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Ditching Mr. Darcy
What would you do if you crashed your car into a ditch and woke up as the main character of your favorite book? What if nothing happened the way it was supposed to? What if you met the dreamiest romantic hero in literary history and yet you fell in love with someone else instead? What would happen if you never woke up again? What would happen if you did? Elizabeth Baker is about to find out.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 12, 2018
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
This is a very different, very clever story. Many Pride and Prejudice readers are obsessed with the idea of meeting their Mr. Darcy. That definitely describes Elizabeth Baker, and her wish is fulfilled.
She met Bryan over a year ago at a Halloween party, where she went as Elizabeth Bennet and he appeared, in full Regency dress, as Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth assumes the two are meant to be together. As ideal as their relationship seems, it ends disastrously for Elizabeth.
Crushed, she decides to get away and spend time with her sister Jane and two aunts in London. (The girls are half British). Jane sets her sister up on what turns out to be a miserable blind date, and events immediately afterward are even worse.
Elizabeth is shocked to awaken the next morning at Longbourn at the beginning of her favorite book, and she's in the role of Elizabeth Bennet. Familiar faces from her 21st century life turn up as other Pride and Prejudice characters. She's not certain how she got there and has no idea how to get back to her own era, but she can't wait to meet Mr. Darcy!
First, though, she meets Mr. Bingley, who's a hottie in his own right. She eagerly promotes a match between him and Jane even before the two meet. Mr. Darcy is just as dreamy as she hoped, and it even seems as though he's about to propose at the Netherfield ball. Both of these Regency gentlemen are without counterparts in Elizabeth's previous life.
What's fun about this is the way it will appear that events are leading in a particular direction, but then-- WHOOPS!-- it zags where you think it's going to zig. Be warned: Characters are not always consistent with Jane Austen's creations.
Elizabeth is an appealing leading character, and you can't help rooting for her to figure things out. I love the "ah-ha" revelation she gets by the end of the story. It's obvious to the reader long before it's clear to her, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment one bit.
I do note a critical misstep, as she is supposed to have read P&P multiple times and has seen the mini-series and movie multiple times, yet she often doesn't anticipate basic canon events. There's lots of, "Oh, yeah! I forgot this was going to happen!" with plot points true P&P fans know like our own names.
It's possible that's due to the eventual explanation for Elizabeth's experience. She does make it back to the modern era, but will she meet the man she fell in love with during her time in an alternate universe?
Great story, well told, with the one hiccup. I really enjoyed it.
This is a very different, very clever story. Many Pride and Prejudice readers are obsessed with the idea of meeting their Mr. Darcy. That definitely describes Elizabeth Baker, and her wish is fulfilled.
She met Bryan over a year ago at a Halloween party, where she went as Elizabeth Bennet and he appeared, in full Regency dress, as Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth assumes the two are meant to be together. As ideal as their relationship seems, it ends disastrously for Elizabeth.
Crushed, she decides to get away and spend time with her sister Jane and two aunts in London. (The girls are half British). Jane sets her sister up on what turns out to be a miserable blind date, and events immediately afterward are even worse.
Elizabeth is shocked to awaken the next morning at Longbourn at the beginning of her favorite book, and she's in the role of Elizabeth Bennet. Familiar faces from her 21st century life turn up as other Pride and Prejudice characters. She's not certain how she got there and has no idea how to get back to her own era, but she can't wait to meet Mr. Darcy!
First, though, she meets Mr. Bingley, who's a hottie in his own right. She eagerly promotes a match between him and Jane even before the two meet. Mr. Darcy is just as dreamy as she hoped, and it even seems as though he's about to propose at the Netherfield ball. Both of these Regency gentlemen are without counterparts in Elizabeth's previous life.
What's fun about this is the way it will appear that events are leading in a particular direction, but then-- WHOOPS!-- it zags where you think it's going to zig. Be warned: Characters are not always consistent with Jane Austen's creations.
Elizabeth is an appealing leading character, and you can't help rooting for her to figure things out. I love the "ah-ha" revelation she gets by the end of the story. It's obvious to the reader long before it's clear to her, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment one bit.
I do note a critical misstep, as she is supposed to have read P&P multiple times and has seen the mini-series and movie multiple times, yet she often doesn't anticipate basic canon events. There's lots of, "Oh, yeah! I forgot this was going to happen!" with plot points true P&P fans know like our own names.
It's possible that's due to the eventual explanation for Elizabeth's experience. She does make it back to the modern era, but will she meet the man she fell in love with during her time in an alternate universe?
Great story, well told, with the one hiccup. I really enjoyed it.
February 14, 2018
This was an interesting read. Plus I had to smile as I read modern language and slang being spoken in a Regency setting; all due to the fact that this was not real. Elizabeth Baker has loved Mr. Darcy since reading P&P as a 13-year-old and judged every boy/man she has a relationship with by that man.
As the story soon relates our Elizabeth is in a coma; although she believes she is just asleep. Her dream has set her down in her favorite story, P&P, and thus she KNOWS how it is to proceed. (I have to mention that her favorite viewing version is the movie, not the TV series and she judges others by their taste in such.)
So the misunderstandings are more Elizabeth directing events, telling Jane who she is to fall in love with and then rejecting her own feelings, that dramatic sexual chemistry between herself and the WRONG MAN. Indulging herself (as she is so sure this is fantasy) she even has the poor man act out the wet shirt scene...imagine that!
It was an added bonus as we read of how Elizabeth "recognizes" men and women from her "real" life as characters in the P&P of her dreams. Mr. Collins was recognizable early in this story. But wait till you read of George Wickham's character and the role Georgiana plays. Cleverly imagined and written.
I had to keep reminding myself that this was a dream as Elizabeth's modern slang and clichés jarred upon my senses. I think what prodded most there was the fact that the people with whom she was speaking said nothing when she used that misplaced cant.
This story is set in modern day America and England at the onset and at the end. We have Jane, M/M Bennet and two curious maiden aunts with their own secrets, along with a few other well known actors.
I enjoyed this story and as the tension built found myself staying up somewhat past my usual bedtime in order to find out if this mixed up lady was going to find her Mr. Darcy or....
As the story soon relates our Elizabeth is in a coma; although she believes she is just asleep. Her dream has set her down in her favorite story, P&P, and thus she KNOWS how it is to proceed. (I have to mention that her favorite viewing version is the movie, not the TV series and she judges others by their taste in such.)
So the misunderstandings are more Elizabeth directing events, telling Jane who she is to fall in love with and then rejecting her own feelings, that dramatic sexual chemistry between herself and the WRONG MAN. Indulging herself (as she is so sure this is fantasy) she even has the poor man act out the wet shirt scene...imagine that!
It was an added bonus as we read of how Elizabeth "recognizes" men and women from her "real" life as characters in the P&P of her dreams. Mr. Collins was recognizable early in this story. But wait till you read of George Wickham's character and the role Georgiana plays. Cleverly imagined and written.
I had to keep reminding myself that this was a dream as Elizabeth's modern slang and clichés jarred upon my senses. I think what prodded most there was the fact that the people with whom she was speaking said nothing when she used that misplaced cant.
This story is set in modern day America and England at the onset and at the end. We have Jane, M/M Bennet and two curious maiden aunts with their own secrets, along with a few other well known actors.
I enjoyed this story and as the tension built found myself staying up somewhat past my usual bedtime in order to find out if this mixed up lady was going to find her Mr. Darcy or....
March 5, 2019
2.5 stars
A good premise that didn’t deliver. I got bored and skimmed and read and so on.
A good premise that didn’t deliver. I got bored and skimmed and read and so on.
July 1, 2018
What If You Fell for Someone Other Than Mr. Darcy?
Elizabeth Baker has bad luck when it comes to relationships. Since she was thirteen she has been in love with Mr. Darcy and holds hims as the ideal mate to measure all other men against. After a recent relationship disaster that did not end up with the marriage proposal she was expecting, Elizabeth decides to have an extended visit with her sister, Jane, in London to help get over her broken heart. However, Elizabeth’s holiday in London takes an unexpected turn as crashes a car into a ditch and winds up unconscious after trying to drive in England for the first time. The next thing she knows she is being addressed as Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn…
It is every Pride and Prejudice fan’s dream come true isn’t? Even though Elizabeth remembers her real life and the world she came from (and realizes her presence in this fantasy world might mean she is not okay in the real world) she is fully prepared to live out her dream of being with Mr. Darcy! As an ardent fan of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth knows the “script” and knows what parts she and the other “characters” must play. But there are still many surprises in store for Elizabeth as some encounters are happening differently from the book and some characters aren’t exactly acting as she would expect them to!
I love adventures like this one where a modern-day Jane Austen fan gets to have a taste of living in Jane Austen’s world (or in this case the world of Pride and Prejudice!) I’ve read a couple stories that are similar in premise (Attempting Elizabeth, Leap of Hope, and Yours by Design series to name a few), and can never get enough! This story is unique in that it veers in an unexpected direction… Without spoiling anything I will say that Elizabeth starts to feel conflicted about her feelings for Mr. Darcy and perturbed to discover that her traitorous heart begins to feel affection for someone else! Ack!! I absolutely adored this twist and thought it was brilliant! How many times do people fantasize about something only to finally have it in front of them and realize it isn’t what they wanted after all?!? I love how Ms. Whitman has turned both Elizabeth’s understanding of Pride and Prejudice and her own universal truths on their ears!
I adored our heroine Elizabeth, she is immediately likable with her Mr. Darcy obsession, and she earned my sympathy and compassion for all the horrendous relationships she experienced! Poor girl! I completely understand her heart’s leanings and I loved, loved, loved all her scenes and special moments with this particular character. So very swoon-worthy! Their tree, riding horses, the wet-shirt, the proposal – I need my smelling salts! I loved following along on Elizabeth’s journey and especially loved how it all ended. (sorry to be vague, spoilers!) It was very gratifying and executed wonderfully! I was put in mind of The Wizard of Oz a little, perhaps there was some slight influence there!
While I loved witnessing Elizabeth’s bold way of speaking her mind, I was sometimes bothered by her modern speech and slang. Not because she used modern speech and slang, (I think that is to be expected!) But because she didn’t seem to make much of an attempt to speak less modern, and that the other characters never really questioned her strange word usage. My other small quibble is with Mr. Darcy, whose feelings and thoughts I felt needed a little more explanation. His character seemed just a little less developed than some other characters.
However, these minor quibbles didn’t diminish my pleasure in this diverting and romantic fantasy adventure! This story is an entertaining and enchanting read for readers who dream of waking up in Elizabeth Bennet’s shoes and experiencing Pride and Prejudice firsthand. I’m so excited to see what sort of adventures are in store for these characters in Ms. Whitman’s sequel – Becoming Mr. Bingley! 🙂
Austenesque Reviews
Elizabeth Baker has bad luck when it comes to relationships. Since she was thirteen she has been in love with Mr. Darcy and holds hims as the ideal mate to measure all other men against. After a recent relationship disaster that did not end up with the marriage proposal she was expecting, Elizabeth decides to have an extended visit with her sister, Jane, in London to help get over her broken heart. However, Elizabeth’s holiday in London takes an unexpected turn as crashes a car into a ditch and winds up unconscious after trying to drive in England for the first time. The next thing she knows she is being addressed as Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn…
It is every Pride and Prejudice fan’s dream come true isn’t? Even though Elizabeth remembers her real life and the world she came from (and realizes her presence in this fantasy world might mean she is not okay in the real world) she is fully prepared to live out her dream of being with Mr. Darcy! As an ardent fan of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth knows the “script” and knows what parts she and the other “characters” must play. But there are still many surprises in store for Elizabeth as some encounters are happening differently from the book and some characters aren’t exactly acting as she would expect them to!
I love adventures like this one where a modern-day Jane Austen fan gets to have a taste of living in Jane Austen’s world (or in this case the world of Pride and Prejudice!) I’ve read a couple stories that are similar in premise (Attempting Elizabeth, Leap of Hope, and Yours by Design series to name a few), and can never get enough! This story is unique in that it veers in an unexpected direction… Without spoiling anything I will say that Elizabeth starts to feel conflicted about her feelings for Mr. Darcy and perturbed to discover that her traitorous heart begins to feel affection for someone else! Ack!! I absolutely adored this twist and thought it was brilliant! How many times do people fantasize about something only to finally have it in front of them and realize it isn’t what they wanted after all?!? I love how Ms. Whitman has turned both Elizabeth’s understanding of Pride and Prejudice and her own universal truths on their ears!
