten-year-old son, David, who fell from his horse. Soon Beth realizes that David Darcy is the one who escorted Beth to Pemberley. Beth struggles with Becoming Elizabeth Darcy while retaining her independent spirit which includes tracking down the ingredients for Italian food and trying to mend the rift between Darcy and his wife.
But can Beth put aside her growing regard for Mr. Darcy? Or, if she returns to 2010, will she ever find her own Mr. Darcy?
This brilliant time-travel story (not a favorite genre of mine, BTW) was non-put-down-able; I read it in fewer than 24 hours. Incredible well-written and with a tragic poignancy not often seen in historical romance, Becoming Mrs. Darcy is a heart-warming and delightful read.
If I were not so very stingy with giving a "5" ratings on book reviews (which are saved for classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, etc.), this book would have received a "5." But I'll give it a steady "4.5" and highly recommend it; it's a wonderful, thought-provoking, tender story of love restored despite tragedy and loss and two women who would not allow Mr. Darcy to live a life without the love of a truly good woman.
With Mr. Darcy away on a business trip, Beth Hannigan, a tried-and-true fan of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, attempts to adjust to Regency life. But as a practitioner of alternative medicine, she is astounded by the threat of being bled (again!) by Elizabeth Darcy's doctor and demands that everyone wash their hands and brush their teeth...including her maidservant.
Beth also discovers that Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy have struggled with tragedy in their lives since their marriage: several miscarriages and finally the death of their ten-year-old son, David, who fell from his horse. Soon Beth realizes that David Darcy is the one who escorted Beth to Pemberley. Beth struggles with Becoming Elizabeth Darcy while retaining her independent spirit which includes tracking down the ingredients for Italian food and trying to mend the rift between Darcy and his wife.
But can Beth put aside her growing regard for Mr. Darcy? Or, if she returns to 2010, will she ever find her own Mr. Darcy?
This brilliant time-travel story (not a favorite genre of mine, BTW) was non-put-down-able; I read it in fewer than 24 hours. Incredible well-written and with a tragic poignancy not often seen in historical romance, Becoming Mrs. Darcy is a heart-warming and delightful read.
If I were not so very stingy with giving a "5" ratings on book reviews (which are saved for classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, etc.), this book would have received a "5." But I'll give it a steady "4.5" and highly recommend it; it's a wonderful, thought-provoking, tender story of love restored despite tragedy and loss and two women who would not allow Mr. Darcy to live a life without the love of a truly good woman.
June 3, 2012
Becoming Elizabeth Darcy was an interesting take on the time travel Pride and Prejudice re-imagining. Beth Hannigan from 2010 gets a nasty case of the swine flu and falls into a coma. Elizabeth Darcy of Pemberley, suffering from postpartum depression and the loss of a child, falls extremely ill. In essence the two switch places and Beth Hannigan must find away to help Elizabeth reunite with Mr. Darcy.
I love Lost in Austen, and am even a huge fan of creatively manipulating the Pride and Prejudice tale, but as with Lost in Austen I never knew where my feelings stood. I could never figure out what I wanted to happen in the story. I find this funny... because like so many of my Austen obsessed peers, I dream and imagine of meeting Mr. Darcy, or being Elizabeth Bennet. I read endless novels to re-experience the love story over and over again. However, when this switch is placed in front of me, I feel awkward for the characters. I couldn't decide which girl I wanted to end up with Darcy. Darcy asks Beth cannot he love both of them? I wanted to scream NO you are only allowed to love Elizabeth! I found myself becoming angry with Mr. Darcy "cheating" on Elizabeth. That's not how it is suppose to be! Where is Elizabeth!
Thank goodness it had a great ending or I wouldn't have known what to do with myself. :)
Mary's novels are always a treat and I enjoyed this one because I got so emotionally worked up about it. This was another one of Mary's novels I could not guess the ending to and I could not put it down as I wanted to know everything was put right in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2012
I really think Mary Simonsen is one of the best P&P fanfic writers out there...I'm behind on my reading, so I haven't read everything of hers yet, but each story is usually better than the last.
I loved the premise, and I loved that she made Darcy more human and less the literary dreamboat he usually is. I loved that Mary's Darcy looks more like Richard Armitage (yay!), and I loved the bit where Beth was asking him what everyone's first names were. (Clarence? Ew.)I loved everything about E & D's children, and the present issues they were dealing with.
The only thing I didn't like were the places that, because of the time travel premis, large amounts of historical detail were thrown in. The author is exceptionally good at her historical research (as I know from reading another book), and as a history buff myself, I really appreciate that. In some places in the story, it's appropriate, but it did seem that usually when it came up, it went on and on/involved more details than was appropriate. In those places, I felt it derailed the story and made the reading awkward.
Overall, I stand by my assertion that MS is a top writer. The ideas for her stories are varied and everyone that I've read so far has been really interesting.
I loved the premise, and I loved that she made Darcy more human and less the literary dreamboat he usually is. I loved that Mary's Darcy looks more like Richard Armitage (yay!), and I loved the bit where Beth was asking him what everyone's first names were. (Clarence? Ew.)I loved everything about E & D's children, and the present issues they were dealing with.
The only thing I didn't like were the places that, because of the time travel premis, large amounts of historical detail were thrown in. The author is exceptionally good at her historical research (as I know from reading another book), and as a history buff myself, I really appreciate that. In some places in the story, it's appropriate, but it did seem that usually when it came up, it went on and on/involved more details than was appropriate. In those places, I felt it derailed the story and made the reading awkward.
Overall, I stand by my assertion that MS is a top writer. The ideas for her stories are varied and everyone that I've read so far has been really interesting.
Want to read
January 19, 2016*Reviewer note*
*read this in 2013 for the Bicentenary Challenge. I posted a review on my Facebook page, did not know about Goodreads at the time.
I chose this book since I found it to be interesting, and who would not want to imagine being able to time travel to Jane Austen’s time? :)
I could really relate to the lead female character, Beth, especially when it came to her love of Pride and Prejudice. The way she described her feelings about it in the first chapter is how I feel about it myself.
I also chose this book since it is close to home for me, literally. Beth comes from New Jersey and I am a Jersey girl myself. Hearing some of the town’s names such as Cedar Grove and Little Falls, I knew of the area. ( I live more down south from the places mentioned.)
When it comes to the Darcy’s the ending was my favorite , i feel it showed the warmth and love that they have for each other . It was amusing when the readers find out about the consequences of Beth being at Pemberley: name change, pizza, indoor plumbing etc.I feel though that because of Beth the Darcys were able to find each other again and grow back in love with each other.
*read this in 2013 for the Bicentenary Challenge. I posted a review on my Facebook page, did not know about Goodreads at the time.
I chose this book since I found it to be interesting, and who would not want to imagine being able to time travel to Jane Austen’s time? :)
I could really relate to the lead female character, Beth, especially when it came to her love of Pride and Prejudice. The way she described her feelings about it in the first chapter is how I feel about it myself.
I also chose this book since it is close to home for me, literally. Beth comes from New Jersey and I am a Jersey girl myself. Hearing some of the town’s names such as Cedar Grove and Little Falls, I knew of the area. ( I live more down south from the places mentioned.)
When it comes to the Darcy’s the ending was my favorite , i feel it showed the warmth and love that they have for each other . It was amusing when the readers find out about the consequences of Beth being at Pemberley: name change, pizza, indoor plumbing etc.I feel though that because of Beth the Darcys were able to find each other again and grow back in love with each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2014
This was kind of time-travel and yet not. You have to read and see. The lines are blurry in a way and I never truly knew what was going on.
Beth is really really sick, and as the ambulance takes her away she wakes up in a strange bed. She is suddenly Mrs Darcy, but how did it happen? And where is the real Elizabeth?
Yes it had me wondering, would Beth go home, would she stay? Was she dead, was Lizzy dead? But I can't tell you those things. Instead I can say Beth is there cos Lizzy and Darcy were having problems. A dead child, miscarriages. Sad really, but also it rang true, if that had happened of course they could have drifted apart even though they still loved each other.
The end was a great ending but at the same time I had wished for something else too. But, trust me, everyone was happy, this book has a HEA after all.
I wish I could go and be Mrs Darcy for a day ;)
Beth is really really sick, and as the ambulance takes her away she wakes up in a strange bed. She is suddenly Mrs Darcy, but how did it happen? And where is the real Elizabeth?
Yes it had me wondering, would Beth go home, would she stay? Was she dead, was Lizzy dead? But I can't tell you those things. Instead I can say Beth is there cos Lizzy and Darcy were having problems. A dead child, miscarriages. Sad really, but also it rang true, if that had happened of course they could have drifted apart even though they still loved each other.
The end was a great ending but at the same time I had wished for something else too. But, trust me, everyone was happy, this book has a HEA after all.
I wish I could go and be Mrs Darcy for a day ;)
January 9, 2012
I really loved how this story began and to see what struggles Elizabeth and Darcy encountered in their first years of marriage - some of terrible loss and not infidelity. But this time travler, "Beth", is cannot fit in to Regency England. If she were a fan she would find better ways to fit in and to help mend the bond between our beloved characters. Beth is so adamant about not having "sexual congress" with Darcy as he is a married man - but she fails because any way you add it up, allowing him to ejaculate on your backside is sex. So some of my friends might know me to ask "what is up with that"? Through the behavior of this Beth in the story in really falls flat for me by the end of the story. 3 stars.
December 9, 2011
Loved this alternate reality! Beth is very sick and while she is in a coma, she goes back in time to her favorite novel P&P and takes Elizabeth's place. Who by the way is also sick. Beth's job is to figure out how to bring Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship back together. Darcy and Elizabeth have 12 years of marriage and have gone through some major trials. They still love each other but how to find their way back is hard and that is where Beth comes in. Beth is wonderfully high spirited and quirky and is really fun to read about her antics and how Darcy and his staff see her, "Mrs Darcy." This novel was definitely very entertaining!
December 4, 2012
The premise was very interesting - I loved Pride and Prejudice so who wouldn't love to get a glimpse of what happened "next"? It seemed to me that the historical characters accepted the time travel aspect a little too easily, though not so easily that I myself couldn't suspend disbelief and keep reading. There were a few aspects of the relationship that developed between Mr. Darcy and Beth that I found a bit strange considering how the book ended - which is the only way it should have ended - but all in all I really enjoyed the story.
June 17, 2013
This book was just ok. There were parts I liked about it and other times I really didn't see the significance of, i.e. the food. (Too much emphasis on the food!) I liked the premise of what happened after Elizabeth and Darcy got married, though. Not the greatest re-imaginings of the two most famous characters in literally history but it certainly wasn't the worst either.
April 16, 2012
Not the worst Austen fan fic but none of the characters lived up to their personas in P&P. ESPECIALLY Mr. Darcy. Even if he had accepted this interloper into his life so easily, he certainly wouldn't have become so close to her with such haste. And the pizza thing . . . PLEASE!
December 3, 2012
Interesting and careful tribute to Jane Austen... I wasn't certain where the story or characters were going - where would all of this end up? There were a few pleasant surprises along the way, but the book almost came across as trite with it's HEA.
January 5, 2013
I read this book for this month's book discussion. I'm not a Jane Austen fan, but besides that, I found the main character, Beth Hannigan, extremely annoying in her breezy superiority throughout the book. I didn't find anything believable in this book.
June 19, 2014
It's Lost in Austin all over again. But with twists and turns plus some romance you wouldn't expect. I really did enjoy reading this. Some plots seemed thin, but if you love anything Pemberly you'll probably find this a charming afternoon read.
June 8, 2012
Another good read in the fan fiction category for 'Pride and Prejusice'!
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