Despite Difficulties: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Jaime Marie Lang

Young Elizabeth Bennet finds Fitzwilliam Darcy beset by bullies in a London park, and without a second thought, comes to his aid. Years later, Elizabeth still remembers their encounter fondly, though she knows meeting him again is improbable. Seeing him at the Meryton assembly is a thrilling surprise. Unfortunately, he both fails to recognize her and insults her. Disappointed in the boy she once idolized, Elizabeth’s response is immediate and cutting.

Darcy is shocked when a stranger rebukes him at a country assembly, but his indignation quickly fades as recognition dawns. Forced to reflect on his behavior, Darcy realizes that he is falling far short of his ideals, and resolves to improve. Realizing he must make amends, Darcy seizes Elizabeth's arrival at Netherfield to care for her sister as a chance to prove he can change for the better.

When outside forces make their blooming friendship and eventual courtship difficult, both prove just how stubborn they can be when love is on the line. Though determined their love will overcome the obstacles thrown in their way, their road to happiness will be arduous. They must navigate family drama, societal expectations and malicious schemes if they want their happily ever after.


Author’s Despite Difficulty, a standalone HEA, will satisfy your craving for a sweet romance while thoughtfully exploring themes of first impressions, personal growth, redemption, and the nature of true gentility. For those who enjoy stories where the couple's love blossoms early and they struggle more with the antagonist than each other, I recommend reading this novel with a warm cup of tea, though any beverage will do.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2025

Reviews

[James S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lizzie has troubles

This story has Bennet parents that are pretty bad. Lizzie having to deal with them takes a lot of time which was kind of boring so gave the story 4 stars. The beginnings and the end are excellent.

[Simone Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember what you write from one chapter to the next

Chapter 5 - During the dinner with Darcy, Bingley & the officers it mentions in Ch 5 that Darcy spoke with Colonel Foster. Darcy was remembering this dinner due to it being surprisingly enjoyable. This is where it mentions Colonel Foster being a friend to Colonel Fitzwilliam & even had stories to tell Darcy. Later in the book that seems to have been forgotten and Colonel Fitzwilliam needs to look into the Colonel?! Really?! Please have someone read before publishing. As far as the story it was interesting. I rate the story 3 stars but with the issue mentioned it’s really 2.5 stars.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pride and Prejudice variation where Elizabeth at 8 years old, confronts Wickham when he was about to attack Darcy. So when Darcy commits his insult at the Assembly she calls him out. How will events progress from there.
An entertaining story.
(Proof read - for example a Miss Bingley when it should be Miss Bennet.)

[Raven Gracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

(notes) so many word-replace typos, needs another round of edits. Loved the story. Caroline wasn't in the epilogue, wonder about her fate.

[Sam H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong Bingley

Schooling Darcy early on sets the stage for a different story. Plus it gives Bingley a platform to step up and man up.

An entertaining read.

[Marmom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Inconsistent. Robotic and unrealistic dialogue.

[Lesley Barklay]

Despite the title of this story, there aren't all that may difficulties. This is a relatively slow-paced story that starts with a cute premise—a young Lizzy defending 16-year-old Darcy from Wickham's bullying—but doesn't really take it anywhere. I think the story struggled with not really having an antagonist. At first it looked like it might be Wickham, but he was relatively easily dealt with. Mr Collins is barely on page. Lady Catherine doesn't appear at all, and Darcy's pride is dealt with after one conversation. Miss Bingley is extra shrill in this version, but she gets squashed by Bingley and his aunt, so that only really leaves us with Mr Bennet, who is uncharacteristically intransigent in this story, although even that doesn't really cause many issues.

There are a number of time jumps (12 years from the stone throwing incident, two lots of two months, and then to the epilogue where we got told precisely who married whom, and how many children they had (and sometimes even the names of grandchildren and great grandchildren), and then it is over.

If you're looking for something low stakes, you might enjoy this.

[Debra McMaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the idea of having ODC meet when and how they did and that Elizabeth stood up to him immediately at the assembly. There are some great Caroline set downs, and I liked that Darcy—and Bingley, for that matter—didn’t completely ignore her rudeness. The Bingley aunt is a keeper! The villains are all neatly and thoroughly dispatched—well managed. The tweaking of characters was effective, for good or ill: Charlotte, Collins, Mr Bennet. What happened to Mr Bennet and his library was entirely deserved. Lydia was given a chance to mature and become something other than her mother’s image. I appreciate a good epilogue that sends everyone forward.

[Khrystyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inconsistent

In Ch 5, Darcy is dining with Colonel Forster who previously served with Richard in Spain and they enjoyed a conversation. A few chapters later, he is introduced to Colonel Forster who does not know him and treats him badly. In the epilogue, Kitty ends up living with Charlotte at Longbourn until she marries, but later it says she married before Mr Bennet dies. The inconsistencies are very distracting.

[Patricia Munn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite Difficulties

A different variation of P&P. The grammer and spelling leave me wondering, who reads tbese manuscripts before publishing. Captain Forester was initially called Froster. I didn't note it as I thought it was artisic license. Otherwise, a much better read than most.

[Terri Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a good story but simple inconsistency let the book down.
Example :
He pours his tea then sips his coffee
He has dark hair but the next few pages its strawberry blood.
Amongst others.

[Michelle David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

Another emotional and entertaining variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jaime Marie Lang. I enjoyed it

[Diane · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5*. I liked this book very much. Darcy and Elizabeth are great; Darcy gets over his bad humor quickly. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are pretty awful, but they are eventually overcome and out-maneuvered. I was surprised, but not dismayed, that Lady Catherine did not interfere with Darcy and Elizabeth. Lydia's story starts similar to canon, but is much different in the long run.
I almost took off a whole star for the egregiously poor editing/proofreading. There were too many non-Regency words (eg, fiancée), and ghastly typos like one paragraph where Colonel Forster is Colonel Froster.
However, the story itself is lovely, so I think it deserves more than 4 stars.

[Ashton Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍

Wow. As precious as this variation was… the epilogue detailing out the lives of our classic characters had me in tears.