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Cassandra – A Scandal in Pemberley: A captivating Pride and Prejudice inspired Regency Romance

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247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2026

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Linda O'Byrne

16 books4 followers

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5 stars
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10 (34%)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Anulekha.
93 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2026
As a longtime lover of Regency novels and Jane Austen in particular, I’ve read my fair share of spin-offs. Cassandra – A Scandal in Pemberley caught my eye not as a direct retelling, but as a next-generation story—what becomes of the original characters’ children. The premise alone was intriguing: Lydia, the shameless flirt of Pride and Prejudice, raising a graceful, Elizabeth-like daughter named Cassandra. That irony promised so much. Unfortunately, the execution did not deliver.

I came close to DNFing this book multiple times. Only its short length kept me turning the pages.

The novel’s biggest flaw is its characters. They are barely fleshed out, and the protagonists carry a strange, unearned prejudice against the wealthy—a theme that feels tacked on rather than organic. Worse, even the borrowed P&P characters feel misrepresented, reduced to caricatures of their former selves.

Cassandra, Lydia’s daughter, is supposedly Elizabeth Bennet in nature, but to me she read more like a blend of Mary and Jane. Wickham is dead, Lydia has remarried, and the plot kicks off with Lydia trying to marry Cassandra off to an officer against her will. What begins as an act of rebellion quickly descends into a chaotic circus: too many characters thrown in, too many events crammed together, and—most tellingly—too many storms. Every significant event seems to summon bad weather, as if the author couldn’t devise real conflict or turning points and uses them as clutches.

For the first 75%, the book feels utterly rudderless. Then, in the final quarter, a glimmer of hope appears: Cassandra begins something like self-discovery. I thought, perhaps, the story might redeem itself. But alas—another storm arrives, and any chance of meaningful growth washes away.

This is a highly missable book, coasting entirely on its Pride and Prejudice connections. I ended up not caring for a single character, and my dominant emotion while reading was a weary, exasperated amusement.

Thanks to netgalley for the e-arc.
Profile Image for Ann-Maree.
1,176 reviews10 followers
May 23, 2026
Cassandra – A Scandal in Pemberley
by Linda O'Byrne

As a devoted admirer of variations on Jane Austen's beloved works, I was immediately drawn to the intriguing premise of this novel: Lydia Wickham, a character often associated with folly and scandal, has somehow raised a calm, intelligent, and graceful daughter named Cassandra, who is more like her sister Elizabeth Darcey. This setup promised a fresh take on familiar themes of propriety and character development within the context of Regency society. An enjoyable read for any Pride and Prejudice lovers.

However, I found myself disappointed with how the story unfolded. The story is conveyed through a third-person perspective, yet it often shifts between characters without clear transitions or formatting breaks. This erratic head-hopping not only disrupted the flow of the story but also made it challenging to establish emotional connections with the characters. I often found myself confused about whose thoughts and feelings were being expressed at any given moment.

Furthermore, the romantic elements of the story left much to be desired. The relationship between Cassandra and Dr Richard Courtney, who is presented as a potential love interest, felt rather tepid and lacking in genuine chemistry. Their interactions were underdeveloped, leading to a romance that seemed flat and unconvincing, which detracted from the overall emotional impact of the narrative.

In summary, while the concept of a refined daughter of Lydia Wickham holds great promise and potential for exploration, the execution fell short of my expectations. The combination of the erratic shifting perspective and the lacklustre romance ultimately overshadowed the story’s potential, leaving me wishing for a more cohesive and engaging reading experience.
Profile Image for Liz.
85 reviews7 followers
May 3, 2026
Cassandra – A Scandal in Pemberley by Linda O'Byrne

4.5 ⭐
This was such a fun return to the Pride and Prejudice world—but with a twist I didn’t expect.

Going in, I fully thought Lydia’s daughter would be a bit wild, dramatic, maybe even a little chaotic… and Cassandra is the complete opposite. She’s thoughtful, grounded, and honestly feels much closer to Elizabeth in temperament. Meanwhile, Bennetta (Elizabeth’s daughter) seems to have picked up some of Lydia’s boldness, which made the whole next-generation dynamic way more interesting than I anticipated.

I ended up really enjoying the overall vibe of this. If it has even a hint of a Bridgerton feel, I’m already in—and this absolutely scratched that itch. It’s light, engaging, and easy to fall into, but still has enough substance to keep things interesting. I also really liked the dual POV—it added a nice layer to the story and helped round things out, even if it occasionally pulled focus from Cassandra herself.

That said, I do wish the book had stayed a bit more centered on Cassandra and her romance. Because the story shifts between perspectives, it sometimes felt like her relationship didn’t get quite as much depth as I wanted. I just needed a little more time with them to really feel that emotional payoff.

Even with that, I had a really good time with this. It’s cozy without being dull, familiar without feeling repetitive, and just an all-around enjoyable read. I’ll definitely be continuing the series because I’m curious to see where Linda O’Byrne takes these characters next.

Thank you to Linda O’Byrne, NetGalley, and dp books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
58 reviews35 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 24, 2026
If you love Jane Austen books, especially Pride and Prejudice, this is a must read for you. This iteration is a continuation of the Bennet sisters’ stories via their daughters. Our FMC, Cassandra (Cassie), is Lydia and Wickham’s daughter. Lydia is still the same as an adult and wants her daughter to be married off to a wealthy solider. However, Cassie takes after her Aunt Elizabeth. She is intelligent, bookish and not at all interested in the marriage her step-father has arranged. So, she runs away to Pemberley to hide. Instead of finding her Aunt, she finds her cousin Bennetta, who very much takes after her Aunt Lydia. Bennetta helps her escape her stepfather by riding to find their Uncle Bingley. However just like an Austen novel, things get a bit twisted around. She ends up at an acquaintance Dr. Richard Courtney’s estate instead. I love how the author brought in familiar characters all while creating a new and fresh story but still using all the nostalgic tone of Pride and Prejudice. The love story between the FMC and MMC is equally enjoyable reminiscent of Elizabeth and Darcy. I really enjoyed this book. I was an easy read that I was able to complete in a morning. It is a re-release of a previously published series. I’m excited to read the other stories and stay awhile with old characters and meeting some new as well. Thank you to dp Books and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are freely given.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Hannah.
69 reviews10 followers
May 2, 2026
When I picked up a book about Lydia Bennet’s daughter, or Lydia Wickham’s daughter, I expected someone at least a little flighty, flirty, and frivolous. Instead, Cassandra surprised me. She is thoughtful, steady, and much more like her Aunt Elizabeth than her mother.

That was probably my favorite part of the book. I liked the idea of Lydia’s daughter turning out so differently from her, while Elizabeth’s daughter, Bennetta, seems to have picked up more of Lydia’s wild streak. That little twist made the next generation of the Bennet family fun to read about.

My biggest issue was the shifting point of view. The story moved between characters often enough that I never felt like I got as much time with Cassandra and her love interest as I wanted. Because of that, the romance felt a little underdeveloped, and the book sometimes felt more like it was setting up the rest of the series than fully focusing on Cassandra’s story. I saw the author has another book titled “Cassandra” so I assume this is a 2026 reprint! I will have to read the next book in the series to see what happens next with the characters.

Overall, this was a pleasant Austen-inspired read with a fun premise and a heroine I liked. I just wish Cassandra had been given a little more room to shine.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Cassandra — A Scandal in Pemberley!
May 20, 2026
A Scandal in Pemberley follows Cassandra Wickham, the spirited niece of Elizabeth Darcy, who would rather spend her time reading than participating in society’s expectations. While her mother pushes her toward a wealthy military match, Cassandra only has feelings for the kind and intelligent Dr. Richard Courtney. After overhearing plans to marry her off to an older widower, she makes impulsive choices that set off a chain of events filled with misunderstandings and miscommunication that continually drive the plot forward.

I’d rate the novel 3.5/5 stars. It was a wholesome and fairly quick read, which made it easy to get through despite some pacing issues. There were several moments that felt dragging, and a few scenes or plot points that seemed like they would be explored in more depth were brushed off too quickly before moving on. Some sections also felt repetitive, which slowed the momentum at times.

One thing I really appreciated, though, was Cassandra herself. She felt like a complete character with a personality and motivations outside of the romance, which made her more engaging to follow. However, I do wish there had been more focus on building the chemistry between Cassandra and Dr. Courtney. Their relationship had potential, but it didn’t feel as developed or emotionally compelling as I hoped it would be.

Overall, while the story had flaws in pacing and romantic development, it was still an enjoyable and comforting read with a likable heroine at its center.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,021 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
April 25, 2026
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

This was a wonderful story set twenty years or so after the events of Pride and Prejudice, following the younger relations of the families we met in the iconic classic!

It definitely had the Jane Austen vibes, from the drama and gossip, to the angst and miscommunication. The plot felt a little all over the place at times, but I did enjoy the historical drama and familial surprises, as always I live for the shocking revelations and humorous chit chat about other characters.

I enjoyed Cassandra Wickham as a main heroine, she's brave and somewhat like her Aunt Lizzie, yet I feel like she also was a bit of an annoyance too, I understand why she ran away and that she didn't have much, but even with everyone's help she still needed more. I liked Dr Richard Courtney as a love interest, but personally felt like the entire romance was a bit empty. There weren't many meaningful moments between the two that we see, nor do we get any flashbacks or mention of their previous meetings, which seemed important for readers to really root for them.

Overall, this was a lovely trip back to the 1800s and the world of Pride and Prejudice, and I'd recommend for anyone who's craving more Bennet/ Darcy/ Bingley/ Wickham after the main story ended.

3/5 🌟
Profile Image for TheAmyrlinSofaReads.
28 reviews2 followers
May 12, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

This book follows the children of the original Pride & Prejudice characters, in particular Cassandra. She is the daughter of Lydia and Wickham and she is very different from her parents.
I loved this idea and was very excited to read this book.

The book was fun and okay.
It reads very quickly, I finished it in one day and it is quite amusing.

The book fell short for me on two points:

- The romance: while I adored the male love interest, there was very little chemistry between him and Cassandra. The characters kept saying they had strong feelings for each other but their interactions felt not much different than those of the other characters.
I read a lot of closed door and regency romance and it is perfectly possible to show characters being in love and attracted to each other in various and interesting ways.
(SPOILER) The wedding proposal was one of the most underwhelming proposals I've ever read.

- The characters felt rather one dimensional and felt like caricatures of themselves. Each character had one defining trait and that was it.

So in short: fun, quick and entertaining to imagine the P&P characters later in life but could have had a lot more depth.
Profile Image for Emma Cathcart.
46 reviews23 followers
May 8, 2026
Overall, I enjoyed this story, but I certainly had some issues in getting into the story. I was ultimately not a fan of the 3rd person writing style that floats between different perspectives with not a lot of warning. It was certainly an adjustment to understand where one character's narrative ended and another began. I also had some issues with the pacing in the novel, which felt inconsistent. It felt that the author was writing three different stories, only one of which gets resolved. Additionally, I had some personal qualms about her representation of who Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were as parents. It just did not feel authentic to the original characters, but I will say Lydia's character feels very true to the source material.

About half way through the book, I was finally able to detach myself from thinking oof this as a continuation of the original story of Pride and Prejudice, and as a standalone, and that improved my reading experience.

If you enjoy a historical romance or, like me, you are an anxious consumer of the larger P&P extended universe, this is an acceptable addition to the collective, but not, ultimately, a notable one.
Profile Image for Raffaella.
49 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2026
I’m a sucker for any Jane Austen inspired books and retelling, so as soon as I got this I started reading it

The book revolves around Cassandra Wickham, daughter of Lydia and George Wickham and her coming of age - meaning an arranged marriage. What follows are her adventure during a short period of time. We meet old characters -Elizabeth, Darcy- as well as new characters

Cassandra is the opposite of her mother (calm, intelligent, not vain), which represented a plus.
The plot was overall pleasant and a fun read - but maybe too short. I felt it needed more pages to develop fully: we pass from one event to another, one point of view to another. It seemed a bit rushed, especially the love story (?) between Cassandra and Richard (it did not feel like a love story at all).
I wished for less events and more developing.

The writing style was spot on, though, it really seemed like a regency novel.

I received a free ARC from NetGally and the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you!
Profile Image for Monica Beard.
457 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 28, 2026
Sequels to Pride and Prejudice are one of the most popular in the genre (hard to top Death Comes to Pemberley, in my opinion), but Linda O'Byrne has decided to move beyond the traditional focus on Lydia and Mary and move to the next generation with the story of Cassandra Wickham, Lydia's daughter.

Lydia is an unlikely heroine - although as her aunt Elizabeth points out, she likely takes after both of her grandfathers, but I did appreciate that the book illustrated aspects of the Regency system that Austen was also blind to. By making our hero a doctor who comes from the gentry, but isn't a gentleman of leisure himself, he is able to comment on some of the former Lizzie Bennett's blindspots. The book does have a bit of melodrama - missing fathers! wicked stepfathers!, but the book is still an easy, fun page turner. I'm excited to see who of the Bennett next generation is next. Thanks to dp books for the early copy.
Profile Image for Liz Sturg.
118 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2026
OMG!! I have always loved Mr. Darcy but reading Cassandra's story and getting to read about what happened to Mr. Wickham and Lydia just made my day! Not to mention knowing everything that Cassandra went through to get away from what she overheard at the ball and thinking so ill of Dr. Courtney. I loved going back to Pemberly and reading what happened to Mr. & Mrs. Darcy, Jane Bingley and the rest of the Bennet women. I loved how Bennetta helped Cassandra and then the peril Cassandra went through to get to her aunt Janes home. Not to mention the romanticism from Dr. Courtney once he was told how "Stupid" he was by Bennetta and what he did to go win back Cassandra. Overall I enjoyed the book, loved the twists and turns and then to come to find out that Mr. Wickham wasn't dead like everyone thought but passed aways saving his daughter.
Profile Image for Lisa Penninga.
956 reviews8 followers
May 2, 2026
Cassandra and Bennetta, the next generation of Bennet cousins, were so fun to read about and imagine in Pemberely , Mr. Darcy’s gorgeous estate. I loved seeing the characters evolve and the concept of virtues carried throughout the book as well. The romantic gesture at the end is so sweet, and I loved both girls’ desires to go against the times and expectations. I felt like some of the charters were underdeveloped, but I’m hoping that’s only because they will show up in future books? I also would have loved to hear more of Mr. Darcy’s voice throughout it, as he has such a strong presence in P&P. Overall, it is the perfect way to reenter Pemberley and the world of Pride & Prejudice’s next generations.
49 reviews
May 4, 2026
I really loved this book. The Pride and Prejudice vibes were absolutely unmatched.

Cassandra is the daughter of Lydia and Wickham, but I was so happy to see that she takes after her aunt Elizabeth far more than her mother. Her character felt grounded, thoughtful, and easy to root for, which made the story even more engaging.

This book has everything you could hope for in a historical romance: family drama, miscommunication, and those unforgettable love declarations that always feel especially powerful in this setting. The romance itself was delightful, and the male main character was genuinely charming and perfectly suited for Cassandra.

Thank you to NetGalley and DP Books for providing me with an ARC.
99 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2026
I love all things Pride and Prejudice so I was excited by this book imagining the children of our favorite characters. Cassandra (FMC), Lydia and Wickham’s daughter, is the complete opposite of her parents and is responsible, well mannered and kind. She falls for Dr. Courtney (MMC) a sweet country doctor but due to a misunderstanding, thinks he is a terrible person. Watching them fall in love was so sweet.

I also loved Bennetta, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s daughter. She is adventurous and fun which stresses out her parents, who are still traumatized by Lydia even years later 🤣

I loved this book and recommend it as a fun read for any Jane Austen fan. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Katie.
304 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 26, 2026
This is a sweet and charming tribute to Pride and Prejudice. Fans of Austen who can suspend their disbelief for some wild, unlikely drama will enjoy this book. I also wish there had been more romantic moments throughout the book for Cassandra and the MMC (won't spoil it), but it's pretty much impossible not to like him! This is a clean romance that any reader could enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and dp books for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions.
Profile Image for Taylor Boardman.
100 reviews
April 29, 2026
This was my first dabble into Regency romance and I must say… I’m impressed 🤗 These 1800s romances continue to confirm that I absolutely would have failed miserably in polite society, but honestly? I love it for the girls who thrived in it 😂

I breezed through this book. It felt light, fun, and honestly, it was a refreshing switch up compared to the typical romances I usually reach for. I read this right after Pride and Prejudice, which made it such a fun little segue into the genre!
Profile Image for Leanne.
2,331 reviews52 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 26, 2026
This felt just like a Jane Austen book but a little bit more modern. Although the language is still from those times. It's captivating and dramatic with romance and secrets.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews