What do you think?
Rate this book
Becoming Mary: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel
Mary Bennet, plain and vain, has grown up in the shadow of her livelier, prettier sisters. Pompous and prickly, she is her own worst enemy as she tries and fails to win admiration and respect.
Invited to Pemberley one summer, she begins to blossom under the influence of new friends and family, and for the first time in her life experiences attention, kindness, and even the possibility of love.
Can she accept these bewildering new emotions, or will her stubbornness and pride lead to her downfall?
The novel takes the reader on a journey with Mary - it will make you laugh, wince in sympathy and ultimately hope. And for lovers of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, you will find yourself in the company of old friends.
Invited to Pemberley one summer, she begins to blossom under the influence of new friends and family, and for the first time in her life experiences attention, kindness, and even the possibility of love.
Can she accept these bewildering new emotions, or will her stubbornness and pride lead to her downfall?
The novel takes the reader on a journey with Mary - it will make you laugh, wince in sympathy and ultimately hope. And for lovers of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, you will find yourself in the company of old friends.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2014
26 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Amy Street
1 book7 followersI've written all my life. My first story was called "She Told" and was strictly autobiographical, all about how my brothers and sisters were mean to me, and I told on them. That was pretty much it.
My grandmother was impressed and told me I could write, and apparently that was all the encouragement I needed.
I have a crime novel in my bottom drawer with a rather troubled amateur investigator heroine, The Advice Lady, which I'll release as an ebook fairly soon.
Meanwhile my current novel, Becoming Mary, is really and truly finished - you can buy it here for kindle. and here for NOOK too!
My grandmother was impressed and told me I could write, and apparently that was all the encouragement I needed.
I have a crime novel in my bottom drawer with a rather troubled amateur investigator heroine, The Advice Lady, which I'll release as an ebook fairly soon.
Meanwhile my current novel, Becoming Mary, is really and truly finished - you can buy it here for kindle. and here for NOOK too!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 21, 2022
Author Amy Street aka Twitter's @georgettedaily has a deep and nuanced knowledge of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. When I discovered that she wrote a Pride and Prejudice sequel, I made a note to read it sometime. I downloaded a sample and that was all I needed: I was hooked.
Speaking for myself, I've never really liked Mary Bennet. The description on Amazon gives a clue as to why: "Mary Bennet, plain and vain, has grown up in the shadow of her livelier, prettier sisters. Pompous and prickly, she is her own worst enemy as she tries and fails to win admiration and respect." Of all the sisters, Mary seems most resistant to change or self-awareness. Her younger sister Kitty has frequently visited Elizabeth and Darcy at Pemberley but for the first time, Lizzy insists that Mary visit as well. Thus begins a life-changing summer. Elizabeth gently but persistently challenges Mary's way of approaching life. One example: Mary is a self-taught pianist (and proud of that accomplishment). Lizzy offers her lessons under the tutelage of a musical maestro. Mary says no but...the decision niggles at her. Would she have been more sensible to learn from someone more accomplished? What is it that stands in her way--is it her pride?
No spoilers but Becoming Mary is an absorbing, occasionally frightening journey that forces Mary to fully examine her motives as well as her hopes and dreams for her future. I'll repeat what I tweeted: "You seldom read books with as much character development as Becoming Mary. I liked that aspect." Very much.
Speaking for myself, I've never really liked Mary Bennet. The description on Amazon gives a clue as to why: "Mary Bennet, plain and vain, has grown up in the shadow of her livelier, prettier sisters. Pompous and prickly, she is her own worst enemy as she tries and fails to win admiration and respect." Of all the sisters, Mary seems most resistant to change or self-awareness. Her younger sister Kitty has frequently visited Elizabeth and Darcy at Pemberley but for the first time, Lizzy insists that Mary visit as well. Thus begins a life-changing summer. Elizabeth gently but persistently challenges Mary's way of approaching life. One example: Mary is a self-taught pianist (and proud of that accomplishment). Lizzy offers her lessons under the tutelage of a musical maestro. Mary says no but...the decision niggles at her. Would she have been more sensible to learn from someone more accomplished? What is it that stands in her way--is it her pride?
No spoilers but Becoming Mary is an absorbing, occasionally frightening journey that forces Mary to fully examine her motives as well as her hopes and dreams for her future. I'll repeat what I tweeted: "You seldom read books with as much character development as Becoming Mary. I liked that aspect." Very much.
February 21, 2021
Well, I choose this book more or less at random because I was looking for something light and amusing to read, and after the first few chapters, found I couldn't put it down. I was completely drawn into the world of the Bennets and Darcys.
Set a few years after the events in Pride and Prejudice, this book focuses on Mary, the middle Bennet sister and what happens when she is invited to spend the summer at Pemberley. In Pride and Prejudice, Mary doesn't appear as a sympathetic character, she's priggish and plain, distanced from other family members, immersing herself in books and study, and given to moralising. Amy Street skilfully shows you how Mary came to be like this, the middle sister with no natural companion, pretty well ignored by her parents and older sisters, made fun of by her younger siblings. You can understand why she built walls around herself with her books, music, a sense of superiority -it was to hide a deep loneliness.
The other thing which struck me about this story was how well the author conveyed the difficulties of teaching yourself music in an age where there are no recordings, where teachers are only for the rich and live performances by other than amateurs in after dinner settings, pretty rare.
As the story unfolds, Mary learns that she doesn't play as well as she thought she did, and that she isn't as moral as she imagined either, but slowly she grows to see that others may genuinely like her, although it's hard to break through the defences erected against sibling mockery and parental neglect.
New friends come into her life and she starts to soften a little, but then, events take a turn for the worse when the terrible Mr Wickham finds his way back to Pemberley.
It's a well written and engaging story, you can almost imagine it was written by Jane Austen herself. I say almost, because I don't think she ever speaks quite so plainly about unwanted sexual attentions, or anxieties.
Set a few years after the events in Pride and Prejudice, this book focuses on Mary, the middle Bennet sister and what happens when she is invited to spend the summer at Pemberley. In Pride and Prejudice, Mary doesn't appear as a sympathetic character, she's priggish and plain, distanced from other family members, immersing herself in books and study, and given to moralising. Amy Street skilfully shows you how Mary came to be like this, the middle sister with no natural companion, pretty well ignored by her parents and older sisters, made fun of by her younger siblings. You can understand why she built walls around herself with her books, music, a sense of superiority -it was to hide a deep loneliness.
The other thing which struck me about this story was how well the author conveyed the difficulties of teaching yourself music in an age where there are no recordings, where teachers are only for the rich and live performances by other than amateurs in after dinner settings, pretty rare.
As the story unfolds, Mary learns that she doesn't play as well as she thought she did, and that she isn't as moral as she imagined either, but slowly she grows to see that others may genuinely like her, although it's hard to break through the defences erected against sibling mockery and parental neglect.
New friends come into her life and she starts to soften a little, but then, events take a turn for the worse when the terrible Mr Wickham finds his way back to Pemberley.
It's a well written and engaging story, you can almost imagine it was written by Jane Austen herself. I say almost, because I don't think she ever speaks quite so plainly about unwanted sexual attentions, or anxieties.
March 22, 2019
This is not a bad sequel to Pride & Prejudice. It's better written that others that I have read and for the most part, it felt as if the author did a decent job of doing some research into the original novel and made notations of things to include. However, I never saw Mary as being vain or conceited, but neglected. She's neither a beauty like Jane nor her mother's favorite (Lydia). Her father prefers Lizzie to all his other children and even Kitty is liked better. So it would have been nice for the author to touch on the neglect instead of highlighting how vain Mary was. But then, everyone has their own opinions on each of the Bennet girls I suppose. It's an enjoyable read, but I don't know if a book I would re-read anytime soon.
June 18, 2017
One of the good Jane Austen fan writings
There is a lot of Jane Austen fans writing from the awful, the mildly entertaining and pasably written, al the way to what is god and well written. For me , "becoming Mary" belongs in this category it is well written has a good plot and for me it seems the caracters behaves within the caracters they had from Jane Austen and the changeges that are there are quite possible dewelopments.
There is a lot of Jane Austen fans writing from the awful, the mildly entertaining and pasably written, al the way to what is god and well written. For me , "becoming Mary" belongs in this category it is well written has a good plot and for me it seems the caracters behaves within the caracters they had from Jane Austen and the changeges that are there are quite possible dewelopments.
July 29, 2019
2.5 stars. This was fun, and there was some good character growth for Mary and Kitty that I really liked, but some of the plot points got a little silly. This was my second Mary "sequel," and I liked the first one I read, The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride & Prejudice Novel, much better.
October 16, 2024
Reread my own book and quite enjoyed it. Could do with an edit and I think I found a continuity fail.
What I still like about it is that Mary starts out as Jane Austen’s Mary - not some 21st century transplant. Tbf she does have a few more emotions than the original.
What I still like about it is that Mary starts out as Jane Austen’s Mary - not some 21st century transplant. Tbf she does have a few more emotions than the original.
June 27, 2020
I love this author! I've listened to several of her audiobooks and they're so well done!
September 22, 2021
A Fantastic story about Mary
Mary is often the forgotten sister and in this story she comes into her own. 😀😁 I really enjoyed it and dad it in one sitting
Mary is often the forgotten sister and in this story she comes into her own. 😀😁 I really enjoyed it and dad it in one sitting
September 19, 2016
I am somewhat skeptical of most books that try to expand the Pride and Prejudice universe. The two or three I've attempted to read generally use language and situations that are anachronistic and/or too "adult" for my tastes.
Amy Street's novel, Becoming Mary, is a refreshing exception to the rule. Well-written, humorous, touching, it is a very enjoyable look at what might have happened to Mary Bennet after Austen finished writing about her.
Amy Street's novel, Becoming Mary, is a refreshing exception to the rule. Well-written, humorous, touching, it is a very enjoyable look at what might have happened to Mary Bennet after Austen finished writing about her.
August 31, 2015
i'm very picky about jane austen fanfic, but this one really hit the mark for me. there have been a number of mary-redemptions and this is near the top of the pile. the story, of course, is mary's journey to growing up and becoming comfortable with herself, admitting she has not been perfect, accepting and changing. and i think that amy street accomplishes that admirably. it is written in the first person, so you are thrown right into mary's head, and i think the "unreliable narrator" aspect as mary realizes the error of her ways is well done.
it ran a little long with certain repetitive plot aspects, but considering how self-deluded mary can be at times it did not feel unnecessary. i enjoyed this from start to finish and cheered for her inevitable happy ending (despite the inevitability).
it ran a little long with certain repetitive plot aspects, but considering how self-deluded mary can be at times it did not feel unnecessary. i enjoyed this from start to finish and cheered for her inevitable happy ending (despite the inevitability).
November 10, 2021
In this Pride & Prejudice sequel, Mary Bennet, vain, conceited and plain and totally ignored and mocked by her family, is a matryr to her belief that her parents cannot do without her, when she is invited to Pemberley with Kitty. Much to Kitty's annoyance. But is this the chance for Mary to change and grow. But first she must believe that she has to change, will her actions and thoughts bring on a catalyst for this change.
A very enjoyable, and well-written tale.
A very enjoyable, and well-written tale.
November 11, 2018
In this P&P sequel, Mary Bennet, vain, conceited and plain, a matryr to her belief that her parents cannot do without her is invited to Pemberley with Kitty. Much to Kitty's annoyance. But is this the chance for Mary to change and grow, only if she thinks she needs to and then believes that she should.
A very enjoyable, well-written tale, kept me enthralled again.
A very enjoyable, well-written tale, kept me enthralled again.
January 9, 2017
thoughtful and fitting to Jane Austen's characters
I liked this book a lot, it was faithful to the characters created by Jane Austen, and it kept to her formula, which was very satisfying
I liked this book a lot, it was faithful to the characters created by Jane Austen, and it kept to her formula, which was very satisfying
February 12, 2015
I didn't expect to like it so much. I was so glad to see that the book (mainly the characters) stayed true to Jane Austen's original Pride and Prejudice.
January 21, 2016
A fun read.
April 26, 2015
I loved this book. It was well imagined while being true to the Austen characters.
September 29, 2016
Solid books. Parts of the ending are a bit far-fetched but enjoyable.
February 2, 2019
Loved this book - have never taken notice of Mary before but she came to life in this well constructed sequel. Her struggles and inner dialogues were perfectly pitched and highly believable. A seamless transition from P and P for all the characters I have known and loved since childhood - thank you Amy.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews