What do you think?
Rate this book
Five Daughters Out at Once: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
After the untimely death of their parents, Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters are left to make their own way in the world, and the dubious decision to stay at Longbourn until they are forced out leads to chaos and confrontation two years later, when their cousin Mr. Collins comes to claim his inheritance.
Hot on his heels is his noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a woman consumed by grief of her own after the loss of her husband and daughter in a terrible fire at her estate, Rosings Park. While her nephew Mr. Darcy is shocked by his aunt’s interest in the five orphaned girls, her niece Georgiana thinks it just the thing to soothe the dowager’s low spirits. Moved by the bonds of sorrow and a shared contempt of Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine offers the Bennet sisters her protection and assistance in society – and what better way to help them than to find them all rich husbands?
Much to her chagrin, Lady Catherine is not the only one to meddle in Meryton’s marriage mart – Richard Fitzwilliam joins her, at leisure to make mischief, Charlotte Lucas, now an heiress in her own right, has a secret of her own, and Georgiana Darcy finds herself inspired to write a novel that will document – and change – the lives of her new friends.
Tensions rise between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they both bristle at Lady Catherine’s plans – for very different reasons. Misapprehension and misunderstandings abound and plans go awry as the great lady rents Netherfield Park and hosts a horde of single gentlemen in possession of good fortunes, who must be in want of wives.
Will the Bennet sisters find love and happiness? What other Austen heroes and rakes might appear in the once dull village of Meryton? Will Darcy and Lizzy overcome the obstacles of their own making?
Hot on his heels is his noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a woman consumed by grief of her own after the loss of her husband and daughter in a terrible fire at her estate, Rosings Park. While her nephew Mr. Darcy is shocked by his aunt’s interest in the five orphaned girls, her niece Georgiana thinks it just the thing to soothe the dowager’s low spirits. Moved by the bonds of sorrow and a shared contempt of Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine offers the Bennet sisters her protection and assistance in society – and what better way to help them than to find them all rich husbands?
Much to her chagrin, Lady Catherine is not the only one to meddle in Meryton’s marriage mart – Richard Fitzwilliam joins her, at leisure to make mischief, Charlotte Lucas, now an heiress in her own right, has a secret of her own, and Georgiana Darcy finds herself inspired to write a novel that will document – and change – the lives of her new friends.
Tensions rise between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they both bristle at Lady Catherine’s plans – for very different reasons. Misapprehension and misunderstandings abound and plans go awry as the great lady rents Netherfield Park and hosts a horde of single gentlemen in possession of good fortunes, who must be in want of wives.
Will the Bennet sisters find love and happiness? What other Austen heroes and rakes might appear in the once dull village of Meryton? Will Darcy and Lizzy overcome the obstacles of their own making?
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2021
158 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
April 22, 2021
“Life will come hard, my daughter, she thought. And quickly.” –E.Y. Laster, Of Captivity & Kings
Rating: MA: mature audience: due to subject matter: attempted murder, murder[s], trigger warning: violence, fire[s], death[s], grief over the loss of life, and lost love. Angst Level: medium-high: due to grief: tissues necessary on several occasions. Source: KU [4-10-21]: This review may contain *** Spoilers *** Jayne Bamber is either a genius or a bit crazy... or, maybe both.
“As a daughter[,] she hoped she was not without heart.” –Jane Austen, Emma
Oh-My-Gosh: This was the most creative story. I had no idea you could mash up or mix up all of Austen’s work into one novel. Brilliant! I am so glad the book opened with a list of characters. I had to laugh when I saw names representing all six of Austen’s books and possibly some of her other writings. Since I’ve not read all of them, I don’t know for sure. What I do know… this was amazing. I tried to list them in this review and I just couldn’t. Just know many of the men from Austen’s books are attending a house party at Netherfield Park where all five Bennet sisters are now living with Lady Catherine [I just love her]. Oh, dear. Yep, that was a formula for trouble. Believe me, Bamber threw everything in this story… the good, the bad, the ugly, and the handsome. Most of Austen’s men are handsome. Heavy sigh. That list also included a few bad guys and gals. Just saying.
“I don’t have a stepdaughter. I have a daughter that was born before I met her.” –Lani Lynn Vale, Put Out
Austen’s most famous quotes were mixed up and someone completely different was able to deliver those famous lines. I was constantly on pins and needles wondering which way the wind was blowing. It certainly wasn’t dull. It was long but that was to be expected since it followed various storylines. Warning: there was a thread running through the story that threw me. I kept wondering why it was there and then… BAM! Jayne hooked it to the reveal of the century and I was slack-jawed the rest of the story as the villain was revealed and their shocking motive was presented. OMG! How horrible for so many people. I highly recommend this story. I loved it.
Rating: MA: mature audience: due to subject matter: attempted murder, murder[s], trigger warning: violence, fire[s], death[s], grief over the loss of life, and lost love. Angst Level: medium-high: due to grief: tissues necessary on several occasions. Source: KU [4-10-21]: This review may contain *** Spoilers *** Jayne Bamber is either a genius or a bit crazy... or, maybe both.
“As a daughter[,] she hoped she was not without heart.” –Jane Austen, Emma
Oh-My-Gosh: This was the most creative story. I had no idea you could mash up or mix up all of Austen’s work into one novel. Brilliant! I am so glad the book opened with a list of characters. I had to laugh when I saw names representing all six of Austen’s books and possibly some of her other writings. Since I’ve not read all of them, I don’t know for sure. What I do know… this was amazing. I tried to list them in this review and I just couldn’t. Just know many of the men from Austen’s books are attending a house party at Netherfield Park where all five Bennet sisters are now living with Lady Catherine [I just love her]. Oh, dear. Yep, that was a formula for trouble. Believe me, Bamber threw everything in this story… the good, the bad, the ugly, and the handsome. Most of Austen’s men are handsome. Heavy sigh. That list also included a few bad guys and gals. Just saying.
“I don’t have a stepdaughter. I have a daughter that was born before I met her.” –Lani Lynn Vale, Put Out
Austen’s most famous quotes were mixed up and someone completely different was able to deliver those famous lines. I was constantly on pins and needles wondering which way the wind was blowing. It certainly wasn’t dull. It was long but that was to be expected since it followed various storylines. Warning: there was a thread running through the story that threw me. I kept wondering why it was there and then… BAM! Jayne hooked it to the reveal of the century and I was slack-jawed the rest of the story as the villain was revealed and their shocking motive was presented. OMG! How horrible for so many people. I highly recommend this story. I loved it.
December 8, 2025
Magnificent! ;-)
A brilliant Pride and Prejudice variation that intertwines various Austen works and the characters that made them shine. This book sparkles with the delight in identifying the pieces and portrayals of all those stories coming together in one gleaming tale. I absolutely loved it! This isn’t a new concept, with many fan fiction writers mixing characters from different Austen books into their stories, but for me, this is the best one I’ve read that does so.
The story begins with Bingley and Darcy touring Netherfield in search of an estate for Bingley to let. Mr. Morris, the solicitor, relates how the former owners perished in a tragic fire during an assembly in Meryton, where many families also lost loved ones, including the Bennet and Lucas families. Bingley never does lease Netherfield, but other circumstances eventually bring Darcy back to Netherfield.
Lady Catherine has also faced a great loss. Sir Lewis and Anne have also perished in a fire at Rosings while Lady Catherine was traveling with the Darcys to Ramsgate. Now Sir Lewis’ nephew has inherited Rosings and she must leave. With Mr. Bennet’s death, Mr. Collins has inherited Longbourn. Lady Catherine doesn’t like his attitude towards his cousins and upon meeting them, and sympathetic to their plight, decides to make the five sisters her wards and moves them all to Netherfield. She decides to throw a house party and invites friends and acquaintances, some of whom are single men. Let the matchmaking begin! I loved this Lady Catherine. She is generous, kind and wise, lovingly guiding the sisters through their grief and new relationships.
Now we begin to meet the characters from other Austen novels, as they make the acquaintance of those from Pride and Prejudice. The author expertly does this, and skillfully attributes some P&P quotes to other Austen characters. Such a clever girl! Her matches are perfect, and I especially loved Charlotte and Jane’s stories. I needed a tissue more than once. Georgiana, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are also at Netherfield. Georgiana, caught up in reading novels, decides to write one of her own, and in the process, unwittingly uncovers a mystery that will effect the lives of her new friends—will her book become truth stranger than fiction?
I was enthralled from the beginning to the end of this book. The engaging plot and dialogue, which seamlessly flows throughout, will keep you turning the pages. The things we like/love and/or hate about the other Austen characters from her beloved novels are well blended into a magnificent new story.
