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Overheard: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
“Overheard” is a novella-long Pride and Prejudice Regency Variation, clean, low angst, amusing and very romantic, that answers the question “what if the main characters overheard some of the important moments in the story?”
The story begins with a teasing moment, that will leave the readers wondering "how did they get there!" Then will return to the Meryton Assembly, where Darcy and Elizabeth share a not-so-favorable first impression. Unlike the canon, both overhear the other’s unkind statements and, even more, they confront each other about it. What can go wrong in an honest, open discussion, right? Well, …we will see!
The readers will then join ODC at Netherfield during Jane’s illness, and later in their dealings with Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins, Bingley’s sisters, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and all the others.
“Overheard” takes the main steps as in the original; however, several mere indiscretions and the unwilling help of a villain character are enough to change the outcome and help Elizabeth and Darcy reach their happily ever after sooner!
The story begins with a teasing moment, that will leave the readers wondering "how did they get there!" Then will return to the Meryton Assembly, where Darcy and Elizabeth share a not-so-favorable first impression. Unlike the canon, both overhear the other’s unkind statements and, even more, they confront each other about it. What can go wrong in an honest, open discussion, right? Well, …we will see!
The readers will then join ODC at Netherfield during Jane’s illness, and later in their dealings with Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins, Bingley’s sisters, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and all the others.
“Overheard” takes the main steps as in the original; however, several mere indiscretions and the unwilling help of a villain character are enough to change the outcome and help Elizabeth and Darcy reach their happily ever after sooner!
77 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2020
31 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 16, 2020
2.5 out of 3 stars
This isn't a bad story and it isn't very long, but it never grabbed me. I found my attention wandering a lot, and I kept putting it down and then coming back to it without much enthusiasm.
The whole novella is set in Hertfordshire. As the title suggests, there's lots of "overhearing" throughout the story. It starts with Elizabeth, as usual, hearing Darcy and Bingley at the Meryton assembly, but she's not the only one who does. Darcy can't help overhearing the gossip that swirls about as a result of his earlier ill-advised comments, and he's impressed by Elizabeth's reaction. More accidental evesdropping goes on while Elizabeth is at Netherfield to nurse her sister Jane. Elizabeth's opinion of Darcy starts to soften, but then Mr. Wickham enters the story.
What gets tiresome is that it's one of those books that describes everything Elizabeth and Darcy thinks in minute detail. Much of the dialogue sounds unnatural. Content is clean.
This isn't a bad story and it isn't very long, but it never grabbed me. I found my attention wandering a lot, and I kept putting it down and then coming back to it without much enthusiasm.
The whole novella is set in Hertfordshire. As the title suggests, there's lots of "overhearing" throughout the story. It starts with Elizabeth, as usual, hearing Darcy and Bingley at the Meryton assembly, but she's not the only one who does. Darcy can't help overhearing the gossip that swirls about as a result of his earlier ill-advised comments, and he's impressed by Elizabeth's reaction. More accidental evesdropping goes on while Elizabeth is at Netherfield to nurse her sister Jane. Elizabeth's opinion of Darcy starts to soften, but then Mr. Wickham enters the story.
What gets tiresome is that it's one of those books that describes everything Elizabeth and Darcy thinks in minute detail. Much of the dialogue sounds unnatural. Content is clean.
April 17, 2020
When I was younger someone gave me a book called ShrinkLits https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8... where entire books are shrunk down to their most important parts. It was meant to be funny.
That is what this story reminded me off. Now I tend not to enjoy insanely time compressed P&P variations because, let's be honest, they just don't work. There are several ways to shorten a P&P variation; one can concentrate on a specific period or one can start later and summarize the other parts. But just squishing everything into a shorter period is awkward and painful.
Overheard begins at the assembly in Meryton, but includes not just that activity but also much of the dialogue from the evening at the Lucas Lodge. In Canon we are shown that there had been other interactions between the Bennets and the Bingley party that JA declined to share with us. But this book turns it into a 3 hour - 2 dance / no dance event.
Then a few days later Jane is invited to Netherfield to dine, rides a horse in the rain, falls ill (You know the plot). And Lizzy walks to see her and and You know the plot. But it's barely been a week and a single meeting between the parties so why does Lizzy hope that Bingley loves Jane. A bunch of stupid stuff happens Jane and Lizzy return home, Mr. Collins arrives, the girls and he walk to Meryton, meet Wickham, Wickham spins his tales of woe, Bingley & Darcy dine at Longbourn, Darcy and Lizzy plan to meet to talk, instead Wickham meets Darcy Lizzy overhears everything and Wickham runs to Mr. Bennet with a tale of compromise so that Lizzy and Darcy MUST we immediately.
Now we know that Mr. Bingley arrived at Michaelmas 29 September a week past that would be October 6. So lets say It is at most October 8th when Collins arrives, and October 10th when Darcy & Bingley eat dinner so October 11th when the compromise occurs and October 12th when he goes to London for the Special License and despite the snow storm returns in a few days.
WHY did they get married on December 10th?? I hate you book.
That is what this story reminded me off. Now I tend not to enjoy insanely time compressed P&P variations because, let's be honest, they just don't work. There are several ways to shorten a P&P variation; one can concentrate on a specific period or one can start later and summarize the other parts. But just squishing everything into a shorter period is awkward and painful.
Overheard begins at the assembly in Meryton, but includes not just that activity but also much of the dialogue from the evening at the Lucas Lodge. In Canon we are shown that there had been other interactions between the Bennets and the Bingley party that JA declined to share with us. But this book turns it into a 3 hour - 2 dance / no dance event.
Then a few days later Jane is invited to Netherfield to dine, rides a horse in the rain, falls ill (You know the plot). And Lizzy walks to see her and and You know the plot. But it's barely been a week and a single meeting between the parties so why does Lizzy hope that Bingley loves Jane. A bunch of stupid stuff happens Jane and Lizzy return home, Mr. Collins arrives, the girls and he walk to Meryton, meet Wickham, Wickham spins his tales of woe, Bingley & Darcy dine at Longbourn, Darcy and Lizzy plan to meet to talk, instead Wickham meets Darcy Lizzy overhears everything and Wickham runs to Mr. Bennet with a tale of compromise so that Lizzy and Darcy MUST we immediately.
Now we know that Mr. Bingley arrived at Michaelmas 29 September a week past that would be October 6. So lets say It is at most October 8th when Collins arrives, and October 10th when Darcy & Bingley eat dinner so October 11th when the compromise occurs and October 12th when he goes to London for the Special License and despite the snow storm returns in a few days.
WHY did they get married on December 10th?? I hate you book.
June 10, 2020
This book starts with the end... Elizabeth and Darcy are getting married. We know that two weeks before no one had any idea their marriage was coming. So we then rewind and see what went on in those two weeks. As the title suggests, it's about being overheard... or sometimes eavesdropping! Elizabeth hears Darcys 'she is tolerable', lots of others do too... but then she speaks loudly so he can overhear her opinion on his opinion. There are lots of other situations where things are overheard which change the direction of the story. It's a clever idea and I was interested to see how it went...
But... the writing style is really peculiar. The language and expression is just 'off' somehow. I tried to ignore it but I thought the story itself was a good idea but it was really hard. Conversation and expression was really unnatural and disrupted and confused the story. The timeline seems off too... I'm not sure how Darcy and Elizabeth get married on 10th December... its much too late in the year given this is supposed to happen soon after the Jane getting a cold and staying at Netherfield. I can forgive that... it's the language and style that took away from my enjoyment here. It was difficult to see how Darcy and Elizabeth came to arrangement they did... I was pretty sure Mr Bennet was objecting but somehow they all decide it will be fine and live happily ever after.
Overall, the premise is a good one. If you are a distracted by a writing style less than perfect, you might struggle with this. It's a short read, it's an easy read. Wickham appears but takes a different role and I quite enjoyed this twist!
But... the writing style is really peculiar. The language and expression is just 'off' somehow. I tried to ignore it but I thought the story itself was a good idea but it was really hard. Conversation and expression was really unnatural and disrupted and confused the story. The timeline seems off too... I'm not sure how Darcy and Elizabeth get married on 10th December... its much too late in the year given this is supposed to happen soon after the Jane getting a cold and staying at Netherfield. I can forgive that... it's the language and style that took away from my enjoyment here. It was difficult to see how Darcy and Elizabeth came to arrangement they did... I was pretty sure Mr Bennet was objecting but somehow they all decide it will be fine and live happily ever after.
Overall, the premise is a good one. If you are a distracted by a writing style less than perfect, you might struggle with this. It's a short read, it's an easy read. Wickham appears but takes a different role and I quite enjoyed this twist!
May 17, 2020
This Pride and Prejudice variation allows people to "know" a lot more at key points in the story as they are put in positions to overhear what others are saying about them. That extra knowledge clears many things up and moves the story along differently.
June 28, 2021
Just OK
There’s nothing really wrong with this book. I understand that it’s a short one but even then it felt incredibly rushed.
There’s nothing really wrong with this book. I understand that it’s a short one but even then it felt incredibly rushed.
July 7, 2023
A couple interesting changes
The story shows what may have happened if certain key conversions were overheard. The biggest reaction being Elizabeth slowly changing her opinion of Darcy much earlier than in canon. I thought the changes were very interesting but I wasn't a big fan of how Darcy and Elizabeth ended up together. With the way the other overheard conversations developed, I feel there could have been a more deeper emotion driven ending than what happened. However the way it unfolded was understandable. Overall a good read.
The story shows what may have happened if certain key conversions were overheard. The biggest reaction being Elizabeth slowly changing her opinion of Darcy much earlier than in canon. I thought the changes were very interesting but I wasn't a big fan of how Darcy and Elizabeth ended up together. With the way the other overheard conversations developed, I feel there could have been a more deeper emotion driven ending than what happened. However the way it unfolded was understandable. Overall a good read.
September 8, 2021
Wasn't bad
It was more of a retelling of the original up until Wickham found Darcy in the woods. An argue broke out, Lizzy overheard and then engagements and a marriage took place. Followed by a quick epilogue.
It was rushed and boring until the last chapter or so.
It would be ok if it was free. I wouldn't have bought it and I don't intend to read it again.
Luckily, I was able to read it with a trial of Prime.
It was more of a retelling of the original up until Wickham found Darcy in the woods. An argue broke out, Lizzy overheard and then engagements and a marriage took place. Followed by a quick epilogue.
It was rushed and boring until the last chapter or so.
It would be ok if it was free. I wouldn't have bought it and I don't intend to read it again.
Luckily, I was able to read it with a trial of Prime.
April 27, 2020
Terrible😩
This novella has so many examples of grammatical that I do not know where to begin! Obviously this was not edited by anyone who is capable of reading. I only finished it because the plethora of mistakes was laughable.
This novella has so many examples of grammatical that I do not know where to begin! Obviously this was not edited by anyone who is capable of reading. I only finished it because the plethora of mistakes was laughable.
May 19, 2020
Trouble with prepositions
Get the feeling English is not the first language for this author (or did she suffer from permissive teaching where anything goes?) Cannot enjoy a story sorely in need of an English expert. Some phrasing, too, I think was inappropriate for the time.
Get the feeling English is not the first language for this author (or did she suffer from permissive teaching where anything goes?) Cannot enjoy a story sorely in need of an English expert. Some phrasing, too, I think was inappropriate for the time.
August 4, 2023
Very entertaining
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews