A Match for Mary Bennet: Can a Serious Young Lady Ever Find Her Way to Love?

by Eucharista Ward

A unique and inspirational Pride and Prejudice sequel that will resonate with all readers who can relate to Mary Bennet's determination to live according to God's wishes

Written by a Franciscan nun, this is a sympathetic tale of the middle Bennet sister from Pride and Prejudice. Pious Mary Bennet tries to do her duty in the world as she thinks God envisions it.

Initially believing (mistakenly) that her sister Elizabeth married well only in order to provide for her sisters, Mary is happy to be relieved of the obligation to marry at all so that she can continue her faithful works.

But she begins to have second thoughts after further studying marriage through her sisters' experiences as well as spending time with two young men. One is a splendid young buck whose determined courtship must have ulterior motives; the other is a kindly, serious young clergyman whose friendship Mary values more and more. One day she realizes that God very much made man and woman to be together...but which is the man for her?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Regency, Historical, Historical Romance, Retellings

358 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Sister M. Eucharista Ward, OSF

A Roman Catholic nun of the order, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. She made her final vows in 1966.

In her later years, she wrote fiction, including several short novels and her sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was published and very well received by her readers.

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last, an Austen follow-on by a modern author who can write grammatical English and respect the original characters and story, while adding depth and development to Austen's universe! I never thought I'd see the day.

I must admit that while P and P is not my favourite of the Austen canon, I've always had a fellow-feeling for Mary, and whenever I've read it or seen a film/series adaptation, always wondered why the Bennets didn't think of offering to let Mr Collins marry Mary. Granted, Mr B. wouldn't want to sacrifice his favourite Lizzy to such a bumptious son-in-law, but in those days Mary seemed a reasonable match, since she would have preferred his books to his conversation anyway, and would have enjoyed being the vicar's helper immensely. She wasn't all that much younger than Lizzy, who was "not yet one and twenty" at the time, making Mary probably eighteen or nineteen. It's worth considering, however, that Mr Collins wouldn't want a wife who was obviously more intelligent and quite possibly better read than himself! Ms Ward comes up with a satisfactory solution, while Wickham and Lydia and Caroline Bingley are up to their old tricks, and Anne De Bourgh turns out to be a treat. Mary and those around her are like real people, even the despicable verger and the empty-headed "rattle".

The author handles the Regency idiom rather well, though there were a few things that caused me to raise my eyebrows, such as the consistent use of the word "fine" in its modern sense: "She's fine" when Austen and the Bennets and co. would have said, "Elizabeth is very well" or "in excellent health." The word "fine" in those days meant of high quality, such as a fine gown or fine furniture, or "a fine day" as in "sunny and pleasant." On page 24 we are told Darcy sliced another piece of ham from the sideboard. Oh, did he now! Surely he sliced it from the joint on the sideboard--though there would probably be a footman there to slice it for him. The only thing he could have sliced from the sideboard would be wood shavings! Later on, we are told that Elizabeth gave Mary "a rasher" to take home with her. Even today, a rasher is one slice of bacon; rashers in those days were cut from a flitch. However, these are minor considerations, unlike the text entitled Caroline Bingley on which I gave up after a few pages, having found at least five howling linguistic anachronisms and basic elementary-school errors in grammar (such as subject-verb agreement!) in as many pages.

I never thought I would even consider giving an Austen follow-on book five stars, but I devoured this immensely enjoyable read in the course of a weekend.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Austen’s minor character Mary Bennet is not exactly heroine material. With only eight passages of dialogue in Pride and Prejudice she has made a lasting impression on readers over the centuries as a pious young woman who often insensitively offers advice of “threadbare morality” to her family at the most inopportune moments. Author Eucharista Ward has taken a bold step in devoting an entire novel to this pedantic and socially clueless young lady. She is not the first to tread this path. Last year Janeites were dishonored with Colleen McCullough’s irreverent treatment, The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet. In both instances, Mary Bennet has been given a make-over. However, two novels could not be farther from honorable intent. While McCullough mocked the Austen sequel industry, Ward embraces it with integrity and reverence. Happily, A Match for Mary Bennet has brought Austen’s character back into the fold and rescued her from the fiery depths of sequel Hell.

Previously self published in 2007 as Illusions and Ignorance: Mary Bennet’s Story, this new edition by major Jane Austen sequel publisher Sourcebooks fortunately bring this wonderful story to a wider audience. Publisher’s description:

"Written by a Franciscan nun, this is a sympathetic tale of the middle Bennet sister from Pride and Prejudice. Pious Mary Bennet tries to do her duty in the world as she thinks God envisions it. Initially believing (mistakenly) that her sister Elizabeth married well only in order to provide for her sisters, Mary is happy to be relieved of the obligation to marry at all so that she can continue her faithful works. But she begins to have second thoughts after further studying marriage through her sisters’ experiences as well as spending time with two young men. One is a splendid young buck whose determined courtship must have ulterior motives; the other is a kindly, serious young clergyman whose friendship Mary values more and more. One day she realizes that God very much made man and woman to be together…but which is the man for her?"

Prim, judgmental and pedantic, Mary’s evolution throughout the course of the book is surprising as she soon discovers that there is more to life than her Godly studies, music and books. The author has an excellent understanding of Austen’s style emulating it reverently, placing the story within a historically context of the era with aplomb. Many of Austen’s characters from Pride and Prejudice reappear: her sisters Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty (Catherine) and Lydia, her parent’s the Bennet’s, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Georgiana and Lady Catherine. We also meet two new men that change Mary’s perspective on what she thinks God intends for her life: the dashing rakish James Stilton who courts Mary with determination and charm, and the stoic young clergyman Charles Oliver who wins her friendship and respect by understanding and enlightenment. If she chooses her head over her heart is never much in question. After all, a woman’s “reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful — and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.” Even if the outcome is predictable, the ride is quite enjoyable.

Where others have failed in expanding her character, Ward has given Mary Bennet depth and interest, allowing readers to see her faults, understand their origins, and rejoice in her evolution towards enlightenment and happiness. My only quibbles are that in Ward’s new world, poor Colonel Fitzwilliam is destined for a life of misery after succumbing to Caroline Bingley’s fortune and marrying her, and that the pacing at times was slow and too introspective. The first is indicative of the era, and the second is actually who Mary Bennet was at the beginning. If the author had allowed Mary to be more succinct toward the end, it would have showed a nice character development. After all, “every impulse of feeling should be guide by reason”!

Laurel Ann, Austenprose.com

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. I did like parts of this a lot, but ultimately, it was pretty long and the love story wasn't set up quite well enough.

But I'm glad it exists. Mary is probably the sister I relate most to, really, and it was nice to see her growth. And the book itself feels very Austen-like.

[Monique Takens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. dit was toch echt de laatste x dat ik een Jane Austen sequel heb gelezen hoor ! Deze was niet eens zo slecht maar het is ook weer niet wat ik ervan gehoopt had .
Dit boek is bedoeld voor mensen die al bekend zijn met Pride and Prejudice van Jane Austen en ik kan het niet aanbevelen aan lezers die dat boek niet kennen want die zullen compleet tureluurs worden van al de personen die in het verhaal voorbij komen en waarvan de schrijfster uitgaat dat je die allemaal al kent .
En was het acceptabel dat een gently bred young woman jonger dan 25 jaar alleen ging wonen ?

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's often times when I've read JAFF that I've joked to myself that I'm Mary. Sure we all want to sweet Jane or sparkling Elizabeth, or maybe even vivacious Lydia, but I'm Mary. I'm not like the Mary in this book.

I did find this to be an interesting characterization of Mary. We start of with the staunch version of the character and over the course of the book, see her grow and become more flexible. I thought it was a saying but maybe it was just said on a tv show about how an unyielding branch will break in a strong wind but a flexible branch will bend with the wind. Mary at the end of the book was a different one than the beginning and I was happy for her.

About the the other characters, they were mostly lovely. I'm not a big Colonel Fitzwilliam getting together with Miss Bingley fan. Miss Bingley was still pretty terrible but since she's married to a guy they all like or related to some of them, they do their best to keep her happy which no thank you. Mr. Bennet had some lovely father-daughter moments. I also rather enjoyed Kitty in this book as well. This wasn't my favorite Georgiana, but I do love her feeling like sisters with the Bennet women.

This book isn't entirely historically accurate. There were quite a few moments where I'd pause and ask myself where the chaperones were. Mary sending a note to Oliver. More than two dances with someone. Little things like that stood out to me.

I feel like this book is for those that like Mary and want her to get a happily ever after or someone looking for a little more God in their Pride and Prejudice. I'm more the former and was pleased with what I wanted.

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un gradevole sequel di Orgoglio e pregiudizio che vede il percorso di vita di Mary Bennet, la sorella più pedante e noiosa tra le cinque sorelle Bennet, che qui è un pizzico più intelligente del personaggio creato da Jane Austen. Né lei né Kitty alla fine seguono la strada prevista da Jane Austen, che voleva Kitty moglie di un pastore e Mary di un avvocato impiegato da suo zio Phillips di Meryton (come era stato zio Phillips per suo nonno, Mr. Gardiner), ma Mary ha un processo di maturazione graduale, grazie anche alla consapevolezza dell'amore di sua sorella Elizabeth per Mr. Darcy. La madre, infatti, le aveva fatto credere che Elizabeth avesse sposato Mr. Darcy solo per i soldi e il prestigio, sacrificandosi per il resto della famiglia malgrado detestasse quell'uomo, ma Mary si rende conto che non è affatto così.
Mary ha molti corteggiatori che sono attratti dal suo buonsenso - e questo sembra un po' stonare con il personaggio di Jane Austen - e dalla sua modestia.
Nel frattempo Wickham organizza un complotto ai danni di Mr. Collins e Miss de Bourgh, approfittando della malattia di Lady Catherine, che Darcy, il colonnello Fitzwilliam, suo fratello Henry - l'erede della contea - e Steven Oliver - il nuovo parroco di Kympton, quella che avrebbe dovuto essere la prebenda di Wickham quando il vecchio Mr. Darcy era ancora in vita - cercano di ostacolare, ma Anne de Bourgh si rivela un vero bijoux di donna (non per niente è figlia della volitiva Lady Catherine).
Certo, non esiste che il colonnello Fitzwilliam di nome faccia Darcy - è altamente improbabile - con grande confusione tra Fitzwilliam Darcy e Darcy Fitzwilliam!
E un po' tutti i nomi sono dati a casaccio. D'accordo, Darcy non vuole chiamare il primogenito Fitzwilliam perché gli sembra ridicolo e pomposo, ma Charles? Perché non come il proprio padre (George?) o Bennet, come poi chiamerà il secondogenito?
E anche la prima figlia di Bingley e Jane che si chiama Beth e non Jane/Jenny... bah! E il primo maschio William, anche se la scelta sarebbe stata sempre per Fitzwilliam, per far piacere a Darcy, quando invece avrebbe dovuto forse chiamarsi Charles anche lui.
Il libro è un po' troppo orientato verso la religiosità e la devozione, ma con il personaggio di Mary non si tratta certo di una stonatura.
In alcuni episodi il romanzo richiama più Mansfield Park che Orgoglio e pregiudizio, ma per fortuna c'è Mr. Bennet che fa la parte di sé stesso ("Hai di fronte una triste alternativa, Elizabeth. Da oggi dovrai essere un'estranea per uno dei tuoi genitori. Tua madre non vorrà più vederti se non sposi Mr. Collins, e io non vorrò più vederti se lo sposi.") anziché di Sir Thomas!
Un romanzo di formazione forse un po' troppo lungo e articolato che si segue con piacere fino a un certo punto, ma poi comincia a dilungarsi su storie secondarie meno appassionanti.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Pride and Prejudice sequel which concentrates on Mary Bennet, though the lives of other Bennets are included. I admit that Mary, with the Colonel, are my two favourite characters. This story is where Mary learns of her mistakes concerning her family and spends her time mainly with her two older sisters at their estates. I enjoyed reading about these, and the new characters added to the story. I found the style of writing very easy to read.
This is a re-read of the book and on the whole I enjoyed the story again. Was there anything I didn't like - the sub-plot concerning the Colonel and who he married. I always hope that he and Mary will marry. But also at times the religious overtones, which is probably not surprising as it is written by a Franciscan nun.

[Susan]

I liked the character of Mary (and especially the fact that the author didn't feel compelled to transform her into a beauty, as did Colleen McCullough in her own Austen spinoff). I did find the pacing a little slow, and I think the novel would have been better if the author had jettisoned some of the subplots and some of the minor characters and spent more time on the main characters and the love story.

[Baja Janeite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Bennet is quite satisfied. Now that Lizzy and Jane have married wealthy men, Mary can ignore her mother’s schemes to find Mary a husband. She can withdraw into her music and books. She no longer has to worry about her fate when Longbourn is invaded by the Collins’ family. She need never marry. Well, at least that is what Mary hopes…



Two very different men become part of Mary’s life.



Stephen Oliver, gentle and intuitive, glories in his vocation as a minister. He asks Mary to help him, but she is not sure that she even likes him. Kitty likes him, but would she make a proper clergyman’s wife?



Dashing and wealthy, James Stilton begs Mary to be his wife. What is his motive? Is it love or something else?



Advertised as an “inspirational Pride and Prejudice sequel,” A Match for Mary Bennet, centers on the third Bennet sister. Eucharista Ward lovingly develops Mary’s character from the reflective pedant encountered in P&P to a wiser, independent woman. Lizzy, Jane and their husbands are now minor characters, but we follow their growing families and tragedies as these events touch Mary’s life. Ward introduces a neighborhood kleptomaniac and fortune hunters who add humor and tension to the plot.



A Match for Mary Bennet is written in a narrative style similar to P&P, although the author sometimes uses a stream of consciousness technique. To my delight, the author alludes to P&P incidents and dialogue at very apt times. She mentions titles of music and books popular during the Regency period. My only criticisms are that the book is a slow read at times, and Lizzy is not the same. Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, Lydia and many others , however, remain true to character and amuse and irritate us in turn. Overall, I enjoyed this novel very much.



What makes this sequel “inspirational”? Marriage and integrity are honored. Sex is alluded to as a pleasurable, even fun, benefit of marriage. Church attendance is expected. These are values consistent with Jane Austen’s novels. Perhaps, the most inspirational part is the author herself. A Sylvania Franciscan nun, , Eucharista Ward retired from teaching high school English and now works as a nurse’s aide for an assisted living program. She wrote this book while working night shift, caring for other retired sisters. Now, that is truly inspiring!



Additional note: Don’t miss the mention of Uncle Phillip’s law clerk at the end of the book- not quite what James Edward Austen-Leigh’s book prophesied!

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eucharista Ward O.S.F.'s A Match for Mary Bennet is delightful and reminiscent of the regency craftswoman Jane Austen herself. The novel's pace is dead on, unfurling Mary Bennet's character slowly, allowing readers to sit with her, getting to know her mind, her choices and motivations, and her true heart's desire.

"'I fell asleep in Inferno, and the candle went out. I awoke in Purgatorio. But all the light is on now. I have found Paradiso.'" (Page 323 of ARC)

With her older sisters, Jane and Elizabeth married to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and her youngest sister, Lydia, married off to Mr. Wickham, Mary and Catherine Bennet are left at home with their meddling mother, eager to marry them off. Mary continues her ways of sitting alone with her books and her music, content to expand her mind rather than chase after men in society.

"'You sat so creep mouse in a corner with, of all things, a book! What a way to comport yourself at a dance! Why, you might as well scream to all the world that no man is good enough for you. . . .'" (Page vi of ARC)

Despite her shyness and unconscious judgment of others, Mary comes to learn there is more to life than just books and music, though they certainly enhance her journey and even direct her ultimate place in society. Readers will revisit with Mr. & Mrs. Darcy and Mr. & Mrs. Bingley following their marriages and how Mary perceives their married lives. Lydia, Mr. Wickham, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her daugher, and Kitty Bennet return as well. But there are new characters to love and dislike from the new pastor Mr. Oliver to the odd Mr. Grantley and the musical Mr. Stilton.

Ward lives in Austen's world, manipulates language easily to emulate regency England, and expands the characterizations sketched out in Pride and Prejudice without losing Austen's vision. However, Ward's Mary Bennet is more than the thinly sketched, judgmental, religious, bookworm on the sidelines. She is observant, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to her family and her faith. Overall, readers will find A Match for Mary Bennet fills out the other Bennet sisters deftly and makes a perfect addition to any Austen lovers' collection.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a historical romance set in the world of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It's a "sequel" focusing on Mary Bennet and, to a lesser extent, her sisters. It's a thoroughly enjoyable book.

The story was written in much the same tone and style as Pride and Prejudice, and the author stays true to the characters and events of that book. The pacing was a bit slower than most modern novels, but it's consistent with the pacing of Jane Austen novels. The world-building was excellent with many historical details woven in (especially about child-birth and herbal wound remedies). Even the Christian elements were set in their historical context--life as it was lived back then.

My only nit-picks are that she occasionally had Darcy act a little more casually than I think he would. She also had the Bennet sisters occasionally act with more modern sensibilities than I think they would have (like having both Lizzy and a wet nurse nursing her baby--to which my mother commented, "I don't think she knows much about breast-feeding a baby."). However, even in these cases, the author gave plausible and good reasons for the characters to act that way.

There was only implied sex and no cussing. I'd unhesitatingly recommend this novel to any fan of Jane Austen.

[skein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was written by a nun. Does that make a difference? (yes.) Should it make a difference? (no.)
(maybe.)

A charming novel, albeit slow, and a generally thoughtful Austen spin-off that doesn't try (and fail) to imitate. I appreciate (because it is so rare.) the calm development of Mary's character, and her change from a young lady who understands only music and The Word Of God to a woman who learns to value also the companionship of love, and family, and her own human capability. (And her implied delight in sex.)

Most interesting to me was the role of religion, or rather religious feeling. At the book's start, Mary regards every thing and every one through a lens of True Piety - a tiresome and unintentionally thoughtless point of view. She changes her perceptions and changes her mind, in the realm of humans, at least. The unwritten & I think unintended parallel to her human experience is change in her understanding of religion. I felt that Ms. Ward was writing her own experience, unconsciously, and saying what she was (maybe) not allowed to say in any other way (being a nun and all).

[Laurie Sand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Given that this book is essentially Pride and Prejudice fan fiction written by a nun, I went into it with tempered expectations. I was not disappointed, but I was also not blown out of the water. Although the style is somewhat reminiscent of Austen--an omniscient narrator, a focus on events, development of relationships over a span of time--the tone was not. Austen's narrative voice is arch and amused, inviting the reader to laugh at the frailties of human nature. Ward's tone, by contrast, is pious and homely, offering redemption and happy endings for all. I'm not saying this necessarily as a criticism (it makes for a fairly restful book after all) but I did feel that it made "A Match for Mary Bennet" feel less like a sequel to Pride and Prejudice and more like a standalone book in the tradition of Little Women and Anne of Green Gables.

[Alethea · Rating 1 out of 5]

This P&P companion novel was written by a former nun, so I should have expected the heavily-Christian undertone throughout. Mary seems overly rigid and entirely uninteresting, completely satisfied with the single life and dozens of religious platitudes with which she can judge her neighbors and relations. Her ultimate love-match is predictable, in that the author leaves few choices, but despite its obvious approach, it is still too sudden. Mary speaks not once of any attraction to Mr. Oliver, and then suddenly she is conveniently passionately in love when he asks for her hand. WAY too Jesus-freak for me. One of my least favorite Austen spinoffs thus far.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I like this book okay there were some aspects to it that bugged me like characters jumping into the story suddenly and just as suddenly disappearing again never to be heard of again. Also, the book focused on Mary's over analytical perception of marriage which over time went from distorted to pleasing but when she finally marries herself you don't find out what she finally thought about it. Grrr! Overall I thought it was a nice read with a loose end from Pride and Prejudice tied up in to a nice pretty bow.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it to be rather dull and predictable. However, it was readable- meaning I was at least able to finish it.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better Pride & Prejudice sequelae.

[Jess Swann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alors, une lecture hyper laborieuse. Ce n'est pas tant que ça que c'est mal écrit, c'est simplement que ce n'est pas passionnant... Beaucoup de citations et de réflexions sur la religion (en même temps, c'est in character vu qu'on parle de Mary). Par contre, j'ai bien aimé les choix de Mary et surtout la manière dont ses expériences la font grandir et mûrir (et changer d'opinion) peu à peu. Je me suis régalée face à l'influence de Mr Oliver sur elle. J'ai également aimé l'évolution de ses relations avec ses soeurs, en particulier Lydia , son père et Darcy. En revanche, j'ai été un peu ennuyée par Georgiana que je ne trouve pas très réussie mais c'est la seule. Sur les aventures de Anne, Lady Catherine et les Collins le tout était réussi.


Ce que j'aime : voir Mary évoluer ainsi que ses relations avec les différents personnages. Le match trouvé par Caroline Bingley


Ce que j'aime moins : un peu longuet, je me suis souvent ennuyée


En bref : Une suite réussie et fidèle aux personnages mais je n'ai pas été transcendée.


Ma note


6/10

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read that many P&P based books that are out there. Something intrigued me about this one, and I'm very glad I read it. I very much liked the way Mary was portrayed in this novel. It read true to the original source, yet the character was more mature and interesting in this interpretation. There are two aspects of the book I didn't like so well. First, I thought the story dragged on somewhat. It could have been a bit tighter and shorter. Second, I didn't like the portrayal of Elizabeth. She seemed to have morphed into Jane in this version. She displayed none of the spunk, vibrance, or intelligence from the original. I don't think Elizabeth, in marriage, would have become awed and overshadowed by Darcy. I can appreciate that these characters take a backseat in this novel, and have no problem with that. However, I thought Elizabeth's characterization was quite a bit off. However, the book was quite enjoyable and I liked the new characters that the author added in.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read that many P&P based books that are out there. Something intrigued me about this one, and I'm very glad I read it. I very much liked the way Mary was portrayed in this novel. It read true to the original source, yet the character was more mature and interesting in this interpretation. There are two aspects of the book I didn't like so well. First, I thought the story dragged on somewhat. It could have been a bit tighter and shorter. Second, I didn't like the portrayal of Elizabeth. She seemed to have morphed into Jane in this version. She displayed none of the spunk, vibrance, or intelligence from the original. I don't think Elizabeth, in marriage, would have become awed and overshadowed by Darcy. I can appreciate that these characters take a backseat in this novel, and have no problem with that. However, I thought Elizabeth's characterization was quite a bit off. However, the book was quite enjoyable and I liked the new characters that the author added in.

[Ashley-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I started this simply because I wanted a Mary story. I went in fully aware that this book is written by a nun, and that's not really my cup of tea. But, oh my! Did I love this book! Though staying true to Austen's characters, I found this book interesting, and funny, and charming, with a lovable and very relatable Mary. The book takes place over a few years, and follows all the Bennets through their lives, with births, balls, and going to church. I loved the very realistic lives of characters I have so long loved, and enjoyed Mary being almost completely oblivious to all her suitors. She ended up with a very sweet man that matched her perfectly.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's always fabulous to revisit characters I loved from Pride and Prejudice, even written from a slightly different perspective, which is what I found in books such as the excellent books "The Other Bennet Sister" and "Mary B". This book, however, is not like those ones. By the end, the characters words and actions were so far removed that they bore no relation -- with the exception of Lydia -- to the originals. An entertaining although long read from the regency era, but with many word and action errors not consistent with the location or time-period.

[Nina Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book as the author’s purpose was to tie up all the lose ends of Pride and Prejudice- which she did very well! The hero of this story is Mary Bennet who evolves beautifully over the course of the book. She starts off much as she was in P&P, serious and honest but more blindly trusting of others than her own discernments. I loved watching her grow in wisdom to match her intelligence! This is my first foray into Jane Austin sequels and it sets a high bar.

[Gigi Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does justice to Austen’s work, here Mary Bennet has a gorgeous character development and actually has a great resemblance to the original Mary in Pride and prejudice. Lovely written a bit slow at times but it makes sense for the main character herself goes slow.

I absolutely recommend any Austen lover to read this if you wanna see a possible future for Mary Bennet after the events of Pride and prejudice.

[Margrethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first P&P continuation. I enjoyed the growth of Mary's character over the course of the book, and found her continuation of other characters mostly true to the original. At times there seemed a lot of irrelevant side-stories, but they all tied together by the end (though some stayed somewhat irrelevant other than to bring in well-known characters). She did a lovely job with Mary's development, and, overall, it was a pleasant diversion.

[Karen Sofarin · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the more enjoyable Austen sequels I have read. Interesting with an occasional delight.

[Camille Duka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read.

[Blanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, relaxing read that shows Mary Bennet maturing from her awkward, sermonising girlhood.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering the fact that I've resisted P&P sequels on principle, I have to say that I did enjoy reading this book. However, I have to consider it in two separate ways--1. As a Regency novel in its own right and 2. As a Jane Austen wannabe sequel.
First, when considered in its own right, the book is delightful. The characters are mostly interesting and the plot is believable for the most part. However, I did feel that the resolution between the two main characters was too easy and happened way too quickly to feel realistic. Considering the fact that Ward is a nun, however, maybe it's understandable that she didn't have a lot of realism in the relationship wrap-up. Also, Mary could be incredibly dense sometimes and it was occasionally frustrating--granted, Jane Austen arguably did create Mary as a dense, platitudinous character
Second, as a sequel to P&P and a Jane Austen wannabe...I struggled with Ward's interpretation of the characters. I think she was completely off-base with both Darcy and Elizabeth--I find it difficult to swallow that Elizabeth might shed a couple of tears over Lady Catherine's death. Further, Austen does leave us to understand that the characters have changed and developed by the end of the original novel, which begs the question as to what they would be like in future life. But I disagree that Elizabeth would be quite so placid and that Darcy would be quite so social and friendly. Also, I'm not sure he would have found it so easy to get along with and tolerate Mrs. Bennet--I would see him hiding in his library or busying himself with other things to avoid having to spend time with her. I also think it's a terrible stretch to imagine Lizzy actually suggesting something which would promote Caroline Bingley's happiness. I think that Ward was a little too forgiving and optimistic in some senses. However, I will say that both Jane and Bingley felt spot-on and that Mary wasn't too far off either. My favorite character, however, was Mr. Oliver--one of the only original characters and also the most sympathetic and believable of them all. In addition to weird interpretations of the characters, I found it irritating that Ward consistently lifted small phrases from Austen's original to insert uncomfortably into her text. I understand that she wanted it to feel like another of Austen's works, but even just hearing things like "being no horsewoman herself" grated on my nerves.
In spite of those critiques, however, I really enjoyed Ward's effort to wrap up all the loose ends of single characters from the original. It never occurred to me before how many possible love stories Austen had left unresolved, and it was nice to see everyone end up in happy, better ways--even Anne de Bourgh. This aspect of the story felt very real and was my favorite thing about reading this novel--life does go on after Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy get married.

[Anna]

I didn’t have extremely high expectations for A Match for Mary Bennet, given that Mary isn’t the most exciting or engaging character in Pride and Prejudice, but I thought it would be entertaining to find out how the least marriageable Bennet sister handles the marriage-obsessed Mrs. Bennet (one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever encountered) after Jane, Elizabeth, and Lydia all are married off. But the book completely blew me away. Eucharista Ward completely “gets” Jane Austen. The language, the characters, and the mannerisms of the Regency era (as I understand them, anyway) are spot on, and A Match for Mary Bennet quickly became my favorite of the Austen sequels I’ve read thus far.

In A Match for Mary Bennet, Jane and Bingley are happy with a two-year-old daughter in Nottingham, Elizabeth and Darcy are living happily at Pemberley and expecting their first child, and Lydia is who knows where with the scoundrel Wickham. While Mrs. Bennet plans to parade her last two unmarried daughters, Mary and Kitty (known as Catherine through much of the book), to whatever ball or event might attract marriageable men, Mary would much rather be reading, playing the pianoforte, and going to church. She has no plans at all to marry, and she admires Elizabeth for “sacrificing” her happiness by marrying the arrogant Mr. Darcy so that she will never be penniless or homeless if she remains unmarried. As she travels between Longbourne, Pemberley, and Otherfield (the nickname for the new Bingley estate), Mary has time to observe her sisters’ marriages, and she discovers she may have things all wrong. And while Mary juggles the attention of three (count them — three!) men, she aims to set herself up so that marriage never has to be an option.

Ward gives Pride and Prejudice fans plenty of scenes with Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, Mr. Bennet, Georgiana Darcy, Mrs. Reynolds, and Mrs. Gardiner, and even Lady Catherine, Anne, Mr. Collins, Caroline Bingley, and of course, Mrs. Bennet appear. She introduces plenty of interesting new characters as well, namely Miss Johnstone, a kleptomaniac with a crush on Darcy; James Stilton, a fashionable man with some musical talent and a gambling problem; and Steven Oliver, the charming pastor at Kympton who gets Mary to see that maybe her opinions of Lydia have been too harsh.

I loved that A Match for Mary Bennet was so well written and authentic that I never questioned a character’s actions when comparing them to Pride and Prejudice, and I actually forgot several times that I wasn’t reading a book written by Austen herself. It was a tad predictable, but that didn’t ruin it for me at all.

Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric.