In the Stacks: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Story

by McKinley James

Will Darcy is a guy who ruffles Elizabeth Bennet’s feathers—so the fact that she’s locked in her bookstore’s back room with him means her day is shaping up to be irritating, at the least. Will doesn’t seem too bent up about it, though. And he’s downright calm about the fact no one’s answering their calls or texts, which only irritates her more.

But, faced with each other’s company for the foreseeable future, their options are talk to each other, or sit in silence. To Lizzy’s surprise, silent-type Will is all for talking, and the ensuing conversation is certainly an enlightening one for them both.

In the Stacks is a sweet short story of around 6,500 words.

Genres: Modern, Fiction

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2023

About the author

Of all Austen’s characters, McKinley James identifies most with the quiet, socially awkward, and introverted Darcy. Pride and Prejudice is an old friend, and upon discovering the vast and fascinating world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction (and subsequently journeying down a year-long JAFF reading rabbit-hole) she decided to toss her own P&P stories into the fray. McKinley has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and, in her other life, works at a library. She lives in Chicago.

Reviews

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little one shot
Loved this little one chapter treat. Well done, but definitely left me wanting more! I kind of suspected where the author was going, but wasn’t positive until the last few paragraphs. Brilliant!

[Barbara K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this modernized, short-story variation on Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet is accidentally locked inside the back room of her book shop, Vellichor, with Fitzwilliam Darcy, the last man in the world she wants to be trapped with.

Short enough for an hour or less of fun entertainment.

[Nicole Barton Sasser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Status: Read January 4, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Edition Read:

In the Stacks: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Story
by McKinley James
Kindle Edition, 28 pages
Published July 15, 2023
ASIN: B0C8JTLF6R
[ kindle unlimited ]

Will Darcy is a guy who ruffles Elizabeth Bennet’s feathers—so the fact that she’s locked in her bookstore’s back room with him means her day is shaping up to be irritating, at the least. Will doesn’t seem too bent up about it, though. And he’s downright calm about the fact no one’s answering their calls or texts, which only irritates her more.

But, faced with each other’s company for the foreseeable future, their options are talk to each other, or sit in silence. To Lizzy’s surprise, silent-type Will is all for talking, and the ensuing conversation is certainly an enlightening one for them both.

In the Stacks is a sweet short story of around 6,500 words.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT: this review may contain *** SPOILERS ***

>>Rating: contains kissing and such
>>Angst Level: not much
>>Source: This was a free offer on Amazon [11-27-24] and I volunteered to leave a review of my thoughts and opinions. I am not an AI bot or Borg… ‘Resistance is futile’- just saying. This was a short story at 29 pages [around 6,500 words]. Reading time is less than an hour unless you stop to go to the bathroom or eat something.
>>Timeline: Modern bookstore
>>Trope: Locked room, or was it?

Lizzy and Darcy are locked in a storeroom, ki-ss-ing. Okay, I couldn’t resist. It is the usual theme; she hates him for insulting her and he thinks she’s flirting with him. They need time to talk and work things out. Being locked together just might solve their problems.

[Lady Mercury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and short read with only 29 pages.
Darcy and Elizabeth are trapped in a storage room of her bookstore, will they clear up their misunderstandings?
I do however did not like the ‚abrupt ending.‘ It‘s like an open ending and that‘s not my thing.

No Angst.
Clean Content (only kissing)

[Madenna U · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short story where Will and Lizzy talk out their misunderstandings while locked in a storeroom.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

This story covers only a few hours in the life of this Lizzy and Will. "Accidently" locked in the back room of her shop, the couple is more or less forced to converse with each other, as no one is answering their cell phone calls for help. Misconceptions remind us of how such was presented in canon.

Short, sweet with kisses at the end. Just enough to fill a few spare minutes.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute short story that took me about twenty minutes to read. Will Darcy and Lizzie are stuck in the back room of her bookstore, and nobody is answering their phones. She thinks he's annoying and judgy, but, well, you know. If you have ever read any P&P variations before you have a pretty good idea what happens before they get out of that store room.

Steam level: Kissing.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little short story where Darcy and Lizzy finally get a chance to figure out their misunderstandings after being locked together in the back room of Lizzy's used bookstore by Jane and Charlie.

I also like it because the use of the word Vellichor for the name of the bookstore brought me to the lovely book The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig. :-)

[Craftyhj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet

This author's work is reliably well edited and tidily written. The cast list is always very small and the page time is generally focussed predominantly on Elizabeth and Darcy. This was no exception.

A very enjoyable short read.

[Michelle David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but perfect

I absolutely loved this short and sassy little modern variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by McKinley James. My only complaint is I want more of their story. We need a sequel.

[Teresa Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute!

This was a quick, and rather adorable modern day Pride and Prejudice variation. I wondered about nobody answering, so the end was kind of a cute surprise!

[Kelly Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book

It was a good book. But it wasn't long enough the story had
just began when the book ended. It needs to be a longer book.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute would love more

[Nic2416 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Blaire · Rating 3 out of 5]

We kept their secrets,
shadows bound in quiet trust—
truth broke with new ink.

[RTD · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't stop there!

This little story was too cute and fun. I definitely wasn't ready for it to end.
Can a twenty-nine-page story have an epilogue?😄