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The Barnes Sisters #1
Being Mary Bennet: A Funny Young Adult Coming-of-Age Rom-Com Inspired by Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged that every bookworm secretly wishes to be Lizzy Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.
A less acknowledged truth is that Mary Bennet might be a better fit.
For Marnie Barnes, realizing she’s a Mary Bennet is devastating. But she’s determined to reinvent herself, so she enlists the help of her bubbly roommate and opens up to the world.
And between new friends, a very cute boy, and a rescue pup named Sir Pat, Marnie finds herself on a path to becoming a new person entirely. But she’s no Lizzy, or even Mary—instead, she’s someone even better: just plain Marnie.
With a hilariously sharp voice, a sweet and fulfilling romance that features a meet-cute in an animal shelter, and a big family that revels in causing big problems, this charming comedy of errors about a girl who resolves to become the main character of her own story (at any and all costs), is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Becky Albertalli…and Jane Austen, of course.
A less acknowledged truth is that Mary Bennet might be a better fit.
For Marnie Barnes, realizing she’s a Mary Bennet is devastating. But she’s determined to reinvent herself, so she enlists the help of her bubbly roommate and opens up to the world.
And between new friends, a very cute boy, and a rescue pup named Sir Pat, Marnie finds herself on a path to becoming a new person entirely. But she’s no Lizzy, or even Mary—instead, she’s someone even better: just plain Marnie.
With a hilariously sharp voice, a sweet and fulfilling romance that features a meet-cute in an animal shelter, and a big family that revels in causing big problems, this charming comedy of errors about a girl who resolves to become the main character of her own story (at any and all costs), is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Becky Albertalli…and Jane Austen, of course.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2022
56 people are currently reading
10268 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Peterson
2 books127 followersBEING MARY BENNET out now
LOLA AT LAST out 2.28.23
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I’m a YA author based in Denver, Colorado, where I live with my husband, two small sons, and one geriatric tabby. I'm represented by Amy Bishop of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
When I’m not dreaming up new stories or parenting two young boys, I love to eat local, hike in the amazing Colorado mountains, and plan for my next trip.
LOLA AT LAST out 2.28.23
///
I’m a YA author based in Denver, Colorado, where I live with my husband, two small sons, and one geriatric tabby. I'm represented by Amy Bishop of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
When I’m not dreaming up new stories or parenting two young boys, I love to eat local, hike in the amazing Colorado mountains, and plan for my next trip.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 456 reviews
March 6, 2022
How do you stop channeling your inner Mary Bennet? How do you make your mark on the world as the middle of five girls when the other four seem to overshadow you with their accomplishments? Marnie Barnes is determined to cap off her senior year at Pacific Crest Academy with a winning the coveted Hunter Prize. Now, all she has to do is make her Bark Books project a reality. There are some interesting threads in addition to the reading to dogs project that Marnie envisions with Bark Books. There is her roommate Adhira who insists on trying to be her friend even though Marnie was supposed to have her own room. Hayworth Wellesley is the neighbor who has been her secret crush for years. Is he her prince or a pompous windbag? What about that cute guy Whit at the shelter? And a family with five girls is always going to have some relationship issues to work on. I went into this book expecting more of a retelling. What I got was more of an Austen fan fic. There is an Austen Ball that sounds quite spectacular.
Thank you to Harper Teen and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Harper Teen and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2020
This is a DELIGHTFUL modernization of the Bennet family, with a Mary after my own heart: stubborn, prickly, bookish, socially awkward, and completely and totally relatable. I fell in love with the author's writing, wit, and voice from the first line-- this is a character I'd walk over coals for! My favorite reimagining yet of the Bennet family characters. There's also a beautiful friendship, a swoony sweet romance, and one of my fave settings, California's Bay Area. Plus cute dogs!!
April 18, 2022
i was NOT cheering for marnie. the amount of second hand embarrassment i got from this. i really wanted to enjoy it.
March 22, 2022
Being Mary Bennet was a really cute retelling to jump into. Especially since it's a Pride & Prejudice one. Which, yes, is one of my all-time favorite books. Definitely see me being a Lizzie in life, so it was very interesting to see someone viewing themselves as Mary.
After meeting Marnie, it was pretty easy to fall in love with her. At seventeen years old, she has no idea what's going on in her life, but she's looking to reinvent herself. While being an introvert, she definitely starts to blossom out of her shell due to her roommate and friends she starts to make. Plus, a dog or two helps.
If I could, I would adopt Sir Pat right then and there. Unfortunately, I don't think my two dogs would appreciate a fictional one. Maybe a real brother or sister to play with. Maybe. Other than finding herself in this world, there's a lot of drama to maneuver through. Whether it's with her own family or not.
Honestly, I wasn't a fan of her mother and how she treated some of them. Other than that, I liked everyone else and just about died with the wedding scene. Girl can't handle her champagne, but it did make me laugh.
In the end, I'm really happy that I found the time to jump into this. I can't wait for the next Jane Austen retelling to fall in my lap.
After meeting Marnie, it was pretty easy to fall in love with her. At seventeen years old, she has no idea what's going on in her life, but she's looking to reinvent herself. While being an introvert, she definitely starts to blossom out of her shell due to her roommate and friends she starts to make. Plus, a dog or two helps.
If I could, I would adopt Sir Pat right then and there. Unfortunately, I don't think my two dogs would appreciate a fictional one. Maybe a real brother or sister to play with. Maybe. Other than finding herself in this world, there's a lot of drama to maneuver through. Whether it's with her own family or not.
Honestly, I wasn't a fan of her mother and how she treated some of them. Other than that, I liked everyone else and just about died with the wedding scene. Girl can't handle her champagne, but it did make me laugh.
In the end, I'm really happy that I found the time to jump into this. I can't wait for the next Jane Austen retelling to fall in my lap.
August 9, 2021
Couldn’t put this down. Marnie is difficult and petulant yet lovable and oh so relatable. Her struggles for acceptance and belonging in her family are sharp and a journey I loved seeing her take.
And hold on to your heartstrings, there’s cute dogs and an even cuter boy added to the mix!
A must-read contemporary for every book lover and spouter of inane facts.
And hold on to your heartstrings, there’s cute dogs and an even cuter boy added to the mix!
A must-read contemporary for every book lover and spouter of inane facts.
July 14, 2022
To suggest Marnie is a Mary is a grevious injury to Mary. yes mary is a prig, but Marnie is just a bitch. she's selfish, self-obssed, immature, jealous and envious of EVERYONE, judgemental, snobbish, condescending, rude and a complete brat. I wouldn't allow her behaviour from a 13 year old let alone an 18 year old. she's pathetic.
April 15, 2022
I was expecting to read a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice…but told through Mary’s perspective. In truth, the heart of this story is more along the lines of, “I just discovered that I’m basically my least favourite character in my absolute favourite book, and I need to change that”.
Marnie Barnes is essentially Mary Bennet brought to life in the modern world. She is an incredibly insecure character who is so off putting at times that it’s hard to connect with her. Thankfully, she has a delightful roommate at her boarding school named Adhira who chooses to be Marnie’s friend (come hell or high water) and helps Marnie see her Mary-esque behaviour.
J.C. Peterson did a great job creating an unlikeable character who made the reader feel both exasperation and pity toward her. The only problem with creating such a character is that she wasn’t always fun to read about. Thankfully, the author also helped us see that growth was possible…not just for the Mary’s of the world, but for everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#BeingMaryBennet #NetGalley
Marnie Barnes is essentially Mary Bennet brought to life in the modern world. She is an incredibly insecure character who is so off putting at times that it’s hard to connect with her. Thankfully, she has a delightful roommate at her boarding school named Adhira who chooses to be Marnie’s friend (come hell or high water) and helps Marnie see her Mary-esque behaviour.
J.C. Peterson did a great job creating an unlikeable character who made the reader feel both exasperation and pity toward her. The only problem with creating such a character is that she wasn’t always fun to read about. Thankfully, the author also helped us see that growth was possible…not just for the Mary’s of the world, but for everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#BeingMaryBennet #NetGalley
July 27, 2021
Marnie makes decisions and mistakes that I could very easily see myself making as a teen. She wants to live up to the image of her "perfect" sibling in order to gain attention from her parents and that causes her quite a lot of grief and leads to the realization that no one, including her precious childhood crush, is as perfect as they seem! I thoroughly enjoyed following Marnie's train of thought and seeing her eyes get opened to the realities around her. I also loved Whit! He makes very mature decisions and is so conscious of what Marnie needs even when it would be so much easier for him to make selfish decisions.
The opposite nature of her and Adhira, the heartbreak and growth that comes from that friendship, is simply beautiful!
The opposite nature of her and Adhira, the heartbreak and growth that comes from that friendship, is simply beautiful!
September 1, 2022
Honestly not sure if I just read this at a bad time, but this book was a mess.
I'm a bit baffled by the choices of what to keep and what to leave out in this adaptation of P&P.
For the least offensive examples- the protagonist has 5 sisters, but the younger ones don't serve the same roles as in P&P, in fact there is a classmate who sort of becomes a Lydia, and the relationship with the mom is completely different. Mr. Collins, the ridiculous cousin becomes a sort of Whickam, grooming young girls. Whickham equivalent is a nice guy.
The really weird thing adaptation-wise was taking Marnie from being a judgey, focused on accomplishments and a bit oblivious to being an introvert, jealous of Elizabeth Bennet and kind of mean. And not wanting to be like Mary Bennet. I sort of get it- Elizabeth is clever without appearing to make an effort, but I sort of wish someone choosing to adapt Mary Bennet would actually try to work with her original personality instead of validating the fact that Elizabeth is the only one that is worth being like (especially in modern adaptations).
All the POC characters in this book were bland af.
I'm a bit baffled by the choices of what to keep and what to leave out in this adaptation of P&P.
For the least offensive examples- the protagonist has 5 sisters, but the younger ones don't serve the same roles as in P&P, in fact there is a classmate who sort of becomes a Lydia, and the relationship with the mom is completely different. Mr. Collins, the ridiculous cousin becomes a sort of Whickam, grooming young girls. Whickham equivalent is a nice guy.
The really weird thing adaptation-wise was taking Marnie from being a judgey, focused on accomplishments and a bit oblivious to being an introvert, jealous of Elizabeth Bennet and kind of mean. And not wanting to be like Mary Bennet. I sort of get it- Elizabeth is clever without appearing to make an effort, but I sort of wish someone choosing to adapt Mary Bennet would actually try to work with her original personality instead of validating the fact that Elizabeth is the only one that is worth being like (especially in modern adaptations).
All the POC characters in this book were bland af.
May 17, 2022
This modern Pride and Prejudice “retelling” is all about making Mary Bennet the main character.
I thought it was a super cute YA retelling. And I also love that it was written by an author from my city. S/O to Denver!
It was a bit young for me (my 10 year high school reunion is this summer😅), but I think it would be great for younger lovers of P&P!
I thought it was a super cute YA retelling. And I also love that it was written by an author from my city. S/O to Denver!
It was a bit young for me (my 10 year high school reunion is this summer😅), but I think it would be great for younger lovers of P&P!
dnf
March 15, 2022DNF halfway through the second chapter. Marnie is incredibly irritating and unlikeable; her air of superiority is off putting and I had a hard time sitting through what I actually read. Definitely not for me.
March 18, 2022
It's time for a confession: I've never read Pride & Prejudice. Despite being a bookworm, I haven't read what's largely regarded to be one of the greatest romances of all time. I want to, at some point, but I haven't yet. All this to say, I know very little about Mary Bennet - or any of the Bennet sisters aside from Lizzy. I'm not sure whether that affected my reading experience, in all honesty.
This feels like a great example of a time when I judged a book by its cover...only to end up disappointed.
I mean, look at that cover! It's so cute!
Unfortunately, this book didn't bring me the same amount of joy that its cover did. In fact, I ended up being fairly annoyed with it.
My main problem with the book was actually our main character - Marnie. I understand she wasn't supposed to be all that likable at first, but I had trouble sympathizing with her at all. And it's hard to love a book when you're constantly being annoyed by the main character.
I'll try to say this with as few spoilers as I can, but my other problem was some of the plot twists. Some surprisingly heavy content was dealt with in Being Mary Bennet, and at times it felt cheap like it was only included for the main character to have some realization. It just didn't sit well with me.
I will say, though, that this book did have some good things going for it! The San Francisco setting was absolutely amazing, and the side characters stole my heart.
Overall, this might just have not been the book for me, but I just struggled to enjoy it.
This feels like a great example of a time when I judged a book by its cover...only to end up disappointed.
I mean, look at that cover! It's so cute!
Unfortunately, this book didn't bring me the same amount of joy that its cover did. In fact, I ended up being fairly annoyed with it.
My main problem with the book was actually our main character - Marnie. I understand she wasn't supposed to be all that likable at first, but I had trouble sympathizing with her at all. And it's hard to love a book when you're constantly being annoyed by the main character.
I'll try to say this with as few spoilers as I can, but my other problem was some of the plot twists. Some surprisingly heavy content was dealt with in Being Mary Bennet, and at times it felt cheap like it was only included for the main character to have some realization. It just didn't sit well with me.
I will say, though, that this book did have some good things going for it! The San Francisco setting was absolutely amazing, and the side characters stole my heart.
Overall, this might just have not been the book for me, but I just struggled to enjoy it.
July 28, 2022
THIS WAS SO BAD!
First off, the main character is one of the most annoying main characters I have ever encountered. I have never wanted to punch someone harder, real or fictional. She thinks being painfully introverted is a good personality trait, and then gets upset that she doesn't have any friends! Like hm! I Wonder Who's Fault That Is! She causes all of her own problems. Like at Lindy's baby shower, completely ruining the gender reveal. And then gets mad when her family is annoyed at her. Like hm! I Wonder Who's Fault That Is! And don't even get me started on the 'romance'. I thought it was gonna be a love triangle, but not even close. It was a wide circle of miscommunication. Hayes was such a confusing character, Marnie was in loveeeeee with him, but all of a sudden she flips her feelings. I mean it made sense later on, but it just really wasn't realistic. And Whit omfg...... zero chemistry. Zeeerrrroooooo. Like I don't even think this could be marketed as a romance novel I'm genuinely serious. Spoiler?? Marnie says she's in love with him before they were even together. I think that's a major red flag tbh. AND THEY ONLY KISSED ON THE LAST PAGE. And then the whole hart prize thing????? Marnie was about to end it all over this competition, then right at the end she throws it all away??? What???? Yeah she did a nice thing for her friend, but if she deserved that prize she really should've gotten it! Overall. Waste of my afternoon reading this book if I'm being completely honest.
First off, the main character is one of the most annoying main characters I have ever encountered. I have never wanted to punch someone harder, real or fictional. She thinks being painfully introverted is a good personality trait, and then gets upset that she doesn't have any friends! Like hm! I Wonder Who's Fault That Is! She causes all of her own problems. Like at Lindy's baby shower, completely ruining the gender reveal. And then gets mad when her family is annoyed at her. Like hm! I Wonder Who's Fault That Is! And don't even get me started on the 'romance'. I thought it was gonna be a love triangle, but not even close. It was a wide circle of miscommunication. Hayes was such a confusing character, Marnie was in loveeeeee with him, but all of a sudden she flips her feelings. I mean it made sense later on, but it just really wasn't realistic. And Whit omfg...... zero chemistry. Zeeerrrroooooo. Like I don't even think this could be marketed as a romance novel I'm genuinely serious. Spoiler?? Marnie says she's in love with him before they were even together. I think that's a major red flag tbh. AND THEY ONLY KISSED ON THE LAST PAGE. And then the whole hart prize thing????? Marnie was about to end it all over this competition, then right at the end she throws it all away??? What???? Yeah she did a nice thing for her friend, but if she deserved that prize she really should've gotten it! Overall. Waste of my afternoon reading this book if I'm being completely honest.
December 28, 2021
Voice-y and charming, sweet and lively, this was a delightful read! There's so much great humor and hope in Marnie's journey from semi-aggressive curmudgeon to heroine of her own story. I loved seeing her relationships with her roommate and love interest blossom, and I especially loved how she began to discover a deeper connection with her sisters. All around, a warm hug of a book, and a fun and funny twist on P&P!
December 10, 2021
This is such a fun and heartfelt book! Marnie is the perfect bookish heroine whose dry wit and clever literature references will have you in stitches. The love story was so sweet (and I also fell head over heels for Sir Patrick Stewart the dog!!). A beautiful story about finding yourself in every way possible—finding family, finding friendship, and of course, finding love.
November 8, 2022
۳.۵
در نهایت کتاب بامزه ای از آب دراومد. کاراکتر آرک کاراکتر اصلی بد نبود و رومنسش با اینکه خیلی زیاد نبود دوست داشتنی از آب دراومد. یه مقدار کتابی بودن و رفرنس های کتاب به آن شرلی، زنان کوچک و غرور و تعصب هم خوب بود. یکم زیادی همه چی خوب پیش رفت که به نظرم همون چیزی بود که من کتاب رو به خاطرش شروع کردم احتمالا.
خانواده کاراکتر اصلی واقعا وایب خانواده بنت از غرور و تعصب رو دارن. ۵ تا دختر که دو تای اول با هم خیلی خوبن. دختر دومی مورد علاقه باباست، مامانه شلوغ و رو مخه : ))) و خب کاراکتر اصلی ما مری بنته، اون خواهری که هیشکی دوستش نداره و همه تایمش رو کتاب میخونه و به نظر خودش بهتر از بقیه ست.
پ.ن: چند روز از وقتی این ریویو رو نوشتم میگذره. من رفتم دنبال یه کتاب که از سیاهی درم بیاره. این رو پیدا کردم. ولی دیدم اشاره نکردم چرا تو سیاهی بودم. چرا تو سیاهی هستیم. چون آبان ۱۴۰۱ ئه.
در نهایت کتاب بامزه ای از آب دراومد. کاراکتر آرک کاراکتر اصلی بد نبود و رومنسش با اینکه خیلی زیاد نبود دوست داشتنی از آب دراومد. یه مقدار کتابی بودن و رفرنس های کتاب به آن شرلی، زنان کوچک و غرور و تعصب هم خوب بود. یکم زیادی همه چی خوب پیش رفت که به نظرم همون چیزی بود که من کتاب رو به خاطرش شروع کردم احتمالا.
خانواده کاراکتر اصلی واقعا وایب خانواده بنت از غرور و تعصب رو دارن. ۵ تا دختر که دو تای اول با هم خیلی خوبن. دختر دومی مورد علاقه باباست، مامانه شلوغ و رو مخه : ))) و خب کاراکتر اصلی ما مری بنته، اون خواهری که هیشکی دوستش نداره و همه تایمش رو کتاب میخونه و به نظر خودش بهتر از بقیه ست.
پ.ن: چند روز از وقتی این ریویو رو نوشتم میگذره. من رفتم دنبال یه کتاب که از سیاهی درم بیاره. این رو پیدا کردم. ولی دیدم اشاره نکردم چرا تو سیاهی بودم. چرا تو سیاهی هستیم. چون آبان ۱۴۰۱ ئه.
April 27, 2024
Marnie was very annoying for a large chunk of this, but I really liked her character arc, the side characters, and the relationships
May 6, 2025
Finding good, or even decent, YA contemporary is very hard these days, so I was pleasantly surprised at Being Mary Bennet. It's full of references to literary heroines I love, and the main character (Marnie) reminds me of myself in many ways. Lots of good sister relationships and friends; Marnie learning to be her own person, and that she doesn't have to be the Elizabeth Bennet of her life, was lovely and a good reminder to me.
Of course, there's the requisite content warning: profanity, sexual content, underage drinking, family strife... because apparently we can't write YA without that these days. This book does handle heavy topics better than most, though, and needless adult content is minimal. (Still only recommended for older teens and up.)
All in all, a cozy, bookish romp that I very much enjoyed. For older teens and adults who like Austen and Anne, and who have never quite fit in because they'd rather go to the library than a party: read this book :)
Of course, there's the requisite content warning: profanity, sexual content, underage drinking, family strife... because apparently we can't write YA without that these days. This book does handle heavy topics better than most, though, and needless adult content is minimal. (Still only recommended for older teens and up.)
All in all, a cozy, bookish romp that I very much enjoyed. For older teens and adults who like Austen and Anne, and who have never quite fit in because they'd rather go to the library than a party: read this book :)
May 9, 2022
This was…fine. Honestly it didn’t blow me away and it wasn’t completely obnoxious but I didn’t really care for it. I think I struggled the most with the writing. I mean it was a little annoying because she’s always like my stomach is like a volcano and it’s bubbling into my throat and I’m just like girl. I do not need those constant descriptions.
I also felt like the story was kind of bland overall. I liked the sisters and I feel like we would have needed more interaction with them to get a full story. The ending was also super rushed and it felt super cheesy at points especially with Marnie’s big speech.
Overall I just don’t really care and I feel like I needed more Adhira and Whit and not so many inner monologues.
I also felt like the story was kind of bland overall. I liked the sisters and I feel like we would have needed more interaction with them to get a full story. The ending was also super rushed and it felt super cheesy at points especially with Marnie’s big speech.
Overall I just don’t really care and I feel like I needed more Adhira and Whit and not so many inner monologues.
March 16, 2022
I was expecting a revised version of Pride and Prejudice, perhaps told by Mary, but instead I ended up with a YA romance that I enjoyed quite a bit. A must read if you like love triangles and Victorian novels.
Mi aspettavo una versione riveduta e corretta di Orgoglio e pregiudizio, magari raccontata da Mary e invece mi sono ritrovata con un romance YA che peró mi ha divertito parecchio. Da leggere se vi piacciono i triangoli amorosi ed i romanzi vittoriani.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Mi aspettavo una versione riveduta e corretta di Orgoglio e pregiudizio, magari raccontata da Mary e invece mi sono ritrovata con un romance YA che peró mi ha divertito parecchio. Da leggere se vi piacciono i triangoli amorosi ed i romanzi vittoriani.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
October 5, 2021
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! The writing is so smart and clever and tight and the whole story is just so rich. Marnie is a wonderfully complex character—prickly! sensitive! annoyed (and for good reason most of the time)! kind of a jerk sometimes! passionate, determined, smart! and lonely. In other words, a true teenager. Also: swooning over Whit forever. Also: such a great friendship storyline. Also: San Francisco. Also: dogs.
January 14, 2022
“Every person is the main character in their own story, even the women stuffed in the attics.” As an avid Austen reader, I was absolutely delighted by this book. Marnie is determined to become the protagonist in her own story, as she views herself as the Mary Bennet instead. I found myself smiling throughout the book, and can imagine students of mine that would enjoy it as well. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
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February 2, 2022I am SO excited to read this one - what a fresh, fun perspective on Pride and Prejudice! (Also can we talk about that cover??? OBSESSED.) This one is high on the TBR list!!
July 22, 2022
Content warning: miscarriage (not happening to the main character)
Okay, I was really scared in the first 30% of the book due to the crush Marnie had on a certain someone. It was very cringe and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. But! I trudged on and really did enjoy this book so much. That doesn't mean there wasn't a lot of secondhand embarrassment, but there were also a lot of parts that made me laugh out loud.
Do y'all remember the YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries? For some reason, this reminded me a great deal of that but in a different way. I never really thought much about Mary in Pride and Prejudice itself, only that she doesn't seem to have much of a personality, so I like it when books like this come along and want to give more to that character. Sure, it's a true "retelling" but it is sure is fun.
I'm very glad Marnie had a nice character arc because I found her rather unlikeable as we start this book. I had to remind myself often that she's just a teenager with lots of room for development and while she thinks she knows herself and what she wants, we see that isn't the case. I liked her roommate, Adhira, and her strength and loyalty to Marnie even when Marnie often didn't deserve it. The Barnes family itself seems fun while also stressful at times. Of course I love Joss and Lindy (the Jane and Lizzy family members, respectively), but there's also Lola and Kat (Lydia and Kitty, respectively). I see the next book (Lola at Last) is about Lola and I'm really intrigued because Lola seems so subdued in this book. Of course. Mrs. Barnes made me grit my teeth. I think the author did a good job modernizing the Mrs. Bennet counterpart but Marnie's mom definitely had some cringe moments too with her casual microaggressions to Lindy and fatphobic comments to Marnie. Sure, she's loyal to her family but her words and some of her actions are really harsh. I'm not sure I find many redeeming qualities about her. But I did love Marnie's interactions with Lindy and how whatever misunderstanding was between them was overcome and allowed them to be closer because I really think that's something Marnie needed.
One of the main reasons I didn't give this book a full 5 stars is the crush Marnie has on I know she's really blind to what happened when she was younger, but it doesn't wholly negate the crush in its entirety. So cue me smiling when Marnie meets Whit and things develop slowly between them.
I also thought the "ball"/party Marnie and Adhira attended could have been something a lot more, something that could have really pushed Marnie and Whit together but it didn't and felt really anticlimactic.
I listened to this book via audiobook and it was really enjoyable. I thought the voice actress did a really great job and would highly recommend.
Okay, I was really scared in the first 30% of the book due to the crush Marnie had on a certain someone. It was very cringe and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. But! I trudged on and really did enjoy this book so much. That doesn't mean there wasn't a lot of secondhand embarrassment, but there were also a lot of parts that made me laugh out loud.
Do y'all remember the YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries? For some reason, this reminded me a great deal of that but in a different way. I never really thought much about Mary in Pride and Prejudice itself, only that she doesn't seem to have much of a personality, so I like it when books like this come along and want to give more to that character. Sure, it's a true "retelling" but it is sure is fun.
I'm very glad Marnie had a nice character arc because I found her rather unlikeable as we start this book. I had to remind myself often that she's just a teenager with lots of room for development and while she thinks she knows herself and what she wants, we see that isn't the case. I liked her roommate, Adhira, and her strength and loyalty to Marnie even when Marnie often didn't deserve it. The Barnes family itself seems fun while also stressful at times. Of course I love Joss and Lindy (the Jane and Lizzy family members, respectively), but there's also Lola and Kat (Lydia and Kitty, respectively). I see the next book (Lola at Last) is about Lola and I'm really intrigued because Lola seems so subdued in this book. Of course. Mrs. Barnes made me grit my teeth. I think the author did a good job modernizing the Mrs. Bennet counterpart but Marnie's mom definitely had some cringe moments too with her casual microaggressions to Lindy and fatphobic comments to Marnie. Sure, she's loyal to her family but her words and some of her actions are really harsh. I'm not sure I find many redeeming qualities about her. But I did love Marnie's interactions with Lindy and how whatever misunderstanding was between them was overcome and allowed them to be closer because I really think that's something Marnie needed.
One of the main reasons I didn't give this book a full 5 stars is the crush Marnie has on I know she's really blind to what happened when she was younger, but it doesn't wholly negate the crush in its entirety. So cue me smiling when Marnie meets Whit and things develop slowly between them.
I also thought the "ball"/party Marnie and Adhira attended could have been something a lot more, something that could have really pushed Marnie and Whit together but it didn't and felt really anticlimactic.
I listened to this book via audiobook and it was really enjoyable. I thought the voice actress did a really great job and would highly recommend.
February 16, 2023
As a GIANT Austen fan, I actually don't read that many retellings. Mostly because I am just super picky and critical (not just about them, but like, in general). Anyway, I decided on a whim to read this that I had downloaded from a year and a half ago, to give it a go. Because I didn't bother to reread the book summary, it took me a minute to realized that this wasn't a straight up retelling but a self-aware comparison with a character totally obsessed with classic books. Yes her life is pretty similar to the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice, but since Marnie literally compares herself to the Mary Bennet of that family (the sister no one likes) I was totally on board with this sort of integrated, Austen-adjacent story.
What I did like:
-the writing. It's great for a debut.
-Marnie's internal narration/voice. It's funny and nerdy. This is definitely classified as a bildungsroman and not a 'YA rom com' because a lot of the plot is moved forward by her self growth and working through things that a lot of teenagers struggle with. Fitting in, family love, self worth etc.
-I did appreciate that as part of this growth, the inclusion of Marnie's crush on an unattainable asshole. This is where I had to repeat my mantra of "she is a teenager" for some of the stupid, naive decisions she makes and situations she finds herself in. She doesn't handle it all well, but I think this creepy situation played out realistically for someone her age: comments were dismissed and she doesn't tell people everything. Her feelings go from heart-eyes obsessed to self-doubt with a rollercoaster in between and I haven't seen this kind of plot in any YA contemporary before. (Probably plots like this are often in the slightly darker YA contemporary which I don't tend to read.)
-boarding school setting, her friendships
What I didn't care for as much:
-Alright so for a giant twist in this sweet genre, there is a BIG TRIGGER WARNING for a miscarriage by way of car accident. It was almost triggering to me and I don't have kids and likely won't ever. But holy shit that part of the book was maybe a little unnecessary in its extremity. To be clear it's not Marnie's, but a side character's. But the trauma of that character is described pretty intensely. I feel like a different traumatic situation could have been introduced and had the same plot-result. This was just unexpected for a relatively lighthearted YA with otherwise mild themes.
-The love interest was the definition of...'that escalated quickly'. Because this is a bildungsroman YA story, a lot of the book focused on Marnie as a teenager, and not developing a romantic relationship for the center of the plot. I liked the slow burn side romance that was something Marnie was thinking about, but not her main concern. (that's technically a pro in my list here) BUT then on like the last page she is like 'omg i love you!' and kisses him for the first time and then the story ends and I was like...wtf no? So it was good until the literal last moment.
-also a minor trigger warning for a couple fatphobic comments from Marnie's mom, but from how I read it, these comments were not supported by any other characters or the narrative, so it was her mom being a bitch. That being said, no one really said anything to defend Marnie from those small comments.
- Marnie is also part of a super rich family and her privilege could have been acknowledged more since she seemed a pretty socially savvy character for a cishet white person. But it's not that kind of story, so I get why it wasn't touched upon.
All in all, great read and I am definitely going to pick up Lola's story next!
What I did like:
-the writing. It's great for a debut.
-Marnie's internal narration/voice. It's funny and nerdy. This is definitely classified as a bildungsroman and not a 'YA rom com' because a lot of the plot is moved forward by her self growth and working through things that a lot of teenagers struggle with. Fitting in, family love, self worth etc.
-I did appreciate that as part of this growth, the inclusion of Marnie's crush on an unattainable asshole. This is where I had to repeat my mantra of "she is a teenager" for some of the stupid, naive decisions she makes and situations she finds herself in. She doesn't handle it all well, but I think this creepy situation played out realistically for someone her age: comments were dismissed and she doesn't tell people everything. Her feelings go from heart-eyes obsessed to self-doubt with a rollercoaster in between and I haven't seen this kind of plot in any YA contemporary before. (Probably plots like this are often in the slightly darker YA contemporary which I don't tend to read.)
-boarding school setting, her friendships
What I didn't care for as much:
-Alright so for a giant twist in this sweet genre, there is a BIG TRIGGER WARNING for a miscarriage by way of car accident. It was almost triggering to me and I don't have kids and likely won't ever. But holy shit that part of the book was maybe a little unnecessary in its extremity. To be clear it's not Marnie's, but a side character's. But the trauma of that character is described pretty intensely. I feel like a different traumatic situation could have been introduced and had the same plot-result. This was just unexpected for a relatively lighthearted YA with otherwise mild themes.
-The love interest was the definition of...'that escalated quickly'. Because this is a bildungsroman YA story, a lot of the book focused on Marnie as a teenager, and not developing a romantic relationship for the center of the plot. I liked the slow burn side romance that was something Marnie was thinking about, but not her main concern. (that's technically a pro in my list here) BUT then on like the last page she is like 'omg i love you!' and kisses him for the first time and then the story ends and I was like...wtf no? So it was good until the literal last moment.
-also a minor trigger warning for a couple fatphobic comments from Marnie's mom, but from how I read it, these comments were not supported by any other characters or the narrative, so it was her mom being a bitch. That being said, no one really said anything to defend Marnie from those small comments.
- Marnie is also part of a super rich family and her privilege could have been acknowledged more since she seemed a pretty socially savvy character for a cishet white person. But it's not that kind of story, so I get why it wasn't touched upon.
All in all, great read and I am definitely going to pick up Lola's story next!
Read
August 17, 2022The audio performance is great, and I really enjoyed the opening of Being Mary Bennet and the concept. A contemporary novel inspired by Mary Bennet? Sign me up!
If you're familiar with Pride & Prejudice, as I am, you should be expecting Marnie to be a hard heroine to stomach at points. This, actually, is something that I think is done relatively well. Marnie Barnes is an insufferable know-it-all, desperate to stand out who constantly navigates social situations with the smoothness of a bull in a china shop. It's cringey, but I can admire the commitment. However, I wasn't sold on Marnie's development throughout the book. It felt too sudden and forced, with Marnie speaking the lessons she learned to the degree it felt preachy.
Aside from Marnie, the other characters are poorly developed. Her sisters are limited to one or two qualities, as are her parents. Amari, her roommate and friend, probably gets the most, but even so I never really believed these two to be more than convenience friends. If Amari's self-esteem weren't at low and she didn't feel so desperate for kinship, she'd have dropped Marnie and found better friends tbh.
What really didn't work here for me, I think, was the way that it sort of retold P&P but sort of didn't. Marnie has four sisters, with qualities shockingly comparable to the Bennet sisters and with names that start with the same letters. They have a melodramatic mother and a more stoic father. And yet, somehow, she never once directly thinks about the oddity of this, the comparing only herself and Lindy to the cast of P&P. It felt very artificial.
But really, the biggest issue for me is that the Barnes family are tech millionaires. This is such a fundamental shift to everything in P&P, and it makes Marnie so much more hard to stomach than Mary, a girl with no prospects. Marnie's desperate to win this prize, which she in no way needs to be successful, and she thinks horrible things about the mean girl's efforts to win, and just like really Marnie? The privilege is painful. It's one thing if Marnie behaved this way as a relatively poor girl at a prep school, but take that behavior and make her one of the wealthiest kids in the school, and she's just a mean girl. I think this one would have benefited from not being a retelling, honestly, because the dynamics don't fit. She comes off like Emma Dashwood only with Mary Bennet energy added to her own.
While this was an interesting listen and had good ideas, I struggled to buy the character arc and relationship to P&P.
If you're familiar with Pride & Prejudice, as I am, you should be expecting Marnie to be a hard heroine to stomach at points. This, actually, is something that I think is done relatively well. Marnie Barnes is an insufferable know-it-all, desperate to stand out who constantly navigates social situations with the smoothness of a bull in a china shop. It's cringey, but I can admire the commitment. However, I wasn't sold on Marnie's development throughout the book. It felt too sudden and forced, with Marnie speaking the lessons she learned to the degree it felt preachy.
Aside from Marnie, the other characters are poorly developed. Her sisters are limited to one or two qualities, as are her parents. Amari, her roommate and friend, probably gets the most, but even so I never really believed these two to be more than convenience friends. If Amari's self-esteem weren't at low and she didn't feel so desperate for kinship, she'd have dropped Marnie and found better friends tbh.
What really didn't work here for me, I think, was the way that it sort of retold P&P but sort of didn't. Marnie has four sisters, with qualities shockingly comparable to the Bennet sisters and with names that start with the same letters. They have a melodramatic mother and a more stoic father. And yet, somehow, she never once directly thinks about the oddity of this, the comparing only herself and Lindy to the cast of P&P. It felt very artificial.
But really, the biggest issue for me is that the Barnes family are tech millionaires. This is such a fundamental shift to everything in P&P, and it makes Marnie so much more hard to stomach than Mary, a girl with no prospects. Marnie's desperate to win this prize, which she in no way needs to be successful, and she thinks horrible things about the mean girl's efforts to win, and just like really Marnie? The privilege is painful. It's one thing if Marnie behaved this way as a relatively poor girl at a prep school, but take that behavior and make her one of the wealthiest kids in the school, and she's just a mean girl. I think this one would have benefited from not being a retelling, honestly, because the dynamics don't fit. She comes off like Emma Dashwood only with Mary Bennet energy added to her own.
While this was an interesting listen and had good ideas, I struggled to buy the character arc and relationship to P&P.
April 23, 2022
A. Dor. A. Ble.
Once again I went into a book blind. There's just something I enjoy about the experience of everything feels new with few preconceived notions. I did think this was a spin off featuring Mary, but, alas, I'm happy to say it was infinitely better than what it could have been in such a case. Granted, there are a lot of similarities between the Barnes and Bennet families.
Antisocial Marnie is looking for prestige and high marks only during her first year at university. She's secretly competing with any and all, namely her older and more praised sisters. Upon being told she resembles Mary Bennet, Marnie is offended but quickly sees too many unhappy coincidences to not want to shed the personification.
JC does such a great job with Marnie's character arc and the supporting cast. I found myself enjoying the dynamics of the cast and rooting for Marnie to embrace her bookish self while sorting out positive relationships with those around her. The sweet romance was an added bonus.
Sarah Beth Pfeifer, the narrator, was a delight to listen to. Her voice perfectly encompassed the nerdy, somewhat insecure, and solitary Marnie.
Thank you to Harper Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Once again I went into a book blind. There's just something I enjoy about the experience of everything feels new with few preconceived notions. I did think this was a spin off featuring Mary, but, alas, I'm happy to say it was infinitely better than what it could have been in such a case. Granted, there are a lot of similarities between the Barnes and Bennet families.
Antisocial Marnie is looking for prestige and high marks only during her first year at university. She's secretly competing with any and all, namely her older and more praised sisters. Upon being told she resembles Mary Bennet, Marnie is offended but quickly sees too many unhappy coincidences to not want to shed the personification.
JC does such a great job with Marnie's character arc and the supporting cast. I found myself enjoying the dynamics of the cast and rooting for Marnie to embrace her bookish self while sorting out positive relationships with those around her. The sweet romance was an added bonus.
Sarah Beth Pfeifer, the narrator, was a delight to listen to. Her voice perfectly encompassed the nerdy, somewhat insecure, and solitary Marnie.
Thank you to Harper Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
July 4, 2022
5/5 🌟
wow.
i adored this book.
the theme: accepting your true self (and the mary bennet in al of us) really touched my heart. i found myself relating to marnie in so so so many ways. (in a “not funny ‘haha’, funny weird” way 😂)
honestly though, i loved marnie. it was hard to like her in the beginning, because her flaws were so out there in the open, but you never stopped rooting for her.
i think this book has helped me to accept the mary bennet in me and just to accept who i am. i have always struggled with myself (as i’m sure so many people do) , not being funny enough, cool enough, pretty enough…but this really resonated in my heart. it’s okay to be who you are. embrace your best parts of yourself—that’s what makes you so special and unique.
truly loved this book and cannot believe this was a debut novel!!! i cannot wait to read the next books in tote from this author!!
wow.
i adored this book.
the theme: accepting your true self (and the mary bennet in al of us) really touched my heart. i found myself relating to marnie in so so so many ways. (in a “not funny ‘haha’, funny weird” way 😂)
honestly though, i loved marnie. it was hard to like her in the beginning, because her flaws were so out there in the open, but you never stopped rooting for her.
i think this book has helped me to accept the mary bennet in me and just to accept who i am. i have always struggled with myself (as i’m sure so many people do) , not being funny enough, cool enough, pretty enough…but this really resonated in my heart. it’s okay to be who you are. embrace your best parts of yourself—that’s what makes you so special and unique.
truly loved this book and cannot believe this was a debut novel!!! i cannot wait to read the next books in tote from this author!!
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