Beth’s Reviews > The Other Bennet Sister > Status Update

You CANNOT be serious. Why would MARY BENNET, A RATIONAL, REGENCY woman EVER complain about convention and the rules of polite society!?! To even CONSIDER writing to a MAN her romantic feeeelings?! MA'AM. LIVING AT YOUR AUNT'S HOUSE FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME CAN'T MAGICALLY TURN A MARY BENNET INTO A MARIANNE DASHWOOD!! WHAT IN THE POLLUTED SHADES OF PEMBERLEY IS THIS!?!?

The whiplash this book gives. I was really enjoying it again as a Not Mary Bennet Regency Story, but then "Mary" started being a Royal Idiot and the book is growing tedious again. Also, Caroline Bingley willingly scaling a mountain to chase a libertine rake?? HARDLY. And why is no one debating philosophy through scripture? This was England. 19thC. Everyone knew the moral standard was from Someone above mortal whim.

Good grief! This book is too long. Why does the author write as if no people existed in the whole of England besides already described P&P characters? Like Mary has NOOO options besides living forever off the charity of others. Pretty sure the Bingleys and Darcys would have gladly thrown any number of balls to get Mary introduced to eligible young men! Why is she only now remembering her aunt and uncle exist??

This is going to be difficult to review. It's excellently written. Unfortunately, the Mary Bennet presented to us here does not feel like an accurate version of Jane Austen's Mary. It would be an immense challenge to make *that* Mary a relatable and likable character however, so I understand the temptation to make other characters look worse in an attempt to justify her actions and behaviours.