The Other Bennet Sister: A Novel

“Anyone who has read Pride and Prejudice knows which Bennet sister they would most like to be. Most popular, of course, are beautiful Jane, brilliant Elizabeth, and laughing, feckless Lydia. But what of Mary? Her intelligence is often overlooked, perhaps because of her overbearing sense of morality.

No longer. The Other Bennet Sister is a touching redemption of one of the least-liked characters in Jane Austen’s novels, following Mary through the events of Pride and Prejudice and beyond as she attempts to discover what sort of woman she is and claim her place in English society.

The novel is at its best when it steps away from Austen’s work. It follows the events of Pride and Prejudice faithfully, but it (and Mary) are only truly given a chance to shine when Lizzy is not present. She and Austen are both powerful forces which steal focus, and while Hadlow is loyal both to the text and flavor of the work which inspired her, some chapters come across as a rehash of what most readers will already be very familiar with.

Luckily, those chapters are few and easily finished with. Once Lizzy becomes Mrs. Darcy, Mary’s story can truly begin. It’s a sweet, tender novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to any fan of the original.”