What do you think?
Mr. Darcy's Matchmaker
When the woman he loves refuses him, Darcy will get help winning her back . . . whether he wants it or not.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is a great many things. Wealthy. Handsome. Respectable. But what he is not, is skilled at charming Elizabeth Bennet. When she refuses his offer of marriage and breaks his heart, an organ she doesn’t believe he possesses, he has no notion of how to win her back.
Fortunately for him, his scheming relation, Miss Anne de Bourgh, is more than willing to help. It doesn’t matter to Anne that Darcy doesn’t want her assistance. She learned from the best, namely her mother, that people don’t know what’s good for them until you tell them.
Mr. Darcy’s Matchmaker is a sweet, lighthearted Pride & Prejudice Variation. Read on to discover if Miss de Bourgh can help Mr. Darcy win the woman he loves, and how much trouble she’ll cause trying.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is a great many things. Wealthy. Handsome. Respectable. But what he is not, is skilled at charming Elizabeth Bennet. When she refuses his offer of marriage and breaks his heart, an organ she doesn’t believe he possesses, he has no notion of how to win her back.
Fortunately for him, his scheming relation, Miss Anne de Bourgh, is more than willing to help. It doesn’t matter to Anne that Darcy doesn’t want her assistance. She learned from the best, namely her mother, that people don’t know what’s good for them until you tell them.
Mr. Darcy’s Matchmaker is a sweet, lighthearted Pride & Prejudice Variation. Read on to discover if Miss de Bourgh can help Mr. Darcy win the woman he loves, and how much trouble she’ll cause trying.
307 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2023
About the author
Summer Hanford
165 books122 followersSummer Hanford writes best-selling Pride and Prejudice retellings, swashbuckling Historical Romance, and gripping Epic Fantasy. She lives in the lovely Finger Lakes Region of New York with her husband and compulsory, deliberately spoiled, cat. The newest addition to their household, an energetic setter-shepherd mix, has been trying, and failing, for eight years to gain acceptance from the cat, but is adored by the humans.
Since the moment she read her first novel, Summer’s passion has always been writing, and epic adventures. As a child growing up on a dairy farm, she built castles made of hay and wielded swords made of fence posts. She is also passionate about animals, travel, and organizing her closet. Nothing pleases her more than a row of tops broken down by sleeve length and ordered by color…except working on her latest novel with her cat in her lap, her dog lounging on the rug dreaming of squirrels, and a cup of tea at hand.
For more about Summer, visit www.summerhanford.com.
Since the moment she read her first novel, Summer’s passion has always been writing, and epic adventures. As a child growing up on a dairy farm, she built castles made of hay and wielded swords made of fence posts. She is also passionate about animals, travel, and organizing her closet. Nothing pleases her more than a row of tops broken down by sleeve length and ordered by color…except working on her latest novel with her cat in her lap, her dog lounging on the rug dreaming of squirrels, and a cup of tea at hand.
For more about Summer, visit www.summerhanford.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 14, 2023
Starts way too early. I don’t care about five year old Anne. Mr Bennet unusually harsh—being horrible to Mrs Bennet right after Lydia’s birth? I don’t buy it. I don’t like or respect Mr Bennet but this didn’t ring true. Also I don’t want to go back this far.
July 14, 2023
Fun read. I do love a misunderstood Anne.
February 22, 2025
Review published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
The wealthy and reserved Mr. Darcy is determined to win back Elizabeth Bennet’s heart after she rejects his proposal. However, his meddlesome cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh, decides to take matters into her own hands. With her matchmaking efforts in full force, she sets out to unite the couple, causing chaos and frustration for Darcy along the way.
The interactions between Darcy and his cousin Anne were a real highlight for me in this book. Anne’s determined attempts at playing matchmaker added plenty of fun and her well-meaning schemes to bring Darcy and Elizabeth together led to some truly entertaining moments. I also loved how she wasn’t just a coadjutant in Darcy’s romance, but someone who had her own issues to solve, and her own romance to pursuit. I also loved the fact that there were lessons learned for Anne along this bumpy road, namely that she isn’t as different from Lady Catherine as she would like to think and that good intentions don’t always justify actions.
The romance between Darcy and Elizabeth, though sweet, didn’t quite have the intensity I was hoping for. Elizabeth realizing her feelings early on was an interesting twist, and one I particularly love, but their interactions felt a bit limited, leaving me wanting more of their emotional journey, and a story as intense as the one I read in Mr. Darcy’s Bookshop.
In terms of romance, while Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship had some interesting details, one of the highlights of this book for me was the romance between Kitty Bennet and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Their relationship brought a delightful and uplifting element to the story, and following their growing connection was my favorite part of the book, not only because they are not an unusual pairing, but also because of the depth the author gave their growing attachment.
Overall, Mr. Darcy’s Matchmaker is a lighthearted, fun and engaging variation that I recommend to readers looking for an entertaining and well written story.
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
The wealthy and reserved Mr. Darcy is determined to win back Elizabeth Bennet’s heart after she rejects his proposal. However, his meddlesome cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh, decides to take matters into her own hands. With her matchmaking efforts in full force, she sets out to unite the couple, causing chaos and frustration for Darcy along the way.
