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Enamoured: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
You are as handsome as any of them, Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party
ELIZABETH BENNET THINKS HER FATHER is worrying over nothing when he sends her from Longbourn to London to keep an eye on her mother, who has been staying with a friend. But Mrs Bennet proves to be uncommonly elusive. Everywhere Elizabeth looks, she finds Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley instead.
MR DARCY HAS BEEN TRYING IN VAIN to locate his friend Charles Bingley, but after repeatedly running into Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it dawns on him that their searches are related. As their pursuit intensifies, and as Darcy and Elizabeth continue to be thrown together in company, their accidental meetings begin to attract notice. Before they know it, they have become the Darlings of the Season.
LONDON SOCIETY HAS GROWN COMPLETELY ENAMOURED of its favourite new couple; alas Darcy and Elizabeth are fighting to contain the shocking truth of their presumed attachment, with each convinced that the other could never love them. They both must find a way to disentangle themselves from an imagined romance without creating a scandal of their own—or hope that love finds a way to conquer more than just the haut ton.
Enamoured is a clean, humorous Pride and Prejudice variation with low angst. The tropes include forced engagement, mistaken identity, and second chances.
ELIZABETH BENNET THINKS HER FATHER is worrying over nothing when he sends her from Longbourn to London to keep an eye on her mother, who has been staying with a friend. But Mrs Bennet proves to be uncommonly elusive. Everywhere Elizabeth looks, she finds Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley instead.
MR DARCY HAS BEEN TRYING IN VAIN to locate his friend Charles Bingley, but after repeatedly running into Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it dawns on him that their searches are related. As their pursuit intensifies, and as Darcy and Elizabeth continue to be thrown together in company, their accidental meetings begin to attract notice. Before they know it, they have become the Darlings of the Season.
LONDON SOCIETY HAS GROWN COMPLETELY ENAMOURED of its favourite new couple; alas Darcy and Elizabeth are fighting to contain the shocking truth of their presumed attachment, with each convinced that the other could never love them. They both must find a way to disentangle themselves from an imagined romance without creating a scandal of their own—or hope that love finds a way to conquer more than just the haut ton.
Enamoured is a clean, humorous Pride and Prejudice variation with low angst. The tropes include forced engagement, mistaken identity, and second chances.
302 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2025
149 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Lewis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 3, 2025
A romantic romp...
With a bit of seedy undertone. Or, Bingley as we don't usually get to see him...
After the netherfield ball, the stars of this story all end up in London. The darkest layers consist of Mrs Bennet and Bingley and their potential for total ruination.
The next is the rumors swirling around Darcy and Elizabeth as they keep meeting during her flights around town in search of her mother. Instead of despising Elizabeth, she becomes the darling of the season. Hearts and minds everywhere are enamoured with the romance of it all.
The subtle but most important layer is ODC slowly falling in love, and finally acknowledging that fact.
I loved the original characters and interactions we see between our favorite people and their movement through society and town.
The dynamic layers of this story are compelling. I could not put it down. There are scenes which made me cringe while making me smile at the same time.
A part of me wishes we got to see a bit of the fallout with Mrs. Bennet's return of Jane's recuperation in the arms of a real man. But mostly I like keeping it on the lighter side and the end is all about our dear Elizabeth and Darcy marrying and doing it on their own terms. It certainly helped to keep the end on the lighter side of this somewhat satirical variation.
This latest offering from Ms. Lewis is a sure bet for my reread pile.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
With a bit of seedy undertone. Or, Bingley as we don't usually get to see him...
After the netherfield ball, the stars of this story all end up in London. The darkest layers consist of Mrs Bennet and Bingley and their potential for total ruination.
The next is the rumors swirling around Darcy and Elizabeth as they keep meeting during her flights around town in search of her mother. Instead of despising Elizabeth, she becomes the darling of the season. Hearts and minds everywhere are enamoured with the romance of it all.
The subtle but most important layer is ODC slowly falling in love, and finally acknowledging that fact.
I loved the original characters and interactions we see between our favorite people and their movement through society and town.
The dynamic layers of this story are compelling. I could not put it down. There are scenes which made me cringe while making me smile at the same time.
A part of me wishes we got to see a bit of the fallout with Mrs. Bennet's return of Jane's recuperation in the arms of a real man. But mostly I like keeping it on the lighter side and the end is all about our dear Elizabeth and Darcy marrying and doing it on their own terms. It certainly helped to keep the end on the lighter side of this somewhat satirical variation.
This latest offering from Ms. Lewis is a sure bet for my reread pile.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
August 23, 2025
Shocking!
In Enamoured, Jessie Lewis figuratively knocked my socks off with a beginning I will never forget, and that jolted my senses like a lightning bolt through a quiet Meryton morning—not to mention Mr. Darcy’s! I’m sure he’s still blushing, even as I write.
Mr. Bennet sends a reluctant Elizabeth to London to track down her mother, who proves stubbornly hard to find, and when their paths finally cross, she defiantly refuses to go home. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy is on a mission to locate his elusive friend, Bingley—after he warns Jane away from him. ODC keep crossing paths—at balls, parks, drawing rooms, and everywhere in between. The ton takes notice and they quickly become the latest on dit, even though both insist it is all a misunderstanding, and all refuse to believe them.
With many variations taking place in Meryton and surrounds, I enjoyed seeing this glimpse of Darcy contending with the demands of London society, and Elizabeth stepping into it for the first time—her eyes being opened to both the elegance and the undercurrents few speak of. The plot has plenty of surprises, but one thing I appreciated from the author was, once love is declared, she provides the reader with that passionate spark between Elizabeth and Darcy that I crave, and yet is too often overlooked in variations—and she does so without veering into explicit territory for those who don’t like it, showing it can be done. So brava! This story does touch on mature themes, though.
I only wished to see Mr. Bennet reckon with his part in it all—but the ending still delivers, with Elizabeth and Darcy finding their way on their own terms.
Will definitely be looking forward to the audiobook!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased the published version.
August 22-23, 2025 - Audiobook
The audiobook is sooo good. And Arthur Rowan as Mr. Darcy is…well…swoon! And he and Jessie Lewis made me cry for Mrs. Bennet. Outstanding listen!
In Enamoured, Jessie Lewis figuratively knocked my socks off with a beginning I will never forget, and that jolted my senses like a lightning bolt through a quiet Meryton morning—not to mention Mr. Darcy’s! I’m sure he’s still blushing, even as I write.
Mr. Bennet sends a reluctant Elizabeth to London to track down her mother, who proves stubbornly hard to find, and when their paths finally cross, she defiantly refuses to go home. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy is on a mission to locate his elusive friend, Bingley—after he warns Jane away from him. ODC keep crossing paths—at balls, parks, drawing rooms, and everywhere in between. The ton takes notice and they quickly become the latest on dit, even though both insist it is all a misunderstanding, and all refuse to believe them.
With many variations taking place in Meryton and surrounds, I enjoyed seeing this glimpse of Darcy contending with the demands of London society, and Elizabeth stepping into it for the first time—her eyes being opened to both the elegance and the undercurrents few speak of. The plot has plenty of surprises, but one thing I appreciated from the author was, once love is declared, she provides the reader with that passionate spark between Elizabeth and Darcy that I crave, and yet is too often overlooked in variations—and she does so without veering into explicit territory for those who don’t like it, showing it can be done. So brava! This story does touch on mature themes, though.
I only wished to see Mr. Bennet reckon with his part in it all—but the ending still delivers, with Elizabeth and Darcy finding their way on their own terms.
Will definitely be looking forward to the audiobook!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased the published version.
August 22-23, 2025 - Audiobook
The audiobook is sooo good. And Arthur Rowan as Mr. Darcy is…well…swoon! And he and Jessie Lewis made me cry for Mrs. Bennet. Outstanding listen!
July 10, 2025
and now for something completely different. — Monty Python
Mother Bennet as we have never seen her before!
If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary; if you like a great story; if you go for a little angst; and if you like a happy ending – this is the book for you!
Mother Bennet as we have never seen her before!
If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary; if you like a great story; if you go for a little angst; and if you like a happy ending – this is the book for you!
July 30, 2025
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
The Prelude to this story is certainly designed to grab your attention. During the Netherfield ball, Mr. Darcy, having finished his dance with Miss Elizabeth, seeks escape in the library from all the noise and merrymaking, where he stumbles upon the sight of his friend Bingley doing some "merrymaking" of his own...with Mrs. Bennet!
Moving on to the first chapter, time has jumped ahead and Elizabeth's mother has gone to London to help her ill childhood friend, Mrs. Randall. Her absence from home through the festive season makes the Bennet family celebrations decidedly odd. Meanwhile, Jane continues to suffer due to her disappointed hopes for Mr. Bingley. When plans are made for Jane to accompany her aunt and uncle back to their home in Cheapside, Mr. Bennet tasks Elizabeth with joining her sister and seeking out her mother; he and Mrs. Bennet had a heated quarrel before she left Longbourn, and she has not even written aside from one brief message conveying her safe arrival. As Elizabeth has been enjoying particular attention from Mr. Wickham, she's reluctant to leave but agrees to do so.
Elizabeth becomes convinced something is amiss when she, Jane, and Mrs. Gardiner call upon Mrs. Randall (who does not appear to be particularly sick) and her mother is not there. When Mrs. Bennet finally calls at the Gardiners, Elizabeth tries to question her, but she hurries away after giving only evasive replies, leaving her daughter more suspicious than ever and determined to pin her mother down for answers.
Darcy is having a similar problem with Bingley, whose sisters have approached him with entreaties to find their brother. He has disappeared since returning to London. Although Darcy would much prefer to distance himself from Bingley after what he observed at the ball, he feels honor-bound to agree. But Bingley is surprisingly hard to find.
Thus, there are two games of cat-and-mouse going on all over London, with Elizabeth seeking her elusive mother and Darcy chasing after Bingley. Their searches often overlap, as the two seekers keep showing up separately to the same place at the same time. When Elizabeth tells Darcy she's trying to find her mother, he concludes their quarry must be together, which further spurs his search in order to avert scandal for Elizabeth's family.
Observant members of the ton notice how frequently Elizabeth and Darcy are together, and they also note that the notoriously reticent man actually engages this mysterious young woman in conversation. Before long, rumor has it that the two are secretly betrothed, and Elizabeth finds herself (along with Jane and the Gardiners) inundated with invitations to Society events. The more she and Darcy deny the gossip, the more it picks up steam.
Ms. Lewis is an exceptionally talented author. She does a marvelous job of conveying the frustrations Elizabeth and Darcy feel throughout the book, both with their respective searches and with the ridiculous suppositions about the two of them. It's a humorous, if unlikely, situation that she sells convincingly. Their mutual affection is developed as a nice slow burn, with Darcy needing to overcome his original objections to marrying a woman not of his elevated social sphere and Elizabeth needing to see beyond the poor impression of his character that she had formed when he was in Hertfordshire. The conclusion is not at all what I expected--and I mean that in a good way!
Elizabeth and Darcy, of course, end up together. However, I was disappointed that the fate of neither Bingley nor Mrs. Bennet is addressed. The reader does learn the motivations for their behavior but not what happens to them except that Mrs. Bennet returns to Longbourn. With both characters being so central to the storyline, this feels like an oversight.
After the shocking Prologue, the rest of the book is clean.
The Prelude to this story is certainly designed to grab your attention. During the Netherfield ball, Mr. Darcy, having finished his dance with Miss Elizabeth, seeks escape in the library from all the noise and merrymaking, where he stumbles upon the sight of his friend Bingley doing some "merrymaking" of his own...with Mrs. Bennet!
Moving on to the first chapter, time has jumped ahead and Elizabeth's mother has gone to London to help her ill childhood friend, Mrs. Randall. Her absence from home through the festive season makes the Bennet family celebrations decidedly odd. Meanwhile, Jane continues to suffer due to her disappointed hopes for Mr. Bingley. When plans are made for Jane to accompany her aunt and uncle back to their home in Cheapside, Mr. Bennet tasks Elizabeth with joining her sister and seeking out her mother; he and Mrs. Bennet had a heated quarrel before she left Longbourn, and she has not even written aside from one brief message conveying her safe arrival. As Elizabeth has been enjoying particular attention from Mr. Wickham, she's reluctant to leave but agrees to do so.
Elizabeth becomes convinced something is amiss when she, Jane, and Mrs. Gardiner call upon Mrs. Randall (who does not appear to be particularly sick) and her mother is not there. When Mrs. Bennet finally calls at the Gardiners, Elizabeth tries to question her, but she hurries away after giving only evasive replies, leaving her daughter more suspicious than ever and determined to pin her mother down for answers.
Darcy is having a similar problem with Bingley, whose sisters have approached him with entreaties to find their brother. He has disappeared since returning to London. Although Darcy would much prefer to distance himself from Bingley after what he observed at the ball, he feels honor-bound to agree. But Bingley is surprisingly hard to find.
Thus, there are two games of cat-and-mouse going on all over London, with Elizabeth seeking her elusive mother and Darcy chasing after Bingley. Their searches often overlap, as the two seekers keep showing up separately to the same place at the same time. When Elizabeth tells Darcy she's trying to find her mother, he concludes their quarry must be together, which further spurs his search in order to avert scandal for Elizabeth's family.
Observant members of the ton notice how frequently Elizabeth and Darcy are together, and they also note that the notoriously reticent man actually engages this mysterious young woman in conversation. Before long, rumor has it that the two are secretly betrothed, and Elizabeth finds herself (along with Jane and the Gardiners) inundated with invitations to Society events. The more she and Darcy deny the gossip, the more it picks up steam.
Ms. Lewis is an exceptionally talented author. She does a marvelous job of conveying the frustrations Elizabeth and Darcy feel throughout the book, both with their respective searches and with the ridiculous suppositions about the two of them. It's a humorous, if unlikely, situation that she sells convincingly. Their mutual affection is developed as a nice slow burn, with Darcy needing to overcome his original objections to marrying a woman not of his elevated social sphere and Elizabeth needing to see beyond the poor impression of his character that she had formed when he was in Hertfordshire. The conclusion is not at all what I expected--and I mean that in a good way!
Elizabeth and Darcy, of course, end up together. However, I was disappointed that the fate of neither Bingley nor Mrs. Bennet is addressed. The reader does learn the motivations for their behavior but not what happens to them except that Mrs. Bennet returns to Longbourn. With both characters being so central to the storyline, this feels like an oversight.
After the shocking Prologue, the rest of the book is clean.
June 29, 2025
“You and the girls may go—or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better; for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party.” ‘Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen’
“What in blazes was Bingley playing at?” (quote from the book)
Mr. Darcy is in shock. I am in shock. He can’t leave Netherfield Park fast enough! He must forget all about Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It would be insupportable to be attached to such a family.
“The very real prospect that her mother did not wish to return home reared into Elizabeth’s mind, and she sat back in bewilderment.” (quote from the book)
However, things don’t go according to plan. Elizabeth Bennet is requested by her father to travel with Jane to London to locate her mother - for Mrs. Bennet left Longbourn before Christmas to tend to an old friend who was sick. But tracking her mother down became harder than she expected and highly suspicious when the friend does not appear sick at all!
“…it seems the whole world and his dog is talking about the Master of Pemberley’s grand love affair.” (quote from the book)
When Mr. Darcy learns that not only Elizabeth and Jane Bennet are in town but that their mother is too, he knows he needs to track Mr. Bingley down and find out what is going on. He cannot have Elizabeth find out what had happened. In doing so, they each keep bumping into each other around London. Soon all of London appears interested in this young woman who has captured the attention of Mr. Darcy!
This was a fun London romp with moments of poignancy. The interactions between Elizabeth and Darcy were always delightful, and they are the main focus of this story. Lady Catherine certainly plays a very interesting hand in this tale. However, I felt the ‘incidents’ with the Ton went on for too long. I felt Jane was left dangling and would have preferred a bit more closure for Mrs. Bennet.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
June 22, 2025
This is such an original P&P variation. Moderately angsty and geared to keep the reader guessing, Enamoured explores a darker "what if" when Mrs. Bennet is so unhappy in her life that she makes a catastrophic mistake and then goes on the run. Elizabeth and Jane follow her to London where Mr. Darcy has also been given a task to find a missing Mr. Bingley.
Circumstances repeatedly throw Elizabeth and Darcy together, and the reader can't help but be delighted in their bumpy interactions and the resultant intrigue of the Ton as they get "shipped" together. Like its original, it takes most of the story to get to the HEA, but because Elizabeth and Darcy have more time together, we get more explained growth and maturity. Elizabeth, being a diamond of the Ton, also helps Darcy to see his errors sooner.
I think I will always think of this story as "restitution at Rosings," because so many of the wrong things in the story get righted at or by Rosings. I loved Lady Catherine in this variation and the addition of Lady Rothesea. Those two ladies help Darcy get out of his own way, and it had me smiling from ear to ear!
Trigger warnings: infidelity, mistresses, emotional abuse
I received a complimentary copy of the author's story to read and review. All thoughts contained here are my own.
Circumstances repeatedly throw Elizabeth and Darcy together, and the reader can't help but be delighted in their bumpy interactions and the resultant intrigue of the Ton as they get "shipped" together. Like its original, it takes most of the story to get to the HEA, but because Elizabeth and Darcy have more time together, we get more explained growth and maturity. Elizabeth, being a diamond of the Ton, also helps Darcy to see his errors sooner.
I think I will always think of this story as "restitution at Rosings," because so many of the wrong things in the story get righted at or by Rosings. I loved Lady Catherine in this variation and the addition of Lady Rothesea. Those two ladies help Darcy get out of his own way, and it had me smiling from ear to ear!
Trigger warnings: infidelity, mistresses, emotional abuse
I received a complimentary copy of the author's story to read and review. All thoughts contained here are my own.
November 7, 2025
Status: Read November 4-6, 2025 via audible edition
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
Review: Well that started off in a way I would never imagine… but very entertaining read!
Edition Read:
Enamoured
by Jessie Lewis, Arthur Rowan (Narrator)
Audible Audio, Unabridged, 9 pages
Published August 21, 2025 by Quills & Quartos Publishing (first published June 11, 2025)
ASIN: B0FN9DT72V
[ audible plus catalog ]
You are as handsome as any of them, Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party
Elizabeth Bennet thinks her father is worrying over nothing when he sends her to London to keep an eye on her mother, who has been staying with a friend. But Mrs Bennet proves to be uncommonly elusive. Everywhere Elizabeth looks, she finds Mr. Darcy instead. Darcy is trying in vain to locate his friend Bingley, but after repeatedly running into Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it dawns on him that their searches are related. As their pursuit intensifies, and Darcy and Elizabeth continue to be thrown together, their accidental meetings begin to attract notice. Before they know it, they have become the Darlings of the Season.
With London society completely enamoured of its favourite new couple, but Darcy and Elizabeth fighting to contain a shocking secret and each convinced that the other could never love them, they must find a way to disentangle themselves without creating a scandal of their own or hope that love finds a way to conquer more than just the haut ton.
Listening Length: 8 hours and 38 minutes
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
Review: Well that started off in a way I would never imagine… but very entertaining read!
Edition Read:
Enamoured
by Jessie Lewis, Arthur Rowan (Narrator)
Audible Audio, Unabridged, 9 pages
Published August 21, 2025 by Quills & Quartos Publishing (first published June 11, 2025)
ASIN: B0FN9DT72V
[ audible plus catalog ]
You are as handsome as any of them, Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party
Elizabeth Bennet thinks her father is worrying over nothing when he sends her to London to keep an eye on her mother, who has been staying with a friend. But Mrs Bennet proves to be uncommonly elusive. Everywhere Elizabeth looks, she finds Mr. Darcy instead. Darcy is trying in vain to locate his friend Bingley, but after repeatedly running into Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it dawns on him that their searches are related. As their pursuit intensifies, and Darcy and Elizabeth continue to be thrown together, their accidental meetings begin to attract notice. Before they know it, they have become the Darlings of the Season.
With London society completely enamoured of its favourite new couple, but Darcy and Elizabeth fighting to contain a shocking secret and each convinced that the other could never love them, they must find a way to disentangle themselves without creating a scandal of their own or hope that love finds a way to conquer more than just the haut ton.
Listening Length: 8 hours and 38 minutes
July 9, 2025
I don't know quite what to say about this one. It's definitely 5 stars and well-written, but my gosh! What?! It sounds as though a group of JAFF authors got together and giggled about the most preposterous plot bunnies they could imagine. And then Julie Lewis said, "Why not? I'm going for it!"
After a shocking event at the Netherfield ball, Mrs. Bennett fled to London to stay with an actress friend who was a kept woman. As Darcy searched high and low for Bingley, at the behest of his sisters and brother-in-law, Elizabeth was similarly on the hunt for her mother. Mr. Bennet had sent her for that purpose. Their searches kept throwing them together, which did not go unnoticed by the ton. Rumors began to spread about the notoriously single Darcy being captivated by a country nobody. They soon became the darlings of the season, invited everywhere by those in the highest circles, and relentlessly hounded to reveal their secret engagement (which didn't exist).
It was a wild ride, to say the least.
After a shocking event at the Netherfield ball, Mrs. Bennett fled to London to stay with an actress friend who was a kept woman. As Darcy searched high and low for Bingley, at the behest of his sisters and brother-in-law, Elizabeth was similarly on the hunt for her mother. Mr. Bennet had sent her for that purpose. Their searches kept throwing them together, which did not go unnoticed by the ton. Rumors began to spread about the notoriously single Darcy being captivated by a country nobody. They soon became the darlings of the season, invited everywhere by those in the highest circles, and relentlessly hounded to reveal their secret engagement (which didn't exist).
It was a wild ride, to say the least.
July 17, 2025
This author never disappoints!
October 18, 2025
In this exhilarating Pride and Prejudice Variation, Jessie Lewis goes where no writing plot has gone before. She sets the bonnet spinning – and might cause some vapors in readers- when she allows readers and Mr. Darcy to open the library door during the Netherfield Ball and spot two of the most unlikely people -one is married to another person- in a lusty embrace. I’ve enjoyed her books in the past and always found her books engaging from the first crack of the spine until the closing of the last page.
Enamoured brings the romance pair together while working two different ends of a mystery of sorts. Elizabeth’s father sends her to London on the pretext to enjoy a visit along with her sister at their aunt and uncle’s when she is really there to track down her missing mother while at the same time, Mr. Darcy has been begged by his friend Bingley’s relations on a similar errand.
Darcy left the Meryton neighborhood to get away from Elizabeth Bennet’s allurements that he must resist because he feels her family situation is beneath him only to run into her at every turn on his hunt for Bingley. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is feeling decidedly put upon when the annoying, arrogant Mr. Darcy turns up wherever she is- and dread of all, he rescues her from various contretemps and shows her a gallant side she never guessed he possessed. And, that’s not all, the dratted man doesn’t seem to be the villain Mr. Wickham spread tall tales about that she eagerly believed at the time.
Mingling their hunt about London and a slow-burn romance, Enamoured has several emotional layers and complex character and relationship developments that cohesively work all together as one compelling story that I read in one-sitting.
Elizabeth and Darcy are fighting their own internal demons that prevent their romance. She was hurt when this attractive, gentleman brushed her aside as “not handsome enough” and protected her wounded pride by believing the worst of him. He protected his heart from leading him astray by believing the worst of her family and circumstances. I enjoyed how they were brought to see the truth and overcame these barriers.
Beyond the romance, there was an intriguing situation where it appears that Mrs. Bennet finally had enough of her husband’s gaslighting style little snips and snarks at her and was overwhelmed with fears of five daughters to get settled when they had no dowry to speak of, no good family connections, and no real prospects in their neighborhood and a silly cousin as heir to push them all out of their home in the future. Is it any wonder the woman seems to crack and rushes to London leaving that all behind? I’ve never seen this aspect of a Regency woman’s life portrayed quite this way, but the helplessness and fear women must have felt in these circumstances was brought home to me well.
Before the book could get too broody over these dramas, Jessie Lewis infuses a strain of hilarity to all the to-ing and fro-ing making Lizzy and Darcy the talk of the town as people watch in great interest and make guesses as to why this pair keep having these clandestine encounters. And, the speculation leads to an amusing time for all during this society season.
In the end, Enamoured was a sparkling and highly entertaining variation tale that those who enjoy Regency romps or light and sweet historical romances would do well to snag for their reading piles.
I rec'd a print copy via Quills and Quartos to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 10.1.25.
Enamoured brings the romance pair together while working two different ends of a mystery of sorts. Elizabeth’s father sends her to London on the pretext to enjoy a visit along with her sister at their aunt and uncle’s when she is really there to track down her missing mother while at the same time, Mr. Darcy has been begged by his friend Bingley’s relations on a similar errand.
Darcy left the Meryton neighborhood to get away from Elizabeth Bennet’s allurements that he must resist because he feels her family situation is beneath him only to run into her at every turn on his hunt for Bingley. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is feeling decidedly put upon when the annoying, arrogant Mr. Darcy turns up wherever she is- and dread of all, he rescues her from various contretemps and shows her a gallant side she never guessed he possessed. And, that’s not all, the dratted man doesn’t seem to be the villain Mr. Wickham spread tall tales about that she eagerly believed at the time.
Mingling their hunt about London and a slow-burn romance, Enamoured has several emotional layers and complex character and relationship developments that cohesively work all together as one compelling story that I read in one-sitting.
Elizabeth and Darcy are fighting their own internal demons that prevent their romance. She was hurt when this attractive, gentleman brushed her aside as “not handsome enough” and protected her wounded pride by believing the worst of him. He protected his heart from leading him astray by believing the worst of her family and circumstances. I enjoyed how they were brought to see the truth and overcame these barriers.
Beyond the romance, there was an intriguing situation where it appears that Mrs. Bennet finally had enough of her husband’s gaslighting style little snips and snarks at her and was overwhelmed with fears of five daughters to get settled when they had no dowry to speak of, no good family connections, and no real prospects in their neighborhood and a silly cousin as heir to push them all out of their home in the future. Is it any wonder the woman seems to crack and rushes to London leaving that all behind? I’ve never seen this aspect of a Regency woman’s life portrayed quite this way, but the helplessness and fear women must have felt in these circumstances was brought home to me well.
Before the book could get too broody over these dramas, Jessie Lewis infuses a strain of hilarity to all the to-ing and fro-ing making Lizzy and Darcy the talk of the town as people watch in great interest and make guesses as to why this pair keep having these clandestine encounters. And, the speculation leads to an amusing time for all during this society season.
In the end, Enamoured was a sparkling and highly entertaining variation tale that those who enjoy Regency romps or light and sweet historical romances would do well to snag for their reading piles.
I rec'd a print copy via Quills and Quartos to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 10.1.25.
July 13, 2025
Mrs Bennet is gone! She disappears to London after the Netherfield ball. She SAYS she will take care of her close friend who is ill.
But no one has ever heard of Mrs Randall!
In addition Bingley disappears to London avoiding Darcy completely. No one can find him either!
Jessie Lewis will drive you crazy through 80% of this novel! While Darcy and Elizabeth search for her mother everywhere!
Never finding her!
Worst of all at the very beginning during the Netherfield ball,
Darcy walks into the library and is Shocked to discover Bingley and Mrs Bennet in In flagrante delicto!!
His mind is completely boggled!! He can’t believe his eyes!
In this version Mrs Bennet is a very fetching older woman.
When she is away weeks and weeks, naturally Mr Bennet is very concerned and sends Lizzy to London with Jane to find her mother.
Lizzy would rather stay and keep enjoying seeing Mr Wickham at every opportunity!
Soon everywhere she goes she runs into Darcy. It’s almost as if the two of them are secretly arranging every meeting!
Soon people will defintely think that!
She starts to see Darcy as a different man and she actually is enjoying his company.
Soon they catch every eye with rumors abounding all over London. Are they or aren’t they betrothed is the big question ! It appears to be a love match to all! Except our dear couple are slow to realize the same
Soon every Earl and Royal is sending multiple invitations. Just to have the opportunity to see them both together :)
Elizabeth Bennet is the diamond darling of the season!
There you have it. The Ton is enamoured with Elizabeth and are waiting with bated breath for a betrothal announcement.
Miss Lewis will put you through a long but fun chase to find Bingley and Mrs Bennet!!
If Mrs Bennet does not go back to Longbourn soon the scandal will ruin her entire family!!
Jessie Lewis never disappoints!
Very entertaining read:)
But no one has ever heard of Mrs Randall!
In addition Bingley disappears to London avoiding Darcy completely. No one can find him either!
Jessie Lewis will drive you crazy through 80% of this novel! While Darcy and Elizabeth search for her mother everywhere!
Never finding her!
Worst of all at the very beginning during the Netherfield ball,
Darcy walks into the library and is Shocked to discover Bingley and Mrs Bennet in In flagrante delicto!!
His mind is completely boggled!! He can’t believe his eyes!
In this version Mrs Bennet is a very fetching older woman.
When she is away weeks and weeks, naturally Mr Bennet is very concerned and sends Lizzy to London with Jane to find her mother.
Lizzy would rather stay and keep enjoying seeing Mr Wickham at every opportunity!
Soon everywhere she goes she runs into Darcy. It’s almost as if the two of them are secretly arranging every meeting!
Soon people will defintely think that!
She starts to see Darcy as a different man and she actually is enjoying his company.
Soon they catch every eye with rumors abounding all over London. Are they or aren’t they betrothed is the big question ! It appears to be a love match to all! Except our dear couple are slow to realize the same
Soon every Earl and Royal is sending multiple invitations. Just to have the opportunity to see them both together :)
Elizabeth Bennet is the diamond darling of the season!
There you have it. The Ton is enamoured with Elizabeth and are waiting with bated breath for a betrothal announcement.
Miss Lewis will put you through a long but fun chase to find Bingley and Mrs Bennet!!
If Mrs Bennet does not go back to Longbourn soon the scandal will ruin her entire family!!
Jessie Lewis never disappoints!
Very entertaining read:)
July 15, 2025
Never one to disappoint, Jessie Lewis delivers another unputdownable book. Stayed up late to finish it because I simply could not put it down. She has a way of writing that really hooks you in and gets you attached to the characters emotionally. I honestly had no clue what the premise was, I simply read the story because it was written by Jessie Lewis.
Now that I finished it, it was a fresh new premise and I loved it!! Without giving away any details, Darcy discovers a certain something about Bingley that leads to to chasing him all around London. Elizabeth also is in London on her father’s behalf to resolve an issue with her mother, because of course Mr Bennet can’t be bothered to bestir himself. Little does ODC know they’re paths are going to cross several times. And since Darcy can’t shake off Elizabeth’s allure when they do cross paths it begins to draw the attention of the ton and from there… imagination runs wild.
Now that I finished it, it was a fresh new premise and I loved it!! Without giving away any details, Darcy discovers a certain something about Bingley that leads to to chasing him all around London. Elizabeth also is in London on her father’s behalf to resolve an issue with her mother, because of course Mr Bennet can’t be bothered to bestir himself. Little does ODC know they’re paths are going to cross several times. And since Darcy can’t shake off Elizabeth’s allure when they do cross paths it begins to draw the attention of the ton and from there… imagination runs wild.
August 24, 2025
What a delight this book is! I thoroughly enjoyed the colourful tapestry woven together in the many coincidental meetings (a.k.a. word challenges and intellectual battles), all on the quest to find their respective targets.
Although surrounded by the jibber-jabber of society, the novel is a Darcy & Elizabeth-centric tale that captured me with their confrontations. There are no proactive villains here, only the revelation that man is mortal.
Ms. Lewis once again treats us with her wordplay, humour, and ingenuity. Consider adding this to your summer reading list; it is sure to impress.
Although surrounded by the jibber-jabber of society, the novel is a Darcy & Elizabeth-centric tale that captured me with their confrontations. There are no proactive villains here, only the revelation that man is mortal.
Ms. Lewis once again treats us with her wordplay, humour, and ingenuity. Consider adding this to your summer reading list; it is sure to impress.
July 7, 2025
Review also posted on my blog
https://myjaffobsession.blogspot.com/...
Charles Bingley is enamoured of a Bennet lady. Unfortunately, while the beautiful, sweet Jane Bennet holds his heart, it is the Bennet Matron who is the recipient of his physical passion at the Netherfield ball! Fitzwilliam Darcy is an unwilling witness to the liaison.
Bingley flees to London and goes underground, avoiding Darcy.
Very soon Mrs Bennet departs for London, on a mission of mercy to care for an ailing friend.
When several weeks pass by with no sign of Mrs Bennet returning, Elizabeth Bennet is tasked with discreetly tracking her down.
Darcy is searching for Bingley and regularly finds himself in company with Elizabeth who is searching for her mother.
The haut ton get wind of these encounters and weave a romance out of it!
Elizabeth moves from disliking Darcy to admiring him, but is convinced he despises her and the Bennet family.
Unfortunately, while Darcy is infatuated with Elizabeth, he does view her as unsuitable to be his wife.
He has a great deal of growing to do.
Jessie Lewis mixes angst, exasperation, hope and deep love and produces a satisfying confection.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
https://myjaffobsession.blogspot.com/...
Charles Bingley is enamoured of a Bennet lady. Unfortunately, while the beautiful, sweet Jane Bennet holds his heart, it is the Bennet Matron who is the recipient of his physical passion at the Netherfield ball! Fitzwilliam Darcy is an unwilling witness to the liaison.
Bingley flees to London and goes underground, avoiding Darcy.
Very soon Mrs Bennet departs for London, on a mission of mercy to care for an ailing friend.
When several weeks pass by with no sign of Mrs Bennet returning, Elizabeth Bennet is tasked with discreetly tracking her down.
Darcy is searching for Bingley and regularly finds himself in company with Elizabeth who is searching for her mother.
The haut ton get wind of these encounters and weave a romance out of it!
Elizabeth moves from disliking Darcy to admiring him, but is convinced he despises her and the Bennet family.
Unfortunately, while Darcy is infatuated with Elizabeth, he does view her as unsuitable to be his wife.
He has a great deal of growing to do.
Jessie Lewis mixes angst, exasperation, hope and deep love and produces a satisfying confection.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2025
This was a very different and highly amusing take on Pride and Prejudice. The constant running into each other was unbelievable, yet I relished every opportunity that showed Darcy completely undone by Elizabeth.
This is not a perfect Darcy, though always gentlemanly. He loves Elizabeth, but he still has his lesson to learn in regards to seeing that Elizabeth is worthy in spite of her lack of fortune and connections.
This is a story for anyone that wants to see Darcy and Elizabeth interacting while immersed in London society. The secrets and gossip surrounding our dear couple had me fully engaged in every scene and conversation. There is also a great amount of pining on both sides, especially past the half way mark. One of my favorite scenes was Darcy revealing the truth about Mrs. Bennet to Elizabeth. I was impressed by the cathartic and solemn writing as we see Elizabeth’s world completely shaken up.
I have mixed feelings about Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Bennet. Considering they caused so much chaos and distress, their paltry excuses for their trespasses and shallow apologies fell short. I also hoped more for Jane, especially since her dejection was on full display.
Regardless, I had a wonderful time reading this, and I am excited to revisit this adventurous romance in the future.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is not a perfect Darcy, though always gentlemanly. He loves Elizabeth, but he still has his lesson to learn in regards to seeing that Elizabeth is worthy in spite of her lack of fortune and connections.
This is a story for anyone that wants to see Darcy and Elizabeth interacting while immersed in London society. The secrets and gossip surrounding our dear couple had me fully engaged in every scene and conversation. There is also a great amount of pining on both sides, especially past the half way mark. One of my favorite scenes was Darcy revealing the truth about Mrs. Bennet to Elizabeth. I was impressed by the cathartic and solemn writing as we see Elizabeth’s world completely shaken up.
I have mixed feelings about Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Bennet. Considering they caused so much chaos and distress, their paltry excuses for their trespasses and shallow apologies fell short. I also hoped more for Jane, especially since her dejection was on full display.
Regardless, I had a wonderful time reading this, and I am excited to revisit this adventurous romance in the future.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 29, 2025
Another Jessie Lewis gem.
A shocking indiscretion , another shock when a Mother leaves her family suddenly and continues to stay away long after the reported reason lost its meaning. Painful Misunderstandings, typical Lewis fashion. Usual but not contrived. Poor Elizabeth, trying to find and help her mother. Long slow burn romance, but a beautiful love story. Heroic Darcy, trying every way he can to help Elizabeth’s family. A curiously helpful Lady Catherine. I cried for Mrs Bennet. This was a great story , great writing, and great JAFF.
I encourage JAFF lovers to read this book.
A shocking indiscretion , another shock when a Mother leaves her family suddenly and continues to stay away long after the reported reason lost its meaning. Painful Misunderstandings, typical Lewis fashion. Usual but not contrived. Poor Elizabeth, trying to find and help her mother. Long slow burn romance, but a beautiful love story. Heroic Darcy, trying every way he can to help Elizabeth’s family. A curiously helpful Lady Catherine. I cried for Mrs Bennet. This was a great story , great writing, and great JAFF.
I encourage JAFF lovers to read this book.
July 7, 2025
For most of this I was loving it but the ending didn’t quite go the way I wanted. It’s my rating so I’m taking it down to a 4. Unfair but there you are.
September 4, 2025
A true original variation!
A most engaging and enjoyable read with a truly unique plot and unexpected twists in, mostly, a London location. Very imaginative and fun!
A most engaging and enjoyable read with a truly unique plot and unexpected twists in, mostly, a London location. Very imaginative and fun!
July 27, 2025
Disappointed. Usually a favorite author
Jessie Lewis hit a wrong note with this one. The subject of Mrs. Bennet's indiscretion, which is the momentum for the plot for the novel was handled so flippantly that I almost deleted the book. I twice had to flip to the end to determine if it was worth reading. It wasnt . I only went back (once I k new how it turned out) because of another reviewed who said the Darcy and Elizabeth love story was good. It was ok. Not worth the time spent reading. The suspension of reality, even for a work of fiction was far too too much. No single woman could have traipsed around London the way she did. A women of little means, no chaperone, her family has no idea where she goes or with whom, and the men - particularly her uncle, allow her to be the spokesperson for the famiky , again, alone. Please don't call it P&P variation then. Characters depart too far from canon. Some are unrecognizable without reason. And we never find out what happens to any of the other characters. After stringing us along on that merry chase, no follow up. Artistic license taken too far. This author has many better books.
Jessie Lewis hit a wrong note with this one. The subject of Mrs. Bennet's indiscretion, which is the momentum for the plot for the novel was handled so flippantly that I almost deleted the book. I twice had to flip to the end to determine if it was worth reading. It wasnt . I only went back (once I k new how it turned out) because of another reviewed who said the Darcy and Elizabeth love story was good. It was ok. Not worth the time spent reading. The suspension of reality, even for a work of fiction was far too too much. No single woman could have traipsed around London the way she did. A women of little means, no chaperone, her family has no idea where she goes or with whom, and the men - particularly her uncle, allow her to be the spokesperson for the famiky , again, alone. Please don't call it P&P variation then. Characters depart too far from canon. Some are unrecognizable without reason. And we never find out what happens to any of the other characters. After stringing us along on that merry chase, no follow up. Artistic license taken too far. This author has many better books.
July 14, 2025
This absolute rubbish!!!
DNF bcs what the hell!!!
This should be removed by the P&P list! Absolutely disgusting!
Do not recommend! BTW i don't get the high rating! I net an other AI!
DNF bcs what the hell!!!
This should be removed by the P&P list! Absolutely disgusting!
Do not recommend! BTW i don't get the high rating! I net an other AI!
July 2, 2025
I loved it!
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. This is a clean, humorous story with low angst. The tropes include forced engagement, mistaken identity, and second chances.
Elizabeth Bennett thinks her father is worrying over nothing when he sends her from Longbourn to London to keep an eye on her mother, who has been staying with a friend, but Mrs Bennet proves to be uncommonly elusive. Everywhere Elizabeth looks, she finds Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley instead. Mr Darcy has been trying in vain to locate his friend Charles Bingley, but after repeatedly running into Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it dawns on him that their searches are related. As their pursuit intensifies, and as Darcy and Elizabeth continue to be thrown together in company, their accidental meetings begin to attract notice. Before they know it, they have become the Darlings of the Season.
London society has grown completely enamoured of its favourite new couple; alas Darcy and Elizabeth are fighting to contain the shocking truth of their presumed attachment, with each convinced that the other could never love them. They both must find a way to disentangle themselves from an imagined romance without creating a scandal of their own, or hope that love finds a way to conquer more than just the haut ton. 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.
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. This is a clean, humorous story with low angst. The tropes include forced engagement, mistaken identity, and second chances.
Elizabeth Bennett thinks her father is worrying over nothing when he sends her from Longbourn to London to keep an eye on her mother, who has been staying with a friend, but Mrs Bennet proves to be uncommonly elusive. Everywhere Elizabeth looks, she finds Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley instead. Mr Darcy has been trying in vain to locate his friend Charles Bingley, but after repeatedly running into Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it dawns on him that their searches are related. As their pursuit intensifies, and as Darcy and Elizabeth continue to be thrown together in company, their accidental meetings begin to attract notice. Before they know it, they have become the Darlings of the Season.
London society has grown completely enamoured of its favourite new couple; alas Darcy and Elizabeth are fighting to contain the shocking truth of their presumed attachment, with each convinced that the other could never love them. They both must find a way to disentangle themselves from an imagined romance without creating a scandal of their own, or hope that love finds a way to conquer more than just the haut ton. 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.
July 13, 2025
I so wanted to give this 5 stars and almost gave it 3. The bulk of it was absolutely fabulous. However, around 70% of the way though it began to drag for me in places and I was honestly getting frustrated by it. Then it ended too abruptly. I enjoyed the role Lady Catherine played and thought it was a great portrayal of her acknowledging reality and adapting. However the end suffered from a lack of resolution. I don’t think this necessarily needed to come in the form of an epilogue; I have read or reread several books lately that ended fabulously without an epilogue, but too much was unfinished or unresolved. How was Lizzy & Darcy’s marriage announced and how was it received by not only the ton, but the Bennets. What happened to Jane? How was Mrs Bennet’s return to Meryton? It felt a bit like the author just got tired of the story and thought they get married, yay, that’s a good enough end. It’s a shame because like I said I loved the storyline and the book was so well written otherwise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2025
Not only am I Enamored with this book - I'm completely Speechless - ;) Jessie Lewis has knocked it out of the park for me with this little tale. What an adventure this book has been.
Thank you.
Thank you.
September 16, 2025
Just wow. A combination of protesting to much and an odd Mrs Bennet situation.
August 11, 2025
A talented author who “jumped the shark.”
I left 2-stars because at least the grammar and punctuation were well done.
Other than that, the story was beyond ridiculous and made little sense. I kept thinking, “Maybe it’s parody?” Except that it wasn’t particularly funny. Creating an outrageous situation doesn’t make it funny. I was cringing throughout the story.
Elizabeth is wandering around London, usually by herself. She easily travels to various parts of town, which would have made sense if London was the size of Meryton. There’s a scandal because people keep seeing her and Darcy together (as if they are in a small town like Meryton where everyone knows you).
Elizabeth becomes famous through her supposed relationship with Darcy, but then, this didn’t make sense either.
And then the story just ends. We don’t know what happened with the Bennets, Jane, or Bingley. I don’t need to have epilogues that detail every marriage and the number of children for each couple, but if there are characters that figured prominently in the story, I want to know what happened to them.
Read through KU.
I left 2-stars because at least the grammar and punctuation were well done.
Other than that, the story was beyond ridiculous and made little sense. I kept thinking, “Maybe it’s parody?” Except that it wasn’t particularly funny. Creating an outrageous situation doesn’t make it funny. I was cringing throughout the story.
Elizabeth is wandering around London, usually by herself. She easily travels to various parts of town, which would have made sense if London was the size of Meryton. There’s a scandal because people keep seeing her and Darcy together (as if they are in a small town like Meryton where everyone knows you).
Elizabeth becomes famous through her supposed relationship with Darcy, but then, this didn’t make sense either.
And then the story just ends. We don’t know what happened with the Bennets, Jane, or Bingley. I don’t need to have epilogues that detail every marriage and the number of children for each couple, but if there are characters that figured prominently in the story, I want to know what happened to them.
Read through KU.
October 4, 2025
Boo. Eh. Requires far too much suspension of disbelief. Farcical.
July 9, 2025
This story had a rather shocking start. Then we have Mrs. Bennet going off to London, supposedly, to care for a sick friend, Mrs. Randall. Lydia receives a brief note saying her mother arrived safely in London. Bingley, too, has left Longbourne, leaving Jane melancholy. Darcy travels to London on a mission to address Bingley's intentions.
It is decided that Jane will travel to London along with the Gardeners and Mr. Bennet sends Elizabeth also, tasking her with finding Mrs. Bennet and sending her home.
So it is that both Darcy and Elizabeth are in London, each on a search. We find Elizabeth visiting Mrs. Randall, (who does not appear at all sick) and never finding her mother there. Darcy has been charged by Louisa Hurst and Caroline Bingley with finding their brother who had "disappeared". Darcy suspects he might be paying attentions to Mrs. Bennet and so it is that he and Elizabeth show up in the same places where clues lead them in their search.
Ironically, the ton soon puts the sightings of ODC together and conclude that the two just might be secretly engaged and that couple become a favorite of gossip and attentions. Both have their reasons to not only deny rumours but also to reverse society's opinion (Wickham's reports about Darcy, Darcy's insult and Elizabeth's lack of connections and a dowry).
This is a longer story and there are other relationships to be read of. Darcy does warn Jane away from Bingley and Elizabeth holds that against him until he finally relates to her why.
I was disappointed that there is no epilogue and we are left hanging as to what the future holds for both Mrs. Bennet and for Bingley.
I have enjoyed many of this author's stories and highly recommend this one. But remember...it is inspired by Austen. It does not follow canon nor is it a true variation on canon, either.
(I am guessing at the dates I read this, as I thought I had posted my review already. I do have a review on Amazon already.)
It is decided that Jane will travel to London along with the Gardeners and Mr. Bennet sends Elizabeth also, tasking her with finding Mrs. Bennet and sending her home.
So it is that both Darcy and Elizabeth are in London, each on a search. We find Elizabeth visiting Mrs. Randall, (who does not appear at all sick) and never finding her mother there. Darcy has been charged by Louisa Hurst and Caroline Bingley with finding their brother who had "disappeared". Darcy suspects he might be paying attentions to Mrs. Bennet and so it is that he and Elizabeth show up in the same places where clues lead them in their search.
Ironically, the ton soon puts the sightings of ODC together and conclude that the two just might be secretly engaged and that couple become a favorite of gossip and attentions. Both have their reasons to not only deny rumours but also to reverse society's opinion (Wickham's reports about Darcy, Darcy's insult and Elizabeth's lack of connections and a dowry).
This is a longer story and there are other relationships to be read of. Darcy does warn Jane away from Bingley and Elizabeth holds that against him until he finally relates to her why.
I was disappointed that there is no epilogue and we are left hanging as to what the future holds for both Mrs. Bennet and for Bingley.
I have enjoyed many of this author's stories and highly recommend this one. But remember...it is inspired by Austen. It does not follow canon nor is it a true variation on canon, either.
(I am guessing at the dates I read this, as I thought I had posted my review already. I do have a review on Amazon already.)
October 19, 2025
Jessie Lewis is usually a favorite for Pride & Prejudice variations, but this wasn't her best, to put it mildly. I still gave it 3 stars, because of the overall writing quality, the original premise (never read that particular scenario before) and the few scenes where Lizzy and Darcy were finally bonding. But other than that, it was a bit of a hot mess.
* The first half was mostly Lizzy and Darcy running all over town to find Bingley and Mrs. Bennet, without a lot of success. If we conveniently forget propriety, which dictated that both Mrs. Bennet and Lizzy couldn't do that without company, at some point it started to annoy me, because it was so much of the same.
* The whole rumour mill thing was also farfetched, since I don't believe for a second that the ton would try to match Darcy with anyone other than their own daughters, let alone a penniless nobody. Maybe at first it was believable as a something scandalous to talk about, but when they were actively trying to get them together at events, the author lost me.
* Where was Mr. Bennet in all this? He send Lizzy to London, she send him a few letters with nothing much to report and that's it? He never came himself and in the end we never hear how and if he reconciled with Mrs. Bennet. Since that was the whole premise of the story, I wanted a lot more closure on that storyline.
* I wanted more on the romance front. In the first half they meet sometimes, but it's always just a few minutes. After that they do meet at events, but also don't interact that much, because of the gossip and they assume a lot about what the other is thinking, instead of talking to each other.
Maybe I expected too much, because Jessie Lewis wrote my all-time favorite variation, Mistaken, but while this was entertaining, it's not one I will reread a lot.
* The first half was mostly Lizzy and Darcy running all over town to find Bingley and Mrs. Bennet, without a lot of success. If we conveniently forget propriety, which dictated that both Mrs. Bennet and Lizzy couldn't do that without company, at some point it started to annoy me, because it was so much of the same.
* The whole rumour mill thing was also farfetched, since I don't believe for a second that the ton would try to match Darcy with anyone other than their own daughters, let alone a penniless nobody. Maybe at first it was believable as a something scandalous to talk about, but when they were actively trying to get them together at events, the author lost me.
* Where was Mr. Bennet in all this? He send Lizzy to London, she send him a few letters with nothing much to report and that's it? He never came himself and in the end we never hear how and if he reconciled with Mrs. Bennet. Since that was the whole premise of the story, I wanted a lot more closure on that storyline.
* I wanted more on the romance front. In the first half they meet sometimes, but it's always just a few minutes. After that they do meet at events, but also don't interact that much, because of the gossip and they assume a lot about what the other is thinking, instead of talking to each other.
Maybe I expected too much, because Jessie Lewis wrote my all-time favorite variation, Mistaken, but while this was entertaining, it's not one I will reread a lot.
July 3, 2025
I loved this latest release by Jessie Lewis! What a kick to take the sentence “…for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party.” to riff off for a story line. (For those who may not have read original P&P Mr Bennet is referring to his wife Mrs Bennet in comparison to her five daughters.) As for myself, I don’t think I could ever unsee what Darcy did when he opened the library door at the Netherfield ball to discover Bingley and Mrs Bennet “joined” in flagrante delicto.
What follows is a magnificent farce. When the Bingley party decamps to London Mrs Bennet follows, claiming she is nursing an ailing friend. When she doesn’t return for Christmas Mr Bennet sends Lizzy off to London, with Jane and the Gardiners, to find out why Mrs Bennet has failed to return and doesn’t answer his letters. Elizabeth traipses all over London in search of her elusive mother. Strangely she keeps crossing paths with the insufferable Mr Darcy. She is doubly annoyed because she would much rather be back at Longbourn in the company of the dashing Mr Wickham.
Darcy, meanwhile, has discovered that Bingley is nowhere to be found. He goes all over London looking for Bingley and keeps crossing paths with the alluring, but unsuitable, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. At some point they discover they are on the same mission but have, unfortunately, become an overnight ton sensation. How will they ever untangle their lives and return Mrs Bennet to a respectable life without ruining themselves in the process?
A true tour de force, not to be missed. My only complaint is I wish there were an epilogue to show how Mr and Mrs Bennet resolved their marital issues. Unfortunately that will remain behind closed doors.
What follows is a magnificent farce. When the Bingley party decamps to London Mrs Bennet follows, claiming she is nursing an ailing friend. When she doesn’t return for Christmas Mr Bennet sends Lizzy off to London, with Jane and the Gardiners, to find out why Mrs Bennet has failed to return and doesn’t answer his letters. Elizabeth traipses all over London in search of her elusive mother. Strangely she keeps crossing paths with the insufferable Mr Darcy. She is doubly annoyed because she would much rather be back at Longbourn in the company of the dashing Mr Wickham.
Darcy, meanwhile, has discovered that Bingley is nowhere to be found. He goes all over London looking for Bingley and keeps crossing paths with the alluring, but unsuitable, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. At some point they discover they are on the same mission but have, unfortunately, become an overnight ton sensation. How will they ever untangle their lives and return Mrs Bennet to a respectable life without ruining themselves in the process?
A true tour de force, not to be missed. My only complaint is I wish there were an epilogue to show how Mr and Mrs Bennet resolved their marital issues. Unfortunately that will remain behind closed doors.
September 20, 2025
I started this, and it wasn't clicking, wrong timing ... I stopped, went with a couple other different books and came back to this/starting over again. I think it was a bit difficult to get over the premise/prologue. This book casts Bingley and Mrs.Bennet in a very different light, one that I struggled to picture (not really wanting to picture it). I guess there are several books/tv/movies that pair an older woman with a younger man. Just NOT Mrs.Bennet and Bingley! A little different Lady Catherine encounter as well.
I enjoyed the Darcy/Elizabeth storyline, and the way their relationship progressed.
Standard 3rd person, from both D&E's POV. Past tense.
While I didn't get all the words noted (listening to the audio, included in AudiblePlus, I did have the text via KindleUnlimited), there were quite a few words that aren't used everyday (and not as uncommon here in a P&P variation, but still ones I note) ... vacuous, panegyric, deign, curricle, apropos of nothing were a few I did jot down. Also bilious. That was used three times (three different people felt bilious during this book).
Some of the standard stuff (could be seen as spoilers) ... Collins and Charlotte per usual, NO BINGLEY/JANE and we/the reader wouldn't want that after the prologue. Mr.Wickham is only talked about, he never actually makes an appearance. C Fitzwilliam's older brother plays a small part, is named Cunningham here.
I enjoyed the Darcy/Elizabeth storyline, and the way their relationship progressed.
Standard 3rd person, from both D&E's POV. Past tense.
While I didn't get all the words noted (listening to the audio, included in AudiblePlus, I did have the text via KindleUnlimited), there were quite a few words that aren't used everyday (and not as uncommon here in a P&P variation, but still ones I note) ... vacuous, panegyric, deign, curricle, apropos of nothing were a few I did jot down. Also bilious. That was used three times (three different people felt bilious during this book).
Some of the standard stuff (could be seen as spoilers) ... Collins and Charlotte per usual, NO BINGLEY/JANE and we/the reader wouldn't want that after the prologue. Mr.Wickham is only talked about, he never actually makes an appearance. C Fitzwilliam's older brother plays a small part, is named Cunningham here.
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