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The Story of Lizzy and Darcy
When Lizzy Bennet first meets Darcy Williams, there is an instant dislike between them. As much as they try to avoid it their paths keep crossing, and they each start to see a different side to the other. Their tentative friendship is soon tested, but will they realise how they really feel?
The Story of Lizzy and Darcy is a modern day, same-sex adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
The Story of Lizzy and Darcy is a modern day, same-sex adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
410 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2017
24 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
Grace Watson
5 books12 followersBorn in the North-East of England, Grace grew up in the Black Country and currently lives in Wales, where she is studying music and training as a classical singer. After spending her teenage years writing fanfiction she published her first novel, The Story of Lizzy and Darcy, in 2017. She has too many books, not enough cats, and an alarmingly large collection of ceramic owls.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 22, 2018
When I heard about this book I got really excited. I've been wanting exactly this for a while now. I'm not really a classics person but I do love Pride & Prejudice after falling in love with the Lizzie Bennett Diaries when I was 15. So, as someone who loves seeing classic stories adapted into a queer version, I saw Pride & Prejudice as the perfect candidate for a modern f/f, even trying (and failing) to write an outline of one myself. And low and behold, this book now exists.
So I'll start off with changes the book has made. Lizzy has just graduated University and is going to intern at a Publishing company in London. While at her graduation party hosted at her house, she meets two people who were invited by her mother, Charlie Bingley and Darcy Williams. If you're familiar with the story, you know where it goes from there. If not, Jane, Lizzy's sister, and Charlie fall in love instantly. And Lizzy cannot stand Darcy.
There are multiple character differences. Starting with Lizzy, the only big difference made was the mandatory one, making her queer, specifically a lesbian. Darcy is a woman (obviously), and she is biracial and bisexual. Instead of having a sister named Georgiana, she has a brother named Jordan. As for the other characters, Charlie is a poc and an only child (so no Caroline). In the Bennet family, Kitty doesn't exist and Lydia and Mary are twin brothers, Sander and Mark. Mark is also aroace. And when we later meet Colonel Fitwilliam, simply Will in this narrative, we find out he is a trans guy.
As for the story itself, I think it was adapted well enough to the point where it stands on its own. At a point there's a meta joke where Darcy and Lizzy are at the British Library and see Jane Austen's manuscript of First Impressions (to those unaware that was the working title for Pride & Prejudice). Lizzy and Darcy also had great chemistry and I loved seeing their interactions. One change I really liked was Darcy's letter to Lizzy around the middle of the novel is instead a conversation in person.
As the characters depicting Georgiana and Lydia are male, the author uses that to explore abusive friendships which made warming up to changing their genders a lot easier.
If you are a fan of Pride & Prejudice and, like me, having me wanting this to exist, I highly recommend picking it up. It is quite a long book and recommend it even if you haven't read the original work.
Also posted on my blog
So I'll start off with changes the book has made. Lizzy has just graduated University and is going to intern at a Publishing company in London. While at her graduation party hosted at her house, she meets two people who were invited by her mother, Charlie Bingley and Darcy Williams. If you're familiar with the story, you know where it goes from there. If not, Jane, Lizzy's sister, and Charlie fall in love instantly. And Lizzy cannot stand Darcy.
There are multiple character differences. Starting with Lizzy, the only big difference made was the mandatory one, making her queer, specifically a lesbian. Darcy is a woman (obviously), and she is biracial and bisexual. Instead of having a sister named Georgiana, she has a brother named Jordan. As for the other characters, Charlie is a poc and an only child (so no Caroline). In the Bennet family, Kitty doesn't exist and Lydia and Mary are twin brothers, Sander and Mark. Mark is also aroace. And when we later meet Colonel Fitwilliam, simply Will in this narrative, we find out he is a trans guy.
As for the story itself, I think it was adapted well enough to the point where it stands on its own. At a point there's a meta joke where Darcy and Lizzy are at the British Library and see Jane Austen's manuscript of First Impressions (to those unaware that was the working title for Pride & Prejudice). Lizzy and Darcy also had great chemistry and I loved seeing their interactions. One change I really liked was Darcy's letter to Lizzy around the middle of the novel is instead a conversation in person.
As the characters depicting Georgiana and Lydia are male, the author uses that to explore abusive friendships which made warming up to changing their genders a lot easier.
If you are a fan of Pride & Prejudice and, like me, having me wanting this to exist, I highly recommend picking it up. It is quite a long book and recommend it even if you haven't read the original work.
Also posted on my blog
August 14, 2017
Admittedly, I haven't read Pride and Prejudice since I was in high school which means I might as well have never read it. That said, though I have some vague memories of the original, I'm deciding to review this as a lesfic novel that stands on its own.
For a love story, this fits the ice-queen vs. gregarious person dynamic where the couple initially hate each other. The feeling is definitely more dramatic than comedy. The cast is large but distinct and so is the lead couple, Lizzy and Darcy.
We get the story solely from Lizzy's point of view (the nice one) and it's a very slow evolution before we get to see the better side of Darcy. Darcy is a initially depicted as overly rude and in a such a manner that I was wondering if she was on the Spectrum (overwhelmed by people, doesn't pick up on regular social cues, speaks in a formal way, likes routine, etc)...kind of in the same vein of arguing whether Temperance Brennan from Bones or Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock are on the Spectrum...where the star is socially atypical but the symptoms lift as the story needs it...so who knows?
What was unique here, and breaks from the typical lesfic formula, is that it takes one person in the couple a lot longer to come around than the other. And, the author does a good job of exploring feelings of need vs want vs convenience when it comes to relationships. Each of the characters also has nuance and isn't all good or all bad which makes everyone more interesting.
The author also did a great job of adapting an old story to modern day, incorporating our everyday technologies (Facebook, Twitter, texting, etc). And, the book has diversity in spades in terms of gender, sexuality, and ethnicity.
The gripes I have would be that the book did feel a little slow. It's long but I did notice that we jumped right to each necessary scene which I appreciated. I think there's just a lot of ground to cover...and needing to mimic the original novel, I think some characters had really abrupt actions at times that felt odd.
I also have no idea what Lizzy looked like. Darcy yes but, except for Lizzy mentioning she had a more stocky build, I didn't know.
The inclusivity felt a bit forced, maybe because the two other characters that were LGBTQ had dramatic scenes ABOUT their coming out in addition to everything else.
For editorial peeves, the book is well written definitely but there are numerous incorrect word issues (missing all together, tense, etc) here and there. At the same time, just ignore them. The story is too strong to get hung up on it...just pointing it out.
I was impressed by the story but I didn't find it gripping. I can't put my finger on why. Despite that, this is still a strong and entertaining book.
On the whole, what you get is a slow burn, no sex, contentious romance with plenty of dramatics spawned by family and friends...and is it worth the price? Absolutely.
For a love story, this fits the ice-queen vs. gregarious person dynamic where the couple initially hate each other. The feeling is definitely more dramatic than comedy. The cast is large but distinct and so is the lead couple, Lizzy and Darcy.
We get the story solely from Lizzy's point of view (the nice one) and it's a very slow evolution before we get to see the better side of Darcy. Darcy is a initially depicted as overly rude and in a such a manner that I was wondering if she was on the Spectrum (overwhelmed by people, doesn't pick up on regular social cues, speaks in a formal way, likes routine, etc)...kind of in the same vein of arguing whether Temperance Brennan from Bones or Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock are on the Spectrum...where the star is socially atypical but the symptoms lift as the story needs it...so who knows?
What was unique here, and breaks from the typical lesfic formula, is that it takes one person in the couple a lot longer to come around than the other. And, the author does a good job of exploring feelings of need vs want vs convenience when it comes to relationships. Each of the characters also has nuance and isn't all good or all bad which makes everyone more interesting.
The author also did a great job of adapting an old story to modern day, incorporating our everyday technologies (Facebook, Twitter, texting, etc). And, the book has diversity in spades in terms of gender, sexuality, and ethnicity.
The gripes I have would be that the book did feel a little slow. It's long but I did notice that we jumped right to each necessary scene which I appreciated. I think there's just a lot of ground to cover...and needing to mimic the original novel, I think some characters had really abrupt actions at times that felt odd.
I also have no idea what Lizzy looked like. Darcy yes but, except for Lizzy mentioning she had a more stocky build, I didn't know.
The inclusivity felt a bit forced, maybe because the two other characters that were LGBTQ had dramatic scenes ABOUT their coming out in addition to everything else.
For editorial peeves, the book is well written definitely but there are numerous incorrect word issues (missing all together, tense, etc) here and there. At the same time, just ignore them. The story is too strong to get hung up on it...just pointing it out.
I was impressed by the story but I didn't find it gripping. I can't put my finger on why. Despite that, this is still a strong and entertaining book.
On the whole, what you get is a slow burn, no sex, contentious romance with plenty of dramatics spawned by family and friends...and is it worth the price? Absolutely.
February 26, 2019
Ignore the awful cover and the lame title and the weak cover copy. And when you get that far, ignore the mediocre copy-editing. I know that's a lot to ignore, but if you do, your reward is one of the better Pride and Prejudice tributes. While P&P is one of my favorites (or because), I don't go out of my way to find tribute stories. That's because too many authors forget to let the characters breathe and you end up with a story that is either too rigidly adherent to the details of the original or one that goes out of its way to differentiate against it. It's seldom that you get a nice balance of recognizable structure but with bits and pieces that are their own, beautiful thing. Watson manages that and I was glad to enjoy it.
Some of my favorite innovations:
* Charlotte and Collins being a weirdly compatible love match
* George Wickam's predations being non-sexual but still as damagingly corrupting
* Pembroke and Rosings the related publishing houses
* Mary/Mark's weird vibe being less socially and more internally damaging
People will probably glom more onto the lesbian pairing as the innovation, but I think that mainly served as a way to give the author permission to make her own changes. Which is a good thing because the romance worked pretty much as it should.
It's not all roses, though. The drama tended to be drawn-out a little long for my taste. And the Bingley and Jane timing didn't ring true (three months in a modern context didn't really work). And I couldn't help feeling like Watson was dipping pretty heavily in the LGBTQ bag and having a lot of "coming out" (that wasn't helped by the uniform, affirmative reactions). And the Wickam plot/counter-plot was rather tediously drawn-out on screen (even beyond the drama extension mentioned above).
Still, this is a solid four stars, for all of that. I enjoyed the lead characters and their friends and family worked pretty well as both stand-ins for their originals and yet remain uniquely their own. So good work, I think.
A note about Chaste: Also true to the original, and in an excellent way, this story culminates with the pledge of love and devotion and then ends. So there's a kiss and that's pretty much all. So another excellent feature and very well done.
Some of my favorite innovations:
* Charlotte and Collins being a weirdly compatible love match
* George Wickam's predations being non-sexual but still as damagingly corrupting
* Pembroke and Rosings the related publishing houses
* Mary/Mark's weird vibe being less socially and more internally damaging
People will probably glom more onto the lesbian pairing as the innovation, but I think that mainly served as a way to give the author permission to make her own changes. Which is a good thing because the romance worked pretty much as it should.
It's not all roses, though. The drama tended to be drawn-out a little long for my taste. And the Bingley and Jane timing didn't ring true (three months in a modern context didn't really work). And I couldn't help feeling like Watson was dipping pretty heavily in the LGBTQ bag and having a lot of "coming out" (that wasn't helped by the uniform, affirmative reactions). And the Wickam plot/counter-plot was rather tediously drawn-out on screen (even beyond the drama extension mentioned above).
Still, this is a solid four stars, for all of that. I enjoyed the lead characters and their friends and family worked pretty well as both stand-ins for their originals and yet remain uniquely their own. So good work, I think.
A note about Chaste: Also true to the original, and in an excellent way, this story culminates with the pledge of love and devotion and then ends. So there's a kiss and that's pretty much all. So another excellent feature and very well done.
May 16, 2017
I will be the first to admit I have never read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know, how have I gotten this far in life without this reading this classic book? What I have read is The Story of Lizzy and Darcy by Grace Watson. Watson has shaken things up a bit and made this a same sex adaptation with a modern day twist. A truly delightful read.
Lizzy Bennet has just graduated from college and is ready to head to London for a career in the book publishing industry. Her dream job in the exciting big city with her best friend as her roomie, life is looking great for Lizzy. A few weeks of to relax and catch-up with the family is just what she needs for she conquers the business world. All is fine and dandy till her sister Jane drags Lizzy along with her on dates with the new adorable neighbor Charlie Bingley. Jane needs Lizzy, to be her wing-woman and help keep Charlie’s bestie, the formidable ice queen Darcy Williams occupied. Easier said than done, Darcy is one tough cookie!
Lizzy and Darcy clash, oh boy, do they ever. Getting off on the wrong foot, these two keep going at each other throwing barbs and jabs making for a very tumultuous relationship. What it also has is heat. As these two spend more time together Darcy softens and begins to see how amazing Lizzy is, Lizzy not so much. She definitely isn’t ready to sign up for the Darcy Williams fan club.
The story progresses and our two mains go their separate ways for a bit only to meet back up at a smaller publishing house Lizzy gets farmed out to. A professional seeing allows each of the ladies to see the other side of the other and a timid friendship is born, and then more. Like magnets pushing away one flip and boom, you have an amazing connection.
Grace Watson gives us a really fantastic story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. I will say, I love an ice princess, cold as ice on the outside, but with the right person a sweetheart. Darcy absolutely fits this bill. Good characters, interesting dialogue, I am a fan. Great read!
Lizzy Bennet has just graduated from college and is ready to head to London for a career in the book publishing industry. Her dream job in the exciting big city with her best friend as her roomie, life is looking great for Lizzy. A few weeks of to relax and catch-up with the family is just what she needs for she conquers the business world. All is fine and dandy till her sister Jane drags Lizzy along with her on dates with the new adorable neighbor Charlie Bingley. Jane needs Lizzy, to be her wing-woman and help keep Charlie’s bestie, the formidable ice queen Darcy Williams occupied. Easier said than done, Darcy is one tough cookie!
Lizzy and Darcy clash, oh boy, do they ever. Getting off on the wrong foot, these two keep going at each other throwing barbs and jabs making for a very tumultuous relationship. What it also has is heat. As these two spend more time together Darcy softens and begins to see how amazing Lizzy is, Lizzy not so much. She definitely isn’t ready to sign up for the Darcy Williams fan club.
The story progresses and our two mains go their separate ways for a bit only to meet back up at a smaller publishing house Lizzy gets farmed out to. A professional seeing allows each of the ladies to see the other side of the other and a timid friendship is born, and then more. Like magnets pushing away one flip and boom, you have an amazing connection.
Grace Watson gives us a really fantastic story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. I will say, I love an ice princess, cold as ice on the outside, but with the right person a sweetheart. Darcy absolutely fits this bill. Good characters, interesting dialogue, I am a fan. Great read!
June 12, 2017
This is a great debut novel!
I remember reading this book way back in high school when I hated everything that even looked like a book so I only remembered the major story lines. Reading this however brought it all back. I find it really difficult to rate this book. As much as I tried seeing it simply as a standalone novel, I kept comparing it to the original so here goes nothing.
First off I thought the author really captured the original Darcy's character. I remember thinking what a pompous prick this person was and the same was true in this version. As for Lizzie though, I don't remember her being such a martyr and constantly blaming herself for everything that goes wrong in her family.
What really surprised me in a good way in this version were the added topics of being a lesbian, bisexual, asexual, aromantic and even trans, you name it and this book has it. Though these topics were not a large part of the story it was nice to see them even being mentioned and they did not distract at all from the major story line.
If there is one point of critique I have it's that I would have liked to see more interaction between Lizzie and Darcy. Towards the end of the book there was just so much drama going on with Lizzie's brother that it really distracted from their story.
Overall the author did a great job turning a classic piece of English literature into a modern day f/f retelling of a story that has millions of fans. If you never read the original Pride and Prejudice give this version a try.
I remember reading this book way back in high school when I hated everything that even looked like a book so I only remembered the major story lines. Reading this however brought it all back. I find it really difficult to rate this book. As much as I tried seeing it simply as a standalone novel, I kept comparing it to the original so here goes nothing.
First off I thought the author really captured the original Darcy's character. I remember thinking what a pompous prick this person was and the same was true in this version. As for Lizzie though, I don't remember her being such a martyr and constantly blaming herself for everything that goes wrong in her family.
What really surprised me in a good way in this version were the added topics of being a lesbian, bisexual, asexual, aromantic and even trans, you name it and this book has it. Though these topics were not a large part of the story it was nice to see them even being mentioned and they did not distract at all from the major story line.
If there is one point of critique I have it's that I would have liked to see more interaction between Lizzie and Darcy. Towards the end of the book there was just so much drama going on with Lizzie's brother that it really distracted from their story.
Overall the author did a great job turning a classic piece of English literature into a modern day f/f retelling of a story that has millions of fans. If you never read the original Pride and Prejudice give this version a try.
August 25, 2019
4.5 stars.
Incredible amazing showstopping never before seen fluffy angsty beautifully written a+.
This gave me the same fluffy feels that Red White and Royal Blue! Loved this f/f adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite classics ever (yes I'm basic what about it).
These girls are both fully realized characters, we get to see their hopes and dreams and personalities and most of all them dating and going from dislike, to friends, to love. Ahhhh.
Lizzie is a lesbian, Darcy is biracial and bisexual, there's trans rep, ace rep, really nice sibling dynamics, nice friendships, and it made me want to tour all over London and go to different bookstores and whatnot.
I think maybe I would have wanted to see more than just the same typical portrayals of Lizzie's parents but other than that I loved the story so much.
Lizzie and Darcy are my GIRLS my SHIP my LIFE i will give it all for them and that's THAT.
Incredible amazing showstopping never before seen fluffy angsty beautifully written a+.
This gave me the same fluffy feels that Red White and Royal Blue! Loved this f/f adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite classics ever (yes I'm basic what about it).
These girls are both fully realized characters, we get to see their hopes and dreams and personalities and most of all them dating and going from dislike, to friends, to love. Ahhhh.
Lizzie is a lesbian, Darcy is biracial and bisexual, there's trans rep, ace rep, really nice sibling dynamics, nice friendships, and it made me want to tour all over London and go to different bookstores and whatnot.
I think maybe I would have wanted to see more than just the same typical portrayals of Lizzie's parents but other than that I loved the story so much.
Lizzie and Darcy are my GIRLS my SHIP my LIFE i will give it all for them and that's THAT.
October 17, 2023
This is an absolutely adorable and well done queer modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice that wins a lot of diversity bingo. Our dear Lizzy is an out and proud lesbian, Darcy a mix-raced bisexual woman. The secondary characters feature a trans and an ace character.
So Lizzy just finished university and has her internship at Rosings publishing house already planned and is ready to move to London with her bestie Charlotte when Darcy and Charly Bingley move into Netherfield Court. You all know the basic plot of P&P but suffice it to say that Darcy is leading her own publishing house albeit smaller than Rosings.
It's been years since I read P&P but I've watched the 1995 BBC adaption many times in between and I have to say, this is one of my favourite treatments of the original including The Lizzie Bennett Diaries. We all know that Lizzy is equally as quick to judge Darcy as Darcy is of Lizzy and her family but they both show substantial amounts of growth over the course of the book and seeing their romance unfold was done very will imo.
In this universe Lizzy has twin younger brothers instead of younger sisters so the Wickham storyline plays out differently than in the original which is also well done.
All in all I enjoyed this immensely and if Jane Austen retellings are your jam, don't let this one go by.
So Lizzy just finished university and has her internship at Rosings publishing house already planned and is ready to move to London with her bestie Charlotte when Darcy and Charly Bingley move into Netherfield Court. You all know the basic plot of P&P but suffice it to say that Darcy is leading her own publishing house albeit smaller than Rosings.
It's been years since I read P&P but I've watched the 1995 BBC adaption many times in between and I have to say, this is one of my favourite treatments of the original including The Lizzie Bennett Diaries. We all know that Lizzy is equally as quick to judge Darcy as Darcy is of Lizzy and her family but they both show substantial amounts of growth over the course of the book and seeing their romance unfold was done very will imo.
In this universe Lizzy has twin younger brothers instead of younger sisters so the Wickham storyline plays out differently than in the original which is also well done.
All in all I enjoyed this immensely and if Jane Austen retellings are your jam, don't let this one go by.
January 4, 2018
Okay, for this book is hard for me to review, because for the first 200 pages, I loved it. I thought it was a smart and interesting retelling of P&P that managed to translate the age-old story into good modern terms. But then it started to lose itself.
Some of the things I loved:
-Lizzy! She's such a great character!
-Sisters!!!!!!!! Jane and Lizzy!!!!! So important!!!!!!!!!
-The way the Bennet family as a whole was translated -- Jane and her gap years, Sander and his dramatics, Mark and his quietness.
-How queer an unapologetic about it this book was
-I mean really -- the representation here was truly excellent and I was a fan
Some of the things I was disappointed by:
-After Lizzy and Charlotte moved to London, their friendship was no longer of any plot significance. I also don't think the translation of the Collins/Charlotte romance worked very well.
-How abusive friendships were dealt with. This is a triggering topic for me, but I was cautiously optimistic about how this book would handle it. It didn't handle it well. Which was a real bummer.
-The entire Wickham storyline. I thought that by translating Lydia into Lysander, Watson would perhaps talk about some of the shame young men can bring on families when they impregnate women, or perhaps are even accused of sexual misconduct. Watson decided to go down a different route, and honestly, I don't know if that was a good idea.
-Just because Lysander was a boy doesn't mean that Georgiana had to be turned into a boy too.
I think this book disappointed me partially because of the expectations that I brought to it, but also, in all honesty, it was a very good debut novel, and I want to give Watson credit for that.
Some of the things I loved:
-Lizzy! She's such a great character!
-Sisters!!!!!!!! Jane and Lizzy!!!!! So important!!!!!!!!!
-The way the Bennet family as a whole was translated -- Jane and her gap years, Sander and his dramatics, Mark and his quietness.
-How queer an unapologetic about it this book was
-I mean really -- the representation here was truly excellent and I was a fan
Some of the things I was disappointed by:
-After Lizzy and Charlotte moved to London, their friendship was no longer of any plot significance. I also don't think the translation of the Collins/Charlotte romance worked very well.
-How abusive friendships were dealt with. This is a triggering topic for me, but I was cautiously optimistic about how this book would handle it. It didn't handle it well. Which was a real bummer.
-The entire Wickham storyline. I thought that by translating Lydia into Lysander, Watson would perhaps talk about some of the shame young men can bring on families when they impregnate women, or perhaps are even accused of sexual misconduct. Watson decided to go down a different route, and honestly, I don't know if that was a good idea.
-Just because Lysander was a boy doesn't mean that Georgiana had to be turned into a boy too.
I think this book disappointed me partially because of the expectations that I brought to it, but also, in all honesty, it was a very good debut novel, and I want to give Watson credit for that.
June 20, 2017
Very cute adaptation of Jane Austin's book through the LGBT community.
June 24, 2017
Oh wow! Actually, I'm torn between 4-5 stars. This book is amazing! To think this is a debut novel.
A modern day take on NA Pride and Prejudice with a twist.
This book is told on Lizzy's POV, I would have love to read Darcy's POV too.
I love all the twist and turns, all the flaws and how they manage to fix it. I love how the author tackle all the differences of each character.
You will be pissed at them, you will pity them, you will laugh with them.. all those emotions. Very well written.
This a clean romance and the book didn't really focused on Lizzy and Darcy's story but nonetheless this will go my favorites.
I take it Will's next?
4-4.25
A modern day take on NA Pride and Prejudice with a twist.
This book is told on Lizzy's POV, I would have love to read Darcy's POV too.
I love all the twist and turns, all the flaws and how they manage to fix it. I love how the author tackle all the differences of each character.
You will be pissed at them, you will pity them, you will laugh with them.. all those emotions. Very well written.
This a clean romance and the book didn't really focused on Lizzy and Darcy's story but nonetheless this will go my favorites.
I take it Will's next?
4-4.25
July 28, 2017
Well, this is certainly the most ambitious retelling of a classic that I've read. Mind you, I haven't actually read many.
I enjoyed how I couldn't put this down. I missed the feeling of being up all night reading a story regardless of the fact that I knew the outcome. Knew how it will turn out but still. It was enjoyable.
However, this book could have used a lot of editing. Especially when it comes to spelling and simple grammar. The story like I said was ambitious and so could have benifited from some direction because some parts, especially towards the end, were a mess.
That said, I am still here for queer retellings of classics so more of those please and thank you.
I enjoyed how I couldn't put this down. I missed the feeling of being up all night reading a story regardless of the fact that I knew the outcome. Knew how it will turn out but still. It was enjoyable.
However, this book could have used a lot of editing. Especially when it comes to spelling and simple grammar. The story like I said was ambitious and so could have benifited from some direction because some parts, especially towards the end, were a mess.
That said, I am still here for queer retellings of classics so more of those please and thank you.
February 12, 2018
Lovely read! Full review to come.
November 18, 2019
Rating: 4.6 ☆s
July 22, 2017
Slight disclaimer here: I have never actually read Pride and Prejudice, but have seen a few retellings of the story, so I pretty much get the gist, I think.
I'm a huge fan of retellings. And I'm an even bigger fan of retellings with f/f relationships in the center. So, I fully expected to love The Story of Lizzy and Darcy. While I did end up liking it as a whole, there were a few things that kept me from loving it.
The Good: I absolutely loved that this book was so diverse. You have lesbian, bisexual, trans, asexual, aromantic themes all over this book. I also really liked that the relationship between Lizzy and Darcy was so well-developed when it comes to dealing with Lizzy's feelings for Darcy. I loved that it wasn't insta-love and you get to see how exactly Lizzy falls.
The Eh: When it comes to Darcy's feelings for Lizzy, that sort of had insta-love written all over it. Again, I've never read Pride and Prejudice, so maybe that's how it happens with the novel, but I still would have liked to see more development on Darcy's feelings. I also thought that this book was a bit on the melodramatic side. Like the whole side plot w/ the brother was a bit more than I was expecting. I also found this book to be a bit bloated. The middle was a bit slow-going for me. Oh, and I found it a bit weird that we're told how great of worker Lizzy is, but we're never shown what she does in her internship. All she seems to do is have lunch with Will and Darcy.
Overall, I liked The Story of Lizzy and Darcy. It was entertaining as hell (particularly the first half) and it was really cute. As someone who tends not to read as much indie books as I should, I kinda enjoyed this one.
I'm a huge fan of retellings. And I'm an even bigger fan of retellings with f/f relationships in the center. So, I fully expected to love The Story of Lizzy and Darcy. While I did end up liking it as a whole, there were a few things that kept me from loving it.
The Good: I absolutely loved that this book was so diverse. You have lesbian, bisexual, trans, asexual, aromantic themes all over this book. I also really liked that the relationship between Lizzy and Darcy was so well-developed when it comes to dealing with Lizzy's feelings for Darcy. I loved that it wasn't insta-love and you get to see how exactly Lizzy falls.
The Eh: When it comes to Darcy's feelings for Lizzy, that sort of had insta-love written all over it. Again, I've never read Pride and Prejudice, so maybe that's how it happens with the novel, but I still would have liked to see more development on Darcy's feelings. I also thought that this book was a bit on the melodramatic side. Like the whole side plot w/ the brother was a bit more than I was expecting. I also found this book to be a bit bloated. The middle was a bit slow-going for me. Oh, and I found it a bit weird that we're told how great of worker Lizzy is, but we're never shown what she does in her internship. All she seems to do is have lunch with Will and Darcy.
Overall, I liked The Story of Lizzy and Darcy. It was entertaining as hell (particularly the first half) and it was really cute. As someone who tends not to read as much indie books as I should, I kinda enjoyed this one.
September 29, 2019
very cute slowburn enemies-to-lovers f/f romance with a plot inspired by pride and prejudice. it loses a lot of the original p&p's nuance and i'd say only this modern adaptation is only really similar on a plot level. there were some really touching moments - the repeated coming-out conversations lizzy has to go through with every new friend she makes; the very raw conversation where will came out to lizzy; the first truly vulnerable conversation darcy had with lizzy about george. there was also some attempt to show how similar lizzy and darcy are to each other - from their values, to their interests, to the way they are both proud/prejudiced. a quick and cute read!
May 10, 2020
A modern f/f retelling of Pride and Prejudice! I really like the concept, and I liked the book a lot for the first third or so, until I became tired of some aspects of the writing style and the way some plot points were handled.
The book could have been a good deal shorter if the "summarizing what happened and what the characters are thinking/feeling about it" parts as well as the more heavy-handed scenes had been cut. (Please trust your readers to understand your book without being spoon-fed all relevant insights.)
To make this a modern retelling, some characters and their relationship/significance to Lizzy were changed. In some cases, I think this works well (George Wickham), in others, it might work better if you don't know the original version (Mr. Collins).
In terms of the plot, it's also a mixed bag in terms of how well the changes worked. In some cases, the social circumstances around a plot point have just changed too much, especially the motivation for and implications of a marriage proposal in P&P are very different from a declaration of love nowadays. Because of this, some of the characters' actions seem somewhat contrived or inconsistent.
(To be fair, the book is at somewhat of a general disadvantage here since it's difficult to live up to the original P&P and its modern adaptation The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.)
Overall a nice enough book to read, but if you already like the original P&P, maybe dampen your expectations a little. 2-3 stars.
The book could have been a good deal shorter if the "summarizing what happened and what the characters are thinking/feeling about it" parts as well as the more heavy-handed scenes had been cut. (Please trust your readers to understand your book without being spoon-fed all relevant insights.)
To make this a modern retelling, some characters and their relationship/significance to Lizzy were changed. In some cases, I think this works well (George Wickham), in others, it might work better if you don't know the original version (Mr. Collins).
In terms of the plot, it's also a mixed bag in terms of how well the changes worked. In some cases, the social circumstances around a plot point have just changed too much, especially the motivation for and implications of a marriage proposal in P&P are very different from a declaration of love nowadays. Because of this, some of the characters' actions seem somewhat contrived or inconsistent.
(To be fair, the book is at somewhat of a general disadvantage here since it's difficult to live up to the original P&P and its modern adaptation The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.)
Overall a nice enough book to read, but if you already like the original P&P, maybe dampen your expectations a little. 2-3 stars.
April 14, 2018
It's been a few years since I read Pride & Prejudice, so I don't remember a lot of the little details. Personally, I felt like at times it was too dramatic and other times it was too "flowery." Also, there were a lot of storylines going on at once & I would have liked the book to expand on some of these other storylines. It was fun & easy to read, but I'm a bit indifferent about it.
September 10, 2023
This is a sweet sapphic retelling of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. I really enjoyed reading it. The part where Darcy is showing Lizzy around London and Lizzy is excited to find a copy of First Impressions in the British Library felt kind of weird and awkward, but I appreciated that as well.
August 6, 2017
This is the first book that I've finished in what feels like AGES, and I stayed up till 3:30am reading it all the way through. I have ALWAYS wanted a queer lady version of this story. And I am so so happy that it exists and is so lovely:)
December 15, 2017
Full review to come on Books and Ladders!
July 12, 2017
Are you a Pride & Prejudice fan? If so then check out this adaptation by Grace Watson. It’s my first F/F read but was definitely an enjoyable one. She handled modernizing P&P gracefully and perfectly. I will be honest the first 40% for me was a little dry, but given the spin placed on P&P I wasn’t surprised. (I thought P&P was dry in the beginning too.)
Lizzy Bennet is a recent university grad getting read to work in the real world. Her Mom in all her quirkiness throws a party to celebrate. In walks Darcy and Charlie. It was intriguing to watch Lizzy’s inner battle with all things related to Darcy.
Darcy is such a mystery on how she operates and responds to people. Grace did a wonderful job of having me really not like her at all. It took a lot of little things chipping away at this reader before I was like ‘okay you are good enough to love Lizzy’.
The secondary characters brought so much in to the mix. I don’t even know where to begin. Jane and Charlie, were picture perfect and you could see the hearts popping out of the pages with how their relationship was described. It had me going ‘AWE’ a lot, and then wondering why I had a cavity from all the sweetness LOL. Charlotte, aka Lizzy’s best friend, brought an outside point of view into the Bennet family and the Darcy problem. Charlotte even gets her own chance at being swept off her feet.
Okay I don’t want to go into too much detail because I hate to spoil it for you. The family issues that come in to play are huge and watching Lizzy’s big family deal with them was heartwarming and breaking at the same time. George…I can’t even say a whole lot but I would like him to meet my frying pan. Will, well, he is getting a story of his own and I couldn’t be more thrilled to read it. He was a secondary character that I just wanted so much more from. I hope we see Lizzy & Darcy in his tale. Two things I loved was Lizzy’s Dad calling her Betts, made me smile, and the confusion of where naming Lysander came from, I had a good giggle.
I gave this a four star review because it took me over 40% to really get in to the novel. It’s P&P and I can tell you the original took me even longer to get in a reading groove. That said it was well done and I genuinely do want to read Will’s story.
Some fave lines:
“but there’s just something special about her.”
“…you can’t expect someone to just choose a favorite book, it would be like asking them to choose their favorite child or something…”
If you love P&P you will surly enjoy this new twist on the story. Lizzy and Darcy meet, move to hate each other, and try to figure out if there is love for each other. You will relish this authors take on all the favorite characters from P&P.
Lizzy matured a lot as the story evolved. She had some family battles to over come and some from outside forces. How de Bourgh came in to play was fantastically done. Grace made her fit in the role of this modern tale and it had you rolling your eyes every time her name was mentioned. George, WOW, I mean he was a character. Wanted him to meet my frying pan.
Darcy grew too, but in a way that was more subtle and stronger. I liked how Grace made Lizzy bring out all of Darcy’s sweet.
Overall this was a great adaptation on the P&P storyline. I enjoyed reading Lizzy and Darcy fall in love in this modern tale. Grace still keep some of the classic points of P&P within her tale but modernized it in a way that was refreshing and new.
Lizzy Bennet is a recent university grad getting read to work in the real world. Her Mom in all her quirkiness throws a party to celebrate. In walks Darcy and Charlie. It was intriguing to watch Lizzy’s inner battle with all things related to Darcy.
Darcy is such a mystery on how she operates and responds to people. Grace did a wonderful job of having me really not like her at all. It took a lot of little things chipping away at this reader before I was like ‘okay you are good enough to love Lizzy’.
The secondary characters brought so much in to the mix. I don’t even know where to begin. Jane and Charlie, were picture perfect and you could see the hearts popping out of the pages with how their relationship was described. It had me going ‘AWE’ a lot, and then wondering why I had a cavity from all the sweetness LOL. Charlotte, aka Lizzy’s best friend, brought an outside point of view into the Bennet family and the Darcy problem. Charlotte even gets her own chance at being swept off her feet.
Okay I don’t want to go into too much detail because I hate to spoil it for you. The family issues that come in to play are huge and watching Lizzy’s big family deal with them was heartwarming and breaking at the same time. George…I can’t even say a whole lot but I would like him to meet my frying pan. Will, well, he is getting a story of his own and I couldn’t be more thrilled to read it. He was a secondary character that I just wanted so much more from. I hope we see Lizzy & Darcy in his tale. Two things I loved was Lizzy’s Dad calling her Betts, made me smile, and the confusion of where naming Lysander came from, I had a good giggle.
I gave this a four star review because it took me over 40% to really get in to the novel. It’s P&P and I can tell you the original took me even longer to get in a reading groove. That said it was well done and I genuinely do want to read Will’s story.
Some fave lines:
“but there’s just something special about her.”
“…you can’t expect someone to just choose a favorite book, it would be like asking them to choose their favorite child or something…”
If you love P&P you will surly enjoy this new twist on the story. Lizzy and Darcy meet, move to hate each other, and try to figure out if there is love for each other. You will relish this authors take on all the favorite characters from P&P.
Lizzy matured a lot as the story evolved. She had some family battles to over come and some from outside forces. How de Bourgh came in to play was fantastically done. Grace made her fit in the role of this modern tale and it had you rolling your eyes every time her name was mentioned. George, WOW, I mean he was a character. Wanted him to meet my frying pan.
Darcy grew too, but in a way that was more subtle and stronger. I liked how Grace made Lizzy bring out all of Darcy’s sweet.
Overall this was a great adaptation on the P&P storyline. I enjoyed reading Lizzy and Darcy fall in love in this modern tale. Grace still keep some of the classic points of P&P within her tale but modernized it in a way that was refreshing and new.
Read
June 19, 2020If you do a rewrite of Pride and Prejudice, you’re placing yourself in a deep hole as far as reviews are concerned. If P&P gets a 5, it’s pretty obvious that its rewrite is going to get less than that.
I’m a big fan of Jane Austen, so when I saw that a book had been published that cast Lizzy and Darcy as lesbians, I downloaded it more for curiosity’s sake than anything else. Imagine, for instance, Netherfield being a ritzy subdivision or a cozy British town. Imagine that both Rosings and Pemberton are, not dwellings, but publishing houses in London. In other words, there are some interesting twists that will keep the reader going, at least for a while. And the tension between Darcy and Lizzy is always tantalizing. But that’s just as far as I can go with the praise. The first-time author uses repetition almost to distraction. Jane and Bingley are both cute and adorable, but the adjectives are used about ten times too often. So too, are the instances where people are hugging and asking each other if they are all right.
I got the firm impression that this was a young adult novel, although it is not listed as such, as the author harps on family duty and inclusiveness. We have a lesbian, a bi-sexual, a transgender, an asexual, and at least one character who seems to be a self-hating gay. Truth is, I was anxious to finish the book and not willing to discard it until the end. Maybe that is a recommendation, but I doubt it. The writing was simply not sharp or focused enough. The relationships between the characters (Darcy just happens to buy a house in Lizzy’s neighborhood with her friend Bingley for no other reason that it happened similarly in P&P.) are way too contrived to be believable. Would it have been better if all the characters were renamed and other references to Austen were removed? Maybe, but then most of the prospective readers would pass it by without much thought.
If I gave stars, I would give somewhere around 2.5. If the author wants to do something similar next time, I suggest she adapt a story from a really bad book, then improve on it.
Note: I read an advance review of this book that was kindly provided by the publisher in e-book form through Lesbrary.
Another Note: Although this review is not included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, , you might want to check it out. It has tons of information on over 930 lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
I’m a big fan of Jane Austen, so when I saw that a book had been published that cast Lizzy and Darcy as lesbians, I downloaded it more for curiosity’s sake than anything else. Imagine, for instance, Netherfield being a ritzy subdivision or a cozy British town. Imagine that both Rosings and Pemberton are, not dwellings, but publishing houses in London. In other words, there are some interesting twists that will keep the reader going, at least for a while. And the tension between Darcy and Lizzy is always tantalizing. But that’s just as far as I can go with the praise. The first-time author uses repetition almost to distraction. Jane and Bingley are both cute and adorable, but the adjectives are used about ten times too often. So too, are the instances where people are hugging and asking each other if they are all right.
I got the firm impression that this was a young adult novel, although it is not listed as such, as the author harps on family duty and inclusiveness. We have a lesbian, a bi-sexual, a transgender, an asexual, and at least one character who seems to be a self-hating gay. Truth is, I was anxious to finish the book and not willing to discard it until the end. Maybe that is a recommendation, but I doubt it. The writing was simply not sharp or focused enough. The relationships between the characters (Darcy just happens to buy a house in Lizzy’s neighborhood with her friend Bingley for no other reason that it happened similarly in P&P.) are way too contrived to be believable. Would it have been better if all the characters were renamed and other references to Austen were removed? Maybe, but then most of the prospective readers would pass it by without much thought.
If I gave stars, I would give somewhere around 2.5. If the author wants to do something similar next time, I suggest she adapt a story from a really bad book, then improve on it.
Note: I read an advance review of this book that was kindly provided by the publisher in e-book form through Lesbrary.
Another Note: Although this review is not included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, , you might want to check it out. It has tons of information on over 930 lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
May 25, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Matchmaking, misunderstandings, and making-up — along with merriment and mischef — are a small part of what sets this light-hearted re-imagining of Jane Austen’s timeless and much beloved Pride and Prejudice apart from the others of its kind. Lizzy Bennet is a young British woman possessed of an open heart, a keen intellect, and more than enough pride to be instantly recognizable. Her sister, Jane, is not only beautiful outside but inside as well, working tirelessly with any number of charitable organizations in an effort to make the world a better place.
The story of Pride and Prejudice is well-known. So many adaptations, reinterpretations, parodies, and loving homages fill movies, television, and books that it’s hard for any new variation to the well-worn story. (It’s also one of my favorite books, which means I was delighted for the chance to review this story.) To be honest… this story is at its best when it’s not so self-aware of being a re-imagining of a classic work. When Lizzy is being herself — rather than Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennett — she becomes a whole other person. There are parts of this story that I just love, and characterizations that I truly appreciate, but then there are the painful parts where the author tries to remain true to the source material.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Matchmaking, misunderstandings, and making-up — along with merriment and mischef — are a small part of what sets this light-hearted re-imagining of Jane Austen’s timeless and much beloved Pride and Prejudice apart from the others of its kind. Lizzy Bennet is a young British woman possessed of an open heart, a keen intellect, and more than enough pride to be instantly recognizable. Her sister, Jane, is not only beautiful outside but inside as well, working tirelessly with any number of charitable organizations in an effort to make the world a better place.
The story of Pride and Prejudice is well-known. So many adaptations, reinterpretations, parodies, and loving homages fill movies, television, and books that it’s hard for any new variation to the well-worn story. (It’s also one of my favorite books, which means I was delighted for the chance to review this story.) To be honest… this story is at its best when it’s not so self-aware of being a re-imagining of a classic work. When Lizzy is being herself — rather than Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennett — she becomes a whole other person. There are parts of this story that I just love, and characterizations that I truly appreciate, but then there are the painful parts where the author tries to remain true to the source material.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
June 30, 2017
Original review on Molly Lolly
Five stars!
This story was completely lovely. I loved how Ms. Watson took a story that is treasured and made it completely her own. She kept all of the wonderful parts about the story and left them exactly as they were, if slightly changed to fit her story. You can see where she kept true to the story and where she added her own voice to work. It is seriously completely brilliant and I need everyone to read it. While the story is clearly based on characters, setting and some overall plot points of Pride and Prejudice, this is definitely its own story. The book wouldn’t be half as good as it is if Ms. Watson wasn’t able to create a work all her own with original places, people, and events. I can’t wait to read more works by Ms. Watson
Lizzy was spectacular. She had her prejudices throughout the story and yet she was also a woman that learned from her mistakes. She was a crusader for herself but also had bouts of self doubt. I loved how she wouldn’t allow anyone to put down her family. She loved fiercely and was deeply protective of those in her circle. The way she slowly came around to Darcy and truly thought about her feelings. I adored how she handled herself and how she grew through the whole book. She was very much Ms. Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet but at the same time, she was completely Ms. Watson’s Lizzy.
Oh Darcy. So many people hold Fitzwilliam Darcy up as a guide for what they look for in a partner. Whether it’s his actual attributes or just generally the way he loves Elizabeth Bennet with his whole self. This Darcy is exactly like that. She is a testament to what anyone would look for in a partner. She might be prickly at first and seemingly looking down her nose at people. But she’s really not. It takes you a while to see why she acts that way but you can’t help but love her more when you figure it out. Darcy loves Lizzy with her whole being and would genuinely do anything to help Lizzy in any way she is able. Darcy is protective to a fault and that trait got her in trouble a few times in the story. Darcy is unashamedly herself and doesn’t care what others think, but at the same time, she’s got a vulnerability about her that was endearing.
The Bennet family is just as quirky as ever with Mrs. Bennet being brash and focused on the wrong things despite her heart usually being in the right place. Mr. Bennet loves his children and only wants them all to be happy. Jane is her perfect self, but she has a love of helping that makes you like her more. Sander and Mark are wonderful. They have their own unique personalities and you can tell how much Lizzy loves her brothers. Mark makes me completely happy with how is presented in the story. I love the scene where he tells Lizzy his truth. So much emotion and so well written. George Wickham is a whole new kind of wicked that is completely different than in Pride and Prejudice. However he works his dark magic in the Bennet family all the same. I adored Will Fitts in this story. A character that, while his name comes from Fitzwilliam, he isn’t a direct correlation to any characters from the original story. He’s completely Ms. Watson’s creation. His backstory blended beautifully in the book and I loved his strength. Charles is so desperately in love with Jane and still a little bit clueless; but he was still a perfect match for friends with Darcy. Charlotte is very much still Lizzy’s best friend, she takes a tiny bit of a backseat in the story. She is still unconcerned with what Lizzy thinks about her choices in life and supports Lizzy no matter what. Collins is such a wonderfully bumbling ball of weird you can’t help but be endeared by it. He is an oddly perfect fit f or Charlotte and clearly has deep feelings for her very quickly. I loved Lady de Bourgh here. She is just as bossy and snobby and the perfect voice of dissent but with a modernized twist. I absolutely loved the scene where Lizzy stands up for herself, her family, and her choices against Catherine de Bourgh. I was cheering for her by the end of the scene.
Just as Pride and Prejudice was a statement on class, love, and how women are viewed in Austen’s time, so is The Story of Lizzy and Darcy a statement on rights, LGBTQIA representation and a tiny poke at how that representation is dealt with in the publishing world. I love how the representation in this story of lesbian, bisexual, trans and ace characters is completely natural and almost as if it’s not a big deal. It wasn’t, but in the same way, it’s a huge deal to naturally have characters in a story just be who they are and it not be weird or a token effort.
I think what I loved most about this story is the same heart pounding courtship that happened throughout as in Pride and Prejudice. Romance has changed completely in the 204 years since it was published. But I still love a story that can give me tension, courtship, and romance while everyone has their clothes on, kind of sort of hate each other and like each other in equal parts, make my heart pound, and keep me turning the pages to find out what happens next. That kind of storytelling is wonderful to read. You can feel the sparks between Lizzy and Darcy right from the start. As they get to know each other and spend more time together you can feel the tension between them grow exponentially with each turn of the page. They are so well suited for each other and by the end their love for each other explodes off the page. Their happy ending is lovely. You are easily able to say they’re going to make it long term and love each other forever.
Five stars!
This story was completely lovely. I loved how Ms. Watson took a story that is treasured and made it completely her own. She kept all of the wonderful parts about the story and left them exactly as they were, if slightly changed to fit her story. You can see where she kept true to the story and where she added her own voice to work. It is seriously completely brilliant and I need everyone to read it. While the story is clearly based on characters, setting and some overall plot points of Pride and Prejudice, this is definitely its own story. The book wouldn’t be half as good as it is if Ms. Watson wasn’t able to create a work all her own with original places, people, and events. I can’t wait to read more works by Ms. Watson
Lizzy was spectacular. She had her prejudices throughout the story and yet she was also a woman that learned from her mistakes. She was a crusader for herself but also had bouts of self doubt. I loved how she wouldn’t allow anyone to put down her family. She loved fiercely and was deeply protective of those in her circle. The way she slowly came around to Darcy and truly thought about her feelings. I adored how she handled herself and how she grew through the whole book. She was very much Ms. Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet but at the same time, she was completely Ms. Watson’s Lizzy.
Oh Darcy. So many people hold Fitzwilliam Darcy up as a guide for what they look for in a partner. Whether it’s his actual attributes or just generally the way he loves Elizabeth Bennet with his whole self. This Darcy is exactly like that. She is a testament to what anyone would look for in a partner. She might be prickly at first and seemingly looking down her nose at people. But she’s really not. It takes you a while to see why she acts that way but you can’t help but love her more when you figure it out. Darcy loves Lizzy with her whole being and would genuinely do anything to help Lizzy in any way she is able. Darcy is protective to a fault and that trait got her in trouble a few times in the story. Darcy is unashamedly herself and doesn’t care what others think, but at the same time, she’s got a vulnerability about her that was endearing.
The Bennet family is just as quirky as ever with Mrs. Bennet being brash and focused on the wrong things despite her heart usually being in the right place. Mr. Bennet loves his children and only wants them all to be happy. Jane is her perfect self, but she has a love of helping that makes you like her more. Sander and Mark are wonderful. They have their own unique personalities and you can tell how much Lizzy loves her brothers. Mark makes me completely happy with how is presented in the story. I love the scene where he tells Lizzy his truth. So much emotion and so well written. George Wickham is a whole new kind of wicked that is completely different than in Pride and Prejudice. However he works his dark magic in the Bennet family all the same. I adored Will Fitts in this story. A character that, while his name comes from Fitzwilliam, he isn’t a direct correlation to any characters from the original story. He’s completely Ms. Watson’s creation. His backstory blended beautifully in the book and I loved his strength. Charles is so desperately in love with Jane and still a little bit clueless; but he was still a perfect match for friends with Darcy. Charlotte is very much still Lizzy’s best friend, she takes a tiny bit of a backseat in the story. She is still unconcerned with what Lizzy thinks about her choices in life and supports Lizzy no matter what. Collins is such a wonderfully bumbling ball of weird you can’t help but be endeared by it. He is an oddly perfect fit f or Charlotte and clearly has deep feelings for her very quickly. I loved Lady de Bourgh here. She is just as bossy and snobby and the perfect voice of dissent but with a modernized twist. I absolutely loved the scene where Lizzy stands up for herself, her family, and her choices against Catherine de Bourgh. I was cheering for her by the end of the scene.
Just as Pride and Prejudice was a statement on class, love, and how women are viewed in Austen’s time, so is The Story of Lizzy and Darcy a statement on rights, LGBTQIA representation and a tiny poke at how that representation is dealt with in the publishing world. I love how the representation in this story of lesbian, bisexual, trans and ace characters is completely natural and almost as if it’s not a big deal. It wasn’t, but in the same way, it’s a huge deal to naturally have characters in a story just be who they are and it not be weird or a token effort.
I think what I loved most about this story is the same heart pounding courtship that happened throughout as in Pride and Prejudice. Romance has changed completely in the 204 years since it was published. But I still love a story that can give me tension, courtship, and romance while everyone has their clothes on, kind of sort of hate each other and like each other in equal parts, make my heart pound, and keep me turning the pages to find out what happens next. That kind of storytelling is wonderful to read. You can feel the sparks between Lizzy and Darcy right from the start. As they get to know each other and spend more time together you can feel the tension between them grow exponentially with each turn of the page. They are so well suited for each other and by the end their love for each other explodes off the page. Their happy ending is lovely. You are easily able to say they’re going to make it long term and love each other forever.
July 26, 2017
More 3.5 stars.
Lizzy and Darcy are pretty fucking adorable, as they always are and it's a good modern AU,, but not without its flaws.
I love the idea of making Darcy a woman I just wish that had been explored more. What has life been like for a woman with darcy's personality? I know p&p is lizzy's story but in this case I would've liked to know more of Darcy's.
Lizzy and Darcy are pretty fucking adorable, as they always are and it's a good modern AU,, but not without its flaws.
I love the idea of making Darcy a woman I just wish that had been explored more. What has life been like for a woman with darcy's personality? I know p&p is lizzy's story but in this case I would've liked to know more of Darcy's.
November 4, 2019
3.5
I really liked the idea of an lesbian Lizzy and Darcy, it’s an interesting twist. It was great that their families were mostly supportive and so the story could focus on the same type issues as the original, rather than coming out etc. Some of the things Lizzy said made me think, especially when she said she hated that every person she met assumed she was straight and so she always had to explain herself. I also found the inclusion of other LGBTQ characters interesting and enlightening. However, I did think that the plot suffered slightly being divided between two aims. On one hand the author wanted to tell us a love story of two people divided by upbringing and wealth where those people happen to both be women. On the other hand the author wants to be more inclusive and representative, which involves a couple of coming out scenes which are really well handled but distract us from the Lizzy/Darcy story.
Like the original P&P, the author doesn’t really give physical descriptions of the characters. I found that this made it hard to picture these characters as themselves, especially with different genders, and I tended to mix them up with the originals (I do read a lot of JAFF which probably contributed).
I found Darcy quite extreme, she has serious control issues and is incredibly rude (not just aloof like the original). There were some indications she may be on the spectrum although that isn’t addressed. I’m not surprised Lizzy didn’t realise Darcy liked her because the only hint was an overheard conversation which was immediately cancelled out by a social media block. Other people do say they want them to get together but Darcy’s feelings aren’t indicated to the reader for a long time. It’s quite a dragged out courtship as Lizzy is very confused. Possibly because Darcy doesn’t start being respectful of and interacting with Lizzy’s family (though she helps Sander) and continues to be rude/haughty in certain situations, so there’s not enough evidence of change. Possibly in part because she was Lizzy’s boss for a while - I didn’t like that. I think Lizzy was unfair to Darcy’s feelings in prolonging the friend/date confusion period, but it was also boring for the reader. There was even a perfect flirt scene where they discuss romance and Lizzy almost says I love you and the author ignores it to allow a row with Catherine. The scene with Catherine was great though. In general I don’t think there was enough of the two of them together in this book and the close is just a bit too short, though sweet.
I disliked how the abusive friend scenario was handled. I applaud the author for including that storyline and I think it’s an important thing to acknowledge. However, I was frustrated that there are multiple mentions by Lizzy of physical abuse being a worse thing than mental abuse and coercion. Having experienced both, I can unequivocally say the mental abuse is worse and harder to identify and get away from (as is shown from Sander’s behaviour and reactions). Yes if you are physically hurt it can be very bad and you can even be killed. But mental abuse leaves deep scars and can cause PTSD and self harm amongst other serious problems. I think it’s a dangerous message to downplay the harm it does, particularly as this is a YA novel. They also keep most of Sander’s problems from their parents, which is unhealthy advice, and they let Wickham go when he will clearly do the same things to someone else.
Could benefit from improved editing for spelling and other mistakes.
I really liked the idea of an lesbian Lizzy and Darcy, it’s an interesting twist. It was great that their families were mostly supportive and so the story could focus on the same type issues as the original, rather than coming out etc. Some of the things Lizzy said made me think, especially when she said she hated that every person she met assumed she was straight and so she always had to explain herself. I also found the inclusion of other LGBTQ characters interesting and enlightening. However, I did think that the plot suffered slightly being divided between two aims. On one hand the author wanted to tell us a love story of two people divided by upbringing and wealth where those people happen to both be women. On the other hand the author wants to be more inclusive and representative, which involves a couple of coming out scenes which are really well handled but distract us from the Lizzy/Darcy story.
Like the original P&P, the author doesn’t really give physical descriptions of the characters. I found that this made it hard to picture these characters as themselves, especially with different genders, and I tended to mix them up with the originals (I do read a lot of JAFF which probably contributed).
I found Darcy quite extreme, she has serious control issues and is incredibly rude (not just aloof like the original). There were some indications she may be on the spectrum although that isn’t addressed. I’m not surprised Lizzy didn’t realise Darcy liked her because the only hint was an overheard conversation which was immediately cancelled out by a social media block. Other people do say they want them to get together but Darcy’s feelings aren’t indicated to the reader for a long time. It’s quite a dragged out courtship as Lizzy is very confused. Possibly because Darcy doesn’t start being respectful of and interacting with Lizzy’s family (though she helps Sander) and continues to be rude/haughty in certain situations, so there’s not enough evidence of change. Possibly in part because she was Lizzy’s boss for a while - I didn’t like that. I think Lizzy was unfair to Darcy’s feelings in prolonging the friend/date confusion period, but it was also boring for the reader. There was even a perfect flirt scene where they discuss romance and Lizzy almost says I love you and the author ignores it to allow a row with Catherine. The scene with Catherine was great though. In general I don’t think there was enough of the two of them together in this book and the close is just a bit too short, though sweet.
I disliked how the abusive friend scenario was handled. I applaud the author for including that storyline and I think it’s an important thing to acknowledge. However, I was frustrated that there are multiple mentions by Lizzy of physical abuse being a worse thing than mental abuse and coercion. Having experienced both, I can unequivocally say the mental abuse is worse and harder to identify and get away from (as is shown from Sander’s behaviour and reactions). Yes if you are physically hurt it can be very bad and you can even be killed. But mental abuse leaves deep scars and can cause PTSD and self harm amongst other serious problems. I think it’s a dangerous message to downplay the harm it does, particularly as this is a YA novel. They also keep most of Sander’s problems from their parents, which is unhealthy advice, and they let Wickham go when he will clearly do the same things to someone else.
Could benefit from improved editing for spelling and other mistakes.
November 3, 2017
Actual rating 4 1/2 stars.
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
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When Lizzy Bennet and Darcy Williams meet there's an instant dislike between them. But when Lizzy's sister Jane and Darcy's best friend Charlie fall in love they have to spend time together. But as they get to know each other they also start to realise that maybe they judged too fast.
Thanks a lot to Grace Watson for providing me with a free review copy!
I am going to start this review by saying that to be fully honest I can't stand Jane Austen, and I've never actually read Pride and Prejudice. I've seen the BBC production from the 90s, but that was like 5 years ago so I barely remember the story.
I'm saying this because it meant two things for me when I read this book: First, I was maybe a little cautious going into this because well... why should i like a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, even if it's queer? Second, I only remembered the bare minimum of the story, which meant it was almost like reading it for the first time (also please keep this in mind for the rest of the review, I have no idea about the finer details of the story).
Luckily there was no reason to be cautious and I really really enjoyed The Story of Lizzy and Darcy! It was beautifully written and just really cute!
One of my favourite things about Lizzy and Darcy was how much they both loved books. I can empathise, and I thought it was really really cute to watch them bond because of that. I especially enjoyed Darcy turning into an awkward, blushing mess as soon as they actually started flirting.
I did remember Lizzy's love for books from the original novel, and I thought it was great to have her start a career in publishing. It just felt like the perfect way to translate her character into the modern world. I also thought the Wickham story line was handled very well. It's a little less "scandalous running away together" and more "getting Lizzy's brother (the twins are male in this version) into a lot of bad trouble", but that was really amazing.
I also have to mention the diversity! Obviously there's Lizzy, who's a lesbian, and Darcy, who's bisexual. But Darcy and her brother are also mixed race, and a friend of Darcy's and Lizzy's, as well as one of Lizzy's brothers are both LGBTAIQ* as well.
If you're looking for a cute f/f romance novel, like retellings, or just like Pride and Prejudice, I highly recommend The Story of Lizzy and Darcy. It's very cute and you shouldn't miss out on it! I for one am really looking forward to Watson's next book The Adventures of William Fitts, which is coming out in December!
Last but not least, please be advised that part of the plot in this book involves discussions of abusive behaviour.
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
______
When Lizzy Bennet and Darcy Williams meet there's an instant dislike between them. But when Lizzy's sister Jane and Darcy's best friend Charlie fall in love they have to spend time together. But as they get to know each other they also start to realise that maybe they judged too fast.
Thanks a lot to Grace Watson for providing me with a free review copy!
I am going to start this review by saying that to be fully honest I can't stand Jane Austen, and I've never actually read Pride and Prejudice. I've seen the BBC production from the 90s, but that was like 5 years ago so I barely remember the story.
I'm saying this because it meant two things for me when I read this book: First, I was maybe a little cautious going into this because well... why should i like a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, even if it's queer? Second, I only remembered the bare minimum of the story, which meant it was almost like reading it for the first time (also please keep this in mind for the rest of the review, I have no idea about the finer details of the story).
Luckily there was no reason to be cautious and I really really enjoyed The Story of Lizzy and Darcy! It was beautifully written and just really cute!
One of my favourite things about Lizzy and Darcy was how much they both loved books. I can empathise, and I thought it was really really cute to watch them bond because of that. I especially enjoyed Darcy turning into an awkward, blushing mess as soon as they actually started flirting.
I did remember Lizzy's love for books from the original novel, and I thought it was great to have her start a career in publishing. It just felt like the perfect way to translate her character into the modern world. I also thought the Wickham story line was handled very well. It's a little less "scandalous running away together" and more "getting Lizzy's brother (the twins are male in this version) into a lot of bad trouble", but that was really amazing.
I also have to mention the diversity! Obviously there's Lizzy, who's a lesbian, and Darcy, who's bisexual. But Darcy and her brother are also mixed race, and a friend of Darcy's and Lizzy's, as well as one of Lizzy's brothers are both LGBTAIQ* as well.
If you're looking for a cute f/f romance novel, like retellings, or just like Pride and Prejudice, I highly recommend The Story of Lizzy and Darcy. It's very cute and you shouldn't miss out on it! I for one am really looking forward to Watson's next book The Adventures of William Fitts, which is coming out in December!
Last but not least, please be advised that part of the plot in this book involves discussions of abusive behaviour.
June 3, 2017
This is not the sort of book I usually read. I am a fantasy girl, almost exclusively, and I've never read or particularly wanted to read Pride and Prejudice. However, a friend told me about this book and I had to check it out, and I ended up LOVING it. From what I understand, this is a young author's first novel, and there are certain small things that kind of show her inexperience - that is to say, the writing itself is not a museum piece or anything. But when I was reading, I did not care one bit. These characters, this story, the way everyone interacts and speaks - it's all just so perfect. I found myself unable to stop reading because I cared, genuinely and deeply, about what was going to happen to these people that I was completely in love with. We're talking late nights, book-under-the-dinner-table, avoiding-my-family-and-friends type of situation here. As I said, I've never read Pride and Prejudice so I can't speak to how much of this story is new and how much is based on the original, but either way, what a story it is! No spoilers, but the ending was possibly the most perfect ending I've read anywhere in a long time. Also, the representation in this book is incredible. So many different identities are present, and the best part is that they're written as real, three-dimensional characters rather than plot devices or the token minority. It's so refreshing to see LGBT+ characters written as people, rather than as THE GAY ONE. I really applaud the author for that, and for the whole book. I know I'm gushing, but I seriously got so excited about this book! I would (and plan to) strongly recommend it to basically all my friends.
In summary, aka TL;DR: average writing, but way above average everything else. 10/10 recommend to people who enjoy a fantastic story with beautiful, compelling characters.
In summary, aka TL;DR: average writing, but way above average everything else. 10/10 recommend to people who enjoy a fantastic story with beautiful, compelling characters.
June 4, 2017
A very strong first novel from this author.
There are two ways to review this book--as a novel unto itself or as a modernized version of Pride and Prejudice. I'm sure those who have studied the latter well will have a lot to say. I read it in high school and didn't remember much except for the fact that Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy started out hating one another and ended up together.
This story is similar in that respect. Lizzie Bennett has just graduated from university and is heading to London to share an apartment with her best friend as she begins her internship at a publishing house. Darcy Williams is the daughter of a wealthy family who buys a house near Lizzie's family home with her male best friend. Lizzie is a lesbian and Darcy is bisexual. Lizzie is immediately put off by Darcy's arrogance and snobbery. Darcy appears to be completely uninterested in Lizzie.
Many of the subplots are similar to the original: Lizzie's sister Jane and her romance with Darcy's best friend, Charlie; Lizzie's best friend Charlotte and Colin Collins; and there's even a George Wickham.
The reason why this is rated so highly is because as a novel unto itself it held my interest and I cared about the characters. Written in first person POV with Lizzie narrating, it is still possible to get a strong sense of Darcy as well as many of the other secondary characters.
Two little issues I had that weren't large enough to remove a star. First, the way the parents are written makes them more or less superfluous, and felt a bit unrealistic for adult children. Second, the author made sure that she included almost every type of diversity there was, in a way that felt a bit forced at times, though in some cases (William) made sense.
Highly recommend this unless you can't help but criticize any attempts to fool with the original.
There are two ways to review this book--as a novel unto itself or as a modernized version of Pride and Prejudice. I'm sure those who have studied the latter well will have a lot to say. I read it in high school and didn't remember much except for the fact that Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy started out hating one another and ended up together.
This story is similar in that respect. Lizzie Bennett has just graduated from university and is heading to London to share an apartment with her best friend as she begins her internship at a publishing house. Darcy Williams is the daughter of a wealthy family who buys a house near Lizzie's family home with her male best friend. Lizzie is a lesbian and Darcy is bisexual. Lizzie is immediately put off by Darcy's arrogance and snobbery. Darcy appears to be completely uninterested in Lizzie.
Many of the subplots are similar to the original: Lizzie's sister Jane and her romance with Darcy's best friend, Charlie; Lizzie's best friend Charlotte and Colin Collins; and there's even a George Wickham.
The reason why this is rated so highly is because as a novel unto itself it held my interest and I cared about the characters. Written in first person POV with Lizzie narrating, it is still possible to get a strong sense of Darcy as well as many of the other secondary characters.
Two little issues I had that weren't large enough to remove a star. First, the way the parents are written makes them more or less superfluous, and felt a bit unrealistic for adult children. Second, the author made sure that she included almost every type of diversity there was, in a way that felt a bit forced at times, though in some cases (William) made sense.
Highly recommend this unless you can't help but criticize any attempts to fool with the original.
June 15, 2017
3/5 stars
God, that ending was ADORABLE. This is definitely a book that improves the further you get into it- I really struggled with the writing style towards the beginning, and I found that the writing didn't really engage me in a positive way at the start. Everything seemed a bit rushed, so it was only after around the 40% mark, when Lizzy started her internship, that I properly got into this.
I think my favourite moment by far is a scene between Will and Lizzy halfway through that literally had me sobbing. Gender and sexuality were handled so unbelievably well, and I commend Grace Watson for that! I definitely think this is very reminiscent of the Lizzie Bennett Diaries, but I preferred the romance in this because, as a queer woman, it's just easier for me to relate to relationships between queer ladies. The relationship that develops was just so adorable, and Darcy was just..... swoon worthy, honestly. I'd love to see little stories about them being adorable and laying in bed together just reading together and being cuter than everyone else. It's just so heartwarming!
I would recommend this, and stick with it. I couldn't rate it as high as I wanted because I struggled with the romance, but it's worth it!
QUICK EDIT:
I forgot to mention- there's one scene, where one of Lizzy's family members makes a comment that completely shuts her down about Pride and her sexuality. That entire scene, and Lizzy's reaction, is one of the reasons I started to fall in love with Lizzy as a character, because it was an emotional turmoil I could relate to on an extremely personal level. Just such a great moment.
God, that ending was ADORABLE. This is definitely a book that improves the further you get into it- I really struggled with the writing style towards the beginning, and I found that the writing didn't really engage me in a positive way at the start. Everything seemed a bit rushed, so it was only after around the 40% mark, when Lizzy started her internship, that I properly got into this.
I think my favourite moment by far is a scene between Will and Lizzy halfway through that literally had me sobbing. Gender and sexuality were handled so unbelievably well, and I commend Grace Watson for that! I definitely think this is very reminiscent of the Lizzie Bennett Diaries, but I preferred the romance in this because, as a queer woman, it's just easier for me to relate to relationships between queer ladies. The relationship that develops was just so adorable, and Darcy was just..... swoon worthy, honestly. I'd love to see little stories about them being adorable and laying in bed together just reading together and being cuter than everyone else. It's just so heartwarming!
I would recommend this, and stick with it. I couldn't rate it as high as I wanted because I struggled with the romance, but it's worth it!
QUICK EDIT:
I forgot to mention- there's one scene, where one of Lizzy's family members makes a comment that completely shuts her down about Pride and her sexuality. That entire scene, and Lizzy's reaction, is one of the reasons I started to fall in love with Lizzy as a character, because it was an emotional turmoil I could relate to on an extremely personal level. Just such a great moment.
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