The interactions between Darcy and his cousin Anne were a real highlight for me in this book. Anne’s determined attempts at playing matchmaker added plenty of fun and her well-meaning schemes to bring Darcy and Elizabeth together led to some truly entertaining moments. I also loved how she wasn’t just a coadjutant in Darcy’s romance, but someone who had her own issues to solve, and her own romance to pursuit. I also loved the fact that there were lessons learned for Anne along this bumpy road, namely that she isn’t as different from Lady Catherine as she would like to think and that good intentions don’t always justify actions.
The romance between Darcy and Elizabeth, though sweet, didn’t quite have the intensity I was hoping for. Elizabeth realizing her feelings early on was an interesting twist, and one I particularly love, but their interactions felt a bit limited, leaving me wanting more of their emotional journey, and a story as intense as the one I read in Mr. Darcy’s Bookshop.
In terms of romance, while Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship had some interesting details, one of the highlights of this book for me was the romance between Kitty Bennet and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Their relationship brought a delightful and uplifting element to the story, and following their growing connection was my favorite part of the book, not only because they are not an unusual pairing, but also because of the depth the author gave their growing attachment.
Overall, Mr. Darcy’s Matchmaker is a lighthearted, fun and engaging variation that I recommend to readers looking for an entertaining and well written story.
July 20, 2023
January 30, 2024 review:
Wow, rereading my past review, from just six months ago, I'm surprised how much more I liked this book on this second reading. But that was summer time, so maybe the heat was making me irritable. I do not like that season of year.
This is a fun, and meant to be implausible, variation on Pride and Prejudice, in which Anne de Bourgh, tired of her mother always pushing Darcy at her, and realizing Darcy is in love with someone else, comes up with a plot to get him together with his true love.
There are several chapters up front that cover the Darcy and Anne childhoods, and one chapter with Anne as a young woman who falls in love at first sight with a man she's unlikely to ever meet again. She doesn't even know his name.
Later, Darcy confides to Anne that he's just been refused by Elizabeth Bennet when he proposed to her at Hunsford. Anne coaxes her mother to take her to London for the Season, and to let Elizabeth Bennet come along as her companion, claiming she needs someone of her own age to accompany her to social events.
Elizabeth is reluctant, but sees an opportunity to get Jane access to social venues where she might encounter Mr. Bingley.
My favorite aspect of this variation on Pride and Prejudice is in how Kitty Bennet is characterized. It's the best version of Kitty I've ever read, and that makes it a favorite. I also love this Anne de Bourgh and how she grows in the course of the story.
***
July 19, 2023 review:
What a fun story. While there are a couple of things I dislike about this Pride and Prejudice revision, that isn't enough to cause me to give it less than five stars, because there's so much to love here. I chuckled all the way through, except when it was so touching I cried. Making me laugh is definitely a virtue.
After Darcy's failed proposal at Hunsford, which he confides in her, Anne de Bourgh decides to take charge of Darcy and Elizabeth's romance, because they seem to be about to ruin it for good and all, and she likes the idea of them together. She sheds the quiet act she puts on to keep her mother calm, and comes up with a scheme that takes them all to London, where she enlists Elizabeth, purportedly to help Anne and Darcy find marriage matches from among the ton. Elizabeth is to be their matchmaker. The result is sometimes funny, sometimes madcap, and when Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet butt heads, mayhem.
Meanwhile, Anne has her own romantic dreams, of a man she met long ago but has never forgotten, even though she never learned his name.
Wickham is his least deserving self, insistent that Darcy pay him exhorbitant amounts of money, threatening Georgiana's reputation and getting more and more desperate the longer Darcy puts him off.
The childhood chapters could have been shorter and reduced to just one. I can imagine those childhoods pretty well from my knowledge of the original story, so although they were mildly interesting, if only the part with the frog pond had been included, briefly, I would have been happier with the story as a whole. The real story starts too late for my taste. It's also a bit too implausible with all the neat tying up of so many romances, though I did enjoy most of them. Being full of laughs helps make up for that.
This Mr. Bennet has to be one of my least favorite, most mean-spirited versions of him that I've come across, and I think unnecessarily so. I never like the more negative depictions of him. He's quite indolent enough in the original, both negligent and mocking his wife in subtle ways. Those are bad enough. But I don't like this Mr. Bennet at all.
Still, I love this story. I especially love Kitty and what happens with her. What a sweet outcome. I adore it. I wish Elizabeth could have understood her better. She's perfectly sweet, a bit daft, but also somehow wise or at least intuitive.
Wow, rereading my past review, from just six months ago, I'm surprised how much more I liked this book on this second reading. But that was summer time, so maybe the heat was making me irritable. I do not like that season of year.
This is a fun, and meant to be implausible, variation on Pride and Prejudice, in which Anne de Bourgh, tired of her mother always pushing Darcy at her, and realizing Darcy is in love with someone else, comes up with a plot to get him together with his true love.
There are several chapters up front that cover the Darcy and Anne childhoods, and one chapter with Anne as a young woman who falls in love at first sight with a man she's unlikely to ever meet again. She doesn't even know his name.
Later, Darcy confides to Anne that he's just been refused by Elizabeth Bennet when he proposed to her at Hunsford. Anne coaxes her mother to take her to London for the Season, and to let Elizabeth Bennet come along as her companion, claiming she needs someone of her own age to accompany her to social events.
Elizabeth is reluctant, but sees an opportunity to get Jane access to social venues where she might encounter Mr. Bingley.
My favorite aspect of this variation on Pride and Prejudice is in how Kitty Bennet is characterized. It's the best version of Kitty I've ever read, and that makes it a favorite. I also love this Anne de Bourgh and how she grows in the course of the story.
***
July 19, 2023 review:
What a fun story. While there are a couple of things I dislike about this Pride and Prejudice revision, that isn't enough to cause me to give it less than five stars, because there's so much to love here. I chuckled all the way through, except when it was so touching I cried. Making me laugh is definitely a virtue.
After Darcy's failed proposal at Hunsford, which he confides in her, Anne de Bourgh decides to take charge of Darcy and Elizabeth's romance, because they seem to be about to ruin it for good and all, and she likes the idea of them together. She sheds the quiet act she puts on to keep her mother calm, and comes up with a scheme that takes them all to London, where she enlists Elizabeth, purportedly to help Anne and Darcy find marriage matches from among the ton. Elizabeth is to be their matchmaker. The result is sometimes funny, sometimes madcap, and when Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet butt heads, mayhem.
Meanwhile, Anne has her own romantic dreams, of a man she met long ago but has never forgotten, even though she never learned his name.
Wickham is his least deserving self, insistent that Darcy pay him exhorbitant amounts of money, threatening Georgiana's reputation and getting more and more desperate the longer Darcy puts him off.
The childhood chapters could have been shorter and reduced to just one. I can imagine those childhoods pretty well from my knowledge of the original story, so although they were mildly interesting, if only the part with the frog pond had been included, briefly, I would have been happier with the story as a whole. The real story starts too late for my taste. It's also a bit too implausible with all the neat tying up of so many romances, though I did enjoy most of them. Being full of laughs helps make up for that.
This Mr. Bennet has to be one of my least favorite, most mean-spirited versions of him that I've come across, and I think unnecessarily so. I never like the more negative depictions of him. He's quite indolent enough in the original, both negligent and mocking his wife in subtle ways. Those are bad enough. But I don't like this Mr. Bennet at all.
Still, I love this story. I especially love Kitty and what happens with her. What a sweet outcome. I adore it. I wish Elizabeth could have understood her better. She's perfectly sweet, a bit daft, but also somehow wise or at least intuitive.
August 13, 2024
The book started way too early in my opinion. It began at 21 years ago, then 16,15,11 and 5 years ago until finally 'present' time. To be honest, I don't really care what game exactly Elizabeth and her sisters played when they were children, children playing hide and seek has nothing to do with the plot except only to fill pages. Those years could have been kept shorter maybe. It dragged on.
It was a good plot, and a great plan from Anne to get Elizabeth to go with Lady Catherine and her to London in order for Elizabeth to fall in love with Darcy and marry him etc..
The love on Elizabeth's side was unbelievable for me at least. I did a list for potential brides for Darcy and suddenly it hit her that she doesn't want him to marry someone else. No one would be worthy. It's maybe few days after Kent Proposal..
There are more scenes but I stop here. I really don't like a rude Darcy such as this even after the proposal. Or let's say, even a rude Darcy still normally knows the rules of good society, propriety and respect, and the duties of a master. It was drilled in him at an early age from what we read in earlier chapters.
Finally after he changed I could really enjoy the book though but it took some time..I often thought about DNF..
The other matches are cute too, but 4 matches in book is a bit much in my opinion now bc I really would have wished for more ODC time but that can't happen if there are 3 other matches.
Yes, I know it's about Matchmaking but I thought maybe only ODC and Jangley.
Over all it was well written, and a good narration.
If you enjoy a clean low angst matchmaking books with more than 1-2 couples this might be for you.
It was a good plot, and a great plan from Anne to get Elizabeth to go with Lady Catherine and her to London in order for Elizabeth to fall in love with Darcy and marry him etc..
The love on Elizabeth's side was unbelievable for me at least. I did a list for potential brides for Darcy and suddenly it hit her that she doesn't want him to marry someone else. No one would be worthy. It's maybe few days after Kent Proposal..
There are more scenes but I stop here. I really don't like a rude Darcy such as this even after the proposal. Or let's say, even a rude Darcy still normally knows the rules of good society, propriety and respect, and the duties of a master. It was drilled in him at an early age from what we read in earlier chapters.
Finally after he changed I could really enjoy the book though but it took some time..I often thought about DNF..
The other matches are cute too, but 4 matches in book is a bit much in my opinion now bc I really would have wished for more ODC time but that can't happen if there are 3 other matches.
Yes, I know it's about Matchmaking but I thought maybe only ODC and Jangley.
Over all it was well written, and a good narration.
If you enjoy a clean low angst matchmaking books with more than 1-2 couples this might be for you.