I adored our heroine Elizabeth, she is immediately likable with her Mr. Darcy obsession, and she earned my sympathy and compassion for all the horrendous relationships she experienced! Poor girl! I completely understand her heart’s leanings and I loved, loved, loved all her scenes and special moments with this particular character. So very swoon-worthy! Their tree, riding horses, the wet-shirt, the proposal – I need my smelling salts! I loved following along on Elizabeth’s journey and especially loved how it all ended. (sorry to be vague, spoilers!) It was very gratifying and executed wonderfully! I was put in mind of The Wizard of Oz a little, perhaps there was some slight influence there!
While I loved witnessing Elizabeth’s bold way of speaking her mind, I was sometimes bothered by her modern speech and slang. Not because she used modern speech and slang, (I think that is to be expected!) But because she didn’t seem to make much of an attempt to speak less modern, and that the other characters never really questioned her strange word usage. My other small quibble is with Mr. Darcy, whose feelings and thoughts I felt needed a little more explanation. His character seemed just a little less developed than some other characters.
However, these minor quibbles didn’t diminish my pleasure in this diverting and romantic fantasy adventure! This story is an entertaining and enchanting read for readers who dream of waking up in Elizabeth Bennet’s shoes and experiencing Pride and Prejudice firsthand. I’m so excited to see what sort of adventures are in store for these characters in Ms. Whitman’s sequel – Becoming Mr. Bingley! 🙂
Austenesque Reviews
May 2, 2018
Different and interesting, but shocking
I won't give away the plot but I found it intriguing and weird in a good way. I'm glad I gave it a chance.
I won't give away the plot but I found it intriguing and weird in a good way. I'm glad I gave it a chance.
December 21, 2017
A Bright Debut
We have seen several novels using the "accident dreams throw modern Austen lover back to the Regency" plot model. However, Ditching Mr. Darcy does so much more with the latent possibilities. Characters are inverted from their Canonical presentation. Well, not all...and that is what makes this novel a treasure. Well written and well proofed/edited. Only modest problem with chapter breaks. Look forward to seeing more from Me Whitman.
We have seen several novels using the "accident dreams throw modern Austen lover back to the Regency" plot model. However, Ditching Mr. Darcy does so much more with the latent possibilities. Characters are inverted from their Canonical presentation. Well, not all...and that is what makes this novel a treasure. Well written and well proofed/edited. Only modest problem with chapter breaks. Look forward to seeing more from Me Whitman.
January 26, 2018
It‘s one of the finest books I‘ve ever read! If you love Jane Austen and especially Pride and Prejudice as much as I do you will love this book. It captured me from the first until the very last page! It is very well written and keeps you imagining what will happen in the end all throughout the book, even though you already know a great deal of the story from the original ‚Pride and Prejudice‘. The twists and turns as well as the lovely writing style made me cry, laugh and get goose bumps all in turns and I‘m thankful for those lovely hours I could spend reading this wonderful book and enjoying it so much!
January 16, 2018
Fun read with a refreshing twist
In this dream sequence the details of who she knows as Elizabeth Bennet is cleverly worked out as people she already knows which makes her familiar to them on a deeper level. I liked how she knew she must be dreaming but didn’t feel trapped and enjoyed playing out her role. And, Mr. Bingley gets the credit he deserves, finally!
In this dream sequence the details of who she knows as Elizabeth Bennet is cleverly worked out as people she already knows which makes her familiar to them on a deeper level. I liked how she knew she must be dreaming but didn’t feel trapped and enjoyed playing out her role. And, Mr. Bingley gets the credit he deserves, finally!
January 9, 2020
I have never read a JAFF book where E does not end up with Mr D before. I had always wondered what that would be like and I can now say that I am not a fan. There is something comforting and eternal about having E & D always ending up together. Otherwise, it feels like any other romantic book. There seems to be a cumulative collective sigh that is missing when an author breaks the thread. So not a fan but as a romance, it was ok.
February 9, 2018
Ditching Mr. Darcy
Very different story than most variations. The story begins and ends in modern time, but an accident puts Elizabeth Baker in a coma with her "living" in Regency time. Fascinated with the imaginary Fitzwilliam Darcy, every man she dates falls short of what she imagines him to be. Her latest, Bryan, seemed to be the one (came dressed as Fitzwilliam Darcy to a Halloween party, favorite movie BBC version of Pride and Prejudice), only to find out that he's in love with his friend James. Reeling from this latest love disaster, Elizabeth moves to London to be with her sister Jane and their two aunts. Our favorite Recency characters turn out to be a bit different than Jane Austen's notable characters. Misunderstandings are just as prevalent as they were in Austen's masterpiece. Some of the characters are very much out of character, some shockingly so. If they were real people, they would be turning in their graves. About the time that Recency Elizabeth Baker (Bennet) gets everything sorted out, she awakens from her six week coma. Amazingly all of the Recency characters are now found in her modern life time under different names and she finally gets her HEA. Different character pairings than in Jane Austen's novel in both the Recency and modern time parts of the story. Not sure I cared for the couple pairings, but given their changed personalities, it worked.
Very different story than most variations. The story begins and ends in modern time, but an accident puts Elizabeth Baker in a coma with her "living" in Regency time. Fascinated with the imaginary Fitzwilliam Darcy, every man she dates falls short of what she imagines him to be. Her latest, Bryan, seemed to be the one (came dressed as Fitzwilliam Darcy to a Halloween party, favorite movie BBC version of Pride and Prejudice), only to find out that he's in love with his friend James. Reeling from this latest love disaster, Elizabeth moves to London to be with her sister Jane and their two aunts. Our favorite Recency characters turn out to be a bit different than Jane Austen's notable characters. Misunderstandings are just as prevalent as they were in Austen's masterpiece. Some of the characters are very much out of character, some shockingly so. If they were real people, they would be turning in their graves. About the time that Recency Elizabeth Baker (Bennet) gets everything sorted out, she awakens from her six week coma. Amazingly all of the Recency characters are now found in her modern life time under different names and she finally gets her HEA. Different character pairings than in Jane Austen's novel in both the Recency and modern time parts of the story. Not sure I cared for the couple pairings, but given their changed personalities, it worked.
October 19, 2018
I had a smile on my face the entire time I read this - except for the two moments I cried. The main character is ME. Elizabeth grew up outside of Philly, is in love with Mr. Darcy and the Phillies, loves wine, is ridiculously non-committal with men, thinks the movie of Pride and Prejudice is better than the miniseries, AND thinks Colin Firth’s best role is in Kingsman. Pair the similarities with an awesome cast of characters that are all Samantha Whitman’s own unique twist on Pride and Prejudice characters and the dreamiest, most FUN love interest of all time, and you’ve got a winner. This book is self-published and super awesome. Can’t wait to read the next one.
Read
April 27, 2023I skipped so many pages of this book that I feel I shouldn’t rate it.
I finished it which is not so frequent for me. All in all, the storyline was great but the execution less so. Nothing very bad, just not enough to get me riveted.
I finished it which is not so frequent for me. All in all, the storyline was great but the execution less so. Nothing very bad, just not enough to get me riveted.
January 30, 2018
Now that was awesome! This book is a wonderful ball of angsty heavenly hell! I typically do not stray from being a Darcy/Elizabeth fan, however, I will make an exception for this piece of literature. Amazing!
March 11, 2018
Very entertaining read
I’ve been a fan of Pride & Prejudice since my early teens. I’ve read the book and seen almost every adaption, so when I heard my friend had written a novel based on P&P, I knew I had to read it....and I loved it!
It’s an entertaining spin on the classic with some twists and turns I did not even expect but still stayed true to the original storyline and familiar characters we’ve all come to know and love. Plus I’m a sucker for characters finding themselves having to navigate through a different era and “faking it until they make it”!
If you are a P&P fan or an Austen fan, read this book! You won’t be disappointed!
Well done, Sam! Can’t wait for the sequel!
I’ve been a fan of Pride & Prejudice since my early teens. I’ve read the book and seen almost every adaption, so when I heard my friend had written a novel based on P&P, I knew I had to read it....and I loved it!
It’s an entertaining spin on the classic with some twists and turns I did not even expect but still stayed true to the original storyline and familiar characters we’ve all come to know and love. Plus I’m a sucker for characters finding themselves having to navigate through a different era and “faking it until they make it”!
If you are a P&P fan or an Austen fan, read this book! You won’t be disappointed!
Well done, Sam! Can’t wait for the sequel!
May 17, 2018
I wanted to love this book. I read reviews online and a trusted Austen-themed website gave it kudos. I wanted to love it so much. But ultimately I found myself in a back and forth relationship with it – – I enjoyed the beginning and the end but the middle left me a bit wanting.
The good. I love, love, love books that revisit Pride and Prejudice and its beloved characters. I really can’t get enough. With Ditching Mr. Darcy, we not only revisit them but have a modern-day girl who is transported into Queen Jane’s fictional Meryton, Longbourn, Netherfield, Hunsford, Rosings, and Pemberley. A most excellent diversion.
Our heroine’s discovery, as the fan-favorite Elizabeth Bennet, that life in Regency England is not exactly as the movies showcase is quite funny. What modern woman wouldn’t be worrying about using a chamber pot, brushing their teeth with chalk and salt, performing then-popular dances and, perhaps most especially, pining for their mascara? Reading of her floundering with daily activities (what? no underwear?) gave me a very real chuckle. As well as the “reality” of what the P&P characters were truly like, as she found out.
Author Samantha Whitman takes creative license with our P&P standbys and I’m okay with the majority of it. I’m not an absolute Austen purist . . . but I found while reading this book that I do have a line in the sand (more on that later.) Seeing some characters are more adventurous than Austen penned them, or perhaps even portrayed as inaccurately irredeemable, was an interesting twist.
And here it is. What I struggled with.
First, and maybe most importantly, I had difficulty with our heroine. I liked Elizabeth Baker as her present day self well enough – – although I didn’t understand her very clear and quickly verbalized dislike of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth version.) She never explained why she disliked it or held the 2005 version superior. Everyone has their own tastes, sure, but even a throwaway line about how she saw the 2005 version first could have explained it, especially given that she stated several times how much she didn’t like the 1995 P&P. A minor gripe, really, but it still stuck with me.
Where the heroine lost me was when she found herself as Elizabeth Bennet. This was a woman who claimed Jane Austen was her favorite author and who adored P&P and yet she got every. single. thing. wrong. In the very beginning, I could give her a pass for her use of modern words like “okay,” “guy,” “jerk,” etc., but not after she had been in Regency England for more than a few days. It bugged me that the P&P characters did not take any issue with her terminology, nor question her about it for the most part. She also continually addressed persons like Caroline Bingley as “Caroline,” something that would never have been done or accepted given their (frosty) relationship. She should have been addressed as “Miss Bingley” and any of the characters, including Caroline Bingley herself, would quickly have questioned Elizabeth’s familiarity and lack of propriety.
I also began ticking off mentally how many times Elizabeth gaped, sneered, smirked and rolled her eyes. And then quit when it became too much. Again, the real Elizabeth Bennet may have rolled her eyes to her father over the ridiculous uproar in the Bennet household but she never would have done so in mixed company, nor been outright rude as Elizabeth Baker as Elizabeth Bennet was. I hate to say it but she made Elizabeth Bennet downright unlikable. I found myself feeling infuriated with her most of the time.
For someone who, again, claimed to be such an aficionado of Jane Austen and her works, she continued to make mistakes that she should not have, which resulted in a major ripple effect on the plotline. While that can succeed (see Lost in Austen) the result here made me feel discombobulated and I found I didn’t appreciate the plot change as I think I was intended to. Maybe if Elizabeth had intentionally veered off the normal path, telling herself “it’s a dream,” or “it’s not real anyhow,” it would have been more tolerable for me. But as she was somewhat continuously telling herself that certain characters would end up together and/or had to be together per Austen’s book, her actions seemed to make little sense. And telling Wickham upon their first meeting all of his own back story as relayed in P&P? Just . . . no. Again, any true Austen fan would know how the story was meant to go down. I get that this is a variation but . . I will say, though, that the changes made to Wickham were welcome and most interesting.
I also felt that one of the twists was very obvious to the reader and should have been a little more obvious to Elizabeth, especially given how much she was tearing up the original plotline.
While some of the creative license with characters was enjoyable and welcome, as I mentioned above, one particular change was grievous and I thoroughly disliked it. Not only did it change the original plotline of P&P immensely but absolutely changed the very character of the person, and not in a good way. I won’t spoil it but given who the character is and the background, this just couldn’t happen. Again, I don’t consider myself an absolute Austen purist; if you do, you may be horrified by this change (as well as other differences.)
That said, I did thoroughly enjoy how the book came to a conclusion, with many of the P&P characters making a “reappearance.” Truthfully, the ending made me a bit warm and fuzzy, pining for my own leading man; it did redeem both Elizabeth and the book to a good degree for me, leaving me not totally down on Ditching Mr. Darcy. It also made me curious as to Samantha Whitman’s sequel, the currently named Becoming Mr. Bingley (which I will in all likelihood read once it’s released.)
I appreciate that the author took a beloved book and characters and threw a unique spin on them. Ditching Mr. Darcy was unusual and it was a quick read. And I love the cover artwork.
If you are looking for some escapism reading and don’t mind your original story and characters being turned on their heads, Ditching Mr. Darcy is a solid choice. Austen purists and those that believe variations should basically follow canon, beware. It may not be the book for you.
©balancelivebreathe 2018 (www.balancelivebreathe.wordpress.com)
The good. I love, love, love books that revisit Pride and Prejudice and its beloved characters. I really can’t get enough. With Ditching Mr. Darcy, we not only revisit them but have a modern-day girl who is transported into Queen Jane’s fictional Meryton, Longbourn, Netherfield, Hunsford, Rosings, and Pemberley. A most excellent diversion.
Our heroine’s discovery, as the fan-favorite Elizabeth Bennet, that life in Regency England is not exactly as the movies showcase is quite funny. What modern woman wouldn’t be worrying about using a chamber pot, brushing their teeth with chalk and salt, performing then-popular dances and, perhaps most especially, pining for their mascara? Reading of her floundering with daily activities (what? no underwear?) gave me a very real chuckle. As well as the “reality” of what the P&P characters were truly like, as she found out.
Author Samantha Whitman takes creative license with our P&P standbys and I’m okay with the majority of it. I’m not an absolute Austen purist . . . but I found while reading this book that I do have a line in the sand (more on that later.) Seeing some characters are more adventurous than Austen penned them, or perhaps even portrayed as inaccurately irredeemable, was an interesting twist.
And here it is. What I struggled with.
First, and maybe most importantly, I had difficulty with our heroine. I liked Elizabeth Baker as her present day self well enough – – although I didn’t understand her very clear and quickly verbalized dislike of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth version.) She never explained why she disliked it or held the 2005 version superior. Everyone has their own tastes, sure, but even a throwaway line about how she saw the 2005 version first could have explained it, especially given that she stated several times how much she didn’t like the 1995 P&P. A minor gripe, really, but it still stuck with me.
Where the heroine lost me was when she found herself as Elizabeth Bennet. This was a woman who claimed Jane Austen was her favorite author and who adored P&P and yet she got every. single. thing. wrong. In the very beginning, I could give her a pass for her use of modern words like “okay,” “guy,” “jerk,” etc., but not after she had been in Regency England for more than a few days. It bugged me that the P&P characters did not take any issue with her terminology, nor question her about it for the most part. She also continually addressed persons like Caroline Bingley as “Caroline,” something that would never have been done or accepted given their (frosty) relationship. She should have been addressed as “Miss Bingley” and any of the characters, including Caroline Bingley herself, would quickly have questioned Elizabeth’s familiarity and lack of propriety.
I also began ticking off mentally how many times Elizabeth gaped, sneered, smirked and rolled her eyes. And then quit when it became too much. Again, the real Elizabeth Bennet may have rolled her eyes to her father over the ridiculous uproar in the Bennet household but she never would have done so in mixed company, nor been outright rude as Elizabeth Baker as Elizabeth Bennet was. I hate to say it but she made Elizabeth Bennet downright unlikable. I found myself feeling infuriated with her most of the time.
For someone who, again, claimed to be such an aficionado of Jane Austen and her works, she continued to make mistakes that she should not have, which resulted in a major ripple effect on the plotline. While that can succeed (see Lost in Austen) the result here made me feel discombobulated and I found I didn’t appreciate the plot change as I think I was intended to. Maybe if Elizabeth had intentionally veered off the normal path, telling herself “it’s a dream,” or “it’s not real anyhow,” it would have been more tolerable for me. But as she was somewhat continuously telling herself that certain characters would end up together and/or had to be together per Austen’s book, her actions seemed to make little sense. And telling Wickham upon their first meeting all of his own back story as relayed in P&P? Just . . . no. Again, any true Austen fan would know how the story was meant to go down. I get that this is a variation but . . I will say, though, that the changes made to Wickham were welcome and most interesting.
I also felt that one of the twists was very obvious to the reader and should have been a little more obvious to Elizabeth, especially given how much she was tearing up the original plotline.
While some of the creative license with characters was enjoyable and welcome, as I mentioned above, one particular change was grievous and I thoroughly disliked it. Not only did it change the original plotline of P&P immensely but absolutely changed the very character of the person, and not in a good way. I won’t spoil it but given who the character is and the background, this just couldn’t happen. Again, I don’t consider myself an absolute Austen purist; if you do, you may be horrified by this change (as well as other differences.)
That said, I did thoroughly enjoy how the book came to a conclusion, with many of the P&P characters making a “reappearance.” Truthfully, the ending made me a bit warm and fuzzy, pining for my own leading man; it did redeem both Elizabeth and the book to a good degree for me, leaving me not totally down on Ditching Mr. Darcy. It also made me curious as to Samantha Whitman’s sequel, the currently named Becoming Mr. Bingley (which I will in all likelihood read once it’s released.)
I appreciate that the author took a beloved book and characters and threw a unique spin on them. Ditching Mr. Darcy was unusual and it was a quick read. And I love the cover artwork.
If you are looking for some escapism reading and don’t mind your original story and characters being turned on their heads, Ditching Mr. Darcy is a solid choice. Austen purists and those that believe variations should basically follow canon, beware. It may not be the book for you.
©balancelivebreathe 2018 (www.balancelivebreathe.wordpress.com)
October 31, 2018
I really want to give this book a glowing review. I loved the concept of it, but the execution was just not there. For this short review, I'll go for the things I liked, and I'll discuss more in my longer review which will be up next week. I love that the main character loves the 2005 version of P&P because I feel like everyone I meet prefers Collin Firth as Mr. Darcy which just, no. The writing style was really good, it totally mimicked Jane Austen's style and I loved it a lot for that. Anyway, my full review is here: https://wordpress.com/post/kliscruggs...
December 11, 2017
I cannot wait for the sequel!
What a complete flip of the regular P & P storyline! When you think about it...Elizabeth always enjoyed Bingley and Jane always thought well of Darcy. Why not mix it up a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author is very talented!
What a complete flip of the regular P & P storyline! When you think about it...Elizabeth always enjoyed Bingley and Jane always thought well of Darcy. Why not mix it up a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author is very talented!
March 31, 2020
Not what I expected.
When I first began reading,I hated it! Who in their right mind couldn't fall in love with Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy? At that, I almost removed this from my kindle. However, I paid for it, granted only .99 but on a budget, felt I had to continue it.
It was a tad corny in a way & in places I was irritated. I'm not thrilled that in this Mr. Wickham is gay. Thankfully, it was at least tastefully handlers possible.
The fact that Elizabeth spoke and acted like she was in the present say, while being in the 1800's was ridiculous. Very seldom did anyone seen to be bothered by her completely off speech or actions. The language should've been an issue with her family and friends. She actually does the Harlem Shake,which Jabe witnesses and said little about it. Asking if It was a new dance. In those days she would be considered crazy at best,possessed by something evil at worst and It was brushed off. Some of the slang, they wouldn't have understood back then, yet,no one seemed to have a problem understanding her conversations.
It was a bit ridiculous that the main character, Elizabeth Baker,her family, friends and acquaintances were in her dream Pride and Prejudice were just like her real life world. I was glad she made Lady Catherine Dr Fourth a more likeable person in this version. I was not happy the Elizabeth ended up with someone other than Mr. Darcy, however, it worked and the last few chapters caused me to like it.
At first, they was no way I was going to say anything good about this and I wasn't going to recommend it.
Now, I'm conflicted. It was well written enough that I found myself enjoying it. But, the author had to make the jab about Colin Firth not being the best Dr. Darcy.I tried to watch the movie version the character preferred a few years ago and greatly disagree with it being a better version than the mini series. I been prefer the one with zombie over that version. But, each to their own.
I enjoyed it enough, I may eventually buy the next one. So, read at your own risk. It is clean of any sexual activity, there is some language.
When I first began reading,I hated it! Who in their right mind couldn't fall in love with Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy? At that, I almost removed this from my kindle. However, I paid for it, granted only .99 but on a budget, felt I had to continue it.
It was a tad corny in a way & in places I was irritated. I'm not thrilled that in this Mr. Wickham is gay. Thankfully, it was at least tastefully handlers possible.
The fact that Elizabeth spoke and acted like she was in the present say, while being in the 1800's was ridiculous. Very seldom did anyone seen to be bothered by her completely off speech or actions. The language should've been an issue with her family and friends. She actually does the Harlem Shake,which Jabe witnesses and said little about it. Asking if It was a new dance. In those days she would be considered crazy at best,possessed by something evil at worst and It was brushed off. Some of the slang, they wouldn't have understood back then, yet,no one seemed to have a problem understanding her conversations.
It was a bit ridiculous that the main character, Elizabeth Baker,her family, friends and acquaintances were in her dream Pride and Prejudice were just like her real life world. I was glad she made Lady Catherine Dr Fourth a more likeable person in this version. I was not happy the Elizabeth ended up with someone other than Mr. Darcy, however, it worked and the last few chapters caused me to like it.
At first, they was no way I was going to say anything good about this and I wasn't going to recommend it.
Now, I'm conflicted. It was well written enough that I found myself enjoying it. But, the author had to make the jab about Colin Firth not being the best Dr. Darcy.I tried to watch the movie version the character preferred a few years ago and greatly disagree with it being a better version than the mini series. I been prefer the one with zombie over that version. But, each to their own.
I enjoyed it enough, I may eventually buy the next one. So, read at your own risk. It is clean of any sexual activity, there is some language.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2021
*Ditching Mr. Darcy* is a fun novel for the reader who fantasies about waking up in their favorite fictional world or about falling in love with Mr. Darcy.
Modern-day Elizabeth Barker is obsessed with *Pride Prejudice,* and won't settle for any man who can't measure up to Mr. Darcy. Following a car accident, Elizabeth finds herself transporting into the Regency world of Austen's heroine Elizabeth Bennett, in which she has imagined herself. She thinks she knows exactly how the story is going to go, but is surprised when characters are different than she expects and the plot goes awry.
Some readers may be put-off by some of these character alternations and modern Elizabeth's behavior in Regency England, however, part of the suspension of belief asked by the novel is that the setting is not Austen's novel or Regency England, but rather Elizabeth Baker's subconscious. Some of the alternations are quite predictable from the beginning, others are wholly unexpected due to the reader's familiarity with the *Pride and Prejudice.* If not taken too serious or literally, this novel is a wonderfully diverting escape into the ways our own lives and minds can interact with fictional worlds, and create a new reality.
I am eager to read the sequel.
Modern-day Elizabeth Barker is obsessed with *Pride Prejudice,* and won't settle for any man who can't measure up to Mr. Darcy. Following a car accident, Elizabeth finds herself transporting into the Regency world of Austen's heroine Elizabeth Bennett, in which she has imagined herself. She thinks she knows exactly how the story is going to go, but is surprised when characters are different than she expects and the plot goes awry.
Some readers may be put-off by some of these character alternations and modern Elizabeth's behavior in Regency England, however, part of the suspension of belief asked by the novel is that the setting is not Austen's novel or Regency England, but rather Elizabeth Baker's subconscious. Some of the alternations are quite predictable from the beginning, others are wholly unexpected due to the reader's familiarity with the *Pride and Prejudice.* If not taken too serious or literally, this novel is a wonderfully diverting escape into the ways our own lives and minds can interact with fictional worlds, and create a new reality.
I am eager to read the sequel.
March 15, 2022
[SPOILERS]
I only read the first two chapters, and I enjoyed it until the end of the first chapter when the bf basically becomes a stereotypical gay man and how MC should have known the entire time that they were together because he enjoys shopping and is into fashion, doesn't enjoy sports (it being especially weird that he doesn't enjoy baseball because that's basically a "prerequisite to being an American"...), and a couple of other things. It would have made more sense if the bf had been bi/pansexual since they had been in a relationship for a year, I know that everyone's journey to finding out they are queer is different, it's just... I didn't enjoy this part.
In the beginning of the second chapter, the conversation that MC has with her sister feels rather stiff, as if the two of them are talking to someone they may be familiar with, but isn't necessarily someone they KNOW.
That's basically when I stopped reading. I picked up the book because Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite movies and the premise of the book is insanely interesting. Maybe if I had read further I would have been able to enjoy it, but those few pages put me off enough I didn't feel it was worth reading the rest of the book.
I only read the first two chapters, and I enjoyed it until the end of the first chapter when the bf basically becomes a stereotypical gay man and how MC should have known the entire time that they were together because he enjoys shopping and is into fashion, doesn't enjoy sports (it being especially weird that he doesn't enjoy baseball because that's basically a "prerequisite to being an American"...), and a couple of other things. It would have made more sense if the bf had been bi/pansexual since they had been in a relationship for a year, I know that everyone's journey to finding out they are queer is different, it's just... I didn't enjoy this part.
In the beginning of the second chapter, the conversation that MC has with her sister feels rather stiff, as if the two of them are talking to someone they may be familiar with, but isn't necessarily someone they KNOW.
That's basically when I stopped reading. I picked up the book because Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite movies and the premise of the book is insanely interesting. Maybe if I had read further I would have been able to enjoy it, but those few pages put me off enough I didn't feel it was worth reading the rest of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2018
This is a humorous, twisty, fun, unique Pride and Prejudice variation that I was delighted to read. It's a contemporary story, but in it the protagonist experiences a long Regency dream, so I didn't mind that there were a few inaccuracies or anachronisms. In dreams of course such things are going to happen, and they didn't feel like errors to me, just part of the dreamlike quality. The story kept me reading and completely absorbed, never bogging down at all. I laughed a lot, and also found the sisters' relationship quite touching, even though that led to the main misunderstanding in the story.
The Darcy and Bingley characters as well as some others seemed spot on, while some others were a surprise. This was deliberate on the author's part, we were supposed to find some of the characters quite changed and unexpected, and it made for an even more interesting read.
In fact this story was always entertaining, with just enough tongue-in-cheek quality that I wouldn't be surprised if it tickled Jane Austen herself. There were even some nods to Northanger Abbey. Genuine escapist fun!
The Darcy and Bingley characters as well as some others seemed spot on, while some others were a surprise. This was deliberate on the author's part, we were supposed to find some of the characters quite changed and unexpected, and it made for an even more interesting read.
In fact this story was always entertaining, with just enough tongue-in-cheek quality that I wouldn't be surprised if it tickled Jane Austen herself. There were even some nods to Northanger Abbey. Genuine escapist fun!
June 5, 2018
"Before her very eyes stood an actual Mr. Darcy in the flesh! It was more than a sign, it was as if fate itself was saying, " Elizabeth, I feel pretty bad about how I treated you before, so here is a freebie! Enjoy!""
Full disclosure, time travel, and Jane Austen are my favorite combo.
She had me at "Hello"....
I loved the fresh take on the P&P we all know and love. Elizabeth was so funny, quirky, and loveable. I couldn't help but picture Mindy the entire time. Her bumbling acclamation to the time period was so perfect. The little bits of inner dialogue added here and there in addition to her slip-ups of modern ways of speaking were just so perfect and natural. The whole novel was so easy to get into. It started right off as that perfect narration for me. I'm sure there is some technical term but it's that way you start a book and just 'hear' the main character? yes. that. Highly recommend.
Full disclosure, time travel, and Jane Austen are my favorite combo.
She had me at "Hello"....
I loved the fresh take on the P&P we all know and love. Elizabeth was so funny, quirky, and loveable. I couldn't help but picture Mindy the entire time. Her bumbling acclamation to the time period was so perfect. The little bits of inner dialogue added here and there in addition to her slip-ups of modern ways of speaking were just so perfect and natural. The whole novel was so easy to get into. It started right off as that perfect narration for me. I'm sure there is some technical term but it's that way you start a book and just 'hear' the main character? yes. that. Highly recommend.
January 8, 2019
I loved Ditching Mr. Darcy (DMD). It’s a fun, quick read that will leave you smiling.
I was very much reminded of Lost in Austen as I read through DMD, but, thankfully, DMD is much less angsty and far more fun. It also seems more plausible. It makes more sense to me that someone in a coma would “dream” about their favorite novel than a magic door opening in a shower.
I really enjoyed the changes to the various characters, except perhaps Georgiana, as I have a fondness for her character. I would have liked to see more of Mr. Bennet and the Gardiners, but what we got to see was fun and interesting.
Ms. Whitman did a great job including happenings from the “real” world in Lizzie’s constructed world. The reveals once Lizzie wakes up remind me of Dorothy waking up in The Wizard of Oz movie in all the best ways.
I’m curious to see how book 2 will continue Lizzie’s story. I hope it’s just as light-hearted as this one.
I was very much reminded of Lost in Austen as I read through DMD, but, thankfully, DMD is much less angsty and far more fun. It also seems more plausible. It makes more sense to me that someone in a coma would “dream” about their favorite novel than a magic door opening in a shower.
I really enjoyed the changes to the various characters, except perhaps Georgiana, as I have a fondness for her character. I would have liked to see more of Mr. Bennet and the Gardiners, but what we got to see was fun and interesting.
Ms. Whitman did a great job including happenings from the “real” world in Lizzie’s constructed world. The reveals once Lizzie wakes up remind me of Dorothy waking up in The Wizard of Oz movie in all the best ways.
I’m curious to see how book 2 will continue Lizzie’s story. I hope it’s just as light-hearted as this one.
February 15, 2018
This is a cute read. It plays with the traditional Pride and Prejudice arc with exploration in variance. Similar to Lost in Austen, the lead character finds herself transported into the Regency era from modern times. In this variant, however, the protagonist is in a comma, is placed in the role Elizabeth Bennett, and is aware of the ultimately transitive state of her hallucination. My only complaint is the climatic arc of the Emma-esque romantic confusions were obvious from the second chapter. Additionally, I wished the prose was more polished and akin to the original from which it was inspired. Overall, I would recommend this to Jane Austen fans who enjoy the occasional foray into chick-lit. Else wise, this probably not going to be your cup of tea. You may have a particular predisposition to this book if you enjoy other modern Austenite fanfics such as Lost in Austen and Austenland.
April 6, 2020
Nice first work!
Kudos to Ms. Whitman for an engaging first JAFF work. I've read other books with a similar story line: present-day Elizabeth is in a coma and experiences Regency era life, complete with Mr. Darcy and all the supporting characters. This one had some nice twists, and some fun quirks, and was an entertaining read.
The title was the first thing that sucked me in. Imagine an Elizabeth that wants to ditch Darcy! Unfathomable! I just had to find out how that was going to happen, and I'm glad I did. Also from the title, I was able to determine that this would be a humorous story, and I appreciate that in these stories that typically are filled with so much angst and drama. The author did a nice job of balancing the romantic intrigue with a lot of light banter.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
Kudos to Ms. Whitman for an engaging first JAFF work. I've read other books with a similar story line: present-day Elizabeth is in a coma and experiences Regency era life, complete with Mr. Darcy and all the supporting characters. This one had some nice twists, and some fun quirks, and was an entertaining read.
The title was the first thing that sucked me in. Imagine an Elizabeth that wants to ditch Darcy! Unfathomable! I just had to find out how that was going to happen, and I'm glad I did. Also from the title, I was able to determine that this would be a humorous story, and I appreciate that in these stories that typically are filled with so much angst and drama. The author did a nice job of balancing the romantic intrigue with a lot of light banter.
The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
Read
December 29, 2019DNF
I wanted to like this book but I couldn’t get on board with the modern Elizabeth. She is very shallow. I found myself rolling my eyes at her analysis of her ex boyfriends and her expectations of Bryan, and her response to his news. She also has a much repeated but unexplained hatred of anyone who likes the BBC miniseries over the film. Skimmed ahead and found that “historical” Elizabeth is fine with behaving and speaking anachronistically (which no one else notices). Guessed the alternative pairing immediately and not a fan tbh (though makes sense based on the personality of E). Based on other reviews, the historical inaccuracies continue throughout and Elizabeth doesn’t even know the plot of her “favourite” book. Also needs editing - eg. Bennett/Bennet. Not for me.
I wanted to like this book but I couldn’t get on board with the modern Elizabeth. She is very shallow. I found myself rolling my eyes at her analysis of her ex boyfriends and her expectations of Bryan, and her response to his news. She also has a much repeated but unexplained hatred of anyone who likes the BBC miniseries over the film. Skimmed ahead and found that “historical” Elizabeth is fine with behaving and speaking anachronistically (which no one else notices). Guessed the alternative pairing immediately and not a fan tbh (though makes sense based on the personality of E). Based on other reviews, the historical inaccuracies continue throughout and Elizabeth doesn’t even know the plot of her “favourite” book. Also needs editing - eg. Bennett/Bennet. Not for me.
May 2, 2018
An interesting twist on Pride and Prejudice for sure, but the treatment of some characters (Lady Catherine and Georgiana, in particular) were *too* different to be even slightly plausible, in addition to being rather flat and heavy-handed. I also had some trouble overcoming the errors in word usage ("upmost" instead of "utmost," for example), grammar, and punctuation.
The "about the author" section says that a sequel is coming; I hope the author engages a good editor for it. There's promise, but it needs guidance to be realized.
The "about the author" section says that a sequel is coming; I hope the author engages a good editor for it. There's promise, but it needs guidance to be realized.
May 29, 2018
It was a cute premise, but I had to force myself to finish this book. I am in the minority here, but I really didn't care for this - mostly based on the flow of the writing. The modern-day scenes are rather stilted and the characters didn't have their own voice. Everyone sounded the same. In addition, the MC professed to having watched the movie hundreds of times, and having read the book several times, but didn't seem to retain much of that knowledge while she was in the past. I also didn't appreciate what the author did with Dear Georgiana. Sorry, wasn't my cup of tea...
abandoned
November 12, 2020**Abandoned at 41% (page 95)**
This book just wasn't for me. I thought it was going to have more of a time-travel element but the heroine just falls right into her life as a character in Pride and Prejudice. This would probably be enjoyable for an Austen fan, but I kept waiting for the heroine to tell someone she wasn't really Elizabeth Bennet.
This book just wasn't for me. I thought it was going to have more of a time-travel element but the heroine just falls right into her life as a character in Pride and Prejudice. This would probably be enjoyable for an Austen fan, but I kept waiting for the heroine to tell someone she wasn't really Elizabeth Bennet.
dnf
March 27, 2020Elizabeth Baker lover of Pride and Prejudice and believes Mr. Darcy to be the perfect man, has once again been let down by modern men. After an accident she is transported back to the time of P&P and has become Elizabeth Bennet. I just didn't find Elizaberth Baker to be a likeable character but I may come back to the book sometime in the future.
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