Three Wishes: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Elaine Burkett

While attempting to escape the stifling heat indoors on a hot September day, Elizabeth Bennet wanders through the woods near her home. While there, she comes across some abandoned treasures from childhood, including an old Arabic style lamp with which she had once acted out the stories of Aladdin. For old times’ sake she rubs at the lamp.

She is shocked when out pops…a fairy? The fairy, named Jeanie, explains that Elizabeth does, in fact, receive three wishes, although two of those wishes have already been decided by her past and future actions.

Join Elizabeth as she and her family experience the results of these wishes. Mary finds true love with one she had thought long gone. Jane and Mr. Bingley find their happily ever after before his sisters can attempt to interfere.

As for Our Dear Couple, their road to love is somewhat unusual due to Elizabeth’s new and unexpected power, but it is heartwarming and delightful, nevertheless.

Genres: Fantasy

189 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2026

About the author

Elaine Burkett lives in Utah with her husband, while her four adult children all live nearby. Her favorite hobby is writing, of course, followed closely by reading, playing video games, and cooking. When writing, Elaine finds inspiration by thinking about what kind of book she would want to read. Her works tend to be fairly low angst and relatively short, perfect for reading after a stressful day.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pride and Prejudice variation where Elizabeth rediscovers a lamp she had as a child. Now it seems she has been granted three wishes. How will this affect the future of the Bennets. Will Mary find her happy ending.
An entertaining Story

[lori huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and fun fairy tale

About a month before the arrival of the Bingleys and Darcy, Elizabeth rediscovers the magic lamp of her childhood games in the woods near Longbourn. After rubbing it, a magic fairy named Jeanie appears, ready to grant her three wishes, but there are rules and conditions. One of the wishes affects her acquaintance with Darcy, and she finds herself drawn to the serious and quiet man. Her three wishes end up affecting every member of the family in some way.

I like this author, and this is one of her better creations. These JAFF variations that include magic are always amusing and fun. The angst level is very low, since there are no villains to be found. The romance is lovely, and occurs without any obstacles. I deducted a star for the extreme simplicity of the story - this isn't great literature, and there's absolutely no drama. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.

[Levi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DnF at 45%

Boring!!
Insipid!!
The story up until now is more about Mary than Lizzy.
The 3 wishes are actually one and it's wasted in my opinion.
I had hopes... i shouldn't have ...!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Burkett writes a charming and inventive variation.

[Terri L. McClelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun short read, not to be taken seriously. Very low angst. No villains except a mildly snarky Miss Bingley.

Elizabeth is out walking when she comes across a treasure trove from her childhood days. In it is an Arabian style lamp that she used to rub and pretend that a genie would come to grant her wishes. For old times sake she gives the lamp a rub and out pops Jeanie (told you not to take this seriously!). Jeanie is a fairy who tells Elizabeth that she will receive three wishes. Two will be granted on the basis of the wish she made most often in the past and the wish she will make most often in the future.

Elizabeth feels she is not in need of anything to make her more happy than she is. As a child she wished for great wealth and Jeanie tells her that wish will be granted. In the future the wish she makes most often is “what is Mr Darcy thinking?” Just who is Mr Darcy wonders Elizabeth. Her final wish, based on her observations of her sister Mary, is that Mary learns to see her own beauty and not what she has been lead to believe about her appearance.

This is a good tale for a coming of awareness for Mary Bennet. It also is a good example of the old adage, “be careful what you wish for.” There is of course a happy ending as is required by all the best fairy tales.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This appears to have been written for tweens or young teens. The writing is simple, the vocabulary uncomplicated. There's a little fantasy involved, making it somewhat like a fairy tale with mind reading. Three of the Bennet sisters find their HEA. No Mr. Collins, not even a mention of Wickham, and no Lady Catherine. Little to no angst.

The Elizabeth Bennet in this variation is strange. She dislikes dogs and reading, and she's often confused. I found it hard to relate to her. Darcy, in this one, does not like living at Pemberley, shows no pride in it, and spends little time there. The two of them fell in love with each other so quickly, I was left wondering how it happened.

[Mariska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyful to read!

I absolutely loved this story! It's a sweet zero angst triple love story. The idea of Jeanie is both amusing and inspired; part fairy godmother, part djinn, with rules for genuine safety. If she is the one who emerges, I really want to find a lamp to rub. The very different love stories and Elizabeth's unselfish wish for Mary are each creative and very wonderful! 5 very happy stars!

[Siabhon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her books!

Whenever I see a book by Elaine Burkett I know I am in for a wonderful story. I really enjoyed this one. No angst, no Wickham, Lady Catherine, or Mr. Collins. This was mostly just a story about how a little magic can make some wonderful changes. I like the limitations the author gave for the wishes. It helped keep the story short and enjoyable. I cannot wait until the next story.

[mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Elizabeth gets three wishes but 2 she does not directly pick. The one she has, she uses to help her sister Mary. It was a short, quick story. It was cute. The story is perspective is split between Elizabth because of the wish.

[Violet Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most fun Jane Austen fan fiction I’ve ever read - and I have read many dozens. It was sweet with a different type of story that kept all of the characters pretty lovable. No big villains, just lovely character growth in all of our favorites.

[Donna Beveridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and satisfying

I love a fairy tale in a JAFF story. I'm always happy when there's no Wickham about! Enjoy a peaceful, easy read!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

rounded up to 4 stars. Very little angst, even Carolyn is subdued. Mary got a happy ending. Elizabeth and Darcy were extremely thoughtful which was almost overdone.

[Yas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5
cute and entertaining. I liked the simple relationship between EB & Mr D