I love a Pride and Prejudice retelling, I will literally take anything with any concept, I will read it and probably love it. But make it sapphic? With two characters who deserved much more than Jane gave them (no offence Jane, I still love you for creating these damn characters in the first place)? Yes, please and thank you!

What I love most about P&P, is that I can give you a clear argument as to why any character could be the mc - obviously not necessarily with that title as that really only works for Lizzie and Darcy, but each character realiu does have their own story to tell. And it is Charlotte who with every rewatch (I am working up the courage to reread!) that I am left feeling a bit empty after Lizzie leaves Kent, thinking, is that it for her? It’s not bad in any way, but I wanted more for her. Thank you Lindz for writing an ending that Charlotte whole heartedly deserves!

As for Mary, she was originally giving off loneliness and heartache and serious self deprecating vibes and in this? I loved seeing this confident, queer girl who’s clearly found her people, side to her. It’s everything and more than I could have dreamed about for these two characters!

The whole plot was fantastic, Charlotte dealing with grief that she’s not sure really exists whilst battling feelings she’s not sure should be allowed to exist, Mary’s entire daily life just being generally amazing, new and old characters!

There’s drama and laughs and a gut punching third act that had me close to hurling my kindle across the room. I’m so happy this book exists and can’t wait to see what we get next from Lindz!

This was a sweet read, but one that I struggled with at times. This historical romance is about Charlotte Lucas, who has just lost her husband. Her best friend, Lizzie, sends her sister Mary Bennet to support her. The two women quickly become friends and Charlotte begins to question herself. Did she love her husband? Or is there a whole other kind of love? And what are these emerging feelings for Mary?

The writing takes some getting used to, as some things are described in a strange way. It took me a while to get into it. However, I think this was deliberately written to make it easy to imagine yourself in that old time. I have never read a Jane Austen book and therefore don't know “Pride and Prejudice”. So I can't compare anything.

This novel is really, really slow burn. I actually love this type of novel, but I found it far too slow here. For over 100 pages, I had the feeling that nothing was happening at all. The story only picked up a bit in the last third. Charlotte's insecurity got on my nerves at times and I sometimes had the feeling that she wanted to misunderstand Mary. The drama wasn't really comprehensible for me either. But I definitely liked the connection between the women and they also had good chemistry. I liked that Mary didn't give up and had so much patience. That was just sweet! I also liked the spicy scenes. I have to admit that I really struggled a bit with this book because it had such good scenes, but in between it was a bit boring. I can only recommend it conditionally and give it three stars.

i am sure I could spend my days reading sapphic regency romance! i always thought there was much potential for a queer telling on pride and prejudice with these characters specifically and it’s incredibly pleasing we are in a world in which this can be trad published. i found that i loved the botanical link throughout and all the new characters were incredibly likeable - particularly those involved in this queer scene that had been established. i only found myself feeling that it may have been purposeful on the authors part to avoid moving away from austen’s blank slate characters eg. our only interaction with lizzie is through letters. although i deeply understand that choice, it did somewhat feel like the pride and prejudice link was therefore easy to remove allowing for a more straightforward regency romance.

I really enjoyed this - from the first line I knew that this was going to work alongside Austen's original story well. The story, characters, and new locations felt like a plausible extension of those we met in Pride & Prejudice.

I really enjoyed following Charlotte through this book - it was lovely to see her blossom into a well-thought out character with passions and interests of her own beyond her friendship with Lizzie and desire to marry so as not to be burdensome. I love that her passion was plants and how that allowed the language of flowers to become part of the story and her romance with Mary.

I also really enjoyed Mary as a character and how she grew beyond the way she is introduced to his by Austen in a way that felt like a real progression of a person gorwing older and becoming exposed to new things. I liked the queer scene we got introduced to in Canterbury - although I will say sometimes parts took on sentiments that felt a little misplaced in the time period (e.g. there's a point when there's a idea of people/society at large becoming more progressive/accepting with the passage of time which feels a fairly contemporary ideal - and not necessarily an accurate one).

I liked how so many of the side characters felt real - from Bessie with her romance with the butcher's son to Pitt and his previous relationship with the writer of the diary Charlotte reads. I also loved Mr Mellor, especially near the end when he really went all in as Charlotte (and Mary's) biggest supporter.

All in all, this was a really sweet and fun sapphic regency romance. It veered towards loveliness and shied away from the full depths of societal homophobia of the time - only touching on it in moments or through Charlotte's worries of disappointing her family. Asides from that, at large the characters that mattered to our leading ladies (e.g. Mary's sisters, and Charlotte's sister) were all accepting, if not queer themselves (e.g. most of the newly introduced characters in Canterbury). Overall, a light-hearted love story with moments of humour and emotion that adds to Austen's original without blatantly contradicting or unrealistically altering her beloved characters.

DNF
I was looking forward to reading this as I loved reading Pride and Prejudice and I love sapphic romances, but unfortunately this was a DNF for me, as I found the book too slow paced and I also struggled to care about any of the characters.

So I'm going to start off by saying something quite controversial for a book girlie; I have never read Pride and Prejudice, nor have I seen the 2005 movie, or any other related movie, apart from Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies. So I was solely focused on this as a Sapphic historical romance.

We did get letters from the Bennets and Lucas' which were quite funny in their own right, but I can't talk to any references or inside jokes. Beyond recognizing the names, I don't know much about the characters.

Anyway, on to the actual book. I loved this take on the best-friend's siblings trope, especially combined with the late in life gay awakening.

I'm a big fan of Mary, who'd been "out" for a while already, being the more reserved one in the bedroom, needing for things to go slow, and how sure Charlotte was that Mary would be kind, helpful, and patient while she learnt things in that regard too. It's nice for them to not fall into more tradional tropes.

I know I could've walked into Aunt Cecily's home and immediately felt welcome and at ease. And who doesn't want a Mr Mellor in their life, I know I would love for him to take a liking to me.

I wouldn't call this a slowburn, but it is filled with longing looks, brushing fingers, half finished sentences, and enough tension to make you want to throw your book and yell "Just kiss already!".

There are no tortured heroines, dramatic plot twists, or cruel families. It's just a sweet and spicy queer love story, with two atypical beauties, in a /slightly/ more accepting past. Sometimes that's just what you need.
Oh and did I mention they're 24 and 31? Slight age gap and maturer FMCs ftw!

I loved this so much, and can't wait to see others read it.

Thank-you NetGalley and Little Brown UK, for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a very sweet romance and I found the characters of Mary and Charlotte to be believable, even though they are both completely different from how they are represented in P&P. I loved the use of the language of flowers and the cosy style feel to the romance and found it relaxing read to return to familiar locations and characters. The cover design is lovely and fits really well with the book. I enjoyed reading about the woman Mary Bennet has become and Charlotte finding herself, as well as many other allies along the way.
Proof received via Netgalley thanks to the publishers.

I really struggled with the language in this book, not only because I'm not used to this style of writing but also because the blurb didn't give any indication that this would be the writing style of the book. I also think I was hindered by not having read Pride and Prejudice, because I don't think the understanding of who the characters were and what their relationships to each other were was something I was able to grasp. I felt like the book moved really slowly, so when that was tied with the language struggles I was having, I just really had trouble with feeling motivated to read. When I don't feel motivated, I don't feel inclined to root for the relationship or get connected to the characters, so unfortunately, I don't think this book was for me.

This sapphic reimagining of what happens after Pride and Prejudice is a fun read. Charlotte and Mary's painfully slow-burn romance still blossoms even amid the constraints of Regency society. Who knew the bookish Mary Bennet could grow into such a fascinating character? The language of flowers woven throughout the book adds a romantic touch that feels genuine to the time period. Perfect for Austen fans looking for queer representation in the Regency era. A satisfying read that gives these overlooked (and some would say for one, villainised) characters the love story they deserve.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Atom for providing me with this ebook in exchange for an honest review*

I really think that Mary Bennet was the most underappreciated character. Lost inside her books and music was the most down to earth sister of all the Bennets. So, reading about her in a book which she's the MC, drew my attention. Aside from the fact that it was solely from Charlotte's POV the slow burn was excruciatingly...slow. I believe that the author had to keep the time-period aspect at bay, but LGBTQ and queers were burned as witches at that time period. Anyway, aside from these little things that annoyed me, it was an enjoyable read.

2.5, actually.

Before I read this, I was wondering, do we really need a P&P retelling about a relationship between Mary and Charlotte? Let me answer this firsthand: No.

The story started nicely, with Mr Collins (Charlotte´s already husband) dead of an unknown illness, and Charlotte having to kinda reorganize her priorities and decide what to do from then on. I think Charlotte´s characterization was pretty accurate, compared to what I remember of the original book, and it was cool to see her in those first chapter. But I think everything began to go downwards when Mary appeared.

Because, I don´t know if this is a me thing, but I didn´t recognize the original Mary in this character. I can buy you that she is a feminist but too discreet to let it show. I can (barely) buy she is science minded (honestly, the original seemed too bound by tradition for this). But being an artist who goes often to salons and draws naked women? Honestly, that is no plain at all.

But okay, let´s go with this Mary. Nevermind that.

My second problem with this retelling, however, was the fact that the supposed slow burn is painful to watch. You see, what happens between Charlotte and Mary is an instant attraction from the first time they met. Charlotte (because we see her POV the whole story) falls in love practically in a couple of days, and then... Then there is this absurd pinning for hundreds of pages, without going anywhere. This is one of those books where you KNOW the characters love each other from page one, but they don´t do anything about it for whatever random reason.

I wouldn´t have minded that if I had witty dialogue or an interesting plotline. But there was nothing of that either. The most interesting thing were the flower references that, at one point, ended up being too many for me and they annoyed me more than provoke a positive reaction.

I ended up DNF 60% in, because I simply couldn´t drag myself into finishing it. I didn´t actively dislike it, despite it all, but I did get the impression this story lacked of orinality: as if the author wanted to write something, didn´t know exactly what, and just went with a P&P retelling because it sells.

Have to say firstly tiny writing wasn’t my favourite thing about this book at all!
But I had also seen a to adaptation of it not long ago so story was fresh in my head too
I am also not a fan of romantic historical fiction so all things considered this book did well to score so high !!
Great story just not for me sorry

I often wonder about side characters stories and what happens after the main story. Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorite classics and has a lot of adaptations and retellings. It's refreshing to explore other people.
Here, we have a romance story between Mary Bennet (Elizabeth's middle sister) and Charlotte Lucas (Elizabeth Bennet's best friend)
I love the forbidden romance, the childhood friends who didn't know they were alike, the language of flowers, the drawings. The two characters are lovely and relatable, and the queer side characters are delectable.

This is a sweet sapphic romance following Charlotte Lucas, the best friend of Lizzie Bennett from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, as she navigates life after being unexpectedly widowed. Mary Bennett, one of Lizzie’s younger sisters, stays with Charlotte and introduces to her some alternative options for a woman’s life, including salons to discuss scientific research, and queer experiences. There is a recurring use of the flower codes and floral symbolism, which felt beautifully romantic and feminine. This was a short book, about 200 pages, but delightfully packed with a love story and a story of a woman becoming increasingly confident and independent. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of Austen, Bridgerton, and the Regency era, who are looking for a little more queer representation.

A regency, Jane Austen, subtle sapphic carry on! I really liked Charlotte and Mary and their little, awkward misunderstandings. I great read that had me smiling from start to finish :)

I will gleefully accept any Austen reimagining, and one that is queer AND gives the much-maligned Mary a second chance, is good by me. The time period, and subsequently unspoken 'alternative' lifestyles, add credence to the very believable journey that takes Charlotte Lucas from assuming she was utterly alone in her feelings to discovering a community that she belongs to, and accepting that she is worthy of being truly loved for herself.

I’m a sucker for a Jane Austen spin-off, and I’ve probably read at least three Mary Bennet stories specifically (‘The Other Bennet Sister’ was a particularly good one) so I requested this as soon as I saw it on NetGalley.

Mary is the most maligned Bennet sister in ‘Pride and Prejudice’, and is portrayed as even worse than the feckless Lydia or the inane Kitty. (I love the implication in Gill Hornby’s ‘Miss Austen’ that Jane Austen named all of her worst characters ‘Mary’ after her annoying sister-in-law.) This, however, is not actually Mary Bennet’s story - it is the story of Charlotte Collins.

The great mystery of why on earth anyone would marry Mr Collins is revealed in the first few pages, as we learn that Charlotte was in love with Elizabeth (of course she was!) and settled for Mr Collins as she knew she would never be able to be with the one she truly wanted. When Mr Collins dies suddenly, she writes to Elizabeth but her son is ill and so she sends Mary in her stead to keep Charlotte company. Mary is nothing like Charlotte remembered her, she is an intellectual with a freethinking and progressive circle of friends and acquaintances and Charlotte is fascinated by her. While Anne de Bourgh tries to find Charlotte a second husband, and her parents expect her to move back into Lucas Lodge, Charlotte wonders if there might be another option.

Although this is a romance, it is also about Charlotte finding herself and creating a way to live outside of societal expectations. In true Jane Austen style, the story is a comedy of misunderstanding and miscommunication, but the spark and the rapport between Charlotte and Mary is beautifully written and their relationship is thoroughly convincing. A charming and satisfying read.

What happens after the end of Pride and Prejudice? What if Charlotte was queer and Mr. Collins passed away? What if Mary Bennet, Elizabeth's quiet, studious sister grew up to be a curious, well-read young woman?

Emoji-Aesthetic:🔥🌸🍰🌻🌈

Listen to
🎼Boyfriend - Dove Cameron
🎼 Fliegen - Nina Chuba
🎼 She - dodie

This story was delightfully witty, very reminiscent of the original Jane Austen text in wit and charm, but with its own unique voice. I loved the mix-up and expansion of Charlotte's character, especially because the motivations behind her marrying Mr. Collins in the first place continued to play a role. It felt very authentic overall.
I also really enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Charlotte and Mary, the giddy girlhood that permeated it and the tenderness that envelops their friendship and, later, romance. The side plots were amazing, especially Barton and Pitt's, though I did shed a tear or two.
I will say that I have no idea how realistic it is (queerness throughout history has taken many forms and I am not as well informed as I would like to be), but it felt very attainable, and the fears Mary and Charlotte harbor due to their upbringing in polite society are well written and explored.
Overall, this is a read I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
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I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley. All Thoughts and Opinions are my own.

The longing! The angst! The complete and utter obliviousness!

This book had girl with a pearl earring vibes without being epically boring (apologies to people who loved that film, but it was not for me).

I love all adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and this is just another to add to the list - Lost in Austen always holds a place in my heart, but no other adaptation that I’ve come across has been so utterly unapologetically queer.

Not only regarding Charlotte and Mary, as the title suggests, but also many of the side characters or mentioned background people - it really showcased the likely high number of queer people that have existed in that time and throughout all of history. Though pretty good at hiding, for their own safety, once you’re in the same club they all come out of the woodwork.

Charlotte and Mary are so sweet in their endless misunderstandings and adorable bumbling around each other, they’re amazing main characters and I loved them both so much.

But also I loved the language of flowers and how prevalent this was through the whole book - it has historical connections with sending coded messages and passing secret declarations of love between queer people who couldn’t do so more openly. The perfect theme for this book!
(Also, not a spoiler, but I loved how the last word in the book was “violets”, epically gay and adorably sweet!)

I don’t think I have a single negative word to say about this, it’s perfectly paced and a fun engaging read. That’s about it it!

A lovely regency romance. I loved seeing the characters developing their relationship and the characters from the original austen novel making an appearence. I loved it.