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The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
If the two of them weren't so "stubborn..."
It's obvious to Georgiana Darcy that the lovely Elizabeth Bennet is her brother's perfect match, but Darcy's pigheadedness and Elizabeth's wounded pride are going to keep them both from the loves of their lives.
Georgiana can't let that happen, so she readily agrees to help her accommodating cousin, Anne de Bourgh, do everything within their power to assure her beloved brother's happiness.
But the path of matchmaking never runs smoothly...
It's obvious to Georgiana Darcy that the lovely Elizabeth Bennet is her brother's perfect match, but Darcy's pigheadedness and Elizabeth's wounded pride are going to keep them both from the loves of their lives.
Georgiana can't let that happen, so she readily agrees to help her accommodating cousin, Anne de Bourgh, do everything within their power to assure her beloved brother's happiness.
But the path of matchmaking never runs smoothly...
382 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2011
45 people are currently reading
1530 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lydon Simonsen
46 books181 followersI am the authors of several Pride & Prejudice and Persuasion re-imaginings. I have also written a modern love story, The Second Date, Love Italian-American Style, and three British mysteries, Three's A Crowd, A Killing in Kensington, A Death in Hampden, Dying to Write, and Murder by Moonlighting.
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer, reader, writer, serious recycler.
When I read for relaxation, I read mysteries. My greatest love is history. When I am doing the research for a new book, I love digging for historical nuggets.
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer, reader, writer, serious recycler.
When I read for relaxation, I read mysteries. My greatest love is history. When I am doing the research for a new book, I love digging for historical nuggets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
April 4, 2011
Fan fiction can be fun. Often fan fiction is really good. The Pefect Wife for Mr. Darcy is neither fun nor good. Evidently some 30-40% of women who have read Jane Austen fancy they can do as well, and the fiction and romance fiction sections abound with sequels, prequels and spin-offs of Pride and Prejudice. When the writers have done their homework on English eighteenth- and nineteenth-century mores, behaviors, religious, gender, and class conventions, and language (written and spoken), they often do quite well. But a lot of these books are written by mere fans,and I'm afraid this book falls into the latter category. Perfect for readers who found Austen's Pride and Prejudice hard to follow and would prefer a dumbed-down, more cutesy retelling. It's like Pride and Prejudiced based on the movie Pride and Predujice based on the cliff notes of Pride and Prejudice. It's not even a hilariously bad guilty pleasure like the Jane Austen as sleuth series in which she loses her virginity to a rakish lord on the darkened grounds of Stirling Castle.
October 11, 2015
I loved this book. Anne is terrific in it. :)
March 31, 2018
In this enjoyable variation of Pride and Prejudice plans are made by Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana Darcy to ensure that Darcy and Elizabeth become to an understanding. Of course nothing goes smoothly and not just with their romance. Does Jane Bennet really have another suitor. A more interesting Jane in this version. I also like the character of Lord Fitzwilliam which in contract does show how boring Darcy is. More of a 3.5 star rating for me
June 3, 2014
This review was first posted here: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....
This Pride and Prejudice variation starts at the beginning of P&P, with a few chapters summarising the events, but more from Darcy’s point of view than Elizabeth’s. Darcy still offends her and still interferes with Bingley and Jane. He goes to visit Lady Catherine at Rosings, not on a duty visit as in canon, but because Mrs Hurst mentioned that Elizabeth would be visiting her cousin in Kent. Darcy has no intention of proposing when he goes to Hunsford Parsonage, which is why his proposal is so bad. Darcy is very close to his cousin Anne and he confides in her what has happened.
Anne decides on a plan of action to help her cousin successfully woo Miss Bennet, and she begins by befriending her. Elizabeth is much less strongly against Darcy than in canon and although she sees that Anne is trying to repair her opinion of Darcy Elizabeth is regretful of her treatment of him and she’s happy to enter into a correspondence with Anne. This means that Anne is aware of Elizabeth’s plans and whereabouts and she’s more able to arrange a ‘chance’ meeting between Elizabeth and Darcy.
The thing I probably liked best about this book was the fleshing out of Anne’s character. Although frail, she is a very determined lady (well, she is Lady Catherine’s daughter after all!) She genuinely loves her cousins and wants the best for them. Georgiana is also very sweet in this variation. She is much less shy than canon, and very quick on the uptake. She and Darcy are close and in a moment of weakness he mentions something to her regarding being told by an intelligent lady that one bad sonnet was sufficient to drive love away. Georgiana immediately latches on to the significance of this, and from then on is on the lookout for the lady she dubs ‘Miss Sonnet’ so she can help smooth her brother's path to love.
Some better-established characters are different too. Lizzy is much less set against Darcy and comes to a realisation even while still at Kent that she and Darcy could possibly have been happy together. By the time she’s finished reading his letter she has begun to regret refusing him. There was also a big difference in Jane Bennet who has learned a harsh lesson from Bingley’s abandonment and now isn’t so predisposed to forgiveness, and she also re-assesses her view of her parents and the upbringing she and her sisters have had.
There are also some new characters, such as Bingley having a much larger family, although we only meet his eldest brother George, who is an extremely hard-headed and successful business man, less genteel than his youngest siblings, but relied upon by some of the people with more breeding than money. Another original character was the delightful Lord Antony Fitzwilliam, who also appeared in A Perfect Wife for Mr Darcy. Lord Antony (Note: I’m not sure people were addressed Lord ‘firstname’ but I’m not saying it’s wrong because the naming conventions with titles pickle my brain!) is Colonel Fitzwilliam’s older brother. He is a gambler, constantly in debt, and has a very hostile marriage but he is well worth having in a story because of his amusement value due to his facetious sayings and lack of tact. When Mrs Hurst is talking about visiting a sister he came out with this gem of quote, which certainly made me, a proud Welshwoman, chortle:
“But not in Wales, I hope. The Celtic race was pushed into the corners, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and in the case of the Irish, onto their own island. People who live in corners are always odd and should be avoided.”
The Darcy in this story is devoted to Elizabeth, but he hasn’t been a monk up until this point, and there are references to him having had mistresses and lovers in the past, and a few sexual references which some readers may not like. However, I am in the camp that think it wouldn’t have been unlikely for this to have been the case, it wasn’t a dishonourable thing to do, especially for a single man of the times. What I was a little surprised at is that Elizabeth doesn’t seem bothered by this idea. Being of a lower class of society than him, and being younger I felt that she might not have held such cosmopolitan views.
I felt that this was like a cross between an alternate point of view retelling and a variation. One of the things I really like about variations is that seemingly small changes can have a ripple effect and end up making things quite different but this isn’t the case here, although some different things happen, all the major plot milestones remain the same, I would have liked to have seen things change a bit more. For example, the character of George Bingley played a role in a particular part in this story and it made only a little difference to the outcome from the original book. The changes here are more nuances than seismic shifts. However, I found it an enjoyable, romantic read, the type that when you look up from your book you realise a very long time has passed since you last looked at a clock and you should have gone to sleep two hours ago, which is a fine accolade!
I'd rate this as 3½ stars :)
This Pride and Prejudice variation starts at the beginning of P&P, with a few chapters summarising the events, but more from Darcy’s point of view than Elizabeth’s. Darcy still offends her and still interferes with Bingley and Jane. He goes to visit Lady Catherine at Rosings, not on a duty visit as in canon, but because Mrs Hurst mentioned that Elizabeth would be visiting her cousin in Kent. Darcy has no intention of proposing when he goes to Hunsford Parsonage, which is why his proposal is so bad. Darcy is very close to his cousin Anne and he confides in her what has happened.
Anne decides on a plan of action to help her cousin successfully woo Miss Bennet, and she begins by befriending her. Elizabeth is much less strongly against Darcy than in canon and although she sees that Anne is trying to repair her opinion of Darcy Elizabeth is regretful of her treatment of him and she’s happy to enter into a correspondence with Anne. This means that Anne is aware of Elizabeth’s plans and whereabouts and she’s more able to arrange a ‘chance’ meeting between Elizabeth and Darcy.
The thing I probably liked best about this book was the fleshing out of Anne’s character. Although frail, she is a very determined lady (well, she is Lady Catherine’s daughter after all!) She genuinely loves her cousins and wants the best for them. Georgiana is also very sweet in this variation. She is much less shy than canon, and very quick on the uptake. She and Darcy are close and in a moment of weakness he mentions something to her regarding being told by an intelligent lady that one bad sonnet was sufficient to drive love away. Georgiana immediately latches on to the significance of this, and from then on is on the lookout for the lady she dubs ‘Miss Sonnet’ so she can help smooth her brother's path to love.
Some better-established characters are different too. Lizzy is much less set against Darcy and comes to a realisation even while still at Kent that she and Darcy could possibly have been happy together. By the time she’s finished reading his letter she has begun to regret refusing him. There was also a big difference in Jane Bennet who has learned a harsh lesson from Bingley’s abandonment and now isn’t so predisposed to forgiveness, and she also re-assesses her view of her parents and the upbringing she and her sisters have had.
There are also some new characters, such as Bingley having a much larger family, although we only meet his eldest brother George, who is an extremely hard-headed and successful business man, less genteel than his youngest siblings, but relied upon by some of the people with more breeding than money. Another original character was the delightful Lord Antony Fitzwilliam, who also appeared in A Perfect Wife for Mr Darcy. Lord Antony (Note: I’m not sure people were addressed Lord ‘firstname’ but I’m not saying it’s wrong because the naming conventions with titles pickle my brain!) is Colonel Fitzwilliam’s older brother. He is a gambler, constantly in debt, and has a very hostile marriage but he is well worth having in a story because of his amusement value due to his facetious sayings and lack of tact. When Mrs Hurst is talking about visiting a sister he came out with this gem of quote, which certainly made me, a proud Welshwoman, chortle:
“But not in Wales, I hope. The Celtic race was pushed into the corners, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and in the case of the Irish, onto their own island. People who live in corners are always odd and should be avoided.”
The Darcy in this story is devoted to Elizabeth, but he hasn’t been a monk up until this point, and there are references to him having had mistresses and lovers in the past, and a few sexual references which some readers may not like. However, I am in the camp that think it wouldn’t have been unlikely for this to have been the case, it wasn’t a dishonourable thing to do, especially for a single man of the times. What I was a little surprised at is that Elizabeth doesn’t seem bothered by this idea. Being of a lower class of society than him, and being younger I felt that she might not have held such cosmopolitan views.
I felt that this was like a cross between an alternate point of view retelling and a variation. One of the things I really like about variations is that seemingly small changes can have a ripple effect and end up making things quite different but this isn’t the case here, although some different things happen, all the major plot milestones remain the same, I would have liked to have seen things change a bit more. For example, the character of George Bingley played a role in a particular part in this story and it made only a little difference to the outcome from the original book. The changes here are more nuances than seismic shifts. However, I found it an enjoyable, romantic read, the type that when you look up from your book you realise a very long time has passed since you last looked at a clock and you should have gone to sleep two hours ago, which is a fine accolade!
I'd rate this as 3½ stars :)
April 12, 2013
I'm on the fence about this book because there are things that I really liked and other things that I didn't with a lot that probably falls somewhere in between. Many Austenesque books can be read without having read the original Austen novels, but this one I would advise that the reader have already read the original story, Pride and Prejudice, or have seen the movie just so reader will have optimal enjoyment when reading and avoid a feeling that they're missing something. I say this because this one follows the P&P plot chronologically and events from the original are there, but the emphasis and focus lean more toward what happened away from the original plot or maybe behind the scenes filling in gaps so to speak. There is a feel to it that it is understood that the reader is already familiar with the original story.
In the original story, it is all from Elizabeth's point of view and there are huge gaps in time when Darcy or other characters are absent or not even introduced to the story line yet while in this story there are multiple points of view and plot lines that go on away from the original story plot.
In my mind, the main character of this story is Anne deBourgh who was a minor character in P&P. Anne is Darcy's cousin and they are also good friends. She sees him sorrowing and angry after he bungles a proposal of love and marriage to Elizabeth Bennet. Anne decides to take an interest and orchestrate a plan that will give Darcy a second chance with Elizabeth that when calmer, Darcy wants more than anything. While this is going on, Georgianna, Darcy's sister blossoms into a creative happy go lucky young lady excited about her societal debut now wiser after her experience with blackguard Wickham. Bingley determines that he will go against the advice of family and friend to renew his addresses to Jane Bennet. Jane, Elizabeth's sister is resolved to forget about Bingley who bruised her heart when he left with no word and moves on to do her part to easy the burden on the family and help safeguard their future by accepting the courtship another young man. Darcy and Elizabeth both learn and grow after their heated confrontation at Huntsford. There was the welcome introductions of a few new creations by the author in the form of an older Bingley sibling named George who is competent, powerful and wealthy, a wily and amusing profligate older brother for Colonel Fitzwilliam named Anthony and a loyal valet for Darcy named Mercer. And toward the end it is all at the mercy of fate if everyone will get their happy endings.
So why the fence-riding? First of all, I will deal with my draw-backs. I found the passivity of the storytelling in the beginning chapters hard to keep my interest. It felt like I was getting a forced recap to get me up to speed before the real story could begin. My second issue may not be a big deal for others. There are some character tweakings that I can deal with and not make an issue of, but I struggled with the idea that Darcy kept a mistress up until the point where he fell in love with Elizabeth. I wouldn't have cared if it had been something like a youthful fling or the occasional once in a while. Its all on me that I can't adjust to this difference in his character. The final issue is that there is a point in the end when instead of Darcy doing the rescuing and playing hero it is George Bingley and his men.
Now there is something else that I both liked and didn't like at the same time. While I really enjoyed meeting all the new characters and seeing the original characters with enhanced story lines, there is also the fact that I felt like there was too much going on that took away from Darcy and Elizabeth's story.
Now as to what I really liked. I liked getting all the additional story added to and filling in the original plot. Overall, each character was given more page time and a chance to know their thoughts right down to Wickham and Lydia even. Knowing Darcy's thoughts and what he was doing when he was away from Elizabeth, getting more time with Bingley and Jane, seeing a different Anne and Georgiana- it was all good. Scenes with Anthony and Caroline Bingley cracked me up. And the best were the extra scenes with Darcy and Elizabeth at Pemberley even if they were interrupted ones.
All in all, it was an entertaining story that I was glad for having read. I would recommend it to Austenesque and Historical Romance lovers who like sweet romance.
In the original story, it is all from Elizabeth's point of view and there are huge gaps in time when Darcy or other characters are absent or not even introduced to the story line yet while in this story there are multiple points of view and plot lines that go on away from the original story plot.
In my mind, the main character of this story is Anne deBourgh who was a minor character in P&P. Anne is Darcy's cousin and they are also good friends. She sees him sorrowing and angry after he bungles a proposal of love and marriage to Elizabeth Bennet. Anne decides to take an interest and orchestrate a plan that will give Darcy a second chance with Elizabeth that when calmer, Darcy wants more than anything. While this is going on, Georgianna, Darcy's sister blossoms into a creative happy go lucky young lady excited about her societal debut now wiser after her experience with blackguard Wickham. Bingley determines that he will go against the advice of family and friend to renew his addresses to Jane Bennet. Jane, Elizabeth's sister is resolved to forget about Bingley who bruised her heart when he left with no word and moves on to do her part to easy the burden on the family and help safeguard their future by accepting the courtship another young man. Darcy and Elizabeth both learn and grow after their heated confrontation at Huntsford. There was the welcome introductions of a few new creations by the author in the form of an older Bingley sibling named George who is competent, powerful and wealthy, a wily and amusing profligate older brother for Colonel Fitzwilliam named Anthony and a loyal valet for Darcy named Mercer. And toward the end it is all at the mercy of fate if everyone will get their happy endings.
So why the fence-riding? First of all, I will deal with my draw-backs. I found the passivity of the storytelling in the beginning chapters hard to keep my interest. It felt like I was getting a forced recap to get me up to speed before the real story could begin. My second issue may not be a big deal for others. There are some character tweakings that I can deal with and not make an issue of, but I struggled with the idea that Darcy kept a mistress up until the point where he fell in love with Elizabeth. I wouldn't have cared if it had been something like a youthful fling or the occasional once in a while. Its all on me that I can't adjust to this difference in his character. The final issue is that there is a point in the end when instead of Darcy doing the rescuing and playing hero it is George Bingley and his men.
Now there is something else that I both liked and didn't like at the same time. While I really enjoyed meeting all the new characters and seeing the original characters with enhanced story lines, there is also the fact that I felt like there was too much going on that took away from Darcy and Elizabeth's story.
Now as to what I really liked. I liked getting all the additional story added to and filling in the original plot. Overall, each character was given more page time and a chance to know their thoughts right down to Wickham and Lydia even. Knowing Darcy's thoughts and what he was doing when he was away from Elizabeth, getting more time with Bingley and Jane, seeing a different Anne and Georgiana- it was all good. Scenes with Anthony and Caroline Bingley cracked me up. And the best were the extra scenes with Darcy and Elizabeth at Pemberley even if they were interrupted ones.
All in all, it was an entertaining story that I was glad for having read. I would recommend it to Austenesque and Historical Romance lovers who like sweet romance.
December 19, 2017
4.5 stars Darcy opines: "Breeches or trousers?" Charlotte relates, "Saturday is Mr. and Mrs. Night." LOL
As a reader of many JAFF stories I am probably very accepting of how variations are created. Unless there is major tampering with the players' character I just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I found Mary's story to be very enjoyable. Yes, she does change some canon and, I will join others in saying you must read P&P before any variation. Georgiana and Anne are the matchmakers here and in using them for this role the author has given each a personality somewhat different from that in Jane Austen's book. Anne is very perceptive and manipulative. At times she is also confrontational (shades of Lady C.?). I liked this Anne. She didn't leave events to fate as in P&P, but plotted and planned the HEA for our dear couple. Georgiana, is, as stated by other reviews, older by two years and much more insightful as to Darcy's moods, at times joining her cousin in urging actions on his part.
Two newer characters were an older brother to Charles Bingley - a George, who plays a major role in more than one life in this story. Not exactly new but with a new role, is Lord Fitzwilliam, who is a degenerate in his own way but who also has some words of wisdom to impart and some actions in the tale. He shows up at Pemberley while Elizabeth and the Gardiners are making their well known trip to Lambton. I did not appreciate the introduction of two ladies from Darcy's past (I guess I like this man to be more of a "saint" as in the original - may be unrealistic, but there it is.)
Jane and Mary had new scripts: Jane finally used her head for more that a pretty setting while Mary developed some feelings of the human sort. And Jane has more than one suitor - imagine that!
I would have liked a little more sexual tension. Enjoyable read accomplished in one day.
As a reader of many JAFF stories I am probably very accepting of how variations are created. Unless there is major tampering with the players' character I just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I found Mary's story to be very enjoyable. Yes, she does change some canon and, I will join others in saying you must read P&P before any variation. Georgiana and Anne are the matchmakers here and in using them for this role the author has given each a personality somewhat different from that in Jane Austen's book. Anne is very perceptive and manipulative. At times she is also confrontational (shades of Lady C.?). I liked this Anne. She didn't leave events to fate as in P&P, but plotted and planned the HEA for our dear couple. Georgiana, is, as stated by other reviews, older by two years and much more insightful as to Darcy's moods, at times joining her cousin in urging actions on his part.
Two newer characters were an older brother to Charles Bingley - a George, who plays a major role in more than one life in this story. Not exactly new but with a new role, is Lord Fitzwilliam, who is a degenerate in his own way but who also has some words of wisdom to impart and some actions in the tale. He shows up at Pemberley while Elizabeth and the Gardiners are making their well known trip to Lambton. I did not appreciate the introduction of two ladies from Darcy's past (I guess I like this man to be more of a "saint" as in the original - may be unrealistic, but there it is.)
Jane and Mary had new scripts: Jane finally used her head for more that a pretty setting while Mary developed some feelings of the human sort. And Jane has more than one suitor - imagine that!
I would have liked a little more sexual tension. Enjoyable read accomplished in one day.
January 3, 2011
A creative Pride and Prejudice variation
I don’t think I would be exaggerating if I labeled Pride and Prejudice as Jane Austen’s most popular work. In fact, I will take it one step further and proclaim it one of the most beloved novels of all time. It is no surprise to me, at all, that readers want to revisit this tale, and movie makers and writers keep pumping out P&P inspired fare. In the past fifteen years, we have seen a plethora of Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet prequels, sequels, retellings, variations and inspired books. Mary Lydon Simonsen’s new offering The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy falls into the variation category. She has reworked the classic love story of misconceptions and misunderstandings offering her own unique take. Purist, fair warning if you are easily “put out” by tampering with your cherished classic. Be advised to make haste and head back to the unadulterated original, now! You will not find faithful adherence to Austen’s characterizations here. But if you are liberal in approach and tempered for a good lark, there are abundant amusements to be had in this new novel.
The plot line runs parallel to Jane Austen’s original. Mr. Darcy, an arrogant, wealthy young man snubs Elizabeth Bennet, a spirited, overly confident gentleman’s daughter at a local assembly Ball. Her sister Jane and his best friend Charles Bingley fall in love but are separated by him. She is convinced that Darcy has spitefully withheld a promised living to her new flirtation Mr. Wickham. Mesmerized by her impertinence and fine eyes, he is compelled to propose despite his own objections to her family. She flatly rejects him. He writes the “Be not alarmed madam letter” of explanation then promptly departs. How will they reunite and find love? Austen’s narrative and denouement is famous for its plot twists and gradual reversal of his pride and her prejudice. Simonsen walks the same path, but her characters react differently changing the outcome requiring other minor characters to be developed to facilitate their eventual love match. Enter Mr. Darcy’s sickly cousin Anne de Bourgh and his shy younger sister Georgiana Darcy. Both ladies have had major character make-overs. Anne is now a dear friend and adviser to her cousin; Georgiana, a spunky and adventurous kid sister. Both heavily advocate and plan their reunion.
"After Darcy returned to his room for the night, Anne thought about all that had happened between Will and Elizabeth and recognized that her cousin had got himself into a real mess. But Fitzwilliam Darcy was in love with Elizabeth Bennet, and Anne had seen real interest on Elizabeth’s part during their evenings together at Rosings Park, so something had to be done. Before retiring, she had settled on a course of action. It was as complicated as any battle plan, and it would take luck and timing to make it work. But her cousin’s happiness was at stake, and so she began to work out the details of her scheme." Page 37
Through expansion of other minor characters and introduction of new one’s we begin to see the back story to Austen’s masterpiece as Simonsen envisions it. Even the servants, who receive only a passing mention in the original, get some great lines. Hill, the housekeeper at Longbourn spreads all sorts of town tittle-tattle and pertinent tidbits to the Bennet family. More holes filled. And, Simonsen even ventures to mention the two affairs that Darcy had before he met Lizzy. Well, he is a Regency gentleman after all. One of the biggest changes in temperament is in Lizzy’s sister, the gentle and biddable Jane Bennet. She sees no fault with anyone in the original, which is in itself a fault, but not in this version. Jane sees through the Bingley sisters fake friendship, calls her father to account for his lack of guidance to his wife and three younger daughters, and believes the only reason why her sister rejected Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal was in her defense. Yes. It’s not about Darcy being the last man in the world that Lizzy could be prevailed upon to marry (because he is a snob and a jerk at that point) but because Lizzy was so angry at him for separating her beloved sister from her beau Mr. Bingley.
"It was true that Lizzy’s dislike for Mr. Darcy was based on his unkind words and haughty behavior at the assembly, but that would not have been enough for her to reject out of hand a proposal from a man of such consequence. And as sympathetic as Lizzy was to Mr. Wickham being denied a promised living, Lizzy had not known Mr. Wickham well enough to become so angry as to be dismissive of Mr. Darcy’s offer. The intensity of Lizzy’s rejection could come only as the result of someone she loved being hurt, and that someone was Jane." Page 117
If you are chuffed by my mention of some of the changes, take heed. This is true fanfiction where you “[S]uppose as much as you chuse; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford.” Simonsen has played the game well, though I struggled with the opening set-up and some who have not read the original novel nor seen one of the many movies may be lost as she leaps through the first third of the original book’s plot to the first proposal scene of Lizzy and Darcy at Hunsford. After that point she settles in and develops her slant more evenly.
Creative, well-paced and definitely diverting, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy will surprise you, repeatedly, as you compare the original to this variation. I will concede that it is always difficult for me to warm to big changes in beloved characters, especially Lizzy and Darcy, who we all know so well. I can’t say that I enjoyed all the vicissitudes, but I admire the author’s creativity. Where this novel excelled at expanding upon minor characters and introducing new ones, it foundered in reverence to Austen’s hero and heroine, which is pretty much why many are drawn to read a Pride and Prejudice sequel with Mr. Darcy in the title in the first place. After her success with the historically driven Searching for Pemberley, this is Simonsen’s first attempt at pure fanfiction. It was a great start that promises an even greater future.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
I don’t think I would be exaggerating if I labeled Pride and Prejudice as Jane Austen’s most popular work. In fact, I will take it one step further and proclaim it one of the most beloved novels of all time. It is no surprise to me, at all, that readers want to revisit this tale, and movie makers and writers keep pumping out P&P inspired fare. In the past fifteen years, we have seen a plethora of Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet prequels, sequels, retellings, variations and inspired books. Mary Lydon Simonsen’s new offering The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy falls into the variation category. She has reworked the classic love story of misconceptions and misunderstandings offering her own unique take. Purist, fair warning if you are easily “put out” by tampering with your cherished classic. Be advised to make haste and head back to the unadulterated original, now! You will not find faithful adherence to Austen’s characterizations here. But if you are liberal in approach and tempered for a good lark, there are abundant amusements to be had in this new novel.
The plot line runs parallel to Jane Austen’s original. Mr. Darcy, an arrogant, wealthy young man snubs Elizabeth Bennet, a spirited, overly confident gentleman’s daughter at a local assembly Ball. Her sister Jane and his best friend Charles Bingley fall in love but are separated by him. She is convinced that Darcy has spitefully withheld a promised living to her new flirtation Mr. Wickham. Mesmerized by her impertinence and fine eyes, he is compelled to propose despite his own objections to her family. She flatly rejects him. He writes the “Be not alarmed madam letter” of explanation then promptly departs. How will they reunite and find love? Austen’s narrative and denouement is famous for its plot twists and gradual reversal of his pride and her prejudice. Simonsen walks the same path, but her characters react differently changing the outcome requiring other minor characters to be developed to facilitate their eventual love match. Enter Mr. Darcy’s sickly cousin Anne de Bourgh and his shy younger sister Georgiana Darcy. Both ladies have had major character make-overs. Anne is now a dear friend and adviser to her cousin; Georgiana, a spunky and adventurous kid sister. Both heavily advocate and plan their reunion.
"After Darcy returned to his room for the night, Anne thought about all that had happened between Will and Elizabeth and recognized that her cousin had got himself into a real mess. But Fitzwilliam Darcy was in love with Elizabeth Bennet, and Anne had seen real interest on Elizabeth’s part during their evenings together at Rosings Park, so something had to be done. Before retiring, she had settled on a course of action. It was as complicated as any battle plan, and it would take luck and timing to make it work. But her cousin’s happiness was at stake, and so she began to work out the details of her scheme." Page 37
Through expansion of other minor characters and introduction of new one’s we begin to see the back story to Austen’s masterpiece as Simonsen envisions it. Even the servants, who receive only a passing mention in the original, get some great lines. Hill, the housekeeper at Longbourn spreads all sorts of town tittle-tattle and pertinent tidbits to the Bennet family. More holes filled. And, Simonsen even ventures to mention the two affairs that Darcy had before he met Lizzy. Well, he is a Regency gentleman after all. One of the biggest changes in temperament is in Lizzy’s sister, the gentle and biddable Jane Bennet. She sees no fault with anyone in the original, which is in itself a fault, but not in this version. Jane sees through the Bingley sisters fake friendship, calls her father to account for his lack of guidance to his wife and three younger daughters, and believes the only reason why her sister rejected Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal was in her defense. Yes. It’s not about Darcy being the last man in the world that Lizzy could be prevailed upon to marry (because he is a snob and a jerk at that point) but because Lizzy was so angry at him for separating her beloved sister from her beau Mr. Bingley.
"It was true that Lizzy’s dislike for Mr. Darcy was based on his unkind words and haughty behavior at the assembly, but that would not have been enough for her to reject out of hand a proposal from a man of such consequence. And as sympathetic as Lizzy was to Mr. Wickham being denied a promised living, Lizzy had not known Mr. Wickham well enough to become so angry as to be dismissive of Mr. Darcy’s offer. The intensity of Lizzy’s rejection could come only as the result of someone she loved being hurt, and that someone was Jane." Page 117
If you are chuffed by my mention of some of the changes, take heed. This is true fanfiction where you “[S]uppose as much as you chuse; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford.” Simonsen has played the game well, though I struggled with the opening set-up and some who have not read the original novel nor seen one of the many movies may be lost as she leaps through the first third of the original book’s plot to the first proposal scene of Lizzy and Darcy at Hunsford. After that point she settles in and develops her slant more evenly.
Creative, well-paced and definitely diverting, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy will surprise you, repeatedly, as you compare the original to this variation. I will concede that it is always difficult for me to warm to big changes in beloved characters, especially Lizzy and Darcy, who we all know so well. I can’t say that I enjoyed all the vicissitudes, but I admire the author’s creativity. Where this novel excelled at expanding upon minor characters and introducing new ones, it foundered in reverence to Austen’s hero and heroine, which is pretty much why many are drawn to read a Pride and Prejudice sequel with Mr. Darcy in the title in the first place. After her success with the historically driven Searching for Pemberley, this is Simonsen’s first attempt at pure fanfiction. It was a great start that promises an even greater future.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
January 29, 2022
I am not sure if a 3 is fair, but it really isn’t a solid 4. Basically, Mary Alyson Simmonsen has simply retold Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yes, there are differences like Anne de Bourgh plays a much larger role than in the original, and Miss Darcy is much more spunky. Yet the typical Caroline Bingley is present. At times, I enjoyed myself very much; other times, I cringed.
I do not need to read about when the Collinses have relations. “The thought of Mr. Collins performing as a husband could result in the loss of her appetite” (20).
“Life holds so many surprises” (57).
“Do not descend, but rise above so ill-mannered a person” (190).
I do not need to read about when the Collinses have relations. “The thought of Mr. Collins performing as a husband could result in the loss of her appetite” (20).
“Life holds so many surprises” (57).
“Do not descend, but rise above so ill-mannered a person” (190).
January 26, 2011
We read Price and Prejudice and sigh in happiness at this enduring tale of a romance that was always fated to be.
Or was it?
No seemingly random events drive the action in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, Mary Lydon Simonsen's retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Everything is arranged by none other than that unlikeliest of characters, the little-seen Anne De Bourgh.
Anne may be sickly, but her frail body houses a rapier-sharp mind. The story begins as Darcy confesses to Anne his monumentally bungled marriage proposal to Elizabeth. With the skill of a master strategist, Anne, along with some help from Darcy's sister, Georgiana, orchestrates the events that at last being them together.
In The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, Ms. Simonsen writes Pride and Prejudice as Jane Austen would have if she were alive today. She fleshes out the supporting characters, giving their motivations in their own words, as well as providing rationales for some of the coincidences in the original. Did the whim of the gods bring Darcy and Elizabeth together at Pemberley? Nothing of the sort. Anne directs the action, never leaving us in doubt that our characters find their happy endings not because of the mercy of the universe, but because of her deliberate, watchful care.
With a fast-reading, engaging style, along with a touch of humor--Darcy is so excited about Elizabeth that he must now wear trousers instead of tight breeches--The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy brings a new and enjoyable immediacy to Jane Austen's most popular novel.
ARC provided by Sourcebooks
Or was it?
No seemingly random events drive the action in The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, Mary Lydon Simonsen's retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Everything is arranged by none other than that unlikeliest of characters, the little-seen Anne De Bourgh.
Anne may be sickly, but her frail body houses a rapier-sharp mind. The story begins as Darcy confesses to Anne his monumentally bungled marriage proposal to Elizabeth. With the skill of a master strategist, Anne, along with some help from Darcy's sister, Georgiana, orchestrates the events that at last being them together.
In The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, Ms. Simonsen writes Pride and Prejudice as Jane Austen would have if she were alive today. She fleshes out the supporting characters, giving their motivations in their own words, as well as providing rationales for some of the coincidences in the original. Did the whim of the gods bring Darcy and Elizabeth together at Pemberley? Nothing of the sort. Anne directs the action, never leaving us in doubt that our characters find their happy endings not because of the mercy of the universe, but because of her deliberate, watchful care.
With a fast-reading, engaging style, along with a touch of humor--Darcy is so excited about Elizabeth that he must now wear trousers instead of tight breeches--The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy brings a new and enjoyable immediacy to Jane Austen's most popular novel.
ARC provided by Sourcebooks
January 16, 2011
Why I wanted to read this book: I'm addicted to all things Jane Austen and I'm often fantasize of being Mrs. Darcy!
What worked for me:
* I loved getting to know Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana better with this retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I often thought that if just given the chance Anne would stand up and speak her voice. They were both very clever in their manipulation of Darcy and making sure that he and Elizabeth would be in close proximity to one another.
* My dislike for Caroline Bingley grew with each page...it's almost fun to hate her!! And I thought the author did a great job of making Wickham, a very bad boy!!
* There were a few moments where I did find the retelling a bit slow. I think this may be because I'm so familiar with the story and at times the author didn't stray far from the original. But I feel that she did change it up a bit and really made the story fun and fresh.
* Oh, I almost forgot about the great twist the author added to Jane's story...I really thought this was very, very clever and it totally worked for me! I'm being cryptic because I don't want to ruin your read!!
Recommend? For those that love all things Austen, then this is a book that I wouldn't hesitate to tell you to read. It's charming and cute...nothing earth-shattering, but a good read that explores two characters that some of us would like to get to know in more depth. I think Mary Lydon Simonsen is a writer that will continue to deliver with her retellings of Austen's characters!
What worked for me:
* I loved getting to know Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana better with this retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I often thought that if just given the chance Anne would stand up and speak her voice. They were both very clever in their manipulation of Darcy and making sure that he and Elizabeth would be in close proximity to one another.
* My dislike for Caroline Bingley grew with each page...it's almost fun to hate her!! And I thought the author did a great job of making Wickham, a very bad boy!!
* There were a few moments where I did find the retelling a bit slow. I think this may be because I'm so familiar with the story and at times the author didn't stray far from the original. But I feel that she did change it up a bit and really made the story fun and fresh.
* Oh, I almost forgot about the great twist the author added to Jane's story...I really thought this was very, very clever and it totally worked for me! I'm being cryptic because I don't want to ruin your read!!
Recommend? For those that love all things Austen, then this is a book that I wouldn't hesitate to tell you to read. It's charming and cute...nothing earth-shattering, but a good read that explores two characters that some of us would like to get to know in more depth. I think Mary Lydon Simonsen is a writer that will continue to deliver with her retellings of Austen's characters!
January 15, 2011
What if Anne de Bourgh perceived Darcy's admiration for Elizabeth Bennet? What if she was the one who convinced Elizabeth and the Gardiners to visit the Peak District instead of the Lake District? What if it was Anne who told Lady Catherine the rumor about Darcy being engaged to Elizabeth Bennet? In The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, there are no coincidences, chance encounters, or fate, all that takes place is clearly the results of Anne de Bourgh's careful and clever machinations!
In this delightful and entertaining Pride and Prejudice re-imagining, readers will see Anne, with the assistance of Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and to some extent Darcy's manservant Mercer, do everything in their power to bring Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy together. Since this novel travels the same course as Pride and Prejudice, it isn't like your typical variation. It's more of a retelling with some augmentation... Readers should expect several behind-the-action scenes, added insight, and a few interesting plot twists.
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
In this delightful and entertaining Pride and Prejudice re-imagining, readers will see Anne, with the assistance of Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and to some extent Darcy's manservant Mercer, do everything in their power to bring Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy together. Since this novel travels the same course as Pride and Prejudice, it isn't like your typical variation. It's more of a retelling with some augmentation... Readers should expect several behind-the-action scenes, added insight, and a few interesting plot twists.
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
February 7, 2011
An unappealing mishmash of the BBC TV series, Jane Austen's novel and a bad Harlequin romance. Mr Darcy seems nearly hysterical at times, coincidences abound, and the intrusion of Colonel Fitzgerald's older brother muddies everything. In addition, a penniless former lover of Mr Darcy shows up, and although a lady born, is curiously satisfied to be set up as a "couturier" for the ton. Quotes from Ms Austen's book are tossed in wherever they might fit - apparently in an attempt to legitimize this one as a "real" re-telling of Pride and Prejudice. The one interesting bit was at last Mr Bennett tells Mrs Bennett "No more!".
Badly done, Miss Simonsen! Badly done indeed!
Badly done, Miss Simonsen! Badly done indeed!
January 30, 2011
I enjoyed the twist on this tremendously. The roles Georgiana and Anne play are so fascinating and funny. I enjoyed the assertions/possibilities filled in that the original Pride and Prejudice left for our imagination of timing, acquaintances, etc. It's not very descriptive of scenery etc but each story fills a different niche. I enjoyed the plotting, planning and tension in the relationships as well as seeing a totally different side of Anne. Georgiana is maturing as a young woman should. There were times when I just couldn't put it down.
July 12, 2020
The writer shredded the original book without feeling guilty while doing it.
I just completed it because I was in a bad mood, and sometimes bad moods require bad books
I just completed it because I was in a bad mood, and sometimes bad moods require bad books
December 19, 2020
A sweet interpretation of the P&P story. Loved reading more about Anne and Georgiana in this version. Very entertaining.
October 17, 2025
#notmydarcy
December 23, 2016
“I think perfect love is any time you love unconditionally, without selfish intent, without concern for personal gain.” Erin McCarthy, The Pregnancy Test
Rating: mild sensuality, mild profanity, mild sexual humor.
What I liked:
The dialogue between characters was delightful. The inclusion of a new character, George Bingley, the elder brother to the Bingley siblings, was really powerful. He was the ‘sense of reason and guidance’ that Charles needed in his life. He was most excellent, wealthy, wise businessman, and sage in his advice. There should be a story about him. I really liked this character. However, having said that,
Thank goodness, Mr. Bennet finally realized [although too late] what had been lost to his favorite elder daughters due to his indolent neglect, his wife’s manners and effusions, and his younger daughter’s unchecked behavior. He sat down with his wife and explained what had happened and their role in the consequences. I don’t think we explored enough what Mrs. Bennet’s thoughts were in regard to what he had to say about their actions or lack thereof. I want her to feel the realization of how her behavior has hurt her daughters. It just happened and was over too quickly.
What I didn’t like:
Switching back and forth with events and perspective. It was hard to track when you experienced an event through the perspective of a character and then would go through it again with the perspective of a different character. This jerking back and forth was difficult to follow and gave the reader whiplash as we jerked from one POV to another. So, my question… whose story was this? Somewhere along the line the story changed hands several times.
I know this was a retelling or a variation, but I did not like the author’s explanation of the incident at Ramsgate. I felt like the whole incident was downplayed to the point that it made Darcy look like an ogre charging into the fray, completely misunderstanding Mrs. Younge, and dismissing her on the spot without listening to her explanation. And then, Georgiana tried to brush it off as a nonevent. I am sorry, Wickham was an uncouth cad and in order to gain her dowry, he was willing to destroy her reputation in a heartbeat. That did not set well with me.
Little changes: timeline… Elizabeth came to Rosings Park after Easter and Sir William Lucas and Maria had already left. Darcy and our dear Colonel had already visited their Aunt, and left… only to return at Anne’s request. Everyone was traveling all over the place and it was hard to get people from one place to the other. Especially realizing the mode of transportation and time constraints in getting there.
Character traits: Georgiana age was given as 18 and she was preparing for her presentation and her come-out into society, while Lydia was still only 16.
I really liked Anne de Bourgh, oh she was a hoot. We were able to see a whole new side to her and combine her with the new and improved Georgiana and you have your hands full with two conniving women trying to play matchmaker with Darcy and Elizabeth. Ann would soon be of age and I LOVED her plans for the future. That would be a wonderful story to follow as she came into her own as Mistress of Rosings Park. She played well with her cousins. I liked the Earl, the older brother of our dear Colonel. I liked seeing his transition and transformation and his reasons for doing so.
Rating: mild sensuality, mild profanity, mild sexual humor.
What I liked:
The dialogue between characters was delightful. The inclusion of a new character, George Bingley, the elder brother to the Bingley siblings, was really powerful. He was the ‘sense of reason and guidance’ that Charles needed in his life. He was most excellent, wealthy, wise businessman, and sage in his advice. There should be a story about him. I really liked this character. However, having said that,
Thank goodness, Mr. Bennet finally realized [although too late] what had been lost to his favorite elder daughters due to his indolent neglect, his wife’s manners and effusions, and his younger daughter’s unchecked behavior. He sat down with his wife and explained what had happened and their role in the consequences. I don’t think we explored enough what Mrs. Bennet’s thoughts were in regard to what he had to say about their actions or lack thereof. I want her to feel the realization of how her behavior has hurt her daughters. It just happened and was over too quickly.
What I didn’t like:
Switching back and forth with events and perspective. It was hard to track when you experienced an event through the perspective of a character and then would go through it again with the perspective of a different character. This jerking back and forth was difficult to follow and gave the reader whiplash as we jerked from one POV to another. So, my question… whose story was this? Somewhere along the line the story changed hands several times.
I know this was a retelling or a variation, but I did not like the author’s explanation of the incident at Ramsgate. I felt like the whole incident was downplayed to the point that it made Darcy look like an ogre charging into the fray, completely misunderstanding Mrs. Younge, and dismissing her on the spot without listening to her explanation. And then, Georgiana tried to brush it off as a nonevent. I am sorry, Wickham was an uncouth cad and in order to gain her dowry, he was willing to destroy her reputation in a heartbeat. That did not set well with me.
Little changes: timeline… Elizabeth came to Rosings Park after Easter and Sir William Lucas and Maria had already left. Darcy and our dear Colonel had already visited their Aunt, and left… only to return at Anne’s request. Everyone was traveling all over the place and it was hard to get people from one place to the other. Especially realizing the mode of transportation and time constraints in getting there.
Character traits: Georgiana age was given as 18 and she was preparing for her presentation and her come-out into society, while Lydia was still only 16.
I really liked Anne de Bourgh, oh she was a hoot. We were able to see a whole new side to her and combine her with the new and improved Georgiana and you have your hands full with two conniving women trying to play matchmaker with Darcy and Elizabeth. Ann would soon be of age and I LOVED her plans for the future. That would be a wonderful story to follow as she came into her own as Mistress of Rosings Park. She played well with her cousins. I liked the Earl, the older brother of our dear Colonel. I liked seeing his transition and transformation and his reasons for doing so.
September 29, 2010
"The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy" is a historical romance set in 1808 in England, and it's a "Pride and Prejudice" re-write. The author referred to several historical events occurring outside of England and had them affect the characters in the story, but she generally didn't delve deeply into the day-to-day historical aspects.
The characters weren't faithful portrayals of those in "Pride and Prejudice." In this version, Mr. Darcy had a couple of mistresses before meeting Lizzy. The author made Lizzy's family poorer and of lesser social class. And while Lizzy had wit, it's a different kind of wit. The characters also forgave all wrongs and fell in love much more quickly than in the "Pride and Prejudice" timelime. In fact, multiple events were changed slightly though the overall framework was maintained.
The author did assume the reader was familiar with the original story. She mainly filled in the scenes that Jane Austen didn't write. She also created a number of new characters and had them play major roles. Even though the story "wasn't really 'Pride and Prejudice,'" I enjoyed her characters and her version of events.
The author would sometimes start a new section with a new point-of-view character but jump back in time without clearly indicating this backward time change. This was confusing. The beginning was a little slow because it mainly summarized events, but once Lizzy and Darcy meet in Kent, the story was quite engaging. Most of the story was about the events at Kent and afterward.
There was a minor amount of British and American bad language. There were a few, very brief, vaguely explicit lustful thoughts on Darcy's part, but no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to "Pride and Prejudice" fans as enjoyable reading.
Note: This review was based on an advanced reader's copy from the publisher, so changes may have been made between this version and the final version. In fact (see the comments), the author has informed me that the beginning "has been trimmed up quite a bit since the advanced readers copies went out" so the beginning should no longer be "a little slow."
The characters weren't faithful portrayals of those in "Pride and Prejudice." In this version, Mr. Darcy had a couple of mistresses before meeting Lizzy. The author made Lizzy's family poorer and of lesser social class. And while Lizzy had wit, it's a different kind of wit. The characters also forgave all wrongs and fell in love much more quickly than in the "Pride and Prejudice" timelime. In fact, multiple events were changed slightly though the overall framework was maintained.
The author did assume the reader was familiar with the original story. She mainly filled in the scenes that Jane Austen didn't write. She also created a number of new characters and had them play major roles. Even though the story "wasn't really 'Pride and Prejudice,'" I enjoyed her characters and her version of events.
The author would sometimes start a new section with a new point-of-view character but jump back in time without clearly indicating this backward time change. This was confusing. The beginning was a little slow because it mainly summarized events, but once Lizzy and Darcy meet in Kent, the story was quite engaging. Most of the story was about the events at Kent and afterward.
There was a minor amount of British and American bad language. There were a few, very brief, vaguely explicit lustful thoughts on Darcy's part, but no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to "Pride and Prejudice" fans as enjoyable reading.
Note: This review was based on an advanced reader's copy from the publisher, so changes may have been made between this version and the final version. In fact (see the comments), the author has informed me that the beginning "has been trimmed up quite a bit since the advanced readers copies went out" so the beginning should no longer be "a little slow."
February 5, 2011
The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is a novel that explores the idea of Anne de Bourgh (daughter of the insufferable Lady Catherine de Bourgh) being the reason why one of the greatest couples of all time come together. With the assistance of Darcy’s younger sister, Georgiana, and his dear friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Anne does everything she possibly can to assure that her cousin marries Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Continue reading: http://www.read-all-over.net/fiction/...
Continue reading: http://www.read-all-over.net/fiction/...
September 3, 2016
A Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy has a strong Georgiana and a strong Anne deBourgh. It starts with Darcy arriving before the assembly and quickly whips through their early encounters. He can't get her out of his head and when he hears she is visiting Hunsford he hurries there with Col. Fitzwilliam. After the botched proposal Anne intervenes with Lizzy and manages to get Lizzy & Darcy together at Pemberley. Of course Lydia causes havoc. There are a lot of new characters, Bingley's older brother, Darcy cousin the Earl of Matlock (Antony) who is a hot mess but fun.
June 9, 2019
112 pages in and I give up... it was mediocre fun at first but now it has just turned into mindless dribble and I just can't be bothered with that anymore. Darcy feels completely out of character as does Elizabeth. The much stronger character of Anne de Bourgh is great but not enough to hold up the story and keep me even vaguely interested.
October 1, 2011
This variation does a wonderful job of breathing new life into characters and adding new twists and plot developments to the story of Pride and Prejudice.
February 15, 2024
I rounded up to three stars, but it's more 2 1/2, and the extra goodwill comes from the combined factors of a decent enough beginning and the fact that my previous read had been another, and even less fulfilling, Jane Austen retelling. I'll begin by saying the summary is gravely misleading--Georgiana, who has been aged up and changed to fit an uncharacteristic mold of a bright older teen who was never in danger of Wickham's charms, is so outside the "plot" of this novel, which is sold as "Georgiana and Anne work behind the original novel's scenes to conspire the main couple together"--Anne writes one letter, and is suddenly credited as the cupid to the couple. Every character from the original novel is changed--character assassination, but to a mostly believable degree (I say mostly believable, but I mostly mean that some of the characters lack such a POV in the original novel that sure, fine, some leaps can be made to this author's conclusions, like Bingley growing a backbone independently of anyone, or Anne having a personality); I will say the worse characterization is the Bennet family, who are displayed with all their flaws and charms in the original novel, and in this retelling, they're relatively butchered to portray characters that they most certainly are not--ie, the suddenly self-aware father who without much push is made aware and regretful of his lack of supervision in his daughters, or Jane yelling back at her family in irritation... Darcy and Lizzy are...fine. The book initially is a straight retelling that speed-runs the original story, with little dialogue, and that helps the book blend more naturally as a companion to Pride & Prejudice. The flaws are more apparent when the modern dialogue becomes more mainstay in alter chapters--or when the truly original characters like Bingley's brother or Fitzwilliam's brother Antony appear-- and the "plot" (Again, hinged on the premise of one letter and otherwise a stretched thin retelling) drags on...This is a fanfiction, which meanders and rambles and adds little to the plot. Reading this, it felt like a fanfic that tried to fill in every throw away sentence or brief paragraph of Austen's which she deemed less important, and she did so rightfully. This book adds nothing to the original and the story isn't impressive beyond reminding the reader of the original.
October 27, 2018
I have read a lot of P&P spinoffs over the years. Most are bad, some are ok and some are superb. This is one of the worst. I will state that I read about 60% before I started skipping chapters to try and determine if I should finish the book. The first problem is the writing. A lot of narrative about what the characters are or are not thinking, but very little actual dialogue. The second problem is the plot. All this book does is retell the original with some very slight variations. Unlike other vagaries which reimagine what ifs and follow those variations to their natural ends, this fits within the original structure but the vagaries are not followed out to their natural ends. It is as if they are sprinkled in there. There are also changes to the original plot that have nothing to do with the plot twist. For example, why was it necessary for the Bingleys to have a rash of other siblings? And Charles not the family head and heir? Totally random and unnecessary. Other minor examples are that Maria and Sir William Lucas did not come with Elizabeth to visit Charlotte. Why? Because the other didn't want to write them in? Some major deviations from the original truths of P&P that serve no real purpose and make you question whether the author read the original more than once. The third problem seems to be a lack of understanding of social etiquette at the time which is betrayed in the characters' (limited) interactions but the weird part is that the author does seem to have some historical background knowledge that she sprinkles in at random. It just doesn't come through in accurate feeling interactions between characters.
November 21, 2020
I have a lot of thoughts about this book. As with any book based on an existing book, there are things about it that I really liked and things about it that I did not like. I liked Ann de Bourgh and the relationship she had with Darcy. I liked getting to know Georgiana better but thought they strayed too much from the original - she wasn't shy at all in this book and that was her defining characteristic in Pride and Prejudice. I wasn't too sure about giving the Bingleys older siblings but I liked George Bingley, he grew on me. I liked the change in Lydia. It was small but significant and in character.
My biggest complaint was I felt it strayed from the original more than I liked. I don't mind adding characters and events that are not in the original. There are plenty of places where Jane Austen glosses over events and conversations that can be expanded. I also liked seeing things from Mr. Darcy's point of view. I do not like, however, when events in the original are outright changed. The events at Pemberly, the mode of Elizabeth and Darcy getting engaged, the general timeline of events at the end, were all altered and I was not a fan.
I also thought it took a while for the book to really come into its own. I almost didn't read it because the beginning felt more like it was just summarizing events from Pride and Prejudice rather than telling its own story. Once it got going, that stopped. So, a mixed bag but I'm glad I read it.
My biggest complaint was I felt it strayed from the original more than I liked. I don't mind adding characters and events that are not in the original. There are plenty of places where Jane Austen glosses over events and conversations that can be expanded. I also liked seeing things from Mr. Darcy's point of view. I do not like, however, when events in the original are outright changed. The events at Pemberly, the mode of Elizabeth and Darcy getting engaged, the general timeline of events at the end, were all altered and I was not a fan.
I also thought it took a while for the book to really come into its own. I almost didn't read it because the beginning felt more like it was just summarizing events from Pride and Prejudice rather than telling its own story. Once it got going, that stopped. So, a mixed bag but I'm glad I read it.
December 16, 2021
I should really stop reading these almost laughably unbelievable “Pride and Prejudice” variations, but dang it, they’re so good at turning my brain off. The characters and setting are comfortably familiar even when the story is ridiculous.
Where do I start with this one? First, it was definitely too long. The author jumped from setting to setting, one group to another and then back again, and that both scattered the story line and weighed it down with unnecessary scenes. I didn’t need to know what was happening at Longbourn while the Bennets were waiting for news of Lydia — all they were doing was worrying. I didn’t need chapters detailing Lydia’s time in Brighton — any “Pride and Prejudice” fan knows what happened in Brighton. I just would have liked a clearer focus on the author’s new story elements and on the whole reason suckers like me read this very specific sub-genre: to see more of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. The leading couple wasn’t in nearly enough scenes together, and I got tired of turning pages for minimal payoff.
I took even bigger issue with the blatant double standard found in Darcy’s wildly out-of-character behavior. For context, the book had some odd, random sexual notes, found mostly in the author’s decision to give Darcy former lovers. By itself, the idea that Darcy wouldn’t adhere to the day’s propriety norms was absurd, but the hypocrisy of his actions had me internally groaning. By this author’s interpretation, it’s totally fine for Darcy to have taken lovers and be sexually experienced, but if his sister or Lydia Bennet or women in general were to make similar decisions, their reputations would never recover. Darcy says “Good,” when he learns Lizzy has never been kissed. And when Lizzy finds out about (just one of) his past lovers, she’s not bothered at all by it, never mind that if their places were reversed, Darcy would be crushed.
I liked seeing livelier, more assertive versions of Georgiana and Anne, and whenever Darcy and Elizabeth managed to be in the same scene, I enjoyed it. I didn’t think the extra characters (Lord Fitzwilliam, George and Hannah Bingley, etc.) were all that necessary, but I didn’t mind them, either. At the end of this book, though, it’s hard to forgive the mediocre (at best) writing and the rather bizarre storytelling choices. I wish I could say this one was better.
Where do I start with this one? First, it was definitely too long. The author jumped from setting to setting, one group to another and then back again, and that both scattered the story line and weighed it down with unnecessary scenes. I didn’t need to know what was happening at Longbourn while the Bennets were waiting for news of Lydia — all they were doing was worrying. I didn’t need chapters detailing Lydia’s time in Brighton — any “Pride and Prejudice” fan knows what happened in Brighton. I just would have liked a clearer focus on the author’s new story elements and on the whole reason suckers like me read this very specific sub-genre: to see more of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. The leading couple wasn’t in nearly enough scenes together, and I got tired of turning pages for minimal payoff.
I took even bigger issue with the blatant double standard found in Darcy’s wildly out-of-character behavior. For context, the book had some odd, random sexual notes, found mostly in the author’s decision to give Darcy former lovers. By itself, the idea that Darcy wouldn’t adhere to the day’s propriety norms was absurd, but the hypocrisy of his actions had me internally groaning. By this author’s interpretation, it’s totally fine for Darcy to have taken lovers and be sexually experienced, but if his sister or Lydia Bennet or women in general were to make similar decisions, their reputations would never recover. Darcy says “Good,” when he learns Lizzy has never been kissed. And when Lizzy finds out about (just one of) his past lovers, she’s not bothered at all by it, never mind that if their places were reversed, Darcy would be crushed.
I liked seeing livelier, more assertive versions of Georgiana and Anne, and whenever Darcy and Elizabeth managed to be in the same scene, I enjoyed it. I didn’t think the extra characters (Lord Fitzwilliam, George and Hannah Bingley, etc.) were all that necessary, but I didn’t mind them, either. At the end of this book, though, it’s hard to forgive the mediocre (at best) writing and the rather bizarre storytelling choices. I wish I could say this one was better.
June 30, 2017
As a devoted Janeite who has read all the Austen novels many times over and watched the TV shows and movies endlessly, I sometimes like to indulge in adaptations by other authors as well. This book is one such attempt but it is more like additional storylines within the plot of Pride and Prejudice. The pivotal character here is Anne de Bourgh who we just know as this frail woman totally under the thumb of Lady Catherine. Here, we see a more genuine side of her when she is not near her mother. She may be ill of health but is strong of mind who adores her cousin Darcy and wants to see him happy. When he confides in her about his affection for Elizabeth, she makes it her mission to unite the two. She also enlists the help of Georgiana in this matter and they plot out ways to get Darcy and Litzy together. We get to meet the endearing Georgie who has grown into a smart eighteen year old waiting for her society debut. We also see a whole different side of Mr.Bennet after Lydia's elopement. There are also some additional conversations that we see happening during the all too familiar scenes and it makes for some interesting moments. Ultimately, the story ends the same as Pride and Prejudice, but would have had the pleasure of knowing more about our beloved characters. This is an enjoyable read if you love all things Austen and want to spend more time in her world.
May 10, 2019
To be perfectly honest, I've never read Pride and Prejudice. I've only watched the 2005 film starring Keira Knightley, so I only know the gist of the story. As someone who's never read the original book, I liked this book. I enjoy fanfiction - I read it, I write it, so yeah, I liked this book. I really enjoyed how The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy filled in the gaps.
Everyone's characters were fleshed out well, and we got to see how Mary Lydon Simonsen saw each individual. Of course, the plot was tweaked to fit the characters, but I thought it was done in a playful fashion. Georgiana and Anne were both much more scheming, and they represented most people who really shipped Elizabeth and Darcy. Caroline was portrayed as catty, but that's how she was in the movie. I'm not entirely sure about her character in the original, but I believe she really had her sights set on marrying Darcy.
I mean, this isn't something you'd ever read in a literature class, nor would it be something to take seriously. But overall, I enjoyed it! It was a fun book - playful and indulging, full of quips and wit. Definitely something to read again as a pick-me-up.
Everyone's characters were fleshed out well, and we got to see how Mary Lydon Simonsen saw each individual. Of course, the plot was tweaked to fit the characters, but I thought it was done in a playful fashion. Georgiana and Anne were both much more scheming, and they represented most people who really shipped Elizabeth and Darcy. Caroline was portrayed as catty, but that's how she was in the movie. I'm not entirely sure about her character in the original, but I believe she really had her sights set on marrying Darcy.
I mean, this isn't something you'd ever read in a literature class, nor would it be something to take seriously. But overall, I enjoyed it! It was a fun book - playful and indulging, full of quips and wit. Definitely something to read again as a pick-me-up.
August 27, 2020
In theory, this is an intriguing concept which would allow Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana to step into the limelight and assist Darcy and Elizabeth in finding their way back to one another.
In practice, the pair's actions carry little weight within the story. The same events still occur as in the original novel in very much the same way, and there's no clear indication that Anne's help was instrumental or necessary in reconciling Darcy and Elizabeth or getting the reconciliation to happen more speedily. There's also the addition of several new characters who pull attention away from the main characters and plotline. The perspective changes from chapter to chapter which can be distracting (especially when it shifts to Caroline Bingley).
If you're looking for a quick Jane Austen fix, this could be an acceptable read. Go into it knowing that you're getting basically the same plot as the original with a few extra scenes with minor characters.
In practice, the pair's actions carry little weight within the story. The same events still occur as in the original novel in very much the same way, and there's no clear indication that Anne's help was instrumental or necessary in reconciling Darcy and Elizabeth or getting the reconciliation to happen more speedily. There's also the addition of several new characters who pull attention away from the main characters and plotline. The perspective changes from chapter to chapter which can be distracting (especially when it shifts to Caroline Bingley).
If you're looking for a quick Jane Austen fix, this could be an acceptable read. Go into it knowing that you're getting basically the same plot as the original with a few extra scenes with minor characters.
January 29, 2018
I love all things Austen and this book was no exception. The timeless story of Elizabeth and Darcy. Ah! The Austen-isms. Love them all.
This take had some different point of views. Anne De Bourgh took a formidable role as she helped orchestrate Lizzy and Darcy coming together. And then there is Georgiana who played a great role in helping her brother find his perfect bride. I liked this version of Darcy. He was all business but passion when he came around Lizzy and reading about his viewpoint was great.
Classic romance. Classic take on Austen. Makes me want to read the original and watch the movie again.
This take had some different point of views. Anne De Bourgh took a formidable role as she helped orchestrate Lizzy and Darcy coming together. And then there is Georgiana who played a great role in helping her brother find his perfect bride. I liked this version of Darcy. He was all business but passion when he came around Lizzy and reading about his viewpoint was great.
Classic romance. Classic take on Austen. Makes me want to read the original and watch the movie again.
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