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Kitty & Mary
Elizabeth married Mr Darcy; Jane married Mr Bingley; Lydia married Mr Wickham. But what happened to the forgotten Bennet sisters?
Six months after Pride and Prejudice, Mary is stuck at home with her parents. So, when an opportunity arises that will take her to far away India, Mary jumps at the chance for independence and adventure.
Meanwhile, Kitty has been flitting between the estates of her sisters, searching for a suitable husband at every ball and dinner. When Mary sets off to India, Kitty’s disappointment at returning home is tempered by the revelation that a new tenant has come to Netherfield Park – handsome poet Mr Whittaker. He seems like the perfect husband for Kitty, but will he end up being everything she hoped?
Through letters and journals we learn to understand and love the forgotten Bennet sisters.
Six months after Pride and Prejudice, Mary is stuck at home with her parents. So, when an opportunity arises that will take her to far away India, Mary jumps at the chance for independence and adventure.
Meanwhile, Kitty has been flitting between the estates of her sisters, searching for a suitable husband at every ball and dinner. When Mary sets off to India, Kitty’s disappointment at returning home is tempered by the revelation that a new tenant has come to Netherfield Park – handsome poet Mr Whittaker. He seems like the perfect husband for Kitty, but will he end up being everything she hoped?
Through letters and journals we learn to understand and love the forgotten Bennet sisters.
ebook
Published September 10, 2026
About the author
Julia Gray
5 books20 followersJulia Gray is the author of four novels for young adults, published by Andersen Press. Her Norse-mythology-influenced novel The Otherlife (2016) was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award. Little Liar (2018), a tale of friendship, performance and the dangers of telling lies, was also nominated for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for Best YA Novel at Crimefest 2019. I, Ada (2020) explores the tumultuous teenage years of Ada Lovelace, inventor of the machine algorithm. It was shortlisted for the Young Quills Award for Historical Fiction. To accompany the publication of the book, Julia co-produced and presented a podcast series called On the rADAr, in which she interviewed women in the fields of maths and science.
As a singer-songwriter, Julia has released six albums; her most recent EP, Songs for Nora Tobias, was released as a companion piece to her novel Little Liar.
Julia lives in south Oxfordshire with her husband, son and dog. She also writes for the publisher Wonderbly.
Her most recent novel, a YA continuation of Pride and Prejudice entitled Kitty and Mary and cowritten with Imogen Russell Williams, is out now.
As a singer-songwriter, Julia has released six albums; her most recent EP, Songs for Nora Tobias, was released as a companion piece to her novel Little Liar.
Julia lives in south Oxfordshire with her husband, son and dog. She also writes for the publisher Wonderbly.
Her most recent novel, a YA continuation of Pride and Prejudice entitled Kitty and Mary and cowritten with Imogen Russell Williams, is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 31, 2026
I am a fan of Jane Austen, especially pride and prejudice, so of course when I first heard about this book I knew I would enjoy it.
But enjoy is such an understatement! This book is so brilliant, exploring two wildly different perspectives and paths through two sisters that got left behind. Keeping Austen’s characterisation and style as well as old timey language, it delivers a greatly written story.
The use of letters and diary entries was incredibly clever, not only showing our main character’s concealed emotions in letters to each other, but also keeping the storytelling quite riveting and sharp! I loved the comparison between the letters and diary entries and the reveal of unreliability in the letters, coming out in the diaries.
These two sisters go on such splendid journeys, both discovering and learning much about themselves. This is an excellent coming of age - young in nature and mature in topics and themes.
But enjoy is such an understatement! This book is so brilliant, exploring two wildly different perspectives and paths through two sisters that got left behind. Keeping Austen’s characterisation and style as well as old timey language, it delivers a greatly written story.
The use of letters and diary entries was incredibly clever, not only showing our main character’s concealed emotions in letters to each other, but also keeping the storytelling quite riveting and sharp! I loved the comparison between the letters and diary entries and the reveal of unreliability in the letters, coming out in the diaries.
These two sisters go on such splendid journeys, both discovering and learning much about themselves. This is an excellent coming of age - young in nature and mature in topics and themes.
September 5, 2026
It has been an age since I read Pride & Prejudice, yet I have always felt such a strong connection to the characters, being that they are so widely beloved. Through time, producers, musicians and authors have created reimaginations of the stories, the events before and after, but where Kitty & Mary comes in is a fresh, unseen look at what happened to the forgotten Bennet sisters after Pride & Prejudice—the ones that all-too-frequently have been sidelined by their elder siblings. In this story, Kitty and Mary primarily write diary entries and letters to one another (or write them for when the other can read them) as their lives diverge into different paths away from the shadow of their sisters.
I must say that I have always been drawn to Kitty, even before this book. She is primarily the main forgotten sister of the entire family, seemingly always in the background, but with a rememberable flair for dramatics and a keen lean into playful chaos. Formerly staying around the Darcy residence for an extended period, she is sent back to Longbourn after Mary leaves for India, feeling stagnant without Lydia, yet knowing there’s more for her. Meanwhile Mary’s life takes her beyond what she thought was possible, to spend months at sea before reaching into the wide world of potential past the lines of what she thought possible for herself. The two of them are starkly different but are searching for such similar things in the world beyond marriage, searching for themselves, yet still leaning on one another through it all.
I think that Kitty & Mary is one of the most beguiling and uplifting spins on Pride & Prejudice that I’ve come across. More than just relying on the classic, it spins a whole new tapestry that builds a world for the characters to truly shine and grow. The thumping heartbeat of sisterhood is more than present in the story, but a huge driving force behind who the sisters are individually and together, for better and worse. It was bursting with heart, warmth and charm, a true coming-of-age story that doesn’t dull for a second, and pulls you into the history of the regency era, the places many Jane Austen fans will recognise and love, and the deep, unwavering courage of leaning into who you are and what you love. This feels like a classic in and of itself, and it’s one I know many historical romance readers are going to fall genuinely in love with.
I must say that I have always been drawn to Kitty, even before this book. She is primarily the main forgotten sister of the entire family, seemingly always in the background, but with a rememberable flair for dramatics and a keen lean into playful chaos. Formerly staying around the Darcy residence for an extended period, she is sent back to Longbourn after Mary leaves for India, feeling stagnant without Lydia, yet knowing there’s more for her. Meanwhile Mary’s life takes her beyond what she thought was possible, to spend months at sea before reaching into the wide world of potential past the lines of what she thought possible for herself. The two of them are starkly different but are searching for such similar things in the world beyond marriage, searching for themselves, yet still leaning on one another through it all.
I think that Kitty & Mary is one of the most beguiling and uplifting spins on Pride & Prejudice that I’ve come across. More than just relying on the classic, it spins a whole new tapestry that builds a world for the characters to truly shine and grow. The thumping heartbeat of sisterhood is more than present in the story, but a huge driving force behind who the sisters are individually and together, for better and worse. It was bursting with heart, warmth and charm, a true coming-of-age story that doesn’t dull for a second, and pulls you into the history of the regency era, the places many Jane Austen fans will recognise and love, and the deep, unwavering courage of leaning into who you are and what you love. This feels like a classic in and of itself, and it’s one I know many historical romance readers are going to fall genuinely in love with.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and in preparation for a UKYASpotlight interview. It has not affected my opinions.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is such an iconic story - and there are so many books that reimagine it (or add sequels - including one about Mary that was so recently made into a TV show!) It's therefore a difficult property to have a new spin on, but KITTY AND MARY manages to do that.
For me, it was the Kitty focus that really made it stand out. She, for me, is the truly forgotten Bennett sister (as the recent adaptation of THE OTHER BENNETT SISTER shows.) She often dismissed as the frivolous one who's easily led so it was nice to see her grow into her own over the course of this book. She's not a sister I had thought much about (always secondary in the Lydia/Kitty pairing!) so it was interesting to be made to think more about her!
Mary does feel like a less forgotten sister so I am glad this novel really gave her a different storyline, taking her away from England. It made it feel like its own thing, rather than a book drawing off others' ideas about the world. It also provides a change (given Kitty and Netherfield feel more familiar!) that helps set the book apart.
Mary's journey to India - and then time there - was fascinating. Colonial India is not a period seen much in YA and a fair bit of research had clearly been done to recreate Bombay at the time (not to mention life aboard a ship going around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.) The book treads a careful line between showing the commonly held views of the British imperialists while also having Mary feel strongly that this is wrong without dragging you out of time with modern language.
The book is told through letters and journal entries written by the two girls (plus a handful from other characters.) This was the way people kept up with one another and I liked the idea of the two sisters writing to "each other" in spirit, knowing they physically could not correspond due to the distance. Plus the formatting means there's a lot of white space, so the book reads very easily (no dense blocks of type here!)
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is such an iconic story - and there are so many books that reimagine it (or add sequels - including one about Mary that was so recently made into a TV show!) It's therefore a difficult property to have a new spin on, but KITTY AND MARY manages to do that.
For me, it was the Kitty focus that really made it stand out. She, for me, is the truly forgotten Bennett sister (as the recent adaptation of THE OTHER BENNETT SISTER shows.) She often dismissed as the frivolous one who's easily led so it was nice to see her grow into her own over the course of this book. She's not a sister I had thought much about (always secondary in the Lydia/Kitty pairing!) so it was interesting to be made to think more about her!
Mary does feel like a less forgotten sister so I am glad this novel really gave her a different storyline, taking her away from England. It made it feel like its own thing, rather than a book drawing off others' ideas about the world. It also provides a change (given Kitty and Netherfield feel more familiar!) that helps set the book apart.
Mary's journey to India - and then time there - was fascinating. Colonial India is not a period seen much in YA and a fair bit of research had clearly been done to recreate Bombay at the time (not to mention life aboard a ship going around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.) The book treads a careful line between showing the commonly held views of the British imperialists while also having Mary feel strongly that this is wrong without dragging you out of time with modern language.
The book is told through letters and journal entries written by the two girls (plus a handful from other characters.) This was the way people kept up with one another and I liked the idea of the two sisters writing to "each other" in spirit, knowing they physically could not correspond due to the distance. Plus the formatting means there's a lot of white space, so the book reads very easily (no dense blocks of type here!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It is a shame that this book came out so close to the TV adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister, which has not only been accepted as canon by many a Jane Austen fan, but has also set the bar for continuations, variations, and retellings of classic novels. I went in incredibly excited to see what was in store for this particular version of Mary and Kitty, but this book was just so… dull.
The book is told entirely in letters and journal entries, which – when done well – can be very effective. The problem is here, that for the vast majority of the book, Kitty and Mary weren’t able to receive each other’s letters, as Mary is travelling abroad. So they’re writing each other letters, but they haven’t read the letters that we’ve read, and they can’t have any reaction to what the other one has told them.
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There also wasn’t a massive difference in tone between the letters and the journals, and I think it would have been much more effective if we could have seen the contrast between what they’re willing to share publicly and what they would like to keep private. I never felt any emotional impact from what had happened in their lives, and I was desperate to dig beneath the surface just a little bit deeper.
The other three Bennet sisters are mentioned to varying extents, with Jane in particular playing a part in Kitty’s storyline. I did like that the other three sisters didn’t overshadow Kitty and Mary’s storylines, and I thought they were included the exact right amount.
I also appreciated the inclusion of a queer storyline, and that it was done in a way that felt historically realistic, without compromising on the HEA. That being said, it still came across as a bit dull and lacklustre, and I didn’t feel much emotional connection with it.
It’s a valiant effort, but this book ultimately fell flat for me. I finished it out of a sense of duty rather than enjoyment, and now I think I will re-watch The Other Bennet Sister.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The book is told entirely in letters and journal entries, which – when done well – can be very effective. The problem is here, that for the vast majority of the book, Kitty and Mary weren’t able to receive each other’s letters, as Mary is travelling abroad. So they’re writing each other letters, but they haven’t read the letters that we’ve read, and they can’t have any reaction to what the other one has told them.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
There also wasn’t a massive difference in tone between the letters and the journals, and I think it would have been much more effective if we could have seen the contrast between what they’re willing to share publicly and what they would like to keep private. I never felt any emotional impact from what had happened in their lives, and I was desperate to dig beneath the surface just a little bit deeper.
The other three Bennet sisters are mentioned to varying extents, with Jane in particular playing a part in Kitty’s storyline. I did like that the other three sisters didn’t overshadow Kitty and Mary’s storylines, and I thought they were included the exact right amount.
I also appreciated the inclusion of a queer storyline, and that it was done in a way that felt historically realistic, without compromising on the HEA. That being said, it still came across as a bit dull and lacklustre, and I didn’t feel much emotional connection with it.
It’s a valiant effort, but this book ultimately fell flat for me. I finished it out of a sense of duty rather than enjoyment, and now I think I will re-watch The Other Bennet Sister.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
September 15, 2026
This is an epistolary novel, made up of letters and journal entries between Mary and Kitty, who have formed an unexpectedly close relationship since Lizzy and Jane got married. Though Kitty is shuttling between Lizzy and Jane’s households as she attempts to find a suitable husband amongst her sisters’ new friends as they settle into married life, while poor Mary is stuck at home with Mrs Bennet and her ailments.
This retelling could so easily have gone astray. Austen’s acerbic humour could have been over or underplayed… the characters could have been transformed into young women fans of Pride and Prejudice wouldn’t have recognised… the historical details could have been completely wrong… the pacing could have drooped – after all, relaying everything through letters and diary entries doesn’t exactly give us a ringside seat… Fortunately none of the above came to pass. This is a pitch-perfect rendering of an interesting period.
I loved how Mary suddenly finds herself swept off to India, at the behest of the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to accompany a young woman whose reputation has been compromised. We get to see how Mary responds to a difficult sea voyage and all the new adventures that assail her in a land full of colour and excitement. And how the British colonists ensure that their social circle doesn’t connect or interact with anyone other than those of their own race and class.
Meanwhile, we also get glimpses into the lives of Jane and Elizabeth as a new addition to the Bennet clan is born. The pages flew by all too quickly as I inhaled this one, thoroughly relishing the skill with which Gray and Russell Williams evoke the time and characters. I’d love to think they were working on a sequel. In the meantime, this offering comes very highly recommended to fans of Jane Austen retellings. While I obtained an arc of Kitty & Mary from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10
This retelling could so easily have gone astray. Austen’s acerbic humour could have been over or underplayed… the characters could have been transformed into young women fans of Pride and Prejudice wouldn’t have recognised… the historical details could have been completely wrong… the pacing could have drooped – after all, relaying everything through letters and diary entries doesn’t exactly give us a ringside seat… Fortunately none of the above came to pass. This is a pitch-perfect rendering of an interesting period.
I loved how Mary suddenly finds herself swept off to India, at the behest of the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to accompany a young woman whose reputation has been compromised. We get to see how Mary responds to a difficult sea voyage and all the new adventures that assail her in a land full of colour and excitement. And how the British colonists ensure that their social circle doesn’t connect or interact with anyone other than those of their own race and class.
Meanwhile, we also get glimpses into the lives of Jane and Elizabeth as a new addition to the Bennet clan is born. The pages flew by all too quickly as I inhaled this one, thoroughly relishing the skill with which Gray and Russell Williams evoke the time and characters. I’d love to think they were working on a sequel. In the meantime, this offering comes very highly recommended to fans of Jane Austen retellings. While I obtained an arc of Kitty & Mary from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kitty and Mary was a delightful continuation of Pride and Prejudice, with each of the remaining Bennet sisters having a very sweet HEA in their own ways! It took me about a quarter to really get into it, and at first I much preferred Mary's storyline. However, Kitty's blossoming at home was really sweet and by the midpoint I was absolutely hooked on both storyline.
Told through mostly epistolary with letters and diaries, I loved that both Gray and Russell Williams made it feel very Austen-y, very faithful to the time period (I love when historical romance is heavy on the historical setting!) Kitty's HEA felt extremely Austenian, though there was no dastardly wicked suitor, and I loved the dynamics of the Bennet family. Especially the insight into Jane and Bingley's family! Also how much excitement as Netherfield Hall being let again, with a gentleman of £8000 a year!!! Poor Lydia's outcome made me laugh too, though I am the number 1 Wickham hater.
For Mary, I thought it held up against The Other Bennet Sister really well (and yay for a queer Mary!) Her trip to India was my favourite part of the book, and I loved her connections with Nell, Elspeth and Lakshmi. I thought that using India as a setting within the time period was really interesting - and how Mary's HEA came about was gorgeous and had me at the edge of my seat!!
I can't recommend Kitty and Mary enough! Releasing on the 10th September with a beautiful hardback, it's a must for any Austen fan (of all ages - lots of wholesome romances all around!) Thank you to anderson press for a proof copy and to and Imogen and Julia for such a delightful book 😍
Told through mostly epistolary with letters and diaries, I loved that both Gray and Russell Williams made it feel very Austen-y, very faithful to the time period (I love when historical romance is heavy on the historical setting!) Kitty's HEA felt extremely Austenian, though there was no dastardly wicked suitor, and I loved the dynamics of the Bennet family. Especially the insight into Jane and Bingley's family! Also how much excitement as Netherfield Hall being let again, with a gentleman of £8000 a year!!! Poor Lydia's outcome made me laugh too, though I am the number 1 Wickham hater.
For Mary, I thought it held up against The Other Bennet Sister really well (and yay for a queer Mary!) Her trip to India was my favourite part of the book, and I loved her connections with Nell, Elspeth and Lakshmi. I thought that using India as a setting within the time period was really interesting - and how Mary's HEA came about was gorgeous and had me at the edge of my seat!!
I can't recommend Kitty and Mary enough! Releasing on the 10th September with a beautiful hardback, it's a must for any Austen fan (of all ages - lots of wholesome romances all around!) Thank you to anderson press for a proof copy and to and Imogen and Julia for such a delightful book 😍
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice' ended with three Bennett daughters married but what happened to the two remaining girls - Kitty & Mary? Set 6 months after the events of P&P, Kitty is third-wheeling it with Darcy & Elizabeth (whilst Darcy fervently wishes she would return home) & Mary is still at Longbourn.
A visit from Lady Catherine de Bourgh offers Mary the chance to travel to India as chaperone to a wayward daughter. If Mary cannot find a suitable husband for herself amongst men far from home, she stands no hope of every marrying. Meanwhile Kitty has to return home in Mary's absence & finds that Netherfield has been let again - to a single young man with a fortune.
I'm always wary of reading books which 'add on' to the original work, but I actually really enjoyed where both Kitty & Mary’s stories went, although their romantic matches were obvious. I felt that the authors stayed pretty true to Austen’s originals whilst expanding their personalities beyond the glimpses in P&P.
Told via letters between Kitty & Mary & diary entries (plus a few letters from other characters such as Lydia), it was a light, heart-warming read which was a nice change from my usual crime/horror fiction.
SUMMARY:
Plot: 4/5 - I actually really enjoyed where both Kitty & Mary’s stories went, although their romantic matches were obvious.
Writing Style: 4/5 - I felt that the authors stayed pretty true to Austen’s originals whilst expanding their personalities beyond the glimpses in P&P.
Enjoyment: 4/5 - This was a light, heart-warming read which was a nice change from my usual crime/horror fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Andersen Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
A visit from Lady Catherine de Bourgh offers Mary the chance to travel to India as chaperone to a wayward daughter. If Mary cannot find a suitable husband for herself amongst men far from home, she stands no hope of every marrying. Meanwhile Kitty has to return home in Mary's absence & finds that Netherfield has been let again - to a single young man with a fortune.
I'm always wary of reading books which 'add on' to the original work, but I actually really enjoyed where both Kitty & Mary’s stories went, although their romantic matches were obvious. I felt that the authors stayed pretty true to Austen’s originals whilst expanding their personalities beyond the glimpses in P&P.
Told via letters between Kitty & Mary & diary entries (plus a few letters from other characters such as Lydia), it was a light, heart-warming read which was a nice change from my usual crime/horror fiction.
SUMMARY:
Plot: 4/5 - I actually really enjoyed where both Kitty & Mary’s stories went, although their romantic matches were obvious.
Writing Style: 4/5 - I felt that the authors stayed pretty true to Austen’s originals whilst expanding their personalities beyond the glimpses in P&P.
Enjoyment: 4/5 - This was a light, heart-warming read which was a nice change from my usual crime/horror fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Andersen Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An excellent novel that keeps the style and register of Austen, especially the epistolary style of her Juvenilia, perfectly.
The author has stated she doesn't wish to anachronistically label Mary as Autistic, however the character is very much coded as such but it is lovingly done in keeping with the character we know.
It is natural that coming in the wake of the adaptation of The Other Bennett Sister, comparisons will be drawn, but Kitty and Mary more than holds it's own, particularly in that it gives not just Mary but Kitty a story and develops a real, loving sibling relationship between the two.
The glimpses of the married lives of their sisters are in two cases heartwarming and moving and Lydia's is as might be expected. Mary's journey to India and her adventures in love, friendship, marriage, and education are joyous, moving, and careful to reflect on colonial prejudices and attitudes but does so deftly and from the perspective who feels pushed to the edges of society being unable to perceive its unwritten rules or the sense behind them.
Kitty's voyage of self discovery is no less enjoyable as she realises who she is beyond the influence of her sisters and what it is she truly wants for herself.
The choice to have Mary develop a sapphic relationship is a bold one but not unwarranted and it pans into a believable and heart-warming ending for her.
I would like to thank the wonderful people at Andersen for the ARC it has not affected my opinions.
The author has stated she doesn't wish to anachronistically label Mary as Autistic, however the character is very much coded as such but it is lovingly done in keeping with the character we know.
It is natural that coming in the wake of the adaptation of The Other Bennett Sister, comparisons will be drawn, but Kitty and Mary more than holds it's own, particularly in that it gives not just Mary but Kitty a story and develops a real, loving sibling relationship between the two.
The glimpses of the married lives of their sisters are in two cases heartwarming and moving and Lydia's is as might be expected. Mary's journey to India and her adventures in love, friendship, marriage, and education are joyous, moving, and careful to reflect on colonial prejudices and attitudes but does so deftly and from the perspective who feels pushed to the edges of society being unable to perceive its unwritten rules or the sense behind them.
Kitty's voyage of self discovery is no less enjoyable as she realises who she is beyond the influence of her sisters and what it is she truly wants for herself.
The choice to have Mary develop a sapphic relationship is a bold one but not unwarranted and it pans into a believable and heart-warming ending for her.
I would like to thank the wonderful people at Andersen for the ARC it has not affected my opinions.
October 6, 2026
Subtitled ‘The Forgotten Bennet Sisters’ this is a reimagining of Kitty and Mary’s life six months after the end of Pride and Prejudice. The story is told largely through the media of journals and letters, mainly written between the two sisters (but not always sent or received) but with some exceptions. Written in a similar style to the original this is an enjoyable follow on to the Austen classic.
Briefly, with Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’, Jane and Lydia married the two remaining sisters take very different paths. Mary is still at Longbourn with her parent when Lady Catherine de Bourgh offers her the chance of an adventure - a trip to Bombay (now Mumbai) in India as a chaperone. Meanwhile Kitty has been living with the Darcy’s but when Mary leaves she moves back home and is thrilled to find that there is a potential beau living at Netherfield.
I liked that this book included little updates on the three married sisters alongside the lives of Kitty and Mary. Mary’s story was very bold with a long sea voyage to reach her destination, a strange and unexpected life in colonial India, and a relationship that would be frowned on at this time. Kitty’s story was more a journey of self exploration and a coming of age but equally entertaining. A wonderful read.
Briefly, with Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’, Jane and Lydia married the two remaining sisters take very different paths. Mary is still at Longbourn with her parent when Lady Catherine de Bourgh offers her the chance of an adventure - a trip to Bombay (now Mumbai) in India as a chaperone. Meanwhile Kitty has been living with the Darcy’s but when Mary leaves she moves back home and is thrilled to find that there is a potential beau living at Netherfield.
I liked that this book included little updates on the three married sisters alongside the lives of Kitty and Mary. Mary’s story was very bold with a long sea voyage to reach her destination, a strange and unexpected life in colonial India, and a relationship that would be frowned on at this time. Kitty’s story was more a journey of self exploration and a coming of age but equally entertaining. A wonderful read.
June 13, 2026
What might have happened to Mary and Kitty Bennet?
Hot on the heels of the TV production of The Other Bennet Sister is another reimagining of what might have become of the other two sisters.
This book, composed of (unsent) letters between Kitty and Mary, and their own journal entries, describes Mary’s journey to India in the hope that she might have more success in finding a husband there, and Kitty’s journey of self-discovery while still in England.
Along the way there are snippets showing life for Jane and Darcey, Elizabeth and Bingley and Lydia and Wickham as well as Mr and Mrs Bennet. For fans of P&P maybe there’s even more to take from it.
I found this far too slow (maybe deliberately reflecting the journey to India) and, whilst I enjoyed seeing the resolution of both sisters’ stories, it didn’t really grab me. I didn’t really get a sense of Bombay in 1813 and whilst I can see how moving to another continent allowed for certain aspects of the story to play out, it felt a little contrived to me.
Grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC in return for my unbiased review.
Hot on the heels of the TV production of The Other Bennet Sister is another reimagining of what might have become of the other two sisters.
This book, composed of (unsent) letters between Kitty and Mary, and their own journal entries, describes Mary’s journey to India in the hope that she might have more success in finding a husband there, and Kitty’s journey of self-discovery while still in England.
Along the way there are snippets showing life for Jane and Darcey, Elizabeth and Bingley and Lydia and Wickham as well as Mr and Mrs Bennet. For fans of P&P maybe there’s even more to take from it.
I found this far too slow (maybe deliberately reflecting the journey to India) and, whilst I enjoyed seeing the resolution of both sisters’ stories, it didn’t really grab me. I didn’t really get a sense of Bombay in 1813 and whilst I can see how moving to another continent allowed for certain aspects of the story to play out, it felt a little contrived to me.
Grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC in return for my unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a die hard Pride and Prejudice fan there was no way I was going to pass up an opportunity to read this book and I am so happy that I got the chance. It was a delightful read that transported me straight back to Longbourn as if I'd never been away. The writing style fits perfectly with that of Austen and the development of Kitty and Mary's characters both fits with the information we know of them and stays true to their characters whilst developing and rounding them out.
I loved the storyline and felt both of the girls' deserved to be explored and come into themselves and it was heartwarming to see their development amid any minor follies. It really helped them to step out of the shadows of their more prominent sisters and to imagine what their futures would contain amid a restrictive society.
I enjoyed the mix of correspondence and journal entries, which felt like getting to peek behind the curtain and seeing the characters' real thoughts on events. The occasional correspondence from Lizzy, Jane or Lydia helped to keep the pace moving along.
Thank you to the authors, Andersen Press and Netgalley for my copy.
I loved the storyline and felt both of the girls' deserved to be explored and come into themselves and it was heartwarming to see their development amid any minor follies. It really helped them to step out of the shadows of their more prominent sisters and to imagine what their futures would contain amid a restrictive society.
I enjoyed the mix of correspondence and journal entries, which felt like getting to peek behind the curtain and seeing the characters' real thoughts on events. The occasional correspondence from Lizzy, Jane or Lydia helped to keep the pace moving along.
Thank you to the authors, Andersen Press and Netgalley for my copy.
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026
Expected publication: 10th September 2026
DNF @ 62%
Kitty & Mary explores what could have happened with the remaining unmarried Bennet sisters after the events of Pride & Prejudice.
Kitty is the last one at home, managing her mother's nerves and catching the eye of the new tenant of Netherfield Hall. While Mary is on a voyage to India, making new friends along the way.
The novel is told in letters and diary entries between the two sisters, exploring how each of them are growing in their own ways.
Whilst this started off as a very fun read, unfortunately it became very dull and hard to push through. I think perhaps using exclusively letters and journal entries was not the best format, and it may have benefitted from some more standard storytelling as well, to break up the monotony a bit.
I was hoping to love this as I LOVE Pride and Prejudice and I really enjoyed the beginning and being back with these characters, but ultimately this fell flat for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Andersen Press for the eARC.
DNF @ 62%
Kitty & Mary explores what could have happened with the remaining unmarried Bennet sisters after the events of Pride & Prejudice.
Kitty is the last one at home, managing her mother's nerves and catching the eye of the new tenant of Netherfield Hall. While Mary is on a voyage to India, making new friends along the way.
The novel is told in letters and diary entries between the two sisters, exploring how each of them are growing in their own ways.
Whilst this started off as a very fun read, unfortunately it became very dull and hard to push through. I think perhaps using exclusively letters and journal entries was not the best format, and it may have benefitted from some more standard storytelling as well, to break up the monotony a bit.
I was hoping to love this as I LOVE Pride and Prejudice and I really enjoyed the beginning and being back with these characters, but ultimately this fell flat for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Andersen Press for the eARC.
September 27, 2026
I love anything epistolary, I love Austen and I love a gorgeous hardback, so it was always going to be a three for three buy for me on Kitty & Mary, and luckily the story does not disappoint. The authors are close friends and have taken the letters and diary entries of a sister apiece (with a few cameo letters sprinkled through from Lydia, Jane and Lizzie) and I'm sure this helps with the tangible affection between the sisters, despite their differences.
Mary of course has had a more recent reimagining in 'The Other Bennet Sister', but her story here is completely dissimilar, bravely setting sail for India at the behest of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. If anything it is Kitty who is really the hitherto overlooked sibling, and I very much enjoyed her perspective. She reminded me here a little of another teenage Catherine created by Austen - though initially less fond of books than the heroine of Northanger Abbey, she did manage to misread situations and get herself into scrapes to amusing effect. A must-have for Austen fans!
Mary of course has had a more recent reimagining in 'The Other Bennet Sister', but her story here is completely dissimilar, bravely setting sail for India at the behest of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. If anything it is Kitty who is really the hitherto overlooked sibling, and I very much enjoyed her perspective. She reminded me here a little of another teenage Catherine created by Austen - though initially less fond of books than the heroine of Northanger Abbey, she did manage to misread situations and get herself into scrapes to amusing effect. A must-have for Austen fans!
May 24, 2026
An enjoyable epistolary novel about the two lesser known Bennet sisters. Kitty and Mary picks up after P&P ends. Kitty is on an extended visit to Pemberley whilst Mary is left at Longbourn to wait on her mother, when a visit from Lady Catherine reverses their fortune. Connections of hers need a sensible companion to chaperone their wayward daughter to India and she would like Mary to go. Bombay, full of eligible English men so desperate for w wife that even Mary might finally get a chance to shine. But her absence means Kitty must come home. Lucky for then that Netherfield is once more let to a single gentleman in possession of a fortune...
Kitty and Mary is an entertaining read with a lot of heart. Wtching both young women, in their different ways, try to make up for their lack of education and spread their wings is a delight, as is watching their relationship develop from antagonists who misunderstand each other to close confidants. Recommended.
Kitty and Mary is an entertaining read with a lot of heart. Wtching both young women, in their different ways, try to make up for their lack of education and spread their wings is a delight, as is watching their relationship develop from antagonists who misunderstand each other to close confidants. Recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for a review
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I had high hopes for this book.
Kitty and Mary is the story of what might have happened to Kitty and Mary Bennet after the events of Pride and Prejudice. Told through letters and journal entries, the novel explores Mary as she travels to India in hopes that she'll find a husband, and Kitty, as she learns more about herself back in England.
The novel offers snippets of the lives of Lizzie, Jane, and Lydia live too.
I was honestly really excited for this as I'm a huge Pride and Prejudice fan, and also wrote on P&P for my dissertation. However, I felt that this was very, very slow in pace, and I didn't really get much sense of feeling throughout the book. It's great for a good read if you're not overly into Pride and Prejudice, but I wasn't captivated by it that much.
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I had high hopes for this book.
Kitty and Mary is the story of what might have happened to Kitty and Mary Bennet after the events of Pride and Prejudice. Told through letters and journal entries, the novel explores Mary as she travels to India in hopes that she'll find a husband, and Kitty, as she learns more about herself back in England.
The novel offers snippets of the lives of Lizzie, Jane, and Lydia live too.
I was honestly really excited for this as I'm a huge Pride and Prejudice fan, and also wrote on P&P for my dissertation. However, I felt that this was very, very slow in pace, and I didn't really get much sense of feeling throughout the book. It's great for a good read if you're not overly into Pride and Prejudice, but I wasn't captivated by it that much.
September 10, 2026
I’m not always a fan of an epistolary novel, but I do love a Pride and Prejudice spin off! The letters and journals here are written mainly by Mary and Kitty Bennet, and while Kitty follows their older sisters in a more traditional route to love, focused of course on the new tenants at Netherfield, Mary sets sail for India as the companion to a rebellious relative of Lady Catherine. For a while it was Mary’s story that had me wanting more - rich and fascinating descriptions of India, and Mary’s despair at colonial society, make for an interesting take on the wider world through her eyes. But in the last third of the book, as both girls learn more about themselves, and who they will be as women, I found myself invested in their happiness and unable to put the book down.
Thank you to NetGalley for this wonderful e-arc.
Thank you to NetGalley for this wonderful e-arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this ARC.
I was going to say that I would recommend this book to lovers of Pride and Prejudice but on reflection I wonder whether some older, very conventional lovers of p and p might not like the outcome of this novel. This is a book that probably could not have been written when pride and prejudice first appeared - a time when the only real alternative to conventional marriage for someone such as Mary was to serve as a governess, something Mary does not want to become.
Personally I really enjoyed the book, finding the format of diary entries and letters incredibly accessible to read and an excellent was of revealing the fates of both Kitty and Mary.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was going to say that I would recommend this book to lovers of Pride and Prejudice but on reflection I wonder whether some older, very conventional lovers of p and p might not like the outcome of this novel. This is a book that probably could not have been written when pride and prejudice first appeared - a time when the only real alternative to conventional marriage for someone such as Mary was to serve as a governess, something Mary does not want to become.
Personally I really enjoyed the book, finding the format of diary entries and letters incredibly accessible to read and an excellent was of revealing the fates of both Kitty and Mary.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A gentle read written in a satisfying authentic style in the form of diary entries and letters between the Bennet sisters. This is a little slow paced at times but I really enjoyed the attention to detail of the sea voyage to India. Austen enthusiasts will enjoy following the pursuits of Kitty and Mary in this charming imagined sequel to the much loved Pride and Prejudice.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I adored this fresh and witty novel which brings Kitty and Mary Bennet to the fore, after the marriages of Jane, Elizabeth and Lydia. My review is based on an ARC sent to me by the publisher, you can read my full review here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...
September 7, 2026
As a new Pride and Prejudice fan, there was no way I was going to pass up a book that gives Mary and Kitty their own stories, and I really enjoyed this one!
I loved seeing them step out of the shadows of Elizabeth and Jane and actually get the chance to grow into themselves. They still felt true to Austen's characters, but it was lovely seeing a little more of who they could become.
I also really enjoyed the letters and journal entries throughout. They made the story feel personal and gave us a fun little peek into what everyone was actually thinking.
Overall, such a fun and easy read, and I loved getting to see Mary and Kitty finally have their moment.
I loved seeing them step out of the shadows of Elizabeth and Jane and actually get the chance to grow into themselves. They still felt true to Austen's characters, but it was lovely seeing a little more of who they could become.
I also really enjoyed the letters and journal entries throughout. They made the story feel personal and gave us a fun little peek into what everyone was actually thinking.
Overall, such a fun and easy read, and I loved getting to see Mary and Kitty finally have their moment.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Elizabeth is now Elizabeth Darcy, Jane is now Jane Bingley, Lydia is now Lydia Wickham, but Jane Austen never tells us what happened to Kitty and Mary.
It’s been six months since the events of Pride and Prejudice, and the Bennett sisters are spread further around England than they ever have. While the married Bennett girls are living their married lives, Mary is stuck with her parents – her overbearing mother and her distant father, while Kitty is flitting between Elizabeth and Jane’s estates.
Mary is given a rare opportunity to escort a young lady to India and takes the plunge into a whole other life and culture spending months on a boat. All the while Kitty is trying to find her happy ending and her future husband…could the new tenant at Netherfield be the answer?
Told through letters and journal entries, we follow Kitty and Mary in their adventures and still hear from the other Bennett sisters along the way. I really did enjoy this imagined sequel and where the girls’ stories conclude. This was an easy, fun and enjoyable read from beginning to end. It felt so cosy to be reunited with these background characters and make them the main characters.
Both girls grow and evolve so much over the course of the story, Mary being true to herself, showing bravery and courage while doing it and Kitty finally growing into a lovely lady rather than a silly little girl following in her sister’s footsteps. The only niggling point I have is that Mary didn’t end up spending much time in India and I really would have loved to see more of interacting with people from all background’s there and learning more about the culture and maybe making a difference while she is there. Despite this, I really had a great time reading this and any fan of Pride and Prejudice will too!
Favourite Quote:
“The old Mary might have deferred to him, merely on grounds of sex; the Mary who has spent months with women of superior understanding, not to mention witnessing a great deal of foolish superstition and miscalculation among the Alexander’s men, markedly less so.”
It’s been six months since the events of Pride and Prejudice, and the Bennett sisters are spread further around England than they ever have. While the married Bennett girls are living their married lives, Mary is stuck with her parents – her overbearing mother and her distant father, while Kitty is flitting between Elizabeth and Jane’s estates.
Mary is given a rare opportunity to escort a young lady to India and takes the plunge into a whole other life and culture spending months on a boat. All the while Kitty is trying to find her happy ending and her future husband…could the new tenant at Netherfield be the answer?
Told through letters and journal entries, we follow Kitty and Mary in their adventures and still hear from the other Bennett sisters along the way. I really did enjoy this imagined sequel and where the girls’ stories conclude. This was an easy, fun and enjoyable read from beginning to end. It felt so cosy to be reunited with these background characters and make them the main characters.
Both girls grow and evolve so much over the course of the story, Mary being true to herself, showing bravery and courage while doing it and Kitty finally growing into a lovely lady rather than a silly little girl following in her sister’s footsteps. The only niggling point I have is that Mary didn’t end up spending much time in India and I really would have loved to see more of interacting with people from all background’s there and learning more about the culture and maybe making a difference while she is there. Despite this, I really had a great time reading this and any fan of Pride and Prejudice will too!
Favourite Quote:
“The old Mary might have deferred to him, merely on grounds of sex; the Mary who has spent months with women of superior understanding, not to mention witnessing a great deal of foolish superstition and miscalculation among the Alexander’s men, markedly less so.”
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
July 12, 2026
4.5 stars
So charming and delightful and Austenian! Love to see reimaginings of the canon and also additions and expansions.
So charming and delightful and Austenian! Love to see reimaginings of the canon and also additions and expansions.
September 6, 2026
‘i have nothing to offer other than my love.’
‘why should anything more than that matter?’
oh what a lovely little book about sisterhood & their wonderfully intertwined lives. i loved that it was written through letters & the little jumps between kitty & mary were rather fun!! the romances shown within the letters were so heartwarming too. this definitely left me wanting to read more from these authors & more of the other bennet sisters! if you loved watching the other bennet sister then you’ll absolutely love how funny & sweet this is!
‘why should anything more than that matter?’
oh what a lovely little book about sisterhood & their wonderfully intertwined lives. i loved that it was written through letters & the little jumps between kitty & mary were rather fun!! the romances shown within the letters were so heartwarming too. this definitely left me wanting to read more from these authors & more of the other bennet sisters! if you loved watching the other bennet sister then you’ll absolutely love how funny & sweet this is!
May 10, 2026
'Kitty & Mary' follows the two least-known Bennet sisters in their adventures after the events of 'Pride and Prejudice'. Kitty returns to Netherfield and sets her cap at its newest inhabitant - a pretentious gentleman poet named Mr Whittaker. Meanwhile, Mary is offered the opportunity to travel to India as chaperone to a relative of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The story is told through letters shared between the two sisters, their slightly more honest diary entries, and occasionally letters from their other sisters.
Though Mary doesn't come off well in 'Pride and Prejudice', at least she is attributed her own personality, while Kitty is referred to primarily as Lydia's follower, which is even more demeaning considering she is two years older. But in this book Kitty and Mary both finally get a satisfying character arc and a suitable happy ending. Often, with a dual narrative, it is clear the author prefers one narrative over the other, but with two authors in this case, both narratives were distinctive and equally engaging.
And I particularly enjoyed the way Kitty and Mary relate to each other as sisters who have nothing in common - with some bickering and contempt outwardly, but ultimately with warmth and affection developed over years of shared family experiences.
'Kitty & Mary' is a thoroughly charming read - I loved it.
Though Mary doesn't come off well in 'Pride and Prejudice', at least she is attributed her own personality, while Kitty is referred to primarily as Lydia's follower, which is even more demeaning considering she is two years older. But in this book Kitty and Mary both finally get a satisfying character arc and a suitable happy ending. Often, with a dual narrative, it is clear the author prefers one narrative over the other, but with two authors in this case, both narratives were distinctive and equally engaging.
And I particularly enjoyed the way Kitty and Mary relate to each other as sisters who have nothing in common - with some bickering and contempt outwardly, but ultimately with warmth and affection developed over years of shared family experiences.
'Kitty & Mary' is a thoroughly charming read - I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love how The Other Bennet Sister and its recent TV adaptation have catapulted Pride & Prejudice reimaginings and extensions into the spotlight.
As a sucker for anything P&P, I recently reviewed After Darcy by Joanna Nadin, and today it's the turn of Kitty & Mary by Julia Gray and Imogen Russell Williams.
After the marriage of three sisters, Kitty and Mary are left wondering what their futures might look like at Longbourn. While Mary settles into the role of her mother's companion and caretaker, Kitty spends much of her time visiting her sisters. But when an exciting opportunity in India arises and a new resident arrives at Netherfield, both women's lives begin to take unexpected turns.
The story is told through a mix of diary entries and letters between Kitty and Mary, which made it feel really personal and gave both sisters the chance to tell their own stories. As characters who are overshadowed in Pride & Prejudice, it was lovely to spend time with them and see them develop as women and as sisters. I imagine this was helped by the presence of two authors, as both sisters felt distinct and believable.
Although the rest of the Bennet family make appearances and are mentioned throughout, they never take over the story. This is very much Kitty and Mary's time in the spotlight, and I enjoyed seeing their individual journeys take centre stage.
I also appreciated the queer storyline, which added another layer to the novel. It felt thoughtfully woven into the narrative and sat naturally within the historical setting.
Overall, this was a quick, light and enjoyable read that offered something a little different from the other Pride & Prejudice adaptations I've seen recently. Giving Kitty and Mary the chance to shine was brilliant and I would happily recommend this book to fellow Austen fans looking for a fresh take on the Bennet sisters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Andersen Press for an advanced copy of this book. Kitty & Mary is out on 10th September
As a sucker for anything P&P, I recently reviewed After Darcy by Joanna Nadin, and today it's the turn of Kitty & Mary by Julia Gray and Imogen Russell Williams.
After the marriage of three sisters, Kitty and Mary are left wondering what their futures might look like at Longbourn. While Mary settles into the role of her mother's companion and caretaker, Kitty spends much of her time visiting her sisters. But when an exciting opportunity in India arises and a new resident arrives at Netherfield, both women's lives begin to take unexpected turns.
The story is told through a mix of diary entries and letters between Kitty and Mary, which made it feel really personal and gave both sisters the chance to tell their own stories. As characters who are overshadowed in Pride & Prejudice, it was lovely to spend time with them and see them develop as women and as sisters. I imagine this was helped by the presence of two authors, as both sisters felt distinct and believable.
Although the rest of the Bennet family make appearances and are mentioned throughout, they never take over the story. This is very much Kitty and Mary's time in the spotlight, and I enjoyed seeing their individual journeys take centre stage.
I also appreciated the queer storyline, which added another layer to the novel. It felt thoughtfully woven into the narrative and sat naturally within the historical setting.
Overall, this was a quick, light and enjoyable read that offered something a little different from the other Pride & Prejudice adaptations I've seen recently. Giving Kitty and Mary the chance to shine was brilliant and I would happily recommend this book to fellow Austen fans looking for a fresh take on the Bennet sisters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Andersen Press for an advanced copy of this book. Kitty & Mary is out on 10th September
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