June 15, 2024
Anne de B. takes the lead.
This review is for the audiobook. The excellent performance by Ruth Urquhart is energetic and lively, infusing the character portrayals with personality.
From childhood, Anne and Darcy are destined by their parents to marry, but even at a very young age when she was still chasing frogs, Anne is determined she will never marry her cousin. We are given a multi-year look into the early lives of these two, and then we’re at Hunsford with Darcy facing his rejection by Elizabeth.
Anne wants Darcy to be happy—with Elizabeth. So, she hatches a plan that touches on a little reverse psychology to have Elizabeth help her (Anne) and Darcy find a match. She must convince her mother, Lady Catherine, to allow Elizabeth to accompany them to London for the Season.
Darcy is a quite stiff in this variation. I can’t say it’s my favourite portrayal, but it all works out in the end, of course. My favourite part of this novel was Colonel Fitzwilliam and Kitty. Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet are quite extreme in this book, making things very difficult for the others around them.
Wickham must also have his way—until he doesn’t.
Happy to recommend this audiobook.
This review is for the audiobook. The excellent performance by Ruth Urquhart is energetic and lively, infusing the character portrayals with personality.
From childhood, Anne and Darcy are destined by their parents to marry, but even at a very young age when she was still chasing frogs, Anne is determined she will never marry her cousin. We are given a multi-year look into the early lives of these two, and then we’re at Hunsford with Darcy facing his rejection by Elizabeth.
Anne wants Darcy to be happy—with Elizabeth. So, she hatches a plan that touches on a little reverse psychology to have Elizabeth help her (Anne) and Darcy find a match. She must convince her mother, Lady Catherine, to allow Elizabeth to accompany them to London for the Season.
Darcy is a quite stiff in this variation. I can’t say it’s my favourite portrayal, but it all works out in the end, of course. My favourite part of this novel was Colonel Fitzwilliam and Kitty. Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet are quite extreme in this book, making things very difficult for the others around them.
Wickham must also have his way—until he doesn’t.
Happy to recommend this audiobook.
January 24, 2024
Post Hunsford, Anne de Bourgh convinces Elizabeth Bennet to act as a matchmaker for herself and Fitzwilliam Darcy. She also convinces Lady Catherine that they should all go to London. The rest is a series of Ron events where Darcy has to learn to get over himself, Charles Bingley must grow a pair, Richard Fitzwilliam must recognize what is important and Anne must learn to stand up for herself. With the help of the Bennet family, some expected and others not, they all find their happiness.
July 16, 2023
I always adore this writer's work, and this, her latest book, is no exception! What I love about Ms. Hanford's book the most is the feeling she brings us through her characters. Poor Mr. Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth was a disaster. But Anne recognizes his problem when he confesses to her how his proposal had gone. She determines to play matchmaker. This is just such an adorable love story which actually has four love stories going on in it; an enemies to lovers trope, a second chance romance, a friends to lovers, and an instalove connection. Anne, Kitty, and even Mrs. Jenkinson are all so entertaining. I loved this cute, sweet romance with a sweet HEA!
July 14, 2023
What a pleasure this book has been to read. I’ve read Pride & Prejudice re-writes before but none ever with this calibre of prose, characterization and plot. Hanford cleverly interweaves the love stories and describes the characters in depth and empathetically. Couldn’t put it down. So glad to have learned of the existence of this author!
July 12, 2023
Throw that frog.
Summer never fails to delight me with her books. She does not disappoint me here.
Anne will never marry but for true love and find a man who loves me so deeply that he would die for me.
This is a very thrilling and enticing story. Will Anne succeed in getting Darcy to mend his ways and win Elizabeth? How many love stories are there.
Simply wonderful.
Summer never fails to delight me with her books. She does not disappoint me here.
Anne will never marry but for true love and find a man who loves me so deeply that he would die for me.
This is a very thrilling and enticing story. Will Anne succeed in getting Darcy to mend his ways and win Elizabeth? How many love stories are there.
Simply wonderful.
July 18, 2023
This Darcy takes forever to see the light, and even after he does, he doesn’t show it well. He’s not terrible, but he isn’t my favorite. And I couldn’t quite figure out why Lizzy grew to love him when he just wouldn’t stop making the same mistakes over and over. However! We are in luck because ODC are only one of the couples in this book. If you, like me, enjoy a good Col Fitzwilliam tale, this one shines. It was also fun to see a different Anne de Bourgh. Despite Darcy’s bumbling, I quite enjoyed this quick and lively read.
Read
December 30, 2023DNF. I liked the storyline very much, even if it wasn’t plausible. I wish it was less wordy.
July 27, 2023
This was an excellent story. Not what J expected. The surprising thing is I ended up liking some Lride and Prejudice characters whom I usually don't notice.
August 24, 2023
An outstanding story that will have you wishing it would never end. Romance, wonderful characters and a well written story. Ready for the next.
September 27, 2023
Cute. A rare Anne de bourgh perspective.
January 14, 2026
What an amazing Pride and Prejudice retelling! Summer Hanford's writing is beautiful and captures the essence of Austen's storytelling. I loved seeing a feisty, and slightly manipulative, Anne de Bourgh (she means well with her manipulations!) I also really enjoyed the flashbacks to Anne, Darcy, and Wickham as children. It was neat to see them grow into their adult characters. Fair warning, Wickham is a bit grittier than Austen depicted him, but I thought Hanford's Wickham fit her story well!
I cannot wait to read more of Hanford's Austen variations!
I cannot wait to read more of Hanford's Austen variations!
July 12, 2024
Heavy duty variation with so much going on
This variation is a uneven in its presentation: reasonably paced in most sections and suddenly a whirlwind of excitement in some. It is commendable how the author has conjured such humorous and engaging situations that kept this reader so interested.
What caused the star deductions though arose from various reason which are due to this reader’s preferences: focus is often taken away from Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (but of course as the title indicates), the romance between the beloved couple somewhat gained traction only in the last 20% of the novel, Mr. Darcy is rather obstinately arrogant and proud almost until the end that if it were not for his cousins he would not have changed for the better for Elizabeth Bennet, and even Elizabeth was lackluster in her realizations and emotions for Darcy.
Still an enjoyable read for those who expect the unexpected and unusual, this one has a lot of fun and extraordinary situations in it that could make one gasp and laugh, especially because of the antics of one outrageous Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
This variation is a uneven in its presentation: reasonably paced in most sections and suddenly a whirlwind of excitement in some. It is commendable how the author has conjured such humorous and engaging situations that kept this reader so interested.
What caused the star deductions though arose from various reason which are due to this reader’s preferences: focus is often taken away from Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (but of course as the title indicates), the romance between the beloved couple somewhat gained traction only in the last 20% of the novel, Mr. Darcy is rather obstinately arrogant and proud almost until the end that if it were not for his cousins he would not have changed for the better for Elizabeth Bennet, and even Elizabeth was lackluster in her realizations and emotions for Darcy.
Still an enjoyable read for those who expect the unexpected and unusual, this one has a lot of fun and extraordinary situations in it that could make one gasp and laugh, especially because of the antics of one outrageous Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
July 4, 2024
After the Hunsford Proposal, Anne steps in to help Darcy win Lizzy, Darcy doesn't really change as drastically as Lizzy forgives him.
Anne convinces Lady C and Lizzy that Lizzy should come to town with them so Lizzy can find her and Darcy spouses. Miss Bingley convinces Lady C to invite Mrs. Bennet and one of the younger daughters so she can see how bad the family is. Kitty and Richard fall in love based on her honesty.
Wickham sudo-kidnaps Lydia but acts as if they eloped, lured the men to a tavern while he broke into the house and held the ladies at gun point.
Anne falls in love with a gentleman turned tradesman, soldier who saved Richard's life.
Anne convinces Lady C and Lizzy that Lizzy should come to town with them so Lizzy can find her and Darcy spouses. Miss Bingley convinces Lady C to invite Mrs. Bennet and one of the younger daughters so she can see how bad the family is. Kitty and Richard fall in love based on her honesty.
Wickham sudo-kidnaps Lydia but acts as if they eloped, lured the men to a tavern while he broke into the house and held the ladies at gun point.
Anne falls in love with a gentleman turned tradesman, soldier who saved Richard's life.
July 19, 2023
I won the audiobook in a raffle. Loved the narration. Its a good performance.
Poor Darcy doesn't know if he is coming or going, but once freed from from extraneous emotions, he allows himself to really love Elizabeth.
By the end of the book there are 4 matches! Lots went down in just a few weeks in London.
Poor Darcy doesn't know if he is coming or going, but once freed from from extraneous emotions, he allows himself to really love Elizabeth.
By the end of the book there are 4 matches! Lots went down in just a few weeks in London.
May 9, 2026
Mr Darcy’s Matchmaker by Summer Hanford
A Pride and Prejudice variation. Historical romance.
A fun variation with Anne de Bourgh playing matchmaker, an early childhood peek, misunderstandings, and lots of secondary characters like Kitty that make the romance sing.
A Pride and Prejudice variation. Historical romance.
A fun variation with Anne de Bourgh playing matchmaker, an early childhood peek, misunderstandings, and lots of secondary characters like Kitty that make the romance sing.
July 13, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. Mostly threats, some minor wounds, concussion symptoms, etc.
Sexual: Mild. Chaste kissing. Dancing, hugging close.
Triggers: Micromanaging manipulative people portrayed.
I neither liked nor disliked this one, it was 'meh'. And far too long. I don't get why it even had the first few chapters included from various childhood memories of Elizabeth, Darcy, and Anne. Maybe to try setting the tone? I was just wishing it was shorter at the halfway point. It was too drawn out and dramatic.
The most enjoyable part of this, surprisingly, was the relationship I didn't see coming: . In fact, she was the most fun of the characters to follow, and I got incredibly annoyed at Elizabeth and her family for being so judgmental of her every time she spoke. She was impulsive, but never rude or anything. The way that Lizzy treated her made me dislike her in this version.
Darcy too was way over the top in his elitism in this variation. He's such a proud snot, and I found his obliviousness to his own rude statements to be unrealistic. Yeah he's a bit of a social introvert, but he's not an idiot as to be so tactless for the sake of total honesty. He's never been that bad.
And Anne's weird romance in this was so eye-rolling I was growling under my breath at the absurdity.
There is no way on earth that Lady Catherine would've invited Elizabeth to London, or any of the other things she did in this. Most of the plot decisions in this stretched believability to the limit.
It was well-written and I got through it without truly wanting to quit, so it's not horrible, it's just...okay. Like I said, don't hate it, but I certainly didn't like it much. Minus the above relationship. That was cute.
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. Mostly threats, some minor wounds, concussion symptoms, etc.
Sexual: Mild. Chaste kissing. Dancing, hugging close.
Triggers: Micromanaging manipulative people portrayed.
I neither liked nor disliked this one, it was 'meh'. And far too long. I don't get why it even had the first few chapters included from various childhood memories of Elizabeth, Darcy, and Anne. Maybe to try setting the tone? I was just wishing it was shorter at the halfway point. It was too drawn out and dramatic.
The most enjoyable part of this, surprisingly, was the relationship I didn't see coming: . In fact, she was the most fun of the characters to follow, and I got incredibly annoyed at Elizabeth and her family for being so judgmental of her every time she spoke. She was impulsive, but never rude or anything. The way that Lizzy treated her made me dislike her in this version.
Darcy too was way over the top in his elitism in this variation. He's such a proud snot, and I found his obliviousness to his own rude statements to be unrealistic. Yeah he's a bit of a social introvert, but he's not an idiot as to be so tactless for the sake of total honesty. He's never been that bad.
And Anne's weird romance in this was so eye-rolling I was growling under my breath at the absurdity.
There is no way on earth that Lady Catherine would've invited Elizabeth to London, or any of the other things she did in this. Most of the plot decisions in this stretched believability to the limit.
It was well-written and I got through it without truly wanting to quit, so it's not horrible, it's just...okay. Like I said, don't hate it, but I certainly didn't like it much. Minus the above relationship. That was cute.
August 1, 2025
Honestly, after the abyssmal scene where Lady Catherine abuses ALL of the Bennett’s including Elizabeth IN Darcy’s house and he does NOTHING! Does not intervene for sake of propriety, does not offer them his carriage to leave… I was done with the Darcy of this book and wished Elizabeth took her family to the Gardiner’s and never looked back. Marry someone else girl, he ain’t worth it! (6 hours in an he still can’t stand up to Lady Catherine, or even Miss Bingley!)
First variation I ever read where I wished Elizabeth would make a different match and leave Darcy to his misery.
With only 2 hours and 3 min left of the book at this point, it feels like whatever turn around there will be for him, it isn’t worth it after listening to him being a complete ass for six full hours.
The Darcy who strives to change after Hunsford, and adapt real gentleman manners, is sorely lacking here.
It is a complete mystery why Elizabeth here holds anything but continued contempt for him, except that he is handsome, but we have already seen she is not so weak as to go purely on that.
So all in all, not very good. The writing itself isn’t poor, but as it is the first book where I have to take a break because I can’t stand the idea of a romance between the principal characters, I can’t say it is good.
So for now, I’m leaving this on unfinished and might return at another point.
If you wish for a reformed Darcy, maybe skip this one, if it takes more than half the book for him to act like a decent person (assuming he does during the last two hours) then Elizabeth can, and should, do better.
I did like how early the book started though, others seemed to mind that, but it is the one thing it has going for it along with its treatment of Kitty.
First variation I ever read where I wished Elizabeth would make a different match and leave Darcy to his misery.
With only 2 hours and 3 min left of the book at this point, it feels like whatever turn around there will be for him, it isn’t worth it after listening to him being a complete ass for six full hours.
The Darcy who strives to change after Hunsford, and adapt real gentleman manners, is sorely lacking here.
It is a complete mystery why Elizabeth here holds anything but continued contempt for him, except that he is handsome, but we have already seen she is not so weak as to go purely on that.
So all in all, not very good. The writing itself isn’t poor, but as it is the first book where I have to take a break because I can’t stand the idea of a romance between the principal characters, I can’t say it is good.
So for now, I’m leaving this on unfinished and might return at another point.
If you wish for a reformed Darcy, maybe skip this one, if it takes more than half the book for him to act like a decent person (assuming he does during the last two hours) then Elizabeth can, and should, do better.
I did like how early the book started though, others seemed to mind that, but it is the one thing it has going for it along with its treatment of Kitty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2023
We begin at 21 years ago, then leap to 16, 15, 11 and 5 years ago: reading some of Darcy, Richard, Wickham, Anne, and the Bennets in their younger years.
This story has Darcy from youth insisting he and Anne de Bourgh are going to marry while Anne insists the opposite. This Anne has learned to present one face to her mother in order to gain some time away from her mother doing what she wants. But she also comes to realize that she, like her mother, tries to control lives around her.
When she learns of Darcy's refused proposal she sees several advantages to a plan she comes up with. By enlisting Elizabeth Bennet to act as the matchmaker for both Darcy and Anne, she will throw the two together. Anne has a secret: love at first sight and she didn't even catch his name many years ago.
This story has four romances in the end. Lydia's fate is not the same as in canon although at first it seems so. (She becomes a changed person.) Jane, Kitty, Richard and Bingley have their own romances.
Darcy is slow to make all the changes in his opinions that he must make. Several point out his prejudices. Wickham's presence is more that he keeps hounding Darcy for cash...or else!
One thing I enjoyed that is completely different is that at the end of certain chapters there is a link to a drawing of various characters in the story...lovely.
This story has Darcy from youth insisting he and Anne de Bourgh are going to marry while Anne insists the opposite. This Anne has learned to present one face to her mother in order to gain some time away from her mother doing what she wants. But she also comes to realize that she, like her mother, tries to control lives around her.
When she learns of Darcy's refused proposal she sees several advantages to a plan she comes up with. By enlisting Elizabeth Bennet to act as the matchmaker for both Darcy and Anne, she will throw the two together. Anne has a secret: love at first sight and she didn't even catch his name many years ago.
This story has four romances in the end. Lydia's fate is not the same as in canon although at first it seems so. (She becomes a changed person.) Jane, Kitty, Richard and Bingley have their own romances.
Darcy is slow to make all the changes in his opinions that he must make. Several point out his prejudices. Wickham's presence is more that he keeps hounding Darcy for cash...or else!
One thing I enjoyed that is completely different is that at the end of certain chapters there is a link to a drawing of various characters in the story...lovely.
August 3, 2023
This book was everything I was in the mood for. I got my Darcy fix even though he was quite disagreeable through most of it. But more than that, Hanford took secondary characters from canon and made them stronger characters. I loved Anne. Even if she was manipulative, I still loved seeing that she actually had a personality and a backbone in her own way. She didn't stand up to her mother directly through most of it but she did manipulate the situation with her mother in the only way she thought she could and still keep the peace. I really enjoyed seeing this different Anne. I also loved seeing Kitty away from Lydia and learning what her personality is like. She was not all she seemed and she was actually quite delightful. We heard something about many of the P&P characters but some played minor roles and got little page time.
There are 4 overlapping romances in this story and it was satisfying to see others get their happily ever after in addition to D&E and B&J. I just really enjoyed the story. Also, I'm kind of in matchmaking mode in my reading these days. I love the matchmaker trope. Summer Hanford is a new to me author but I'd love to read more of her stuff.
Sex: no
Language: a deity
Violence: some, brief
There are 4 overlapping romances in this story and it was satisfying to see others get their happily ever after in addition to D&E and B&J. I just really enjoyed the story. Also, I'm kind of in matchmaking mode in my reading these days. I love the matchmaker trope. Summer Hanford is a new to me author but I'd love to read more of her stuff.
Sex: no
Language: a deity
Violence: some, brief
September 10, 2023
An interesting P&P variation which starts by giving the readers views of the childhoods and young adult lives of the principle characters before picking up the narrative in Huntsford after Darcy's failed proposal to Lizzy.
In this version, Anne de Bourgh manipulates her mother, Lizzy, and (to a slightly lesser extent), Darcy in order to make a match between the pair. Mr Bingley and Jane get their second chance at love.
What I enjoyed about the P&P variation is that it didn't fall into the trap of making Lizzy perfect. There were still lessons both Lizzy and Darcy needed to learn before they could be together, and it was made clear that Lizzy tendency towards judgmental nature was not reserved for Mr Darcy.
A light read, great for a Sunday afternoon.
In this version, Anne de Bourgh manipulates her mother, Lizzy, and (to a slightly lesser extent), Darcy in order to make a match between the pair. Mr Bingley and Jane get their second chance at love.
What I enjoyed about the P&P variation is that it didn't fall into the trap of making Lizzy perfect. There were still lessons both Lizzy and Darcy needed to learn before they could be together, and it was made clear that Lizzy tendency towards judgmental nature was not reserved for Mr Darcy.
A light read, great for a Sunday afternoon.
April 15, 2024
This was a fun one and it does things I haven't seen in many other adaptations.
For once we get a spunky Anne de Bourgh. She hides her fire to avoid battles with her mother, but she is just as determined to make things go her way. A meddlesome cousin is exactly what Darcy and Elizabeth need to get over their differences.
We also get a Kitty with a personality. So often she's either subsumed by Lydia or fades into the background like Mary. But in this one, like Anne, she keeps her head down but has a hidden liveliness that comes out in the right contexts. The London sequence with her was delightful, and she pairs so nicely with this version of the Colonel.
Darcy makes things right between Bingley and Jane right away in this version. It is so nice to see him fix that part of his screw up without letting months and months pass.
And this version shows how judgmental and proud Elizabeth is. She's often our golden girl, our sparkling wit who can do no wrong. But that wit can be biting and she's just as conscious of appearances as Darcy is.
The ending moves a bit fast and there's definitely an element of Opraph's you get a wedding and you get a wedding. But it's a fun, light read.
For once we get a spunky Anne de Bourgh. She hides her fire to avoid battles with her mother, but she is just as determined to make things go her way. A meddlesome cousin is exactly what Darcy and Elizabeth need to get over their differences.
We also get a Kitty with a personality. So often she's either subsumed by Lydia or fades into the background like Mary. But in this one, like Anne, she keeps her head down but has a hidden liveliness that comes out in the right contexts. The London sequence with her was delightful, and she pairs so nicely with this version of the Colonel.
Darcy makes things right between Bingley and Jane right away in this version. It is so nice to see him fix that part of his screw up without letting months and months pass.
And this version shows how judgmental and proud Elizabeth is. She's often our golden girl, our sparkling wit who can do no wrong. But that wit can be biting and she's just as conscious of appearances as Darcy is.
The ending moves a bit fast and there's definitely an element of Opraph's you get a wedding and you get a wedding. But it's a fun, light read.
October 23, 2025
Loved Kitty & Colonel Fitzwilliam Bonding Over Billards
Colonel Fitzwilliam teaching Kitty to play billards was really sweet. I loved their burgeoning relationship
(And the reveal that Mrs. Jenkinson was something of a billards shark was great).
I am glad Anne got her happy ending even though I personally am not the biggest fan of the love at first site trope. Particularly since Anne has been yearning for this stranger for most of her adult life.
Darcy spends a good part of the book being angry at Anne for her schemes. Though not unjustifable, the intensity of this anger distracted from the joy of the flase flag matchmaking scheme for me. (Even though this is usually a trope I adore).
It also seemed pointedly judgy towards Elizabeth at times. Like the author was probably trying to make a point that Elizabeth and Darcy needed to see Kitty for who she is and not only as Darcy's shadow. But it kinda came out of nowhere and again the intensity took me out of the story.
Colonel Fitzwilliam teaching Kitty to play billards was really sweet. I loved their burgeoning relationship
(And the reveal that Mrs. Jenkinson was something of a billards shark was great).
I am glad Anne got her happy ending even though I personally am not the biggest fan of the love at first site trope. Particularly since Anne has been yearning for this stranger for most of her adult life.
Darcy spends a good part of the book being angry at Anne for her schemes. Though not unjustifable, the intensity of this anger distracted from the joy of the flase flag matchmaking scheme for me. (Even though this is usually a trope I adore).
It also seemed pointedly judgy towards Elizabeth at times. Like the author was probably trying to make a point that Elizabeth and Darcy needed to see Kitty for who she is and not only as Darcy's shadow. But it kinda came out of nowhere and again the intensity took me out of the story.
July 11, 2023
This was a fun tale. Far-fetched and not a bit plausible but fun. Anne De Bourgh has decided that she's been coddled enough and wants to go to London. Her plan is to make Darcy and Elizabeth hook up, and she asks Elizabeth to act as a matchmaker for them both. There are several romances here and we'll see what happens when Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet get together.
My two quibbles:
1. There are SOOO many flashbacks and childhood vignettes in the beginning.
2. Darcy is ever such a pushover with Wickham. I mean, seriously, that man can kidnap girls and shoot at people he loves and Darcy is just like, oh please your honor won't you give him a more lenient sentence. Because we were friends once. Or something. Ugggh.
Steam level: Kissing.
My two quibbles:
1. There are SOOO many flashbacks and childhood vignettes in the beginning.
2. Darcy is ever such a pushover with Wickham. I mean, seriously, that man can kidnap girls and shoot at people he loves and Darcy is just like, oh please your honor won't you give him a more lenient sentence. Because we were friends once. Or something. Ugggh.
Steam level: Kissing.
June 10, 2024
This was Anne´s book and she is very misunderstood, but here she shows her clear colors. She is trying to be meek for her mother, but her mind is plotting.
Darcy was, well, he really is proud, and so is Lizzy. This book shows some of their worst qualities and hey they belong together. They are good people, they just need to stop and care for others too.
I really like how Kitty comes across here and her romance made me all awwww.
And Anne finally finds someone to care for too.
The unlikable are still Miss Bingley and Mrs De Bourgh. Ugh, horrible people.
A fun variation where Anne takes control over the destiny.
And narrated by the fantastic Ruth Urqhart. She is awesome and I always enjoy her books
Darcy was, well, he really is proud, and so is Lizzy. This book shows some of their worst qualities and hey they belong together. They are good people, they just need to stop and care for others too.
I really like how Kitty comes across here and her romance made me all awwww.
And Anne finally finds someone to care for too.
The unlikable are still Miss Bingley and Mrs De Bourgh. Ugh, horrible people.
A fun variation where Anne takes control over the destiny.
And narrated by the fantastic Ruth Urqhart. She is awesome and I always enjoy her books
July 27, 2023
Mr. Darcy’s Matchmaker by Summer Hanford is a 4.5 star book, rounded up to 5. Anne de Bourgh decides to help Darcy after his disastrous Hunsford proposal, and comes up with a convoluted plan. It started a bit slow, but after the first several chapters, I found I had trouble putting it down. The story was interesting, amusing at times, and well-written. Eventually, Kitty Bennet comes to London along with Mrs. Bennet, and I may have loved her story most of all. This Kitty had hidden depths, and a true love for life that was appealing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews