The Other Bennet Sister: A Novel

Mary Bennet has been one of the most overlooked characters in Pride and Prejudice. In this new retelling of the beloved classic, Mary is at the center of the story. In a family of five daughters, Mary is the middle child and is often overlooked because of her plainness. Mary feels that she can never find a suitable man to marry her. Over time, Mary becomes a woman who eventually learns to take chances in love. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite novels, and I always thought that there was more to Mary Bennet than just a comic relief character. In this novel, the reader gets to take a deeper look at Mary and learns that she is more than just a silly character. In this novel, Mary has low self-confidence because her family often comments on her plain looks. She is lonely and has no close siblings whom she can confide in. Her only friends are her books, and they bring her great comfort. Therefore, Mary is a relatable character because she feels that she cannot fit in with her family. Throughout the novel, Mary strives to find her place in the world. Thus, Mary is a very likable character, and I could not stop rooting for her to find her own happiness. Overall, this novel is about family, identity, and self-acceptance. The novel is very well-written, and all the characters were very engaging and complex. I thought that Mary’s love story was well-developed and was the best part in the novel. I also thought that the author stayed true to the original version and felt like Jane Austen herself would have been proud of this sequel! Thus, this is one of the best Jane Austen adaptations that I have ever read! The Other Bennet Sister is a must read for any Austenite because you will fall in love with this charming story! I recommend this for fans of Unequal Affections, The Clergyman’s Wife, and Georgiana Darcy!(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

{ She had learnt from Mrs. Bennet that without beauty no real and lasting happiness was attainable. It never occurred to her to question what she'd been taught.[...]It did not seem fitting for her to be light-hearted. Seriousness seemed the only mood a plain girl might adopt without exposing herself to the scorn or pity of others. Gradually she became used to it, until she came to believe that it was her nature, that this solemn, solitary, awkward creature was really who she was. }4.25 starsThis was such a lovely read and in some ways I think might be even better enjoyed if you haven't read P&P. I say that because my singular complaint is how much overlap there was with the original, so that if you're familiar with it, some of it can be really repetitive to read because you're already so familiar with the dialogue. The first third of the book overlaps with the timeline of P&P and I would say the first 20% of the book suffers from that annoying repetitiveness. The rest of the book is lovely though and it is indeed an interesting experience if you have read P&P, because you get a whole new perspective on characters whom you already have a pretty fixed opinion of, namely Mr. Collins, Lizzie, Mr. Darcy, and Jane.Mary is such a pitiful creature at the beginning of the book and my heart broke for her constantly and repeatedly. She was so alone, isolated, unloved, and unwanted. She is not as pretty as her sister Jane, as witty as Elizabeth, as cheerful and lively as Lydia or Kitty. Her mother cannot forgive her her plainness and her father really only cares for Lizzie. Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, is the only kind figure in her whole life, and one can't help but be grateful for her maternal presence, so that Mary has at least some softness and care in her life.Mary's character development is lovely to read, and as she finds people with whom she feels at home and can be herself—and discover who that "self" even is—one can't help but cheer for her, breathe a sigh of relief, and feel overjoyed.QUOTE: { The most important habit to conquer was the habit of misery itself. Nothing was so inimical to happiness as the settled conviction it was not for her. It was a conviction that ran very deep in her; but she knew she must fight to rise above it. }The romance storyline was absolutely lovely and I adored it, though I didn't appreciate the angst—I'm not one for angst in romance. The truth is it was fine and at least it wasn't useless, as romance angst often is; rather, it was a necessary spur for some wonderful realizations, declarations, and Mary standing up for herself.EXCERPT: { "I must disappoint you once again. I've tried to read Miss Burney's books, but I'm afraid I could never finish them.""I'm surprised you should not like her, for in many respects, she is exactly the author for you—a sharp mind, a keen idea of right and wrong, a great curiosity about how people behave. Now I come to think of it, she rather reminds me of you.""You make her seem so severe that I'm not sure that is much to my credit.""Not at all. She has a delightful wit, which is the most pleasing aspect of her work.""Now I know you're making game of me. I can't imagine why you think I merit such a description.""No, you would not see it," replied Mr. Hayward, "but I do. And as you aren't accustomed to acknowledging your most attractive qualities, I consider it my duty to remind you of them from time to time."With that, he smiled, and they walked on together. }

Thsi book was very well written and could easily have been penned by Jane Austen herself. It was good to see the events of Pride and Prejudice from a different perspective before embarking on Mary's own journey, which was equally engaging and took you on a similar trail of emotion to that which Mary herself must have felt.

I have read this book with a lot of pleasure. It is a worthy sequel on pride and prejudice, one of my favourite books.

My favourite re-telling. Beautiful love story. Beautiful character development. Many pages, yet they run smoothly and not heavy at all.Excited for Mrs Hadlow’s future work.

I love Pride and Prejudice inconditionnaly. However I was incredibly surprised to love this book even more and would eagerly recommend it, especially for a 20s something public.As Janice Hadlow deepens through Mary's story, she sprinkles pieces of life advice. This book is also about feeling left out, learning to love one self and family conflicts. It made my heart jolt with emotions. Give it a chance !

The novel picks up the story of Mary Bennet, the middle daughter in “Pride and Prejudice”, after her big sisters Jane and Elizabeth marry Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy respectively. It’s a tribute to the brilliance of “Pride and Prejudice” that some of its fan fiction is actually worth reading (see “Death Comes to Pemberley” by the late P.D. James). This novel is far more than that: it is intelligent, moving and beautifully written, and I found it completely absorbing.Hadlow’s portrayal of Austen’s characters is faithful to the original, yet subtle and convincing. That is no mean feat, because the main characters in “The Other Bennet Sister” were merely supporting players in the story of Elizabeth and Darcy. Hadlow fleshes out the two-dimensional Mr. Collins and his wife Charlotte (nee Lucas), and makes them both psychologically complex and sympathetic. The housekeeper Mrs. Hill is revealed as a substitute mother figure for a neglected, isolated little girl. And what a pleasure to spend more time with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner! Caroline Bingley is still a snarky social climber, but Hadlow shows us a vulnerable side – her Miss Bingley is more three-dimensional than Austen’s, though no more likeable. Hadlow also invents some compelling characters of her own, and sets the story in a meticulously (but not oppressively) well-researched early nineteenth-century London.Most important, Hadlow transforms Mary Bennet into a genuinely compelling personality. Austen’s plain, awkward caricature of a provincial bluestocking, the pompous, nerdy source of comic relief to her father and social embarrassment to her older siblings, evolves into a warm and courageous young woman who finally comes to understand her own value. Excellent and highly recommended.