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Tolerable: Inspired by Pride and Prejudice
A hilarious and heartwarming modern twist on Pride and Prejudice
When I receive a Thank You note from my client Mr. Darcy, I picture a genteel white-haired gentleman. Then I Google him. Turns out, Mr. Darcy is HAWT! And much younger than I expected. Thirty-one and head of an almond empire, here I am 26, working two jobs and barely scraping by.
I must admit, after seeing his photo,I dress a little nicer when I go to Pemberley offices.
When I finally do meet Liam Darcy, he's a HUGE disappointment. Sure, he's just as tall and handsome as his photos. But he's rude and awkward. And that's before I overhear him telling his friend that I'm barely "tolerable!"
The first time I met Lettie Benson I called her tolerable. Oof!
And she will NEVER let me forget it.
She says I'm the last man she'd ever kiss.
I'm hoping she means that as much as I meant it when I said she was tolerable.
A clever mash up of Pride and Prejudice and Georgette Heyer's Sylvester, Tolerable is perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Emma St. Clair and Courtney Walsh.
Witty BanterEnemies to LoversHe Falls FirstClosed DoorPen Pals
When I receive a Thank You note from my client Mr. Darcy, I picture a genteel white-haired gentleman. Then I Google him. Turns out, Mr. Darcy is HAWT! And much younger than I expected. Thirty-one and head of an almond empire, here I am 26, working two jobs and barely scraping by.
I must admit, after seeing his photo,I dress a little nicer when I go to Pemberley offices.
When I finally do meet Liam Darcy, he's a HUGE disappointment. Sure, he's just as tall and handsome as his photos. But he's rude and awkward. And that's before I overhear him telling his friend that I'm barely "tolerable!"
The first time I met Lettie Benson I called her tolerable. Oof!
And she will NEVER let me forget it.
She says I'm the last man she'd ever kiss.
I'm hoping she means that as much as I meant it when I said she was tolerable.
A clever mash up of Pride and Prejudice and Georgette Heyer's Sylvester, Tolerable is perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Emma St. Clair and Courtney Walsh.
Witty BanterEnemies to LoversHe Falls FirstClosed DoorPen Pals
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2025
139 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Mitchell
5 books203 followersRuth Mitchell strongly believes the world needs more happy endings. She aims to write “hospital waiting room” books, stories that cheer and distract readers when their world is crumbling, make them laugh and sigh, and finish with a little more hope. All of her books are love stories with plenty of banter, and sizzling chemistry, but no spice. (Just kissing.)
Ruth and her husband live in San Diego, where their four mostly-grown children visit often. She loves long rambling conversations, baking (she makes the best pie), hiking, and running (slowly) along the coasts and canyons of Southern California.
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Ruth and her husband live in San Diego, where their four mostly-grown children visit often. She loves long rambling conversations, baking (she makes the best pie), hiking, and running (slowly) along the coasts and canyons of Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 3, 2025
4 stars - a pretty decent contemporary retelling of "Pride and Prejudice". Darcy is a Sacramento almond grower and Letty (Lizzie) is an event planner/writer and the gang's all here in an updated way. Also liked that it all basically happened over two holiday seasons. Would read another by the writer
March 29, 2025
This modern twist on Pride and Prejudice is SO FUN! It's not a straight retelling, which I think really works to make it something completely unique.
Where this story really shines is in the way it addresses feelings. So often the focus is on Elizabeth's feelings after Darcy calls her "tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me," while discounting and glossing over how Darcy is affected by the sharp words that Elizabeth hurls at him. This book confronts those feelings openly and honestly, and I loved that.
Lady Catherine's character in this is a complete surprise and a delight. She is captured absolutely perfectly.
Translating Mr. Collins into a modern-day man is tricky, but this Collins is brilliantly done.
Mr. Wickham is an absolute fiend. Like, unimaginably terrible. I love that for him.
This book is also a nod to Georgette Heyer's novel, Sylvester, which I am slowly making my way through. I love that Ruth pulled from so many sources for this book!
And finally, Caroline. Oh, Caroline. I never know how to feel about her. I loved this representation of her character, and can't wait for her book to come next.
"A good romance should be a series of delightful twists. I'm only arguing that the ending should never be a surprise."
Read this. You won't be disappointed.
Where this story really shines is in the way it addresses feelings. So often the focus is on Elizabeth's feelings after Darcy calls her "tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me," while discounting and glossing over how Darcy is affected by the sharp words that Elizabeth hurls at him. This book confronts those feelings openly and honestly, and I loved that.
Lady Catherine's character in this is a complete surprise and a delight. She is captured absolutely perfectly.
Translating Mr. Collins into a modern-day man is tricky, but this Collins is brilliantly done.
Mr. Wickham is an absolute fiend. Like, unimaginably terrible. I love that for him.
This book is also a nod to Georgette Heyer's novel, Sylvester, which I am slowly making my way through. I love that Ruth pulled from so many sources for this book!
And finally, Caroline. Oh, Caroline. I never know how to feel about her. I loved this representation of her character, and can't wait for her book to come next.
"A good romance should be a series of delightful twists. I'm only arguing that the ending should never be a surprise."
Read this. You won't be disappointed.
November 5, 2025
I initially planned on releasing Tolerable in November 2024 as a Christmas book. In my initial draft the subtitle was a Modern Christmas Pride and Prejudice. Though the action in the book lasts a full calendar year, it begins and ends with Christmas. But when it became apparent, I wouldn't be publishing before Christmas, I decided to change the subtitle and go with a floral cover, referencing a scene from the epilogue.
This week my cover designer sent me some character art for the book. A scene depicting Liam and Lettie's meet-cute under the mistletoe. She noted, "This could be a cover." And voila! Tolerable became the Christmas rom-com it was always meant to be. (Currently the Christmas cover is only available on the Ebook.)
I'm so proud of this book. It's scary to do a Pride and Prejudice retelling. So many people love the book and the characters. The only way I could do it was to tell myself this is just the first of several. While I stayed true to the story in many ways, I also made changes. Lettie Benson is not Lizzy Bennet. She is has much in common with the original Lizzy but is different in significant ways. There's no way the Lizzy Bennet would befriend Caroline the way Lettie does. Likewise, Charlie Bingham— while the same golden retriever friend to Darcy— has much more backbone than the original Bingley. No one could talk him out of his love for Jane.
Writing this retelling it was important to me to switch some things up. I wanted the readers who know Pride and Prejudice inside out to still have those moments of delightful surprise. One of the biggest ways I altered the plot was to combine this story with Georgette Heyer's Sylvester.
A regency novel in which a young authoress makes the duke courting her the villain in her gothic romance. In many ways Sylvester is also a Pride and Prejudice retelling. Both the hero and heroine don't think much of eachother at their first meeting. And the hero falls for the heroine partly due to her sharp wit.
They get to know each other better and begin to fall in love when they are snowed-in at a inn. As a nod to Sylvester, I thought it would be fun to have Lettie and Liam snowed in at a motel. It's a bit of challenge to do the one bed trope in a closed-door rom-com. But i like to think I pulled it off. The scene has a good mix of chemistry, humor and tenderness.
In Desperate Caroline finally gets her own happy ending and in the epilogue we get toe see Liam and Lettie's wedding. I plan to do one more book with the cast of Tolerable. Lydia's Revenge—think Oceans Eight with Lydia, Georgie and Dr. Katherine Debourgh getting final revenger on Noah Whittaker.
This week my cover designer sent me some character art for the book. A scene depicting Liam and Lettie's meet-cute under the mistletoe. She noted, "This could be a cover." And voila! Tolerable became the Christmas rom-com it was always meant to be. (Currently the Christmas cover is only available on the Ebook.)
I'm so proud of this book. It's scary to do a Pride and Prejudice retelling. So many people love the book and the characters. The only way I could do it was to tell myself this is just the first of several. While I stayed true to the story in many ways, I also made changes. Lettie Benson is not Lizzy Bennet. She is has much in common with the original Lizzy but is different in significant ways. There's no way the Lizzy Bennet would befriend Caroline the way Lettie does. Likewise, Charlie Bingham— while the same golden retriever friend to Darcy— has much more backbone than the original Bingley. No one could talk him out of his love for Jane.
Writing this retelling it was important to me to switch some things up. I wanted the readers who know Pride and Prejudice inside out to still have those moments of delightful surprise. One of the biggest ways I altered the plot was to combine this story with Georgette Heyer's Sylvester.
A regency novel in which a young authoress makes the duke courting her the villain in her gothic romance. In many ways Sylvester is also a Pride and Prejudice retelling. Both the hero and heroine don't think much of eachother at their first meeting. And the hero falls for the heroine partly due to her sharp wit.
They get to know each other better and begin to fall in love when they are snowed-in at a inn. As a nod to Sylvester, I thought it would be fun to have Lettie and Liam snowed in at a motel. It's a bit of challenge to do the one bed trope in a closed-door rom-com. But i like to think I pulled it off. The scene has a good mix of chemistry, humor and tenderness.
In Desperate Caroline finally gets her own happy ending and in the epilogue we get toe see Liam and Lettie's wedding. I plan to do one more book with the cast of Tolerable. Lydia's Revenge—think Oceans Eight with Lydia, Georgie and Dr. Katherine Debourgh getting final revenger on Noah Whittaker.
March 29, 2025
“As I breathe in the heady scent of wildflowers I’m overcome with a fresh determination to seize this moment with Darcy. I have been so busy telling myself I hate him, I forgot how thrilling it is just to be with him.”
This was another fun and charming modern take on Jane Austen by Ruth Mitchell.
Again, it’s not a beat by beat retelling, but the nods are there. The modern version of Mr. Collins had me cackling.
But what I enjoyed most about this romance is where it deviated from its inspiration: the friendship that grows between Lettie and Caroline, the epistolary long distance romance between our hero and heroine, and the flipping of the script on who comes to whose rescue in the end.
All in all a more than tolerable time was had by me in reading this.
This was another fun and charming modern take on Jane Austen by Ruth Mitchell.
Again, it’s not a beat by beat retelling, but the nods are there. The modern version of Mr. Collins had me cackling.
But what I enjoyed most about this romance is where it deviated from its inspiration: the friendship that grows between Lettie and Caroline, the epistolary long distance romance between our hero and heroine, and the flipping of the script on who comes to whose rescue in the end.
All in all a more than tolerable time was had by me in reading this.
December 27, 2025
Tolerable
Tolerable? Try epically adorable, highly dramatic, and moderately angsty. Such a fun twist on my all-time favorite, Pride and Prejudice.
Lettie Benson—writer, professor, party planner—is shocked to catch the attention of handsome, ridiculously wealthy Liam Darcy, but one unfortunate remark sets off a whirlwind of insults, attraction, intrigue, heartbreak, drama, and love.
The writing was witty, fun, heartfelt, and just the right mix of old and new. There are a few swear words, mentions of parent death (past), mentions of domestic abuse (past; side character), copious amounts of “letter” writing, a truly masterful depiction of Mr. Collins, plenty of mildly detailed kisses, and lots of winks and nods to the Austenverse.
Tolerable? Try epically adorable, highly dramatic, and moderately angsty. Such a fun twist on my all-time favorite, Pride and Prejudice.
Lettie Benson—writer, professor, party planner—is shocked to catch the attention of handsome, ridiculously wealthy Liam Darcy, but one unfortunate remark sets off a whirlwind of insults, attraction, intrigue, heartbreak, drama, and love.
The writing was witty, fun, heartfelt, and just the right mix of old and new. There are a few swear words, mentions of parent death (past), mentions of domestic abuse (past; side character), copious amounts of “letter” writing, a truly masterful depiction of Mr. Collins, plenty of mildly detailed kisses, and lots of winks and nods to the Austenverse.
September 9, 2025
Surprisingly original modern-day P&P variation. Definitely kept the essence of the original, but also wasn’t held back by the original version. I think when P&P variations stick too closely to the original, they become stilted. This one flowed.
Liam and Lettie’s emails were my favorite part! So clever, so flirty!
Liam and Lettie’s emails were my favorite part! So clever, so flirty!
May 24, 2025
4.5 stars. Tolerable is a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but there are enough places where the story goes "off script" that it stands as a fresh take. I liked the alternating viewpoints so that we see both Lettie's and Darcy's takes and feelings on events. The breakout star from this book was Caroline. I thought Mitchell did a great job developing her as a sympathetic character. The small overlaps with her book Influence (a Persuasion retelling) were fun as well.
March 31, 2025
Ruth’s author bio says she likes to write “hospital waiting room” books and Tolerable is perfect for that! I was in the last quarter of the book while waiting for a stressful medical appointment and I was so wrapped up in Lettie and Liam that I completely forgot why I was there and that I was anxious at all. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I love the crossover with Influence.
March 22, 2025
The best of the best! Lovely characters, lovely writing, the kind of book that makes you feel a little more hopeful about the world
April 16, 2025
yay for new to me author
I read Influence. Don't remember who suggested it to me, but I enjoyed it, immensely so I got book 2. Tolerable was far better than just tolerable so I've followed Ruth Mitchell, (not to be confused with Gracie Ruth Mitchell who is also good) and now I eagerly hope for and await a book 3, maybe three roomie, Dr. Char? I love reading both Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, and now I love Ruth Mitchell, too!
I read Influence. Don't remember who suggested it to me, but I enjoyed it, immensely so I got book 2. Tolerable was far better than just tolerable so I've followed Ruth Mitchell, (not to be confused with Gracie Ruth Mitchell who is also good) and now I eagerly hope for and await a book 3, maybe three roomie, Dr. Char? I love reading both Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, and now I love Ruth Mitchell, too!
April 12, 2025
Have you been seeing all the “buzz” about this modern Pride & Prejudice retelling? Well, there is good reason for that! Tolerable is such a fun and clever take on P&P.
I loved every minute of this and it easily takes my top spot of modern day P&P retellings.
Lettie and Liam captured all the Lizzy, Darcy enemies to lovers vibes we crave; witty banter, angst, pining, sacrifices and ultimately love.
But just when I thought I couldn’t love the story more, Ruth adds a twist by throwing in a nod to one of my favorite Georgette Heyer novels, Sylvester. The mash up of these two stories added the perfect second half drama and fit the storyline so well. I loved it!
And as in her last book, Influence, Ruth’s side characters often steal the show. Colin Funkhauser, (that’s Dr. Funkhauser to you) as the insufferable Mr. Collins had me giggling through out all his scenes. She even has you feeling just a little bit sorry for Caroline Bingley!
Definitely add this one to your TBR, and as usual, I will be eagerly awaiting her next book in the Modern Jane series.
October 28, 2025
Love it so much. It was different enough from P&P that it didn’t feel forced and enough like it I can’t help but think this the contemporary adaptation. I really enjoyed the read. The characters and their flaws were relatable, believable, and forgivable. There was more drama in this one and more of a relationship that i would have thought BUT of course there was more of a relationship - albeit a rocky one - because we aren’t in 1800 century England anymore and the lovers are going to be alone and talk much more with technology than they did then. Great job by the author. Such a joy with both of the books in the series so far!!
April 2, 2025
Loved this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Ruth Mitchell is an author that thinks the world needs more happy endings. The book is a creative and fun love story with a lot of chemistry minus the spice (only kissing). I love her bookclub questions at the end. Do I have a favorite karaoke song? Why yes, yes I do! 🎵 Also, now I really want to visit an almond farm when the trees are just blooming. I can smell them already!
October 1, 2025
I am not a contemporary book fan - it generally takes something like a friend recommending a book to me for me to even try one. And like all contemporary books, I really struggled with the informal tone/texting/slang. Those are purely taste though - if you generally enjoy contemporary books you should absolutely adore this book. Because about halfway through the book I stopped noticing the style and tone, and swooning because the book is that dang cute! I even gave it 5 stars, despite thinking I'd need to DNF based on my personal taste ar first. It is that cute.
Things I loved:
It is obviously a Pride and Prejudice retelling. I could never not love that
Darcy is SWOONY. From the start their chemistry SIZZLES. But by the time there's emails involved? I'm sold. I'm lost. It's so cute. He's obsessed and now I'm obsessed
Lettie's author career is fun to see. As someone fully immersed in the book world and romance I appreciated that whole side of her. I love romance books.
Mr. Collins is all the comedic relief I could ever need. I was dying - he's so well done!
Things I loved:
It is obviously a Pride and Prejudice retelling. I could never not love that
Darcy is SWOONY. From the start their chemistry SIZZLES. But by the time there's emails involved? I'm sold. I'm lost. It's so cute. He's obsessed and now I'm obsessed
Lettie's author career is fun to see. As someone fully immersed in the book world and romance I appreciated that whole side of her. I love romance books.
Mr. Collins is all the comedic relief I could ever need. I was dying - he's so well done!
May 1, 2025
amazing!
What an amazing book! This adaptation of Pride and Prejudice kept me enthralled and excited to see what happened next. This modern re-telling has all the key plot points of P&P told in such a unique way. I loved the months of emailing between Darcy and Lettie (Lizzie). Highly recommend this wonderful book!
What an amazing book! This adaptation of Pride and Prejudice kept me enthralled and excited to see what happened next. This modern re-telling has all the key plot points of P&P told in such a unique way. I loved the months of emailing between Darcy and Lettie (Lizzie). Highly recommend this wonderful book!
June 17, 2025
I loved this modern telling of Pride and Prejudice! Laugh out loud funny, heart warming and just enough scandal to cause a fret (all the ingredients to a good book!). Perfect, light, beach read and one I didn’t want to put down! Ps- That Colin character: hilarious and cringe worthy in all the best ways!
August 24, 2025
Cute quick story. I wish there were more depth in the story and character but overall a cute “hallmark” styled story.
December 17, 2025
This was so fun! Light and fun but not brainless; similar in spirit to Austen but with some new, fresh twists that kept it from feeling stale. I especially liked the email and texting conversations! And I liked the Darcy POV chapters.
My one criticism is that Darcy isn’t grumpy or awkward enough to TRULY be Darcy. Liam is not an awkward misanthrope, he’s a cinnamon roll through and through.
My one criticism is that Darcy isn’t grumpy or awkward enough to TRULY be Darcy. Liam is not an awkward misanthrope, he’s a cinnamon roll through and through.
March 22, 2025
Charming and fun! I stayed up late reading this because I couldn’t put it down.
November 7, 2025
Pride and Prejudice is my first favourite book, one of my biggest favourites EVER, and yet I found this book that inspired by one of my favourites... tolerable just like the book's title suggests.
The best parts of this novel were the e-mail exchanges between the main characters, but I am loath to say that they did not distract me from the horrendous exchanges they had face-to-face. For instance, the first date? That argument came out of nowhere and it felt like it was put in there just for the sake of it. This did not read like a novel from the 21st century with adults as main characters.
The best parts of this novel were the e-mail exchanges between the main characters, but I am loath to say that they did not distract me from the horrendous exchanges they had face-to-face. For instance, the first date? That argument came out of nowhere and it felt like it was put in there just for the sake of it. This did not read like a novel from the 21st century with adults as main characters.
June 7, 2025
Despite loving all things Austen, this book didn't speak to me. The heroine doesn't know the plural of the word "phenomenon" and is a romance writer like the author. The hero isn't particularly Darcy-like and his masculinity is expressed through angry withdrawal. And his voice sounds too much like the FMC to me. It was clean and a fast read, but lacks the emotional development and clever dialogue of my favorites in this genre.
April 20, 2025
I really wanted to like this book. I got past the FMC’s sophomoric rants because I really liked the MMC‘s thoughts and I wanted to see where it was going to go. Where it went was a party where they’re having a discussion about female authors and it descended quickly into such unreasonable anger by both of them that I felt like I was reading a story about two teenagers not two adults. They have this disagreement and both get so mad that the MMC leaves the party, takes her with him and drops her off at her house without saying two words. I get that they’re trying to be like Jane Austen‘s book, but maybe they could have brought the argument into the 21st century.
DNF @27%.
DNF @27%.
December 20, 2025
Awwwwww 💖 Such a cute romance borrowing from P&P but really stood as its own story. Loved the dual perspectives that changed with each chapter and the Christmas romance vibes. ❄️ I really liked how sexism was addressed with Liam’s Aunt, being a badass surgeon and the banter around male and female fandoms. 👏👏👏 Letters or texts in a book often don’t work but in this one they did! 👌I got the Blossom Festival cover of the book (there is also a Christmas one)…which at the end when I set it down I got all the vibes from. Awwww super sweet! Like a little gift to the reader at the end. 🌸 🥹
The pop star cousin backstory mentioned must be the previous book but this one still makes sense and is fine to read in its own or out of order. I do look for a little more diversity or super clever switches or twists to the P&P plot. But overall this was just such a sweet and cozy romance that is a nice and fast read that I really enjoyed. 💝
📚P&P themed book ranking so far...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Pride and Prejudice
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Well written and memorable!
- Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice (Manga)
- The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch ( Different perspective, Lydia, magic)
- Puck and Prejudice (Time Travel)
- The Jane Austen Project (Time Travel, stopping her early death)
- Most Ardently (trans lead)
- A certain Appeal (modern retelling at a burlesque show)
- Pride (Modern, gentrification in Brooklyn)
- Ayesha at Last ( modern Muslim retelling)
- Such Happy Manners (Retelling, Wickham is good)
- Miss Bennett's Dragon (Fantasy)
- The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh (Different perspective - Anne)
- The Other Bennett Sister (Different Perspective - Mary)
*** Tolerable (Modern retelling)
- Mum's the Word (Modern retelling)
- Debating Darcy (Modern retelling)
- Allworld Online: Pride & Prejudice (Fantasy, VR)
- Longbourn (Different perspective - servants)
- The Mistress of Longbourn (Retelling - changed plot)
-The Stage Kiss (modern spicy retelling, theatre setting)
- The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet (Spicy Queer, Charlotte’s perspective)
- Jane in Love (time travel to modern era)
- The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet (Mary is a spy)
- Mrs Wickham (Lydia’s perspective)
- Pride and Premeditation (cozy murder mystery)
- The Mistress of Longbourn (retelling with plot changed; an epidemic)
- Mr Darcy’s Enchantment (Fantasy)
- Engaging Mr Darcy (modern, American retelling)
- Bring Mary Bennet ( young adult, modern retelling from Mary’s perspective)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - something unique or if this is your genre.
- Accomblished (young adult, modern Georgina)
- London Holiday: A Pride & Prejudice Romantic Comedy (Retelling - prequel plot change)
- Most Ardently (Modern retelling, LGBTQ)
- The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet (Modern retelling)
- Lola at Last (Modern retelling, different perspective - Lydia)
- 1932 (Retelling, changed plot, set in Great Depression)
- Jane Austen Cannot Marry (Time travel)
- Most Ardently (Modern, queer retelling)
- Bitten by Mr Darcy (Vampire variation)
- Trouble at Pemberly (Extension, Kitty, ghosts)
- The Murder of Mr Wickham (Murder mystery, many Austen Characters)
- The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh (cozy murder mystery)
- Meet the Benedettos (Modern, Hollywood retelling)
- Pride and Preston Lin (Modern, Asian American retelling)
- Accomplished (YA, modern Georgiana Darcy perspective)
- Return to Pemberley (Expanded P&P)
- The Bad Miss Bennet (Different perspective - Lydia)
- The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen(Time Travel)
- Mr Darcy and the Governance (Retelling, changed plot)
- Proper Darcy Christmas (Murder mystery, continuation of story)
- Pride and Paper cuts (modern retelling, New York)
⭐️⭐️ - okay but probably best to skip, you can do better
- Death comes to Pemberley (Murder mystery, continuation of story)
- An Unpleasant Sort of Man (Retelling, changed plot)
- Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh (Time travel, LGBTQ)
- Heir Apparent (Jane as a male)
- The Wrong Mr Darcy (Modern retelling, basketball journalist )
- Mr Darcy’s Bad Day (funny addition to story)
- Dating Mr Darcy (modern retelling, dating show)
- Dangerous Magic (Fantasy)
- Coming up Roses (modern, gender swap with focus on Lydia/Luke)
- Austenland (modern, as a resort)
⭐️ - ugh. I tried to like it and couldn’t.
- Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe (modern, gender swap)
- Jane Austen Society (Austen fan club)
- Pride, Prejudice and Poison ( Murder mystery)
- Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (Time travel)
- Mr Darcy's Bad Day: A Pride and Prejudice variation (Retelling, changed plot, Different perspective - Darcy)
- Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice variation ( Fantasy)
- Austen, Party of Two (vague modern retelling)
- Falling slowly (retelling, plot changed with 2 falls)
- Austenland (Modern retelling)
- Scandal at Pemberly (Continuation of story, Georgina finds a husband)
-Danger at Pemberly (Continuation of story, spies)
- Kitty Bennett’s Ruin (Continuation of story, Kitty and Lydia’s story)
- For Pemberly (Retelling, plot changed)
- Finding Colin Firth (modern, vague references)
- Eligible ( Modern retelling)
The pop star cousin backstory mentioned must be the previous book but this one still makes sense and is fine to read in its own or out of order. I do look for a little more diversity or super clever switches or twists to the P&P plot. But overall this was just such a sweet and cozy romance that is a nice and fast read that I really enjoyed. 💝
📚P&P themed book ranking so far...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Pride and Prejudice
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Well written and memorable!
- Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice (Manga)
- The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch ( Different perspective, Lydia, magic)
- Puck and Prejudice (Time Travel)
- The Jane Austen Project (Time Travel, stopping her early death)
- Most Ardently (trans lead)
- A certain Appeal (modern retelling at a burlesque show)
- Pride (Modern, gentrification in Brooklyn)
- Ayesha at Last ( modern Muslim retelling)
- Such Happy Manners (Retelling, Wickham is good)
- Miss Bennett's Dragon (Fantasy)
- The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh (Different perspective - Anne)
- The Other Bennett Sister (Different Perspective - Mary)
*** Tolerable (Modern retelling)
- Mum's the Word (Modern retelling)
- Debating Darcy (Modern retelling)
- Allworld Online: Pride & Prejudice (Fantasy, VR)
- Longbourn (Different perspective - servants)
- The Mistress of Longbourn (Retelling - changed plot)
-The Stage Kiss (modern spicy retelling, theatre setting)
- The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet (Spicy Queer, Charlotte’s perspective)
- Jane in Love (time travel to modern era)
- The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet (Mary is a spy)
- Mrs Wickham (Lydia’s perspective)
- Pride and Premeditation (cozy murder mystery)
- The Mistress of Longbourn (retelling with plot changed; an epidemic)
- Mr Darcy’s Enchantment (Fantasy)
- Engaging Mr Darcy (modern, American retelling)
- Bring Mary Bennet ( young adult, modern retelling from Mary’s perspective)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - something unique or if this is your genre.
- Accomblished (young adult, modern Georgina)
- London Holiday: A Pride & Prejudice Romantic Comedy (Retelling - prequel plot change)
- Most Ardently (Modern retelling, LGBTQ)
- The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet (Modern retelling)
- Lola at Last (Modern retelling, different perspective - Lydia)
- 1932 (Retelling, changed plot, set in Great Depression)
- Jane Austen Cannot Marry (Time travel)
- Most Ardently (Modern, queer retelling)
- Bitten by Mr Darcy (Vampire variation)
- Trouble at Pemberly (Extension, Kitty, ghosts)
- The Murder of Mr Wickham (Murder mystery, many Austen Characters)
- The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh (cozy murder mystery)
- Meet the Benedettos (Modern, Hollywood retelling)
- Pride and Preston Lin (Modern, Asian American retelling)
- Accomplished (YA, modern Georgiana Darcy perspective)
- Return to Pemberley (Expanded P&P)
- The Bad Miss Bennet (Different perspective - Lydia)
- The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen(Time Travel)
- Mr Darcy and the Governance (Retelling, changed plot)
- Proper Darcy Christmas (Murder mystery, continuation of story)
- Pride and Paper cuts (modern retelling, New York)
⭐️⭐️ - okay but probably best to skip, you can do better
- Death comes to Pemberley (Murder mystery, continuation of story)
- An Unpleasant Sort of Man (Retelling, changed plot)
- Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh (Time travel, LGBTQ)
- Heir Apparent (Jane as a male)
- The Wrong Mr Darcy (Modern retelling, basketball journalist )
- Mr Darcy’s Bad Day (funny addition to story)
- Dating Mr Darcy (modern retelling, dating show)
- Dangerous Magic (Fantasy)
- Coming up Roses (modern, gender swap with focus on Lydia/Luke)
- Austenland (modern, as a resort)
⭐️ - ugh. I tried to like it and couldn’t.
- Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe (modern, gender swap)
- Jane Austen Society (Austen fan club)
- Pride, Prejudice and Poison ( Murder mystery)
- Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (Time travel)
- Mr Darcy's Bad Day: A Pride and Prejudice variation (Retelling, changed plot, Different perspective - Darcy)
- Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice variation ( Fantasy)
- Austen, Party of Two (vague modern retelling)
- Falling slowly (retelling, plot changed with 2 falls)
- Austenland (Modern retelling)
- Scandal at Pemberly (Continuation of story, Georgina finds a husband)
-Danger at Pemberly (Continuation of story, spies)
- Kitty Bennett’s Ruin (Continuation of story, Kitty and Lydia’s story)
- For Pemberly (Retelling, plot changed)
- Finding Colin Firth (modern, vague references)
- Eligible ( Modern retelling)
April 26, 2025
My cold black heart melted into a swampy puddle reading Tolerable by Ruth Mitchell!
Imagine a modern-day Pride and Prejudice, only Darcy is the heir to an almond empire and Lettie (Lizzy) is juggling multiple jobs while secretly publishing romance novels under a pseudonym. Darcy is very much Darcy, Lettie gets (rightfully) offended, and she maybe writes him as the villain in her next book—a nod to Sylvester by Georgette Heyer—which unexpectedly goes viral. Cue drama.
I already loved Influence (book one in the Modern Jane series), so I was excited to return to this world. This isn’t a straight-up retelling of Pride and Prejudice—it’s more of a modern story loosely inspired by it, with the author putting a fresh spin on familiar elements. We even get Darcy’s perspective, which was such a great touch. Caroline is just as annoying as you'd expect, but she gets a glimpse of redemption (and rumor has it she’s getting her own book—yes please!). Lady Catherine de Bourgh is still her imperious self. And Wickham? Fully evil.
Just a note: Lettie isn’t living at home anymore, so we get less of that chaotic Bennet family energy. That said, the other elements totally make up for it—including a laugh-out-loud portrayal of a modern Mr. Collins. Truly iconic.
Basically: charming, funny, and full of heart. I can’t wait to see what Ruth writes next!
*The characters in the novel have different names, but I’m using their OG Pride and Prejudice ones for ease of reading here.
Imagine a modern-day Pride and Prejudice, only Darcy is the heir to an almond empire and Lettie (Lizzy) is juggling multiple jobs while secretly publishing romance novels under a pseudonym. Darcy is very much Darcy, Lettie gets (rightfully) offended, and she maybe writes him as the villain in her next book—a nod to Sylvester by Georgette Heyer—which unexpectedly goes viral. Cue drama.
I already loved Influence (book one in the Modern Jane series), so I was excited to return to this world. This isn’t a straight-up retelling of Pride and Prejudice—it’s more of a modern story loosely inspired by it, with the author putting a fresh spin on familiar elements. We even get Darcy’s perspective, which was such a great touch. Caroline is just as annoying as you'd expect, but she gets a glimpse of redemption (and rumor has it she’s getting her own book—yes please!). Lady Catherine de Bourgh is still her imperious self. And Wickham? Fully evil.
Just a note: Lettie isn’t living at home anymore, so we get less of that chaotic Bennet family energy. That said, the other elements totally make up for it—including a laugh-out-loud portrayal of a modern Mr. Collins. Truly iconic.
Basically: charming, funny, and full of heart. I can’t wait to see what Ruth writes next!
*The characters in the novel have different names, but I’m using their OG Pride and Prejudice ones for ease of reading here.
September 7, 2025
4.5
"She's barely tolerable."
The words no woman wants to overhear being described as by a rich, handsome man.
A modern retelling of P&P will bring back all of the happy parts of the story, while adding in so much humor. I absolutely loved the original story book quotes at the beginning of each chapter. This is one of 3 in a series by the author of Austen-esque retellings, and I would say my favorite. Likely because P&P is my favorite.
A rich and seemingly arrogant- and very handsome bachelor, a romance author/ college teacher/ event planner, and a group of lively side characters (some that are also found in the other books) create all sorts of excitement and drama. There is a mutual friends wedding, a revenge book being written, lots of miscommunication, a hilarious and bad first date, fun email conversations, and some steamy kisses.
All together I really enjoyed this quick, fun read. I was a bit frustrated by the lack of communication and tempers that went from 0-60 causing angst in a cute relationship, but the making up makes up for it.
I received the ebook as part of a book promo and the review is my own.
"She's barely tolerable."
The words no woman wants to overhear being described as by a rich, handsome man.
A modern retelling of P&P will bring back all of the happy parts of the story, while adding in so much humor. I absolutely loved the original story book quotes at the beginning of each chapter. This is one of 3 in a series by the author of Austen-esque retellings, and I would say my favorite. Likely because P&P is my favorite.
A rich and seemingly arrogant- and very handsome bachelor, a romance author/ college teacher/ event planner, and a group of lively side characters (some that are also found in the other books) create all sorts of excitement and drama. There is a mutual friends wedding, a revenge book being written, lots of miscommunication, a hilarious and bad first date, fun email conversations, and some steamy kisses.
All together I really enjoyed this quick, fun read. I was a bit frustrated by the lack of communication and tempers that went from 0-60 causing angst in a cute relationship, but the making up makes up for it.
I received the ebook as part of a book promo and the review is my own.
September 12, 2025
This was such a fun adaptation of Pride and Prejudice!!!! I always enjoy reading books set in places I know and I had to stop myself from googling almond farms near Sacramento. 😂
Lettie plans some parties for Liam’s almond company. Liam is impressed with Lettie, but doesn’t show it very well. Can love blossom or will expectations and miscommunication get in the way?
Highlights:
The gala, especially the interaction with Debourgh
The flirty email banter!
I love Lettie because she is confident and witty.
I love Liam for his work ethic. I love how he listens and affirms.
“Something about her felt strangely familiar, like déjà vu or coming home.”
Lettie plans some parties for Liam’s almond company. Liam is impressed with Lettie, but doesn’t show it very well. Can love blossom or will expectations and miscommunication get in the way?
Highlights:
The gala, especially the interaction with Debourgh
The flirty email banter!
I love Lettie because she is confident and witty.
I love Liam for his work ethic. I love how he listens and affirms.
“Something about her felt strangely familiar, like déjà vu or coming home.”
October 20, 2025
3.75 stars
Very fun take on a modern pride and prejudice. The realist in me wants to complain about the insta love, and parts of the relationship that struck me as a bit unrealistic. In real life, there’d be some serious red flags between Liam and Lettie ( then again, the same could be said for Darcy and Lizzie in the original P&P) but in the end, that’s not why I read this book. I read it to be entertained, and therefore it reached its goal admirably.
And throwing in inspo from Georgette Heyer’s Sylvester as well? Amazing!
Bottom line—I enjoyed this and will be looking forward to the other books in the series.
Very fun take on a modern pride and prejudice. The realist in me wants to complain about the insta love, and parts of the relationship that struck me as a bit unrealistic. In real life, there’d be some serious red flags between Liam and Lettie ( then again, the same could be said for Darcy and Lizzie in the original P&P) but in the end, that’s not why I read this book. I read it to be entertained, and therefore it reached its goal admirably.
And throwing in inspo from Georgette Heyer’s Sylvester as well? Amazing!
Bottom line—I enjoyed this and will be looking forward to the other books in the series.
December 26, 2025
This was a charming Pride and Prejucie inspired romcom! It has a good dose of Christmas in it and could definitely be considered a Christmas romance (and has released an edition with Christmas cover) but could also be read any time of year. It connects to the other books in the series but could also be read as a standalone.
This was a nice mix of retelling and original because it doesn’t follow P&P exactly and has plenty of its own twists but also has some delightful nods to the original. I especially enjoyed seeing a modern take on Lady Catherine and Mr Collins haha. Darcy’s business and family setup was clever as well. The quotes in the chapter headings were also fun.
This was a nice mix of retelling and original because it doesn’t follow P&P exactly and has plenty of its own twists but also has some delightful nods to the original. I especially enjoyed seeing a modern take on Lady Catherine and Mr Collins haha. Darcy’s business and family setup was clever as well. The quotes in the chapter headings were also fun.
March 21, 2025
To quote the author's acknowledgements, this is "a mashup of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (which most people have heard of) and Georgette Heyer’s Sylvester (a book not nearly enough people have read.)". In other words, the melding of two perfect books! I had to drop a full star on principle for making the Elizabeth Bennet character argue unironically for the merits of Twilight, but otherwise this was even better than Influence, the first novel in this series of Austen retellings (and characters and events from that book are referenced). I hope there will be more.
June 6, 2025
More than tolerable JAFF variation
I was actually delightfully surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. I read about 100 JAFF books a year, and I mainly hate modern variations and tend to stick with Regency time period Romance. But this book was awesome! Delicious but still clean and classy. And Darcy had such human, vulnerable moments and there were some very sweet, swoon-worthy moments. I definitely recommend this book to Jane Austen Fan Fiction lovers and regular romance lovers alike!
I was actually delightfully surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. I read about 100 JAFF books a year, and I mainly hate modern variations and tend to stick with Regency time period Romance. But this book was awesome! Delicious but still clean and classy. And Darcy had such human, vulnerable moments and there were some very sweet, swoon-worthy moments. I definitely recommend this book to Jane Austen Fan Fiction lovers and regular romance lovers alike!
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