Handsome Enough

Jane Austen Adaptations

by Jen Geigle Johnson

Experience the time-honored tale of Pride and Prejudice in a whole new light with this delightful and engaging twist.What if Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy found themselves entangled in a flirtation, both seeking a respite from the serious demands of society? This clean and sweet closed-door romance breathes fresh life into a classic story.

Mr. Darcy, bound by a solemn promise to his late mother, faces a weekly reminder from his persistent Aunt about his duty to marry and care for his cousin Anne. Determined to keep his heart untouched and aloof, he enters into a unique friendship—with some benefits—with the spirited Miss Elizabeth. Their connection is undeniable, but can they navigate the intricacies of their situations without succumbing to the inevitable pull of something more?

In a small town where hope for a secure and loving marriage is scarce, Miss Elizabeth yearns for companionship and simple relationships that defy societal expectations. As she and Mr. Darcy embark on a friendship with its own set of rules, the question can they emerge from this unconventional arrangement with their hearts unscathed?

Discover a playful and heartwarming take on a timeless classic, where the boundaries of friendship are tested, and the pursuit of love takes unexpected turns. Will Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth find a way to safeguard their hearts, or will the allure of something deeper prove too irresistible to resist? Join them on a journey that challenges convention and redefines the meaning of love.

Genres: Romance, Historical, Book Club, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2023

About the author

An award winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy's top award for Romance, Jen Geigle Johnson has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. HIstory is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well. Six children and an inspiring husband keep her going and make certain she doesn't stay glued to a keyboard or lost in obscure fascinating details of old castles. She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She waterskis like a boss and hits the powder, falling down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love with the man who would become her everything.

Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

https://www.jengeiglejohnson.com

Twitter--@authorjen
Instagram--@authorlyjen
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenGei...

Reviews

[Katja]

In the free sample we learn that Elizabeth has been enjoying a flirtation with Wickham and Jane is somewhat more cynical about their chances of finding true love (it is not entirely clear what happened to make her so but she refers to expectations created by novels and is aware that most of the officers can't afford to marry ). They go on a walk and Darcy and Bingley ride past blindly, not noticing that they threw mud about and dirtied the ladies up. Bingley apologizes, Darcy does not. Jane is smitten with Bingley, Elizabeth thinks Darcy has a magnetic pull but he is rude. Bingley promises to call at Longbourn so they can be properly introduced. But a week later there's been no sign of him, and Jane still moons after him. We are told she has been despondent because of his absence, which I think is a bit insane considering Bingley only said six sentences to her (Jane said four). Jane and Elizabeth go on another walk hoping to see them accidentally on purpose, and how about it, they meet Bingley and Darcy on horseback again. This time the gentlemen know the women's names somehow but refuse to tell them theirs. Jane admits that she's been watching the lane waiting for them (really Jane, have some self respect! they did not need to know that.) Bingley makes some excuses why he didn't call sooner but the reader does not know why he didn't come. It made me think he's not trustworthy but I could be wrong. Darcy thinks that he is not free to pursue a woman at the moment and should act aloof to avoid giving anyone the wrong idea. From the free sample it is not clear why although he says he's not engaged to anyone. From the blurb it seems like the family expectation that he should marry his cousin is behind this. But soon enough he seems to suggest he'd be amenable to a meaningless flirtation and Elizabeth is tempted. Earlier Elizabeth worried about Lydia's impropriety yet in the space of three chapters she's had meaningless flirtations with two gentlemen, one that is too poor to take seriously and another that she hasn't been introduced to and doesn't even like all that much and who may or may not be committed to someone else.

So everyone appears a bit out of character although they may have their reasons. Except Bingley. He's in character all right: reportedly smitten with Jane at first sight yet he goes MIA after raising her expectations. Ugh, and Jane, for all her alleged cynicism about love, has the sads about him even though they've talked for, like sixty seconds at the most. Bingley smiled and spoke forty words altogether, she doesn't even know his name, and he didn't come despite promising to. Girl, that's just pathetic. I get it, you don't meet many gentlemen but what is there to like about this Bingley? If there's a broken promise in the first forty words that you speak can anything else you say be trusted? If he ghosts you for a week and then you only meet because you seek him out, maybe he's not that into you.

I don't think Jane needs true love, I think she needs an intervention.

This is the end of the free sample and where I DNF'ed it. Not to say it was badly written or anything like that, it just didn't grab me at this time, and I didn't feel like I have to know how this story ends. So far I didn't like any one of these four characters we read about.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a teenager, I had never heard about P&P! Shocking, I know! But then a friend started telling me all about this new TV series that the BBC had done and that I absolutely HAD to watch it! I didn't until a few years later and then thought, why did I take so long to watch this! And then I was completely immersed in the world of Jane Austen. Yes, I'd heard about her from my English teachers but they didn't recommend reading her books except in a very vague moment because they were focusing on so many other classics. I so wish I had discovered her books and learned more about her years before I did. But let's just say that I dug in when I finally had friends who cared enough to not let me continue living without Jane Austen in my life! (Bless you friends)!

And we all know that everyone has their favorite Jane Austen book and retellings (and movie adaptations). And some of us readers are purists and don't want any retellings to regale us. Which is totally fine! But me? I love retellings. And well, let's be honest...Jane Austen's stories have been retold galore and many people don't even realize they're enjoying the fruits of her labor. So maybe the purists really do enjoy retellings without knowing it? *winks* All I know is that I'm incredibly grateful to this spunky girl who pushed past all the naysayers and wrote what was in her heart and mind and paved a way for so many others! Thank you Jane Austen!!!

Jen Geigle Johnson has this new P&P Adaptation that was a fun spin on the original story. It opens at a different time than the original. The same scenes from the original happen, but the order isn't always what you would expect and there are some fun changes within those scenes. If you're looking for a pure and exact P&P you might be disappointed because this book is a retelling. And it was enjoyable. I loved the twists.

The beginning for me started off slowly and honestly, I had to get my mindset away from Jane Austen's book and let it become wrapped up in Ms. Johnson's story. Once I did that, I had fun trying to anticipate what might be coming next and how the characters would react. Just a fun, quick and witty read if you're looking for something to read!

Content: Elizabeth and Darcy are friends and they tend to like to kiss each other. *wink* If you're looking for that perfectly perfect Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, you won't find it here. They don't do anything more than kiss at different points in the story, which some readers will be frustrated over, but remember, it's a retelling, meant for fun and enjoyment. If you want the original and proper Lizzy, go read Jane Austen's book.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Mela]

Not enough of the P&P atmosphere.
Not enough of the time and era reality.
For me to want to read (or even skim) it.

Perhaps it would have been better later, but I just couldn't accept that Elizabeth and Darcy decided to flirt. I admit, I did read a few rather unrealistic P&P variations, but they created the "inaccuracy" slowly or for some other reason were readable to me.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading P&P variations and really try to accept the author's interpretation of the characters but I had a hard time with Darcy & Elizabeth for a good while in the book. The idea of having a flirtation was one thing but I felt like it stepped over the line of flirtation. There was too much impropriety and not in a good way. I feel like Lizzy is smarter than her behavior here and Darcy is too responsible to be doing what he did in this story. And why Elizabeth would continue to flirt with Wickham even though she knew he is no good? It just felt too weird for me. I liked D&E better once Darcy left and went to Anne's side. Of course, fate threw D&E together again and we began to see hope for a HEA. I liked the latter part of the book a lot more.
I generally really like Ms. Johnson's books and I like to read Austen variations. I hope that she will delve into writing another variation for me to enjoy.

Sex: lots of kissing
Language: no
Violence: implied sexual assault

[Deon]

FREE on Kindle

Dec 18, 2024

https://amzn.to/3ZLBlTR

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[Luci Jamison · Rating 4 out of 5]

clean romance

The author did a very good job with her adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice “. That being said I have to admit I struggled a bit at first with the story. This struggle was mine due to the fact that I LOVE the original book and know it very well. So my mind kept trying to make the characters follow the Jane Austin novel. Once I rose past that I enjoyed this story a great deal.

It is fun to see the same characters but see a different style to their new story.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Jane Austin adaptation can be tricky and I wasn't really sure if I would like this book. I really enjoyed the way that this story followed along the original plot and characters. So much more was added to the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth which kept me glued to the pages. The tormented thoughts of Darcy knowing his mother and aunt expected him to marry his cousin Anne added a lot to understanding the man. He carried the responsibility for his family's reputation and home that was taught to him by his father. He felt drawn to Elizabeth as she made him feel complete but he wanted to fulfill his family responsibility and honor his mother's dying wishes. But maybe he was misled about what she really wanted for him?

Elizabeth was willing to have a friendly flirtatious relationship with Darcy but as her feelings grew, her heart was crushed when she knew that he had told her he had commitments. Circumstances just kept bringing the two of them together even when Elizabeth though she would never see Darcy again.

I loved the conclusion of the story without giving anything away.

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Shayla Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Perhaps all would be well. Per-haps. It was a powerful word, and laced with hope.”

In a small town where hope for a secure and loving marriage is scarce, dear Miss Elizabeth yearns for companionship and simple relationships that defy societal expectations. As she and Mr. Darcy embark on a friendship with its own set of rules, the question looms: Can they emerge from this unconventional arrangement with their hearts unscathed?

“But love makes sure that whatever path we take, we make it last. We weather the storms, the illogical, the nonsensical, and we do it triumphantly with great joy.
Because we love the person at our side.”

@author.jen.geigle.johnson I love how you took the time-honored tale of Pride and Prejudice and wrote it in in a whole new light with this delightful and engaging twist of a story, “where the boundaries of friendship are tested, and the pursuit of love takes unexpected turns,” with endearing characters and a lovely ending! It’s a book worth the quick read!

“In case there is ever any wonder or worry, you are the only woman I have ever wanted to stand at my side here. And it’s not because you are perfect, though I have yet to find a fault. It is simply because I have fallen in love with you and wish to spend every moment at your side.”

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful reimagining of the classic Pride and Prejudice story with a twist. What if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet found themselves in a flirtatious friendship, seeking an escape from the societal pressures they each face, instead of engaging in a battle of wits?

This is a sweet and clean romance that keeps the integrity of the original characters while allowing them to explore a new dimension of their relationship. Mr. Darcy’s struggle to honor a promise to his late mother, and Miss Elizabeth’s desire for a simple, genuine connection in a town where such relationships are rare, set the stage for a story that feels both familiar yet refreshingly new.

The chemistry between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is undeniable and the tension between their desire to remain emotionally detached and the pull of something deeper creates a dynamic that keeps the reader invested from start to finish.

Fans of Pride and Prejudice will appreciate this imaginative retelling, and those new to the story will find themselves drawn into a world where love defies convention and friendship evolves into something truly special.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enchanting story of finding your way and being true to yourself.
This story will keep you reading when you need to stop. It explores the dilemma of a woman not really fitting the society’s ideal, while hoping for a marriage of love. It also looks at the dilemma of a gentleman told of the match his mother wanted for him, while his heart has found its partner in another. Lizzy is more outspoken than is acceptable especially if that woman has no dowry nor is she blessed with great beauty and talent. Men are not interested and she is not interested in a man who does not want a partner in his wife. Mr. Darcy was told by his dying mother to take care of his cousin Anne and reminded by his aunt of that regularly as she explains that the way to do that is to marry Anne. When he meets a woman who challenges him and his actions and is not impressed with his social standing or money. He is intrigued. The more he gets to know her the more he is drawn to her. But he has responsibilities to Anne. Mix in a meddling momma, a disappointed lady, a rake of the worst kind, and a surprise inheritance and you have a wonderful story you’ll enjoy.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful Pride and Prejudice adaptation! A more lighthearted and humorous.

Normally, I'm one for the characters staying true to their personality in the original text, but this one I will make an exception. We all know the quote about how Darcy doesn't talk freely with those he doesn't know or has been introduced to. Yet, here in Handsome Enough he is eager to converse and talkative to those he just met and even below his station. This helped aid the witty banter between him and Elizabeth.

They entered into a mutual agreement to have a flirtation, a way to get to know each other without things becoming more serious. Darcy, in this case, is trying to honor his dying mother's wish that he and Anne DeBourgh wed, thus he is "attached" to a degree.

We get a lot more Anne and Georgiana Darcy, who both become more spirited and confident in the retelling. While Lady Catherine DeBourgh stays the same, very opinionated and controlling.

If you're a true fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, you will pick up on the subtle references to original material in paraphrased quotes.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I have read a book quite like this one before. Jen Geigle Johnson set it during the same time frame as Pride and Prejudice. I love that it was told from both Lizzie and Darcy's points of view. And I love the thoughts and ideas it brought up for me about the original story.

I really loved Lizzie. She's the kind of young woman who is the glue of her family. I love the way she watches out for her sisters when they need it. And I love her courage.

Darcy...I felt like a learned at least a bit about him here. It felt like because of his personality he was misunderstood a lot of the time. And I really liked how the author did that here, making it much easier to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I smiled almost the entire time I was reading this one. You NEED to read it!

I was sent an e-copy of Handsome Enough by the author. All opinions are my own.

[Theresa Wachal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond appearances, Love is deep

Since I love Pride and Prejudice, I was suspicious of a book that would feature segments from the original. Yet the focus on Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy pleasantly surprised me. Events from P&P were sprinkled in the plot in a respectful manner. Without the deep development of the variety of characters in the original, references were acceptable. In this story I felt I learned more about the personalities of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, especially his sister and cousin. This book has a personality focus on the thoughts, conversations, and deep love of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam. For that especially, this is an endearing version of their romance !

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession, I've never read P&P, so I can't say how closely this adaptation is with the original. However, I have seen some movie adaptations and enjoyed seeing some familiar scenes in this book. I still loved Elizabeth and Darcy, l actually liked Darcy more in this version, but they were different than what I'm used to. In some ways this story felt more personal, while at the same time the relationship felt a little more surface level. Not really sure how to explain that, but I felt at times this was more infatuation and not so much deep love, yet at other times I glimpsed the deeper part of their relationship. I liked the quick short read and the banter between these two, but this wasn't my favorite adaptation. I guess I do enjoy the brooding male a little more than I thought.

[Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It takes Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship in a different direction. I'm not sure how I feel about the direction, they are so very different, their actions so far removed from "proper"society. I wish there was some Wicham resolution and Jane resolution.

Ultimately, I wanted to see what parts were kept and what didn't. I loved the Anne side of things, and that she received her happy relationship.

I felt the time line struggled a bit, but it worked out in the end.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this author is very brave for taking on such a beloved book and adapting it. I struggled at first because my brain was trying to make the characters behave how they did in the original. Once I let go of those expectations and read it as a new book I really liked it. I loved how Anne was portrayed. She became someone loveable not just a sickly cousin that is hardly mentioned. If you love Pride and Prejudice give this a try but don't make the mistake of seeing the original characters in the same way.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed Johnson's take on the characters. I never been able to read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Ut never held my attention long enough to get involved in the story. i do, however enjoy the movies/tv series made about the story. So to have this adaptation is wonderful, especially since it is from one of my favorite authors. I 100% recommend!

[Marie Lutz · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some interesting aspects to this story, especially the characterization of Anne. But there were also far too many negatives.

I usually don’t criticize books for poor editing, but this was far worse than most. The story was somewhat repetitious. Wickham’s desire for revenge is just dropped. And, like many Hallmark movies, there’s no mention of sex, with kissing being the substitute. If you like that sort of thing this book may appeal to you more than it did to me.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I wanted in a Pride and Prejudice adaptation. Sticking closely enough to the original story that it felt familiar, while still adding new elements and character development. I don't want to say anything else for fear of spoilers, but I love this story and I'm looking forward to more of Jen Geigle Johnson's Jane Austen adaptations!

[Jenny Koim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I eagerly read this too in a matter of hours before I started getting ready for the day and I absolutely loved it! This was a different variation of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice and I know that I will be adding this to my library. I absolutely loved the banter and the chemistry of Elizabeth and Darcy, as well as other beloved characters.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Pride and Prejudice adaptation. It fills in an imaginative narration of what could have transpired between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy between the scenes of Jane Austen's works. Delightful!

[Pattisue · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the intent is a retelling, the behavior of Elizabeth and her flirtations departs drastically from acceptable, ladylike behavior. I did enjoy the role of Anne and her choice of love and happiness.

Not my favorite story from this author.

[Sarah Chidester · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun read indeed

An entertaining retelling with fun twists. The characters were at heart true to standard, but there were some interesting quirks in each that kept things lively. I’d recommend this to any Austen fan.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but what if, what if Elisabeth and Darcy were flirting buddies? Cute, not exactly appropriate, and doesn't cover all the happenings or characters in the original but a fun variation which I enjoy finding. Clean and a good read.

[Aimee Blackard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story!

This was such an enjoyable book! I love any variation or form of Pride and Prejudice and this one was so entertaining and sweet! Elizabeth and Darcy have an amazing story and a wonderful love! I highly recommend this book!

[Connie Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

What a perfectly wonderful story! I love this version of a very favorite story! So happy to find Anne has a backbone to serch for her own happiness.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful

This was such fun. The characters did what I had hoped they would. It was very satisfying they could be honest.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

[Denice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, I enjoyed the flow of the story and the characters.

[Dabney Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
I tried. I really did. I just could not get into this book.