The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman is unlucky enough to come into the world without expectations, she had better do all she can to ensure she is born beautiful. To be handsome and poor is misfortune enough; but to be both plain and penniless is a hard fate indeed.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mary is the middle of the five Bennet girls and the plainest of them all, so what hope does she have? Prim and pious, with no redeeming features, she is unloved and seemingly unlovable.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Mary Bennet known as the 'plain' sister, the ' unsocial' sister, the 'boring sister, the 'undesirable' sister, gets a new life in this novel by Janice Hadlow. The first part of the book re-tells the story we all know and love in 'Pride and Prejudice' but from Mary's point of view which was really wonderful to read. It then follows Mary and her life. I really loved this book, and truly admired Mary. This book gave her the story she deserved! There was romance, adventure and of course lots of pride and prejudice. I found myself constantly being disappointed in the other sisters and I now have very different views towards them, they were so annoying at times! I have to admit that Mary is now my favourite Bennet Sister.

I loved the section of the book about Mr. Collins and the insight I got into his life, but would have loved a bit more character development on Caroline Bingley. I really enjoyed the story and had a great time reading it, however it took me a longgggg time to get through as it was extremely long!! There were definitely some parts that could have been shortened. The ending made me beyond happy, and I 100% recommend this read.

I was privileged enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Comments

How to Grow a Family Tree by Eliza Henry-Jones

Stella may only be seventeen, but having read every self-help book she can find means she knows a thing or two about helping people. She sure wasn't expecting to be the one in need of help, though. Thanks to her father's gambling addiction, Stella and her family now find themselves living at Fairyland Caravan Park. And hiding this truth from her friends is hard enough without dealing with another secret. Stella's birth mother has sent her a letter. As Stella deals with the chaos of her family, she must also confront the secrets and past of her 'other' family. But Stella is stronger than she realises. This book was absolutely brilliant. It is possibly one of my favourite YA novels ever!! I absolutely adored the characters, and I LOVED the story. The book has so many beautiful messages, and everyone would benefit from reading this book. The book shows that sometimes things that are covered in gold, are crumbling on the inside, and that sometimes you can find be...

The Schoolmaster's Daughter by Jackie French

January 1901 Sharks circle the stranded ship as Hannah and her family head to a new home in the newly formed nation of Australia. Hannah's father has a new post as the schoolmaster in a larger school in northern NSW, where the school's wealthy patron, a sugar planter called Mr Harris, will give the family a life of comfort and the best society. But secrets lurk in this subtropical paradise. From the moment Hannah's mother rebels against her husband's refusal to let Jamie, the Pacific Islander boy who rescues them from their shipwreck, into his school, the facade crumbles. Mr Harris's fortune is built on slavery and the whip. And the new Federal government's first law demands that all Pacific islanders - even those born in Australia - be deported. If Mr Harris learns of the secret school that Hannah's mother is running, it will mean ruin, violence, and possibly even death. Hannah and Jamie must fight for Jamie's right to stay in the land he loves, and fo...

Books I'm Embarrassed to Say I have Never Read

So I have never been one to follow trends... Especially when it comes to reading! I guess part of the problem is that I have probably got 100s of books on my To-Be-Read list, and it is almost impossible to get through them all. Lately, a few people have said to me "How can you read almost 100 books a year, and never have read (insert title)?' so I thought that I would make a post about the books I am embarrassed to say I have NEVER read and why I haven't! Tell me about the books you are ashamed that you have never read in the comments! 1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling Ugh I am so sorry! Just writing this makes me feel ashamed! To make things even better - I have never seen the movies either! Please forgive me. I honestly don't really know why I haven't read them. They are so hyped, so I know that I have to, and I promise that I will read them one day. I guess they just have never appealed to me. People have told me that I am the living and breathing ...

The Book Mermaids

Search This Blog