This book definitely goes into my Best JAFF of 2021 stack to date. It will also go into my re-read stack, and I will also look forward to an audiobook. I highly recommend this fabulous read. Well done!
December 22, 2021 - Audiobook
This truly is the best Austen mashup I’ve read. Stevie Zimmerman truly is the best; in this case, having to distinguish her voice narration among so many characters. Truly outstanding. At the end of the year now, this book in in my 2021 top ten Pride and Prejudice variations.
A brilliant Pride and Prejudice variation that intertwines various Austen works and the characters that made them shine. This book sparkles with the delight in identifying the pieces and portrayals of all those stories coming together in one gleaming tale. I absolutely loved it! This isn’t a new concept, with many fan fiction writers mixing characters from different Austen books into their stories, but for me, this is the best one I’ve read that does so.
The story begins with Bingley and Darcy touring Netherfield in search of an estate for Bingley to let. Mr. Morris, the solicitor, relates how the former owners perished in a tragic fire during an assembly in Meryton, where many families also lost loved ones, including the Bennet and Lucas families. Bingley never does lease Netherfield, but other circumstances eventually bring Darcy back to Netherfield.
Lady Catherine has also faced a great loss. Sir Lewis and Anne have also perished in a fire at Rosings while Lady Catherine was traveling with the Darcys to Ramsgate. Now Sir Lewis’ nephew has inherited Rosings and she must leave. With Mr. Bennet’s death, Mr. Collins has inherited Longbourn. Lady Catherine doesn’t like his attitude towards his cousins and upon meeting them, and sympathetic to their plight, decides to make the five sisters her wards and moves them all to Netherfield. She decides to throw a house party and invites friends and acquaintances, some of whom are single men. Let the matchmaking begin! I loved this Lady Catherine. She is generous, kind and wise, lovingly guiding the sisters through their grief and new relationships.
Now we begin to meet the characters from other Austen novels, as they make the acquaintance of those from Pride and Prejudice. The author expertly does this, and skillfully attributes some P&P quotes to other Austen characters. Such a clever girl! Her matches are perfect, and I especially loved Charlotte and Jane’s stories. I needed a tissue more than once. Georgiana, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are also at Netherfield. Georgiana, caught up in reading novels, decides to write one of her own, and in the process, unwittingly uncovers a mystery that will effect the lives of her new friends—will her book become truth stranger than fiction?
I was enthralled from the beginning to the end of this book. The engaging plot and dialogue, which seamlessly flows throughout, will keep you turning the pages. The things we like/love and/or hate about the other Austen characters from her beloved novels are well blended into a magnificent new story.
This book definitely goes into my Best JAFF of 2021 stack to date. It will also go into my re-read stack, and I will also look forward to an audiobook. I highly recommend this fabulous read. Well done!
December 22, 2021 - Audiobook
This truly is the best Austen mashup I’ve read. Stevie Zimmerman truly is the best; in this case, having to distinguish her voice narration among so many characters. Truly outstanding. At the end of the year now, this book in in my 2021 top ten Pride and Prejudice variations.
May 4, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars
This author does a fine job of taking characters from each of JA's books, as well as events and phrases and twisting them into her own story. For example in place of Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth and their separation we have Charlotte Lucas and Richard Fitzwilliam who 10 years ago had an attachment and now in company together again find a second chance. She does list the characters and explain their relationships at the beginning.
We begin: There have been several fires in which lives and property are lost and although there does not seem to be any connection as Lady Catherine (who lost her husband, her daughter and her residence at Rosings, when an heir takes over) decides to "adopt" the five Bennet sisters who lost their parents, Jane's fiancé , and other neighbors 2 years ago in a fire at the Assembly. The Bennet sisters have remained at Longbourn as the heir, Mr. Collins, has not yet shone up. He arrives with Lady C. and accuses the sisters of cheating him. (Actually they have corrected many of their father's lapses in management and squirreled away funds they earned in order to open a school with Charlotte.
As the story progresses, Lady Catherine decides to hold a ball to which she invites many eligible young bachelors, and other of her older friends. Mary & Henry Crawford, Colonel Brandon, Edward Ferrars, etc. show up and the fun begins. Some flirting is in earnest while one man only wants to prove he can put a hole in one serene lady's heart. Soon memories of the fires begin to stir thoughts that maybe they were not accidental so we now have a mystery.
I found myself carefully reading names and reminding myself of that person's character in order to determine where things might be going.
Ironically Georgiana is writing a novel based on people she observes. Lydia is drawn into that scheme. Then the author of a novel they admire shows up. Her place in society is scandalous. However, here she is using a pseudonym. Interesting! Alphabet blocks and word scrambles add to the fun but could there be underlying meanings to some words.
I enjoyed this story but it was slower going as there are many characters and different interactions going on. One has to be careful not to lose their place or forget just who is who.
This author does a fine job of taking characters from each of JA's books, as well as events and phrases and twisting them into her own story. For example in place of Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth and their separation we have Charlotte Lucas and Richard Fitzwilliam who 10 years ago had an attachment and now in company together again find a second chance. She does list the characters and explain their relationships at the beginning.
We begin: There have been several fires in which lives and property are lost and although there does not seem to be any connection as Lady Catherine (who lost her husband, her daughter and her residence at Rosings, when an heir takes over) decides to "adopt" the five Bennet sisters who lost their parents, Jane's fiancé , and other neighbors 2 years ago in a fire at the Assembly. The Bennet sisters have remained at Longbourn as the heir, Mr. Collins, has not yet shone up. He arrives with Lady C. and accuses the sisters of cheating him. (Actually they have corrected many of their father's lapses in management and squirreled away funds they earned in order to open a school with Charlotte.
As the story progresses, Lady Catherine decides to hold a ball to which she invites many eligible young bachelors, and other of her older friends. Mary & Henry Crawford, Colonel Brandon, Edward Ferrars, etc. show up and the fun begins. Some flirting is in earnest while one man only wants to prove he can put a hole in one serene lady's heart. Soon memories of the fires begin to stir thoughts that maybe they were not accidental so we now have a mystery.
I found myself carefully reading names and reminding myself of that person's character in order to determine where things might be going.
Ironically Georgiana is writing a novel based on people she observes. Lydia is drawn into that scheme. Then the author of a novel they admire shows up. Her place in society is scandalous. However, here she is using a pseudonym. Interesting! Alphabet blocks and word scrambles add to the fun but could there be underlying meanings to some words.
I enjoyed this story but it was slower going as there are many characters and different interactions going on. One has to be careful not to lose their place or forget just who is who.
April 23, 2021
So much more epic than I had anticipated. In fact I almost didn't bother reading it, as I am not a fan of Lady C, she is usually written so flatly, as an easy villain.
Kudos the the author for piecing together a puzzle so complex and keeping it straight, all the way to the end. I am not a fan of Emma, S&S or Mansfield Park, so a few of the scenes had me rolling my eyes.
That being said- I had tears in my eyes for the whole beginning of this book. The author wove the back story and emotions of all the ladies who suffered and lost due to fires that destroyed their lives as they knew it. It draws the reader in and invests them in the continuing story and what will happen next.
After 2 years of mourning and altered living these are not the same Bennet girls of canon and each of them are prime to fall in love with their life's choices. Even Jane who is very altered from canon. TBH, I can't keep straight all the various pairings. Suffice it to say, each one gets what they wants/deserves.
LOVED the Charlotte/Col. F thread, it was well written (Persuasion is my favorite.)
My only caveat is, not enough Darcy and Elizabeth. Due to this being an ensemble story, we don't get more detail on how they misunderstand each other and then fall in love.
I read this in fits and starts, not being drama driven until near the end, it had a slower flow to it. Yet reaching the end of the book is quite satisfying.
Kudos the the author for piecing together a puzzle so complex and keeping it straight, all the way to the end. I am not a fan of Emma, S&S or Mansfield Park, so a few of the scenes had me rolling my eyes.
That being said- I had tears in my eyes for the whole beginning of this book. The author wove the back story and emotions of all the ladies who suffered and lost due to fires that destroyed their lives as they knew it. It draws the reader in and invests them in the continuing story and what will happen next.
After 2 years of mourning and altered living these are not the same Bennet girls of canon and each of them are prime to fall in love with their life's choices. Even Jane who is very altered from canon. TBH, I can't keep straight all the various pairings. Suffice it to say, each one gets what they wants/deserves.
LOVED the Charlotte/Col. F thread, it was well written (Persuasion is my favorite.)
My only caveat is, not enough Darcy and Elizabeth. Due to this being an ensemble story, we don't get more detail on how they misunderstand each other and then fall in love.
I read this in fits and starts, not being drama driven until near the end, it had a slower flow to it. Yet reaching the end of the book is quite satisfying.
October 1, 2021
I love this author's re-imaginings of Jane Austen's characters and combining them together into 'outside-the-box' stories. I would have to say that this variation is now one of my favourites!
Ms Bamber has taken either a character(s) or scene(s) from each of Jane Austen's six major novels and created a compelling, emotional and gothic twist of a tale. This was no mean feat as there are many characters and themes running through it. I was completely swept up and thoroughly enjoyed being surprised, emotionally moved and anxious as the story unfolded. And I must say, the dialogue and banter was so well done and having quotes from the original being said by another or used in a different manner made the experience all the more delightful! Oh, the theatrics, flirtations and manipulations that went on were highly diverting!
"Heaven and Earth! You speak as though Longbourn were a barn full of feral cats, and not the scene of a terrible tragedy" (quote from the book)
The book description touches the surface of what is within. The Bennet family has been struck by tragedy as has Lady Catherine de Bourgh. What happens when Lady Catherine decides to be useful and Mr. Darcy hasn't a clue how to stop her?
" I should rather be mad than lonely - at any rate, I am quite resolved I shall brook no opposition on the matter." (quote from the book)
There was so much that I loved. The emotional impact on the girls, especially Jane Bennet, and how they relied on each other, and how they grew and thrived. Each handled their losses differently but never lost sight of each other. Charlotte Lucas plays a large part in this story, and she too has her own tale of loss. And do they 'find love and happiness'? I will leave that question to you to find out. It is well worth the journey. I highly recommend it!
May 26, 2021
This story was not what I expected. I would say it is more a mash up of Jane Austen's characters than a Pride and Prejudice Variation. You can find pieces of almost all her heroines and heroes split between different people at different times. I found some of it difficult to follow, but in the end it was an interesting story.
April 23, 2021
4
Jayne Bamber is one of my favorite JAFF authors. Even if I don't particularly happen to care about the story line or tropes, I can still trust her works to be very well written and enjoyable to read.
This particular one did not make it into my favorites - too many story lines and none of them really felt central. There are full threads for ALL 5 Bennet sisters plus Charlotte Lucas plus the past tragedies (more than one).
There were so many protagonists it kind of felt like there was NO protagonist.
That said, Bamber has managed to give all the characters clear and distinctive personalities, despite very dark back stories there a bright shots of humour and banter and wit. It is also one of the very few JAFF works that investigates a bit on how E.-s sharp with can, with a bit of a push, become a wit for wit's sake - a bit mean and even toxic.
And how she catches on to that herself and does NOT like what she is becoming.
Also, once she gets something into her head, it is very hard to get her see things in a different light.
Darcy being a grumpy bastard to her in the beginning does not help of course.
But this D. is more self-aware and cops on to how he has erred and is working VERY hard for most of the novel to get back into Eliazabeth's good graces.
All the other story lines were charming as well as long as you don't think too long about the fact that Bamber essentially voids the plots of most other Jane Austen works but handing all the best guys across the board to the Bennet sisters and playing out the Persuasion plot with colonel Fitzwilliam and Charlotte Lucas.
So you might be, you know, a bit sad about that bit. On the bright side, if you only ever really cared about the Bennet gang, you'll be fine and can cheerfully carry on with your life. Serves them Dashwoods and Fanny Price and Catherine Morland right, they didn't deserve the happy ending anyway!!
Jayne Bamber is one of my favorite JAFF authors. Even if I don't particularly happen to care about the story line or tropes, I can still trust her works to be very well written and enjoyable to read.
This particular one did not make it into my favorites - too many story lines and none of them really felt central. There are full threads for ALL 5 Bennet sisters plus Charlotte Lucas plus the past tragedies (more than one).
There were so many protagonists it kind of felt like there was NO protagonist.
That said, Bamber has managed to give all the characters clear and distinctive personalities, despite very dark back stories there a bright shots of humour and banter and wit. It is also one of the very few JAFF works that investigates a bit on how E.-s sharp with can, with a bit of a push, become a wit for wit's sake - a bit mean and even toxic.
And how she catches on to that herself and does NOT like what she is becoming.
Also, once she gets something into her head, it is very hard to get her see things in a different light.
Darcy being a grumpy bastard to her in the beginning does not help of course.
But this D. is more self-aware and cops on to how he has erred and is working VERY hard for most of the novel to get back into Eliazabeth's good graces.
All the other story lines were charming as well as long as you don't think too long about the fact that Bamber essentially voids the plots of most other Jane Austen works but handing all the best guys across the board to the Bennet sisters and playing out the Persuasion plot with colonel Fitzwilliam and Charlotte Lucas.
So you might be, you know, a bit sad about that bit. On the bright side, if you only ever really cared about the Bennet gang, you'll be fine and can cheerfully carry on with your life. Serves them Dashwoods and Fanny Price and Catherine Morland right, they didn't deserve the happy ending anyway!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2025
As well-written as this is--and the quality of the writing itself IS truly lovely--and as much as other reviewers seem to love it, I just could not get on board with the overly convoluted plot.
There are three distinct sections. There's the set-up, with two fires having devastated both Rosings and Longbourn. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet as well as many of their neighbors, including the entire Lucas family except Charlotte, lost their lives in the blaze in Hertfordshire. Although two letters were sent to notify Mr. Collins, there has been no response from the new master of Longbourn. It's been two years, and the Bennet sisters have been managing the estate themselves. Charlotte has done the same at Lucas Lodge. They have all done well, putting aside money and making plans for the day Mr. Collins inevitably comes to claim his inheritance. And now they learn that day is imminent - he is coming soon.
When he arrives, Lady Catherine de Bourgh accompanies him. As both her daughter and her husband died in the Rosings fire, she feels for these poor orphans. This is a totally changed and improved Lady C, who regrets having ever met Mr. Collins, recognizing him for the grasping fool that he is. Upon meeting and approving of the girls, she makes them a handsome offer: she will lease an estate in the neighborhood, and they will live with her as her wards. I think I would have liked a book based on either of the two alternative plans for the Bennets that are presented at this point, but I digress...
That's the first part. The second is a crazy house party at Netherfield, Lady Catherine's new home. The plots of JA's other classic novels are thrown into a blender with the heroines recast as the Bennet sisters and Charlotte, resulting in a mish-mash of different storylines that bounce dizzyingly from one plot to another. Elizabeth/Emma becomes completely unlikeable. Some scenes appear to exist only to put dialogue in the mouths of different characters in different contexts. I hated it.
The last section turns into a ridiculous soap opera of a Gothic novel. Perhaps it's meant to parody Northanger Abby? Revelations come to light about the causes of the two tragic fires that are hard to follow. The logic behind the evildoers' thinking doesn't make any sense to me at all. Jane/Marianne, in the depths of her grief, is caught in a stormy downpour. Pairings come undone with hearts broken.
And then all is resolved with happily ever afters all around.
I almost abandoned it several times but did finish. Sorry--I just don't get this. Definitely not my cup of tea.
There are three distinct sections. There's the set-up, with two fires having devastated both Rosings and Longbourn. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet as well as many of their neighbors, including the entire Lucas family except Charlotte, lost their lives in the blaze in Hertfordshire. Although two letters were sent to notify Mr. Collins, there has been no response from the new master of Longbourn. It's been two years, and the Bennet sisters have been managing the estate themselves. Charlotte has done the same at Lucas Lodge. They have all done well, putting aside money and making plans for the day Mr. Collins inevitably comes to claim his inheritance. And now they learn that day is imminent - he is coming soon.
When he arrives, Lady Catherine de Bourgh accompanies him. As both her daughter and her husband died in the Rosings fire, she feels for these poor orphans. This is a totally changed and improved Lady C, who regrets having ever met Mr. Collins, recognizing him for the grasping fool that he is. Upon meeting and approving of the girls, she makes them a handsome offer: she will lease an estate in the neighborhood, and they will live with her as her wards. I think I would have liked a book based on either of the two alternative plans for the Bennets that are presented at this point, but I digress...
That's the first part. The second is a crazy house party at Netherfield, Lady Catherine's new home. The plots of JA's other classic novels are thrown into a blender with the heroines recast as the Bennet sisters and Charlotte, resulting in a mish-mash of different storylines that bounce dizzyingly from one plot to another. Elizabeth/Emma becomes completely unlikeable. Some scenes appear to exist only to put dialogue in the mouths of different characters in different contexts. I hated it.
The last section turns into a ridiculous soap opera of a Gothic novel. Perhaps it's meant to parody Northanger Abby? Revelations come to light about the causes of the two tragic fires that are hard to follow. The logic behind the evildoers' thinking doesn't make any sense to me at all. Jane/Marianne, in the depths of her grief, is caught in a stormy downpour. Pairings come undone with hearts broken.
And then all is resolved with happily ever afters all around.
I almost abandoned it several times but did finish. Sorry--I just don't get this. Definitely not my cup of tea.
August 19, 2025
Jane's story was the winner for me in this one. Delightful.
Reread: Not sure why I thought Jane was the winner here but I did like Jane in it. :)
Reread: Not sure why I thought Jane was the winner here but I did like Jane in it. :)
April 12, 2021
Gothic tongue in cheek!
Definitely liked this book. A bit of a mash up of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park AND Sense and Sensibility. There is romance, angst, villains, dashing heroes, and lots of Happily Ever Afters. If someone described the premise of this book I would say there is no way an author can make all that work into a decent story, and I would be wrong. I got teary eyed and chuckled aloud.
Very well done and worth the read.
Definitely liked this book. A bit of a mash up of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park AND Sense and Sensibility. There is romance, angst, villains, dashing heroes, and lots of Happily Ever Afters. If someone described the premise of this book I would say there is no way an author can make all that work into a decent story, and I would be wrong. I got teary eyed and chuckled aloud.
Very well done and worth the read.
August 1, 2023
This author creates magic by pulling characters, some phrases and situations from various Austen stories and melding them together to make an incredibly interesting story. In most stories there will be a character you'll love to pieces, usually Darcy or Elizabeth, but in this story at least, for me, it was Charlotte and Lady Catherine. Of course, I loved all the Bennet sisters, as a united clan is one of my favourite tropes. If you are a fan of the Colonel, you're in luck because this story has two of them, Fitzwilliam and Beandon, both so gallant and tragic. This author always surprises her readers with her pairings and this isno exception. In fact, there are only two absolutes about her stories, Darcy and Elizabeth will always end up together and the story will be extremely entertaining.
October 1, 2021
Warning: While there are no specific spoilers here, there is a general one, so if you want to be surprised by this novel, I don't recommend reading my review of it.
A mashup of mashups, this somewhat lengthy novel involves elements from all of Jane Austen's novels, as characters from many of her works gather together at Netherfield Park. This makes it interesting from a writer's standpoint, and I can tell that it was a challenge to plot out, and the author did well at that. The writing is technically excellent, and the whole thing well organized, so that I at least didn't feel lost amidst all the various stories taking place at once. There were very few typos.
The main reason this story intrigued me before reading it was the promise of Georgiana Darcy as a writer, an aspiring novelist, and that aspect of the story didn't disappoint me at all.
It is interesting as well to find characters from so many of Jane Austen's novels interacting with one another. There is humor to offset the tragic background, and romances. In fact, there are so many romances going on, one has only to turn around, within the story, to find yet another. Even some of the villains seem to find happiness in love.
The story begins with a backdrop of tragedy. A large portion of the population of Meryton were killed in a terrible fire that took place two years ago at a local assembly, including Mr. Bennet, which left his family at loose ends, wondering when his cousin Mr. Collins would come to claim his inheritance of the estate, Longbourn. Charlotte Lucas is orphaned and now living on her own at Lucas Lodge, her brothers dead and her younger sister married.
Sometime after that fire in Meryton, another claimed the lives of Sir Lewis de Bourgh and his daughter Anne, while Lady Catherine was away from Rosings. The memory of his family tragedy causes Mr. Darcy, on his visit to Meryton with Mr. Bingley, to advise against leasing Netherfield once they learn of the fire there and the loss of the entire family who had previously inhabited the house. When the whole of Meryton learns that Netherfield will not be let after all to the rich gentleman, the news takes Mrs. Bennet by storm. She feels certain her daughters will never be rescued from destitution, and she dies of a stroke.
It's up to Jane and Elizabeth Bennet to keep things going at Longbourn, and to prepare for ways to save themselves and their sisters from the hedgerows when Mr. Collins comes to claim his estate. They have plans to open a school with Charlotte Lucas, at Lucas Lodge.
When Mr. Collins finally learns of his inheritance, he's angry at the delay in the news reaching him, which may or may not have been deliberate, and intends to throw his five female cousins out of the house at once. Here Lady Catherine comes to the rescue with Darcy in tow, in a complete remake of her personality, which we're led to think is a result of her tragic loss. She decides to take the Bennet sisters under her wing, and leases Netherfield, welcoming them there as her wards. Eventually she decides to host a house party to introduce the young ladies to potential suitors. Now the characters from other Austen novels arrive, and it's quite a mix!
I like that the characters are not so polarized as they seem to be in too many Austenesque stories I've read. Everyone has his or her faults, and the evil in some definitely seems to be more human than horrid. One villain stands out, but I don't want to say much about that because of how slowly we learn of it in the story. There is a terrible evil that is involved here, but little is known of it until very late, with few hints at all ahead of that late discovery, and the happy outcomes for many of the favorite characters comes late as well.
Most of the story feels like a kind of limbo state, with not much the characters can do about their own outcomes, until all is revealed, and perhaps that is what I don't like the most about this novel. There doesn't seem to be much of a character arc, for anyone, only events and actions slowly revealed from the past, a great many at the end that we didn't know about before. And there are so many characters that none seem to be revealed in great depth, ever. I find the tying up of loose ends in the epilogue to be downright unbelievable.
I'm afraid I don't find this novel to be my cup of tea, although many JAFF lovers may enjoy it, especially those with a familiarity with all of Jane Austen's novels. It's more of a reveal story than a romance or mystery, since the romances are all fairly obvious, with the reader only waiting around for the pairs to come together, and no great conflicts in the way of most of them. The crime is more revealed than puzzled out, and only at the very end, so there's no mystery here either. I believe that's a big part of why it took me so long to finish reading the book, and the reason I almost stopped reading it a few times along the way. There wasn't anything compelling about it to hold my interest or make me wonder what would happen next. But again it might be of interest to those who love Austen and JAFF and simply find the incredible mix of Austen's characters and story lines to be intriguing.
A mashup of mashups, this somewhat lengthy novel involves elements from all of Jane Austen's novels, as characters from many of her works gather together at Netherfield Park. This makes it interesting from a writer's standpoint, and I can tell that it was a challenge to plot out, and the author did well at that. The writing is technically excellent, and the whole thing well organized, so that I at least didn't feel lost amidst all the various stories taking place at once. There were very few typos.
The main reason this story intrigued me before reading it was the promise of Georgiana Darcy as a writer, an aspiring novelist, and that aspect of the story didn't disappoint me at all.
It is interesting as well to find characters from so many of Jane Austen's novels interacting with one another. There is humor to offset the tragic background, and romances. In fact, there are so many romances going on, one has only to turn around, within the story, to find yet another. Even some of the villains seem to find happiness in love.
The story begins with a backdrop of tragedy. A large portion of the population of Meryton were killed in a terrible fire that took place two years ago at a local assembly, including Mr. Bennet, which left his family at loose ends, wondering when his cousin Mr. Collins would come to claim his inheritance of the estate, Longbourn. Charlotte Lucas is orphaned and now living on her own at Lucas Lodge, her brothers dead and her younger sister married.
Sometime after that fire in Meryton, another claimed the lives of Sir Lewis de Bourgh and his daughter Anne, while Lady Catherine was away from Rosings. The memory of his family tragedy causes Mr. Darcy, on his visit to Meryton with Mr. Bingley, to advise against leasing Netherfield once they learn of the fire there and the loss of the entire family who had previously inhabited the house. When the whole of Meryton learns that Netherfield will not be let after all to the rich gentleman, the news takes Mrs. Bennet by storm. She feels certain her daughters will never be rescued from destitution, and she dies of a stroke.
It's up to Jane and Elizabeth Bennet to keep things going at Longbourn, and to prepare for ways to save themselves and their sisters from the hedgerows when Mr. Collins comes to claim his estate. They have plans to open a school with Charlotte Lucas, at Lucas Lodge.
When Mr. Collins finally learns of his inheritance, he's angry at the delay in the news reaching him, which may or may not have been deliberate, and intends to throw his five female cousins out of the house at once. Here Lady Catherine comes to the rescue with Darcy in tow, in a complete remake of her personality, which we're led to think is a result of her tragic loss. She decides to take the Bennet sisters under her wing, and leases Netherfield, welcoming them there as her wards. Eventually she decides to host a house party to introduce the young ladies to potential suitors. Now the characters from other Austen novels arrive, and it's quite a mix!
I like that the characters are not so polarized as they seem to be in too many Austenesque stories I've read. Everyone has his or her faults, and the evil in some definitely seems to be more human than horrid. One villain stands out, but I don't want to say much about that because of how slowly we learn of it in the story. There is a terrible evil that is involved here, but little is known of it until very late, with few hints at all ahead of that late discovery, and the happy outcomes for many of the favorite characters comes late as well.
Most of the story feels like a kind of limbo state, with not much the characters can do about their own outcomes, until all is revealed, and perhaps that is what I don't like the most about this novel. There doesn't seem to be much of a character arc, for anyone, only events and actions slowly revealed from the past, a great many at the end that we didn't know about before. And there are so many characters that none seem to be revealed in great depth, ever. I find the tying up of loose ends in the epilogue to be downright unbelievable.
I'm afraid I don't find this novel to be my cup of tea, although many JAFF lovers may enjoy it, especially those with a familiarity with all of Jane Austen's novels. It's more of a reveal story than a romance or mystery, since the romances are all fairly obvious, with the reader only waiting around for the pairs to come together, and no great conflicts in the way of most of them. The crime is more revealed than puzzled out, and only at the very end, so there's no mystery here either. I believe that's a big part of why it took me so long to finish reading the book, and the reason I almost stopped reading it a few times along the way. There wasn't anything compelling about it to hold my interest or make me wonder what would happen next. But again it might be of interest to those who love Austen and JAFF and simply find the incredible mix of Austen's characters and story lines to be intriguing.
April 17, 2024
What If Lady Catherine Became the Self-Appointed Guardian of the Bennet Sisters?
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation including characters from other novels
THE PREMISE: After tragedy strikes multiple families in multiple ways, Lady Catherine learns of a family of 5 now-orphaned daughters who will soon be supplanted from the only home they’ve ever known by her former parson. Because of her own loss and grief – and because she loves being useful – Lady C hightails it to Meryton to sponsor, support, and seek suitors for these five sisters. Will Lady Catherine’s aide be a help or a hinderance…?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Dramatic and Striking: 🫢 Ms. Bamber went on a killing spree! 😵 While the loss of so many characters is devastating (Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Jane’s fiancé, Sir William Lucas, Anne de Bourgh) it creates some very new dynamics and situations for these characters. What becomes of their lives now? I really enjoyed exploring such new realities and storylines with these characters. This premise standouts and is very unique.
- Who Run The World?: Girls! We got some strong and independent women in this tale and I absolutely loved it! I loved seeing how the Bennet women and Charlotte are taking full responsibilities for themselves and have created organized, longterm plans for securing their own futures. And none of them require men or matrimony! Their sufficiency and savvy was inspiring.
- Multiple Storylines: With five Bennet sisters and Charlotte, there are definitely more than six storylines to follow in this tale! I liked that each Bennet sister and Charlotte received some attention and new developments. Lydia and Kitty have some different interests for sure. I especially enjoyed the deeper and more challenging storylines for Jane and Charlotte.
- Mother Catherine: I loved Lady Cat in this tale. She is so caring and likable, and does not possess any hauter or severity. She immediately develops a strong affinity for each of the Bennet sisters and learns their individual personalities and qualities. And she has a very special affection for Elizabeth most of all – which was wonderful to witness, since she was never really close with Mrs. Bennet. Believing herself to have such celebrated skills of understanding and discernment, Lady C attempts a good amount of matchmaking and sets up a grand house party at her new residence – Netherfield Park. And it was great fun to see her orchestrating some new matches and, like Emma Woodhouse, being a little off the mark…
- Familiar Characters and New Twists: Speaking about this grand house party – there are some familiar faces popping up around Netherfield. I won’t spoil all the fun surprises in store, but I will say that all six major Jane Austen novels represented with various characters and themes. It was great fun to see all these characters interact with the P&P gang. I especially enjoyed some of the romantic pairings that came about – even the ones that didn’t work well! I appreciated all the creativity and cleverness of these relationships. And how in some cases they traversed some familiar paths.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- Antagonists: I felt like some of the antagonists of this story were a little disjointed and inconsistent. Including Mr. Collins. Maybe they needed more page time? Maybe some time spent from their perspectives? The main antagonist never appeared on page – only in recollections and discussions. I did enjoy the drama the antagonists caused, but I think they were maybe a little undeveloped.
- Balance and Pacing: It was a little slow going in the beginning, but I was happy to see the action picking up in the latter half of the story. With so many storylines to switch back and forth from, I did wish that some more time was spent with certain couples/characters and with the fast-paced events of this story’s conclusion. Perhaps with some lopting and cropting the story would be more even and balanced?
CONCLUSION:
Filled with tragic fires, fearless females, familiar faces, and surrogate families – Five Daughters Out at Once is a fantastically unique Pride and Prejudice variation. One that will be sure to delight readers who love seeing a softer side to Lady Catherine and exploring some entertaining Jane crossovers!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Author
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation including characters from other novels
THE PREMISE: After tragedy strikes multiple families in multiple ways, Lady Catherine learns of a family of 5 now-orphaned daughters who will soon be supplanted from the only home they’ve ever known by her former parson. Because of her own loss and grief – and because she loves being useful – Lady C hightails it to Meryton to sponsor, support, and seek suitors for these five sisters. Will Lady Catherine’s aide be a help or a hinderance…?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Dramatic and Striking: 🫢 Ms. Bamber went on a killing spree! 😵 While the loss of so many characters is devastating (Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Jane’s fiancé, Sir William Lucas, Anne de Bourgh) it creates some very new dynamics and situations for these characters. What becomes of their lives now? I really enjoyed exploring such new realities and storylines with these characters. This premise standouts and is very unique.
- Who Run The World?: Girls! We got some strong and independent women in this tale and I absolutely loved it! I loved seeing how the Bennet women and Charlotte are taking full responsibilities for themselves and have created organized, longterm plans for securing their own futures. And none of them require men or matrimony! Their sufficiency and savvy was inspiring.
- Multiple Storylines: With five Bennet sisters and Charlotte, there are definitely more than six storylines to follow in this tale! I liked that each Bennet sister and Charlotte received some attention and new developments. Lydia and Kitty have some different interests for sure. I especially enjoyed the deeper and more challenging storylines for Jane and Charlotte.
- Mother Catherine: I loved Lady Cat in this tale. She is so caring and likable, and does not possess any hauter or severity. She immediately develops a strong affinity for each of the Bennet sisters and learns their individual personalities and qualities. And she has a very special affection for Elizabeth most of all – which was wonderful to witness, since she was never really close with Mrs. Bennet. Believing herself to have such celebrated skills of understanding and discernment, Lady C attempts a good amount of matchmaking and sets up a grand house party at her new residence – Netherfield Park. And it was great fun to see her orchestrating some new matches and, like Emma Woodhouse, being a little off the mark…
- Familiar Characters and New Twists: Speaking about this grand house party – there are some familiar faces popping up around Netherfield. I won’t spoil all the fun surprises in store, but I will say that all six major Jane Austen novels represented with various characters and themes. It was great fun to see all these characters interact with the P&P gang. I especially enjoyed some of the romantic pairings that came about – even the ones that didn’t work well! I appreciated all the creativity and cleverness of these relationships. And how in some cases they traversed some familiar paths.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- Antagonists: I felt like some of the antagonists of this story were a little disjointed and inconsistent. Including Mr. Collins. Maybe they needed more page time? Maybe some time spent from their perspectives? The main antagonist never appeared on page – only in recollections and discussions. I did enjoy the drama the antagonists caused, but I think they were maybe a little undeveloped.
- Balance and Pacing: It was a little slow going in the beginning, but I was happy to see the action picking up in the latter half of the story. With so many storylines to switch back and forth from, I did wish that some more time was spent with certain couples/characters and with the fast-paced events of this story’s conclusion. Perhaps with some lopting and cropting the story would be more even and balanced?
CONCLUSION:
Filled with tragic fires, fearless females, familiar faces, and surrogate families – Five Daughters Out at Once is a fantastically unique Pride and Prejudice variation. One that will be sure to delight readers who love seeing a softer side to Lady Catherine and exploring some entertaining Jane crossovers!
Austenesque Reviews
May 6, 2021
Cut, Paste Austen
If one is going to cut and paste from each of Austen's lovely classics, have the good taste to keep the characters intact. Too many flies were in this ointment! The result was the expected mash-up from start to finish.
If one is going to cut and paste from each of Austen's lovely classics, have the good taste to keep the characters intact. Too many flies were in this ointment! The result was the expected mash-up from start to finish.
April 9, 2021
Too many characters
I typically like Jayne Bamber books. But this one was full of superfluous characters whose only addition to the book were convoluted conversations and relationships. Thumbs down!
I typically like Jayne Bamber books. But this one was full of superfluous characters whose only addition to the book were convoluted conversations and relationships. Thumbs down!
October 3, 2025
I've not added so many 50% DNFs and even a few finished JAFF stories, but adding this one despite DNFing at 30%
I expected something different. I love the idea of a benefactress taking care of some girls who need to get married (it's a trope in many georgian-era works), and I expected Lady Catherine to take the girls into society, or to just move somewhere else with them.
instead they move to Netherfield and Lady Catherine is expecting a large house party made out of OTHER Austen characters.
Charlotte and Colonel Fitzwilliam are playing the role of Anne and Captain Wentworth from P&P (doesn't make sense to me, even if Fitzwilliam wasn't supposed to inherit, I cannot see how Charlotte can be persuaded against MARRYING THE SON OF THE EARL, even if it's the second son).
I don't want to read all of Austen characters having a house party in Nethefield.
The initial idea of Meryton having a tragic fire where every family lost someone - great. The death of Mrs Bennet - PEAK COMEDY.
The rest - I don't want to read.
Besides the "Jane Austen Universe home party", another thing which I hated was the usage of P&P quotes out of context, by different characters than in the original. It makes no sense!
Let's take the Accomplished Women / Improvement of Mind by Extensive Reading discussion:
It was Caroline taking a jab at Elizabeth, and Darcy was taking a jab back at Caroline and complimenting Elizabeth bc Lizzy was a reader unlike Caroline.
Here it's totally out of context, the discussion started for no reason, and Darcy adds "reading" part for no reason (when Elizabeth isn't even reading).
And I just hate using other characters to say SAME dialogue bc there's such a thing as a Character Profile, and there is A REASON why THIS SPECIFIC character would say/think something.
Using other characters can work, as a JOKE, when using ONE LINERS - I've seen it in other fics and it can be fun(ny). Having a character repeat 20 lines of other character's dialogue doesn't work.
I expected something different. I love the idea of a benefactress taking care of some girls who need to get married (it's a trope in many georgian-era works), and I expected Lady Catherine to take the girls into society, or to just move somewhere else with them.
instead they move to Netherfield and Lady Catherine is expecting a large house party made out of OTHER Austen characters.
Charlotte and Colonel Fitzwilliam are playing the role of Anne and Captain Wentworth from P&P (doesn't make sense to me, even if Fitzwilliam wasn't supposed to inherit, I cannot see how Charlotte can be persuaded against MARRYING THE SON OF THE EARL, even if it's the second son).
I don't want to read all of Austen characters having a house party in Nethefield.
The initial idea of Meryton having a tragic fire where every family lost someone - great. The death of Mrs Bennet - PEAK COMEDY.
Both the gentlemen who had toured Netherfield, and Colonel Forster’s regiment, had heard the sad history of Meryton and resolved to settle elsewhere.
The widow supposed it would be thus with any other prospects for her daughters; she scarcely had time to repeat her lamentations to anyone at the assembly who would hear them, before the realization sank in fully, shook her to her core, and triggered a fit of hysterics from which she did not recover. Tragedy had once again struck in Meryton, and the five bereaved Bennet sisters were not the only ladies in the village to believe they should never dance again.
The rest - I don't want to read.
Besides the "Jane Austen Universe home party", another thing which I hated was the usage of P&P quotes out of context, by different characters than in the original. It makes no sense!
Let's take the Accomplished Women / Improvement of Mind by Extensive Reading discussion:
It was Caroline taking a jab at Elizabeth, and Darcy was taking a jab back at Caroline and complimenting Elizabeth bc Lizzy was a reader unlike Caroline.
Here it's totally out of context, the discussion started for no reason, and Darcy adds "reading" part for no reason (when Elizabeth isn't even reading).
And I just hate using other characters to say SAME dialogue bc there's such a thing as a Character Profile, and there is A REASON why THIS SPECIFIC character would say/think something.
Using other characters can work, as a JOKE, when using ONE LINERS - I've seen it in other fics and it can be fun(ny). Having a character repeat 20 lines of other character's dialogue doesn't work.
September 27, 2021
3.5 stars. This was a very clever mash up of most of Austen's works. Most are in character, except for the glaringly dramatic personality change undergone by Lady Catherine. It gets a bit convoluted as Frank Churchill courts Lizzy, first Henry Crawford and then Colonel Brandon court Jane, Col. Fitzwilliam is Captain Wentworth to Charlotte Lucas' Anne, Edward Ferrars sets his sights on Kitty, Lydia flirts with Henry Tilney and Mary and Georgiana are sort of strange combination of various aspects of Jo March (Little Women. Yes, I know that's not Austen.). I couldn't help but feel sorry for Marianne and Eleanor Dashwood and Catherine Morland that they would not meet their knights in shining armor.
The first part of the book dragged and thus took me several days to read - once I got past the 50% mark, the story picked up and was easier to read. It wasn't as crazy as some of the stories I've read that bring in characters from other novels, and was fun to read the second half of the book.
The first part of the book dragged and thus took me several days to read - once I got past the 50% mark, the story picked up and was easier to read. It wasn't as crazy as some of the stories I've read that bring in characters from other novels, and was fun to read the second half of the book.
June 4, 2021
A brilliantly written, epic Austen mashup. I might have preferred fewer characters crammed in (and more Darcy & Elizabeth) but it was impressively done. I had to read some sentences 3 times because they were SO good and SO perfectly Jane Austen.
December 29, 2021
Wow! What a JA mash up. I thought Happier in her Friends was pretty damn good but this one - holy shit. Emma, N.A., M.P., Persuasion, S&S (am I missing some?) all rolled into P&P.
Just lovely, I loved it.
Just lovely, I loved it.
June 7, 2023
I typically don’t enjoy Jane Austen FF where the author brings characters from her other books into the story. I decided to give this one a try because I was intrigued by the premise of Lady Catherine adopting the Bennet sisters. It wasn’t my cup of tea though. Each Bennet sister ends up taking on the role of another Jane Austen heroine. Jane is Marianne from S&S, Lizzy is herself but also Emma, Mary doesn’t have a romantic attachment or role, Kitty is Elinor from S&S, and Lydia is Catherine from Northanger Abbey. I didn’t like that the sisters didn’t have more creative plot lines. It seemed really cut and paste and lazy to me. Bamber writes well, but I don’t enjoy her plots. I probably won’t read another by her.
April 12, 2021
2.5 stars, rounded up because the story highlighted the loving relationship between all the sisters (even Lydia), and that was heartwarming. The gothic tone was also enjoyable. The rest of the story was very busy to me, and with the addition of new characters thrown into the mix, it was hard for me to keep everything straight and took me out of the story alot. If a reader is more familiar with Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, they will probably have more familiarity with all those characters and be better able to appreciate the cleverness of the mashup.
October 24, 2025
I loved it!
Warning: Meant for mature audiences. Contains scenes that would scandalize the ton. Readers of a delicate constitution are advised to keep their fans and vinaigrettes close at hand. Contains scenes that mention tragic events and horribly deaths.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation, and a crossover between a few of Jane Austen’s other classics, Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility. After the untimely death of their parents, Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters are left to make their own way in the world, until Lady Catherine de Bourgh intervenes.
The orphaned Bennet sisters do their best to get by at Longbourn until their cousin Mr. Collins finally comes to claim his inheritance, two years after the death of Mr. Bennet. Hot on his heels is his noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a woman consumed by grief of her own after the loss of her husband and daughter in a terrible fire at her estate, Rosings. While her nephew Mr. Darcy is shocked by his aunt’s interest in the five orphaned girls, her niece Georgiana thinks it just the thing to soothe the dowager’s low spirits. Moved by the bonds of sorrow and a shared contempt of Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine offers the Bennet sisters her protection and assistance in society, and what better way to help them than to find them all rich husbands?
Much to her chagrin, Lady Catherine is not the only one to meddle in Meryton’s marriage mart, Richard Fitzwilliam joins her, at leisure to make mischief, Charlotte Lucas, now an heiress in her own right, has a secret of her own. Meanwhile, Georgiana Darcy finds herself inspired to write a novel that will document, and change, the lives of her new friends. Tensions rise between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they both bristle at Lady Catherine’s plans, for very different reasons.
Chaos ensues and plans go awry as the great lady rents Netherfield Park and hosts a horde of single gentlemen in possession of good fortunes, who must be in want of wives. Will the Bennet sisters find love and happiness? What other Austen heroes and rakes might appear in the once dull village of Meryton? Will Darcy and Lizzy overcome the obstacles of their own making? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
Warning: Meant for mature audiences. Contains scenes that would scandalize the ton. Readers of a delicate constitution are advised to keep their fans and vinaigrettes close at hand. Contains scenes that mention tragic events and horribly deaths.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation, and a crossover between a few of Jane Austen’s other classics, Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility. After the untimely death of their parents, Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters are left to make their own way in the world, until Lady Catherine de Bourgh intervenes.
The orphaned Bennet sisters do their best to get by at Longbourn until their cousin Mr. Collins finally comes to claim his inheritance, two years after the death of Mr. Bennet. Hot on his heels is his noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a woman consumed by grief of her own after the loss of her husband and daughter in a terrible fire at her estate, Rosings. While her nephew Mr. Darcy is shocked by his aunt’s interest in the five orphaned girls, her niece Georgiana thinks it just the thing to soothe the dowager’s low spirits. Moved by the bonds of sorrow and a shared contempt of Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine offers the Bennet sisters her protection and assistance in society, and what better way to help them than to find them all rich husbands?
Much to her chagrin, Lady Catherine is not the only one to meddle in Meryton’s marriage mart, Richard Fitzwilliam joins her, at leisure to make mischief, Charlotte Lucas, now an heiress in her own right, has a secret of her own. Meanwhile, Georgiana Darcy finds herself inspired to write a novel that will document, and change, the lives of her new friends. Tensions rise between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they both bristle at Lady Catherine’s plans, for very different reasons.
Chaos ensues and plans go awry as the great lady rents Netherfield Park and hosts a horde of single gentlemen in possession of good fortunes, who must be in want of wives. Will the Bennet sisters find love and happiness? What other Austen heroes and rakes might appear in the once dull village of Meryton? Will Darcy and Lizzy overcome the obstacles of their own making? So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
January 20, 2022
High melodrama, but "magnificent!"
This is quite the epic tale, filled to bursting with, not only characters from P&P, but also characters from several other works by Jane Austen. As the title indicates, the focus of the story is the five Bennett daughters. This is a total re-imagining, as their situation is completely altered by a fire at a Meryton assembly that takes the lives of a great number of people. The girls are orphans, living at Longbourn only because Mr Collins hasn't yet come to claim his inheritance. Charlotte Lucas is also orphaned, and has inherited Lucas Lodge. She and the Bennett girls collaborate and cooperate in their endeavors to run their estates, and even to thrive and plan for their futures.
Rosings Park has also suffered a fire, taking the lives of Sir Lewis DeBourgh and Anne DeBourgh, leaving behind Lady Catherine as a dejected widow living in the dower house. As the story begins, two years have passed since the Meryton fire, and Mr Collins is taking his leave of Lady Catherine, and preparing to finally assume his rightful inheritance. Lady Catherine decides to accompany him to Hertfordshire, and compels Darcy and Georgiana to come as well. This begins a most surprising and intimate involvement of Lady Catherine in the fates of the Bennett sisters, and is also the point at which Darcy first meets Elizabeth. Lady Catherine finds new purpose and motivation for her life by devoting her energies and resources to helping the homeless and orphaned Bennett girls find husbands. Darcy doesn't approve, but Georgiana is delighted with new female acquaintances.
The one thing that weighed the story down for me was the high melodrama, especially that of Jane Bennett. All of the Bennett daughters suffered tragically from the fire, as did Charlotte Lucas, and even Lady Catherine. But two years passed before the start of our tale, and yet some of the girls are as weepy and affected as if it had happened yesterday. The author adds to the melodrama with her prose, describing situations and feelings with deep, emotional language.
However, it's a lovely, if sometimes crowded story. Lady Catherine shines, which is nice for a change. This book is not for the Jane Austen purist, as this is a clever and imaginative mashup of characters from Austen's works, who bear a resemblance to their original personalities, but have vastly different fates. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
This is quite the epic tale, filled to bursting with, not only characters from P&P, but also characters from several other works by Jane Austen. As the title indicates, the focus of the story is the five Bennett daughters. This is a total re-imagining, as their situation is completely altered by a fire at a Meryton assembly that takes the lives of a great number of people. The girls are orphans, living at Longbourn only because Mr Collins hasn't yet come to claim his inheritance. Charlotte Lucas is also orphaned, and has inherited Lucas Lodge. She and the Bennett girls collaborate and cooperate in their endeavors to run their estates, and even to thrive and plan for their futures.
Rosings Park has also suffered a fire, taking the lives of Sir Lewis DeBourgh and Anne DeBourgh, leaving behind Lady Catherine as a dejected widow living in the dower house. As the story begins, two years have passed since the Meryton fire, and Mr Collins is taking his leave of Lady Catherine, and preparing to finally assume his rightful inheritance. Lady Catherine decides to accompany him to Hertfordshire, and compels Darcy and Georgiana to come as well. This begins a most surprising and intimate involvement of Lady Catherine in the fates of the Bennett sisters, and is also the point at which Darcy first meets Elizabeth. Lady Catherine finds new purpose and motivation for her life by devoting her energies and resources to helping the homeless and orphaned Bennett girls find husbands. Darcy doesn't approve, but Georgiana is delighted with new female acquaintances.
The one thing that weighed the story down for me was the high melodrama, especially that of Jane Bennett. All of the Bennett daughters suffered tragically from the fire, as did Charlotte Lucas, and even Lady Catherine. But two years passed before the start of our tale, and yet some of the girls are as weepy and affected as if it had happened yesterday. The author adds to the melodrama with her prose, describing situations and feelings with deep, emotional language.
However, it's a lovely, if sometimes crowded story. Lady Catherine shines, which is nice for a change. This book is not for the Jane Austen purist, as this is a clever and imaginative mashup of characters from Austen's works, who bear a resemblance to their original personalities, but have vastly different fates. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly.
February 4, 2026
This was an ambitious mashup of P&P, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Emma, Sense & Sensibility and Mansfield Park. Characters from each of these stories get together to make up some fascinating couples, but rest assured that at least Darcy and Elizabeth end up together.
Two years before the start of this tale, a fire ravages the assembly hall at Meryton killing Mr Bennet, Jane’s intended, many of the Lucas family and lots of others. Just as the Bennets are ready to leave mourning, Darcy counsels Bingley not to lease Netherfield and Mrs Bennet passes away. The Bennet daughters go back into mourning. For two years while Gardiner and Phillips search for the heir, Elizabeth and her sisters keep Longbourn running and earn money to put aside for their future.
While Lady Catherine is at Ramsgate with Georgiana and Darcy, Rosings catches fire and Sir Louis and Anne de Bourgh perish. Lady Catherine is inconsolable. When Collins comes to see her he informs her that his cousins have been keeping his estate from its rightful owner and how he will remove all five orphaned women from his estate. Lady Catherine is inspired by their situation and arrives to take charge. She leases Netherfield and, eventually, has a house party to introduce her wards to eligible men. Think of most of the men from all the Austen stories, both honorable and not, and mix them with the Bennet girls and a few of the women from these stories and watch the fun unfold.
There is a mystery to be resolved (how did the fires start), a new novelist with an intriguing tale, and a budding novelist gaining inspiration from the antics of the house party guests. A very fun read.
Two years before the start of this tale, a fire ravages the assembly hall at Meryton killing Mr Bennet, Jane’s intended, many of the Lucas family and lots of others. Just as the Bennets are ready to leave mourning, Darcy counsels Bingley not to lease Netherfield and Mrs Bennet passes away. The Bennet daughters go back into mourning. For two years while Gardiner and Phillips search for the heir, Elizabeth and her sisters keep Longbourn running and earn money to put aside for their future.
While Lady Catherine is at Ramsgate with Georgiana and Darcy, Rosings catches fire and Sir Louis and Anne de Bourgh perish. Lady Catherine is inconsolable. When Collins comes to see her he informs her that his cousins have been keeping his estate from its rightful owner and how he will remove all five orphaned women from his estate. Lady Catherine is inspired by their situation and arrives to take charge. She leases Netherfield and, eventually, has a house party to introduce her wards to eligible men. Think of most of the men from all the Austen stories, both honorable and not, and mix them with the Bennet girls and a few of the women from these stories and watch the fun unfold.
There is a mystery to be resolved (how did the fires start), a new novelist with an intriguing tale, and a budding novelist gaining inspiration from the antics of the house party guests. A very fun read.
January 5, 2022
I do like a fun PP variation, and here I soon realised this would be quite different.
Lady Catherine the Burgh was nice! Yes, I know I was shocked. She had suffered losses and now wanted to take the poor Bennett sisters under her protection as they also had suffered losses.
Mr Collins was still an asshat by the way.
But that is not what was different, no, there is to be a houseparty and suddenly a lot of other Austen men shows up. Mr Ferrars, Henry Tilney, Colonel Brandon among others. And even though this was pride and prejudice so manages to mix in Persuasion, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey for some Gothic mystery, and Mansfield Park. Very well done.
Lots of drama, new love interests, a Darcy that is really shy, a Georgiana who is writing a book, and a mystery.
A fun story since I never knew where it would lead me with all these new people in it. But at least one thing is constant. Lizzy will always get her Darcy in the end.
Stevie Zimmerman was a great narrator. Considering the cast of character she did well with different voices. You always knew where you had everyone. She was a really good fit for this book and made it truly enjoyable.
Lady Catherine the Burgh was nice! Yes, I know I was shocked. She had suffered losses and now wanted to take the poor Bennett sisters under her protection as they also had suffered losses.
Mr Collins was still an asshat by the way.
But that is not what was different, no, there is to be a houseparty and suddenly a lot of other Austen men shows up. Mr Ferrars, Henry Tilney, Colonel Brandon among others. And even though this was pride and prejudice so manages to mix in Persuasion, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey for some Gothic mystery, and Mansfield Park. Very well done.
Lots of drama, new love interests, a Darcy that is really shy, a Georgiana who is writing a book, and a mystery.
A fun story since I never knew where it would lead me with all these new people in it. But at least one thing is constant. Lizzy will always get her Darcy in the end.
Stevie Zimmerman was a great narrator. Considering the cast of character she did well with different voices. You always knew where you had everyone. She was a really good fit for this book and made it truly enjoyable.
August 29, 2022
There is a lot that happens in this book, but the pacing was well done & it’s easy enough to keep up with. In this book Lady Catherine becomes benefactress for all five of the Bennet daughters & quickly becomes marriage minded & turns her leased estate into quite a house party of single men & her young charges. For Georgianna , she is perfectly happy to sit back & observe the results so she may have inspiration for her new vocation of author. However, some fiction imitates life just a little too closely for comfort.
I enjoyed this book, & it was a very different feeling watching all the Bennet’s fall in love & not just Elizabeth & sometimes Jane.
However, I actually didn’t like the borrowing of the other characters of Austen’s other books. While I realize it is not rational, I can’t help but dislike the Bennet’s taking away hero’s who in my mind rightfully belong to other heroines. While it was fun & did give the reader more of an insight into their characters, it just didn’t feel right.
Side Note:: Any book that has my laughing out loud from Lady Catherine’s quips is sure to be at the very least entertaining!!
I enjoyed this book, & it was a very different feeling watching all the Bennet’s fall in love & not just Elizabeth & sometimes Jane.
However, I actually didn’t like the borrowing of the other characters of Austen’s other books. While I realize it is not rational, I can’t help but dislike the Bennet’s taking away hero’s who in my mind rightfully belong to other heroines. While it was fun & did give the reader more of an insight into their characters, it just didn’t feel right.
Side Note:: Any book that has my laughing out loud from Lady Catherine’s quips is sure to be at the very least entertaining!!
September 12, 2022
Hmm, there were things I liked and things I wasn’t so enamoured with. I rather liked the different side to lady C and that she wasn’t one of the villains of the tale. I quite liked the absence of Wickham as a villain and that Jane had a different love interest to Bingley.
It dragged a bit if I’m honest. There was too much about other characters and not enough Darcy and Lizzy. Mr Collins was there as in canon but only popped up occasionally to be ridiculed and left again. The characters from all of the others books just ended up really confusing for me at times. I haven’t read all of the other books or watched adaptations so I’m not familiar with them all which is my fault but it got confusing and that detracted from the story a bit for me.
That said, I’m glad lizzy and Darcy worked things out and Jane ended up with colonel Brandon. Also thrilled for Charlotte Lucas and colonel fitzwilliam (they have ended up together in a few books I’ve read now and I quite like them as a pairing).
All in all, an enjoyable read but could have been a bit shorter with fewer other Austen characters.
It dragged a bit if I’m honest. There was too much about other characters and not enough Darcy and Lizzy. Mr Collins was there as in canon but only popped up occasionally to be ridiculed and left again. The characters from all of the others books just ended up really confusing for me at times. I haven’t read all of the other books or watched adaptations so I’m not familiar with them all which is my fault but it got confusing and that detracted from the story a bit for me.
That said, I’m glad lizzy and Darcy worked things out and Jane ended up with colonel Brandon. Also thrilled for Charlotte Lucas and colonel fitzwilliam (they have ended up together in a few books I’ve read now and I quite like them as a pairing).
All in all, an enjoyable read but could have been a bit shorter with fewer other Austen characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2022
Simply (but oh, not so simple story) marvelous. I can't recommend this highly enough. From the very sad beginning, through the amazing transformation of Lady Catherine, to the sobbing climax, to the joyous wind-down...I was immensely caught up in the multiple characters' story lines. Losing sleep, avoiding housework.... The thing is (I haven't read any of the no doubt wonderful reviews written by those here on GR I consider the experts,) if someone were to give me a three sentence overall blurb of this book I just wouldn't buy it. But what a waste that would've been. I'm not going to do a synopsis. Not only would I spoil so many quirky, clever, and lovely things for another reader to discover, but once I got started I fear I wouldn't be able to stop.
Yes, I sometimes had a tough time keeping track of which characters were pairing up with other characters and then when some of them lost favor in the eyes of those they were pursuing. But the tossed salad-Jane-Austen mashup of all of her most well-known books is brilliantly done! It was so much fun watching Lady Catherine taking over the Bennet sisters' care; encouraging them, prodding them, correcting them and oh....I cannot tell more or it would spoil it.
I have to stop here. I loved it. I received the audio book in a giveaway during the author's audio promotion. All the opinions stated above are my own. Definitely a reread.
Yes, I sometimes had a tough time keeping track of which characters were pairing up with other characters and then when some of them lost favor in the eyes of those they were pursuing. But the tossed salad-Jane-Austen mashup of all of her most well-known books is brilliantly done! It was so much fun watching Lady Catherine taking over the Bennet sisters' care; encouraging them, prodding them, correcting them and oh....I cannot tell more or it would spoil it.
I have to stop here. I loved it. I received the audio book in a giveaway during the author's audio promotion. All the opinions stated above are my own. Definitely a reread.
May 3, 2021
J.A. mashup
Imagine a mashup between Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility. Then, throw in a couple of Emma's characters. Now, trade the character's personalities among themselves. The only interesting character development would be the friendship between Lydia and Georgiana which was abandoned midway through the book. They were thrown back in again near the end just as a wrap up. I believe 3 stars is generous and would have probably given a "2" but I fat fingered the keys and then reconsidered being mean. Please don't give this novel too much effort unless an odd read is up your alley.
Imagine a mashup between Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility. Then, throw in a couple of Emma's characters. Now, trade the character's personalities among themselves. The only interesting character development would be the friendship between Lydia and Georgiana which was abandoned midway through the book. They were thrown back in again near the end just as a wrap up. I believe 3 stars is generous and would have probably given a "2" but I fat fingered the keys and then reconsidered being mean. Please don't give this novel too much effort unless an odd read is up your alley.
May 27, 2021
Avid Reader
Wow! So glad that I read this book! Henry and Mary Crawford are definitely characters that I do not like followed by General and Captain Tilney. Although Franklin Churchill is not evil, he isn't pure either. I would call him selfish. Fifty percent of the Tilney family definitely caused a significant amount of grief to the Fitzwilliam, Bennet, Lucas, Phillips, Gardiner, and DeBourgh families. Also the Mowbray family. One person caused so much pain! Lady Catherine took the Bennet sisters and Netherfield under her wing and turned everything around until Miss Twist untwisted the truth!
Wow! So glad that I read this book! Henry and Mary Crawford are definitely characters that I do not like followed by General and Captain Tilney. Although Franklin Churchill is not evil, he isn't pure either. I would call him selfish. Fifty percent of the Tilney family definitely caused a significant amount of grief to the Fitzwilliam, Bennet, Lucas, Phillips, Gardiner, and DeBourgh families. Also the Mowbray family. One person caused so much pain! Lady Catherine took the Bennet sisters and Netherfield under her wing and turned everything around until Miss Twist untwisted the truth!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews