Inventing Mr. Darcy

by Susanna Craig

Award-winning author Susanna Craig is bringing the charm and sass of her historical romances into the 21st century with her first contemporary romance, Inventing Mr. Darcy, an enemies-to-lovers, alternate timeline romance with a Jane Austen twist!

A truth universally enemies attract!

Grad student Elle Bradshaw is on the cusp of completing her literature PhD. And while life beyond college is terrifying, spending her evening fixing a database malfunction with gorgeous yet grumpy tech geek Fisher Davis is worse. He infuriates her while making her heart race―it’s a distraction she doesn't need!

When a fluke geomagnetic storm leaves them trapped together during a blackout, the fiery kiss that follows is unexpected―and explosive. But catastrophically, the storm also wiped Jane Austen from existence! Now, Elle’s the only person to remember Pride and Prejudice and, it seems, romance itself.

As Elle navigates a world so familiar, yet not her own, she realizes she might just need to put her pride to one side and ask Fisher for help. Could the guy who was once her enemy turn out to be her very own Mr. Darcy . . . ?



· Medium spice
· Enemies to lovers
· Pride & Prejudice/Jane Austen-inspired
· Grad student romance
· Alternative reality/timeline
· Bookish romance
· Guaranteed HEA

This fun, flirty, medium-spice romance, inspired by Pride and Prejudice, is perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Ashley Poston, and Ali Hazelwood.

Genres: Contemporary Romance

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

Almost as soon as she could hold a pencil, Susanna Craig began writing stories. Today, she pens award-winning Regency-era romance novels that blend history and heart with a dash of heat. An English professor, wife, and mom, she’s currently finding her happily ever after in Kentucky while holding onto her Midwestern roots. Find her online at http://www.susannacraig.com.

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.

Only Elle after the 'GLITCH' can remember Jane Austen work.It was a unususal plot,and it did confused me a little bit at the beginning,but after a while I did get into the story.Elle and Fisher romance was a modern Pride and Prejudice,and while I didn't read Jane Austin book I liked this tension filled read.Elle might have her own Mr.Darcy closer then she think.A enjoyable and quick read with HEA.

Thank you Joffe Books for arc,my review is honest and my own.

[Rachel Nahabedian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: Loved it

🩷Pride & Prejudice Retelling
🧳Enemies to Lovers
🩷Grumpy x Sunshine
🧳Forced Proximity
🩷Academic Romance
🧳Alternate Reality

Listen, if you've been here a while, you know that I love Jane Austen and Pride & Prejudice. You know I'm a slut for any/all retellings or "inspired by" stories. You'd know that the way to get me to binge 240 pages in 24 hours is to put Pride & Prejudice, a grumpy man, an enemies-to-lovers romance, and the horrifying concept of a world WITHOUT Jane Austen in front of me. My ADHD ass was sat and focused!

This book had my interested from the get-go without trying too hard, but what I wasn’t expecting was for it to take that love of Austen and throw a little sci-fi chaos into the mix.

Elle is a literature PhD student who on year 5 of finishing her 4-year degree and trying to figure out what the hell she’s supposed to do with her life after this. Then there’s Fisher: gorgeous, grumpy, irritating, and absolutely not the person she wants to be stuck with during a blackout. So, of course, naturally, they end up trapped together during a "geomagnetic storm," share a VERY memorable kiss, and then wake up to discover that Jane Austen has somehow been erased from existence.

I’m sorry…WHAT?!

Elle is now apparently the only person on Earth who remembers P&P (among her other works), which means no Austen, no Darcy, no Elizabeth Bennet, no rom-coms, no Hallmark Channel, and honestly? I would need a fainting couch to parish on post haste.

So obviously she has to figure out how to fix this catastrophic literary situation, and unfortunately for her, the person she needs to help her is...Fisher.

The parallels between Elle and Fisher and Elizabeth and Darcy were so much fun and adorably cute, especially watching Fisher’s grumpy exterior slowly crack to reveal the thoughtful, caring man that we all know and love underneath. Their banter, chemistry, and complete inability to stay away from each other had me smiling the entire time. I also loved that this wasn’t just a P&P retelling. It felt more like a love letter to Austen. To her books, to romance in general, and to the way stories can completely shape who we are as a people and a society (which felt a little on the nose right now considering the whole "purity BS" we're seeing, but that's a whole other topic for another day).

There’s romance, humor, science, literary chaos, a villain that karma takes care of, and a HEA that absolutely will make you swoon.

And honestly, a world without Jane Austen?

No, thank you. Put it back immediately. haha

Thank you to NetGalley, Susanna, and Joffe Books/Severn House for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession time: I picked this one up because I, too, am the kind of person who would name a cat after Mr. Bingley. So when I met Elle a grad student whose entire dissertation, reading life, and general worldview orbit Jane Austen I felt instantly, embarrassingly seen.

Elle's world is a cozy, familiar one. She's deep in her research on Pride and Prejudice, her cat Bing Bong (no relation to the sweet elephant from Inside Out , though I did have to do a double take) is curled up nearby, and Austen is basically the sun her whole life orbits. Then, one late night in the university archives, working on the AUSTEN-C database, a geomagnetic storm rips through the sky. Flash. Bang. And Elle wakes up in a world where Jane Austen never existed at all.

This is where the book really won me over. It's not just "no Austen" as a throwaway premise Susanna Craig actually follows the ripple effects. No Hallmark Channel. Her cat isn't Bing Bong anymore, he's just... Tiger. Her roommate, once delightfully cynical about love, is now cheerfully engaged to a man mostly because he can provide financial security. It's a world that still has people falling in love, technically, but the romance of it, the belief that love is worth writing whole novels about has quietly gone missing.

Watching Elle try to function in a world that shrugs at the things she's built her identity around is both funny and quietly moving. It becomes less about getting back to "normal" and more about a bigger question: can she find happiness, real, Austen-worthy happiness without Austen at all? Can she write her own Darcy instead of just waiting to find one on the page?

I kept thinking of Yesterday, that film where the guy wakes up and The Beatles never existed and he's the only one who remembers their songs. There's something so tender about being the last person alive who remembers what the world lost, and both stories use that ache well.

This was a genuinely fun, warm read , the kind of book you hand to a friend with "just trust me" energy. If you've ever loved a story enough to wish it were real, Elle's journey will feel like home.

[SH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inventing Mr Darcy was an absolutely delightful, romantic read and one of my favourites from this author. I particularly enjoy books that weave Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice into their stories, so this premise immediately appealed to me. The idea of a world where Jane Austen has somehow been erased from existence, leaving Elle Bradshaw as the only person who remembers Pride and Prejudice, was such a fun concept.
Elle is a literature PhD student on the verge of finishing her studies, but instead of worrying about what comes next, she finds herself distracted by Fisher Davis, the gorgeous and decidedly grumpy tech geek who seems to delight in irritating her. When a geomagnetic storm traps them together during a blackout, an unexpected kiss is only the beginning of their problems. The storm has somehow wiped Jane Austen from existence, and Elle must navigate a world that is both familiar and completely wrong while turning to the one man she never expected to need.
The combination of romance, humour, science fiction, and literary references worked so well. I especially enjoyed the clever parallels between Elle and Fisher and Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy. Their enemies-to-lovers relationship was full of witty banter and chemistry, and I loved watching Fisher's grumpy exterior slowly give way to the thoughtful and caring man underneath. Elle was a fantastic heroine, and her love of literature and determination to restore what had been lost made her an engaging character to follow, while Fisher was the perfect counterpart to her.
What I loved most was the way the story celebrates the importance of books and the lasting impact they can have on our lives. The Jane Austen references were woven into the story beautifully without making it feel like simply another retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
This was such a fun, romantic, and imaginative read, and I found it very hard to put down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super fun Pride And Prejudice inspired read.
Imagine a world without Jane Austen, without romance novels, without Hallmark movies; after a geo-magnetic storm thats exactly where Elle finds herself. Her female mentor and roommate have changed overnight because Jane Austen never had the chance to influence the world in the way she did. Elle is the only one that knows how things were, and she finds herself having to navigate this new world while still thinking, what would Jane Austen do.
Elle is very Elizabeth Bennet, though often compares herself to Lydia too. You dont need to have read P&P to read this, but there's a definite background and references throughout that you'd understand much more if you had.
Fisher is the MMC and he has many Mr. Darcy qualities - but is much less grumpy! You can tell early on he is not being totally honest, and as this truth is made clearer I really felt for him and the burden and stress he was living with all under the guise of family duty.
I love the banter between Elle and Fisher, I love the fierce loyalty they feel - even when things seem to be going wrong. They have great chemistry and this is explored in a few spicy scenes - not as many and not as explicit as I'm often reading but done really well when they were there.
The story progresses along really quickly and I read this over the course of 24hours, just not wanting to put the book down.
There were a few little touches that I also loved, the chapter numbers were written in a historic tongue - one and twenty was 21 - it just gave a lovely nod to the time period that inspired the tale.
I had been expecting something to happen and everything to revert back at the end, as a way to really test some of the commitments characters had made, I enjoyed the ending though, back in the lab going full circle was a nice touch.
This is a light, fun read with a really interesting premise. I think many will enjoy it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a confession to make before reviewing Inventing Mr. Darcy: I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice or seen any of the adaptations. I know of Mr. Darcy, of course, but the obsession, the references, the swooning? Completely lost on me. So I went into this one essentially blind and I think that made my experience even more fun.

This was such an easy book to fall into. The writing immediately pulled me in, and before long I was completely along for the ride. It’s lighthearted, clever, romantic, and has that wonderfully cozy quality that makes you want to curl up and keep reading.

I especially loved the playful concept and how much fun the story has with romance itself. Even without having all the Austen knowledge or understanding the significance behind every possible reference, I never felt like I was missing what made the story enjoyable. I could simply appreciate the characters, the chemistry, the humor, and all the romantic chaos.

It was exactly the kind of quick read I needed; charming and entertaining that didn't ask too much of me but still kept me invested.

Maybe I still don't fully understand why everyone has been obsessed with Mr. Darcy for all these years, but Inventing Mr. Darcy certainly gave me a very entertaining introduction.

A cozy, fun, wonderfully bookish romance that left me smiling.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Elia Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/4⭐️’s

Inventing Mr. Darcy was a fun and quick read! I really enjoyed the premise of the story and it instantly pulled me in. I have to say that in the beginning when Jane Austen was wiped from the world and Elle was the only one who remembered her and her work, it made me STRESSED! What is a life without romances, strong female characters, and yes, even Hallmark, There was so much tension and I was cheering Elle on the entire time to bring romance, love and the strength of women and asking for what they want from the world. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Elle and Fisher, their first interactions were funny but you could feel the tension that soon transformed into more. I did not love how Elle kind of let Cassie be a different person without trying to push her to want better for herself. It all worked out but it was hard for me to see at times. The ending left me feeling like maybe it should have been different (no spoilers!) but it was also a satisfying end to the story, I love Pride and Predjudice and this was a great book to celebrate my love for it! I am so happy I live in a world where Jane Austin exists!!

*Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books, and Susanna Craig for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grad student Elle Bradshaw is on the cusp of completing her literature PhD. And while life beyond college is terrifying, spending her evening fixing a database malfunction with gorgeous yet grumpy tech geek Fisher Davis is worse. When a fluke geomagnetic storm leaves them trapped together during a blackout, the fiery kiss that follows is unexpected—and explosive. But catastrophically, the storm also wiped Jane Austen from existence! Now, Elle’s the only person to remember Pride and Prejudice and, it seems, romance itself. As Elle navigates a world so familiar, yet not her own, she realizes she might just need to put her pride to one side and ask Fisher for help. Could the guy who was once her enemy turn out to be her very own Mr. Darcy.
A world without Austen, what a nightmare for Elle. A well written romcom which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved both Elle & Fisher their chemistry sizzled & that kiss in the dark – WOW. The pages flew by as I was drawn in from the start & left smiling at the end. There was of course a villain who got their comeuppance. We needed the HEA & for romance to rise again
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Patrice Gotting - #prdgreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts: Now have a confession I’ve never read pride and prejudice or any Jane Austen novel if I’m honest & I’m ready for people to tell me off but classics aren’t really my genre. 🫣

But this book gave me a look into how much they have shaped all of the books we have today, a world without Jane Austen as fictional as it was was actually quite scary!

In this one we’re following Elle she’s the person in charge of the database she helped to create that has every piece of Jane Austen’s work on it, not just her novels, she’s working on it late at night with the man who she’s just found out will take her place, they break the one rule, they take food and drink in there. One spilled glass of wine and a freak storm later and Elle is forced to seek the help of Fisher, a man she has history with, a man she doesn’t like but is the only chance of getting everything up and running again… which he does, but with a twist. Jane Austen and all other classic female authors seem to have disappeared from the world & what a difference it’s made.

Elle soon realises that she’s the only one who remembers the female greats & it’s down to her to bring them back to life, what she doesn’t expect is to fall into her own romance story at the same time.

Could the history between her and Fisher Davis be forgotten and rewritten too?

I loved this one so much, was so wrapped up in the story that when we got to the end I was left feeling like I wasn’t prepared to say goodbye, I wanted to be in the world of Elle and Fisher for a bit longer 🥺

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining romance. It features Elle, a young woman working on her PhD in literature and a very big Jane Austen fan. Through some "glitch" she somehow deletes the works of Jane Austen and nobody but her remembers her work and the world as we know it is very much changed. To be honest I had some trouble with that piece of the story but after a while I overcame it and focused on Elle's personal romance with Fisher. I loved their relationship and how it unfolded and couldn't wait for them to have their HEA. I also enjoyed all the references to "Pride and Prejudice" very much and I loved that Elle's roommate Cassie came to her senses in the end.
All in all a very entertaining book, perfect for fans of Jane Austen or just romance in general.

I received an ARC via netgalley.com and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chasity Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inventing Mr Darcy was such a great read! I've never read Pride and Prejudice or seen the movie, but… they are now on my to be watch list 😊 This take on the story was such a fun, fast pace, easy read that kept me enjoying from start to finish and not allowing me to put the book down.

Following Elle and Fisher’s adventures into a ‘messy’ relationship and how their love grows was such a great love story. The current day courtship was perfect.

My favorite part was how each character still had the same initials as the original story so it was beyond easy to follow who was who.

The writing style of Susanna Craig was flawless and I can't wait to read more in the future

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley - All reviews of this book are my own

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story with an unusual take on Pride and Prejudice in that one day the novel has totally disappeared not only from the heroine’s computer but also from the database of the Grantham College liberal arts campus, which she has responsibility for.

This database suddenly loses all records of female novelists, novels and romances, and especially Jane Austen and her works.

In this new parallel universe, there are no love stories and after initially being apprehensive that she has lost her mind, Elle Bradshaw tries to discover what has happened and who has done what…

She is also desperate to find any trace of Jane Austen and her novels and looks for any mention of her or her characters.

Hence the title of this book…

[Maddelyn]

Elle is an English grad student. One day, as she's uploading material to a database she works for, there's a solar flare and everything goes blank. The next day she wakes up to find that the world has changed. She's the only one who remembers Jane Austen. No more rom coms. No more Hallmark Channel. As she tries to figure out what's going on, she starts getting involved with Fisher, a math grad student who she went on one bad date with. Of course, in true Jane Austen fashion there's also the villainous Geoff who is only interested in helping himself. Overall, a fun tribute to Jane Austen and a fun romance.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Jeanette]

I really liked the premise of this book and thought it was right up my alley but sadly, I just could not connect with the story. I'm not sure if it was the formatting or the style of writing, but I found myself skimming much of what I read. I sadly had to DNF the book. I am sure there is an audience who will enjoy this book, especially if they're fans of Jane Austen or Pride and Prejudice. This one just wasn't for me.
_____________________________________________
Thanks to Susanna Craig, Joffe Books and NetGalley for the ARC! I received an advance copy of the book and am leaving an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed the writing and this was a quick easy read. Admittedly, I've never read Pride and Prejudice or seen the movie eeeek. I knew the *gist* but I'm certain there were more than a few references that went over my head. Even so, I found this to be easily digestible. As a lover of the romance genre, I loved that it showed just how much a story like Austen's has and will continue to impact society.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jasmine Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing me with an advance copy for an honest opinion. I have not read Susana Craig's work, but now I want to after reading this book. She loves to add twists to these books, and they are my favorite. Elle and Fisher are a genuine enemies-to-lovers story because it shows that this can happen while they were trapped in the blackout. This storm was also consequential because Jane Austen was wiped from existence, so Elle is the only one who remembers the whole thing. I cannot wait to read more of Susana Craig's books.

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Inventing Mr. Darcy and left this review voluntarily.

What would happen if Pride and Prejudice never existed? Inventing Mr. Darcy explores this through Elle, who is a PhD literature student writing her theses on Pride and Prejudice, after she is sent into a world where Jane Austen didn't happen. It was such an interesting concept and it was really well done. I loved the characters and the banter and chemistry between them. I also found the ending to be incredibly satisfying. I strongly recommend this on-the-shorter-side romance.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. Fans of Austin's work will love it. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved the author's writing style and the pacing was just right. I loved following the characters journeys through the story and I wanted them to have their happy ending. There was also a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💜Thank you to Choclit and the author Susanna Craig for my copy of the book that was a giveaway prize.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had an unusual plot but I really struggled with it. I did persevere, and it took me a month to read this, but it wasn’t a favourite. A world without Pride and Prejudice is an interesting premise, but I just couldn’t quite get my head around the changes. I think I wanted an explanation or a satisfactory conclusion as the why Austen’s work had completely disappeared, and there wasn’t one. Sorry - not really my cup of tea and I usually love books that use Jane Austen as inspiration.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pride & prejudice inspired read and what a super cute one it is.
Our mr Darcy is Fisher and I loved the banter between him and Elle and I raced through this book as it was captivating and flowed so well.
Great concept, great chemistry and well written what if story.

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun quirky read but there were some plot points I didn't understand and the premise was hard for me to follow along with. I did like the parallels with Pride and Prejudice and could see the characters that some were meant to be, but I didn't really feel the enemies to lovers tension I was expecting to feel.

[Alya]

It was soo good and promising but last time i gave a chance to the alt reality trope i was truly disappointed.

[Michele Bachrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book with its interesting premise. it just needed some editing., IMHO. Perhaps I'm too old for this updated retelling.

[Pree&Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️ I absolutely loved the theme and message of the book, about the significance of the romance genre and how it has shaped media and society, Austen’s contribution to it, and the power of choosing happiness for ourselves. I liked the academia setting and the cast of characters (and their different versions in the different timelines!). The romance was done really well too. It was a lovely feel-good meta romance!

❤️‍🩹 I found the plot about the disappearance and reappearance of the book a bit confusing, and honestly I don’t think I’m a fan of alternate universe stories - my brain just keeps shouting “HOW CAN YOU NOT NOTICE” or “THAT DOESN’T MAKE SCIENTIFIC SENSE” every other page 🥲 Another thing that didn’t sit well with me was (spoilers ahead!) that Elle basically shoots to stardom by simply finding an old file on her computer and completes her dissertation by using remembered ideas as her own.

[Zara Dal · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!

What would happen if Jane Austen and all of her works, especially Pride & Prejudice, simply vanished from existence and living memory?

That's the question at the heart of Inventing Mr Darcy, where Elle suddenly finds herself as the only person who remembers Austen's stories. Faced with a world that has lost one of literature's most beloved voices, she sets out to find a way to bring those stories back.

On the surface, it's a clever, modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice, packed with charm, romance, and plenty of nods to Austen fans. But beneath that, it's also an exploration of why Austen's work mattered so much in her own time and why it continues to resonate today.
Themes of choice, independence, and the right to pursue happiness run throughout the story, particularly for women, making it feel both timely and timeless.

One of the things I enjoyed most was imagining what our world would be like without Austen's influence. It really highlights just how much romance fiction and the films and television inspired by it, have shaped our culture. It would be a much duller world without them!

Elle and Fisher were wonderful characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship develop. As a Pride & Prejudice fan, I also loved spotting which characters had been inspired by Austen's originals and discovering the many Easter eggs hidden throughout the story.

This book had me smiling constantly and, at several points, squealing and kicking my feet with delight. And then there was the cat, who, amongst other names, was called Bing Bong, which was simply perfection.

A heartfelt love letter to Jane Austen, romance readers, and the enduring power of stories.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for any person that, like me, grew up in love with the story of Pride and prejudice. For those who know the importance of the hope of a happy ending and who dream of finding their own Darcy.

The story immerses the main character Elle into a world without Austen; a world without romance novels. It is an easy read, with so many links to the work of Austen: very cleverly written.

Read it in a day! Highly recommended for those that love Austen (and all the remakes and versions since) just like me.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun and although it's been an absolute age since I read any Jane Austen, it was easy to pick out all the references here.

 

When a freak magnetic storm resets the world, one without Jane Austen in it, only grad student Elle Bradshaw remembers both her and her work.

 

This was a strange and unusual premise, but I actually really enjoyed this modern setting with a regency twist.

 

I really liked Elle and her mission to bring back romance and who better to help her do this than her very own Mr Darcy, Fisher.

 

Ok, so they might be enemies and Fisher was the grumpiest - but after one dynamic kiss during the storm, they just can't seem to stay away for each other - and slowly, those walls crumble.

 

I honestly don't think it's necessary to have read Pride and Prejudice to enjoy this read, but I think it's best to really appreciate how well this was written and how all the references link up.

If not though, this is still a well written romance read that will keep you hooked and holding out hope for a happy ever after for our two main characters.

 

This was an easy read that had me hooked from start to finish and the banter and dynamic between Elle and Fisher had me smiling constantly.

 

A great read, perfect for the upcoming cosy season.

[⋆｡°✩Glysira⋆｡°✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Well, now I know what the world would look like without Jane Austen’s works and it would be horrible. What do you mean your parents married without loving each other, and your friend is thinking of doing the same?

Maybe it’s an exaggeration that people wouldn’t lose the old customs (like marrying based on possible benefits and gains), but it’s still a possibility, and it shows just how much Jane influenced not only literature, but in a way, our entire society.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but it did feel a bit rushed, as I do enjoy a slow burn with a dash of yearning. Though I am aware that in contemporary romances, yearning isn't nearly as present.