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Elizabeth and Caroline: a Pride and Prejudice variation
What if Elizabeth’s best friend was Caroline Bingley?
When Elizabeth Bennet was only eighteen, Mr. Charles Bingley took up residence in Netherfield, and he had eyes only for Elizabeth’s sister, Jane.
Perhaps that first match, the one between Jane and Bingley, it’s not fair to claim it as the work of Elizabeth and Caroline, but certainly the others are. It is down to them that Caroline’s sister Louisa is married to Mr. Hurst, and down to them that no less than three servants from Netherfield are happily settled.
So, when Caroline returns from London, in the fall of Elizabeth’s twentieth year, more concerned with social standing and attracting a wealthy and well-connected man than ever, she draws Elizabeth into another matchmaking scheme. Caroline has her sights set on a man named Mr. Darcy, and together, the friends forge handwriting and send off an invitation to get him there.
But he arrives and seems smitten with Elizabeth.
Caroline lets go of the scheme easily enough. Elizabeth can marry Mr. Darcy herself. Then, together in London, the girls will find Caroline another match, one even better.
Elizabeth has heard awful things about Mr. Darcy from a certain Mr. Wickham and she has always wished to marry for love. But there is the specter of Mr. Collins, whose attentions she cannot bear. And there is the fact that Caroline is her dearest friend. Is it a hardship to marry a handsome, wealthy man who adores her? Even if she isn’t sure she loves him back?
Dear reader, I suppose this is a good-Caroline variation, but I think that much of Caroline's scheming, conniving, and shallowness is intact, with the only difference being she is not interested in competing with Elizabeth. They are a best-frenemy dynamo. This book also contains love scenes of the open-door variety and some upsetting and traumatic backstory for various characters. Mr. Wickham is, as Jane Austen wrote him, a very bad man.
When Elizabeth Bennet was only eighteen, Mr. Charles Bingley took up residence in Netherfield, and he had eyes only for Elizabeth’s sister, Jane.
Perhaps that first match, the one between Jane and Bingley, it’s not fair to claim it as the work of Elizabeth and Caroline, but certainly the others are. It is down to them that Caroline’s sister Louisa is married to Mr. Hurst, and down to them that no less than three servants from Netherfield are happily settled.
So, when Caroline returns from London, in the fall of Elizabeth’s twentieth year, more concerned with social standing and attracting a wealthy and well-connected man than ever, she draws Elizabeth into another matchmaking scheme. Caroline has her sights set on a man named Mr. Darcy, and together, the friends forge handwriting and send off an invitation to get him there.
But he arrives and seems smitten with Elizabeth.
Caroline lets go of the scheme easily enough. Elizabeth can marry Mr. Darcy herself. Then, together in London, the girls will find Caroline another match, one even better.
Elizabeth has heard awful things about Mr. Darcy from a certain Mr. Wickham and she has always wished to marry for love. But there is the specter of Mr. Collins, whose attentions she cannot bear. And there is the fact that Caroline is her dearest friend. Is it a hardship to marry a handsome, wealthy man who adores her? Even if she isn’t sure she loves him back?
Dear reader, I suppose this is a good-Caroline variation, but I think that much of Caroline's scheming, conniving, and shallowness is intact, with the only difference being she is not interested in competing with Elizabeth. They are a best-frenemy dynamo. This book also contains love scenes of the open-door variety and some upsetting and traumatic backstory for various characters. Mr. Wickham is, as Jane Austen wrote him, a very bad man.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
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July 26, 2025Interesting concept, but could use editing. Couldn't finish.
July 6, 2025
Unexpectedly different
A different Lizzy and a different Caroline end up as friends and have very unexpected adventures as they seek husbands and happiness. Some mature themes, but handled with taste and sympathy. Very entertaining!
A different Lizzy and a different Caroline end up as friends and have very unexpected adventures as they seek husbands and happiness. Some mature themes, but handled with taste and sympathy. Very entertaining!
June 30, 2025
It’s always interesting to consider beloved characters portrayed in a slightly different way. I truly had never considered Elizabeth and Caroline as BFFs. What an interesting pair they made! I must admit, that the calculating and manipulative behavior portrayed in Elizabeth was not something that I found comfortable. Still, I enjoyed watching both her and Caroline come to deeper realization of the things they were doing and the people affecting. Darcy somehow came across as a very weak character, which I’m not sure if I liked. In terms of a variation, this was a unique one with a slightly different trajectory and a HEA.
I received an ARC and voluntarily am sharing my honest review
I received an ARC and voluntarily am sharing my honest review
July 5, 2025
I loved it!
Warning: Meant for mature audiences. Contains scenes of intimacy (open-door variety), and some upsetting and traumatic backstory for various characters that would scandalize the ton. Readers of a delicate constitution are advised to keep their fans and vinaigrettes close at hand.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is a Pride and Prejudice variation. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. What if Elizabeth’s best friend was Caroline Bingley? I suppose this is a good-Caroline variation, but I think that much of Caroline's scheming, conniving, and shallowness is intact, with the only difference being she is not interested in competing with Elizabeth. They are a best-frenemy dynamo. Mr. Wickham is, as Jane Austen wrote him, a very bad man.
When Elizabeth Bennet was only eighteen, Mr. Charles Bingley took up residence in Netherfield, and he had eyes only for Elizabeth’s sister, Jane. Perhaps that first match, the one between Jane and Bingley, it’s not fair to claim it as the work of Elizabeth and Caroline, but certainly the others are. It is down to them that Caroline’s sister Louisa is married to Mr. Hurst, and down to them that no less than three servants from Netherfield are happily settled. So, when Caroline returns from London, in the fall of Elizabeth’s twentieth year, more concerned with social standing and attracting a wealthy and well-connected man than ever, she draws Elizabeth into another matchmaking scheme. Caroline has her sights set on a man named Mr. Darcy, and together, the friends forge handwriting and send off an invitation to get him there, but when he arrives, he seems smitten with Elizabeth.
Caroline lets go of the scheme easily enough. Elizabeth can marry Mr. Darcy herself. Then, together in London, the girls will find Caroline another match, one even better. Elizabeth has heard awful things about Mr. Darcy from a certain Mr. Wickham and she has always wished to marry for love, but there is the specter of Mr. Collins, whose attentions she cannot bear, and there is the fact that Caroline is her dearest friend. Is it a hardship to marry a handsome, wealthy man who adores her? Even if she isn’t sure she loves him back? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
Warning: Meant for mature audiences. Contains scenes of intimacy (open-door variety), and some upsetting and traumatic backstory for various characters that would scandalize the ton. Readers of a delicate constitution are advised to keep their fans and vinaigrettes close at hand.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is a Pride and Prejudice variation. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. What if Elizabeth’s best friend was Caroline Bingley? I suppose this is a good-Caroline variation, but I think that much of Caroline's scheming, conniving, and shallowness is intact, with the only difference being she is not interested in competing with Elizabeth. They are a best-frenemy dynamo. Mr. Wickham is, as Jane Austen wrote him, a very bad man.
When Elizabeth Bennet was only eighteen, Mr. Charles Bingley took up residence in Netherfield, and he had eyes only for Elizabeth’s sister, Jane. Perhaps that first match, the one between Jane and Bingley, it’s not fair to claim it as the work of Elizabeth and Caroline, but certainly the others are. It is down to them that Caroline’s sister Louisa is married to Mr. Hurst, and down to them that no less than three servants from Netherfield are happily settled. So, when Caroline returns from London, in the fall of Elizabeth’s twentieth year, more concerned with social standing and attracting a wealthy and well-connected man than ever, she draws Elizabeth into another matchmaking scheme. Caroline has her sights set on a man named Mr. Darcy, and together, the friends forge handwriting and send off an invitation to get him there, but when he arrives, he seems smitten with Elizabeth.
Caroline lets go of the scheme easily enough. Elizabeth can marry Mr. Darcy herself. Then, together in London, the girls will find Caroline another match, one even better. Elizabeth has heard awful things about Mr. Darcy from a certain Mr. Wickham and she has always wished to marry for love, but there is the specter of Mr. Collins, whose attentions she cannot bear, and there is the fact that Caroline is her dearest friend. Is it a hardship to marry a handsome, wealthy man who adores her? Even if she isn’t sure she loves him back? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
June 22, 2025
I enjoyed this amusing read. This was different, and I didn't know what to expect, in terms of the plot. Elizabeth is friends with Caroline Bingley, and they engage in some more or less successful matchmaking together. This is a more self-aware Caroline who realises that she does not have many people who like her, and she likes Elizabeth's more effortless way of getting people to relate to her. Caroline asks for Elizabeth's help trying to charm Mr. Darcy but you can probably guess what a success it will be. Fortunately Caroline does not bear a grudge, and after they have had their wedding night, Elizabeth realises that she has something real with Darcy, despite the somewhat artificial beginning of the relationship. Thereafter Elizabeth attempts to deal with the ton and find love for Caroline, and we are treated to some interesting thoughts and conversations about the philosophy of influencing people, the ethics of manipulation, and the plausibility of forcing love between people who are not already halfway there.
Steam level: some sexual content.
TW: Someone we usually love to hate may have had a very distressing childhood but this is mostly speculation.
Steam level: some sexual content.
TW: Someone we usually love to hate may have had a very distressing childhood but this is mostly speculation.
September 24, 2025
A pride and Prejudice with a different Lizzy and Caroline who become friends and embark on unexpected adventures as they seek husbands and happiness. The story is very entertaining and, while it includes some mature themes, they are handled with taste and sympathy. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 13, 2025
I have read enough variations to enjoy a really different plot twist and this earns respect for that alone. Definitely could use some editing. Lizzy has an unexpectedly blind loyalty that seems out of character to me, even for an alternate universe.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews